This is being directed at brothers, to let them know that we continue to resist at MCC (Maximum Control Complex), no matter how oppressive our conditions. We continue to discuss, organize and agitate against the U.S. government. As of February 2, 1995 brothers have been placed on punitive quarantine status without probable cause other than pick and choose. This started about a TB (tuberculosis) shot which the majority refuse because of religious reasons. Others refuse the shot because guards say the shot is mandatory, which it's not. We continue to resist even though we know they may obtain a court order forcing us to receive the TB shot. We have discussed this point too and stand ready to resist.
Standing strong
-- an Indiana prisoner, 4/4/95
NEW YORK GUARDS SELL DRUGS
Dear comrade,
I've received your May and June issues of MIM Notes. I like the paper very much because it is enlightening me about the forces of oppression and how they work.
Also I would like to inform you of the continuing efforts of the penal system to break the morale of prisoners here in New York State. Despite the numerous attempts of prisoners to create an environment which may be conducive to rehabilitation and preparation for our return to society and our families, the government seems to find content in their every effort to sabotage our efforts.
In addition, the guards at this facility are selling drugs to prisoners in order to keep them in a zombie state of mind. So far several officers were arrested for running drug operations in this facility. Goes to show who the criminals are.
--a New York prisoner, 6/13/95
SILENCED SOULS RECOGNIZED AND SUPPORTED
The following statement was written by a New York prisoner for a "Forum on Political Prisoners and Repression in Amerika" in Boston
Throughout Amerika oppressed nationalities are hoarded up in Amerika's prisons. The white supremacist structure which is based and rooted in a world imperialist policy of exploitation and oppression seeks to dismantle the nationally oppressed minorities within her borders. Prison has played a large part in repressing revolutionaries of all sorts.
The oppressed nationalities that dwell within these steel and stone tombs face acute political repression. However some political prisoners are more well known than others and their cases are widely publicized while the majority of oppressed nationalities that are imprisoned are either ignored or unheard of. I'm most sure that Mumia, Sundiata, Geronimo, etc., are very aware that they are not the only ones that are politically repressed, tortured, executed and denied parole within the prisons of the U.S. empire.
There are whole clumps of nations in here, with prisoners that face the same injustice, frame-ups and politico-national oppression that other well- known political prisoners face and experience.
By focusing on a handful of political prisoners while ignoring the rest, is undoubtedly sanctioning the political repression that thousands of other oppressed nationalities face at the hands of the common foe, i.e. the U.S. empire. This is not to negate the various sacrifices that well known revolutionaries have made and are still making. Yes, free Mumia but whatever happened to "Free the Black Nation," "Free the Latino Nations," "Free the First Nations" and "Free all the oppressed nationalities from the U.S. empire's dungeons!!!"?
The great revolutionary George Jackson recognized that we are all political prisoners because we all belong to various oppressed nationalities.
"UPDATE!, UPDATE! Just the other day at 7pm in Westbubblefuck Correctional Facility revolutionary Jane Doe was framed for the murder of a prison guard. Revolutionary Jane Doe was due to go home next week and had strong ties with revolutionary organizations throughout the nation. She is also known for organizing against cop brutality, censorship, and U.S. imperialism. Unfortunately, she is now facing life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."
"UPDATE!, UPDATE! Just in! Revolutionary prisoner John Doe was just found in his cell dead. He was due to go home in just 2 more days. Revolutionary John Doe was a well known Maoist throughout the Eastbubblefuck Prison Facilities. He is known for organizing against national oppression, homophobia, gender oppression and for peace truces between rival gangs. Police say that Revolutionary John Doe committed suicide by swallowing a bar of soap. No one has yet come to claim the body."
This occurs to hundreds if not hundreds of thousands of oppressed nationalities that are unheard of and ignored as they struggle against the U.S. empire and for national liberation, often sacrificing their lives. We must organize as a nation and for the nation; not just for a couple of people from the nation. There are many Mumias and Sundiatas within the U.S. prison system.
As George Jackson said "a person that takes the civil exam today can kill me tomorrow and a person that took the civil exam yesterday can kill me today." This is the ever present reality for all of Amerika's prisoners especially the oppressed nationalities that come to prison and become politically conscious and active.
I think the important factor in Mumia's unjust trial is a lesson to be learned on how far the state will go to take away our most advanced leaders, especially when those leaders are calling for national liberation and the destruction of the U.S. empire. Many brothers that are in prison take up leadership roles and are subjected to the same repression of the Mumias and Sundiatas, however many of these revolutionary leaders do not receive a lot of outside support.
It's extremely difficult for prisoners in here being that we are cut off from society. The lack of funds, outside support and revolutionary material greatly hinders the development of potential revolutionary forces in prison.
MIM's Under Lock and Key work has greatly contributed to supporting prisoners and allowing us to get our voices out there to the public. We need more people to contribute to MIM's work via money, books and/or time. Believe me when I tell you that many a good revolutionary has sacrificed their life or are brutally beaten in here and are railroaded by the law. However with your contribution to Under Lock and Key we could fight back much more effectively.
Let the thousands of silenced souls that dwell within these dark and dank tombs be heard and recognized and supported.
We are all in this together. Support Under Lock and Key
Death to the U.S. empire!
Long live the people's struggle for land and liberation
--a New York Prisoner, 8/18/95
DONATION TO PRISON PROGRAM
I have just read Abu-Jamal's "Live from Death Row" and am working on a review of it. The book is so important, I think, that I am enclosing $200 to be earmarked for the Books For Prisoners Program. Please use the money to send Abu-Jamal's book to any prisoner who wants it.
In Solidarity,
-- a friend from the Midwest, 8/12/95
SHOULD CHILDREN BE TRIED AS ADULTS?
We live in a society where racism and double standards are the name of the game. It has a stratification system that economically, physically, and emotionally places the rich white capitalists on top and the poor Black or other people of color at the bottom. A system that economically, psychologically and physically manipulates it to remain as such.
No, I do not think that this society should try children as adults, unless society will try both white and black children the same. Which it does not. Most of the crimes in this country are committed by whites, out of its 175 million people- -violent crimes included. Young Blacks are six times as likely to be arrested for violent crimes as Whites, of a Black population of 35 million.
Places of imprisonment are filled with people of color and to my way of thinking this constitutes a well defined system of racism, double standards and population control. Our children are not born murderers, rapists, thieves or criminals but are victims of the manipulation of the cruel capitalist society in which we live. It creates both the saint and madman, the poor, the desperate, the you and me. Trying a child of color as an adult and locking him or her away has, in reality, nothing to do with solving the created crime problem. Instead it adds to the hurt to an already injured people. Personally I believe in laws to govern the people, only when those laws govern with equity regardless of race, color, religion or economic status. This is not the case in the U.S.A.
--a Maryland prisoner, 5/15/95
FEDERAL CENSORSHIP
In accordance with Bureau of Prisons' Program Statement 5266.5, Incoming Publications, the following publication, MIM Notes, June 1995 issue, has been found unacceptable for introduction into the institution. Specifically, the article "Crossroad," page 10, in the "Under Lock & Key" section encourages activities which may lead to the group disruption. The contents of the publication pose a threat to the security, good order, and discipline, of this institution.
Consequently, this publication is rejected. You are hereby informed that you have the right to appeal this decision within 15 days, under the Administrative Remedy Procedure. [This letter was dated 6/29/95 and postmarked 7/14/95. So much for the appeal process. --MIM]
By copy of this letter, the sender MIM Distributors, is hereby notified of the decision to reject this publication. The sender may obtain an independent review of the rejection by writing to the Regional Director, Southeast Regional Office, 523 McDonough Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30315.
Sincerely,
Fred J. Stock, Warden
U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Penitentiary, 601 McDonough Blvd. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30315-4423
FEDERAL PRISONERS FIGHT CENSORSHIP
Dear MIM:
Please be advised that the B.O.P.'s rejection of your recently sent material only applies to that specific issue. Please do not stop sending it. By doing so, you would prevent me from fighting the system from the inside.
Enclosed is a copy of my BP-8/Informal Resolution submitted in response to the refusal. As an avid reader and writer of MIM, you can rest assured that I will pursue this matter with vigorous zeal: if not for any other reason than the fact that it supports your position and argument to which I have been debating against for the last six months.
RE: REJECTED MAIL FROM MIM NEWSPAPER
Recently I received notification that a newspaper I receive was being withheld because an article advocated disruption of the prison system. This notification arrived one month after the newspaper had been returned to its sender and accorded me only a 15 day complaint time--which had obviously expired by 15 days when I received the notice.
The U.S. Supreme Court has set the following minimum standards that must be followed when prison officials censor or withhold mail. The inmate must be notified of the rejection of his mail, the mail's author must be allowed to protest the refusal and the complaint must be decided by an official other than the one who made the original decision to refuse delivery. Essentially, this administration denied me the opportunity to lodge a protest to the denial of my mail by its lengthy delay in notification.
MIM Notes is a newspaper that sends out its publication every month. It is written by the Maoist Internationalist Movement--a form of Socialist/Communist advocacy. I have enjoyed a long standing printed debate with this publication. They print my articles, even though they are contrary to their dogma, and respond in kind with their own socialist/communist propaganda. As far as I've been able to ascertain, that there are two inmates here that receive this publication and neither of us advocate for the communist doctrine. For me it is an opportunity to employ my writing skills to express my concerns regarding the deterioration of our liberties and freedoms. In fact many of my articles, though seemingly "anti-government," speak directly against the use of violence as a vehicle to promote change.
As you can see, your concerns for censorship are both unfounded and unjustified, and a poor excuse for denying someone else less enlightened and educated the right of freedom of expression and freedom of speech.
Sometimes, if given the opportunity, you find signs of responsibility in the least likely places. Because of all my articles to this publication have been printed, a certain amount of responsibility comes with the territory. Maybe my response to those inflammatory comments would have had an impact on someone else's life. And because I do not advocate violent revolution, maybe the impact of my comments might have made a difference to someone contemplating violent reaction. You prison officials need to remember that with your god-like power over our lives that there is just enough need for temperance as well as responsibility.
--a federal prisoner in Georgia, 7/24/95
PRISONERS FIGHT OPPRESSIVE CONDITIONS
Once you are in a control unit, they will target you and you will be subjected to years of isolation for minor and/or no infractions, while others get 15 days. Since this SMU opened in April 1992, it has always been 90% New Afrikan prisoner populated. This is by design. The oppressors that work here are always 95-98% white supremacist. So you can imagine what happens here.
We can not use hygiene materials of any kind, no body soap, no lotion, no deodorant, no hair grease. We have to wash ourselves with toilet soap that tears our skin off. We live in concrete bunks with a bright light in our faces 24 hours a day. Prisoners are beaten, maced, stoned, etc. for no or frivolous reasons. This concentration camp is on the same par as Hitler's Auschwitz.
We have filed 33 state habeas corpus suits and have been appointed a lawyer who has been on top of things. The first set of hearings was June 8,1995. The next sets should be held in late June and early July. Of course the prison staff here is upset, but who cares.
I look forward MIM Notes and sharing it with those around me who are conscious and in the struggle.
In struggle
--a Pennsylvania prisoner, 6/20/95
MA GOVERNOR FIGHTS FOR MORE PRISONS
Massachusetts Governor William Weld is pushing to spend $705 million on new prisons, including two medium-security and one maximum-security prison.
Prisoners at MCI-Concord are suffering the worst overcrowding, at 300%. Superior Court Judge Patrick King ordered the Governor and the DOC to reduce overcrowding at Concord by September. King found prisoners "stacked in dormitories like cords of wood with virtually no space or privacy." The Globe described the conditions for many Concord prisoners: "housed 75 to a room, some without a mattress, sharing two toilets and one or two showers and guarded by one corrections officer."
Weld's problem with this is that it has led to a statewide increase in physical assaults on the pigs, up to a record 300 last year and have continued to rise. Weld is trying to use this new court order to build support for his new prisons plan.
The loyal Democratic opposition got a bill passed to spend $50 million building modular units that contain 800 beds. He also wants to spend $38 million for "new facilities for the Department of Youth Services, including boot camps for youthful offenders" and $20 million on "community service" programs and electronic monitoring devices.
The Republicans are thinking more long term, but both agree that more of all kinds of confinement are needed immediately. The Demopublican- Republocrat split is only on paper, and barely at that.
NOTE: Boston Globe 7/19/95, p. 19.
PRISONERS WITH HIV STRUGGLE AGAINST OPPRESSION
Dear MIM,
Excuse me for not writing sooner, I am HIV positive and am trying to stay healthy. I am still receiving my MIM Notes, so please keep me on the mailing list.
In your last issue, August 1995, the letter from Brother Mumia Abu-Jamal was moving and helped me to establish a base for my organization. Since last year, I have been a board member of the HIV/AIDS in Prison Project, but there were so many obstacles for us members to cross. HIV inmates were not properly informed of the their diagnosis, nor provided instructions for the proper use of medication, nor provided appropriate follow up treatment.
Also, there are few bilingual personnel whom can be called on for medical emergencies and who can understand inmates' descriptions of symptoms and medical histories. These factors resulted in a disproportionate number of preventable deaths among Latinos. So we inmate patients have to discuss amongst ourselves how deal and counter this problem that effects us daily.
These are the basic human rights issues that the California Department of Corrections have overlooked time and time again. The Vacaville California Medical Facility (CMF) administration has released the number of deaths to be around 400 since 1989. We all know that this is a cover-up. We have demanded that the CMF at Vacaville release their information about prisoners with HIV and AIDS to an outside by of independent investigators on that matter. That was 11 months ago and we are still dying in record numbers. But we are still fighting this struggle.
Yours in struggle,
--a California prisoner, 8/24/95
PRISON BRIEFS
Doublecelling is proceeding a pace. Some of us political prisoners are forced to work in Unicor. A comrade was framed recently.
--a Kansas prisoner, 5/1/95
I was in Vietnam, captured as a POW and received better treatment than that which is now being afforded to me here.
--a Colorado Prisoner, 7/17/95
The blowers are being turned on in our cells, causing the temperature to drop to around 40 degrees. This started about a month ago. For the first week the blowers remained on 24hrs straight. Since then they are turned on at 7am and shut off at 4pm. The reason: an alleged high level of carbon monoxide.
--a Maryland prisoner, 4/3/95
The beatings still go on. Isolation cells are still being used, although I hear that both the "pink- room" and the "cadre area" isolation cells are no longer to be used due to a government investigation, but if so, it hasn't started yet. The physical and psychological torture is applied constantly and the blowers I mentioned are still in effect.
--a Maryland prisoner, 5/7/95
Texas no longer feeds its captives beef. Yeah they've got a new flavor, "VitaPro" (soybean). They are actually feeding us animal food. That and pork (forced vegetarianism). Despite the fact that the system raises and slaughters 1,000s of cows and pigs a week. Obviously being sold for private profit.
--a Texas prisoner, 6/2/95