Living in oppression each day is a vision of Hell. I wake up daily and my physical rebels. Refusing to submit, I'll never bow to defeat. I walk with shackles on my feet, My waist is chained, my wrist cuffed, Still the oppressor can't get enough. He spews out mental torture and dispenses physical  pain. My Comrades know him by many names: Imperialist, capitalist, fascist, Commander in  Chief, Speaker of the House, psychopathic beast. Faces of the Enemy, No! they can't hide, Revolution is on my side. Yes! Revolution is the key, The only way oppressed nations will be Free.

--a New York prisoner, Mar. 4, 1996.
 
 

FLORIDA CENSORS MIM NOTES
 
 

In early January, a prisoner from the DeSoto Corr.  Inst. asked MIM to send subscriptions to nine of  his friends at this same institution. A few weeks  later, all nine issues of MIM Notes were refused  and returned to MIM.

--RCG1
 
 

WASHINGTON STATE CENSORS MIM NOTES

 According to a letter sent to MIM from the  Washington state Department of Corrections, MIM  Notes was censored because it is a publication  unauthorized by policy, per memo issued by  headquarters.

To protest this censorship, write to the Director,  Division of Prisons of Community Corrections, PO  Box 41100, Olympia, WA 98504-1100.
 
 

TEXAS PRISONER DIES OF NEGLECT
 
 

On October 6, 1995, in Beeville, Texas, in  McConnell Unit, ad-seg area, a brother named Rufus  Green 586875 was found dead in Cell-1, Pod-F,  Section-C at approximately 8:45 am.

Brother Green died from a ruptured hernia, which  caused blood poisoning, resulting in death. From  Oct. 2, 1995 until his death, Brother Green pleaded  with prison officers and nurses.

The first, second and third shifts for medical  assistance could see that he was suffering in  severe pain, but they just totally ignored and  disregarded his and our complaints.

Just to name a few among the officers and nurses  who showed a deliberate indifference toward his  medical needs were: Eric M. Lang Co. 3, Charles A.  Bridges Co. 3, Regino A. Quintero Co. 3, Eric D.  Wood, Sgt. Philippa A. Lang, Sgt. Wesley W.  Hemphill, Garca Pablo Co. 3, Jose R. Garcia Co. 3,  Medical Nurse Sylvia Tapia, LVN.

I have written to many state and local  organizations requesting their support but it seems  that the whole world has ignored my cry, while all  those involved are getting away with the death by  neglect. I am requesting the support and advice  from prisoners and outside comrades in my quest to  see that justice is brought upon those involved in  the death by neglect of Rufus Green.

Please write or call the following agencies below  and request that the above-listed officers and  nurses be investigated regarding Brother Green's  death. Write or call:

Alvin J Bronstein, Attorney, National Prison  Project, 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 410,  Washington, D.C. 20004.

American Civil Liberties Union, PO Box 3629,  Austin, TX 78764-3629, Tel. (512) 441-0077.

Attorney David Deutch, Special Litigation Service,  Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice,  320 First St, NW Room 944, Washington, D.C. 20534.

--a Texas prisoner, Jan. 31, 1996
 
 

THE STRANGE DEATH OF DONALD WOODS
 
 

...Remember the September 1990 death of Donald  Woods at the Waupun Correctional Institution? There  was no video, the media did not do a front page  story on the broken bones and extensive wounds  inflicted on Woods, but the fact remains, he died  as a result of the actions of the Waupun staff.

On September 8, 1990 at 6:00 p.m., five correction  officers forcibly removed Woods from his cell for  disturbing other inmates in his block with "bizarre  noises." This cell-extraction was accomplished by  cornering Woods with a plastic shield, handcuffing  him and gagging him with a towel. Woods was gagged  because he was tested HIV positive and allegedly  spat at officers in the past.

Once out of his cell, Woods was thrown into a  laundry cart, like a sack of dirty clothes and  transported to the "Adjustment Center," where he  frantically struggled against the officers trying  to place him in restraints. Their adrenaline  pumping from the heat of battle, the officers  lifted him onto the bed and began the process of  subduing him. One officer applied pressure on the  towel over Woods' mouth to keep his head in place,  while a 200 pound officer dug his right knee firmly  into Woods' chest, preventing the manacled inmate  from arching his back. Stripped of his clothing and  placed tightly in restraints, Woods urinated on  himself and slowly drifted into  unconsciousness....At 3:30 a.m. he was found dead.

A four month investigation by the Dodge County  District Attorney concluded that there were no  grounds for criminal prosecution against the Waupun  staff because they did not "knowingly" contribute  to Woods' demise.

The bottom line is that Woods died of asphyxiation  brought by the restraining methods of the state,  therefore someone has to answer for his death....

A Wisconsin Prisoner responds: This document  represents the death of a prisoner by correctional  officers who were not charged. They suffocated this  prisoner, murdered him and got away with it!!!

Pigs need to learn they have no right to take  another life, or even to mistreat lives. However, a  great percentage of pigs like their job as it is  their legal way to relieve their hate. Prisoners  are merely "Hate Rocks" for society-- for those who  cannot portray hate in their personal lives. We are  the Hate Rocks, a route for their negativity to  flow into!

Here in Wisconsin prisons, the only things that  protect an officer are the 10 years for the crime,  6 more years for the repeater law, then another  strike towards three strikes and you're out. Surely  pigs don't think they themselves protect one  another? They're foolish, so they likely do.

Pigs must stop their actions. Some of us just can't  keep holding back, time after time, year after  year. We don't want to hurt anyone...

--a Wisconsin prisoner, 10/23/95
 
 

INEFFECTIVE COUNSEL REMOVED FROM PRACTICE OF LAW
 
 

In the case of Francis Dole Burke, Attorney vs  Kentucky Bar Association, Case No. 94-SC-267-KB  (May 26, 1994) of the Supreme Court of Kentucky,  the Supreme court rendered Attorney Francis Burke  to be unethical and unprofessional to his  client.... Mr. Burke was put on suspension for 59  days, made to pay a $953.80 disciplinary fee and  removed from the practice of law. It should be  noted that Francis Burke was under multiple  disciplinary complaints for misrepresenting  prisoners. ...any prisoner who had Francis Burke as  an attorney from the state of Kentucky should  contact MIM or the Supreme Court law book,  published May 26, 1994, Case No. 94-SC-267-KB. This  case may be of great importance to people who have  had Mr. Burke as their attorney and are fighting  for ineffective assistance of counsel cases.

--a Virginia prisoner, Feb. 22, 1996
 
 

 IN WISCONSIN, WE SAIL
 
 

"Governor Tommy Thompson, known to many state  residents as "King" Tommy, has announced that "if  keeping criminals off our streets means sending our  prisoners to Texas--bye, bye...they're going  South."

That's just one of the proposals set forth in the  State of the State address delivered by Wisconsin's  chief executive on Tuesday, January 30, in Madison.  He means it about the deal with Texas. "We have  talked with Texas corrections officials. They have  room for our prisoners. They have agreed to take  them. And we're working out the details."

According to Tommy Thompson, "Wisconsin is Working  -- better and stronger than at any time in our  history." To this governor, a "better and stronger"  state is one that shows "zero tolerance for crime."  Here are the latest anti-crime proposals he  unveiled:

Building a SuperMax prison: "Prisons work," said  Tommy Thompson. "They keep violent people from  harming good people. It's that simple. So tonight I  am committing to build a SuperMax prison. If we  don't get federal funding, we must build it  ourselves. And once this plain, stark and austere  facility is built, that's where Wisconsin's most  vicious criminals will go. The SuperMax will be a  criminal's worst nightmare."

Building a new "sexual predator" prison:  "Statistics show that 50 percent of violent sexual  offenders commit more sex crimes once released from  prison untreated. That's why we joined together to  pass a ground breaking sexual predator law...  Tonight, I am proposing construction of a new  sexual predator facility."

Sale of Prison labor to three selected  corporations: "We're putting prisoners to work,  both inside our prison walls and alongside our  roadways. Next month I will announce the first  three companies that will come into our prisons and  put inmates to work in activities no other workers  want. No more sitting around. Prisoners are going  to start working. And they're going to help pay  their keep."

Creation of the Office of Gang Intervention: "We  struck a blow against gang crime recently when we  toughened our laws so gang members can't hide  behind their birthdays and be coddled by a weak  juvenile justice system."

Creation of a victim information system at the  Department of Corrections: "This Victim Security  Card puts the status of criminals in the hands of  their victims... Court dates. Sentencing. Prison  Location. Release Date... the victim will know it  all. And will never have to wonder when the  criminal gets out or where he or she is. We need to  start worrying more about protecting our families  than about the confidentiality of convicted  criminals."

Providing broader access to criminal data: The  state will now employ a Mobil Data Terminal System  to make it "easier for law enforcement agencies  throughout the state to keep tabs on criminals."

Banning pornography and movies in prisons: "...we  are banning pornographic materials from our prisons  and removing all movies. Prisoners won't have time  for these things anyway. They'll be too busy  working."

Nan Brian, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Council  on Children and Families gave her reactions to the  speech: "It's all really a crime and punishment  plan. When people in Wisconsin think about  security, they think about stable jobs, family  supporting wages, affordable health care, good K-12  education for their kids, and the opportunity for  higher education for their children later." She  added that the governor's security plan focused  entirely on building more prisons... and treating  criminals more harshly. [See The Capital Times,  Madison, WI 1/31/96.]

Wisconsin already has eliminated many educational  programs in prisons, has a three strikes law, has  restricted property allowed to prisoners [including  books, hobby supplies or educational materials],  has eliminated free weights and may also eliminate  all weights, has double celled about one- third of  prisoners, has added new segregation units, has  moved to restrict the rights of prisoners to  request public information or file lawsuits, has  eliminated the position of an attorney in the  Public Defender's office who was responsible for  investigation of complaints about conditions of  confinement, has introduced monitoring of prisoner  telephone calls and stamping of all outgoing mail,  and has plans to add chain gangs of a "high-tech"  variety [the proposed "chain gang" program would  use stun belts and shackles instead of chaining  prisoners together].

The prison waiting lists for treatment programs are  years long. There is an inadequate grievance  system, and complaints about lack of medical care,  denial of legal rights, mail tampering, racism,  abuse and other forms of mistreatment abound. Tommy  Thompson vetoed a bill that would have established  an Inmate Death Investigation Board. There is no  independent citizen oversight of the Dept. of  Corrections, and services for women prisoners are  truly limited in a prison system designed primarily  for men. Requests by families of prisoners for  improved visitation conditions have gone unheard  for decades, and Wisconsin is transferring juvenile  offenders from supervision by human service  agencies to the control of the Department of  Corrections. The state has just begun to enforce a  new law that sends violent juveniles to adult  courts. But all these measures are not deemed  punishing enough by Tommy Thompson, the Department  of Corrections, or the get-tough legislators in  Wisconsin. A bill to re-instate the death penalty  has also been introduced, and the governor says  he'll sign it if it reaches his desk.

Tommy Thompson built his national reputation by  pushing for "workfare" and "learnfare" under the  label welfare "reform" -- the safety net for  Wisconsin's families is full of gaping holes. He  uses his veto power to change the intent of bills  with the stroke of a pen. He is dismantling the  Wisconsin educational system. He has blurred the  line between church and state. He and his  associates have reaped untold millions in profits  from prison contracts and highway construction, and  he is prepared to assist corporations to loot  mineral and natural resources with little  accountability for the social and environmental  consequences. Virtually all state agencies have  been forced to tighten their belts, but one agency  has been getting fat budget increases: the  Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

Near the end of his speech, Tommy Thompson left his  audience with these words: "In Wisconsin, we sail.  We sail toward our dreams... Good night, and God  Bless Wisconsin." To some of us, it sounds like we  sail toward a nightmare.

Watch this man, folks. He could be sailing your way  any time, and his dangerous ideas have already  sailed on ahead of him. He claims to have no  national aspirations, but he acts like a man who  would be King.

For full text of the State of the State address by  Tommy Thompson, see:  <http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us>

For local articles about the speech see: THE  CAPITAL TIMES, Madison, WI 1/31/96 (email:  tctvoice@captimes.madison.com) THE WISCONSIN STATE  JOURNAL, Madison, WI 1/31/96 (phone: 608/252-6110)"

-- A Dissident in Dairyland, Feb. 2, 1996
 
 

REMOTE PRISONS MAKE LIFE TOUGHER

 The Ely State Prison (ESP), a state of the art  maximum- security institution located in the barren  mountain region of eastern Nevada, stands as a  symbol of prosperity and long-term employment for  the little village of Ely, Nevada.

To the inmates of ESP, their stay here is similar  to being sentenced to a prison in Siberia. Most  prisoners, after arriving at ESP, succumb to the  harsh reality of just how desolate an area this  governmental monument is. Free world contact is  virtually non-existent, family visits are few,  phone calls to loved ones are costly, and abuse of  power is an everyday occurrence.

This is an all-too-common story shared by thousands  of inmates sentenced to prisons in remote areas  across this nation. Like so many other prisons  built around small town economic revival, ESP  offers prison officials an enormous opportunity to  misuse their authority.

We prisoners have rules and regulations, not to  forget state and federal laws me must follow. If we  fail to abide by these written rules, we get  punished. Prison staff members also have written  rules and regulations to follow, but because of the  isolated location of ESP, they tend to disregard  their own written policies.

This brings us to why the Nevada Department of  Prisons has so many lawsuits filed against prison  officials in the U.S. District Court. Per capita,  Nevada inmates file more lawsuits against prison  staff than any other state prison system. When  prison officials fail to follow the procedures set  down in writing by the lawmakers who oversee state  prisons, it is the given right of all inmates to  sue prison officials so that they will discontinue  this practice of disregarding and avoiding written  policy and making up rules as they go. It seems  here at ESP, there are no rules for staff to  follow, so we file many lawsuits.

For the inmates at the Ely State Prison, relief in  most instances can only be found through judicial  litigation. You, too, can find relief from the  constitutional violations caused by prison  officials by using title 42 U.S.C. 1983; its your  avenue to relief....Use it! Don't abuse it!

--a Nevada prisoner, written May 1993, sent to MIM  Jan. 4, 1996.

 MIM RESPONDS: We too say "use it!" but while some  legal battles are winnable, we do not agree that  litigation spells relief. If Amerikkka's legal  system weren't stacked against the oppressed, there  wouldn't be so many prisoners in the first place.  This is why MIM says that only revolution will give  the oppressed full relief.