Greetings comrades,
Hope all is well for you on the front lines. Life inside is still a constant struggle to maintain the fight, but it only makes us stronger and more dedicated to rising above our oppression....
As for dealings at this camp, things are still on a downhill roll. As you can see from the enclosed memo, we now have even more hassles on Administrative Segregation (ad-seg) status.
[The memo reads in part: "Per the directive of Mr. William D. Catoe, Deputy Director for Operations, all solid steel doors and window flaps will be secured effective November 21, 1995" --MIM]
They claim that all cell doors and window flaps are closed for security, but it's not true. This is simply an attempt to eliminate conversation between us, and to try to make us suffer with limited air- flow into our cells etc.
Because if we still desire to punish a pig it is not difficult. All we have to do is wait for chow, or get a roll of tissue or something, then do what you have to do, when they open the flap to serve you. So it's punishment for all South Carolina Department of Corrections lock-ups. But we can't be broken; we'll only get stronger.
--a South Carolina prisoner, Feb. 28, 1996
WHAT'S UNDER THE TABLE OF THE INDIANA PAROLE BOARD?
Just because a person is sitting in a position of authority does not make that person right without question. Frequently that person is more criminal and corrupted than the person he is sitting in judgment of.
The Indiana Parole Board's favorite reason for denial of parole is "nature and circumstances, seriousness of offense". Yet recently the Indiana Parole Board released the following prisoners: a man convicted of murder and sentenced to life, who while serving that sentence was convicted of kidnapping the warden and the warden's wife and children in an escape attempt; a man convicted of killing a police officer and sentenced to life, who while serving that sentence escaped from custody; a man convicted of murder and sentenced to life who while serving that sentence was convicted in the death of another prisoner; and a man who was originally sentenced to death.
I was convicted of second degree murder for a shooting death during a robbery, carried out when I was 16 years old. I have served 23 years of my life sentence. I have never tried to escape, nor have I killed another prisoner. Yet I am continually denied parole.
To deny me parole while freeing the men I listed above is a mockery of justice and a slap in the face to any progressive and humane human being. I have been denied parole for "nature and circumstances, seriousness of offense" for something I did as a 16 year old. How have these men been granted parole? Did these men bribe the Indiana Parole Board? Is the attitude of the Parole Board that "the worst come first"?
Since my confinement I am virtually without biological family. An attorney sat in at my November 17, 1995 parole hearing and listened as the Indiana Parole Board members mocked me concerning one of the prisoners they had released, who earlier had stabbed me in prison. At this hearing, the Chairman of the Parole Board, Joseph Smith, was not even present. Since he is African American, and I am African American, and the victim of my crime 23 years ago was white, racism may be a factor in the behaviors and actions of these parole board members. Smith is no longer chairman of the Parole Board.
I request the assistance of any person or organization active for the cause of justice. You can assist by writing letters to the Chairman and Lt. Governor asking for a rehearing and parole:
Chairman Indiana Parole Board 302 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
Lt. Governor Frank O'Bannon 100 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46218
In solidarity, --an Indiana prisoner
CALIFORNIA, NEW JERSEY AND IOWA PRISONS CENSOR MIM NOTES
Salutations,
My esteemed comrades in struggle, I am forwarding this communique to inform you that MIM Notes #110 was censored citing pages 1,5-7, & 12, objectionable.
As you are aware, all material is now censored and this unauthorized institution exercises its discretion at determining what it appropriate or not. A consequence of struggle in which the beast seeks to suppress the undying voices of resistance. Please continue to forward papers until it becomes a futile endeavor. Continue to Build.
--a California prisoner, Apr. 17, 1996
Letters of protest can be sent to Pelican Bay State Prison, 5905 Lake Earl Dr., PO Box 7500, Crescent City, CA 95531.
Greetings,
My Brothers, Sisters, Revolutionary workers and Comrades-at-war, I greet you on this glorious day with the utmost respect and with the universal sign, "As-Salaamu-Alakium."
I just received my first edition of MIM Notes which, I truly find excellent, educational, resourceful and most of all very inspiring. But unfortunately and reluctantly, I must sadly report that the additional forward of MIM Notes will be confiscated.
The New Jersey Youth Correctional Facility claims, "It's not authorized and it poses a threat to security."
What they failed to mention was: "We are afraid that the prisoners will organize."... But nevertheless, reluctantly I must respectfully request that you discontinue to mail me MIM Notes. My spirit will always be with the struggle of the Revolution.
--a New Jersey prisoner, Apr. 26, 1996
Letters of Protest can be sent to: State of New Jersey Dept. of Corrections, Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility, PO Box 500 Ward Ave, Bordentown, NJ 08505. Mail Clerk: W. Guest.
Dear MIM,
I'd like to inform you that I am no longer allowed to receive your publications, by reason of retaliation. The prison has stopped me from receiving MIM Notes....
These actions are due to another prisoner's suit that has not yet been to court/trial yet regarding the prevention of receiving anti-right/capitalist publications (at the prison).
I enjoyed MIM Notes and appreciate the news that you provided through MIM Notes. Thank you much.
In struggle, --an Iowa prisoner, Apr. 29, 1996.
Letters of protest can be sent to: Iowa State Penitentiary, PO Box 316, Fort Madison, IA 52627.
PRISONER LOCKED UP FOR EXPOSING "TYLENOL TECHNICIANS"
Dear Comrades,
...in your letters from Under Lock & Key in the Mid-April 1996, issue #112, I saw myself. I am the person that one of my comrades wrote about....The one doing two years ad-seg time for a bag of chips!! ["South Dakota: Passing Snacks equals two years ad-seg time"--MIM]
As you probably already know, this was only a cover excuse to lock me down.
My problems started in late July of 1995. When I was lifting weights. As my comrade said, I am a fairly large man and had done a lot of time on the iron pile.
An accident happened and 550 pounds fell on me, squashing me like a bug into the pavement. As a result of this accident I have two herniated discs that I know of. I have been refused even the simplest of treatments. It has been nine months now and I haven't even gotten a complete x-ray of my back.
Since the accident, I've been forced to live with the pain. Pain so bad that at times I've had to crawl around on my belly like a snake to get to the john. At one time the pain was so bad that every time I moved a certain way I passed out....
When I was able to make my way to Health Services to see the "Tylenol Technicians" and report my problems and the pain I was having, I was placed in Disciplinary Segregation.
Twenty minutes after seeing Health Service, I loaned a Brother-at-arms a bag of chips! Boom! That was their excuse to throw me in the hole.
I had been speaking out against the Health Services and the administration felt I was a threat to the security, but they had nothing to lock me up for. This is their "valid" reason to deny me medical attention and give me the proper treatment I need.
If I am housed in the administrative segregation of the prison, which I am, then I am a security risk and not allowed to see the doctors like the general population.
I am in with the Death Row inmates and treated the same as, if not worse than any of them. For borrowing a bag of chips! My only crime in here or violation of their petty rules is having a voice against the wrongs I see, and helping out fellow brothers down on their luck.
Well that is about it here. Keep up with the good work you guys are doing and may the powers that wish to repress you Fall!!
--a South Dakota prisoner, Apr. 26, 1996
P.S. My medical condition has not improved and as of Apr. 17, the day of my ad-seg review, I am still officially an unstable individual and security risk to the prison. I was told to do my two years in ad- seg.
TENNESSEE PRISONER SACRIFICES HIS "X"
Dear comrades,
I was really happy to hear from you and to have received my issues of MIM Notes. I'm very sorry that I have taken so long in replying to you.
But I really have been going through some changes because of the "X" in my name. It is a political thing here in this prison. Since I have taken up the "X" in my name, prison officials have branded me a Communist, radical etc.
But through it all I remain strong in the struggle and will never give up. I had a talk with the warden and he has informed me that I may still receive my issues of MIM Notes as long as I remove the "X" from my name.
So please remove the "X" from my name, so I can keep getting my issues of MIM Notes. And know that I am always with you. Always in the struggle.
--a Tennessee prisoner, Apr. 25, 1996
A CALL TO UNITE AND QUIT UNICOR
Dear friends,
...I have been seriously thinking of means to knock the prison industry off its foundation. And the only way I can see it, is for prisoners to quit working for UNICOR [Federal prison industries -- MIM]. This would have to be a plan implemented through out all the U.S. prisons. I'm sure that the results would be devastating to the prisons themselves in six months or less.
Prisoners would have to gradually quit the UNICOR. Unfortunately the ones who are paying for incarceration, assessment, FRP, etc., would be hit the worst. They could be subjected to segregation, put on refusal status, or face being shipped to another facility. But you could only do this with so many prisoners. Mass shipment to me is highly unlikely especially with the prison space growing more scarce each day.
The prisoner would also have to use a backup buddy system. The backup friend, if you can find someone you trust, would receive money on their account, small amounts, to buy for that friend his personal needs at the commissary. If a person tried to stock up on many items before quitting UNICOR, if that person was to be shipped, they would lose everything, since everything is now being shipped home to your family. We have been receiving many women from other institutions and their attempts to stock up on items and clothing has backfired.
I realize that this would cause a lot of hardship for people. But as I see it, it would be a temporary setback, for a short time, in comparison to the many years that many prisoners have received on petty drug charges. I feel strongly that this plan will work. We need to pull together and knock the wheels off and take the money out of this slave labor operation.
Crack the foundation of the prison drug war. Quit UNICOR.
--a West Virginia prisoner, Mar. 18, 1996
PIGS HOLD THE TOILET PAPER IN SOUTH CAROLINA
**Below is a Policy Bulletin from Vaughn Jackson, Captain at South Carolina Department of "Corrections"' Kirkland "Correctional" Institution, to all Maximum Security Unit (MSU) prisoners:**
"MSU is experiencing a shortage of toilet paper in the unit. This is occurring because the toilet paper is not being used for what it is designed for. The paper is being wasted by cleaning the sink, and wiping the cell down instead of one's backside.
"Effective Sunday 2/11/96 - 2 rolls of toilet paper will be issued to you. If you don't have any tissue. If you have one roll you will be issued one. If you have 2 rolls you will be issued none. If by chance you need more during the week, you must fill out a request form, "--Signed, Captain V. Jackson, Feb. 7, 1996."
RCG1 responds,
This "correctional" institution is punishing prisoners for trying to clean their sinks and cells with the only materials available to them, "because the toilet paper is not being used for what it is designed for." The pigs re punishing prisoners for the pigs' own failure to provide prisoners with the necessary and desired cleaning supplies.
PRISON OFFICIALS STEAL LEGAL DOCUMENT
...While prison officials are not censoring material such as the MIM Notes, they are stealing legal documents with the same objective in mind: to keep the truth from as many as possible, to attempt to frustrate and discourage those willing to stand and fight by any means available, etc.
These prison officials allege that three pounds of legal documents sent to me on July 11, 1995 were misplaced (lost) due to a medical emergency. I say that is bullshit. But the United States District Court thinks that what said prison officials state is up to par and have dismissed my lawsuit as being moot....This shows the degree to which these pigs will go....
In struggle, --a Maryland prisoner, Feb. 29, 1996
PRISONERS ARE SLAVES
...Yes, the guards are corrupt. I remember one time three weeks ago where two inmates got into a fight, one was Caucasian and one was Black. The white inmate never got a chance to hit the Black inmate. But when they were taken to the hole, the Black inmates' face looked as if he was hit repeatedly in the face with five pound dumbbells....
Last week a Black inmate informed a guard that he felt an epileptic seizure coming on and need to see the doctor. The guard said, "that's too bad," and he said the inmate would have to write a note to the clinic and see the doctor tomorrow. At that moment, the inmate fell to the ground, eyes in the back of his head and shaking convulsively, meaning he started having a seizure.
The media does not cover these things. Why? because prison doesn't allow surprises. They know ahead of time who is coming to visit the concentration camp, and therefore, make preparations so everything seems just like it does when you are on the outside looking in. Inside prison, the prisoners are slaves, the warden is the slave master, the guards are the overseers, the jobs are the product that we slave over.
In prison one makes 25 cents an hour, some much less. This prison has contract with big corporations. We make sofas, chairs, desks, nightstands, etc. for a quarter an hour. Then they are sold in stores for hundreds of dollars, but you wouldn't know this because you're on the outside. You probably don't believe that prisoners are slaves, but doesn't it make sense? I mean, we are treated like dogs. Matter of fact, if we were treated like dogs, it would be much better.
But for those who refuse to believe that slavery still exists in the United Snakes of Amerikkka, the Thirteenth Amendment of the of the United Snakes Constitution states: Section 1- "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, EXCEPT as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Prison is wrong. It in no way helps an individual to stop committing crimes, but the opposite. Slavery is wrong....
--a Michigan prisoner, Apr. 5, 1996
VISIONS
If i could i would reach out and touch the burning sun
i would glide across the moon in slow motion...then run
i would gather up all my family members under one roof
And share with them Afrikan culture & stories that some have forsook
At the wave of my hand i would rid the crack from the ghetto streets
And i would reach out to the Motherland and pull her under my feet
i would chase uncle sam until the murderer had tired
Place a tire around his neck and set it on fire
Arrest oppression and continue to educate to liberate
Break the prison gates for the politically conscious prisoners' sake
And if i could i would bring back all the great Afrikan martyrs and encourage them to lead the way
And allow our youth to enjoy the beginnings of a new day
--an Indiana prisoner, Nov. 7, 1995. In memory of Ajamu M. Nassor 8/12/51 - 12/8/94
TEXAS PRISONER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST GUARD-INFLICTED TORTURE
...On Nov. 14, 1992, I was attacked and injured by [prison guards] Arthur Pina and Robert Vela. I was struck in the head and body, brutally lifted from the ground and dropped head first into the concrete floor during the conquest of these two attackers.
I was injured and in great pain, to the point of mental shock to my mind. Also during this attack I was afraid and in fear for my life as well as permanent health, as both attackers verbally made known their intent to do such.
Not only did both attackers isolate me, but further caused serious mental stress and anguish by threatening to take my life and injure me further if I spoke a word of my attack to anyone. At which time, others arrived to aid.
Arthur Pina is a prison officer who out of personal interest and deliberate intent, attacked me. He attacked me in retaliation for a past conflict which was stopped by a warden due to my family's as well as my own complaints about his daily abuse.
He has conspired with one Robert Vela to risk my life. I believe he has also attempted to take my life and intentionally cause serious bodily injury to me. Both to intimidate and punish me for "bad faith" and personal gain. Not only because of the out-of-duty actions against me, but also to ensure other friends of his attack and injure me. Because of his status and the intentional premeditated and trumped up story and investigation which he and Robert Vela used to hide the attack yet at the same time having me, after seeking help, attacked by several other of their friends.
Both of these attackers are shielding and falsely applying information to the records and going to find other friends who weren't present to write up incident statements.
But sworn to other officials on such, to insure me being locked away and isolated from witnesses and aid thereof because of the attacked nature and actions, treatments, punishments by others as well as other retaliation.
I've suffered mental anguish, physical abuse, segregation and lose of property, in which due to constant fear for my life I've been placed in such terror. To where I'm under psychiatric care and medication and constant counseling with weekly treatment, and daily fear for my life and safety.
--a Texas prisoner, Mar. 5, 1996
POLITICIAN USES PRISONERS TO PRINT HIS CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
Dear comrades,
I'm sending you a copy of the McCollum Report [Bill McCollum, U.S. Representative, Eighth District-- Florida, Campaign Newsletter--MIM]. But best of all, I've posted through the Federal Security with evidence that Congressperson McCollum is violating the law by using prison labor in our print plant, a UNICOR Federal Prison Institute, to print newsletters for his political campaign. Friends, I am for the cause.
I can not risk mailing this to the press myself. Enclosed is a mail tag. The political campaign mails tags and prints transmittal forms showing the cost of the slave labor where federal inmates are printing for his political campaign. He is against Habeas Corpus and wants the death sentences carried out.
Please see that you print this and mail copies to CBS, NBC, or any newspaper which will print this. Federal prisons are working for the Congressman's political gain. This is the type of evidence the press is crying for. I could trust no one else to get the news out to the public. This information is high on the list of our struggle. These documents must get into the hands of the press.
--a Virginia prisoner, Apr. 16, 1996
MIM replies: We do not agree that the corporate media "is crying for" chances to expose corruption in Amerikkka's federal prison system. Instead, we build MIM Notes as an independent tool of the oppressed. Thanks for writing.