...All of my energy has gone in to straining to keep the small faction of comrades from splintering here. The psychological tactics of the agents of this repressive agency are wearing a lot of these guys down. I must keep them from giving up completely and that is a task that is never ending, but one I'm up to.
I've been dealing with suicides, guys giving up appeals, etc. Added to this is the constant battle with the counter-revolutionary faction for control of how we are to deal with our enemies and manage to evade the electric chair at the same time. The barrage of nonsense is effecting my brothers mentally so any suggestions would be much welcome....
Remaining Strong -- a Florida Prisoner, 13 August, 1996
TEXAS PIGS MURDER PRISONERS
...In Texas last night, the news openly stated that any TDCJ Guard can murder any inmate. In July 1996, on the Robertson Unit, while in the fields, a Hispanic was shot. He was shot in the head, not in the back but in the front. The papers guess, he was running backwards, for that is the only way he could have been shot as he was. Due to the man not having any family in the United Snakes, no action was taken in this case.
This week on another unit, inmates refused to continue to work for free for a private unit. The guards shot unarmed inmates. The guards in the TDCJ and all private units now know that an inmate's life is meaningless to the system. Till we stand as one ... we will continue to die on Price Daniel Unit. The Assistant Warden has made it clear that he will allow White Racists to go unpunished, be it guard or inmate. I stand with [the] few who see no place in this life or any place in the world for this to be allowed to continue. Together we stand strong, apart we die one by one. Brothers, learn and accept, not to accept any less than right and justice.
-- a Texas Prisoner, 30 August,1996.
STUDY GROUP THRIVES IN THE FACE OF BRUTALITY
...As I stated in my last letter, myself and three other prisoners were locked down because of our study group. Because in our study group we were sharing descriptions of the oppressive and inhumane ways of our keepers. I'm very proud to tell you that I've started a new study group, as of now, seven members and I will not stop my study because of my keepers' hate for the truth nor will I stand for inhumane treatment of those in struggle with me....
...Since Corrections Commissioner Wayne Garner took office in December, inmates have reported a series of attack by guards during sweeps and searches at state prisons. Prison officials have denied any abuse...
Incidents include: Jan. 4: Surprise inspection at Central State Prison in Macon Georgia.
Jan. 16: Inmates reported they were beaten during a sweep at Scott State prison in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Mid-January: Inmate reports he was forced to strip to his underwear and was handcuffed to a fence in the cold for several hours because he refused to address a guard as "sir". A deputy warden was fired in connection with the incident. One could wonder if the warden was under the impression his Commissioner, Wayne Garner, would approve of his action.
Jan. 26: Inmate said he was beaten during a sweep at Wayne State prison in Odum, Georgia....
June: Lawsuit accusing officers of abuse at Autry State prison in Pelham is amended to include a complaint of a 58 year old disabled inmate who was locked down for six weeks then forced into a marching program after formally protesting his punishment for failing to walk four miles for his health.
July 3: Inmates report they were beaten during a sweep by riot squad at Hayes State Prison in Trion, Georgia. Squad later sent to Walker State prison in Rick Spring, Georgia, where inmates' heads were shaved and others say they were told to remove their clothes, squat and "walk like a duck".
July 16: Four escapees from State Prison said guards beat them after they were captured and then paraded them in from of a window so other prisoners could see their injuries.
Commissioner Wayne Garner has begun a reign of terror of psychological abuse of prisoners. In a letter to Deval Patrick, head of the agency's Civil Rights Division, John Cole Vodicka of the prison and jail project said Garner had exhibited "maniacal behavior [that] has set a mean-spirited tone through the Georgia prison system". As a result, many prison guards and wardens "believe they have Carte Blanche permission from on high to ignore, mistreat or brutalize inmates".
I call out to every person out there to please come together. Many have loved ones in the state prisons in Georgia. Stop this abuse by a crazy man in a high place. Write to the Department of Justice and request an investigation into this abuse in the state prisons in Georgia....
-- A Georgia Prisoner, 17 August, 1996
FEDERAL CENSORSHIP CASE
Dear Comrades, Please renew my subscription to MIM Notes. The last issue I received was #118. Though issue 117 and 118 were selectively denied. They only let certain issues reach my cell.
The good news is that the Federal courts will rule around October on the constitutionality of this censorship. My attorney stated [that] it's an open and closed case being [that] the prisoncrats have no penological reason to deny the publications. Thus I should get all post denied issues of MIM Notes if the court rules fairly.
There's been a lot of restrictive changes within the last month and once the prisoncrats finish doing their modifications, I will send a chronological calendar of events for MIM Notes...
In Struggle.
-- an Iowa Prisoner, 28 August, 1996
DEATH BY NEGLECT OF VICTOR BARNES
This letter concerns a deceased prisoner named Victor Barnes who's death was caused by neglect. Mr. Barnes arrived at TDCJ-ID wearing a leg brace due to an earlier injury. On April 17, 1995 here at the Hughes Unit, Barnes slipped and fell in the inmate chow hall. He landed on his back and knocked himself unconscious. Since the accident Barnes has severe problems walking and eventually he was completely unable to walk.
The administration reacted to Barnes' condition by placing him in (LOP) Loss of all Privileges, also known as special cell restriction for thirty days at a time.
...On October 5, 1995, before I was physically forced into the cell with Barnes, who constantly urinated and defecated on himself and the floor, he [Barnes] told Sergeant Crane that he was in pain. Sgt. Crane then called the infirmary. Nurse D. Cooper and a female nurse answered the call. Both nurses and Sgt. Crane went up to Barnes' cell and stood outside of the cell door for only a second because of the rancid odor escaping Barnes' cell. Nurse Cooper firmly declared that there was nothing wrong with Barnes. Sgt. Crane then made an inmate mop up the water, urine and dissolved feces and there were no disinfectants used.
After I was physically forced into the cell, Barnes asked me not to hurt him, and I assured him that I would not. Barnes admitted that he had not taken a shower in about 7 weeks and that medical would not do anything for him. Although I had an injured shoulder, I would drag him to the toilet so that he could either urinate, defecate or bath himself.
For four days Major Starkey and Captain Erickson gave orders not to open our cell door. I was denied showers and our sack lunches were pushed beneath the cell door into the cell.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning a nurse would walk the runs to take verbal medical complaints. Barnes would tell the nurse he had blood in his urine and that his stomach, chest, back and legs were hurting . The nurses would say, "Barnes there isn't anything wrong with you." If he was given a medical appointment, security would only say that he refused because they all knew he couldn't walk.
The medication aides would refuse to give Barnes his medication because he couldn't get up to get it. They wouldn't give it to me so that I could take it to him. So on many occasions I would drag him from his bunk to the cell door so he could get his medication I filed grievances against Ms. Redden and Ms. Cooper on behalf of Barnes.
[Another prisoner] also filed grievances on behalf of Barnes. After I was moved from his cell, Barnes smelled so bad that a person could smell the odor two cell doors away. The medical department still neglected to provide any medical care for Barnes.
Barnes had told me about a medical appointment he was awaiting. He was sure if he could have gotten to John Sealy Hospital, he would receive medical attention. His appointment was scheduled for a date in November 1995. However, during November or mid- December, Barnes was taken away by medical staff and security. No one knows if he went to John Sealy Hospital.
I filed a civil lawsuit ... because of the excessive use of force and the unsanitary conditions I was forced to live in for 8 days. I expected Barnes to appear as a witness in this case, but I was told by prisoners that Victor Barnes was dead and his body was taken from the unit infirmary.
I'm requesting the support and advice from prisoners, outside comrades and any state and local organizations in my quest to see that justice is brought upon those involved in the death by neglect of Victor Barnes.
I am sure TDCJ-ID officials told Barnes' family members something about his death but nothing in reference to the truth. Victor Barnes was from San Antonio, Texas, and maybe one of MIM's readers will see this article and pass it on to the Barnes family....
-- a Texas Prisoner, Aug. 29 ,1996
A CALL TO ORGANIZE AFTER ZYION'S EXECUTION
There appears to be an awakening at this particular prison (Michigan City). Just recently they, the Pigs, just used lethal injection on my brother, and now they have placed an entire prison on lockdown, until they decide what to do next. Because they already know this comrade was one of the Revolutionary brothers who stood for change, which means the same for the others who may also follow that path.
As it stands, nothing is guaranteed, with various new laws which extend prison sentences, 3 strikes, etc. I feel at this point that a discussion should address how do we come about organizing our communication system, by small radio, small TV, as so forth, to establish a link. {This is] to get prepared and ready for our battle, at that breaking point where people are straight up tired of everything, ... about Capitalist running government,...
-- a Michigan Prisoner, 16 August, 1996
NATIONAL OPPRESSION IN WISCONSIN
Revolutionary Salutes My Comrades I answer your call from the belly of Wisconsin's KKKoncentration KKKamp. I would like to thank our for pushing my brother, Khalfani Khaldun's case to the forefront. I know how oppressive the state of Indiana is and I thought that no state compares to its blatant oppressive ways until I was captured and kidnapped in the state of Wisconsin.
This place is truly a large plantation for the poor to till the land. Master Tommy Thompson is a true snake with 2 heads. We have no rights in this KKKamp. The KKKamp has a majority of New Afrikans [prisoners], but there are 4 New Afrikans employed here and they are trained well. If you openly disagree with the system, you are placed in the dungeon.
The hearings here are a joke, our so-called rights are trampled upon daily. The sad part is that 98.9% of the population refuse to do anything constructive or anything at all about the conditions here. Brothers complain but refuse to sacrifice.
For example, I was in a Afrikan Heritage Group, where our sponsor, a staff member of Afrikan heritage, but not Afrikan ideas. [He] relayed to our group of 25 brothers that the complaint officer stated that she does not waste her time on complaints by New Afrikans about racism because we use that as an excuse. He told us this directly.
Me and another brother in the group asked a New Afrikan brother who was well versed in the law to assist us in filing a compliant to the Department of Corrections, which he did. This brother is a solid brother who has received numerous checks from his lawsuits against this racist state.
Once the pigs found out about the complaint, which is legal according to the DOC's rules, they asked us who told us that she made this statement. We refused to tell because we didn't have to. The pigs issued a conduct report for lying on staff and disrespect.
The so called investigation was so weak. The pigs asked the accused if they made the statement and of course they denied making them. That was the end of the investigation. The New Afrikan staff member who told us even denied he made such a statement. What hurt me is that the Afrikan Heritage Group stated that we should have expected him to deny it and that they couldn't do anything. They refused to stand up for this brother knowing it was wrong.
I asked how do you expect for anyone to be a coward? I quit the group and a truly righteous comrade got 90 days segregation. This place is very passive and these brothers are all about gym shoes and being macks, which is about nothing. I long for the day to return to my hometown, to be around my solid comrades.
-- a Wisconsin Prisoner, 24 August, 1996
RCG1 Responds: This letter clearly demonstrates how prison officials will use groups, such as the Afrikan Heritage Group, to keep prisoners oppressed. If this study group is led by a prisoncrat staff, then it is not intended to empower people, but control them. That pig staff made that statement about the complaint officer in order to see how prisoners would react. This way he saw who was progressive and set them up to get punished and segregation.
The focus should be on examining the oppressive forces of the pigs and how to organize the masses. Not all prisoners are just interested in gym shoes. The solid comrades have to help lead, organize and educate. They must work against the oppressive pig forces and start study groups, letter writing campaigns etc.
30 September, 1996
ARIZONA GOVERNOR AND DOC DIRECTOR ARE THE REAL CRIMINALS
...I would like to update you on the problems we are experiencing in ADOC [Arizona Department of Corrections], but to complain is redundant and prisoners all across the nation are experiencing the oppression of prison authorities.
I will talk about the indictment of Fife Symington, the governor of the state of Arizona. As you probably know, he was hit with a twenty-three count indictment by the federal government. I an curious to see how he will fair. The sheep of Arizona have not even risen up to get him out of office. I know back home, I am from Washington D.C., the people don't take that shit. I know you are probably thinking, "What about Marion Berry?". The average person does not know that Mr. Berry was the greatest mayor D.C. ever had. Before he got into office the first time, the city and the poor were suffering drastically. I know there are still problems but no one did it better than him.
Getting back to Fife, the feds have charged him using his governor ship to pressure banks into deals that benefit him, lying to the feds in bankruptcy hearings, and the theft of 25 million dollars. He still is in office. There has been a feeble effort to have a recall vote, but they need 200,000 some odd signatures within 120 days.
The interesting part of this story is Fife is a staunch advocate on get tough on so-called criminals. Shit he is the biggest criminal of them all. He also was one of the leading advocates of the state's rights issue. Last year his crony, Sam Lewis, the former director of the Department of Corrections, was found in contempt by q federal judge concerning payment to a special master. The special master was appointed to be a liaison between the prisoners and the ADOC.. Lewis and Fife conspired to introduce and push a bill in the state legislature which made it imperative that the state legislature approve any moneys Arizona had to pay the federal government pursuant to fines and the like.
As you can imagine the feds shat bricks over that shit and swift action was taken to negate the state's action. After the contempt charge, he resigned a month later.
Anyway, I know the feds have not forgotten Fife's enthusiasm for state's rights. I do not want to see anyone go to prison, but Fife is an exception. He has made life in this DOC a living hell. like he promised. There has been numerous uprisings behind the policies he and his cronies have implemented. They don't want the public to know, usually it was leaked to the press that it was racial tension that caused the uprisings, but most of the times that was not the case.
Fife has used the incarcerated as his whipping boys and treated us like shit. I guess he never knew he might be facing prison one day. That is the problem with the average Joe on the street. Any person is just an arrest away from being sent to prison, unless you have money. Then you can just about get out of anything.
Unfortunately, Fife is not coming to ADOC. The feds got him. The state did not have the balls to get him even though the writing was on the wall. Hopefully the feds will remember the song and dance Fife gave the public concerning state's rights and send his add to a fed penitentiary of FCI [Federal Corrections Institution]. But knowing the system, he will probably go to camp for a few months.
Don't get me wrong,, I hold no torch for the feds.. They can kiss my ass too.. But people like Fife need a taste of the medicine he has concocted.
Please continue the good work your organization is doing. Please keep me apprised of your work and the positive work of others by keeping me on your mailing list. Thank you.
-- an Arizona Prisoner, 9 August, 1996
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CORRUPTION
The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has been rocked with some scandals of Corrections Officers' (C.O.) questionable conduct.
In the month of July 1996, MDOC, C.O. Giles, (a black female pig) was accused of shooting her gun at another MDOC employee off duty. This was regarding another female MDOC employee (who works with Ms. Giles at the E.C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon, Michigan) for allegedly having an affair with her "man" (who is also an employee for the MDOC and who works at the same facility.) As of this writing Ms. Giles is laid off work, pending investigation.
On August 4, 11996, C.O. Vines (a black female pig) was caught in the room of another prisoner with her pants down. A fellow "white" employee, C.O. Anderson , is the one who discovered this incident. C.O. Vine was taken up to the Control Center and off the prison grounds. The prisoner was subsequently taken to the "hole".
It has been reported that other incidents have taken place at this facility, since it opened in 1989. Example: an officer was forcing prisoners to allow him to perform oral sex on them, or he would write them major misconduct reports. Eventually this officer was caught and fired, and all the misconduct reports the officer had written were pulled. Also, officers at this facility have been busted bringing drugs into prisoners and also fired.
The corruption that takes place within the MDOC is widespread and often covered up and shielded from the general public's ears. The MDOC is very powerful and has a lot of pull with local news agencies whereby the news of their acts aren't readily reported.
The recent events will be monitored and reported as more information is gathered.
In the trenches...
-- a Michigan Prisoner, 14 August, 1996
KANSAS CENSORS MIM NOTES
I received the first paper that you [sent]. It was refreshing! Unfortunately the second wasn't allowed in. They'll refuse each and every one. The reason, part of it was written in a language other then English. While I know this isn't the real reason, the military penal system is far worse than the normal, and has unlimited resources! Continue to carry forth the word to the masses and I wish you the best in your endeavors.
-- a Kansas Prisoner, 9 August, 1996.