Due to my being on lock up for 30 days, I've been  unable to properly respond to your letters and what  not. At any rate, I received your very valuable MIM  Notes. I was very happy and well informed by the  latest addition. Being cut off from your mailing list  for the free subscription is equivalent to being re- sentenced on being denied excess to freedom, if you  will. Furthermore, "we as modern day slavery" subjects  need an outside source i.e. newsletters, MIM Notes  etc. that enables us to get out very important  information to the necessary party concerned.

Pasquotank Correctional Institution is basically a new  prison, which has already had a so-called RIOT  appropriately two months ago, due to their  inexperience regarding running a prison, trying to  treat people like caged animals. At the present time  the administration is really doing a lot of  experimental processes which are resulting in negative  reactions from the inmate population thus far.

At any rate, I'm trying to get transferred as soon as  possible, where their are more people my age range and  [the pigs --MIM] respect us as humans first not just  caged beasts and numbers. We'll write more next time.

In the struggle for Freedom, Justice and Equality.

--A North Carolina Prisoner, 10 November 1996

 "RED ALERT! REVOLUTION POSTPONED IN PENNSYLVANIA"

 As a result of a riot that took place on 14 August  1995 at Pennsylvania State Correctional Institute-Coal  Township, many comrades as well as myself have been  sent to various Governmental research laboratories  throughout the state.

I've received both newsletters of MIM Notes, and I'm  fortunate enough to be able to report that they're not  being censored in this institution, which is the most  Supermax prison in Pennsylvania.

Because of my alleged participation in this riot, I  received 29 months disciplinary time in the segregated  housing unit. There are many other soldiers who are in  the same position as me for taking a stand against  these imperialistic tyrants all over the state. The  sacrifices that many of us make are sometimes un- noticed and often unappreciated. That's mainly because  Pennsylvania has a "Vicious Put Em to Sleep Program"  that's more deadly than a canister full of 100% Sarin,  a poisonous chemical pathogen that's 1,400 times more  powerful than cyanide.

The majority of prisoners in this state have been  pacified so much that they can't even bare the thought  of losing their special materialistic privileges. This  type of psychological hypnotic strategy is one of the  most effective methods of control over the oppressed  that I've ever heard, read or witnessed.

Instead of Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections  using whips, stun guns, black jacks and other  torturous tools on a regular basis, like they used to,  a mere threat of removing prisoners' televisions,  radios and denying them permission to purchase clothes  is a much more reliable persuasion tactic.

Because of the limited amount of political conscious  prisoners, the struggle for freedom, liberty and  justice is a never ending battle in which victory  seems less contingent. Governmental issues whether  it's local, national, or international is of no  concern to the brain-dead prisoners in Pennsylvania.  Rap videos have conquered their minds faster than a  forest fire burning down trees.

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying because me being a  25 year old Afrikan, Rap is also one of my favorite  forms of entertainment. But I refuse to devote hours  everyday talking, reading, watching and living nothing  but "RAP" when we've been saturated with problems all  around our environment.

Just recently was I able to decipher and fully  understand the connection that politics played in our  everyday life. Because of an open mind and much  sincerity, I've been fortunate enough to come across  some very knowledgeable comrades who took their time  to educate me. But sad to say there are many young  prisoners who won't even take the time to listen.

Never-the-less many of us still continue to discuss  the articles and issues raised by MIM.... Hopefully  you could provide us with more information concerning  MIM and what you're about. Sometime next month, I'll  be able to send a little donation. It may not be much  but I hope it will help.

So because of the lack of knowledge and large scale  ignorance throughout the Pennsylvania Prison System,  the revolution has been Postponed...once again.

May the struggle eventually be successful.

--A Pennsylvania Prisoner, 10 November 1996

RAIL Responds:While we recognize ignorance and passivity as  obstacles for revolutionary work, but in no way has  the revolution been postponed. Your letter above  proves the fact that there are conscious individuals  like yourself who are struggling and agitating for  revolution. It is the work and study that you and many  others are doing, both behind the walls and on the  outside, that pushes the revolution forward. The  greatest of waterfalls, starts with one drop of water.  Revolution does not happen overnight. Do not discount  yourself and the conscious brothers who helped educate  you. You are not alone and the struggle for revolution  is very much alive in the belly of the beast.

--RCG1, 27 January 1997

ARIZONA PRISONERS EXPOSE TORTURE AND ABUSE

The following letter was sent to MIM by an Arizona  prisoner (Prisoner A). All the names of the prisoners  have been changed.

Stewart Adams Honorable National Prison Project  Arizona House Representative 1&75 Connecticut Ave. NW,  #410 l700 W. Washington Street Washington, DC. 20009  Phoenix, Arizona 85007

RE: Security Staffs' use of excessive force against a  mentally ill prisoner, Inmate J housed at Special  Management Unit-II, hereafter SMU-II.

Dear Mr. Adams and Honorable ;

Please be advised that the following  information/events alleged by me, Prisoner A, had been  witnessed to by at least four (4) other inmates  besides myself and that we agreed that this should be  addressed legally, by those with the authority to do  so because, we cannot, nor can Inmate J, due to his  mental status/condition.

Facts: Inmate J has been housed in [cell #], since  August '96, and in this time, Inmate J has not taken a  shower under his own power, has not cleaned his cell,  nor submitted his clothing to be cleaned, does not  speak or understand the English language or speaks to  anyone, sleeps on the floor underneath his cell bunk  and refuses to eat or accept the meals offered him.

11th, Oct. '96, security staff had removed Inmate J  from has cell and had Inmate H, (witness) use a  pressure steam cleaner to clean the cell, facility  maintenance personnel to unplug the toilet and sink.  Two (2) officers, one female and one male had taken  Inmate J to another pod, into the recreational area  and had Inmate J undress, at which time, the female  officer used a wet toilet brush and powder cleanser to  clean Inmate J, in place of a proper shower or bath,  fully aware of Inmate J's mental condition.

17th, Oct. '96, security staff, Sgt. Wilson, upon  request by facility medical personnel, to assist her  or force Inmate J to submit to a TB test. Inmate J,  like most of us inmates, was asleep at 08:05 hours, at  which time Mr. Wilson ordered Inmate J to submit to a  TB test, had ordered him to wake up and be handcuffed  and despite the fact that many of us advised Mr.  Wilson that Inmate J does not under stand or respond  to English, used pepper spray on Inmate J.

At 08:08 hours security staff removed Inmate J from  his cell and placed him unto the shower, and left him  there and handcuffed with his hands behind his back.  Thus Inmate J was unable to operate the shower.  Security staff, fully aware that Inmate J had not been  able to use the shower to wash off the pepper spray,  placed Inmate J back into his cell.

At 08:15 hours, security- staff has turned off the  ventilation system, which caused many inmates an I to  choke and gag because of the pepper spray used. This  should give you an idea as to how much pepper spray  was used, and be advised that, a Video Camera was used  during this event.

Despite the fact that security staff had witnessed  Inmate J crying and gagging in his cell. [they]  refused to address his problems until after all of us  inmates started yelling and banging for security staff  to address Inmate J's problems. [The pigs did not  come] until four hours later, at 12:18 hours. At which  time, security staff allowed Inmate J to shower, and  due to the serious reaction Inmate J had to the pepper  spray; i.e. deep red to his skin and eyes, had taken  Inmate J to the facilities medical unit at 12:36  hours.

At 12:40 hours Inmate J was brought back to his cell,  given exchange clothing and bedding. I was advised by  CPO B. Haro that, this administration is going to be  reassigning Inmate J to a proper housing location.  That he should not have been housed here. CS0. Ms. K.  Garcis, #8742, advised us all, that Inmate J should  have never been housed in this pod, and that she was  going to find out why and correct the problem.

Inmate J, at present, seems to be alright, he has not  said anything, nor is he crying. We have no way of  knowing if he is doing alright because, like I stated  earlier he does not talk, but he is no longer crying  or gagging.

This inmate does not talk, does not respond  immediately, most likely due to his mental problems.  And the only thing that the facility medical personnel  needed to do, was look at Inmate J's TB test results  on his arm. This is not a security threat, the inmate  was not out of control, or danger to others or himself  therefore there was no justified reason to use pepper  spray on this inmate, nor treat him as they did, after  using the pepper spray.

There is new case law as to where and when pepper  spray is to be used, and not to be used on inmates.  What events, actions and conditions must be present  prior to the use of pepper spray on an inmate; i.e.  Pepper Spray cannot be used on an inmate for  withholding food trays, nor can an inmate be forced to  be subjected to medical treatment without a prior  court order, or state law.

Please be advised, this is only one inmate's problem  due to security's inhumane treatment of the concerns  of prisoners at this facility, which has become  regular operating procedure/requirements. [This] is  being brought to you both because, not like the rest  of us, Inmate J cannot help himself, nor can the  remaining mentally ill prisoners, from this type of  treatment. Additional information can be obtained by  individual witnesses, listed below.

-Signed (Prisoner A), An Arizona State Prisoner, 17,  October 1996.

Inmate Witnesses: 5 Arizona Prisoners, and ADOC  [Arizona Department of Corrections] VIDEO CAMERA.

 CENSORSHIP IN AMERIKKKA

MISSISSIPPI PRISONER FIGHTS CENSORSHIP

I received your letter dated 10-19-96 in reference to  the returned copies of MIM Theory and the Communist  Manifesto.

I am unaware of the reasons why MIM [literature] is  being returned. I have written a letter to the  Superintendent, James Anderson, concerning the  returned materials. As of the date of this discourse,  I have yet to receive a response. Therefore, I took  the opportunity to acquire a copy of the Mississippi  Department of Corrections Inmate Mail and  correspondence-Policy # 06.01, by the Authority of the  Commissioner, Steve Packett, effective date April 1,  1996.

This copy is for your file and use as you may see fit  to use. I shall send a letter or correspondence to  Commissioner, Steve Pack and ask his assistance in  this matter. Comrades, I am under the impression that  I am allowed to receive books, newspapers, etc. When  it's being mailed by the publisher of such. It may  also be helpful if MIM forwarded a letter to  Commissioner Packett concerning the matter.

Hopefully we can employ the assistance of the  Commissioner and Insha'Allah we shall claim victory  over the illegal mis-handling of the Mississippi  Department of Corrections Policy.

--A Mississippi Prisoner, 4 November 1996

 THE FEDS SUPPRESS MIM NOTES NATIONWIDE

 ** Recently the U.S. Department of Injustice, Federal  Bureau of Prisons has been rejecting MIM Notes. Below  are excerpts from two rejection notices from Federal  Prisons in different states **

[...]Publication is viewed as posing a threat to the  security and good order of the institution because  there exists a number of inmates of different ethnic  groups or racial backgrounds in the population at  FCI/FPC Pekin. Specifically, the publication refers to  these groups in derogatory terms and encourages the  reader to foster an adverse attitude toward them.

The release of information of this nature into our  system could adversely affect the security and orderly  running of this institution.

--David W. Helman, Warden, Federal Bureau of Prisons,  Federal Correctional Institution (FCI/FPC Pekin) PO  Box 7000, Pekin, Illinois 61555-7000, 9 August 1996.

When certain publications are found to be  unacceptable, it is the policy of the Bureau of  Prisons that the publications be rejected as per  Federal Bureau of Prisons Program Statement 5266.5,  Incoming Publications.

The enclosed publication entitled MIM Notes is being  rejected due to the fact that the publication  encourages or instructs the commission of a criminal  activity.

--Page True, Warden, U.S. Department of Justice,  Federal Prison System, U.S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth,  KS 66048-1254, 11 November 1996.

 PELICAN BAY CONTINUES TO CENSOR MIM NOTES

 A comrade working with RAIL sent the following letter  to us[excepts]. It was sent in response to a letter  the comrade sent protesting the censorship of MIM  Notes in Pelican Bay State Prison. As the comrade  pointed out "The warden does not specify exactly how  MIM Notes supposedly violates the regulations he  lists, and I do not know how or to what extent it will  be of any help to you, but I send it for your  records." We print the following because the list of  criteria demonstrate just how far this censorship in  prisons has gone. Virtually any mail could be  classified into at least one of these categories,  especially the one that involves "soliciting a  response from an inmate" since many publications and  letters request a response and MIM's regular reminder  to prisoners that they must write to stay on the  mailing list could be fit into this category.

** MIM is currently putting together a resource guide  for prisoners who wish to challenge the censorship of  MIM Notes or other mail and we are requesting  information from any prisoners who would like to  contribute to this brief guide. In addition, we need  the help of jailhouse lawyers and lawyers on the  outside who are willing to offer advice to prisoners  pursuing these cases. Contact MIM if you can help out.  **

This is in response to your correspondence dated  October 26, 1996, concerning the censorship of Maoist  International (sic) Movement (MIM), a bimonthly  newspaper delivered to inmates incarcerated at Pelican  Bay State Prison. The California Department of  Corrections Administrative Bulletin No. 95/1 (AB  95/1), issued January 6, 1995, implemented a more  restrictive acceptance of publications allowable into  departmental facilities. These restrictions are  related to legitimate penological interests.

AB 95/1 states, "Inmates shall not possess or have  under their control any matter which contains or  concerns any one or more of the following:

Inciting murder; arson; riot; or any form of violence  or physical harm to any person, or any ethnic, gender,  racial, religious, or other group;  Blackmail or  extortion;  Sending or receiving contraband;  Plans to  escape or assist in an escape;  Plans to disrupt the  order, or breach the security, of any facility;  Plans  for activities which violate the law, these  regulations, or local procedures;  Coded messages;   Any description for the making of any weapon,  explosive, poison, or destructive device;   Illustrations, explanations, and/or descriptions of  how to sabotage, disrupt, build, modify, or repair  computers, communications, or electronics;  Catalogs,  advertisements, brochures, and material soliciting a  response from an inmate;  Maps depicting any area  within a ten-mile radius of a facility;  Gambling or a  lottery."

Publications meeting the above disapproval criteria  are referred to a Facility Captain for review. A  Notification of Disapproval-Publication form (CDC- 1819) is utilized to advise the inmate. Although you  have observed constructive material in the MIM  publication, parts of it have routinely contained  material that met the disapproval criteria which  required it to be reviewed and consequently denied.

 PRISON BRIEFS

Dear MIM,

I am finally able to write back to you. I'm writing  from the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton,  Minnesota. I was transferred from Stillwater  Correctional Facility and I'd like to be put back on  the list against for MIM Notes. I miss it. I've never  seen a more truthful publication.

There's no college level courses here so I'm seeking  out an Independent study course to finish my degree in  Human Services.

There are some injustices here that are very  borderline civil rights violations. We have recently  been taken over by the Ultra Capitalistic CCA,  Corrections Corporation of America. I'd like to know  more about CCA. Do you have any information about  them? There's poor health services and they  discriminated against my "cellie". It's obvious.

Anyhow, I'll write more about that another time. You  can send me a copy of MIM Notes, we'll see if it gets  through these Anglo-Protestant, Manifest destiny  tyrants. I've met quite a few men from Colorado  interested and we do have some valid issues concerning  the job and health issues. I'm not sure if I should  write now about it. You may have a rejection, if this  letter even gets to you. Thank you. Later,

--"The Prairie Prisoner", 14 November 1996

 JERSEY PIGS GANG UP ON PRISONER

 Dear Comrade,

Please be advised that I was beaten by four pigs here  at East Jersey State Prison.

I'm in ad-seg (administrative segregation) now for 180  days. You know the pigs said I beat them.

I would still love to read your issue of MIM. But at  this time I'm not working. But if you can hold on I  will sent something as soon as I get it.

I'm in the struggle.

--A New Jersey Prisoner, 9 November 1996

 NEW NAME AND POLICIES IN INDIANA

 This is X from the Reformatory. Correction, they have  changed the name of the facility to the "Pendelton  Correctional Facility!

To inform you that I have been receiving MIM now for  the last few months. I'd just like to thank you for  the excellent work that MIM is putting forth. I'll be  looking forward to receiving the next issue of MIM!!

To update you at MIM as to what's going down behind  the bricks as referred to the opening of this letter.  I informed you that they've changed the name of the  kamp and of course a name change also ushered in a  policy change! They are now limiting the amount of  personal cosmetics that we can have to only two (2)  items per person. They've come through the kamp and  taken any "what they now cal x-tra's" and have  confiscated our personal belongings.

In the D/S (Direct Segregation) unit, they have had us  on lock-down for almost two weeks now. They claim that  a piece of metal is missing from a bed. They came in  and shook everyone down stripping us to da' skin. They  found nothing on no-one but are still refusing to let  us off of lock-down. We only get 3 hours a week for  recreation which is an hour and a half short of  federal regulation and now we are being refused that!

Well just to let you know what the prisoncrats are  doing at Gilmoore's Ranch. Peace to you at MIM.

--An Indiana Prisoner, 11 November 1996

 RESOURCES FOR PRISONERS

FREE BOOK FOR NEW YORK PRISONERS

I write to let you know that I'm receiving the MIM  Notes and that I received the MIM Theory #11 and the  pamphlet "What is MIM". Thanks! Keep me on the mailing  list.

Also, there's a book called "Connections IV Plus The  Job Search", which is 147 pages. [It] contains  information on the resources available to prisoners  being released into the New York City area. The book  is free to all prisoners in New York State (available  in English and Spanish: Indicate [preference]). For  free copies write to: Institutional Library Service,  The New York Public Library, 455 Fifth Avenue, New  York, NY 10016.

--A New York Prisoner, 25 November 1996

 TRADITIONAL TOBACCO AVAILABLE FOR PRISONERS

 Dear RAIL,

[A First Nation comrade] in the federal prison at  Petersburg VA suggested that I contact you. My  organization provides Native American inmates with  traditional tobacco and other sacred plants, at no  cost, as long as the recipients agree to use the  tobacco and other plants for ceremonies, prayers, and  related purposes. We also provide sacred tobacco to  native health groups, schools, and other organizations  and individuals needing tobacco for traditional  purposes. Please let people know about our program.  Thank you!

Traditional Native American Tobacco Seed Bank and  Education Program

1717 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87131 jwinter@unm.edu http://www.treaty7.org/friends/tnat/tnat.htm 505-277-5853

ULK is happy to print this letter to let our  indigenous comrades know about this program because we  believe that the survival of national culture is  important to the survival of First Nations. Cultural  support to our comrades in prison is helpful while  they are fighting the national liberation struggles  that are essential to the survival of oppressed  nations.