STATS FROM THE TEXAS GULAGS
At the end of 1996, Texas was holding 132,383 people in behind bars, the second highest number of prisoners in the U$.
Texas along with California held one-third of all prisoners.
Among the 50 states, Texas had the highest incarceration rate, 686 prisoners serving sentences of more than one year per 100,000 population. This is higher than the national incarceration rate of 427 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents.
From 1991 to 1996 the prisoner population has increased by 43.2%. During this period Texas led the country in 156.2% increase in prison population.
In addition Texas has the second highest female incarceration rate, incarcerating 102 wimmin per 100,000 female state residents. (Second only to Oklahoma with 115). Texas led the Nation with a 25.2% increase in wimmin incarcerated (from 7,935 female prisoners in 1995 to 9,933 in 1996).
Statistical information was obtained from U.$. Department Of Injustice Bureau of Justice Statistics, Bulletin - Prisoners in 1996, June 1997, NCJ-164619, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
IN REMEMBRANCE OF GARY LEE CRENSHAW
MIM mourns the death of Gary Crenshaw. He was a prisoner in Abilene, Texas who was murdered by his jailers. The next few letters all relate to his death. MIM works to publicly expose such atrocities to build support for revolution.
FELLOW COMRADE MURDERED BY GUARDS
Also I'd like to raise comrades awareness on the latest happening over here on this plantation. Almost 4 months ago an inmate and fellow comrade of mine was brutally murdered by the guards. His last name was Crenshaw. The unit was placed on lockdown due to the uprising of the brave soldiers on Maximum Custody who mounted an attack in retaliation on the staff/guards here.
Crenshaw was known for fighting with his pen against injustices that go on daily on the French Robertson Plantation in Abilene, Texas. Fortunately the investigation uncovered and ruled it as a homicide. Crenshaw was murdered while handcuffed in his cell by the administration of a strangle choke-hold that the guards still use despite the injuries to the throat area it causes.
The riot ended with no casualties to the brave soldiers of 8 building who now have just been released from lockdown status. Which means they ate one hot meal a day, usually breakfast, and a sandwich or two one made of Peanut butter and the other either a single slice of cheese or bologna.
Crenshaw, may he rest in peace. I will continue to fight within the foulest belly of this system.
-- A Texas Prisoner, 29 April 1997 Abilene
THE KILLING OF GARY CRENSHAW
On January 25, 1997, at about 4:00 pm I witnessed Officer Mike Helm Co III, 2 G.P. order inmate Gary Lee Crenshaw, to step out of his cell while they conducted an illegal cell search. This was the second time I witnessed inmate Crenshaw's cell shaken down in week by Co III Helm.
Co III Helm aggressively ordered inmate Crenshaw to walk over to the wall, he was being pushed in the back by Co III Helm. After he complied with these orders Officer Helm told him to place his hands behind his back. Crenshaw complied. The next thing I knew he was being assaulted by Co III Helm, who struck Crenshaw with his fist on the side of the head.
After assaulting Crenshaw, Co III Johnson rushed over and joined Co III Helm, and the two slammed Crenshaw to the floor and started immediately restraining him with handcuffs. Then both officers began to beat this inmate as if he was a dead horse or something. The majority of blows were to his head. During this assault, Crenshaw stated, "You all don't have to do me like this." Yet his request went unheeded as these two mad murderers began to persistently beat Crenshaw even after he was visually and clearly restrained.
This man was wrongly being beaten because he pursed the grievance system time and time again, [against] Co III Helm and others Co III's and ranks for them harassing, retaliating, discriminating against him, denying him food and etc. And each grievance was filed in good faith.
Officer Templeton, Officer Benauides, and Prisoner W, stood by the food card in the day room watching the entire massacre, as Co III's Helm and Johnson continued to beat Crenshaw while [he was] handcuffed. Then Sergeant Baker, Supervisor of all CoIII's, and CoIII Davis came into the dayroom. Officer Davis was carrying the video camera as he and Sgt. Baker walked over to the area of abuse. Sgt. Baker never insisted that the camera be turned on. Then inmates started yelling from their cell doors, "Turn the camera on!!! Why are you all just standing there with the camera off." Then Sgt. Baker and Officer Davis left and returned a short time after this.
[When they returned] Sgt. Baker ordered Co III David to turn on the video camera. I could hear inmate Crenshaw say, "Please, let me breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe." Sounding very short of breath. Then Sgt. Baker stated, "What is your TDC number?" But inmate Crenshaw didn't answer because he was unconscious. Sgt. Baker asked Crenshaw again for his number, but he was still unconscious, probably dead. Then Sgt. Baker went over to Crenshaw's cell and ordered his cellmate to give him Crenshaw's ID card. He then went back to the assault area and ordered Officers Helm, Johnson, Templeton and Benauides to pick up Crenshaw's dead body and carry him away.
Now why would Sgt. Baker order Crenshaw's body to be immediately carried away if he was not dead? This was inappropriate handling of Crenshaw's body. Medical personnel were supposed to have been informed before they moved Crenshaw. How come Sgt. Baker didn't request that someone call infirmary for nurses or doctors, so Crenshaw could be treated properly before he died?
In the past Crenshaw had been treated for respiratory and cardiovascular problems, but Warden Drewry does not know whether those problems were connected to Crenshaw's death.
Prisoner A noted that Crenshaw had big knots and lumps upside his head as they carried him off. Judging from prisoner A's testimony, you can see that he, not only witnessed an inmate get assaulted, what he actually observed was another inmate get deliberately and brutally murdered by their own keepers. Crenshaw is the first inmate killed in the last six months.
Statistics show that in 1996, five prisoners died of natural causes, one from a shooting and three by suicide. In 1995, three prisoners died from natural causes and two committed suicide. I don't believe all these inmates died as stated. I honestly believe a majority of these inmates were indeed arbitrarily murdered.
This is the bogus [false] statement that they gave the neighborhood news staff. They say: Crenshaw swung at officers and missed. He swung again and connected. He was then restrained and taken down by officers, where they believe he hit his head on the ground. He was then taken to the Hendrick's Hospital where he later died. They say a major force was necessary. They say he became belligerent. This is something they day every inmate does.
Crenshaw was clearly killed because he sought the grievance system for help and they probably had him murdered along with this administration. The Legal 7 Handbook states, "Inmates shall not be subject to retaliation, reprisal, harassment, or discipline for the good faith use or participation in the grievance procedure" and surely not murdered as Crenshaw was.
These Co III's Helm, Johnson, Templeton, and Benauides have a known history of assaulting inmates on this unit. Gary Lee Crenshaw has a lawsuit in the federal courts against many correction officers. Could this have been a premeditated killing? A slight possibility, huh? I would like to know how many more killings have to occur on this unit before outside officials make some major indictment [of the officers] on this unit? Who knows what officer is contemplating on killing the next inmate? As long as these officers keep killing inmates and get away with it, and are not indicted, they are going to keep murdering. If they started indicting these cruel and murderous officers, and finding them guilty, then the next murderer would thing twice about killing.
-- A Texas Prisoner, 15 February, 1997 Abilene
BEATINGS AND BRUTALITY
On May 2, 1997, I was attacked by two guards as I was in my cell on the third shift. This shift is not, at any time, supposed to open any doors, unless it is an emergency.
I suffered back pain, a swollen jawbone, and a bruised knee with scratches. I was not given any medical attention, nor was a rank called on, or a camera brought in to this excessive and unnecessary major force.
I am doing better now. We are still on lock down for the murder of Gary Lee Crenshaw on January 15, 1997. We have not been allowed to make comments on anything.
-- A Texas Prisoner, 15 May 97 (Abilene)
SHOWER ASSAULT
I'm in lock-down in one of Texas's worst units. And when I say worst, I'm not referring to the Prisoners, I am speaking of Officers. They are violating Prisoners and nothing is done about it.
Such as this: I was assaulted by two TDC [Texas Dept. of Corrections] Officers who pushed my heard into a shower door and then slammed me and dragged me back to my cell without any medical attention. And no use of force was reported which is policy.
So you see how Texas Prisoners are being violated and "Nothing" happens to the officers to stop this behavior.
-- A Texas Prisoner, 19 February 97 Livingston
BRUTAL AND SAVAGE ATTACKS
I am writing in regards to the brutal and savage attacks which are being imposed on the prisoners by the diabolical hands of the TDCJ [Texas Department of Criminal Justice] Security Officials in Administrative Segregation. Prisoners who are in Administrative Segregation on the Charles T. Terrell Unit are subject to severe brutal and savage attacks on a daily basis. Such as:
Prisoners are denied their food for no given reason. Prisoners are denied their shower and recreation. When a prisoner complains about the foul/inhumane treatment he is receiving or asks to speak to a supervisor, the prisoner is written bogus disciplinary infractions and in most cases he is immediately physically attacked by 2, 3 or more security officials. Prisoners that are physically attacked usually sustain swollen eyes, nose and/or their entire face is swollen beyond recognition. But in a few cases the prisoner suffers broken bones, an arm, nose, ribs or fingers. Numerous grievance complaints have been filed with all 3 wardens, starting with the senior Warden Mr. Robert Treon, than with his 2 assistant Wardens, Mr. Zeller and Mr. Curtis McKnight, but to no avail.
Prisoners who do not know how to read or write and who do not have any family on the outside are left to defend themselves the best way they know how. Which is usually by trying to stab a security official or throwing human waste on them, which is something security officials do not like, so this form of strategy usually keeps them away.
Can you honestly imagine throwing human waste on another just in attempt to keep the other party from brutally and savagely attacking them?
Most of the prisoners who are subjected to this treatment usually end up going insane. Even though it is evident that a prisoner has gone insane, the security officials in Administrative Segregation do everything in their power to cover it up. There are seven prisoners with me right now who have lost their sanity to this capitalist and imperialist system, a system that's built on the foundation of White Supremacy. No, it doesn't make a difference concerning race, as long as you wear a white prison uniform you're subject to these attacks, period. The security officials who are responsible for these brutal and savage attacks in Administrative Segregation on the Charles T. Terrell Unit are as follows. Co III's: Brunett, R.; Burnum, E.; Byerly, L.; Childers, R.; Lee, T.; Lilley, C.; Johnston, J.A.; O'Neal, D.; Pacousky, W.; Pady, K.; Paske, S.; Pode, S.; Renfro, R.; Ripper, G.; Rittinger, T.; Scott, B.; Smith, D.; Snider, J.; Sorrells, M. Ross, W.; Wyers, C. and Sergeants: Ludwig, J.; Jefferies, P.; King; Fly; and Wilson.
Me and my Brother's along with hundreds of more prisoners are desperately seeking help. Please show the world how corrupt the Texas Prison System really is.
-- A Texas Prisoner, 20 January, 1997 Livingston
RESISTING BRUTALITY
Dear MIM, I am being held hostage in a Texas prison. And this unit, I'm on (John B. Connally) is outta control. Just the other day 3 officers opened the door and let 3 Mexicans kill another one.
I'm in Ad-Seg. cause I won't kiss the pig's ass. Just the other day an officer told me that I was a Black spot in the streets, and if I come out for rec.[recreation] they would put me on my face. Well as everybody knows, they just wanted me to refuse my rec. so they wouldn't have nothing to do. And when I came out, 2 officers (white) tried to slam me.
Well I fell on one of the officers and they beat me did not take me to medical and did not feed me the next chow. [So] I wrote my locs and they raised some hell in pop life [general population].
After they heard about who I was, they came back and did me up again, but this time the Major was with them. One officer (Johnson), the only Black with them, kicked me in my nutts. They tossed me back into the cell and gave me a food loaf. Now I have a problem with my nutts, but they just tell me to lay off the tea they give us without meals.
I filled out an inmate grievance form and the Ward and I.A.D. called me down there. And they told me that inmates need to be whipped every now and then. And they told me, ain't no bodily harm, so there's no proof - so ain't nothing they could do. So what can I do besides nothing?
Will somebody help me please?
--A Texas Prisoner, 21 March 1997 Kenedy
MIM RESPONDS: One of the best things you can do, is what you have been doing, which is exposing the oppression. Getting information about pig brutality out to the public can organize support from the masses. The masses can put pressure on the imperialist institutions to change. And though we help to fight reforms within the system that are possible and beneficial to the oppressed, our primary task is to organize against this system and build support for revolution. So keeping using your pen to write about the problem you and all prisoners face behind the walls this aids the struggle in waking people up and organizing to stop both oppression against the people now and systematic oppression.
Remember also that you are not alone in this struggle. There are many people who face similar oppression. You may be able to talk to others around you and see what they have done to combat brutality. There may be a jailhouse lawyer closer than you think who can give you some effective legal advice for your particular situation.
Don't give up hope or the struggle. Remember that MIM and the masses are on your side, and oppressed people outnumber the rest of the world's population.
A SLICE OF LIFE IN TEXAS WIMMIN'S PRISON
Now I do have a problem. I haven't seen very much from the ladies, but there's a lot unspoken in this system. I'm a TDC [Texas Department of Corrections] Inmate stuck on a state jail transfer unit for a year now. I'm doing a 20-year sentence and since I've been here, I've been denied the right to go to school, because of my time at first, then they say this is a confinee unit. Confinees are doing state jail time and I'm considered an inmate, only being housed here!
I want to go to school. I want my G.E.D. There is nothing positive here for me.
Then there is this problem with the doors always being broken. They are operated by a switch in the picket that doesn't work so they have to use a key. I feel it is very unsafe cause when it rains, water leaks in and into the light fixtures. I feel this is a hazard. And they know about it and haven even attempted to try to fix it.
This system is a joke. I've been keeping up with the piece on the boy who was running backwards (trying to escape) Yea Right. Just goes to show - I bet the squad boss was white! [Refers to the 19 July 1996 Murder of Daniel Avellaneda. More information about this murder can be found in ULK article "Texas Prisoner exposes the Murder and Brutality in Prison" in MIM Notes 135 -- MIM]
I'm white and feel we all bleed Red. What's wrong with this nation. It makes me sick. Why can't we all just get along. We're all humans. Remember the 60's. Make Love, Not War!
-- A Texas Prisoner, 26 April 1997
MIM RESPONDS: This letter does a good job at pointing out how prisons are just a form of social control. Imperialists don't want prisoners to get educated or improve themselves, but only to take them out of general society in the name of injustice. In addition, the author describes how prisons conditions are often hazardous.
Where MIM disagrees with this prisoner is in the last paragraph. We all can't just get along because there are oppressed people in this country and world. In this country the white nation as a group has oppressed, the First nations, the Black nation and Latino nations for its own benefit. Oppressed people refuse to make love with their oppressors. It will not bring them freedom. We must struggle to build revolution to end the oppression of the majority of the world's people.
This does not mean that white individuals can not be revolutionary. The author of this letter has demonstrated revolutionary actions by exposing the imperialist atrocities behind the walls. In contrast the white prison guard who shot Daniel Avellaneda is an obvious example of a white individual who demonstrates the oppressive nature of the white nation.
MIM would encourage people to remember the revolutionary aspect of the 60's with the progressive work of the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords Party. Work with MIM toward revolution by exposing the truth about our oppressors.
MODERN DAY SLAVERY
I am a incarcerated Black African American Man who is a part of the revolution and down for fighting for my black people locked up in the white man's made hell, which is also his paradise. Not only me but all minority races get oppressed, beaten and sometimes killed in here. You know some brothas who are incarcerated like me have fallen weak to the white klansman's ways. They go as far as fighting another brother for one funky ass cigarette, extra food, etc. Or will give a brotha up to the white klansman just for some class and good time, that they will take from them with the snap of the fingers.
Right now, we are on lockdown cause the Black and Hispanic inmates came together and rebelled against the correctional officers because two Klansman officers killed one innocent black man and one innocent Hispanic for not apparent reason.
As blacks and Hispanics come together as one, the White Klansman sits back in his throne and think of evil ways to try and destroy their unity. And most times his evil ways work. They (white klansmen) put us on lockdown and feed us sack lunches with 2 sandwiches in it that wouldn't get a kindergartner full, and take our property as a way of making us suffer. But we have to stand tall like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Nat Turner, Sojourner Truth, etc and show the klansmen that they cannot break down the strong.
We got to stand and fight as an organization, as a family. We must fight with strength, pride, Blackness and strong Black African Brother Power. We have to not only believe [in the revolution] but be a part of the revolution, my brothas. We cannot worry about the weak for one day they will feel the vibe, come along, and jump on the bus where their true love and people are at.
Last but not least, they put us in prison and take us to work outside in a plantation field with a shovel or grubbing hoe. They also make us pick cotton, peas, potatoes, okra, etc. If you look at it there are more Blacks and Hispanics working in the fields than whites. They put their white inmates out there to make it look good because they know it is modern day slavery. And if no whites were out there, working in the prison fields, the Black and Hispanic inmates would file on it. But a lot of us are blind to the white man's evil way of operating.
I believe in revolution for a change for my Black African People.
-- A Texas Prisoner, 12 April 1997 Abilene
PROFITS FROM PRISON-MADE PRODUCTS
My last thought concerns the vast expansion of TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) in less than tree years from 60,000 prisoners in 60 prisons to 130,000+ prisoners in 109 prisons. These men and women are forced to work for free in the production of prison-made goods shipped to the other 49 states. 42USC 1994 makes peonage, the forced labor of a person in payment of debt such as food and shelter a felony, yet Texas convicts mush work for free. 18USC 1781 prevents prison-made goods from shipment our of the state they were produced in to stop unfair competition with private businesses who have higher labor costs and must charge more for their products.
By Amendment, Texas is the only state permitted to legally break this law. New York to California taxpayers must support the growing Texas prison system with their federal tax money and by permitting Texas' unfair business competition. I believe the purpose of the law was violated by Texas. Repeal this amendment! Help keep Texas prison-made goods inside Texas. Write to your newspaper and US Congressmen citing this law and ask why mush your state support 109 Texas Prisons?
-- A Texas Prisoner, 4 February 1997 Amarillo