I am a prisoner in one of California's prisons. I have been for almost 10 years since I was 17. Yes, I came in as a gang member but over the years my political eyes have been opened. I've read what Amerika (the US) has done and continues to do in all of Latin Amerika. I was born in El Salvador and during the 80s the "US" financed a war that killed thousands of people who only wanted freedom.
I want to ask you how I can go about starting a prison support group. What advice, help, or resources can we get from MIM? Also, how can I get MIM Notes?
Currently us Latinos here in Calipatria prison are on lockdown. We have been for almost a year. We get no program at all. Our mail is read and held back. Our books are not given to us. We can get no visits (only 1 hour behind glass for by appointment visits). As far as beatings, just recently a few inmates (4) were in boxers and sandals. They got into an argument with a cop and the outcome was the inmates were beat down. One got beat unconscious. Then around 10 more inmates were cell extracted and beat. As far as access to the legal library we must have a court deadline. Those of us who wish to research our cases before going to court cannot.
I would appreciate all the help and/or advice I (we) can get from MIM.
I've read books about Che Guevara, Castro, Stalin and the FMLN in El Salvador. I would love to learn more and help in any way I can to make us all one nation, one communist world. For us in here, the spoken and written word is very powerful. I want to educate, especially our youth. I want to help make more ripples. Get our youth ready for when the time comes we are strong and ready!
- a California prisoner, June 2006