Prisoners in Oregon organizing against worsening conditionsMIM, I am glad to report of three instances of substance in which convicts came together in all races and affiliations in attempts of influencing DOC decisions. The first happened one year ago at OSP. All nations came together (pathetically only around 6 brothers) to boycott the newly installed phone system. No one made phone calls for almost two weeks- barring a misunderstanding over one weekend. The new system already was really inconvenient- requiring pin numbers and a maximum of 15 attempts to call a day. We organized the boycott when DOC announced a requirement that we could only call 25 different #'s, had to submit the #'s to be put on a list and could only submit 3 in a month. 20-plus people went to seg for enforcing and advocating the boycott- 7 sent to IMU [Intensive Management Unit are long term isolation cells]. We came to agreements for the phone the second week. Along with the phones, the canteen was also boycotted for outrageous prices and lack of variety. In a 6 month period in 2001 the canteen profited %1.6 million by offering many items that were sold to them (DOC canteen) discounted because of factory defects. Also some items were DOC issued to be given to the population, but instead were sold on the canteen. That was also settled adequately. The third occurrence I wish to mention is only the update that I have received news that the boycotts resumed since I left (about mid-June) for the costs the phones bill our people and canteens renig of last years agreement. The second occurrence is the rise in the level of faulty write-ups (DR's) being issued. I read of similar and worse scenarios in MIM Notes happening in Cali more often, but I feel it is important to make note that such is becoming more common place in Oregon also. There are 8 different convicts of 4 different affiliations, who by separate STG officers- making it an obvious blanketed policy- have been given DR's of 4-6 sentences claiming they are extorting, assaulting and recruiting (unauthorized organization) other inmates. When they have gone to their hearings, they are denied formal investigations- any whatsoever- in the citing that all information is confidential. They are all sentenced to 180 days seg and undoubtedly a trip to IMU. They deny being involved in any of the accusations but not only is there no access to the informants to have the investigator question them, there isn't even a disclosable event to call witnesses for or affirm or deny the defendants whereabouts. They basically say something happened but they won't tell you what, where, with who or when. So any old snitch can vindictively write a fictitious communication on someone and warrant that person 6 months hole time and possibly 12 plus months IMU. But the convicts conveyed their disgust here in seg by staging the largest disturbance (in any seg in ODOC) ever, with 53 cells and 76 inmates extracting. The only other time I've seen such unity in my 8 years down. I thought such rare acts deserved to be noted. Sincerely, your ally for a common cause, -- an Oregon Prisoner, August 2005
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