This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
Federal prisons set up "gang" fights

I'm not in a SHU per se, it is officially called an administrative segregation unit. The only recognized SHUs within the federal bureau of prisons are: Marion and ADX Florence which are specifically designed for long term confinement.

The ad seg and disciplinary seg units within every prison's underbelly are only designed to hold us on a short term basis. But we still are being placed in them (ad seg units) for much longer periods than legally permissible, it's not built for this purpose. Not everyone in is a federal prisoner. You have a minority segment of state prisoners whom have been placed in the federal system for a variety of reasons such as being high profile informers, child molesters, too influential, etc!

The difference between a U.S. penitentiary and a federal correctional institution is akin to a California state IV yard and a level III yard. One's a prison that's allegedly designed to hold a higher security prisoner. The FCIs are usually closer to major cities, which makes them more accessible to families visiting us. They also offer a wide range of opportunities in so far as educational programs, vocational training, more links to the outside world (i.e. outside guests) and more allowed movement overall. The USPs, on the other hand, offer little or no opportunity at bettering themselves in the way of educational and vocational training. The facade has been taken off of the term "rehabilitation" and instead it's true definition of "warehouse" is indeed evident.

The recent controversy originated back in 2001 when this warden arrived. Shortly after his arrival, a major riot occurred on the recreation yard involving over 50 people. The staff permitted the [one] "gang" to pass thru a metal detector with a variety of weapons including: metal knives, pipes, a piece of chain.

Fortunately for the Afrikan prisoners some other bystanders intervened, which prevented loss of life. From that point on, this prison's been controlled by Mexican "gangs" working with certain key prison officials. They even went as far as to order key leaders of the Mexican Mafia released from the Marion SHU to here so as to better control the younger Mexicans. Pretty much, they were afforded the preferred prisoner treatment: no cell shake downs, no urine analysis (even when they know they use), access to the best jobs, basically the run of the prison. This continued until 6/1/03, when the same so-called privileged prisoners attacked their masters in a living unit. Apparently one of the staff attempted to put one of the Mexicans into the hole. You see, being as they had been having the run of the prison, they were shocked (rightfully so) when their captors attempted to all of a sudden enforce the rules.

From that point a total melee ensued. Which as the LA Times stated, resulted in many of the prison guards being touched. What all this controversy truly stems from is that this prison's always been operated under the banner of white supremacy. The past administrators pretty much allowed the staff free reign for abusing and killing African prisoners. And this racist ideology is shared by various neo-nazi gang members were, which made a quite comfortable alliance. Under this particular Warden, the majority of the beat-down squad of kops were either fired or transferred. There also have been an increase in the hiring of both minorities as well as womyn. All of which severely undermined the white power status quo. Afrikan prisoners pretty much see this present battles as a clash of the titans, the old regime which is white and predominately male versus the young up and comers whom primarily Latino. Whichever one ultimately wins, it'll matter very little to us as we are perennial door mats for both.

-- a federal prisoner in California, December 2003