Although there is no lull in the constant bombardment by imperialist forces, I find time to write this communiqué and will attempt to send it directly through the front line. Since August 2005 and the "skirmish" between imperialist forces and Mexican/Hispanics, that is the cause of the current repressive conditions, there has been one fatality, raids, property seizures, and disappearances, our supply lines cut off yet we subsist on the meager handouts of rations and soap and toothpowder. Imperialist forces have blockaded all our movements with the exception to medical needs, and have us pinned down with our only connections to the outside world are our government mandated mail access, and the "privilege" to interview and hear monarchist propaganda as told in accordance with its corporate courtiers on television and radio.
As it stands we in this sub-facility are not, nor never were, involved in the above mentioned "skirmish" incident which took place in another sub-facility with correctional officers and "southern Hispanics," a designation given to Mexicans/Hispanics (also includes other races) who were once members of "Street gangs" who come together in unity and solidarity in imperialist California gulags to form a society for the greater good of the whole. This incident involved hundreds of inmates and staff resulting in numerous injuries and one inmate facility. It caused the entire institution to be placed on a state of emergency lockdown followed by subsequent various degrees of lockdowns, all under the guise of a "modified program." Modified meaning a lesser degree of lockdown. Although as I stated, we are not, nor were not involved in this incident and live in an entirely different sub-facility within this institution, which is supposedly its own entity separate from the others.
In other circumstances the sub-facility where the incident occurred would be the only to be affected by any degree of lockdown status. Yet this institution's heads choose a blanket approach to punishment to extend lockdown to the entire institution and to each race in different degrees. "Southern Hispanics" and non "affiliated" Mexicans/Hispanics the most severe. As we are designated in like manner in all California gulags, this institution's heads believe that, in sharing a common designation we share culpability and are subjected to conditions more harsh than those applied in administrative segregation or translated, the hole.
In the hole, inmates are allowed a canteen/commissary draw of $45 monthly to supplement the meager state issue and at least 10 hours weekly of yard exercise. In the central population we are denied both and more. We are general population, separate from both the hole and protective custody. As inmates in general population we are given/allowed privileges in accordance with our work/privilege group. Yet during this lockdown/modified program, for incidents we did not commit nor were involved in, we are locked in our cells 71 hours and approximately 45 minutes out of every 72. The 15 minute relief is to shower. During the brief periods outside of our cells we are forced to wear sandals and to be restrained in cuffs with our hands behind our backs to and from, with the exception of allowable shoes yet restrained in like manner when leaving the unit/building.
We are not allowed contact visits, phone calls, yard exercise, dayroom activities, package program nor canteen/commissary. At the time of this writing, we are in the 10th month with no light at the end of the tunnel. As I stated, at this time we subsist on "state issue" of our daily 3 meals (2500 calories), bars of soap and a powdered derivative of toothpaste monthly. No shampoo, no deodorant. During this 10 months we've experienced several wardens and their respective administrations, where each administers its own forms of "modified programs," where, if we win a minor victory in a 602 inmate appeal/grievance, its rescinded by the ensuing administrative bodies, forcing us, again, to begin the 602 process from the beginning where a completion of said process can and normally takes up to 4 months. Only to be informed at every level of appeal that our modified program status is all a matter of security.
As I stated, we of this sub-facility were not involved in the first mentioned incident nor further separate incidents and are therefore not a security threat. We are merely of the same designation as those involved in the first on a separate sub-facility, and therefore according to administration we have the same culpability. We began the appeal process using a "handbook" - the "title 15" which contains the rules and regulations of the director of corrections to which we have to abide and research for protection from and recourse of adverse conditions. According to this rules book, the current repressive conditions are not in accordance with and are in direct conflict with these rules. Though in accordance with this rules book is an administrative loop hole where it states, "lockdown means a portion of the facility is affected by suspension of required programs or services and inmates are not released except as determined by the facility administrator." (meaning the warden). Basically making this rules book with our procedural safeguards and due process rights moot. Giving administrators a totalitarian rule as administrative decisions out weight the rules and regulations, leaving us with no recourse of adverse conditions except to proceed with, upon completion of "administrative remedies" of which I just mentioned, a suit in a court of law where the research and authoring of such a suit is an arduous task for a layman. Now made impossible with the cancellation of law library services except for the few with "court deadlines" (lawsuits for adverse conditions are not awarded court deadline status.)
As a result of our human and civil rights "as determined by the facility administrator" and with no recourse to adverse conditions, hundreds of inmates of this sub-facility went on a hunger strike for several weeks warranting media coverage, yet upon interviews with prison administrators, media reported only approximately 25. Although the blanket approach of punishment affects the entire institution and includes all racial designations, I can only write from the "southern Hispanic" perspective. We feel this approach to punishment is harsh, arbitrary and punitive in nature as it is all unwarranted punishment. Our grievances are not for some special privileges, nor for more privileges, we merely ask that we be free of unwarranted punishments, of adverse conditions.
Is this all alien to you? Imagine your bathroom made of cement with a thin slit in one wall for a "window," Your toilet and sink of one unit made of cold stainless steel. Now imagine bunk beds made of steel in place of your shower/tub. Now imagine being locked in there for ten months straight. The only time you leave that room is for 10 to 15 minutes every third day to shower or if you have a medical need. Imagine being handcuffed behind your back just to go shower. How would you carry your hygiene products? Your towel? Clothes? Don't worry, once your supplement of canteen/commissary runs out, all you will have is a 1.5 oz bar of soap. All you can wear to shower is underwear and sandals, so all you can take is underwear and a towel.
Back in this room where you eat state issue 3 meals a day, I don't need to describe prison food. I'm sure you've heard. It's only a total of 2500 calories a day so you have enough to survive but are constantly hungry because it's not enough to feed a grown man. If you are fortunate to have a TV or fortunate not to have it confiscated for having a working speaker you have some kind of external stimulation. Perhaps you have a walkman radio with some books and/or magazines, but can you read 15 hours a day? Can you break the monotony, the sheer boredom of books or magazines with a board game as if you were a pre-teen child? And that's if you can get your hands on one.
Imagine being locked in this room with all your privileges taken away for something you didn't do. Imagine constant room searches with your captors rifling through your personal property bordering on harassment. But you are given a rules book that you abide by and is supposed to contain your rights and to guard you against this type of punishment, so you hold out hope. Only to be told these rules are hollow! They are overruled by the warden. Now, hope is gone. You are at the mercy of your captors. No phones, no contact visits, no packages or canteen/commissary to supplement the inefficient state issue or to supplement what the state doesn't provide. No yard exercise, no dayroom activities. Imagine all this combined with the mental and emotional toll these conditions in this confined space bring. Compounded by separation from family, loved ones and friends. Imagine this day in and day out 24-7 for 10 months straight.
Welcome to notorious Calipatria State Prison
Where outside it’s a 120 degrees but,
Inside it's cold in the shadow of the green wall.
In struggle from inside one of the 5000 bomb shelters.
- a California prisoner, May 2006