MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.
www.prisoncensorship.info is a media institution run by the Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons. Here we collect and publicize reports of conditions behind the bars in U.$. prisons. Information about these incidents rarely makes it out of the prison, and when it does it is extremely rare that the reports are taken seriously and published. This historical record is important for documenting patterns of abuse, and also for informing people on the streets about what goes on behind the bars.
I am writing in regards to retaliation from officers for an attempted
sexual assault by an officer that reached into my cell and tried to hit
me in the private area. The cameras show this officer assaulting me.
About 4 or 5 days go by and Sgt De Chow comes to my door and rolls it
and tells us to strip out. During that process I hand my knee brace to
him and he tries to bend it and it don’t bend so he closes the door and
takes my brace to the front of the run by the picket and takes it apart.
A Lt. Simmons shows up and takes my brace and leaves the block and
Sgt. DeChow comes back and puts me and my celly in the dayroom. I ask
the Sgt why he took it apart and he stated it doesn’t matter it’s
contraband, the metal inside could be used as a weapon.
The knee brace was given to me by UTMB hospital Galveston because I have
a messed up left knee and need it. I’m placed in lock-up by Lt. Simmons
and when I ask why he says investigation from someone higher than him.
Three days go by and Sgt. Easley investigates a case for 13.0
destruction of property saying I tore the knee brace up. Note all of
this is on camera where I was housed and a review of the cameras will
show the Sgt. DeChow taking my brace to the front of the run pulling it
apart. I feel like all this is being made up in retaliation for the
grievance I filed on an officer prior to this.
El 13 de Junio, La República Popular Democrática de Corea (RPDC)
liberaron a un estudiante Amerikano, Otto Warmbier, quien estuvo
encarcelado allí por 15 meses. El estudiante llegó a casa en coma y
murió pocos días después. Según los oficiales Coreanos, Warmbier había
estado en coma poco después de ser arrestado, debido a complicaciones
causado por botulismo, una condición que se puede contraer por medio de
comida, agua o tierra contaminada. Es posible que el encarcelamiento de
Warmbier solamente haya sido un acto político para el gobierno del RPDC.
Estuvo condenado por robar un cartel de propaganda.
Lo inusual de Warmbier es que era un güero adinerado y joven,
disfrutando el privilegio de su riqueza y su ciudadanía Amerikana yendo
a una aventura divertida al visitar Corea del Norte. En su mayor parte,
Amerika busca encarcelar a los lumpen de naciones oprimidas y a los no
documentados, y también a la gente que lucha contra el imperialismo.
Entonces, en este país no hay mucha posibilidad que Warmbier terminara
en prisión.
Después de la muerte de Warmbier hubo un clamor de crítica contra el
gobierno del RPDC, con Trump atacando la “brutalidad del régimen de
Corea del Norte.” Esta crítica viene de la misma gente que se queda
callada con respecto a las condiciones que causan muerte regularmente en
prisiones Amerikanas. Los prisioneros se enferman regularmente por
condiciones que incluye insuficiente comida o también comida
contaminada(1), moho(2), toxinas y otros riesgos ambiental en prisiones
viejas y sucias (3) agua contaminada (4) niveles de calor inseguro(5) y
asistencia médica inadecuado, incompetente y deliberadamente negligente.
(6) Más, esto sólo es la lista del abuso por “negligencia.” Mientras
tanto, más de 100,000 prisioneros son torturados a diario en prisiones
de los Estados Unidos (7) y algunos prisioneros importantes y activos
políticamente han terminado muertos.(8)
Paralelo al caso en Corea, las prisiones Amerikanas tienen muchos
indocumentados (9), especialmente de México y Centroamérica,
encarcelados por cargos pequeños o falsos. Esta gente quiere regresar a
sus países, casas y familias. Algunos no hablan Inglés y entonces no
pueden luchar por sus derechos. Algunos fueron engañados para declararse
culpables sin entender de verdad el juicio. Y algunos de estos
prisioneros terminarán severamente enfermos o también muertos debido a
las condiciones dentro de prisiones Amerikanas.(10)
Nosotros no esperamos que los nacionalistas blancos ofrezcan una crítica
sobre la “brutalidad del régimen amerikano” por todos estos crímenes
hechos a prisioneros mantenidos detrás de las barras en este país.
Debería ser una vergüenza para los Amerikanos que los Estados Unidos
encierran personas a una velocidad mayor que cualquier otro país en el
mundo. Pero se oculta este sistema de control social, mientras los
perdonadores del imperialismo hipócritamente critican el RPDC (y otros
países) por su tratamiento a un prisionero Amerikano.
MIM(Prisiones) lucha para poner un fin al sistema en que las prisiones
son lugares donde la gente va para sufrir y morir prematuramente.
Soy un ciudadañ@ Mexican@ criado en las formas viejas de hacer negocios.
Nuestra palabra siempre era buena hasta nuestro último respiro. En la
política de la prisión y la política mexicana la palabra no tiene
significado. (Díganle eso al buen tío Colocio, quien pago con su vida
por creer en la palabra de alguien más.)
Bueno, después de 20 años en la línea principal, mejor conocida como
pabellones activos, yo hice la transición a un pabellón SNY. Aquí,
encontré muchos herman@s (p.e. camarad@s que hicieron la transición hace
años y hasta décadas.)
Afortunadamente, escapé a la lavada de cerebro a la que mis companer@s
chican@s están expuestos en las escuelas y los barrios. Así que yo
renuncié y me vine al mundo bizarro. Encontré que muchos de mis nuevos
camaradas, no tienen ninguna clase de conciencia política. Una y otra
vez ellos declinaron mis intentos de leer algo de mis libros. No me
escapó de mi mente que alguna vez yo también fui así. Me tomó años
despertar a la cruel realidad de mi encarcelamiento.
De cualquier manera mi primer compañero de celda fue un hombre blanco. Y
descubrí lo que siempre supe en teoría. Que todos somos ignorantes,
pobres, y condenados. (Sin importar el color de la piel, credo, o
afiliación de pandilla). Por razones que no son pertinentes a este
ensayo, mi nuevo compañero solo duró conmigo menos de 24 horas en la
celda. Aun así, en mi dejó una profunda impresión. El me dijo que en la
línea, su líder de la pandilla le mandó pegar (p.ej. apuntalar) por una
deuda de $50 dólares de vino hecho en prisión. Así que él tuvo que
asumir la posición y permitir que su querid@ compañer@ lo apuñalara. (Su
compañero le quedaban unos cuantos meses para irse a su casa.) Así es
cuán fuera de control están las pandillas.
Para que el lector sepa: el Mexican@ común y corriente no pertenece a
carteles o gangas de la prisión y de las calles. La mayoría de los
prisioneros Mexicanos no saben de la avalancha de política de prisión
que se les viene encima. Sin vergüenza, puedo decir que si mi consejer@
me hubiera dicho del papel que me esperaba jugar en una yarda activa, yo
me hubiera salido de allí inmediatamente. No estaba escrito así, y fui
atrapado en un sistema fallido de rehabilitación.
Fui inmediatamente clasificado como un “parsa” o “herman@ de la
frontera.” Este “STG” (grupo de amenaza y seguridad) está bajo las
ordenes de los sureños (una ganga de prisión) para hacer apuntaladas, y
seguir órdenes.
Lo que no sabe el Mexicano, es que todos estos incidentes violentos
pueden ser usados por el panel de audiencias de libertad (BPH). Dios no
permita, que uno tenga un apuntalamiento a hace diez años. Ellos
literalmente actúan la parte de estar sorprendidos que esta clase de
cosas pasen en prisión. Hasta un reporte de una manzana robada será
usado para decir que somos un peligro para la comunidad libre. Estos
académicos de verdad creen que estos “gulags” son “centros” de alta
rehabilitación. ¡Y que un@ insiste en comportarse mal!
Mi nuevo compañero es un viejo Mexicano. El es respetuoso y sabe cómo
hacer tiempo. El también renunció, cuando descubrió los cambios del
viento en el aire. Y antes de que las cosas se pusieran peor, le hizo la
mejor decisión de su vida. Se convirtió en un SNY más. El medio
ambiente, aquí está más suelto. El viejo de la ganga se terminó. Yo no
he visto actos predatorios en contra de aquellos que son muy débiles,
para defenderse. Luego están aquellos que actúan como verdaderos – “PC”
en custodia protectora. Ellos creen que el C/O es su papá, o su hermano
mayor. Son escandalosos. Y visten sus pantalones a media nalga. Aun así,
el estar hablando con el personal de prisión se puede ver también en la
yarda ‘C’ (p. ej., una yarda activa). Ellos vienen a la oficina del
programa y pasan tiempo con ellos. (p. ej. poniéndose cómodos con el
enemigo, el opresor).
Yo descubrí, que si me mantengo solo, y cuido solo mis propios negocios,
yo puedo volar sin ser detectado. Esto no era posible en una yarda
activa, porque se espera que uno haga trabajo para la ganga de la
prisión. Las nuevas gangas de la prisión de este lado, estas son
reservadas. Y hacen sus peleas sin pedir ayuda. Aquellos, que no
queremos envolvernos en las guerras de gangas – se les deja fuera del
drama. Yo he hablado con ex-sureños y norteños (viejos y jóvenes), y
muchos se describen a sí mismos como Mexicanos nacidos de este lado.
Muchos se han dado cuenta que el Mexicano nacional no es su marioneta
para ser usada y tirada. Todos ellos están de acuerdo que el haberse
convertido en SNY es la mejor decisión que pudieron haber tomado. Sus
nuevos líderes son sus familias, patria y raza.
Aquí, ex-jefes y líderes de gangas son nada. No son más que un esclavo
entre los miles. Lejos están los días de dinero con sangre, gloria,
celulares, y actos egoístas enormes con respecto a la vida y la muerte.
En cuanto a mi transición de un esclavo activo a un “SNY”, esta fue
fácil. Empaqué mis cosas sin levantar mucha sospecha. Y en la escuela le
dije al oficial “que quería salir del pabellón.” Ellos me presionaron
para decirles lo que sabía acerca de los grandes sapos gordos, y de
aquellos que les besan el culo. No tenía nada que decirles. Y aunque
hubiera sabido algo, no se las hubiera dicho nada. Ya estoy muy viejo
para convertirme en un informante del estado. Así que, no todos los SNYs
son informantes. Ya me han dicho que a veces los oficiales amenazan al
prisionero con devolverlos al pabellón principal. Pero este no fue mi
caso. (Para su información, las oficiales nunca harán eso).
Para aquellos que deje atrás, paren y piensen acerca de esto, por un
largo tiempo. ¿De verdad vale la pena el dar la vida haciendo mandados
de tonto? Lo que te están mandando a hacer al hijo de alguien más, te lo
harán a ti. Los maestros de la causa perdida de la manipulación, no vale
la pena matar y morir por esta. A la fregada sus órdenes, ellos no son
nuestros padres, tíos o hermanos mayores. Juegan a ser dios con nuestras
vidas y libertad.
Ellas son sociópatas con sed de sangre y con la sangre de nuestros
hermanos y hermanas en sus manos. Ellos son el hermano menor del
opresor, ellos ayudan al opresor a mantenernos en checkeo. Dale, y diles
que ellos mismos hagan los asesinatos. No te pueden exigir que cumplas
tu palabra, que diste cuando eras un niño. Tú no sabias acerca de la
vida cuando te tentaron a unirte a la ganga. Nunca te dijeron que para
cuando cumplieras 15, ibas a estar muerto o viviendo en las gulagas.
Nunca te llevaron a un funeral y te dijeron: “Ese eres tú en unos
cuantos años.” Ellos nunca te llevaron a las gulagas a visitar aquellos
que están sepultados vivos. ¿Si te hubieran dicho que una muerte
temprana o vida en prisión era tu futuro? Lo más seguro es que hubieras
corrido de volada.
Así que a la edad de 20, 30 y hasta de 60 años, uno debe despertar a la
realidad de nuestro predicamento y analizar las contradicciones de
nuestra esclavitud. Para que así nos podamos quitar las viejas cadenas
que nos unen a una causa perdida. Uno debe de evolucionar y pensar fuera
de la caja. Este es el Siglo 21, nuestras familias nos necesitan allá
afuera.
MIM(Prisiones) responde: Organizaciones lumpen (LOs) en los
E$tados Unidos son generalmente organizaciones de los más marginalizados
económicamente de los oprimidos en este país. Donde sea, camaradas han
hablado de las diferencias entre la Organización Neo-colonial lumpen
(NLO) y los LO. La experiencia del camarada anterior refleja la práctica
de los NLO. Pero las LOs, en general, tienen tanto como los aspectos
capitalistas como los colectivo/nacionalistas. Y aquellas que aceptan el
aspecto colectivo (generalmente, en una forma revolucionaria
nacionalista), pueden evolucionar y convertirse en organizaciones
políticas de masas (PMOs).(1) Así que, mientras tenemos dificultad con
los camaradas en los LOs para que se muevan en dirección de una PMO, la
historia anterior es muy común en California, donde SNY ha venido a
representar una tercera parte de los prisioneros en años recientes.(2)
Este camarada también toca la pregunta nacional e identidad nacional en
Aztlán. El hecho de que aquellos con descendencia Mexicana nacidos
dentro de las Estados Unidos y que más bien se identifican como
Mexicanos, habla de la contradicción nacional entre el Americano
colonizador y el territorio colonizado de Aztlán. Como este camarada
también reconoce, nosotros nos referimos a aquellos nacidos al norte de
la frontera los U.S./México, como Chican@s.
Este reconocimiento de la nación Chican@ profundamente conectada a, pero
separada de México, fue el resultado de la lucha de revolucionarios
nacionalistas y comunistas de los 1960s, que organizaron a la raza en el
Suroeste. Para aquellos que estén interesados en este tema, deberían
revisar Chican@ Power y La Lucha por Aztlán, del grupo de estudio de
MIM(Prisiones). Este libro está disponible para los prisioneros por $10,
o a cambio de trabajo.
Laud and honor the martyrs! Even those who weren’t warriors. The
unconscious brother enjoys a guilty comfort. Not from inheritance,
but rather he lives in a First World Settled by invaders and tomb
raiders, capitalist traders raping the earth. Governments promise
prosperity if only you kneel. Can Third World tragedies find any
appeal? Or does bourgeois culture supply you with unlimited
hope? Like oppression, crime and dope. Faith in religion tickles
your conscience but that doesn’t make it science. We struggle
together: The People - equal. The chains of slavery rattle like
tambourines to a new upheaval. So laud and honor the martyrs! Even
those who weren’t warriors. Flies swarm around the dung of
capitalism, invoking disgust at its chauvanisms and material
greed. Don’t be part of the problem.
I am writing to inform you that I am commencing a hunger strike on 2017
September 9, to continue until the below issues are resolved. These
issues are regarding equal treatment, retaliation, legal rights, First
Amendment rights, staff misconduct and conditions of confinement. The
Warden is Kevin Curran. The Deputy Warden is Ruben Montano. The Chief of
Security is Rodrick Williams, a captain. I am in Kasson Unit. Mental
Health Dr. Tracy Rogers is advocating for me. She is well informed.
She’s trying to help my situation, but is up against security and
administration.
List of Hunger Strike Resolutions:
Allow me to resume taking my paralegal correspondence course
Rescind the ban on all my incoming magazines and books
Give me my TV from property office
Give me my prescription eyeglasses from property
Allow me to receive sunglasses in accordance with my Special Needs Order
Remove me from Protective Custody (PC) status
Provide me unfettered access to grievance forms
Provide me with regularly scheduled legal calls to my attorneys
Conduct legal box exchanges in accordance with policy
Allow me to do book exchanges with my personal books in property
Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) allowed me to begin the
course, via Blackstone Career Institution. I aced the first exam. My
tuition sponsor (my mom) and I entered into a $800 enrollment agreement,
only to be told by ADC I could not continue the course because maximum
custody prisoners cannot take correspondence courses. I am no longer a
max custody inmate; I’ve lowered my score. I am now close custody, but
ADC still won’t allow me to resume the course. This course will help me.
It will improve my life, and my chances at staying out of prison upon
release. I guess the prison doesn’t want that.
In Jan 2017 the mail room began enforcing an illegal ban on all my
incoming books and magazines because I would regularly appeal their
censorship of publications. Presently, I subscribe to more than 20
magazines and newsletters. ADC returns all to sender without giving me a
chance to appeal. The same is done with books.
I am serving over 3 years of disciplinary Loss of Privilege (LOP)
sanctions, including loss of appliances. ADC is withholding my TV in
property. But I am the only one in Kasson Unit Wing One being subject to
loss of appliances. Everyone else on LOP is allowed to retain their TV
and appliances. They single me out because I file so many grievances and
some civil rights lawsuits, which other prisoners are scared to do.
ADC said my mom could send in prescription eyeglasses, then withheld
them upon arrival. They’ve been held in property since May 2017 and are
medically necessary. They comply with all ADC policies.
In retaliation for my grievances on mail room, mail room staff keep
returning to sender my medical sunglasses under false pretexts. I have a
medical Special Needs Order for them. And I’ve previously had sunglasses
here at Browning Unit, both max custody units.
ADC placed me under protective custody without notifying me,
violating due process. They put me in PC without cause, as an insult to
my integrity and pride. There is no need or justification to put/keep me
under PC status.
Prison staff refuse to provide me with the grievance forms I require
to proceed in the grievance process, in violation of their own policy
(D.O.802) and my First amendment right to redress of grievances. My
COIII (counselor), Mr. A. Oswald, refuses to provide me with the forms,
as do all staff, who tell me they’ve been ordered not to give them to
me.
My C.O.III, who’s backed by ADC administration on this, refuses to
provide me with any legal calls to my two criminal attorneys and my
civil rights counsel, all of whom are attorneys-of-regard. This violates
my constitutional rights to speak with and consult with my lawyers, and
is causing irreparable damage to my cases.
Kasson property officer Ms. T. Williams repeatedly violates policy
(D.O. 909) by not allowing me to do legal box exchanges. Property is to
conduct exchanges within 3 days of the request. I submited weekly, for
the past 4 months and she allowed only 1 exchange. Because I’m only
permitted to possess 4 of my 16 legal boxes in my cell, this violation
prohibits me from accessing vital legal documents and thus hinders my
ability to adequately litigate my cases. I’ve filed many grievances on
Williams, and this is her retaliation.
I have several personal books in property. Williams’s superiors at
Central Office have ordered her to allow me to do book exchanges, but
she refuses to let me. This has been going on for one year, since my 7
September 2016 arrival to Kasson. I simply wish to read my books.
Through the eye of the media, one can’t help but see and understand the
agendas being put forth. First look at how the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea’s nuclear program is being covered with
emotionally-driven and fear-inspiring news coverage. In comparison to
the cold war period in the United States, where that was solely
ideological war due to it being two white global superpowers with
different political identities the nuclear issue wasn’t syndicated by
news on the level that North Korea’s nuclear program has been. The
United States and all major countries of European descent have done
everything in their collective power to keep these weapons of mass
destruction out of the hands of nations, governments and people of color
or hue. This is about dominance over every country in the world or
simply put, ‘might makes right’ ideology.
Just look at what happened when Iran was building a nuke. How much these
European governments were willing to do and in fact pay so that these
Middle Easterners would not have the same power of destruction that they
themselves wield, and the United States alone has used, on people of
color.
These global white supremacists have done everything they could to
destabilize nations’ governments that they could not control by creating
borders on foreign continents, setting up puppet governments (often
dictators the likes of Saddam Hussein and Benjamin Netanyahu who use war
as a distraction of their individual greed), support contras by the
sales of cocaine on the streets of their own country, in which they’ve
colonized other peoples. Gangstering all less technologically-savvy
nations out of raw materials, such as petroleum, gold, silver, diamonds,
chocolate, opium, uranium, spices, sugar, and factory workers who they
pay slave wages. They then turn around and use this wealth to build
factories in their home countries and pay their own citizens the going
wages.
I say equal power is equal defense, which entitles all nations the same
kind of weapons including nuclear bombs if that’s what you could be
faced with. These global white supremacists only respect those who can
present an equal threat. History has proven these whites are the makers
and users of weapons of mass destruction, from muskets, rifles, guns,
machine guns, grenades, C-4, chemical gases, dirty bombs, hydrogen and
nuclear bombs. They’ve created viruses, diseases, tortures. Yet the
media is far more dangerous than any of the ones before mentioned, due
to its ability to influence the minds of those not fully conscious of
the reality of being controlled by the designers of this Global White
Supremacy Agenda.
MIM(Prisons) adds: In July, August and September the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea launched a series of nuclear missile tests.
The DPRK reports it has developed a more advanced hydrogen bomb that
could be mounted on an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM).(1)
They’ve also reported that their ICBMs can now reach the mainland of the
United $tates. Meanwhile, the United $tates has launched recent tests of
their B61-12, a bomb that delivers nuclear weapons by fighter jet.(2)
The United $tates and Russia still have far more nuclear warheads than
other countries, almost 100 times the number of what the DPRK has.(3)
People who grew up during the cold war lived in a culture of fear of a
nuclear attack. So we do not agree that the threat was ignored during
that period because it was “white” countries involved. If anything, we’d
argue that we’ve grown too comfortable with the risk of nuclear disaster
that these weapons continue to put us in since the collapse of the
social-imperialist Soviet Union. And this cold war was also an
imperialist reaction to potential resistance. Although the Soviet Union
gave up socialism and turned to state capitalism in the 1950s, the
United $tates held on to the anti-communist fear. Socialism in the
Soviet Union (and China, and other countries) was a significant threat
to imperialism, and so the United $tates prepared for a war to defend
their wealth and dominance.
Otherwise, we agree with the author above on the hypocrisies of the
imperialists. Militarism is integral to the economic success of the
imperialist countries. The DPRK has never used its military to gain
wealth by exploiting or stealing from other nations. Rather it
sacrifices resources from its isolated economy to ensure it can
militarily protect itself from imperialists who would otherwise use
their weapons against the Korean people to gain access to the labor and
markets that the DPRK government denies them. The leverage of nuclear
weapons decreases the need to mobilize the able-bodied population into
military maneuvers in response to U.$. operations on its border. There
are two massive military exercises led by the United $tates on the
Korean peninsula each year. One, Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, occurs in
August when it is harvest season.(4) The other, Foal Eagle, occurs in
the spring, often overlapping with the planting season in the northern
hemisphere.(5) By increasing the technological capacity of its military,
the DPRK allows for more labor time to be dedicated to agricultural
production and better protects its food supply. Because of sanctions,
the DPRK cannot rely on importing food from other countries when
harvests are short. In other words, these new developments are a logical
product of the U.$. imperialists’ stranglehold on the DPRK through
economic sanctions and massive military provocations.
Learning the difference between our friends and enemies means we know
that other prisoners share more in common with us than not. It also
means that within one’s own nation the formations within have even
more in common than not. For imprisoned Aztlán the divisions were
ultimately imperialist-inspired. The advanced wing of imprisoned Aztlán
understands that it’s time to Re-unify Aztlán.
In Califaztlán, norteno, sureno, Eme, NF, have been walls that
separated. At times each formation was necessary for safety, and some
formations may be more progressive than others. But these formations
still separate imprisoned Aztlán. Separation for a nation is not good
under any circumstances.* I believe the goal of all these lumpen
organizations (LOs) is to unite at some point, but how could it be
possible?
A future glimpse of a United Aztlán
It’s a fact that much animosity and/or pride for one LO or the other
has developed. At the same time we see the
Agreement
to End Hostilities has allowed us all to get to know and support one
another. It’s now OK to assist and be there for each other, which is
great. We have gone back to before north/south feuds started, however
what is needed now is a leap forward.
The truth is so long as the LOs (i.e. NF, Eme) still have north/south
formations there will not be any unification between imprisoned Aztlán.
This will take steps. The implementation of programs authorized at the
highest levels. One such initial program would be formally dismantling
the formations of Sur/Norte. By doing this, Raza will simply be Raza
again.
Tattoos of Norte/Sur would have to be banned for the future. This would
help alleviate conflict/tension.
A transition period would relax the Raza and then the next stage of the
unification of Eme/NF would be necessary even if they maintained
separate committees with the new political org. But a new org with a new
name is necessary to provide a glimpse of a new future of a unified
Aztlán. At some point, imprisoned Aztlán must move on and create a name
that all can come to, otherwise no side will ever win over the other
side.
by a South Carolina prisoner September 2017 permalink
I initiated my challenge to South Carolina Department of Corrections
(SCDC’s) policy of only giving us two indigent envelopes a month, to
coincide with the campaign to resist restrictions on indigent
correspondence that was started in Texas. See Watts v. Sterling,
C/A No. 6:16-CB-00 478-JFA-KFM (D.S.C. Jan. 22, 2016 – filed). I lost
the case, but I’m preparing to re-litigate it as soon as I exhaust my
administrative remedies again.
This is the main reason I haven’t been able to write to y’all within the
last two years = shortage of envelopes! The other reason has been
because of all the time I’ve been researching and working on my
conviction and sentence.
Although I am not a revolutionary (in the sense that I wish to overthrow
the government), I enjoy reading ULK because it features so many
articles from people who are affiliated with organizations, such as the
Nation of Gods and Earths, United B.L.O.O.D. Nation, and the Almighty
Latin Kings and Queens Nation. I have nothing but mad respect for these
people! These people have the best understanding of seeing prisons for
what they really are, and not for what they just appear to seem.
I am writing to let you know the Unit [Pack Unit - editor] have been
moved to Travis County State Jail due to court orders on the heat and
water on the Unit. We will not be going back any time soon. I want to
keep getting Lock & Key</iL. Will keep in touch.
Upon entering the custody of Atchison County Jail, I was on several
different medications, including insulin, glyburide, clonadine (high
blood pressure), metaformin, hydrocodone 7 (neuropathy nerve damage),
and other medications that I can’t recall. It wasn’t even 2 weeks before
all my medications were dropped but my metaformin. Common sense will
tell you without my medications my blood sugar, blood pressure and pain
was all increased. Instead of readjusting my meds, I was placed in
lockdown for medical observation which lasted a week, and my condition
didn’t improve any at all.
I arrived here in August 2016, and an A1C test should have been done
soon after my arrival. However, it wasn’t done until November 2016. The
next day I was told by the nurse my A1C came back as 11.8 when it should
be around 6.0. The nurse commented that it was the second highest that
she has ever seen. That same day they decided to drop my sugar checks to
1x a week when common sense would tell you it should have been
increased, not decreased. It was 2x a day. I should also be on a low
carb diet but instead I’m on pretty much on an all carb diet.
I have been complaining about my eyesight and requesting an eye exam but
being told my eyesight is not bad enough that I need an eye exam nor am
I at risk for an eye disease. Yeah nothing about that statement makes
any sense, one of the first things to go with diabetes is eyesight.
Since being here they still haven’t tested my kidneys, cholesterol
level, or dental. They did check my neuropathy once but wouldn’t do
anything for it. They checked my blood pressure a few times which has
been high every time but they refuse to give me medication. I get
charged $10 every time a nurse sees me. I’m charged for meds but this
place will not give you a 30-day supply upon release.
I have filed two lawsuits because of this and have been retaliated
against. The jail will not provide me copies, notary, or access to law
library. I’m not allowed to work to pay off my fines. I put in for a
sentence modification but was denied because captain told court I am a
behavior problem although I have not been in any trouble at all.
MIM(Prisons) responds: Lack of medical care leads directly to
disabilities and worse health problems, as this writer so clearly
demonstrates. As the “Disabilities and Anti-Imperialism” article
explains, this medical neglect is a product of capitalism, where the
needs of the people are ignored if they run counter to the needs of
capitalist corporations to profit.
Wealthy people have access to good healthcare within the United $tates,
but marginalized communities, like prisoners and lumpen on the streets,
are shut out from this service. And as we regularly hear in the debates
over the Affordable Care Act, many middle-class Amerikans are also
lacking access to affordable healthcare because of the individualist
profit-driven system.
We know that providing good healthcare is possible on a broad scale, but
it will require first a government that is truly working in the
interests of the people, rather than one focused on maximizing profits
for the First World. We have a good example of health care truly serving
the interests of the people in China between 1949 and 1976 under
socialism. They focused on preventive care, sanitation, and education,
combined with a massive campaign to get health care out to people in the
countryside who were previously unable to access doctors.
Before 1949, life expectancy in China was just 35 years and the
illiteracy rate was 80%. In 1979 life expectancy rose to 68 years and
illiteracy had declined to less than 7%. As a part of the dramatic
improvements in health, the Chinese infant mortality rate was reduced to
a lower level than in New York City.(1)
Essentially China achieved health for its population comparable with
much wealthier countries by the end of the 1970s by focusing on serving
the people rather than serving the profits of the wealthy. Building such
a system of health care came only after the forceful removal of
imperialist powers from China and the destruction of the former
institutions of rule.