MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.
Under Lock & Key is a news service written by and for prisoners with a focus on what is going on behind bars throughout the United States. Under Lock & Key is available to U.S. prisoners for free through MIM(Prisons)'s Free Political Literature to Prisoners Program, by writing:
MIM(Prisons) PO Box 40799 San Francisco, CA 94140.
Hunger strike supporters outreach to visiting friends and family as
hunger strike begins.
We in facility “A” Ad-Seg Unit A1 will be following suit with a hunger
strike July 8 2011, one week after the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) strike
begins here at Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP). Your support would be
highly appreciated.
I am requesting to be provided the PBSP SHU strike campaign update with
flier. Any information that you could assist in this endeavor would be
greatly appreciated.
Letters or phone calls made in support of the abolishment of these foul,
inhumane and unsanitary living conditions would be highly appreciated.
Thank you. Could you please forward most recent Under Lock &
Key.
Thank you.
MIM(Prisons) adds: We have received news from other A units in
Pelican Bay that they are going to be participating in the hunger strike
as well. Isolation is so severe in Pelican Bay that many had not heard
of the strike until receiving our notice, but word is spreading through
many avenues and supporters on the outside and support is strong and
growing.
The ULK will be a great help to me and others to promote
education, unity, and legitimate struggle among prisoners in my area.
This is an ongoing and continuous task/duty that I, and a few others,
have accepted. We need informational and motivational materials such as
ULK to help enlighten and recruit others.
One recent example of success: the administration at this facility
recently turned off all electricity to the wing I’m housed on - a
disciplinary type wing - in violation of state policy, and took all
personal fans. I managed to get 3 prisoners to file grievances and 6 to
sign an affidavit, which I sent to outside agencies. It took 2 months,
but last week the electricity was turned back on and fans were returned.
But, of course, my fan wasn’t returned because I was moved to a lower
level of housing where there isn’t even an outlet. This is my next task,
getting outlets in all cells. Additionally, these cells now have
padlocks on the doors, in violation of state fire safety codes. I’m in
the process of recruiting others to act on that issue as well.
Regarding the petitions against corrupt grievance processes noted on
page 12 of the ULK, would you please send me several of them?
I’ve been trying to work on that issue - I have documentation that
clearly shows the inadequacy of the process - and the petition might be
a great help. I will recruit others to send them.
Thanks so much for the ULK and the motivation.
MIM(Prisons) adds: Write us to get a copy of the
grievance
petition for your state if you reside in California, Missouri,
Oklahoma or Texas, or a generic petition that you can customize for your
state if you are anywhere else.
Engulfed in the day to day war of oppressed against oppressor, sometimes
the pressures can be overwhelming, especially in these concentration
camps of the united $nakes (prisons). If you’re not blind you can
clearly see on the faces of our brothers the lack of dignity and the
lack of hope. You can hear when they speak, that their spirits have been
crushed and ambition has been washed away along with the privilege and
rights entitled to them as men at birth.
But why? We have accepted these oppressive conditions, almost embracing
them as if they belong to us. We’ve grown accustomed to the
establishment’s evil ways and put it off as if nothing can be done about
them. In a way we have sold our souls and hope is in constant suffering
because of this. Where are the elders? Where is the hope? Did the hope
die along with the revolutionaries of the past who were brave enough to
protest and take a stand against the establishment, later being
assassinated because they did? If so, then the future of the people is
in question.
The future of the people is of no success without the hope and bravery
of the people now! The future of the people is determined by the
immediate actions of the people. There is honestly no more time to
waste. Wasted time means wasted lives and enough of our peoples lives
have already been taken not just by the hands of the oppressor but by
reactionary suicide which of course is because of the oppressor.
Many of us, just like Huey P. Newton in the earlier stages of his life,
have been searching. Searching for meaning. The meaning of life. Huey
recognized, there is no meaning to life unless there is something to die
for. To die for the people is what he later discovered as being his role
in life. The people being his meaning for life.
He, along with many others influenced by him, put their lives on the
line, for the lives of their people. He knew long after his death, that
the conditions of the oppressed will continue unless there was social
change. Change in which he set out to make. Not fearing death but
accepting it as his fate by the hands of the oppressor, for a new life
for his people.
So you may ask, what is your role? If you are a brother like myself,
oppressed, exploited, victim of racism, victim of Amerikanism, which we
all are, then I say our role is the same as brother Huey’s was. Why
wouldn’t it be? Knowing that these conditions will not change unless we
the people oppose the oppressive forces, then what more could our role
be in life? What has more meaning to life than pursuing liberty and
happiness? If not for thy people then at least for thyself, which would
ultimately catapult amongst the people. I see no other role adequate.
But this is where the problem occurs. Many brothers are aware of the
oppressive conditions. But yet grown so used to them that they are
“normal” within our communities. I assure you that it is not normal. If
it was then there wouldn’t be classes of society, in which we are in
fact the lowest class.
As humans, we are mistreated and unrecognized (along with our social
needs). We are underprivileged, we are undereducated, we are underpaid,
we are poorly housed and we are under attack by the hands of the
government, through forces of oppression caused by capitalism and
racism. Yet some feel it is unnecessary to take a stand. I beg to
differ, I feel it is a necessity. With no stand, there’s no future. We
must liberate ourselves.
To die for the people, literally means to be suicidal. This is how Huey
came up with the name of his book, Revolutionary Suicide. It is
almost impossible to remain alive living as a revolutionary, because
revolutionaries are objects of sacrifice for their people.
A revolutionary may not be fortunate to see the revolution since it is
not an action but a process. But during their lives they advance the
people towards a revolution, probably dying in the process.
Do not mistake revolutionary suicide with reactionary suicide, which is
ultimately taking your own life due to the overwhelmingness of
oppression or engaging in action caused by your reaction that will also
ultimately lead you to death.
History shows us that revolutionaries are often assassinated at the
hands of the oppressors they oppose for having influence over the
masses, therefore preventing a revolution and or revolutionary
advancement (raising people’s conscience) etc. I think it is cowardly to
see brothers who have been murdered as the sacrifice of my liberty to
ignore their cause because of the dangers. We will die, but we will die
for our people and that alone gives meaning to our life. Some are born
just to die. These people have no meaning of life. Revolutionaries are
awoken to die for the cause of bringing meaning to life.
We see that they assassinated MLK. We see that they assassinated Malcolm
X. We see that they assassinated Mark Clark, Fred Hampton, Bobby Hutton,
attempts on Huey and all because of the brave roles that were necessary
for the liberation of the people. I accept my role as a young
revolutionary which is why I coined this very phrase “kill me for my
people.”
I am we is an old saying that our ancestors used when asked “who are
you?” “I am we” they would respond. “I, we, all of us are then and the
multitude.” This is revolutionary suicide.
MIM(Prisons) adds: For more on the Black Panther Party and Huey
Newton, check out the
Newspaper
Archives.
After having the pleasure of reading
ULK 20, I would
like to opine concerning some of its contents. While I found numerous
articles to be informative and inspiring. I really want to focus on the
letter entitled
SMU
Used to Prevent Activism and the subsequent response from
MIM(Prisons).
The letter was written by a federal prisoner, and, among other things,
he expressed discontent with the fact that many gang members in the BOP
who have been subjected to the SMU program have been broken by it and
failed to carry out strategies to thwart the oppressive system.
Furthermore, most of these gang members are quick to engage one another
in physical combat; however, reluctant to attack the real enemy with
similar ferociousness. The prisoner then gave a call for “hard-core,
guerilla, strategic revolutionary action” aimed at the “pigs.”
MIM(Prisons) responded by expressing a disapprobation of the call for
“hard-core, guerilla, strategic revolutionary action,” saying that, at
this time in imperialist countries the conditions are not ripe for armed
struggle. This opinion was based on an analysis of history and current
conditions.
Though I concede that overall the masses in america may not be ready for
armed struggle, I don’t believe the class of people that the prisoner
pointed out (i.e. gang members in prison) should be discouraged from
physically assailing those holding them in captivity. In prison, the
oppression that one experiences is a lot more cruel than what people in
society endure. And many of the gang members have the potential to
formulate the vanguard needed to lead to coup. They already know how to
unite, possess warrior spirits, and have displayed defiance toward the
government, even if just through criminal behavior.
Keep in mind, we’re not talking about the Boy Scouts here. We’re talking
about some of the most murderous and gladiatorial individuals america
has ever created. One way or another, these gang members are going to
fight violently. Not only because of their natures, but because the
harsh conditions of prison life will cause them to. And I think it best
that, rather than continue exterminating each other, they federate and
become america’s Frankenstein.
MIM(Prisons) responds: We disagree with this writer’s assumption
that members of lumpen organizations are violent by “nature.” It is the
imperialist system that forces the oppressed into organizations for
self-defense and preservation. People’s “nature” is not innate, it is
created by their environment. And even imperialists can sometimes be
retrained and become useful servants of the revolution. So we should not
assume that members of lumpen organizations will always have to be
violent and must channel this violence somewhere. We should give these
comrades more credit and instead help them learn how to channel violent
inclinations into productive avenues to fight their real enemies in the
criminal injustice system and the imperialist government.
Even in a country where there is no proletariat, we should uphold the
principles of People’s War. Spurts of anger leading to violence against
the pigs does nothing more to liberate humynity than killing another
thug. We need to build understanding and support for proletarian
struggle in the broadest ways that we can. If we do not win the hearts
and minds of these “gladiators” then they will just as quickly be used
by the state against us.
To acknowledge your struggle which coincides with mine and many other
prisoners around the globe, I would like to state some facts concerning
the prison (Connally Unit) I am housed at here in Texas. The prison
population is 2,812 prisoners, very understaffed due to better service
at the oil fields popping up all round this prison complex.
This unit is split A and B side and then we have the dorms which are set
apart for those non-gang affiliated and those who pose no threat to the
establishment of the institution. Just recently we’ve been given
Johnny’s (paper sack lunches) on the weekends for the past month or so
and this is due to cuts in the budget. This also constrains a lot of
movement to and from the chow hall. B-side is even split two times. On
B-side you have 7 building and 8 building. 7 building gets to go to chow
with general population but 8 building is restricted. The new major
Daniels in town has built a mini chow hall for such sections of the
prison population which to them is best. They usually house those
prisoner who they feel are the worst such as wine makers, tattoo
artists, etc.
These institutions are set up for failure. This is why I congratulate
those organizations whether they be lumpen or otherwise who have taken
up the banner of rehabilitation and have started or engaged in the
process of revolutionizing the minds of the masses. Revolutionizing the
knowledge needed in order to free our thinkers from this blind deceptive
demagogue. If we ain’t the solution then we surely are the problem
because until the wheels stop turning it is my duty to struggle and
awaken those inactive participants into being a part of this mass
movement of prisoners inside and out.
This unit (Connally) is getting worse by the minute and as one good
comrade (Blaze) from New York stated, “They’re taking every liberty
away.” Until we acknowledge collectively that there is a problem we will
continue to be deceived. Just recently we have been restricted from
attending religious services. Before the process of this denial, we
could attend church freely without restrictions. Now we must submit an
I-60 requesting to attend and if approved we can attend. Ain’t that a
violation of our 1st Amendment Constitutional right?
I will continue to do my investigative and organizational work for this
is what I live for. When my heart and mind stop I will live in the
spirits of those true to our cause, but until then I will pump out the
revolutionary spirit needed in order to encourage and empower those most
in need of such: Lumpen!
MIM(Prisons) adds: The need for struggle against these
institutions set up for failure is a primary reason behind the launching
of the
United
Front for Peace in Prisons which stresses the need to stand together
in unity with those who share our common interests.
On April 28, 2011 a complaint was made against two lieutenants and the
associate warden of operations (AWO) at Lovelock Correctional Center
(LCC) for threatening the entire Protective Segregation (PS) housing
unit population with group punishment if the gambling, homosexual
activity, tattooing, etc. continued, despite the fact that those who’d
been caught were known and identified and/or already facing disciplinary
procedures.
The same night, a number of individuals were caught gambling, and the
following morning both PS housing units 3A and 3B were locked down. The
lockdown was purportedly in response to the gambling incident.
On May 10, 2011 a minor altercation occurred between two prisoners in
the LCC dining hall. These two individuals were placed in more secure
housing where they received:
telephone access
law library access
library access (i.e. book cart)
cleaning supplies for cells
full food portions in two hot meals per day
yard access
due process prior to loss of privileges and punishment
The remaining PS prisoners in 3A and 3B, having nothing to do with
any of these incidents, received:
lockdown for 6 days with showers on first and fourth days
loss of cell visiting privileges (permanently)
loss of open access to cells and toilet accommodations (permanently)
no law library access
no religious access
no library access
no telephone access
no cell cleaning supplies
no tier time/yard time
refused grievances and “advised” not to “fly paperwork if we want off of
lockdown”
During the lockdown a shakedown (described as getting the unit into
compliance) was done resulting in the confiscation of appliances, which
was later returned because “it should not have been taken in the first
place.”
Upon being let off of lockdown some of the population united around
these and other issues long overdue for redress and formulated a
complaint alleging several violations of civil and human rights which
are embraced by the following acts and holdings among others: 22
USCA 6021 (9) 22 USCA 6401 (in toto) 42 USCA 1997a (CRIPA) 42
USCA 2000cl (RLUIPA) Bounds v Smith 37SCT1491 430US817 Heck v.
Humphrey 114SCT2364 512US477 Wolff v McDonnell 94 SCT 2963 418 US
539 Breenholtz v Nebraska 99 SCT 2100 442 US 1 Estelle v Gamble 97
SCT 285 429 US 97 Turner v Safley 102 CT 2754 482 US 78 All of
which are US Supreme Court holdings which are binding upon Nevada
(Nevada constitution article 1 Sec 2 Bargas v Warden NSP 482 P2d 317 87
Nev 30 91 SCT 1267 403 US 935 29 LED 715)
The complaint raises the following (and other) issues which are constant
and pervasive conditions at LCC among PS prisoners:
unsanitary/unsafe dining hall conditions
inadequate food and medical treatment
compulsory strip searches daily (to boxers) frequently done by
females
verbal abuse by staff in the form of derogatory racial, cultural and
gender charged epithets
abusive and retaliatory behavior toward adherents of non-traditional
religions
inadequate legal access and retaliation for accessing legal process
coercion/harassment in the form of cell searches and theft/destruction
of personal property as retaliation and for furtherance of personal
agendas
withholding/theft of mail, opening legal mail outside of prisoner’s
presence
use of prisoners in supervisory capacity and as facilitators/teachers of
rehabilitative and psych programs which impact earned sentence credits,
parole board decisions and sentence duration
fomenting hostility and animus between prisoners using confidential or
otherwise sensitive information
group punishment/threats of collective retaliation and punishments
The above is a summary of the mentioned complaint and does not
contain much in the way of detail and specificity. However, it serves to
articulate the overall conditions here (and elsewhere) and exemplifies
the need for solidarity and presenting a united front against
oppression. It should never be allowed to get this bad before action is
taken, but it apparently must get bad enough to inspire action.
It is easier to keep what one has than it is to regain what one has
already lost, but this is not a message which is widely understood by
the new prisoner class.
In any event, if information concerning our struggle becomes available,
it will be put “before the world.”
MIM(Prisons) adds: We applaud prisoners coming together to fight
repression in their housing units. In this case it is prisoners in
protective custody, a place our prison comrades are fond of reminding us
is rife with people who informed on other prisoners (often falsely) to
save their own hides. We cannot often know who, in PC or general
population, is a snitch, but we can judge prisoners by their actions and
uphold the correctness of struggles against prison brutality wherever
they arise.
I am currently serving a state sentence at Florida State Prison on Close
Management (24 hour lock-down). The prisoners are treated like hogs in a
barn, not human beings. The clothes here are filthy and stained with
blood, urine, feces, oil, and semen. They are passed out on a weekly
basis. We can catch a disease this way.
And the meals are always underdone. Prisoners have gotten sick from
this, a stomach virus. If you file a grievance on it, the correctional
officers won’t feed you the next day.
The pigs will write prisoners bogus disciplinary reports sometimes, and
if you try to file an appeal after they found you guilty of the
infraction your appeal comes up missing. How can a prisoner win like
that? The system is designed for us to lose even if we’re right in our
argument.
The correctional officers like to jump on prisoners in
handcuffs/shackles in the assigned cells, on the rec yard, anywhere
where there’s not a camera to catch the injustice. How can anyone defend
themselves when they’re helpless?
The COs try to discourage prisoners on a daily basis out of their
institutional call-out, meaning they will bribe them with contraband
like cigarettes, chewing dip, coffee, knives, etc. A lot of them will
fall for it all the time because they are trying to support their bad
habits. It’s sad on both parties’ behalf.
Florida prisoners have no unity whatsoever and they never will as long
as they continue to be brainwashed by the COs and continue accepting
contraband that is being brought in by DOC workers to prisoners. As long
as this keeps going on there will always be fights between one another.
MIM(Prisons) adds: The oppressive conditions in Florida are
similar to those throughout the criminal injustice system, and this
comrade’s call for prisoners to unite underscores the motivation behind
the
United
Front for Peace in Prisons. One of the 5 principles of the United
Front is Independence. The oppressed need to develop
institutions that meet their needs. There are plenty of examples of
prisoners pooling their resources to take care of each other, rather
than relying on the COs who only hope to poison the prison population
with drugs, weapons, rumors and jealousy.
As mentioned in prior writings by comrades, the struggle, especially for
those incarcerated, must encompass not merely a study of history but an
application of those strategies that in some way benefit the cause as a
whole. One aspect of such application are the legal remedies which can
set precedence for many who may need such standards in proving the
wrongs done by prison officials. However the opacity and cover-up
culture of prison industry in some instances allows for these same
freedom fighters to unknowingly sacrifice their very lives for the sake
of the many. Here at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in a rural
part of Nebraska this fact remains ever alive.
We are still mourning the death of a prisoner who has on several
occasions successfully challenged institutional policy, winning both
injunctive and compensatory judgments. In the process he made enemies,
invoking the wrath of those running this warehouse. And although this
comrade was in phenomenal physical condition he somehow experienced an
aneurysm and mysteriously died. Some have postulated his diet of tuna
was the cause, other more conspiratorial minds say he was murdered
because of his success in exposing questionable actions by those
officials. I myself have chosen to accept the latter.
I mention this with regards to a legal battle I will enter very soon
pertaining to a number of constitutional rights that have been violated.
This struggle is real in every sense of the word and unfortunately
requires its martyrs, without which one would not perceive the
seriousness of our collective struggle.
The constant study, comprehension and application of the tenets of
independent thinking, which will always remain applicable to our
situation, must continue for substantial change to occur.
Every time we wake up and open our eyes to a new day, that’s an act of
resistance, because they don’t care if we wake up or not, and some don’t
want us to! Every time we take in or exhale a precious breath of life we
are engaging in a real act of resistance, because they don’t want us to
breath, they want us to live in misery and nothing more. Every time we
write things like this and contribute our writings to newsletters,
zines, pamphlets or to the internet, we are engaging in an act of
resistance, because these are messages they don’t want us to convey!
Resistance isn’t always about violent bouts with our captors, even
though we’ve been through that, or will probably go through it one of
these days (on one level or another), but sometimes it’s about striving
to overcome these everyday struggles in these death camps, while keeping
your mind in one piece, your body strong and your spirit unbreakable. So
in that sense we are engaging in acts of resistance every day! Me,
writing this, is an act of resistance.
So, my dear comrades, please allow me to extend my most sincere
greetings of love, solidarity and respect to all who read this and to
all who feel it. As a revolutionary freedom fighter, it is my duty to
strive every day to raise consciousness and engage and organize others,
conducting study sessions and having political, philosophical and
intellectual stimulating convos with those who are confined in the cells
around me, writing essays and zines and trying to connect with people on
the outs in a real and meaningful way. Even though I’m constantly
retaliated on by my captors, it doesn’t matter. I resist the attempts to
mentally suffocate me and others through sensory deprivation tactics.
They try to break our spirits but we keep resistance in our hearts, and
that’s what carries us through.
And I want to dedicate this act of resistance to all of the prisoners
who read this, from state to state, all those who are resisting their
“intellectual death sentences,” tearing it up! Staying hard and staying
true through it all. I salute you and I write these words to encourage
you to start getting things going where you’re at, start studying the
law, raise consciousness (your own and in the minds of others too),
start up study groups, get a book drive going for your prison. Start up
your own prison chapter, build bridges with comrades on the outs. Each
one teach one, engage others, sharpen your swords, listen as much as you
talk, learn as much as you teach, be real with people, and try to bring
a level of solidarity amongst the prisoners on your tier, unit, wing,
etc. These are some of the things that I’m doing out here in
Pennsylvania and it’s what I encourage everyone everywhere to do also!
I dedicate this act of resistance to all of you who read this. My heart
goes out to all of you, my love, my appraisal, my solidarity, and my
deepest respect goes out!
I want to make a comment about the united front. I’ve been trapped
inside this system for 15 years. And I’ve always been for my people and
against our oppressors - the united snakes of lies. As you might know,
us indigenous people have been subject to deception, murder, and
assimilation. It’s been a problem for my people - Dakota-Santec Sioux -
since our first encounter with these snakes. And to this day it’s still
a problem for all indigenous people across this land we call turtle
island. So until all the atrocities against my people have been righted,
we will always be that thorn in the side of them snakes. Because we
don’t forgive or forget, we’ll always remember the ones who have given
up their lives for our struggle. For us, our wars have never ended,
because as long as there’s a breath in a few we’ll always stand and
fight for what is right.
I write that to let you know where we stand in the struggle. We will
always be at war with the government of the united snakes.
Although we believe in the struggle, we also believe that the only ones
who can fight our fight, is US (indigenous people), for history has
shown that we can’t rely on anybody but our own. For we are the ones who
can truly relate to how much it means to us. And how we are effected by
all the wrongs that have been done to us. Because I believe our struggle
is different - we struggle for survival! We fight not only for
sovereignty, but for preservation of our ways of life (language,
spirituality, and our culture).
MIM(Prisons) responds: We agree with this writer that the
struggles of different oppressed nations are not all the same. The First
Nations are in a struggle for survival as a small minority within a land
dominated by an oppressor nation, while the struggle of oppressed
nations in the Third World are battles of the majority against the
minority. There are many differences, and these must be respected.
The goal of a United Front (for instance, the
United
Front for Peace in Prisons) is to bring together different groups
against a common enemy without forcing those groups to subsume their
struggles and beliefs into a larger organization. A United Front
recognizes the importance of independence to its member organizations.
Those groups need only unite around a common cause and principles but
can take what actions they deem appropriate, and can continue to pursue
their own organizing and other struggles.
We see the importance of separate nation vanguard organizations within
the U.$., and so we agree with this comrade on the importance of
indigenous people fighting their own fight. But we see the United Front
as a crucial element of support for these organizations, bringing them
together to fight their common enemy of imperialism.