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.
This prison degrades all to the lowest form. We are repeatedly refused
showers, recreation, and medical attention after being abused by
supervising officials. They are running in on us at 3am in full riot
gear while we are resting in what peace we can get around here. The
Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT) is run by a new sergeant and he
is pepper spraying prisoners who pose no threat. He is ordering his
subordinates to “shoot first and ask questions later.”
We are being subject to excessive rectal searches just to take a shower.
Our food is cold, spoiled and inadequately prepared. We don’t receive
beverages and staff talk over, sweat on, and handle our trays with no
gloves, hair nets, or face masks.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. Me and my fellow lumpen comrades
are definitely determined to sink this “titanic” along with other
negligent and corrupt entities within the state. Always remember a
closed mouth doesn’t get fed. It’s time to fight back with our minds,
pens and comradery! Believe me that there’s only so much that we are
going to take laying down! Free all my like-minded brothers of the same
struggle.
MIM(Prisons) adds: There is a growing movement of prisoners and
lumpen organizations in Georgia standing up to the abuse and unjust
conditions in the prisons in that state. Part of this work requires
educating and organizing, and for this we need leaders like this
comrade. Leaders are willing to put in the work exposing the conditions,
and educating fellow prisoners about the need for unity and building for
legal and non-violent actions that will further the anti-imperialist
movement. United Struggle from Within (USW), the MIM(Prisons)-led
prisoner organization, needs more comrades to step up and take on
leadership roles behind bars. Get in touch with us for more information
on working with USW.
I am currently imprisoned in Warren Correctional Institute in Lebanon,
Ohio and am Vice President of a prisoner-run organization called Long
Term Offenders Organization (LTO) where our main focus is to abolish the
“3 tier system” which is Ohio’s equivalent to California’s Security
Housing Unit (SHU) system. We promote abolishment by enforcing programs,
workshops, events and activities for prisoners to beat the 3 tier
system. We promote unity outside of these walls but even more within
these walls. I’ve noticed a lot of brothers complain about our current
circumstances in Ohio such as the 3 tier system (which is obviously a
cycle that is supposed to be broken), the food (not enough portions),
and correctional officers abusing their authority. By having a platform
such as LTO to speak up, I’m promoting prison unity to use the proper
procedure through the formal complaints process and not letting the pigs
or their system get the best of us. I always tell the brothers it’s
going to take more than just me alone to make a difference so I need
them just as much as they need me.
MIM(Prisons) adds: We add these comrades in Ohio to the
country-wide movement to shut down control units. Whatever they are
called, this long term isolation is a form of torture, primarily
targetting politically active and oppressed nation prisoners. We also
encourage LTO, and any other prisoner organizations out there, to
consider joining the
United Front
for Peace in Prisons, and work to build unity on an even broader
scale. As the second organizing principle of this United Front states:
“We strive to unite with those facing the same struggles as us for our
common interests. To maintain unity we have to keep an open line of
networking and communication, and ensure we address any situation with
true facts. This is needed because of how the pigs utilize tactics such
as rumors, snitches and fake communications to divide and keep division
among the oppressed. The pigs see the end of their control within our
unity.”
They say that da left side is da true side But I bang da right side
with much pride I don’t knock your struggle, walk it like a real
C Blood or Crip, I respect the life that you live as a real G I
live in da struggle so I recognize da real from da fake Dat Blood
vs. Crip don’t determine our fate This kind of overstanding produces
real niggas who think like I thought… A pointless war dat we all
fought! With fragments of unrelated feelings and no logical
patterns Trappin’ in a concrete jungle dat preys on da mind
frames of young savages I bleed Crip from my bloody heart You Crip
walk blood from a gangsters walk Stuck in psychological confusion,
created by poverty’s conditions Black pride and New Afrikan
revolution destroyed from da impact of pointless missions I keep
it poppin’ for all niggas drippin’ red and staying true You keep it
crackin’ for all souljahs Cripp’n Loc and bangin’ blue So stay
true to yourself cause you’re a real nigga even though you’re
reppin’ dat strange color blue
There’s something I’d like to bring to your attention in hopes that you
can possibly provide help in stopping and exposing Oregon’s long term
isolation scheme. In late 2010 Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC)
started a program called “Long Term” (LT) that has 24 beds/cells.
Administration can place someone in LT upon completion of a Disciplinary
Segregation sanction and Intensive Management program. LT is permanent
lockdown. There are no special criteria that get us placed there, nor
any time limit to how long we can be kept on that status. Administration
does what they want. Annual evaluations are done with no guarantee we’ll
be released back to mainline.
From its implementation until the summer of 2013, the 24 LT cells were
never completely filled up with LT status prisoners. I was placed there
in May 2013 and only about half that section were on LT status. The rest
were Intensive Management Unit (IMU) overflows transitioning back to
mainline. From May until about January 2014 the Inmate Program Committee
(IPC) were long-terming a group of prisoners for their first IMU shot
for a fist fight. They had no misconduct while in IMU and they
“successfully” completed their LT. It’s an admission that they know
their IMU program doesn’t work, and by failing to release those
prisoners back to mainline they never gave it a chance to work. One vato
there is paroling within months and IPC didn’t want him to parole from
mainline. There was no other reason for that decision.
By March 2014 every cell was filled up with LT status prisoners plus
about 7 LT overflows who sat in a regular IMU cell, waiting for an LT
cell to become available. Well, with annual evaluations only happening
in October, the only way an LT cell will become available is if someone
gets kicked out and sent back to an IMU unit for disciplinary reasons.
In the last annual only 3 people were released back to mainline. So it
raises the question: why are they all of a sudden long-terming so many
people if there’s no room?
By May 2014 they were up to 14 LT overflows. Well, one of the counselors
admitted what we were already suspecting: It’s all a scam they’re
pulling with their head honchos in the Dome Building to expand the LT
isolation housing. Their intent was to fill up every cell so they can go
to their bosses demanding more cells and funds. But they got denied.
However, people are still getting assigned to LT. Maybe they feel that
as long as they keep the numbers up the Dome will eventually have to
relent, which explains a lot of the trips the counselors here have been
taking to Salem to push their manipulative agenda. Oregon is turning
into a permanent lockdown state. And all this is at the expense of
simple decent humanity and civil rights. Many prisoners in LT right now
are victims of these pigs’ schemes and do not belong there.
Three codes of ethics all DOC employees are supposed to abide by are
honor, respect, and dignity. This scheme contradicts all three. I would
like to get activist and civil rights groups involved to hopefully shut
the program down, or at least to prevent it from being expanded as part
of some game these pigs are playing.
MIM(Prisons) responds: This program is similar to what we see in
the criminal injustice system across Amerika, where prisoners are put in
long term isolation cells for no particular reason, and given no
opportunity to appeal this placement. In many places it is used as
punishment for political organizing. This isolation is a form of
torture, and counter to every supposed aim of rehabilitation. We look
forward to working with comrades in Oregon to expose and fight this
program.
There are many instances of postal fraud/institutional strong arm
robbery occurring here. In the canteen , when purchasing a large sized
envelope (6x9 or larger) the facility requires the purchase of two first
class U.S. postage stamps or three first class U.S. postage stamps, two
for 6x9, three for larger.
In the event that someone desires to mail fewer than the two or three
ounces permissible with the two or three stamps and removes a stamp in
order to not overpay for postage, he receives a misconduct report from
the mailroom and often the mail is returned to the brotha’s cell. The
envelope is usually sealed and then cut open rendering it unfit to be
utilized again.
Essentially, they’re forcing us to overpay for postage under the
auspices of Title 68 of the Nebraska Administrative Code. Specifically,
Title 68 Chapter 5 Section(2) III (N) and III (C) “violation of
regulations” and “possessing or receiving unauthorized articles.” Of
course they write the misconduct report so that removing the extra stamp
is considered alteration of a canteen item and thus becoming an
“unauthorized article.” The “violation of regulations” is a result of
the dubious unauthorized article.
What, if any, information or experience do you all have with this type
of institutional criminality? Postage stamps are highly regulated. How
can a state institution, or anybody for that matter, force an individual
or collective to overpay for postage? And, how far reaching is this
practice? How high does it go? How can we stop this?
MIM(Prisons) responds: This is a good example of prisons denying
prisoners’ freedom of speech. It is difficult for prisoners to pay for
stamps, and by forcing them to overpay, the prison denies valuable
opportunities to send out mail. It is censorship before the mail is even
sent out. We encourage Nebraska prisoners to get together to fight this
policy. Send in your thoughts on how to best take this up as a campaign.
During the night of darkness, between da midst of a storm, there
stood a warrior, thus a gangster in rare form. Black as soot, skin such
a beautiful hue, he lived by da five, da almightly Damu. Constructed by
struggles, created in poverty, da soul of realness with my komrades
behind me. Standing firm for da cause, fighting through da oppression, 2
hearts, 1 soul. Liberation’s my mission. Understand my position, don’t
judge me by my structure, comprehend my motives, it’s filled with more
than corruption. I live for my brothers and I’ll die for my family,
never slow to take a stand, for my love is my loyalty. To conquer all
that’s in my way, to rebuild my broken destiny, too far from reality, my
ambition ran empty, such strength that’s unbreakable. I’ll fight to the
end, I was born against da odds, da undisputed champion.
I am fighting this Washington Department of Corrections policy “c)
Publications in a foreign language will not be allowed with the
exception of religious publications.” They let letters come in in a
foreign language, up to 10 pages. Before 2010 they used to let me get
books and magazines in Spanish, but then they changed the policy.
I’m familiar with the censorship pack from MIM(Prisons), but there is
nothing that applies to this issue. I exhausted the grievances. Their
last response was that they had security interests and that it was a
threat to the security of the institutions.
I’ve heard that there are states that let foreign language literature
come in, also I heard that the federal system does too. These clowns
told me that there is no state, federal or constitutional law that
supports me to get books or magazines in a foreign language. I’m asking
for the help of ULK readers around the country to advise me
with a case or law that I could use in an argument or lawsuit. I don’t
know how to file one but I have to learn somehow. I wrote the ACLU and
other organizations, but they never gave me a response.
If you do have some advice please sent it to MIM(Prisons). And finally
to all those in Washington state, it would be good if we can come
together in this and many other issues.
MIM(Prisons) adds: This is an important battle because it is
clear denial of access to educational materials for all Raza, and is
particularly important for those Spanish-speaking prisoners who are not
fluent in English. This blatant national oppression must be fought. We
look forward to hearing from our readers with suggestions for how to
best approach this campaign.
The ever-growing bureaucracy in Colorado Department of Corrections
(DOC), and the interpretations that are following from ego-filled guards
is appalling. Rich Ramicsh, our new DOC director, has made strong
statements regarding closing down the use of solitary confinement, more
commonly known in Colorado as Administrative Segregation. Yet the
implementation of these measures and the enforcement of policies is left
up to the creative imaginations of the individual prisons’
administrators. With no monitoring systems in place, everything that
takes place beyond each prison’s razor wires and concrete walls goes
unnoticed.
A new form of punishment is known as the “Austere Living Environment.”
They take disruptive, aggressive and often mentally ill prisoners and
house them in 12-man housing units, locked in single cells 23 hours a
day, 7 days a week. There are no TVs, radios, books or any form of
stimulation. This means of oppression is just the beginning. Ad-Seg now
is used as a means of retaliation, suppression, and rendition to those
who are not just gang members, but those who speak out against DOC.
Prisons are public institutions, not fiefdoms. Why can’t there be
inquiries into the use of prison in non-violent crimes and
investigations on the environments of prisons? Instead of tough on
crime, let’s get tough on human rights and abolish prisons.
Standing in solidarity with fists held high. Keep fighting my comrades.
MIM(Prisons) adds: This attempt to build new long term isolation
units under different names is a game employed by prisons across the
country to conceal their brutality and abuse. This Austere Living
Environment in Colorado will do nothing more than degrade the mental and
physical health of prisoners. We call on all prisoners to send us
documentation like this on control units in your prisons and/or state.
Write to us to request a survey you can complete. We compile this data
for use by those in the movement to shut down these control units, but
we also take this message further and point out the value of isolation
units that target activists to the imperialist system. We work to free
anti-imperialist voices so that we can organize a movement that will
overthrow the criminal injustice system.
I ask that you embrace the tides of the times We are no longer
confined with binds on the mind Once we embrace united front,
scientific thought and study for line the long arm of
imperialism’s law is no longer strong When through theory and
practice we arrive at the decision to take up arms which is a
must if we are to defeat imperialism’s parasitic lust with
too much greed for that which we don’t need We fail to
heed even the most basic of humyn needs As the Third World
suffers because of our greed So turn the tides of
the times Study for line and overthrow imperialism… Hystory
is on our side.
Los Amerikanos deberían de condenar a su gobierno por estar involucrado
en lo que esta tomando lugar en el patio trasero de Rusia. Partidos
politikos con ambiciones nucleares en el bordo de Rusia es una receta de
muerte y gran desastre.(1) A incrementado el derramamiento de sangre y
todo es resultado de la maniobra imperialista por la cual docenas han
muerto en confrontaciones entre los protestores/fuerzas opuestas, y la
fuerzas de seguridad en Ukrania que son controladas por los partidos que
entraron en poder en el golpe de estado de Febrero (el segundo, de parte
de los EE UU en los últimos 10 años). Interesantemente no hemos
escuchado a John Kerry hacer un llamado de sanciones en contra del
gobierno nuevo de Ukrania como fue visto el pasado otoño cuando el
gobierno anterior asalto a los protestantes, una vez más exponemos su
hipocrecia (eso va sin disculparse por el ahora derrocado régimen de
Yanukovic, el cual después mato a docenas de protestantes en las calles
de Kiev). Los Europeos deberían de estar aun mas preocupados por la
violencia que se esta fomentando en Ukrania. Mientras la Unión Europea
espera beneficiarse del militarismo de los EE UU en forma de relaciones
de intercambios con Ukrania, les podría llegar guerra a su propia región
por ese mismo militarismo por el que tanto esperan ellos beneficiarse.
Las declaraciones del presidente Vladimir Putin en Mayo 7 del 2014
indicaron que Rusia se la llevara calmado cuando se trate de este
conflicto, las platicas de que Ukrania se una a la Tratado Atlantico
Norte (NATO) es una gran amenaza a la seguridad de Rusia. Los Amerikanos
expertos en poliza extranjera, incluyendo a Henry Kissinger, han
condenado la idea de unir a Ukrania con nato. NATO fue formada al fin de
la segunda guerra mundial como un pacto militar entre paises opuestos a
los entonces comunistas de la Union Sovieta. Desde la disolución de la
Union Sovieta en 1991, poco a poco la OTAN ha estado entrando al este de
Europa dirijiendose hacia Rusia.
Las palabras calmadas que expresó Vladimir Putin indican que las muy
limitadas sanciones del Oeste han sido exitosos en no añadir mas flama a
la rivalidad del inter-imperialismo. Con atacar y enfocarse en
individuos, EE UU y Alemania previnieron los tipos de barreras
comerciales que terminaron en guerras abiertas entre países
imperialistas a principios del Siglo XX. Y aunque los mercados
financieros de Rusia han bajado frenta a esta amenaza, el golpe
permanece moderado.
Otra razón por la cual preocuparse es que el régimen - apoyado por los
estadounidenses tiene participación significante de partidos fascistas
de la ultra-derecha. Es irónico que hoy el fascismo encuentra gran
cantidad de apoyo con la gente que destruyo el fascismo en los 1940s.
Pero nuestro entendimiento del fascismo explica porque. Fascismo es
dirigido por una clase imperialista que siente que su existencia es
amenazada y/o aspira surgir y avanzar en contra de otros poderes
imperialistas. Su gran apoyo es el de los aristócratas laborales los
cuales quieren que su nación sea levantada y poder segar grandes
superganancias a costos de otros países (lee nuestro paquete de studio
del fascismo). Rusia permanece un poder imperialista con desigualdad al
oeste, que no puede proveer los mismos beneficios a su gente como por
ejemplo los EE UU y esos del oeste de Europa. Mientras que Ukrania no es
un país imperialista, hay una pequeña clase de financieros capitalistas
que apoyan el avance fascista dentro del régimen actual. Los fascistas
se están movilizando entre la guardia nacional y están detrás de las
recientes muertes de policías locales y civiles en el este donde la
oposición al nuevo régimen es fuerte.
Con toda la ayuda y préstamos ofrecidos a Ukrania departe del Oeste,
sabemos que gran parte del dinero dado en el pasado se ha hido a
diferentes partidos politikos, “reforma de elecciones” y avenidas de
información (2); algo que debemos tener en mente al tratar de entender
lo que sucede durante eventos politikos en estados clientes. El USAID,
constantemente comercializado por el gobierno como agencia humanitaria,
está detrás de esta campaña y fondos politikos. Los EE UU y Alemania se
alistan para la planeada elección presidencial que debe tomar lugar en
Mayo 25 mientras trabajan detrás del esenario para asegurar sus
resultados.
El militarismo Estado Unidense, el cual es definido por la economia
Amerikana dependiente de la guerra y producción militar, tiene que ser
llevado a un fin para parar todas esas muertes innecesarias como las
cometidas recientemente en Ukrania y en diferentes partes del mundo.
USAID tiene que ser expuesta y todos tenemos que estar en contra de
USAID por ser la herramienta que se opone a la auto-determinación de la
gente alrededor del mundo. Los sentimientos anti-Rusos que se levantan
entre Amerikanos y el apoyo que Putin esta recibiendo en Rusia no es una
buena mezcla para prevenir conflictos en el futuro si es que de
casualidad los imperialistas deciden subirle un nivel mas a todo este
problema. Esto es la advertencia que nos dice y grita que debemos
fortalecer el movimiento acontra el militarismo Estado Unidense.
