June-July 97
NEWS FROM THE GULAGS
By Carol Strick, NCX East Coast Correspondent
"WE ARE HUNGRY"
"I am always hungry--1/2 cup of cold mush oatmeal and 1/2 of a putrid
orange is the DOC's idea of a wholesome breakfast. This prison is known
to have the worst food in the state. As a vegetarian I eat beans for almost
every meal.
"Prison food is garbage. The kitchen was condemned over a year ago.
Sewage backs up in the sinks and onto the food. Lots of sick women; food
poisoning. Between the starches, contaminated food, and psychotropic medication,
they're killing us off slowly. Fresh fruit and vegetables are nonexistent.
This is Salmonella City. Purely toxic."
· · · · ·
"I hate to remind you that prisoners are being fed Vita Pro which causes
illness. I got sick eating that shit. Now I have to cut down on my eating
of beef and chicken. I don't eat pork, period.
"One look at this breakfast tray and I'm enraged. Two pieces of dried
out cold light bread "toast," a box of bran flakes (the only kind
they have here) and a carton of slightly soured milk. Oh yeah, 2 tiny packs
of jelly, probably free samples. I am always hungry."
· · · · ·
"Supper was sewer trout with 2 pieces of dry white bread, a portion
of grits-cold and lumpy and congealed, 9 pieces of canned okra mixed with
4 1/2 pieces of canned tomato, a dessert consisting of more dry white bread
with cinnamon poured on it mixed with canned fruit cocktail-they call it
"bread pudding"! The chicken is usually half raw. When I cut it,
blood oozes out. I can't eat it. "
· · · · ·
The most common form of tyranny in the hole is the "strip cell."
There does not seem to be a policy for this practice. If a guard is the
slightest bit pissed at anyone for any or no reason, the goon squad goes
into the guy's cell and takes everything that's not welded or bolted down.
This includes toilet paper, mattress, bedding and all clothing. Most likely
the captive is gassed in the process.
The "special management loaf" is the diet 3 times a day. It comes
on a paper plate without a beverage. No utensils are included.
"Food is used as punishment. Men in administrative segregation are
forced to eat a vita-pro loaf of garbage three times a day. The guy in the
next cell whispered in a weak voice, 'I can't count the many nights I've
been in this bed starving for food'."
· · · · ·
There have been a number of justified complaints on the row in Florida about
food trays containing particles of food from previous meals. Prisoners can
be exposed to TB, AIDS and hepatitis from these particles. All of the food
in the camp is prepared in the same kitchen a few buildings away. It is
carted over and kept warm with containers of steaming hot water. Hot damp
carts hold food in trays with bits and pieces of previous meals stuck to
them.
Some prisoners complained. Naturally an immediate retaliation was put into
place. Mail tampering began to cut off contact with loved ones to make life
as unbearable as possible. The same mindset that removed the weights organized
the mail tampering--ordinary sadists, part of the mainstream population,
just "doing their job."
Perverse Use of Drugs on Prisoners
The scenario that is forcing prisoners to become state junkies is larger
than I imagined. The government has figured out a way to get paid for "controlled
medication." Years ago, when covert drug schemes began to unravel,
it was time to put control "legally" into action!
In the late '60s and early '70s, the state sponsored the methadone maintenance
program: "Move the users from heroin to "methadone."
Prisoners' use of prolixin, thorazine, haldol, and sinequan was begun in
penitentiaries. Now "maintenance programs" exist for these drugs.
The prisoners on the psychotropic drugs are being told that as part of their
parole condition they have to report to "maintenance" centers
and continue to ingest these drugs. A failure to do so will result in a
violation of their parole and can return a person to prison.
There are people here who once resembled human beings, but because they
have been subjected to an abundance of generic experimental drugs over a
long period of time, the side effects have transformed them into caricatures
of "Zombie" like creatures. Add to this that they are compelled
to stand outside in inclement weather to receive these fuck-up drugs that
are really causing them more harm than good. In the prison infirmary you
will discover men of all ages and all colors, just lying around, sick and
dying, because they are denied medical treatment.
· · · · ·
Notice on Bulletin Board: "It will be a violation to file a frivolous
lawsuit; if so you can lose all of your gain time."
Prisoners should sue prisoncrats for proposing frivolous rules. Those prisoncrats
should have their employment terminated.
Rage in isolation
Rage in the camps reaches a point where the individual lashes out in some
minor way. Usually it is "disrespect" to an official; a DR (Disciplinary
Report) is written and off to DC (confinement) 15-30 days. Prisoner throws
his food, is put on management loaf, begins to yell, shout, scream, threaten
guard or self. Stripped, put in bare cell. Tries to cool it, but threatens
or tries to commit suicide. Put on psychotropic drugs. Now the rage is controlled,
lying dormant until enough time has elapsed to get out of isolation and
off the drugs. Rage is still there. Being back in open population offers
more to lash out at. Can end by killing or being killed.
"The torturer is uncivilized. There is no reason for this society to
continue any longer."
· · · · ·
"All I can do is keep myself away from the 'touch, cuff control'. I
am starting to be filled with hate for these people. I do whatever I can
do to keep their hands off me. The other day they entered the cell of 2
guys, cuffed them, intentionally punched one in the mouth with a night stick.
Extracted them, placed them on the floor next to my cell, and pepper sprayed
them until I could smell and taste the spray. My cellie and I suffered.
After they mistreated the two guys, they wrote them up on a bogus charge-the
beat goes on!"
--from 'Pleasant Valley,' California
· · · · ·
"The guards pulled a Black prisoner out of his cell a couple of days
ago (Florida kamp), and beat him to a bloody pulp in front of other prisoners.
When the victim started screaming from pain the guys in the cells started
flooding their cells, banging their lockers on the walls like Bantu warriors.
That's our only protest from behind the cages. This is our solidarity growing
against their attempts to steal our manhood."
· · · · ·
From Floriduh Sergeant to captive: "Walk into the D.R. court and plead
"no contest." If you don't, I'll write you up for "lying
to staff: and "disobeying a verbal order."
"Piss when I say piss!" still gets the insanity prize, but there's
no rationality or accountability to any of this.
· · · · ·
Housekeeping Chores
Well, I am at my new 'home'. When I moved in here feces was all over the
walls, bed light and lockers. It was like burnt wax; but harder. It was
caked on the walls. I spent 3 1/2 hours working with nothing but a rag.
I did not have any cleaning materials.
"I asked one of the robots/guards for something to clean the place;
he looked at me like I was crazy. He did brag that he was ripping off the
taxpayers, that he had made an extra $200 for hours beyond his 40 hours!
I am still scrubbing the walls with this rag."
Bob Dylan on George Jackson
They sent him off to prison for a $70 robbery
They closed the door behind him and threw away the key
Lord, Lord, they cut George Jackson down;
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground.
They hated him because he was just too real
He wouldn't take shit from no one
He wouldn't bow down on knees
Lord, Lord, they cut George Jackson down;
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground.
The prison guards they watched him
and they cussed him from above
but they were frightened by his power--
They were scared of his love.
MARTIN VOLEK
Martin Volek's situation is Kafkaesque. At 19 years of age he received a
sentence of burglary to be served at "boot camp." Martin and two
friends had been high on LSD and robbed a house. Martin took the jewelry
to a pawn shop. Afterwards, he called police and returned the money. The
friends were excused, but Martin was sentenced to boot camp (youthful offender,
first time offence).
But after checking their sham files, the DOC decided that "based on
his current conviction for escape," Martin had to be placed in an adult
facility. The "escape" charge sounds as though Martin split from
a camp. The reality is that Martin had had an argument with a girl he was
living with. She called police and Martin ran because he was afraid. That
is the "escape."
He was put in Tomoka (car production more important than people)--home of
the "chicken wing" torture, in Daytona Beach, Florida, open to
anyone who can participate in or permit torture. Martin's first months there
were a nightmare. A colossal number of individuals tried to have sex with
him, and his mother sent money for all sorts of scams, protection, etc.
to P.O. boxes in Florida and other states. A guy busted him in the face;
Martin needed 16 stitches and was placed in the infirmary. He received a
series of bogus D.R.'s (disciplinary reports) for being out of line when
his squad was moving (he was in the bathroom and didn't hear the order)
and the usual "lying to staff," which includes unaccountability
and "lying by staff" of the highest dimensions.
So where is Martin now? His mother is frantic. She sees her son being cheated
of a life. Enter Prison Politics. Who's responsible? The judge ("It's
out of my hands")? The DOC, (who build their cases on lies)? The illegitimate
system?
Do not let Martin slip through the cracks; others will follow! Write to:
Louvenia E. Sailor, CPA, Bureau of Program Services, Florida DOC, 2601 Blair
Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500.
The Courts
The courts are an attempt to legalize an illegitimate system. Catherine
Baker asks, " How can one person be qualified to judge another?"
Aristotle found impartiality to be impossible. The jury system is a farce.
Jurors are chosen for their allegiance to the system, and judges "lead"
a trial so as to have a guilty party! This is a mockery of the highest order.
Recently, a student contacted me to try to help get his mother's sentence
reduced. A jury found her guilty of manslaughter. A judge sentenced her
to life in prison without parole.
The student claimed that this very same judge would not permit him to live
with his mother when his parents divorced. He wondered if his father's money
was an influence.
He got a list of the jurors from the courthouse. We contacted each one.
We allowed them to see this case in perspective; not as an isolated incident
that happened in a void. Thus far, five jurors have responded. Two do not
want to get involved. Three wrote letters on behalf of the woman stating
that by manslaughter they did not mean life without parole.
FIVE PERCENTERS
The New YORK D.O.C. has banned the literature, material and flag of the
Five Percenters. They consider them to be a gang! The Central Office Media
Review Committee in Albany has determined that the Five Percenter newspaper
violates guideline II C of Directive 4572. Specifically, it violates rule
105-12--which states that "inmates shall not engage others to engage
in unauthorized organizational materials"--another arbitrary act without
accountability.
The Internal Revenue Service has given the Five Percenters a tax number--they
do not consider them a gang! The flag of the Five Percent Nation of Gods
and Earths was officially ordained by mayor John Lindsey in 1967 at City
Hall. The founder of the movement, Clarence 13X Smith, aka Father Allah,
was present.
Recently, the Five Percenters had to fight the mayor of the apple from auctioning
off the school and community center that they have occupied in Harlem for
29 years. The school was leased to the group for $1.00 a year because of
the work they were doing with young people in the 60's.
I sent for the Five Percenters' newsletter to check it out. The newspaper
deals with social issues, history, health issues and beliefs of its members.
It is not used as a platform for ridiculing the administration or for organizing
dissent. It is a positive publication. The whim and caprice of denying it
to prisoners is definitely worth a lawsuit. Quite frankly, "The Human
Endocrine System," composed by King Born Allah triggered off new possibilities
for my ongoing health crisis! (Thanks, Bro!)
The only reason that the Five Percent newspaper is not allowed into the
camps in some states is because of a sadistic policy of prohibiting solidarity
and a feeling of belonging for captives. New York, South Carolina, Ohio
and New Jersey do not permit the publication inside. Pennsylvania does.
The Five Percenters is a positive outlook and well worth the lawsuit filed
in the Northern District Court of N.Y., case # 95-CV-1745; Rahiem Buford
v. Philip Coombe, Jr. Send letters of support via Buford, 202 Conklin Avenue,
Binghamton, N.Y. 13903.
For a copy of their newspaper, send $1.00 to Allah Youth Center in Mecca,
2122 7th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10027.
Why Have I No Love To Love?
I never loved, never smiled, never dreamed, never lived before. My thoughts
of love are nothing less than someone else's happiness. Though man must
love woman to exist, I am was, come, gone but never missed.
Why Have I No Love To Love?
Though prison walls and prison bars surround what was thought of love, the
heart soars free. I have tossed the coin, blew out the candle, then broke
the bone, but, still I sit here all alone. Pity I have no sympathy for me,
nor desire to be free. For without some Love it never be. The rain without
the clouds? Birds flying without wings? Where have you heard of such a thing?
Why Have I No Love To Love?
As days turn into years and tears, a loveless death is my only fear, thoughts
no one shall come to see, what love has left of me! Not a sound, no one
to even lower me into the ground. A flowerless grave would remain: unloved,
unseen, unclaimed.
Why Have I No Love To Love?
The goal that I now have in life is love at any price, down upon my hands
and knees, like a dog, I beg, for a little love, just once before I die,
to know some friend, sister, brother, father, mother or lover cares. This
cage is but another page and grave of fairy tales and myths. Still, I am,
was, come, gone, but never missed.
Why Have I No Love To Love?
--Edward Lee Jones, 36980, P.O. Box 1989, Ely, NV 89301
I was disturbed to read in a prison magazine that "Zionism is racism."As
a Zionist myself--as was Emma Goldman--I know Zionism simply means a homeland
for the Jews. Instead of name-calling, let's focus on finding a true peace
in the Middle East.
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