Midnight Special. 3:9 September 1973* >NmL PRISONERS NEWS PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD (H-Y.CHAPTER) •SPEC//H rikers women — we're demanding now" September 1973 Volume 3, No. 9 July 9, thirty women in the Womens' House of Detention on Rikers Island, N. Y. went on a hunger strike to protest conditions there. They demanded an end to the prescription of diagnostic medication, an increase in legal education, better medical conditions, end to bad food, better care for disturbed inmates, and a change in the conditions in solitary confinement. The strike lasted two weeks, and during the second week 200 additional inmates signed a petition supporting their striking sisters. The Midnight Special received a petition signed by 50 women but are unable to print it due to space limitations. Legalized Dope Pusher's on the Rock! We have two (well known in our women's house) psychiatrist's here who are considered no more than legalized dope pushers! A women may come in never having used narcotics on the streets, only to be released a month later with a diagnostic habit. Like it's easier to cop a high here legally then you can illegally on the free side. But the high is a real disaster! Our sister's are zombiefied, they take the usual over-doses of thorazine and milarol and go completely out of it. Young and old alike, healthy or weak walk into these so called psychiatrists offices tell them: I have a hang up, I'm upset, I have a heavy case, I want to rap, and that's it! Baby at Clinic call you get over. Like a fat Rat? No. More like a dead one! Some women may wish I'd not write this, they have not yet been awakened to the fact these people here want to drug us. It is not enough to take what little freedom we may have had, these bastards want our minds too! They give diagnostics to pregnant women also, (If you are reading this doctors you know this statement is true! When your so-called medical staff told you I was 4Vt months pregnant, you gave me milarol and cloral Hyd.) I actually became addicted to these drugs. If an inmate is a little over energetic, they're sure enough going to see Dr. Humbum or Dr. Greeseman. Soon after they'll be zombies too! Why aren't these energetic women to have a useful job or activity in which to release their energy's? A lot of women cop a plea to the doctors trying to get a high, only to find out it's not a high they receive, but a freeze, a numb mind, a controlled mind. We're easier to handel if our minds are weakened. Well my mind isn't weak now, and I'm tired of seeing my sisters stripped of all identity. By Riker's Standards we are to be good little girls, watch what you say or do. No freedom of speech. But we have brains to think! And these bastards are taking them. We need help! Virginia Ivey Women's House, Rikers (We want our names signed. We feel others will follow if they see no fear in us!) "Vets Are for Dogs! We're human." Women's House of Detention R*ers island Deb. Hitler, an inmate here was shot in the neck before her incarceration.' Consequently a tracheotomy was performed and she is on a baby food diet and often has trouble in breathing. She is sopose to be under a doctor's care, yet she is on 1 upper in population! Several times we've had to carry this inmate to the infirmary, (although she is among many women we've been forced to carry) but tonight Aug. 1/73 is the last straw. Debbie fell to the floor with blood spurting from her mouth, her breath coming in short gasps. Several women paniced, one women wanted to open her throat with a knife so Deb. could breath. The officer called the hospital for help. No help came for twenty minutes, then the nurses sent another inmate with a useless wheel chair. The officer called for a stretcher as Deb. was unable to set up. No stretcher for another ten minutes. (It is only a VA minute walk from hospital to 1 upper). Six of us inmates carried Debbie's limp body to the infirmary, she stopped breathing on the way, I believe we did also, as we knew Continued on Page 2 Rikers Women we became her only hope. An inmate gave her artificial respiration, we continued to carry her. She was placed in a dark room and we were told to return to our floor. Debbie's blood is still on the floor outside her room. One half hour later E. Powell had a seizure, she has a tumor on her brain, she was unable to even sit up after the seizure was over. Again we waited for help, but no help ever came, so four of us carried her to the infirmary also. We placed her in the same dark room with Deb. (who was now breathing from an oxygen tank, moaning.) E. Powell, went into another seizure while we were being pushed out of the room. No one bothered to even put the bed slats up so she wouldn't fall out. On July 7, 1973 Catharine Johnson was caught in between a gate and wall, due to neglect of an officer badge 134. The doctor gave pain medication without an exam. Catharine returned to the floor still in pain. She is five months pregnant. We are not asking anymore for help. No, we're demanding now. We want these half-ass vets out of our hospital, to be replaced by well trained nurses, doctors who are efficient. A larger staff of both doctors and nurses! We've tryed God, the Sup., warden and Commissioner. We've recieved no answers. Now we can only join in what looks like a never ending struggle with all or most prisons. It is almost impossible to recieve M.S. at the women's house, but we manage to get in a few, and we share them. We say right on to our brothers and sisters in the struggle everywhere. In the Struggle Chickie Women's House, Rikers I., N.Y. Garbage in the Dining Room From the beginning food has been a major complaint throughout our prisons. Riker's is no exception. Green liver and franks, black eyed potatoes, molded bread, two weeks left overs for stew and stale corn flakes stand out front! We know for a fact the food arrives here fairly fresh and in good condition. What takes place from its arrival to time of serving it is a dam shame. Meat left out all day, roach's and fly's crawling on it. Mouse or rat crap found on the chicken, (yet it was rinsed off and served to us) bottles broken in the potatoe salad, etc. We have what the inmates and staff call Mystory or Murder burgers here, this hamburgar patty is named so because of what we might find in them, hair, string, finger nails, bugs, etc. And to eat them is dam near suicidal. There are no fresh vegetables (but cabage) served to the inmates here. No milk, and only one piece of fruit a week, (then only at breakfast). Yet in the staff dining room for the officers there are many fresh fruits, salad, milk, etc. Why? We women are tired of seeing our pregnant women subjected also to this garbage, they do receive milk, but often its soured. Mice running around our feet while we eat, roaches chasing waterbugs on the ceiling, walls, and tables. Some of the women are ready to start throwing trays, like we know the officers would over take us and we'd be beaten, but then most of us have been beat before. We're sick of this institutions shit. If we have to live in this crap, why should we have to eat it too? Chickie Women's House, Riker's I. N.Y. Female Relate Program Thank you very much for entering my name on the "Midnight Special" mailing list. I am currently coordinator of the only self-awareness program within this institution. Relate is composed of a group of folk (small in number) who are dedicated to make change in themselves and the institution in accordance to it's guidelines. The population consist of approximitley 85 to 90 residents. Sad as it will read, our group has only seven members. The attitudes of the sisters are critical in reference to joining "the struggle". I have learned from my stay here at the House of Correction, that we, as black folk, help to keep ourselves oppressed. The major reason for this is because many of our value system is undoubtedly distorted. Thinking little or nothing about self is open house for negativity. Twenty percent of the residents work in the sewing room, or laundry division. They earn 25 to 50 cents a day. The medical staff is inefficient and unsanitary. We are striving to have a Doctor on call 24 hours daily. (This has been since 1970, without luck thus far.) We have brought about a few changes, from staging peaceful sit-ins. On one occasion there was violence... Feb. 28, 1973-a riot because of the inadequacy of the medical staff. However the sisters were only trying to protect themselves from being beaten to a pulp, by aggressive weapon carrying male guards. Of course when the story hit the public news papers everything was blown out of proportion. Charges were filed against sisters for aggravated assult and battery, and inciting a riot... Counter charges were also filed against guards.. . Some of the sisters are still untried on the cases. Enclosed is a copy of "Relate's" purposes and goals. Struggling for complete liberation for all oppressed folk: To Be Aware is to Be Alive. Sister Brenda Jackson Executive Coordinator Philadelphia, Pa. I heard her plead help me I heard her cry im in pain Two days and two nights of pain I heard her cry i want my baby "I heard" and now I see...I see Blood I see a black woman brought to her knees weak and helpless I see a oreo, a nurce she says wait! You must wait your turn I see blood im in pain one less to our Mighty Black Nation I heard the white witch doctor he combs his hair, he brushes his shoe I see blood i see a black woman on her knees I see her face constorted in pain Genocide in play agin I heard'. Can't you see? Fight for the Black babies set them free Rikers Island Women's House t 2 New York, New York nrVTIT A T TX7T7 , C 1 We are dedicating this issue of the Midnight Special 11L,A LlVrlih Attica Rebellion, sept. 9-13, 1971. Dear Brothers and Sisters: I have read about the maxi-control and behavior modification. The behavior modification technique is being put into practice here at Attica ("Concentration Kamp by Dept. Supt. Smith, Pig Numero Uno here at Attika. 1. Segregation of all natural leaders— ... This has been done continously by Dept. Supt. Smith at Attika. When somebody speaks out aginst the existing dehumanizing conditions here at Attika, Smith puts these outspoken brothers in HBZ. Protective custody, observation or ships them to Matteawan State Hospital for 30-60 days to a section which is euphemistically called Beacon Diagnostic and Evaluation Center. Or to the box thereof—BSI F—Ward located in Glen Ham Correctional Facility, where presently 12 brothers are being held incommunicado and who were kidnapped to this place on July 13, 1973. The kidnapping was done after the whole HBZ Segregation Unit was gassed on July 11th after a minor disturbance because an inmate was denied his family visit. Practically everybody in HBZ has lost all previieges—commissary, radio, yard or recreation, visits, etc. One inmate was gassed so bad that he had to be hospitalized with second degree burns from the pepper gas. Another inmate was gassed on July 16 because he refused to bend over for a rectal search. The qas affected everybody else also—qas is being used in Attika Koncentration Kamp indiscriminately. The pigs think they got toys and this is how they use their gas guns. 2. Use of cooperative prisoners as leaders ... In the ten (10) months I've been in the box I have seen prisoners who were on the Laison Committee put in the box continously and only released when they decided to cooperate and be cool (meaning not to bring up the problems of inmates at meetings). And, then they were released to population and nothing was ever heard . .. This is a list of the grievances which I as an individual face constantly in Attica—and if we were to count the many inmates who face similar situations you will then know why Atticas suddenly, spontaneously explode in the pig administrations face. We must keep Attica in mind. We must put our complete solidarity and support financially and with struggle for the indicted Attica Brothers. The rebellion of Sept. 9-13, 1971 was a just rebellion—this right to rebel is imbedded in the Declaration of Independence and we (the oppressed and exploited peoples of the earth) should make use of this right more often. IQue Viva Puerto Rico Libre y Socialista! Minister of Propanganda BRNP, Attica Solidarity from the Outside Plans are being made in the Attica Defense Committees have an Attica Memorial Week Sept. 9-13. On Sept. 9, a group made up of representatives from different families, old observers, and the indicted will go to Attica to demonstrate their solidarity the brothers there and their opposition to the recent attacks. In the evening, events celebrating the first of the taking of the prison will be held in different in a number of cities. During that week lectures, photo displays will be held in churches and in several places to talk to people on the about the significance of Attica. M.S. Staff Several important events have occurred in the case of the indicted Attica brothers during July and in the court appearances August 6 and 7. On August 7 bail was set for four brothers—John Hill, Chuck Pernasilice, Frank Smith and Armstrong John. All had gotten parole dates but were being held without bail for the Attica indictments. This was an important victory as previous bail applications had been denied. During the month, the motion was granted to allow meetings among legal workers, incarcerated brothers (at that time in Erie County Jail) and brothers out on bail, and these meetings were taking place regularly. However, recently the motion to keep the brothers in Erie was denied and they will be returned to Auburn where conferring is more difficult. Various discovery motions have been filed, asking for access to materials for evidence, and that the brothers be able to go to Attica as a group and confer on where certain events took place. Also the defense has raised questions of why no guards have been indicted for murder, assault, etc., when there is evidence to warrant it. It's not yet clear whether Judge Ball will allow the Brothers to act on their own behalf in court, as well as have a lawyer present to advise on finer technical points of law. The motion to dismiss the charges will begin on Sept. 5. Meanwhile, the grand jury continues to sit and more indictments are expected. I ACCUSE YOU AMERICA MAMA DIED BECAUSE SHE OVER WORKED HERSELF... I ACCUSE YOU AMERICA CAUSE SHE SHOULD HAVE RETIRED AT BIRTH...WITH ALL THE "BLACK" PAY YOU OWE AMERICA NOTHING "BLACK" SHOULD HAVE TO WORK... YET EVERYDAY I READ/HEAR/SEE BLACK BABIES WITH THEIR RIBS POKIN OUT THEY LITTLE UNNOURISHED SICES SUFFERING FROM LAYOFF/NAPALM/RACISM... FOR THIS I ACCUSE "YOU" AMERICA MALCOLM DIED BECAUSE HE KNEW WANTED YOU TO KNOW/AND STILL IS TRYING TOO TEACH YOU ABOUT\YOURSELF ...WHY... CAUSE YOU AMERICA STOLE THEM AWAY FROM HOME SUBJECTED THEM TO FILTH, TORTURE, AND POOK.... SEPARATING, SEPARATING, SEPARATING GRAFTING., GRAFTING, GRAFTING, UNTIL THERE WAS NO MORE KNOWLEDGE TO BE TOLD, IT ALL HAD BEEN STOLE/SOLD/UNTOLD TO ALL BUT THE OLD...THIS IS X YOUR FAULT "AMERICA" AT-TI-CA AT-TI-CA A,T,T,I,C,A ATTICA YES SWEET SWEET ATTICA THIS IS WHAT THEY PROJECTED/PROJECT TO YOU... BUT WHEN THE BROTHERS REBELL THE WINDOWS WERE/ARE OPEN AND STILL YOU SAID/SAY "WHAT MAKE THEM NIGGERS ACT LIKE THAT"...GASSSSSSSsssssss,CRAWL NIGGFRRRRRrrrrrrrs, BLAMBA POW****... RUN NIGGERS, THATS ONE KILL EM....WHEN THEY CAME THROUGH ATTICA YOU SAW THEY NATURE IN FULL WHEN GUNNED DOWN BRO. GEORGE, KILLED THAT 10 yr. OLD BROTHER, SAVAGELY MURDERED MARK ESSEX YOU SAW THEY NATURE IN FULL ...AND STILL YOU SAY NICE WHITEMAN GOOD WHI-TE... WELL I ACCUSE YOU A-MER-I-KKA AND THE PENALTY IS "DEATH" AND YOU WILL PAY AMERICA KASIEM ALLAH p g . J Struggle — Repression — Resistance walpole, mass. Y Prisoners at Walpole, Mass., have been on strike for dose to two months now. The strike followed the replacement of John Boone as Mass. corrections commissioner by Lt. Col. John Morriaty, head of the Mass. state police. While Boone was commissioner, many reforms had been won by inmates including the recognition of the National Prisoners Rights Association (NPRA) as the official bargaining agent for Walpole's prisoners and the presence of outside observers in Walpole on a permanent basis Walpole guards had done everything possible to prevent implementation of these policies, including a strike, during which time prisoners ran Walpole. At present, many NPRA leaders are in segregation and prisoners vow to continue their strike until NPRA is again recognized as their official bargaining agent. TO: Governor Sargent You have given us the State Police—who have a history of brutallising prisoners—who have pushed us down flights of stairs—hit us on the head with their^clubs—stripped us naked and forced us to march down long corridors while being insulted and baited—who has destroyed our television sets; radios and other personal property—who has been given the okay from you to abuse and mistreate us. You have given back to us the most bitterly hated men in the history of Walpole: Fred Butterworth and Jack Bates who has proven by past performances that they are incapable of anything but high order injustice upon us. You have allowed our mail to be seriously tampered with in such a way that we do not receive our mail until nine and ten o'clock at night—much of our mail is not leaving the prison and the mail we are receiving many times is postmarked a week back-attorney-client mail is once again being opened before we receive it. You have added insult to injury by allowing our loved o nes—mothers—fathers—wives—children—to be molested—insulted and intimidated. Our visits are being stripped naked as if they themselves were prisoners. You have repeatedly made unfounded accusations that our loved ones are bringing contraband into this prison—without showing one shred of evidence. You have allowed our loved ones to be humiliated in such a way that they find it hard to visit with us for fear of being assualted or even arrested. You have destroyed the few precious hours we were able to spend with our children. You allow our loved ones to be stamped on the wrist before they can visit with us as if they were animals. You allow wives and children to be turned away for as much as fifteen days as a means of punishment towards us. It is your hopes-your wishes that we respond kindly when our loved ones are being mistreated—while we ourselves are being brutallised. You would like us to thank you for firing Mr. Boone—who was a symbol of hope—of justice. You would like us to thank you for the way you are listening to advisers who know nothing about prison except how to rule with the club. You would like us to thank you for never meeting with the representatives of the 1200 citizen observers who know the facts of Walpole first hand. You would like us to thank you for turning your back on the Ad Hoc Committee on Prison Reform-who has all the information you would ever need to have a prison in this state that would be the model for all the world to see and admire. You would like us to thank you for showing the NPRA contemptuous disregard. Well-we are not going to thank you because it is in the American tradition to resist tyranny-to fight the oppressers-to stand against the cruelty of men. Americans fought the British-the fascist pigs and we as Americans shall fight in any way we can and if the State Police-the prison guards and others who wish to brutallise us think we are not going to fight them-watch and see. Let it be known Governor Sargent that we shall not work the state sweat shops again. These shops are the real lies of your so-called prison reform programs. These shops are the slave shops of this state. No more license plates—sewer covers and toilet brushes shall be made in here by the sweat of our brows. You State Police shall have to beat us-chain us to those machines or kill us. Time has passed for us to stand passively by and watch you humiliate and molest our loved ones. Time has past for us to be intimidated into submission as though we were in a concentration camp. I say to you once again Governor Sargent—we and our loved ones are not going to stand by and be treated as subhumans. We are going to die in stopping you from using us as political pawns. You are going to join Mr. Rockafeller and his Attica because we the prisoners of Walpole are going to help you. Ralph DeMasi Board of Directors, NPRA Walpole State PRISON reprinted from Boston Phoenix "Sound the alarm! The newsmen are trying to break in. " Struggle — Repression — Resistanee walpole, mass. Message to Everyone Concerned about the Continuing Walpole Crisis — from: The Norfolk Prison Chapter of Prisoners Against Poverty, Racism & War We wish to state at the outset that for penal reform and community based corrections in Massachusetts, there is no going back. There is no going back to the hopelessness that used to be. Every Norfolk prisoner had to first pass through Walpole. Some of us were in Walpole several years; others several months. We are well aware of the reasons for the turbulence and disorder that so distinguishes Walpole from Norfolk. But the awful fact of the matter is, if Walpole and Norfolk were to completely exchange prisoners—the calmness of Norfolk and the disorder of Walpole would continue. Tension and violence and frustration, and a thousand degradations are programmed into that Walpole setup. Walpole State Prison is a monumental lie—a cool ripoff of the prisoners it warehouses; and of the taxpayers who are cheated of their investment. The reasons why Walpole is a house of horrors are the reasons why there is disorder and turmoil within those walls. Increasing all the oppression and the security and rules in Walpole is not going to bring order. There shall never be order in Walpole as long as the reasons for that disorder are not fairly and openmindedly faced up to—politics be damned! John Boone is gone. Walpole prisoners are again groaning under the iron heel of reactionary forces. While Mr. Boone represented the penal reform that the prisoners demanded and the system needed, there was no personal commitment to the commissioner who could only be scared by political and racist forces beyond his control. We are not committed to men, but to ideas. Walpole prisoners have been pleading and struggling for penal reform long before Francis Sargeant became governor, or John Boone—commissioner. And the prisoners shall continue to resist the reactionary Herald Americans, and the George Burkes and the Senator McCanns, and all the mighty forces of the Guards Union who draw their publicity and their worth and paychecks by exploiting the miseries of prison systems . .. Prisoners in Norfolk support the struggle of the men inside Walpole who for so, so long have had their honest grievances ignored. We implore the governor, the legislature and the people of the Commonwealth to reconsider the retrenchment and the tightening of the concentration camp policies inside Walpole. Richard Nixon too preached order and security while he terror bombed IndoChina, repressed dissent at home, distorted and rigged the news and opinion polls; and he tricked and befuddled the people as he stole their constitutional rights along with the elections. Please don't let the reactionaries in Massachusetts dare to try Watergating the penal reform movement. Their first move, like Nixon's, in the name of order and security will be to stifle the dissent, segregate spokespeople, outlaw the legitimate NPRA prisoners' union, restrict and then banish the outside observors and negotiators. And then comes the eternal noose tightening. This has always been the pattern in the past, but there is no going back! Norfolk, Mass. Press Release We, the families and friends of prisoners at Walpole, are here today to protest the continuing martial law at Walpole. By martial law we mean many things. We demand that the administrative control of Walpole be taken out of the hands of the State Police and returned to the Department of Human Services, which at least in the past has indicated some committment to prison reform. We demand that the press be admitted with complete access to the prisoners in every block, including the segregation areas. We demand that the N.P.R.A. (National Prisoners Reform Association) be recognized as the official representative of the inmates and that the administration enter into good faith negotiations so as to take into account the needs, desires, and rights of the prisoners. We demand total end to the present lock-up. The prison officials are engaging in behavior modification, which is a plan to break down the spirit of the men both physically and mentally. We know that the first tactic of behavior modification is to separate the prisoners from their loved ones. For example the prison officials are strongly discouraging visits by prisoners' children by removing from the yard all toys and playground equipment which had been purchased by the men for their children to play on. All visits are now limited to one small room. The presence of the State Police in and out of prison put people in a state of constant fear. We are aware that chosen inmate leaders are constantly being threatened with being shipped out. We demand that there be no involuntary transfers to Bridgewater, the Federal system, or elsewhere. We are here to show our solidarity with the prisoners of Walpole in their fight for decent and humane conditions and for some degree of self-determination. The immediate granting of these demands would only be a beginning. But what is happening now is not only NOT a beginning, but a million steps backwards from prison reform. End martial law at Walpole. Spokeswomen: Donna Finn Susan Demosi A RUNAWAY CHILD The child welfare department put him in many children schools and homes up until he was seven But then he said "No" no more homes and no more orphanages and I won't call anyone mommy/ daddy/ or sir Then he ran-away and kept on running right into the reformatories/ jails/ and prisons across the country and now he calls two very old people mom/and dad when they come to visit him , once or twice a year but never anyone sir... p g . 5 Walpole Prison Massachusetts Struggle — maryland Information from the South Wing After the .. . brutal and bloody aftermath of the July 17 riot at the Maryland Pen, the few still struggling brothers ... revolutionaries are still active but now in the South death wing lockup section. Here we are confined to our cells (24) hours a day only allowed to come out of cells once a week for showers or for visits that is if they are let in... so then you can only have two a month ... The few still struggling Brothers here on the South death wing are strong men in mind as well as in body we are ready to fight we know how to fight when to fight and most of all we know what we are fighting for as well as who. But must the people play the part of the onlooker while we die for them and they lend know helping hand only because they are in fear of who we are fighting ... we have stood up to every thing they have put to us but how long can we last without the backup of the people how long. I ask you must a revolutionary die so that a fascist pig may live to kill and enslave more of our offsprings. What will it take before you stand and take back what is rightfully yours what I ask you what will it take. Maryland State Pen "ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE" The Black Community, I witness a terrible fearing unjust reality here everyday, and even tomorrow that has not yet come, but somehow has afrived. The oppression that is brought about here in the community of the Maryland Penitentiary, by these uncompassionate fascist pigs, is an everyday reality. For sometime now these pigs have entertained the hope that we would riot, brothers are constantly being pressured to bring about their wants. One of their wants is to kill, to kill, someone with the new toys they have to play with, gas guns, shotguns, and who knows. This is the subject of •ression — Resistance their conversation (the pigs) day in, day out. .. They are the opportunists who cares to draw blood and gas brothers into submission. They are after more money and a higher perch on the ladder of this fascist system. An investigation is badly needed into this sealed off world of oppressed People. We do not want to be investigated by the strong believers in the system . .. So, that leaves only one thing to do, the People in the oppressed communities, the everyday People must come and investigate the conditions here. All of this is being said because of the following: On July 12, 1973, two officers of the Maryland Penitentiary were stabbed. This was motivated by an officers who was trying to impress his fellow officers that with his 6 foot frame and 250 pounds (all muscles) and no brain, he could brutalize a young brother (as always) without anything being said or done to stop him. Because of this act by this pig, six (6) Brothers from the M.P.C. have been brutalized and tortured senseless by these pigs of men. After the accomplishment of the tortured of the comrades, the Administration placed these comrades in the institution's hospital for what they term "protective custody," suffering from broken arms, jaws, and stab wounds that they received from their so-called "protectors." We are indeed in fear of these comrades losing their lives at the hands of these pigs. We have not accepted this brutal situation and we will not, at anytime in the future accept what is going on here in this community. We stand collectively, to move in a truly Revolutionary manner to oppose these fascist pigs and mad dogs of men. These comrades urgently need the full support of the community: Comrades Thomas Gaither, Marshall Conway, Clifton Wiggins, Robert Foulks, James Taylor, and Robert Austin. mississippi: The following letters are excerpts from a number of letters we received from Parchman, Mississippi about recent events there. Comrades, Brothers and sisters, I would like to call to your attention the present situation that we, the brothers are faced with at this so-called Mississippi State Penitentiary/Parchman. On July 11, B73, the officals came to Camp-Eight, and informed the inmates that they (the officals) were coming back on July 12, 1973, and "Beat some Ass," because they (Officals) now had "Full-Control" of this Prison. And they were going to see how many of us still want to "File Writs" on what they do here, they also said that they were going to give all of us something to tell "our big bad Federal Judge" (Judge William Keady), and see what he can do for us now. This initution has been under "Court-Order" by Judge William Keady, since December 20, 1972. To remove all Inmate Guards, Intergrate the Camps, Hire some Blacks as Sargeants and Overseeres, and to stop the Sadist treatment they, the officals as well as the "Trustie-Guards", are noted for. The Administration was unable to, or didn't want to comply with these requirements, which caused the Federal Court to Stop all of the "Farm-Work". And "Lock-Down" all of the Camps here. The officals came back to do exactly what they said that they where going to do, "Beat some Ass." And they beat us up very bad for no reason at all. After they finished beating us with "Baseball Bats, Guns, iron pipes and anything else that they could find", they denied us Medical Treatment. Which resulted in one brother trying to committ Suicide, by cutting his trought with a razor blade, in order to see the Doctor. And another brother cutting both of his arms. I have to admitt that I have never seen anything like the acts that were imposed upon us here Thursday July 12, 1973. I have never put anything past these "Devils" here, but those acts were unhumanly. After they had betten us, then they told us that if anyone file a writ, that they were going to come back and give everyone a little worser beating. And most of the so-called Brothers are affaird to file a writ or write anyone seeking their asistance. But they will never beat me into submission, so I am writing you, and asking you to please publish this letter, and maybe someone will read it and try to offer us some type of aid aganist this type of thing in the future. They said that they will be back every day this week. So I just might not be able to write to you or read the publication, but some of the other brothers here will continue the struggle . . . Parchman, Miss. pg. 6 Dear Midnight Special, . . . D u e t o t h e r a i n s a n d f l o o d s o f t h i s p a s t w i n t e r a n d spring, there s a great influx of mosquitoes. These transmitters of various diseases are able to enter these old dilapidated buildings, where the inmates of Miss. State Penitentiary are housed, at will. At Camp 8 in particular we were able, with a little ingenuity of some of the inmates, to erect some type of Mosquitoe bar, but the goon squad (security force) saw this and ordered every one torn down immediately. They blamed the inmates for the Mosquitoes. On Thursday July 12, 1973 they (the goon squad) went all over the Mississippi State Penitentiary, (which by the way is divided into individual camps) kicking asses. Some inmates were beaten so badly that they required immediate medical attention. They threatened further retaliations if anyone filed a writ against them or tried to gain any legal action. Some of the Brothers were beaten so bad until the billy clubs (sticks) broke into little pieces. I could go on and describe all the gory details, but suffice it to say; in the nearly five years I've been here, I have never seen worse, and thats really going some. They claimed that they (the security force) had full authority to run it as they see fit and that a lot of ass whipping was in order. There prevails an air of gloomy expectation, we have suffered too hard, too long, to be expected to go through that all over agin. If is not stopped now, when, where will it all end? Sorely oppressed, I remain, Marshall Weathers 34629 Camp No. 8 Parchman, Ms. 38738 To my Brothers in Struggle, I have been an ardent reader of the Midnight Special for some time now, and I want all of my brothers and sisters in the outside communities as well as in captivity, to know that we too, here at Parchman plantation-prison in the bowels of Mississippi, are victims of the same oppression, the same exploitation, iniquity, hypocrisy, and injustice that is experienced all over Babylon today! Omitted are paragraphs describing the July 12 incident. % . . . Y e s , w e k n o w h o w o u r B r o t h e r s f r o m A t t i c a t o Soledad, Statesville to Angola feel. We know and we say Consider the Time." With the numerous plagues and internal strife accosting Babylon, consider, you are now beginning to reap what you have sown. More Power to the Prisoner!!! Yours in Revolution The Original Man Struggle — Repression — Resistance unify Page 7 Dear Companero, For some reson or other (wonder why!) I have not got the July issue of Midnight Special, but a fellow prisoner in this range did get one. Not the brother I told you that has written twice asking for a subscription, but another brother that been trying, too— By the way, the first of the two brothers mentioned above, is white; the second brother is black, and me a puertorrican! In this range of eighteen men-all us locked up 24 hours a day (we are in an isolation unit) there are black brothers, white brothers, chicanos & puertorricans—me—What's the point I'm trying to get across. Well, that we never see each others as the enemy but, on the contrary, that we have to stick together if we want to survive. As a matter of fact, if one of us get "the lonesome -blues," suppose he is one of white fellows, you might hear one of the black or brown fellows telling him: Eh, man, come out of it, we have to survive this shit -excuse me the last word, but that's the way we talk- In other words, we encourage one another, without giving a damn if we are brown, yellow, black, white, red or two-tones color, because above all we are convicts going through the same kind of hell. Can this be related to the world outside the walls? Yes, because just as we are convicts going through the same kind of hell, our brothers & sisters out there—in different degrees—are going through the same kind of hell, too, not only the blacks, or the whites, or the brown or oriental or Wounded' Knee's brothers & sisters, but all of us! As time goes by and the crisis within the capitalistic system grows bigger thinner and thinner becomes the line that separate the different degrees of exploitation & oppression of the various races & nationalities living within this society, so, as a result of that socio-economic reality, peoples of different races and nationalities are coming to realize that we have the same enemy, and, that as a result, we has to fight together or as allies against the same and common enemy of all of us— But, yes, brother, it's painfully obvious that racism does exist and that it s something not easily overcome. In that respect, the oppressor have had an all opt success. No question about it. But that only makes our struggle the harder, that's all. And very hard we should strive to take the weapon of racism away from the enemy's arsenal. How can we accomplish such a task? By looking at racism as a by-product of the socio-economic system, by analyzing it, by studying it as you study any science, by freeing ourselves of our own hang-ups, so as to be able to analyze the hang ups of racism, of which we all—to some degree-are victims. We shall always keep in mind that no man or woman is born a racist-that we are taught or conditioned into that state of mind. If we are born in India, we rather die than hurt a holy cow. That's part of the culture in that sister country. But if we are born some other place, cows will be just cows for us, though we might worship snakes, like in some regions or sects in this country. The point I'm driving at, companero, its that for the benefit of the few this is a racist society, but a racism that it been taught, not born with. So, we can erase it by finding ways to destroy its causes and by welcoming to our camp all those who sincerely want to erase it, and because oppression is getting more & more color blind, historic events will bring all of us closer to one another! fighting as one unit of people, or fighting as allies but as different units of peoples. By Midnight Special bringing into the open different views (sometimes opposite views) it help all of us to come face to face with the obstacles-of course, I'm talking about different revolutionary views—Like in Feedback— Venceremos, Revolutionary Festival Greetings to our Comrades in all Concentration Camps and the Free World. It is with the state of accomplishment that we are writing these few words to inform our incarcerated brothers that the time is here to let our voices be heard in our Communities throught the State. On May 14, 1973, the Concerned Puerto Rican Committee petitioned the Governor of New York State for the recognition of June 24, 1973, as a religious holiday for all Puerto Rican inmates to celebrate the day in their native tongue. It is paramount that we acknowledge the tremendous support given to us by Congressman Herman Badillo; Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve; Warren Richmond, N.Y. Prisoners Rights Project-Legal Aid Society; James Ryan, N.Y. Urban Coalition; Barbara Handschu, Attica Defence Committee; Kenneth Kimmerling, Puerto Rican Defense & Education Fund, Inc., which was beyond calculation. Now, on May 31, 1973, we received a letter from Congressman Badillo, informing us that the day had been granted. Officially we were not informed until June 1st, that the date was ours. Nevertheless, with the shortage of time, we proceeded to coordinate the festivities, and thanks to our wo