Join BRABC at Firestorm Books this Sunday, July 2nd from 3-5pm for a political prisoner letter writing event. Per usual, we’ll bring paper and pens, addresses & info on specific prisoners who could do with some words of kindness or with birthdays around now. Feel free to show up and chat about prison issues or bring your own letters you’ve been meaning to write!
610 Haywood Rd, West Asheville
Join BRABC at Firestorm Books for our monthly letter writing event. We’ll bring addresses, names, and information on prisoners with upcoming birthdays or facing repression who could use some kind words. We’ll provide paper and pens, envelopes and stampage. A great way to meet folks on both sides of the bars.
Masking required, will be provided by Firestorm if you don’t have one
Join us the first Sunday of April, 2023 (4/2/23) from 3-5pm at Firestorm books for our monthly political prisoner letter writing event. Per usual, we’ll bring stationary and provide names and addresses of prisoners with upcoming birthdays, who’ve been recently moved or who otherwise could use some friendly words, even bring the stationary. You just need to show up with a mask and willingness to share your thoughts with someone behind bars.
Below is a message and call for support from anti-racist prison organizer Joseph “Shinewhite” Stewart, who is incarcerated at Granville C.I. As discussed below, Shinewhite recently found out he has Hepatitis-C, which if left untreated can result in severe liver disease, including cirrhosis and cancer.
Since being diagnosed over two weeks ago, Shinewhite has been prevented from getting the blood testing his doctor ordered. This delay in his care is highly concerning, not just because every week counts when it comes to treatment, but because it may indicate prison staff intend to use medical neglect–a favorite tactic of prison guards and administrators–as a weapon to silence Shinewhite, or simply to punish him for his activism behind bars.
Shinewhite needs our help to make sure he receives his blood testing and gets assessed by an independent hepatologist to develop a treatment plan as soon as possible. This is critical to avoid serious liver damage, including possible cirrhosis or liver cancer! Please contact the people below all day March 6-8 to insist that Shinewhite’s medical care move forward without delay!! Sample script/email text below.
Gary Junker, NC DAC Director of Health and Wellness
Michael Roach, Warden at Granville Correctional Institution
Loris Sutton, Central Region Director
Natalie Murdock, NC State Senator ** this is an elected official, not DAC staff **
Hello, I’m calling in reference to Joseph Stewart (#0802041). He was diagnosed with Hepatitis-C by Dr. Gloria Harvey on Feb. 15, but critical follow-up care has been delayed for over two weeks. Dr. Harvey ordered blood testing to assess Joseph’s level of fibrosis, which is a critical next step in developing a treatment plan for this extremely serious illness. However, this blood testing has not been done because custodial staff lied repeatedly to medical staff, claiming that Joseph refused his last two medical appointments – THIS IS 100% FALSE.
There is a pattern and practice of custodial staff claiming patients are refusing appointments. This practice must end, and Joseph must be taken immediately for blood testing to assess his APRI and FIB-4 scores. Additionally, Joseph must be seen by an independent hepatologist as soon as possible, to develop a treatment plan. I and many others are keeping track of Joseph’s health and paying close attention to the quality of DAC’s medical care for this serious condition.
If possible, report your call! Let us know you called and what you learned, and if there’s anything significant about how you were treated when you called (was the person courteous? did they sound irritated or mention that other folks had also called? etc)
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO KEEP OUR COMRADES ALIVE AND SUPPORTED BEYOND THE WALLS!
Join us for our monthly political prisoner letter writing event at Firestorm Books this coming Sunday, February 5th from 3-5pm. We meet the first Sunday of every month to share updates on political prisoners, struggles around incarceration, and anti-repression info, as well as to set pen to paper to reach between the bars to comrades and friends-to-be. Feel free to come and share space or bring some letters you’ve been meaning to write of your own.
Jason Walker, an imprisoned writer and organizer in the Texas prison system, is facing immediate danger from a possible transfer back to Connally Unit where he had faced credible threats of assassination, had faced harassment, being fed food he had allergies to, forced into isolation with no clothing or blankets, and has made a call for support.
Jason writes:
This is Jason Renard Walker. I’m currently at the Wayne Scott Unit. As of now I’m not sure where my property or I.D. is.
The purpose of this letter is to request as much support as possible in regards to not being transferred back to the Connally Unit, which is due to occur at the end of this month. The purpose is to avoid a contracted order to kill me.
Call to the Connally Unit’s warden’s office, Connally Unit’s Regional Director’s office, the Executive Director’s office, Governor Gregg Abbott’s office, Ombudsman complaints, and calls to the state classification committee will give me the best shot.
The reason it is important to contact these particular individuals is in case some or one or another give you the run-around or ignore the problem altogether.
I was transferred here from Connally on Dec 8th after spending five days naked in a Connally Unit strip cell, and being offered nothing but fish sandwiches every meal during that span. I have a documented allergy to fish.
On Dec 4th, Saturday, inmates on 8 Building J-Pod that live on one section had arranged to stab me with knives smuggled in by guards. Inmates from two and three section were also due to illegally come to one section through the “supervisor’s only” crossover doors, that connect all three sections, via the guard working in the pod’s door control picket.
The reason I knew this would take place is because I heard inmates talking out the back window Friday night, accusing me of being the one who led guards to two inmates that lived in J-20 cell and J-3 cell, that had contraband cellphones. These two phones were confiscated on Nov 22 2022 by Sgt Motes and other staff. I believe inmate Bruce Rogers told them that.
I was also accused of getting Officer Lopez and “Lieutenant OG” in trouble for allowing inmates from other sections through the locked crossover door so they could pass these same phones back and forth. Lopez was working the J-Pod picket.
The stabbing was to occur Saturday morning during dayroom time. I only assume, to ensure the stabbing took place, the guard (Alvarez) and his co-worker passed out commissary slips the night before (Dec 2nd, early Dec 3rd, before 1st shift) and stated we was due to have a commissary spend Saturday morning, so as to flush me out the cell and unknowingly prone to a sneak attack by inmates involved from all three sections.
Once I heard the 1st shift officer tell several inmates who asked that we weren’t having a commissary spend, I knew the lie was in support of the hit, so I played sleep in my cell, covered my door, and observed the dayroom from a peephole.
Sure enough, six inmates were in the dayroom in battle gear pointing and gesturing at my cell, shoes wrapped down with socks, hands wrapped and in their jacket pocket to keep the knife in place. When they saw the picket guard wouldn’t open my cell at their request, they unwrapped and told the other sections to “wait it ain’t good yet”, meaning I wasn’t around yet.
When it was near time for the first “in and out” (doors open briefly so we can go in or grab something), inmate working lackey “Leroy AKA King G”, who’s a G4 inmate that’s allowed to work, came to the pod and told them “when the door open, don’t do no talking, just go straight in and pop him”, then he mentioned if I come out Gordo would wear me down in a one-round fight, then the others would stab me. Leroy plays the Christian role, but actually serves the interest of guards and any illegal money-making activity. He was also allowed to pass out mail when he worked night shift.
With the guard coming for the “in and out” in five minutes, and me not having enough time to put together a home-made knife, I cut my wrist with a razor, laid down by the door, and played dead. Not only would this draw medical staff, cameras, and ranking guards. It would force all inmates in their cell and get me taken to the infirmary, safely on a stretcher. And to my current location, where I can get this letter to you.
Up to that point, my out-going mail wasn’t being mailed out but re-routed to an inmate named Tracy and stopped. A reply from an emergency letter to Nube from me is still out-standing, and incoming mail was delivered to me empty. I actually heard Tracy recite to others stuff that only the receiver of my mail would know.
An inmate named Bruce Rogers who lived in J-17 cell had sent me threatening notes suggesting if I didn’t help him escape, he would tell inmates I sent guards to the cells the phones were found in, and that I would be killed. The letter I sent to Nube cited each note. I sent them to the Warden’s office, but I believe the envelope was given to Tracy. My name wasn’t in it.Rogers had been moved from another unit after getting caught trying to pay a staffer to help him escape. Somehow he wasn’t placed in solitary but put on the pod with me. He had been in solitary before for trying to escape.
The only action I can request that will give me any meaningful safety is placement in safekeeping until I’m released because I have already been in many past incidents that show I need it.
But in TDCJ it’s not something I can request, because the unit will say I don’t qualify. Not because I don’t, but because a lot of paperwork is involved. Plus, if anything further happens, a lawsuit is winnable.
So it can only occur if numerous parties demand that my classification file be reexamined, and each complaint that got me a unit transfer be reviewed, to show that there is a pattern of attempts to kill me since 2019, and at: Ellis Unit, Allred Unit, McConnell Unit, Bill Clements Unit, Michael Unit, Boyd Unit, Hughes Unit, and now Connally Unit.
A big focus should be on the Michael Unit because I was nearly killed with a fan motor, and investigations proved cell phones were used to initiate the hit, and the attempted murder charges and disciplinary charges I faced were dismissed, because it was self-defence.
Focus should also be on the Clements unit, because it was proven white supremacists were using cellphones to organize my death, and one was caught with the murder weapon, and even admitted his affiliation, his involvement, and turned over notes sent to him with my full name in them.So the complaint that is filed should raise these issues and a demand should be made that I should be placed in safekeeping and for no reason be sent back to the Connally Unit. No complaints should be made to this unit, it’s useless.
And lastly, Bruce Rogers should be questioned concerning Connally Unit, since he has an escape history, but was placed around me and not in solitary. I’m not sure if he’s still at Connally.I really appreciate any and all help with this issue, because at this point I’m not sure how to defend myself from multiple and simultaneous assaults.
In solidarity,
A letter from Jason to a supporter
Jason
Relevant contacts are:
Connally Unit
warden:
(830) 583-4003
Edmundo.Cueto@tdcj.texas.gov
Regional
Office:
(361)
362-6328
David.Blackwell@tdcj.texas.gov,
Eric.Guerrero@tdcj.texas.gov,
Kathryn.Gaitan@tdcj.texas.gov,
Stephanie.Sanchez@tdcj.texas.gov
Executive
Director’s office:
(512)
463-9988
Bryan.Collier@tdcj.texas.gov,
Oscar.Mendoza@tdcj.texas.gov
Greg
Abbott:
(800) 843-5789, (512)
463-1782
https://gov.texas.gov/apps/contact-us/assistance
Ombudsman’s
office:
(833) 598-2700, (936) 437-5620
ombudsman@tdcj.texas.gov,
io@tdcj.texas.gov
https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/tbcj/oio/ombudsman_contact.php
State Classification
Committee:
(936) 437-6571
melissa.bennett@tdcj.texas.gov
A template message you can use (adapting and personalizing it is recommended) is:
Hello,
I am contacting you to request urgent intervention to protect the life of Jason Renard Walker #1532092. Mr. Walker is currently held at the Scott Unit, where he was transferred following an incident at the Connally Unit on December 4th 2022.
Mr. Walker was transferred from the Hughes Unit to Connally in the summer of 2022, despite staff being aware that threats made against Mr. Walker’s life at Hughes had originated with inmates at Connally. Mr Walker has been moved after receiving credible threats and attempts on his life at Ellis Unit, Allred Unit, McConnell Unit, Clements Unit, Michael Unit, Boyd Unit, Hughes Unit, and now Connally Unit.
I wish to demand that Mr. Walker’s classification file should be re-examined, with particular attention to each complaint that led to him being moved. In particular, close attention should be paid to the incident that led to his move from the Michael Unit, where he was forced to defend himself from a murder attempt, and the Clements Unit, where another inmate confessed to involvement in an organized murder plot. Inmate Bruce Rogers 01674443, currently held at the Connally Unit, should also be interviewed about his involvement in the attempt on Mr. Walker’s life.
Under no circumstances should Mr. Walker be returned to the Connally Unit, where his life is known to be in immediate danger. Full and appropriate arrangements must be made to ensure Mr. Walker’s safety throughout the rest of his stay in TDCJ custody, and he should be released if suitable safe accommodation cannot be found for him. Please be aware that TDCJ may be held legally responsible for any harm that may come to Mr. Walker as a failure to fulfil the duty of care towards him.
I look forward to hearing that speedy action has been taken to ensure a safe and satisfactory resolution to this situation.
Join Blue Ridge ABC for our monthly political prisoner letter writing event, 3-5pm at Firestorm Books in West Asheville. Normally the first Sunday of the month, we figured we’d take a break for New Years Day.
We’ll bring the names and information of political prisoners with upcoming birthdays or who’ve been moved or are facing repression, for whom a piece of mail can provide the safety of visibility as well as some kind words. See you there!
Sunday, December 4st from 3-5pm, we’ll be warm and cozy at Firestorm Books writing letters to prisoners. Come and join us if you care! We’ll bring information on prisoners that could use a kind word and have upcoming birthdays and provide the stationary. We’ll also have Certain Days: Freedom For Political Prisoners calendars ($15) available for purchase to ring in the new year for yourself or as a gift.
Join BRABC for political prisoner letter writing at Firestorm Books (610 Haywood Rd, Asheville) today, November 6th 2022 from 3-5pm! We’ll be writing prisoners with birthdays this month or who could use a kind word from outside. We appreciate folks bringing their own mask as this event is indoors, but Firestorm also has masks available.
From 1-3pm, join us for our monthly letter writing event at West Asheville Park, 198 Vermont Avenue. Get free information about political prisoners, we’ll bring letter writing supplies, talk about abolitionism. You know the deal! We’ll be writing to prisoners facing repression or with October birthdays, but feel free to bring those letters you’ve set…
