nighthawk_75253
04-28-2002, 05:03 AM
UNCENSORED FROM TEXAS DEATH ROW
by Paul Colella
March 05 - 13, 2002
March 5
8:51 a.m. ? Well it seems the games continue. They told SoulJA and T that they are no longer on lockdown status. Yet no change for me and Rick. Where is the fairness in that. Oh well, can?t no one say we haven?t tried reason.
This is nothing new, nothing new at all. As I?ve said over and over they throw policy, procedure, rules and regulations out the window unless its benefits them. This has been the case since we?ve been on this unit under punitive segregation. Punish and control brutally and psychological torture. Can anybody help us?
We went through this same set of circumstances last year. We protested till all of our friends and families and death penalty opponents said ?Let us help. Chill and we will do what we can?. We did. Nothing changed. Now a year later we are again protesting. We see a lot of outside support so we chill on our own to see how it plays out and bam we get messed over and provoked from inside. All I ask is please everyone understand only constant pressure from all of us will bring this monster creating unit to change.
A.M. Rosenthal said ?When something important is going on, silence is a lie.? We cannot be silent in this. We must expose the madness and brutality.
3:02 p.m. ? I just had an officer come and ask me if I?d been talking bad about him on the Internet. This is one of the laid back officers so I ask him why would I write anything bad about you. He said he didn?t know but ?they? have been telling ?them? what I have been writing I have been exaggerating. This is a laugh. Not only have I not exaggerated I cannot possibly keep track of and capture in words ALL that goes on. I think I have been very fair on what all I?ve written. I believe if everyone reads all I?ve written they would agree especially if they are also reading others accounts of the same incidents. They?re just trying to undermine what we?re telling everyone.
5:45 p.m. ? They just came to me with the harassment shakedown. Don?t know why but I went ahead and let them. Should have known better. They got my coffee (frown) which of course is considered contraband, so I?ll probably get a case. Think it will be considered disruptive (smile). I really wouldn?t doubt it.
I got the charges reassessed for the reimbursement on the damages.
As you see they tried to charge me for things they hadn?t even used. They also went ahead and charged me for 68.00 lexan when what was broken was plexiglass, because lexan does not break. So counsel substitute Brown did save me $ 42,86.
There is definitely a storm on the horizon. Everyone is upset even SoulJA and T cause of the way Zeller and his cronies are abusing this lockdown. So we?ll see what happens.
7:08 p.m. ? Captain Bacon just brought me 14 stamps to reimburse me for the loss of my t-shirts. True to his word he is still working on somehow replacing my tattoo and skin art magazines. I asked him what justification they used in reverting me back to week 1. He said he thought it was because I had refused to give my name and number in the middle of the night. Very disruptive eh? Oh my, I was going to escape and slow up the unit, start a riot. What a joke!
10:41 pm ? 3rd shift is coming in to shake everyone down. Everyone of F-Pod,. F-Section that is, only F-F, to look for milk cartons. We had milk for supper. All Death Row had milk for supper yet. They?re only singling out F-F. When no one on Death Row is allowed to keep their cartons, Rick and Chi Town refused. Lt. Hindsman told them to suit up a team. I just talked to him and he said all Level II and III will be shake down. I will let you know what happens.
They just gassed and ran in on Chitown. Sgt. Duff sprayed him 1st time 8 seconds. The second time 6 seconds. So that?s a total of 14 seconds almost 5 times more than policy dictates ? when the door rolled. Boom! Bang! Bing!
Sounds of tussling, no screams of pain through he says he caught a lot of punches but couldn?t see who it was. I recognize Officer Pettis, Officer Kane, Officer Alexander, Officer Whilfield, another officer and Officer Mary Johnson on the camera. When they pulled him out his first words were ?Now I feel human again.? He says they hurt his left arm and left side of his face is swollen up from the punches, turning black and blue. He said it was pretty violent for a moment. Punches coming from everywhere. It seemed liked, but he couldn?t tell who it was.
The nurse done a proper examination, rinsed his eyes and took his blood pressure.
Turing this time his cell was decontaminated and he was offered decontamination but refused. Lt. Hindsman allowed him some dignity and had the team take the cuffs off through the food slot instead of inside the cell. I?ll give more details when I get a full report from him. He continues to say it was good to FEEL the pain which is something.
The team left.
About 10 minutes later here comes another team. We couldn?t recognize any of them, but we THINK 2 of them were Officers Watts and Worthy, the rest we think are from population but we are not sure.
Sgt. Hincte is running this team. He gave the orders, sprayed about 2-3 seconds, 2 times, 5 minutes intervals. They ran in on him. Boom! Bang! Bing! It was fairly calm, no real struggles. They brought him out. He said there wasn?t any punches thrown, but knees in his back and twisting his arms and legs. The nurse checks him over. He refuses decontaminations. He tells the camera that yesterday they turned away his visitor who came from Germany to see him and another man here. He hasn?t had a case in 26 days, yet he is still on week 1.
It?s 12:30 a.m. now and Chi just sent me his view. All over a milk carton, he said when 4 guards held him while one punched him. Just made his will and heart stronger, because he will not let these people break him. The harassment, the brutality will not break him.
They also shook his cell down while he was out of it. He says it made him feel like a teenager again.
I feel left out but I?ll restrain myself to see if they will do the right thing on procedure. We all must play our parts I guess but I still feel left out because I?m part of this struggle too (frown). My time will come again through. We?ll see what tomorrow holds.
Lt. Tucker told me that Major Lester is the one responsible for putting me and Rick back over refuse to give our name and number in the night time. Figure Major Lester would have a part in it, but still must be approved by ZELLER.
March 6
I?m proud as I look out my little window and see the first of the protesters out in front of the prison. I just received info last night that we will have a protest every Wednesday this month in front of Polunsky about our conditions here. We all want to thank everyone in advance for their participation. We need everyone who is able to please attend and help. Be our voice. We?re doing all we can in here. A handful of us anyway and all of your support is very appreciated.
What would be really great is if on March 27, the last Wednesday of the month, we could show a force of at least a couple of hundred strong, with media, clergy legislators and any other politicians. If you have ANY connections at tall use them in this endeavour. Please! The numbers are there if we can just rally them all at once. There is strength in numbers and the voice of a thousand is much lauder than the voice of a few.
Thank you so much to those who are organizing this for us. There are more arriving. J
12:15 p.m. ? We just saw a DPS car out there. from what the flyer said the rally is not illegal so hopefully no one will get into trouble. He pulled into the prison so lease let one of us know if something was said. We?re watching. It means a lot to us to actually see you.
T just came back from a visit. His visitor told him that the prison administration is trying to pit all of you against each other. This is something we must not let happen. Only through solidarity will we be able to effectively battle this beast so stand strong and stand united.
It?s 12:35 p.m. now. I was hoping for more of a turn out but it?s a start, and you don?t know how much we truly appreciate it.
Richard Cartwright, # 999224 says ?Once again I feel the need to put my thoughts on paper! I heard someone saying ?Look out your window.? I climbed on my bunk, stood on tip toes and to my utter delight I see a picket line, protesting the horrid conditions on Death Row. Yes right in the main entrance to Polunsky.
To all of you who participated or helped organize the protest, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. The hardest emotion to keep hold of in here is hope! You have lightened my despair with so often overwhelms my hope.
I truly believe changes will come. Not quickly, but it will come. You have renewed my hope in that. It will be a long hard struggle but together we shell overcome. Thank all of you from all of us here on the row.
Mom, if your reading this. I love you. Stay strong and keep hope alive. Also a big thanks to my friend ?Mouse?! Your friendship really made a big difference in my life!
In hope
Rich Cartwright # 999224
Chi Town says it all. We do thank you. More later. J
March 7
Breakfast time. Birdman struck again. He refused to give them his tray, made them suit up. When they got all suited up and went up there he gave them the tray. Just doing his part to be a thorn in the foot of the beast. (smile)
9:30 a.m. ? They are running court today. They took Chitown, than DW, than Rick, than me.
Remember, they put me and Rick back to week one for refusing orders. This was the case they used, we have not even been found guilty of it. Still haven?t because they postponed it. So here we are back on week 1 for a case we haven?t even been found guilty of. Where?s the rightness in that?
Rick and Chi Town got ran in on. I haven?t gotten ANY cases or anything. I should come up for week 2 this week, really week 4 but they wont do the right thing.
7:37 p:m ? We?re definitely having a few problems. Rick and me and Chi have been trying to get to medical but they are not letting us because we are on lockdown. We?re both wanting to be tested for Hepatitis C which is a very serious disease. One of our friends just tested positive and being we?ve all tattooed each other, it?s best to get tested, no matter how careful we were. But these folks won?t get us down there. I guess we have to be dying to get medical attention while on lock down. Damn shame.
Just heard a bit ago that these people (guards) have had Birdman?s property for almost 60 days. ALL his property. They took legal work, pens, paper, everything and have had it since about January 15. According to administrative directive 03.22 they are not allowed to do this.
When we found out, Hank asked Sgt. Thompson if he would pass Birdman a pen and an I-60, so he could write to get his property. Sgt. Thompson says no, he needs to write and get a pen from indigent. How is he going to write without a pen or pencil?
The sgt. should have said he would go get the dudes property after the situation was explained but instead he was an asshole about it and wouldn?t even hand the guy a pen.
Today has been one of those days when there?s nothing going on and no reason to even get of bed. But what the hell. Everyday can?t be full of excitement and adventure. There was however a tour come through. Come to see the animals at the zoo. That?s what if feels like. They put us on display for all to see, it?s just another dehumanising thing they do. I?m not a fxxxxxg animal for them to show of and to be honest it pisses me of. Especially since they don?t come into the sections. So we can never ask who they are or what their purpose is. The captains, wardens, lts. And them just give the tours their own side of it all, so you know what that?s all about. Just like last year or so when Captain Bacon was quoted as saying the reason we were behind shields is because we chunk which is total bullshit. There are very few chunkers yet. Out of 84 cells on this pod, 70 have shields on the doors. These shields were here before Death Row was but the way he told it, they were put up because of us.
10:31 p.m. SoulJA and T have milk cartons. The state killed Gerald Tigner tonight so SoulJA and T are going hard in honour of ?Tiger? as everyone called Tigner. So here comes Sgt. Minote. ?What?s up,? he asks. They tell him, he leaves and sends the officers to check and see if anyone else has milk cartons. There is Officer Dunn and female Officer Lacy. Lacy has a smart mouth. She almost made me mad but I kept my cool. Waiting to see what?s gonna happen ? Officer Dunn just told SoulJA the major said not to worry about the milk cartons. So that?s that! We?ll see what happens. Seems to be another divide move. They seem to be trying to put white against black. Idiots. It?s a white suit against grey suits. Race is not at issue period. Good night! It?s still a small victory. Stand up to the beast and the beast retreats. Yahooooo!
March 8
4:22 a.m ? Chitown, Rick, SoulJA, T, all have milk cartons. There is only 1 supervisor here so they are saying they can?s suit up a team.
So 3rd shift is pushing it all of on 1st shift and saying that these 4 won?t get feed as long as they have milk cartoons. Policy states if an inmate refuses to give up a tray, Johnnie sack, spoon, milk cartoon etc, then that inmate gets put on food loaf. They cannot technically refuse to feed these guys, so we will have to see how it plays out. The reason Chi Town and Rick kept their milk carton is because of the fact they got ran in on last time they kept it but when SoulJA and T keep theirs nothing happens. Sgt. Hinote said 1st shift will get them.
Samual Johnson ? ?Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.?
4:50 a.m. ? Population Lt. Lacox and Sgt. Parker just came and told them not the major says that they have to suit up a team and get the milk cartons. Rick and Chitown gave theirs up, making their point. This is by agreement by all 4 because the purpose was a show of homeboyism by T and SoulJA for Tiger. Is that a word ?homeboyism?? I?ve coined a term. (smile) Anyway, now it?s the waiting game it will probably be a combination of 1st shift and 3rd shift officers because it is almost quitting time for 3rd shift who?s shift ends at 6 a.m.
7:20 am ? They lied! I?m going to bed!
7:37 p.m. ? Been quiet all day, everyone is sleeping, but SoulJA got his wish. He got the cleaning supplies and refused to give them back. They just gassed him 2 times and the team isn?t even ready. So after 5 minutes elapses if they aren?t here and he decides to give up, they?ll make him suffer, but they?ll probably be here by then. Sgt. Dickerson is running the team. Lt. Bolton supervising. Here?s the team now and they just ran in on him. Now have him out on the run. He didn?t bundle up at all and has gas all over him. He is requesting that his shower be delayed 6 hours, according to the use of force plan. Also according to the plan if the situation warrants it, the handcuffs should be removed through the food slot. They laid him on the floor in the gas to take them off. Nurse King did not rinse his eyes or check his vital statistic, nor was the ventilation turned on to decontaminate his cell. Lt. Bolton would not let them take the cuffs off through the food slot and SoulJA tried to come back up on them. The reasoning behind this is when they take the cuffs off while they are all inside your cell, they are in effect saying ?stay dog, stay?. The hell with that. Leave us a little dignity and take the cuffs off through the food slot.
When Nurse King was told to check his vitals and wash his eyes, she just rolled her eyes like ?Yeah, right.? He (SoulJA) told her his eyes were burning. They do have a chemical solution which stops the burning. ? SoulJA says they did not punch on him or anything like that, so there?s no sense documenting the team. ? Over all it wasn?t a ?bad? run in though decontamination procedures need to be implemented and the nurse needs to be more professional in her duties and when the situations dictates the cuffs should be taken off through the food slot.
Just for the sake of knowing here?s the team: Officers Raines, Flornoy, McIntosh, Camb, Munson, Officer Corder on camera.
I?ve been spelling that wrong: Foteney. It?s Flornoy. Still ain?t sure if that s right. Sgt. Dickerson running the team and Lt. Bolton supervising.
March 9
4:30 a.m. ? They didn?t let SoulJA shower like he is suppose to per policy. So now at breakfast he has refused to give the tray back. Sgt. Sepponan isn?t trying to have it. All he has to do is follow policy and let the man shower. These people act stupid about policy when it is so simple just to follow it. He was gassed at about 7:40 p.m. so about 1 a.m. he should have been allowed to shower per policy. Sgt. Sepponan is a total asshole and looks for this kind of shit, so he can show his authority in arbitrarily denying a shower and one who is always forcing the sit down to eat bullshit. So we?ll see what happens. They may just tell him to keep the tray and get it at regular shower time in a few hours.
4:55 ? Lt. Hindsman just came, told SoulJA he aint getting no shower so I guess policy be damned. Hindsman?s exact words ?You aint gonna give up the tray, than we gonna have to deal with you.? It?s 5:00 a.m. so now they?ll have to stay overtime to fill out all the paperwork if they run in on him. More BS all around when to follow policy would be so easy.
9:30 a. m. ? They don?t do nothing with SoulJA so when 1st shift came on he gave them his tray.
T jacked the recreation yard, went hard for Tiger. I know a lot of people won?t understand that but it?s a hood thang! A nigga thang! But not really it?s a friend thank, a tribute more or less.
Anyway here?s what happened. T jacked the yard, told them he didn?t have nothing to say, so they suited up the team, Officers Brown, Beard, Jordon, White, Smith, Officer Monica Miles on camera, Sgt. Poole running the team. Lt. ?Shitty? Roach supervising and last but not least Sgt. ?Stapegoat? Ludwig on the 37 mm gas cannon. Ludwig is on the roof with the cannon. T said he could not get a clear shot at him. This is very revealing because the cannon is used for large outside areas. Why couldn?t Ludwig shoot to the middle of the yard, when he saw he couldn?t get a clear shot AT T, the team just went ahead and ran in on him. He (T) said they didn?t punch on him or nothing. Once they had him handcuffed and shackled they carried him back to his cell. He asked to have the cuffs removed through the food slot. They would not. Monica Miles had the camera way back and not up on the cell so IF they had been punching, she would not have caught it. When they got the cuffs and shackles off, he came up. They tackled him again and recuffed him. I?m steadily telling Sgt. Poole all he has to do is show the man a bit of respect and take the cuffs of through the food slot. They won?t again. They take them off and try to shove him under the bunk. This time they succeed, he was able to almost get his arm out the door, but they slammed it full force. If his arm had been out it would have been broken.
After it was over, as Sgt. Poole was going out, he said ?Do you know what lockdown is? I saw how scared you were out there!? Just antagonistic as can be. T don?t give a damn about that, he has kept his word and honor to his friend and that above all else. As I said before, friendship in here are few but these that do bend it?s a bond no one can break anyway. That?s 4 run ins in 5 days. I?m sure it?s only just begun again but we?ll see.
9:52 p.m. ? Things are winding down for the day. It?s been fairly quiet since this morning. Still now word back from the letter I sent to the warden but I doubt I will. I wish they would do the right thing and put me on week 4 where I belong, but they wont. Warden Zeller is letting Major Timothy Lester keep us on this shit unjustifiably. Just goes to show a good ol boy system at it?s finest.
Don?t think I wrote about this. On January 9th, 3 days before the incident with Warden Chance I was put on Level III. I had no assault cases, no weapons, no threats, none of the criteria for Level III, so I shouldn?t even be on Level III to begin with. Really a victim of circumstance but in a way I?m glad because it just goes to prove how they abuse the level system. It happens and no matter what we say or how many grievances we file, they cover each others behinds. Oh well, viva la revolution!
March 11
Took the day off yesterday. Wasn?t nothing going on and had to catch up on my correspondence anyway.
The welding crew just came in and welded a steel plate over Chi Towns electrician outlet. Guess they will have him fry in that cell when the summer heats up. Where will he be able to plug his fan in which they are suppose to give us in the summer months because this ventilation is still screwed up and I know these cells over here will be like ovens. So we will have to see how it plays out.
Seems the ladies in the mail room have come up with a new plan. They will come around and pick everyone?s mail up in the morning. Problem is some guys have no lace to stick the mail out of their cells and when the officers were picking it up they would come down the runs and open the food slots for guys to put out their mail. They would also call out last call. The mailroom ladies missed several peoples mail this morning because they snuck through quietly and some guys didn?t even know a change in procedure happened. I can see this will become an issue. The problem hasn?t been in outgoing mail being picked up, but incoming mail being passed out. I had a letter from a friend sit in the officers picket 42 days before I got it, so the mailroom is trying to fix something that isn?t broke while what is broke stays broke. The problem is vindictive officers withholding and destroying incoming mail. That?s what the mailroom ladies need to do it pass out incoming mail.
March 12
2.00 p.m. ? They feed lunch at 10:26 a.m. They didn?t bring SoulJA, DW, Birdman their food loaf and Sgt. Griffin took Chitown?s Johnny sack because it was not what it was suppose to be. Sgt. Griffin never brought it back. they keep getting the run around.
These people just play games to play games. As old BJ used to say all of the time, it just don?t make sense.
They have started the harassment shakedowns on first shift now. They got SoulJA this morning, took his contraband coffee and some other petty stuff.
4:30 p.m. They finally feed them ? at supper time.
March 13
Watched and watched today and was very disappointed at how they turned up for protest outside. I thought for sure it would draw more people as the weeks went by. Thank you to the ones who did come today. Hopefully next week more will come.
That?s it for this week.
In struggle
and solidarity
Paul Colella
# 999045
Polunsky Unit
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, Texas 77351
USA
Paul Colella # 999045
by Paul Colella
March 05 - 13, 2002
March 5
8:51 a.m. ? Well it seems the games continue. They told SoulJA and T that they are no longer on lockdown status. Yet no change for me and Rick. Where is the fairness in that. Oh well, can?t no one say we haven?t tried reason.
This is nothing new, nothing new at all. As I?ve said over and over they throw policy, procedure, rules and regulations out the window unless its benefits them. This has been the case since we?ve been on this unit under punitive segregation. Punish and control brutally and psychological torture. Can anybody help us?
We went through this same set of circumstances last year. We protested till all of our friends and families and death penalty opponents said ?Let us help. Chill and we will do what we can?. We did. Nothing changed. Now a year later we are again protesting. We see a lot of outside support so we chill on our own to see how it plays out and bam we get messed over and provoked from inside. All I ask is please everyone understand only constant pressure from all of us will bring this monster creating unit to change.
A.M. Rosenthal said ?When something important is going on, silence is a lie.? We cannot be silent in this. We must expose the madness and brutality.
3:02 p.m. ? I just had an officer come and ask me if I?d been talking bad about him on the Internet. This is one of the laid back officers so I ask him why would I write anything bad about you. He said he didn?t know but ?they? have been telling ?them? what I have been writing I have been exaggerating. This is a laugh. Not only have I not exaggerated I cannot possibly keep track of and capture in words ALL that goes on. I think I have been very fair on what all I?ve written. I believe if everyone reads all I?ve written they would agree especially if they are also reading others accounts of the same incidents. They?re just trying to undermine what we?re telling everyone.
5:45 p.m. ? They just came to me with the harassment shakedown. Don?t know why but I went ahead and let them. Should have known better. They got my coffee (frown) which of course is considered contraband, so I?ll probably get a case. Think it will be considered disruptive (smile). I really wouldn?t doubt it.
I got the charges reassessed for the reimbursement on the damages.
As you see they tried to charge me for things they hadn?t even used. They also went ahead and charged me for 68.00 lexan when what was broken was plexiglass, because lexan does not break. So counsel substitute Brown did save me $ 42,86.
There is definitely a storm on the horizon. Everyone is upset even SoulJA and T cause of the way Zeller and his cronies are abusing this lockdown. So we?ll see what happens.
7:08 p.m. ? Captain Bacon just brought me 14 stamps to reimburse me for the loss of my t-shirts. True to his word he is still working on somehow replacing my tattoo and skin art magazines. I asked him what justification they used in reverting me back to week 1. He said he thought it was because I had refused to give my name and number in the middle of the night. Very disruptive eh? Oh my, I was going to escape and slow up the unit, start a riot. What a joke!
10:41 pm ? 3rd shift is coming in to shake everyone down. Everyone of F-Pod,. F-Section that is, only F-F, to look for milk cartons. We had milk for supper. All Death Row had milk for supper yet. They?re only singling out F-F. When no one on Death Row is allowed to keep their cartons, Rick and Chi Town refused. Lt. Hindsman told them to suit up a team. I just talked to him and he said all Level II and III will be shake down. I will let you know what happens.
They just gassed and ran in on Chitown. Sgt. Duff sprayed him 1st time 8 seconds. The second time 6 seconds. So that?s a total of 14 seconds almost 5 times more than policy dictates ? when the door rolled. Boom! Bang! Bing!
Sounds of tussling, no screams of pain through he says he caught a lot of punches but couldn?t see who it was. I recognize Officer Pettis, Officer Kane, Officer Alexander, Officer Whilfield, another officer and Officer Mary Johnson on the camera. When they pulled him out his first words were ?Now I feel human again.? He says they hurt his left arm and left side of his face is swollen up from the punches, turning black and blue. He said it was pretty violent for a moment. Punches coming from everywhere. It seemed liked, but he couldn?t tell who it was.
The nurse done a proper examination, rinsed his eyes and took his blood pressure.
Turing this time his cell was decontaminated and he was offered decontamination but refused. Lt. Hindsman allowed him some dignity and had the team take the cuffs off through the food slot instead of inside the cell. I?ll give more details when I get a full report from him. He continues to say it was good to FEEL the pain which is something.
The team left.
About 10 minutes later here comes another team. We couldn?t recognize any of them, but we THINK 2 of them were Officers Watts and Worthy, the rest we think are from population but we are not sure.
Sgt. Hincte is running this team. He gave the orders, sprayed about 2-3 seconds, 2 times, 5 minutes intervals. They ran in on him. Boom! Bang! Bing! It was fairly calm, no real struggles. They brought him out. He said there wasn?t any punches thrown, but knees in his back and twisting his arms and legs. The nurse checks him over. He refuses decontaminations. He tells the camera that yesterday they turned away his visitor who came from Germany to see him and another man here. He hasn?t had a case in 26 days, yet he is still on week 1.
It?s 12:30 a.m. now and Chi just sent me his view. All over a milk carton, he said when 4 guards held him while one punched him. Just made his will and heart stronger, because he will not let these people break him. The harassment, the brutality will not break him.
They also shook his cell down while he was out of it. He says it made him feel like a teenager again.
I feel left out but I?ll restrain myself to see if they will do the right thing on procedure. We all must play our parts I guess but I still feel left out because I?m part of this struggle too (frown). My time will come again through. We?ll see what tomorrow holds.
Lt. Tucker told me that Major Lester is the one responsible for putting me and Rick back over refuse to give our name and number in the night time. Figure Major Lester would have a part in it, but still must be approved by ZELLER.
March 6
I?m proud as I look out my little window and see the first of the protesters out in front of the prison. I just received info last night that we will have a protest every Wednesday this month in front of Polunsky about our conditions here. We all want to thank everyone in advance for their participation. We need everyone who is able to please attend and help. Be our voice. We?re doing all we can in here. A handful of us anyway and all of your support is very appreciated.
What would be really great is if on March 27, the last Wednesday of the month, we could show a force of at least a couple of hundred strong, with media, clergy legislators and any other politicians. If you have ANY connections at tall use them in this endeavour. Please! The numbers are there if we can just rally them all at once. There is strength in numbers and the voice of a thousand is much lauder than the voice of a few.
Thank you so much to those who are organizing this for us. There are more arriving. J
12:15 p.m. ? We just saw a DPS car out there. from what the flyer said the rally is not illegal so hopefully no one will get into trouble. He pulled into the prison so lease let one of us know if something was said. We?re watching. It means a lot to us to actually see you.
T just came back from a visit. His visitor told him that the prison administration is trying to pit all of you against each other. This is something we must not let happen. Only through solidarity will we be able to effectively battle this beast so stand strong and stand united.
It?s 12:35 p.m. now. I was hoping for more of a turn out but it?s a start, and you don?t know how much we truly appreciate it.
Richard Cartwright, # 999224 says ?Once again I feel the need to put my thoughts on paper! I heard someone saying ?Look out your window.? I climbed on my bunk, stood on tip toes and to my utter delight I see a picket line, protesting the horrid conditions on Death Row. Yes right in the main entrance to Polunsky.
To all of you who participated or helped organize the protest, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. The hardest emotion to keep hold of in here is hope! You have lightened my despair with so often overwhelms my hope.
I truly believe changes will come. Not quickly, but it will come. You have renewed my hope in that. It will be a long hard struggle but together we shell overcome. Thank all of you from all of us here on the row.
Mom, if your reading this. I love you. Stay strong and keep hope alive. Also a big thanks to my friend ?Mouse?! Your friendship really made a big difference in my life!
In hope
Rich Cartwright # 999224
Chi Town says it all. We do thank you. More later. J
March 7
Breakfast time. Birdman struck again. He refused to give them his tray, made them suit up. When they got all suited up and went up there he gave them the tray. Just doing his part to be a thorn in the foot of the beast. (smile)
9:30 a.m. ? They are running court today. They took Chitown, than DW, than Rick, than me.
Remember, they put me and Rick back to week one for refusing orders. This was the case they used, we have not even been found guilty of it. Still haven?t because they postponed it. So here we are back on week 1 for a case we haven?t even been found guilty of. Where?s the rightness in that?
Rick and Chi Town got ran in on. I haven?t gotten ANY cases or anything. I should come up for week 2 this week, really week 4 but they wont do the right thing.
7:37 p:m ? We?re definitely having a few problems. Rick and me and Chi have been trying to get to medical but they are not letting us because we are on lockdown. We?re both wanting to be tested for Hepatitis C which is a very serious disease. One of our friends just tested positive and being we?ve all tattooed each other, it?s best to get tested, no matter how careful we were. But these folks won?t get us down there. I guess we have to be dying to get medical attention while on lock down. Damn shame.
Just heard a bit ago that these people (guards) have had Birdman?s property for almost 60 days. ALL his property. They took legal work, pens, paper, everything and have had it since about January 15. According to administrative directive 03.22 they are not allowed to do this.
When we found out, Hank asked Sgt. Thompson if he would pass Birdman a pen and an I-60, so he could write to get his property. Sgt. Thompson says no, he needs to write and get a pen from indigent. How is he going to write without a pen or pencil?
The sgt. should have said he would go get the dudes property after the situation was explained but instead he was an asshole about it and wouldn?t even hand the guy a pen.
Today has been one of those days when there?s nothing going on and no reason to even get of bed. But what the hell. Everyday can?t be full of excitement and adventure. There was however a tour come through. Come to see the animals at the zoo. That?s what if feels like. They put us on display for all to see, it?s just another dehumanising thing they do. I?m not a fxxxxxg animal for them to show of and to be honest it pisses me of. Especially since they don?t come into the sections. So we can never ask who they are or what their purpose is. The captains, wardens, lts. And them just give the tours their own side of it all, so you know what that?s all about. Just like last year or so when Captain Bacon was quoted as saying the reason we were behind shields is because we chunk which is total bullshit. There are very few chunkers yet. Out of 84 cells on this pod, 70 have shields on the doors. These shields were here before Death Row was but the way he told it, they were put up because of us.
10:31 p.m. SoulJA and T have milk cartons. The state killed Gerald Tigner tonight so SoulJA and T are going hard in honour of ?Tiger? as everyone called Tigner. So here comes Sgt. Minote. ?What?s up,? he asks. They tell him, he leaves and sends the officers to check and see if anyone else has milk cartons. There is Officer Dunn and female Officer Lacy. Lacy has a smart mouth. She almost made me mad but I kept my cool. Waiting to see what?s gonna happen ? Officer Dunn just told SoulJA the major said not to worry about the milk cartons. So that?s that! We?ll see what happens. Seems to be another divide move. They seem to be trying to put white against black. Idiots. It?s a white suit against grey suits. Race is not at issue period. Good night! It?s still a small victory. Stand up to the beast and the beast retreats. Yahooooo!
March 8
4:22 a.m ? Chitown, Rick, SoulJA, T, all have milk cartons. There is only 1 supervisor here so they are saying they can?s suit up a team.
So 3rd shift is pushing it all of on 1st shift and saying that these 4 won?t get feed as long as they have milk cartoons. Policy states if an inmate refuses to give up a tray, Johnnie sack, spoon, milk cartoon etc, then that inmate gets put on food loaf. They cannot technically refuse to feed these guys, so we will have to see how it plays out. The reason Chi Town and Rick kept their milk carton is because of the fact they got ran in on last time they kept it but when SoulJA and T keep theirs nothing happens. Sgt. Hinote said 1st shift will get them.
Samual Johnson ? ?Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.?
4:50 a.m. ? Population Lt. Lacox and Sgt. Parker just came and told them not the major says that they have to suit up a team and get the milk cartons. Rick and Chitown gave theirs up, making their point. This is by agreement by all 4 because the purpose was a show of homeboyism by T and SoulJA for Tiger. Is that a word ?homeboyism?? I?ve coined a term. (smile) Anyway, now it?s the waiting game it will probably be a combination of 1st shift and 3rd shift officers because it is almost quitting time for 3rd shift who?s shift ends at 6 a.m.
7:20 am ? They lied! I?m going to bed!
7:37 p.m. ? Been quiet all day, everyone is sleeping, but SoulJA got his wish. He got the cleaning supplies and refused to give them back. They just gassed him 2 times and the team isn?t even ready. So after 5 minutes elapses if they aren?t here and he decides to give up, they?ll make him suffer, but they?ll probably be here by then. Sgt. Dickerson is running the team. Lt. Bolton supervising. Here?s the team now and they just ran in on him. Now have him out on the run. He didn?t bundle up at all and has gas all over him. He is requesting that his shower be delayed 6 hours, according to the use of force plan. Also according to the plan if the situation warrants it, the handcuffs should be removed through the food slot. They laid him on the floor in the gas to take them off. Nurse King did not rinse his eyes or check his vital statistic, nor was the ventilation turned on to decontaminate his cell. Lt. Bolton would not let them take the cuffs off through the food slot and SoulJA tried to come back up on them. The reasoning behind this is when they take the cuffs off while they are all inside your cell, they are in effect saying ?stay dog, stay?. The hell with that. Leave us a little dignity and take the cuffs off through the food slot.
When Nurse King was told to check his vitals and wash his eyes, she just rolled her eyes like ?Yeah, right.? He (SoulJA) told her his eyes were burning. They do have a chemical solution which stops the burning. ? SoulJA says they did not punch on him or anything like that, so there?s no sense documenting the team. ? Over all it wasn?t a ?bad? run in though decontamination procedures need to be implemented and the nurse needs to be more professional in her duties and when the situations dictates the cuffs should be taken off through the food slot.
Just for the sake of knowing here?s the team: Officers Raines, Flornoy, McIntosh, Camb, Munson, Officer Corder on camera.
I?ve been spelling that wrong: Foteney. It?s Flornoy. Still ain?t sure if that s right. Sgt. Dickerson running the team and Lt. Bolton supervising.
March 9
4:30 a.m. ? They didn?t let SoulJA shower like he is suppose to per policy. So now at breakfast he has refused to give the tray back. Sgt. Sepponan isn?t trying to have it. All he has to do is follow policy and let the man shower. These people act stupid about policy when it is so simple just to follow it. He was gassed at about 7:40 p.m. so about 1 a.m. he should have been allowed to shower per policy. Sgt. Sepponan is a total asshole and looks for this kind of shit, so he can show his authority in arbitrarily denying a shower and one who is always forcing the sit down to eat bullshit. So we?ll see what happens. They may just tell him to keep the tray and get it at regular shower time in a few hours.
4:55 ? Lt. Hindsman just came, told SoulJA he aint getting no shower so I guess policy be damned. Hindsman?s exact words ?You aint gonna give up the tray, than we gonna have to deal with you.? It?s 5:00 a.m. so now they?ll have to stay overtime to fill out all the paperwork if they run in on him. More BS all around when to follow policy would be so easy.
9:30 a. m. ? They don?t do nothing with SoulJA so when 1st shift came on he gave them his tray.
T jacked the recreation yard, went hard for Tiger. I know a lot of people won?t understand that but it?s a hood thang! A nigga thang! But not really it?s a friend thank, a tribute more or less.
Anyway here?s what happened. T jacked the yard, told them he didn?t have nothing to say, so they suited up the team, Officers Brown, Beard, Jordon, White, Smith, Officer Monica Miles on camera, Sgt. Poole running the team. Lt. ?Shitty? Roach supervising and last but not least Sgt. ?Stapegoat? Ludwig on the 37 mm gas cannon. Ludwig is on the roof with the cannon. T said he could not get a clear shot at him. This is very revealing because the cannon is used for large outside areas. Why couldn?t Ludwig shoot to the middle of the yard, when he saw he couldn?t get a clear shot AT T, the team just went ahead and ran in on him. He (T) said they didn?t punch on him or nothing. Once they had him handcuffed and shackled they carried him back to his cell. He asked to have the cuffs removed through the food slot. They would not. Monica Miles had the camera way back and not up on the cell so IF they had been punching, she would not have caught it. When they got the cuffs and shackles off, he came up. They tackled him again and recuffed him. I?m steadily telling Sgt. Poole all he has to do is show the man a bit of respect and take the cuffs of through the food slot. They won?t again. They take them off and try to shove him under the bunk. This time they succeed, he was able to almost get his arm out the door, but they slammed it full force. If his arm had been out it would have been broken.
After it was over, as Sgt. Poole was going out, he said ?Do you know what lockdown is? I saw how scared you were out there!? Just antagonistic as can be. T don?t give a damn about that, he has kept his word and honor to his friend and that above all else. As I said before, friendship in here are few but these that do bend it?s a bond no one can break anyway. That?s 4 run ins in 5 days. I?m sure it?s only just begun again but we?ll see.
9:52 p.m. ? Things are winding down for the day. It?s been fairly quiet since this morning. Still now word back from the letter I sent to the warden but I doubt I will. I wish they would do the right thing and put me on week 4 where I belong, but they wont. Warden Zeller is letting Major Timothy Lester keep us on this shit unjustifiably. Just goes to show a good ol boy system at it?s finest.
Don?t think I wrote about this. On January 9th, 3 days before the incident with Warden Chance I was put on Level III. I had no assault cases, no weapons, no threats, none of the criteria for Level III, so I shouldn?t even be on Level III to begin with. Really a victim of circumstance but in a way I?m glad because it just goes to prove how they abuse the level system. It happens and no matter what we say or how many grievances we file, they cover each others behinds. Oh well, viva la revolution!
March 11
Took the day off yesterday. Wasn?t nothing going on and had to catch up on my correspondence anyway.
The welding crew just came in and welded a steel plate over Chi Towns electrician outlet. Guess they will have him fry in that cell when the summer heats up. Where will he be able to plug his fan in which they are suppose to give us in the summer months because this ventilation is still screwed up and I know these cells over here will be like ovens. So we will have to see how it plays out.
Seems the ladies in the mail room have come up with a new plan. They will come around and pick everyone?s mail up in the morning. Problem is some guys have no lace to stick the mail out of their cells and when the officers were picking it up they would come down the runs and open the food slots for guys to put out their mail. They would also call out last call. The mailroom ladies missed several peoples mail this morning because they snuck through quietly and some guys didn?t even know a change in procedure happened. I can see this will become an issue. The problem hasn?t been in outgoing mail being picked up, but incoming mail being passed out. I had a letter from a friend sit in the officers picket 42 days before I got it, so the mailroom is trying to fix something that isn?t broke while what is broke stays broke. The problem is vindictive officers withholding and destroying incoming mail. That?s what the mailroom ladies need to do it pass out incoming mail.
March 12
2.00 p.m. ? They feed lunch at 10:26 a.m. They didn?t bring SoulJA, DW, Birdman their food loaf and Sgt. Griffin took Chitown?s Johnny sack because it was not what it was suppose to be. Sgt. Griffin never brought it back. they keep getting the run around.
These people just play games to play games. As old BJ used to say all of the time, it just don?t make sense.
They have started the harassment shakedowns on first shift now. They got SoulJA this morning, took his contraband coffee and some other petty stuff.
4:30 p.m. They finally feed them ? at supper time.
March 13
Watched and watched today and was very disappointed at how they turned up for protest outside. I thought for sure it would draw more people as the weeks went by. Thank you to the ones who did come today. Hopefully next week more will come.
That?s it for this week.
In struggle
and solidarity
Paul Colella
# 999045
Polunsky Unit
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, Texas 77351
USA
Paul Colella # 999045