Da: "coalit"
Oggetto: [listacoalit] Peggioramento condizioni Polunsky Unit
Data: marted́ 11 dicembre 2001 12.39
Friends,
>
> The following are personal statements from different Texas death row
> inmates....(I have not altered the spelling or grammar, and I have
> withheld their names)
>
> Rick
>
> ---------------------------
>
>
> A) This was written on November 24th.
>
>
> Hi Rick,
>
> Hey, I want to tell you about the cruel stuff goin on here. I been on
> death row (a long time). I have never seen a Hitler warden like this
> punk here. I am fed up and the folks at this unit making me suffer
> greater than I am, than we are! We have done nothing to deserve this.
> I am fed raisins, a peanut butter sanwich, and balona sanwich 3 times a
> day, MOST days. It can vary with prunes, peanut butter sanwiches. The
> bad part is that ONLY death row is locked down as a squad of police
> search our things. But the kitchen is NOT locked down and still we are
> subjected to
> this cruel treatment. No recreation, no showers, or hot food, we got
> thanksgiving tray's thank God. Then there is the beating and dragging
> Rudd down the hall to his execution, the gassing him, and a deliberate
> effort to punish us all in part, because he resisted them killing him...
>
> The main reason we are locked down, the warden wants to violate the
> religious freedoms of muslims on death row during Ramadan!! It is
> plainly obvious that is the case...all this started ont eh Ramadan!!
> What really is shocking and upseting to me is...that Hitler has taken
> full advantage of NO monitoring from Judge Justice. We need
> you....where are all teh death row supporters, and why the cruel and
> unusual treatment of us in being allowed by those organizations that
> claim they represent
> human rights???? This is beyond cruel. It is evil...I'm a tuff convict
> from the old death row school.
>
> But this here is a evil, cruel and obvious campaign to create a violent
> and hostile environment of those men on the row. Nothing is being
> done. Nothing is being said. No one seems to care about it. Without
> your monitoring and someone saying, why are you doing this warden??
> Without people getting answer's or calling Gary Johnson and lawmakers,
> this warden is surely going to try and continue in his personal
> Christian crusade to bring pain and injustice to any one under scentence
> of death.
>
> This punk is not the executioner of the Count, he is NOT allowed by
> protections of the constitution to trat me, US, like we are animals
> because this Nation is at war with some radical muslim's. That is why
> this started, he thinks he is some christian Myrtry punishing the evil
> doers and muslims here and that is the only reason we are suffering this
> campaign of cruelty Rick. Please get after this warden, or put someone
> on his gack, and find out why the violation of freedom's or religion,
> and protections against cruel and unusual punishment are not, I repeat
> NOT being protected???
>
> Thank you for your consideration in this matter....
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> ------------------
>
> B) This was written on November 25th.
>
> ...I'm on death row at the polunsky unit. And I'd like to voice my
> opinion and concerns about our treatment here. I feel someone needs to
> know.
>
> I'd like to begin by asking a question. What ever happened to the death
> row plan? And what happened to the outside supporters that were pushing
> for it? Things here have gone from bad to worse. And there appears to
> be no end in sight. There also appears to be no help in sight.
>
> ...Since we've been here, the powers that be have yet to implement
> anything remotely resembling the few privileges outlined on the death
> row plan. Instead of implementing management programs, they are
> instigating and enforcing rules that are antagonistic and inflammatory.
> They are very Talibanistic. They keep taking and keep pushing. ANd it
> is useless to complain via I-60's or grievancces. No one nomitors them,
> so they do what they want with impunity.
>
> We live in a very Orwellesque climate. Some animals are more equal than
> others. As I'm wiring this, we're in lockdown (again). Supposedly for
> some disturbance. The only one that I'm aware of was last week, when a
> man resisted his execution. If in fact we're locked down for that, I
> fail to see what is being gained here. The main who committed the
> infraction is now dead. Why punish me? If a population inmate acts
> out, He, and he alone gets locked down. The warden here seems to take
> perverse pleasure in punishing all on death row for the actions of one.
> Is there a policy is TDC that allows such a double standard? At Ellis,
> several fought their execution. We were not locked down behind it.
> What is so different here?
>
> I know you're aware of the sensory deprivation that we endure here. So
> I won't go into that. But it would be nice to know that some outside
> intervention is working to correct that. What I will telly ou is that
> during these lockdowns, And there have been numerous ones, we survive on
> 3 peanut butter and 2 bologne sandwiches, one container of milk, one
> individual packaged serving of cereal, and a couple of handfuls of
> either raisins or prunes a day. Try eating peanutbutter and bologne
> sandwiches everyday for weeks. Not a pretty picture is it? Not only
> that, it's not
> enough. Now try swallowing that for an infraction that you had nothing
> to do with. What's more,I'm only guessing as to why we're in lockdown.
> They will not tell us why. Imagine that if you can. We're being
> punished and don't even know why. How can we make the correction, if we
> don't know why? And if this is because the man resisted, well, he's
> dead. There is no way to further punish or correct him. The punishment
> therefore serves no purpose. I know of no man who does not take umbrage
>
> at being punished for nothing. Yet, they expect us to absorb the abuse
> because no one will tell them that it is not OK. No one will stand up
> for us. It is useless for us to do so. We have no voice in here.
>
> They are quick to enforce detrimental policies. But they are not even
> able to efficiently run the institution on daily matter. For example,
> they took our nailclipper over a year ago. And they have yet to
> implement a plan that allows us access to nailclippers in a timely
> manner. We have to request them via I-60's that rarely get answered.
> Often it takes a grievance in order to get them. Pathetic, isn't it? I
> have to write to you during the day becaus ethe light in my cell is
> out. It has been for almost a month now. Instead of worrying about our
> property fitting into 2 bags, I say they should worry about their
> responsibilities first. They cannot meet my needs. But they are in a
> hurry to take more from me....They keep taking, but not giving. Even if
> it's a basic need.
>
> Conditions hav enot gotten better since our arival here. They have in
> fact gotten worse. And I'm appealing to you for any and all assistance
> that you can provide.
>
> Thanking you in advance,
>
> ---------------
>
> C) This was written on November 26th.
>
> As many people here on Texas death row, has written you about the
> inhumane conditions in which we are under and has written you about I
> wanted to add my thoughts as well.
>
> As for myself, I am doing well under the circumstances and I give all
> the thanks to the good Lord, who is watching over each and everyone of
> us, So I look to God, for strength each day.
>
> Well Sir, as you may have heard the Warden of this unit Zeller, has
> taken up the roll of Judge, Jury, and Excutioner of the inmates on death
> row. It's clear that he has the right to run his unit in any manor that
> he like but when he start to show favoritism and treat inmates
> differently well I think that takes things to another level of thinking.
>
> We here on death row have been on lock down since the 15th of this month
> the reason to search each inmates property to make sure we don't have
> over the 2 bags allow the rules changed which everyone understand but to
> lock in down and take our privileges away and to feed of bag lunches,
> and Shower, us 3 times week, While the inmates of general population is
> not on lock down and has all of their privileges, clearly is showing
> favoritism from warden Zeller. We have heard the reason that he is using
>
> for the lock down is that there was a problem. The only thing that has
> happen here, They had to go in and get an inmate who was to be
> killed---excuted E. Rudd, and from the understanding that I have he made
> it clear to the Capt. Bacon, Major, and the warden that he was not going
> easy and that it was nothing against them they knew that and for him to
> use that as an excuse is wrong if in fact he is using that to lock us
> down. Plus there has been other who did the same thing.
>
> Warden Zeller, is acting more like a dictator than a warden, All because
> the courts are not overseeing the prison system anymore therefore the
> State, feel as thou it can do whatever it wants and how it want without
> anything happening so where do this leave the inmates? I am sure that
> each person here on death row under their circumstances and most obey
> the rules and don't give any problems and to be treated in this manor is
> not right.
>
> ...Sure I understanding this is death row and we have to be treated in
> different ways but the treatment we are notgeting is not right and we
> sir need your help to try and over come some of these problems that we
> face each day.
>
> Again thank you for your time in this matter may God, bless you and hold
> you in his loving arms.
>
> Sincerely Yours........
>
>
>
> ***My Note: Other letters, too numerous to reprint here, have been
> received, all complaining of poor treatment, neglect, sleep deprivation,
> harassment, confiscation of property, etc.
>
> Rick
I have just left death row. I spoke for two hours with an inmate on
> death
> row. He ask that I not reveal his name. As retaliation would surely
> follow. His most startling request was for me to get out the word that,
> no matter what you might have read in the papers about Rudd not
> willingly going to his death and after lunch the guards had to use
> pepper spray..He ask that I get the truth out..To start with, what man
> would willingly go to his death? Rudd did begin to put up a fight.
> With his hands and legs cuffed, I'm sure it was quite a fight. The
> guards, at the first inkling of trouble.. Left...Went and geared
> up..About 15-20 of them..Rudd was gassed
> repeatedly...Drug through the hallways by his arms or feet..His face
> dragging the floor...He was kicked and beaten beyond words..Enough so
> that the inmates watching were sickened..What they witnessed was a man
> being beaten. Dragged. And kicked..Gassed..While in cuffs..And at least
> 15 guards participated in this. Hummmm. Seems to me that a man was just
> sentenced to die for dragging another human being to his death..
>
> Secondly, there are Muslims on death row that practice fasting during
> this Holy Time..They (only the death row inmates) were put on lock down
> the day before fasting was to begin and told they could not go to the
> store... Because they were on lockdown...therefore the ones that had
> planned on fasting were left without a way to get food stored up in
> their cells so they could eat after sun down. And as the custom requires
> only Muslims are suppose to prepare their food..Well, population is not
> on lockdown.. Therefore there should be no reason they cannot do this
> like they always have..The Muslims are being brought a peanut butter and
> jelly sandwich before sundown..And since they are not being allowed to
> get commissary, that is all they get..The ones that are wanting to fast
> and keep with their belief will not be able to go this long without
> food. My friend cried because he feels his religion is being taken away
> from him..This is his strength..Of course, I am sure that is why it's
> being done....
>
> Thirdly, he ask that I reach out and tell anyone that will
> listen..."What has happened to all the people that say they care" and
> that things will get better..That they are on top of everything..He
> begged me to tell you all that it is bad and getting worse. Every since
> the Sept. 11 tragedy..Executions have picked up and things are beyond
> all things he has seen in there. It can't get much worse...He
> desperately ask me to tell
> everyone that it is as bad as he has ever seen it and steadily getting
> worse. With tears running down his face, he begged me.." Please tell
> people we need help".."Please"....He said that he doesn't know how
> people can go on sleeping at nights and know what is going on in there.
> I have been this man's friend for 2 years..This is the first time this
> man has ever really complained to me about anything...
>
> B.C.
>