Number 27 Spring 2007 By Dominic Lucero LETTERS what’s going on. We really do appreciate [Ed Note: This letter and LETTERS what you have done for us individually and attached information was CALIPATRIA HUNGER STRIKE for the Native peoples on this continent of forwarded to our (swamped) UPDATE Turtle Island. Our day will come. Pelican Bay committee. For Dear CPF: Michael Contreras, Corcoran, CA those on the inside: You are In your fall 2006 issue I noticed your re- [Ed Note: This letter was sent to Marina not alone. Come together and port on the hunger strike we had at Calipa- who is coordinating the Native American support each other. Fort those tria, level IV facility, C prison. language program through CPF.] on the outside: Please fi nd time It is true that we went on a hunger strike to volunteer with CPF. ] so the conditions might be improved. On STOP HATING EACH OTHER Aug. 18, 2005 (more than a year ago) a Dear CPF: CDCR NEEDS OBJECTIVE staff-provoked incident resulted in a death I am writing in response to the article in OVERSIGHT and serious injuries to numerous prisoners the PF # 26 fall issue: “Hate Continues to Dear CPF: occurred. For more than a year now, normal Hurt.” This letter was so poignant, particu- I would like to address some issues and contact visits and yard access have been larly from the view of a transgender pris- concerns that affect all California prisoners denied to those of us not involved in the oner. This could be the most pressing issue because they violate our civil rights. incident. As of September 2006 a few pris- affecting prisoners today, and the key to First on my list are the excessive and oners were allowed out as critical workers, solving so many of the problems we face. disproportionate sentences being meted out but those privileges were revoked on Oc- It is a point that needs to be reiterated again arbitrarily by judges whose appointments tober 4 due to speculative information. In and again. are basically for life. It is absurd to say the November those privileges were reinstated If we cannot stop the senseless hate and least, that a person convicted of a nonvio- and people are slowly be allowed out, a few violence against each other, we will never lent, non serious offense is sentenced to at a time. Normal contact visiting has been be able to effect positive change within the an indeterminate term of 25 years to life. allowed to remain active for about three prison system. Our horrid conditions of These punishments are not proportionate months, to date. Racial hatred is the only confi nement will only continue to worsen to the crime committed and [should] seri- description that can be given for the actions day by day. ously violate eighth amendment standards. of this administration against its prisoners, I would like to suggest that we act now, These excessive sentences do nothing more as this lockdown was race based. collectively and individually to advance than turn prisons into warehouses for hu- Anonymous, Calipatria a program of voluntary cooperation and man storage. mutual aid. This simply means that we all Unless our elected representatives truly FEEDBACK ON LANGUAGE must stop the hate! Instead, we must work seek answers and legislate prison reform, STUDIES together and offer each other support in our the lives of the incarcerated, the future of Dear CPF: struggle. Don’t hate; participate! California, and the California budget are I received your notice that you ordered Johnny Gann, Pleasant Valley headed for disaster. the Kupa book to be sent to me, today. I As the prison population begins to age, immediately thought, “oh no!” But had MEDICAL ISSUES AT THE BAY the cost of housing increases due to illness a smile. It was kind of funny. After I just DEAR CPF: and transportation (moving prisoners back wrote telling you I fi nally got the one the I’m sorry for interrupting your daily and forth from hospitals). Housing for the reservation sent in June. But all is not in activities. I ask a minute of your valuable elderly costs between 2-3 times more than vain or lost. I have a son in the next yard, 25 time, please. it now costs to house the average prisoner. years old, who I have been teaching about A number of us at Pelican Bay are cur- (Legislative Analyst Offi ce Report, Oct. our Kupa people, and I can send the book rently appealing (via the 602 process), the 2005) to him. He’s enthusiastic for the subject inadequate medical care, abuse of power In addition to the above concerns, other and intelligent and I’m sure he will absorb and deliberate indifference we are suffer- issues are of constant irritation. For in- every bit of it. I myself am coming along ing by medical staff. I got fed up with this stance, mail is routinely delayed 14-30 real great with the book. I had learned some frustrating situation and decided to take ac- days, and oftentimes lost or destroyed. Pris- things here and there, bits and pieces of our tion—and take it all the way to the courts oners in the middle of legal suits have had history, culture, and etc., but this book is since our rights have been violated. Many their cases dismissed, because their mail is the bomb, the base, the foundation. I’m of us have chronic pain and little has been not received in a timely manner or at all. sure the Kupa Ancestors guided everyone’s done to alleviate it. The administrative appeals (602) process hand who did it. I’m strong on the An- One particular doctor abuses her posi- does not work. It is useless and haphazard. cestors. I admire them and think of them tion by using aggravating and abusive lan- Frequently these appeals are also lost, ig- more than some. But anyway, when I get guage towards us. We are not treated with nored or destroyed. the book I will get it over to my son right respect. As serious as the broken appeals process, away. The Native spiritual advisor here can Now, I don’t know much about this issue, are the violations against prisoners’ consti- take it over to him. That was real heavy of but I am willing to take it on for our health tutional rights which severely limit their you and the organization, and I mean that. and dignity. So, do you have any way of use of the law library. Without legitimate Thank you very kindly from myself and on helping us? behalf of the Kupa Ancestors. They know Jaime Estrada, Pelican Bay Continued on page 39 2 PRISON FOCUS CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE American Prison Planet ..................................................................... 4 Prison Focus is a publication of Cali- A Cry From Guantanamo ...................................................................7 fornia Prison Focus, a nonprofi t orga- nization that works with and on behalf Dignity Sunday in LA ........................................................................12 of prisoners in California’s control units and other institutions. On The Backs of Mexicanos ............................................................16 Permission is granted to reprint orig- Prison Decried as “Abomination” ..................................................... 18 inal articles from Prison Focus. Credit Prison Focus and California Prison An American Forgotten .................................................................... 18 Focus. And please send us a copy of the publication in which the article ap- The Horrors of Extraordinary Rendition ........................................... 20 pears. Prison Focus welcomes articles, sto- Israel Violates Palestinian Rights .....................................................22 ries, opinion columns, news reports, The Plight of Palestinian Child Prisoners .........................................22 poetry, photos, cartoons and other artwork. Send contributions to Editors, Prison Proposal Akin to Eugenics ....................................................25 Prison Focus, 2940 16th Street, Suite B5, San Francisco, CA 94103. Web: Gulag of the Golden State ............................................................... 26 http://www.prisons.org. Subscribe to Prison Focus for $20 It’s The System ................................................................................ 26 ($5 for prisoners) and receive four is- American Prisons are Government Sponsored Torture ................... 27 sues. Prison Focus is available free to California SHU prisoners. Others can Waging A Security War..................................................................... 29 send for one free sample copy. For fur- ther information, call (415) 252-9211. The BJS Special Report and Social Reality .....................................31 © 2007 California Prison Focus Supporters Rally to Demand Freedom ............................................ 32 EDITORS The Cuban Five ............................................................................... 33 Leslie DiBenedetto - Ed Mead Pleadings Claim Padilla Tortured .....................................................34 PRINTING To The Conference on Control Units ................................................35 Sonoma Valley Publishers To Activists: A Critical Perspective ................................................... 36 CONTRIBUTORS Still Struggles Ahead - Vindication for the Angola 3 .........................37 Judy Greenspan J. Sawyers Marilyn Bromley Jamie Day DEPARTMENTS Mary Rubach C. Landrum Pelican Bay ........................................................................................8 K. Tashiri Askari Tom Big Warrior Charles Carbone Eugene A. Dey Litigation in Prison ............................................................................10