Actions Speak Louder than Words by Coyote Sheff

In prison one of the first things a convict learns is not to judge dudes by what they say but by what they do, because anybody could say anything and make it sound really beautiful too, but when it comes down to it a lot of these dudes talk a good game, but they don’t have what it takes to back it up. That’s probably why some of the most common phrases heard in prison are: “don’t talk about it, be about it,” or, “don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk,” or, “talk is cheap,” and one of my personal favorites “that sounds good.”

So it seems, that in this day and age people don’t respond to words anymore, they respond to action. That’s what gets people’s attention, that’s what makes them listen. It’s what makes us believe.

Out here in Nevada there is no real activism on these streets or in these communities, most of the prisoners in here aren’t even from Nevada. A lot of them came out here for a vacation, to gamble, or whatever and somehow ended up in the slammer, which makes it difficult for us to build a solid support group and structure in this state, and this is a problem.

It’s a problem because we are dying in these graveyards. In Ely State Prison, the so-called doctors who are really supposed to be treating us are actually trying to kill us. They’re illegally charging us restitution through a fake-ass, kangaroo disciplinary system. They got us slammed down in these so-called general population units, not letting us out of our cells except for a 15-minute shower and an hour of rec. yard every now and then. We have no solid access to the law library either. It’s like we’re doing hole time in General Population, it’s like we are being punished for nothing. Most of us are forced to live in a double cell w/ another prisoner, and they’re not letting us change cells or cellies anymore, so whoever we end up with we’re stuck with and if you refuse a cellie you’re going to the hole until you accept one. They’ve created a very hopeless situation for us here, the atmosphere is like that of a graveyard, we need help, we need outside support.

All that rhetoric about talk being cheap, that doesn’t just apply to prisoners, believe me. I’ve come across all kinds of so-called activists, anarchists, prison abolitionists and different people w/ all kinds of notorious titles, who have a lot to say about this and that, with their euphonious speeches. But I don’t see anyone really trying to get involved w/ our struggles out here, and I don’t see anyone trying to do anything to help us, other than offer their sympathies, and I’m even willing to bet there’s going to be a lot of people who read this article wishing they hadn’t, because they know I’m talking about them and they know that even after they read this they’re not going to do anything to help.

That’s right, I’m calling you out. If you’ve received this letter in your mailbox then that means I’m calling you out. And please, don’t write me back asking me what can you do, rather, write back letting me know what you will do and what you’re really willing to do to help. You should be ashamed of yourselves; you people calling yourselves activists, some of you are more like actors and actresses, cuz you guys ain’t no better than a lot of these dudes around here; all talk & no action. No need to write me back, trying to defend yourselves; telling me about all the things you’ve done in the past; all the pickets & rallies you’ve attended; all the meetings & movements you’ve participated in, way back when, cuz if you’re not willing to stand up for this cause right here, or any cause right now; then all that stuff in the past don’t make no nevermind.

This may sound harsh, and I know a lot of you truly are kindhearted, compassionate & caring people, but I’m fed up. I’m fed up w/ all the niceties because they haven’t gotten me anywhere. I’m fed up w/ sympathy, we need help not sympathy. Sympathy is good for those who are feeling lonely, heartbroken or hurt, but it’s doing us no good out here where we are being buried alive. I’m fed up w/ watching my fellow prisoners getting knocked off by these doctors and pigs and not being able to do anything about it. Some of my comrades feel that I might be burning a lot of bridges w/ this letter, but hey, I don’t see no point of those supposed bridges even being there if nobody’s willing to cross them in the first place. This letter may sound bitter, but it’s all I got left. I write these words with the wholeness of my heart, hoping it will initiate some type of positive reaction towards getting people involved in our plight, because the situations we’re faced with; the obstacles we’re up against – this shit is real! We need your help. We need solid support from the outside if we’re to get anything accomplished in here.

If your actions are as sincere as your words,

Please write me at this address:

Coyote Sheff #55671

P.O. Box 1989

Ely, NV 89301

“To know and yet not to do is in fact not to know.”

-Wang Yang Ming

“A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.”

-Kahlil Gibran

Coyote Sheff

#55671

PO Box 1989

Ely, NV 89301

USA