EMERGENCY ALERT!
The oppression and repression continues. On Texas Death Row–the most murderous death row in America (and almost all of the world)! But I guess that’s to be expected by the Governor of Texas (Rick Perry) who stated in the newspaper that he intends to cut down the Texas Death Row population by half within the next 2 years–“BY EXECUTING THEM!”
Due to continued acceleration of execution (state sanctioned murders on Texas Death Row, as well as the deplorable–yet ever-worsening-conditions, a group of us consolidated and organized a non-violent protest.) Many times we have addressed the problems with conditions and suggested reasonable solutions to the problems, that would not cause any breaches in the security of the prison, nor cost the state any money-but to no avail because our verbal and written grievances fell on the deaf, indifferent ears of a sadistic administration that enjoys torturing and treating us like any thing but human. Yet, how do you physically, psychologically and spiritually torture and treat people like animals and expect them to act civil and humane?
Those of us here who still have a sense of self and humanity have had enough of the state-induced carnage and the brutal rape of our human rights, and constitutional rights! Therefore with this non-violent protest we have drawn a line and have decided to physically and non-violently resist the oppression.
On November 3rd, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. after having my bout of recreation, in protest of Tony Egbuna Ford’s execution, Sharon Thomas and Marion Dudley’s executions, as well as the conditions here, I refused to submit to a degrading strip search and hand restraints; and refused to come out of the day room. (See www.drivemovement.org for more information and executions, conditions and the non-violent protest) to combat the executions and inhuman conditions; and bring light on the situation to show the world the indignities death row prisoners (as well as their families are subjected to on a daily basis.)
A “5-man extraction team” was dispatched by Lt. Richie, Sgt. Brown and Sgt. Ludwig. A female guard was present holding a cam recorder to the incident. Sgt. Ludwig ordered me to submit to a dehumanizing strip search that consists of: getting fully naked, raising my hands in the air, running my fingers through my hair, opening my mouth and moving my tongue from side to side, lifting my genitals and turning around and spreading my buttocks to show them my anus and the bottoms of my feet “or chemical agents would be used!!” I REFUSED in protest! I was ordered a second time to the same dehumanizing strip search and hand restraints.
Silence.
I refused.
Immediately, “OC” (oleoresin capsicum) gas, which is riot tear gas, was shot into the day room on me. The effects are immediate, which causes burning of the eyes and skin. Chokes you, and causes inflamation of the mucous membranes and upsets the respiratory system.
As soon as the gas hit me it felt like someone set my entire face, ears, neck and shoulders on fire (the rest of my body was covered.) I closed my eyes yet tried to keep them cracked open, trying to watch Sgt. Ludwig with the gas canister in his hand and the “5-man extraction team” at the day room door with riot helmets, vests, elbow, knee and shin pads (and the front man with a riot shield wanting to brutally assault me with it the moment they run into the day room and charge at me.)
I covered my nose and mouth with a wet towel trying to breathe. After 5 minutes Sgt. Ludwig shot gas into the day room at me a second time–it burned more. I thought I was going to choke to death. (All this group riot gas shot on one man.) They ran into the day room to subdue me and remove me from the day room. Once on the floor I felt punches from the extraction team, and someone started choking me although I wasn’t resisting.
They handcuffed and shackled me. I refused to walk (in protest). I was lifted, laid on a Gurney and rolled down the hall way to a cage, stripped, searched, checked for injuries, and then carried painfully by my handcuffs and shackles to my cage because I refused to walk to a deeper level of mind, body and soul oppression and repression.
By policy when the nurse was checking me for injuries she was suppose to put some solution in my eyes to wash away the gas–she did not.
By policy I was also supposed to be given a shower to wash the gas off the part of my body that were hit by the gas. I was given no shower. Instead I was put in my cage with nothing (no property of any sort–legal, correspondence, clothes, hygiene, shoes or shower slides– for 72 hours), with no way to wash the gas off my face, out of my eyes and of my body except putting whatever bit of water I could cup in my hands from the sink in my cage and pour on my face and body. My eyes and skin burned all night long.
Although my property was only supposed to be held for 72 hours, it was vindictively held for 5 days. When I finally received it, I was still not given my writing supplies–that was a retaliatory tactic, as well as a repressive tactic so as not to allow me my constitutional right of “Freedom of Speech.” They were attempting to shut my voice down completely! I had to wait an extra day to finally get my correspondence supplies.
Every time one of us protesting lays down on the run or hall way in protest, or occupies a day room and have to be removed from a day room, they keep taking “all” of our property and leaving us nude in cold cells for 72 hours. This is extreme and excessive punishment: torture and repression...
What they are doing to us is not only a human right violation; it’s a constitutional violation. By law we have the right to “Law due process,” and the right to participate in our appeals process. By the administration confiscating “all” of our property they violate my “Law of due process.” How can I write my attorney regarding my “death penalty appeal” if the administration keeps confiscating my correspondence? This can have grave effects on a death row prisoner’s appeal and cost him his life. This must be stopped!!!
Comrades Tony Ford, Andre Simpson, Robert Will and Kenneth Foster have been protesting executions and conditions. Tony Ford has an execution date for December 7, 2005. Because he is protesting his execution, the administration has taken all of his property, denied him legal visits with his attorney as well as media and personal visits. They also refused to let him shower or recreate. At such a dire state in Tony Ford’s appeal, he needs to be in constant touch with his attorney. Yet Warden Hirch bound his hands, feet and mouth like that. That’s to be expected from a warden like Warden Hirch who told Tony Ford that “he’ll be glad when they execute us all!” Just goes to show what type of warden we’re dealing with and his unprofessional, sadistic, murderous mentality. How can we expect humanitarian conditions and impartial rationale from a sadist like that? He must be stopped!
Robert Will has had all his property confiscated, not allowed to recreate or shower either. Today on 11/9/05 they were given their property back. But as we all continue to protest they will continue to confiscate all of our property and leave us naked and shoeless in cold cells for 72 hours at the risk of pneumonia. Before we know it, someone’s life will be lost on appeal due to them confiscating all legal and correspondence materials. That’s a violation of our “Law due process” and our “Right to participate in our appeals process.” It’s a constitutional right–and no prison warden has the right to break the law and violate our constitutional rights like that!
For all of you reading this message, I hope you call, e-mail and bombard the warden with calls, letters, e-mails, faxes, etc. about his inhumane treatment of death row prisoners. I hope you protest in front of the prison–and support us in any way you all can. Write your politicians, call talk shows, radio shows, newspapers, create forums–do whatever you can to shed light on the situation and bring about a humanitarian change into this inhumanity.
Text books on criminology like to advance the idea that prisoners are mentally defective. There is only the merest suggestion that the penal system itself is at fault. Penologist regard prisons as asylums. Most policy is formulated in a bureau under the heading of “Department of corrections.” But what can we say about these asylums of mind, body and soul torched guised under the mask of “so-called” rehabilitation since NONE of the inmates are ever cured? Since in every instance they are sent out of prison more damaged physically and mentally than when they entered. Because this is the reality!
To determine how men will behave once they enter prison, it is of first importance to know that prison/penal system. Men are brutalized by their environment–not the reverse. Thus our reason for the protest: To Preserve Our Humanity!
Peace and Justice...
In the “Spirit” of Humanity!
Gabriel
Gabriel Gonzalez
#999225
Polunsky Unit (Death Row)
3872 F. M. 350 South
Livingston, Texas 77351
D.R.I.V.E.
DEATH Row INNER-COMMUNALIST VANGUARD ENGAGEMENT
