Protest Update for July 24, 2007

Today was a day of sorrow and stress. The State of Texas has an execution planned for Lonnie Johnson. I don’t know Lonnie personally, but I have heard some tremendous things about him. But me not knowing him personally has nothing to do with the atrocious and unjust murder that this state has planned for him. That’s why I non-violently protested his murder.

I went to the outside recreation year 1st round, around 7:00am. Then it was time for the officers to place me back in my cell, I refused to relinquish the recreation yard. Sgt. Newberry came to see why I didn’t want to come out. I told him, “ I am protesting Lonnie Johnson’s execution date.” He said, “Are you going to be doing it violently or non-violently?” I told him, “I haven’t made that decision yet!”

For the 2 months that the movement has been around, we have always preached and taken a non-violent stance. When Sgt. Newberry asked me that question, I knew it was a psychological game he attempted to play. He has dealt with this movement and my other comrades numerous times, and not once have we been violent toward his officers or other staff.

He left off the pad and about 2 minutes later, Lt. Price came outside. Once I saw Lt. Price, I knew he didn’t want to negotiate. He came on the recreation yard with his gas mask hanging on his side. This was a blatant intimidation tactic that Price was attempting to utilize. Before he even began to talk, I asked him about the gas mask and why it just so happens he’s walking around with it on his hip, when he never does it any other day. His response was, “I’m ready for anything!” I asked him, “Were you even going to try to talk to me?” He just laughed in a low snicker as he left the yard.

10 minutes later, Major Nelson, Cpt. Bailey, Lt. Price, Sgt. Newberry, and a 5-man extraction team entered the pod. They were also accompanied by 2 nurses and a camerawoman. Sgt. Newberry came outside with the camerawoman and gave me my first order to submit to hand restraints and a proper strip search, or chemical agents and a 5-man extraction team would be used. I obeyed his first order and stripped out. After I was searched and cuffed, I sat down refusing to walk back to my cell. The 5-man team shackled me at the feet and carried me to my cell.

After I 2was unshackled and uncuffed, I was examined by the nurse for any injuries. I didn’t have any. When the use of force was done and the camera was off, Major Nelson approached my cell and told me:

“If you’re their new poster boy, they need to get rid of you! You’re a pussy, you have that pussy. So go wipe your little pussy and sit down somewhere, and when I do shut this shit down, I’m going to blame it all on you!”

These were the Major’s words verbatim! I will never forget the way she talked to me today. Her demeanor, the eye contact, and everything else about her at that moment were purely unprofessional and pure hatred.

If the Major feels she can get away with this kind of vulgarity, just imagine how she’ll let her officers and colleagues talk to inmates. They’re supposed to deflate situations, not escalate them, and that’s what’s clearly going on.

This whole minor use of force was completely different from the one I had on July 2nd. This was an attempt to break my spirit and intimidate me not to stand for what I believe in.

That will never happen as long as my heart is till beating!

DRIVE ON!

D.R.I.V.E.

DEATH Row INNER-COMMUNALIST VANGUARD ENGAGEMENT