PROTEST! A NEW AND FRESH APPROACH TO ACTIVISM

Let it be understood: this is something that has never been done before, something fresh, something new. One might even say a progressive evolution of thought and action. Especially, being that we are in Texas.

Myself and a few others have formed D.R.I.V.E. (Death Row Inner-Communalist Vanguard Engagement): a highly dedicated group of prisoner activists who believe in a direct proactive approach in the fight for prisoner rights, abolition of the death penalty and other Social Justice issues. We understand this system from a Socio-political perspective and we are resolute and determined to make change happen.

This will be done through direct-action on the inside coordinated with support from the outside (which is absolutely necessary).

I've been involved in prisoner rights activism for years. Because of my efforts I've been repeatedly beat down, gassed, put on every type of restrictive available and had every type of psychological tactic used against me to try to break my Spirit. As I'm writing this, I'm in the most restrictive cell on this 2,500 man unit because of my organizing for an upcoming protest, which will be the first of it's kind. I've been stripped down to my boxers with nothing else in this cell but a pen and piece of paper. One of my neighbors was barely able to slide them under the "management" door. They took all of my other property-mattress, sheets, blanket, books, paperwork, food and clothing-but as the level of oppression rises so does the level of resistance.

The time for action is now. The conditions here are getting worse on a daily basis. (See the DRIVE pamphlet for details). In the past year and a half we've had a record number of suicides, suicide attempts and inmate-on-inmate violence. More and more people are losing their minds and being pushed into schizophrenia. And, more and more people are being murdered by the State as the months go by. For those of you not familiar with Texas death row, we have the absolute worse conditions and by far the highest number of executions in the entire U.S. The power of the oppressor relies on the complacency of the oppressed. DRIVE refuses to be complacent and support this System with inaction.

Smaller and less organized efforts have failed the past because of lack of solidarity and support from the activist community on the outside. I was down on the disciplinary pod repeatedly doing things like conducting a sit-in on ( i.e.: refusing to leave) the one-hour-a-day recreation cage unless specific problems were addressed. Direct action such as this resulted in the 5 man Emergency Response Riot Team, accompanied by a gang of regular and ranking officers, tear gassing me with military grade gas, storming the rec. yard, beating me down, cuffing and shackling me, then dragging me back to my cell.

This deplorable System will always react violently, even to non-violent protest. Indeed, we will face much violence in the near future because of our efforts of direct-action. Over 100 people have been murdered by "chemical agents" (gas) and a countless number have been beaten to death. This is very serious.

The depraved nature of this system must be exposed and civilian oversight is vital to this process. We can only do so much from the inside. A phone call or email to, for example, those in control on this unit or others can do wonders. With people on the outside involved the staff's treachery cannot be done in the dark. DRIVE will be putting out e-mail updates detailing specific problems and issues and explaining exactly how you can help. We will be going through some serious hell and we'll absolutely need your support.

Myself and the two others architects of DRIVE-who, interestingly, are all of different ethnicities-are 100% real and completely dedicated to the Struggle. Let's stand together in Solidarity and make change happen! To receive protest updates and/or a DRIVE pamphlet, send an e-mail to robertwilldr@aol.com. For more information on me, pictures, or information on my case-which is an unjust capital murder of a police officer charge-go to www.robertwill.co.nr. Please send this to every single socially conscious individual on the entire planet!

From neo-Auschwitz,

with Strength and Love,

Rob Will

Mailing address:

Robert Will #999402

Polunsky Unit DR

3872 FM 350 South

Livingston, TX 77351