Letter #1 from Roy Pippin February 18, 2007

February 18, 2007

Sunday 4:44 AM

Dear Deborah:

One of your letters finally did get through. I think "3" have been confiscated (smile) because these idiots consider a protest to be organizing something against them. So you know - I am not a follower or "join-in-er" because of some previous bad experiences with guys here who did things for all the wrong reasons. I won't go into detail - but I don't let anyone speak for me or demand I follow any course of action. However, I think you and your cohorts will be pleasantly surprised at my upcoming "final protest". (big ass smile)

Before I explain exactly what my plans are - you and others need to know what these "power-drunk idiots" are doing to the guys on death watch - 11 of us now. I am sure you already know about how they treated Carlos & Jonathan before the murderers took them. All these minimum wage wannabe's know to do is to take away a prisoners property, visits, rec time, food, commissary privileges, etc... This is their only way of forcing "some prisoners" to mind. In the last days of both Carlos & Jonathan's life they took all of their property - not even writing materials to say goodbye to loved ones - because they didn't want to be watched 24/7 as they used the restroom, slept, etc... So they tore up the plastic bubble/dome over the camera. I can understand the rank "has to do something" after they destroy state property - but - the idea behind the cameras was to prevent suicides - to not let a prisoner "steal their kill". (smile) Well, now one asshole (Sorry, it's the only term that fits.) decided he would enforce rules and punish death watch prisoners for minor infractions - like not shaving - in the last weeks of their/our lives. No, I'm not kidding.

Donnie Miller is a good friend of mine. By the way, he is not a follower either - do don't expect any type of response. Sergeant Newberry is your typical TDCJ red-neck, ignorant, power-drunk (I could go on and on...) wannabe cop and has put Donnie on Level Two for having a mustache and goatee. I have a mustache and the punk stays clear of me - because of my lady friend who has some stroke with these people. So, Donnie's special visits are in jeopardy. He was denied one 2/17 because - he thinks - they counted his attorney visit & parent's visit as "his two visits allowed on Level Two". Donnie's date is 02/27 and this asshole writes a case & levels him where he can't get visits or buy commissary - like we get to go anyway, once every two weeks - and the kicker is, Major Nelson tells him she will lift the Level Two "to allow him to buy commissary" but will keep him on Level Two for the other restrictions. So far, they have not come to take his property but he figures it will happen when Newberry or Sgt. Tolly work again.

Charles Smith's date is 05/16. If I were he - I would have "checked out a long time ago." He has to be up to go to another unit for dialysis treatments 3 or 4 times a week. For the last 6 years! One of Warden Asshole Hirsch's (Sorry, I can't help it.) new policies is that all death watch prisoners have to recreate in the One Section dayroom. Do the math - 11 guys at two hours = 22 hours of rec time - "if" the lazy guards pull you out in time. Every time Charles (AKA Shadow) gets back from dialysis he is wired out and goes to sleep. The Major and Wardens know his condition and have put out an IOC to allow him to rec & shower each day allowed, "no matter the hour". Friday night I went to rec at 11:30 PM to 1:30 AM. Donnie went from 1:30 AM to 4:00 AM and the guards refused to allow Shadow to rec or shower. He calls for Rank. Nope! He kicks and "we go off." No Rank. Shadow threw coffee in a guards face. So "it's his fault he stuck up for his rights" and is Level Three now. No property, no commissary, one visit a month, limited rec, etc...

The list goes on and on. The visitation nightmares are pitiful. I was blessed to get to see my son & daughter last Saturday (02/10). It was the first time I'd seen my daughter in 10 years! Sounds great, right? My son called early in the week to schedule the visit. He knows to call Saturday "before driving all the way up to the prison" to make sure I didn't accept an emergency visit (like for someone helping me with legal work, etc.) that knocks his visit for Saturday off. He calls & the warden's secretary rudely says "No - you are not scheduled" and hangs up. He called back and tried to explain the situation - that I have a date, my daughter is coming, & that he needs to know why he isn't scheduled. She said she was real busy & didn't have the time to check - so Charlie said something like "aw- shit" or similar to it and she hangs up on him again. So he drove up to talk with a warden. Bad idea! The secretary realizes it's him & calls security. Guards rush out and surround him - tell him to take his hands out of his pockets, etc... Redneck Warden Alford (?) tells Charlie he is taking him off my visitors list and threatens to have him arrested. Power drunk bully tactics. "For me" Charlie backed down.

Alford insisted Charlie write a letter of apology to his secretary "if he ever wanted to see me again". Charlie swallowed his pride and did it for me to get to see Rachele. That is how these assholes treat our loved ones. Charlie knows about my protest starting tomorrow and backed down so he could visit me one last time. I saw him, alone, last night. He totally understands and & backs my protest.

As of midnight tonight I will eat my last meal on Earth. I have all my cherished property already to my loved-ones. I'm completing my last legal battle, pro-se - of course, in the next few days and I will not accept any more visitors after 02/23. No visitors to watch them murder me; no spiritual advisor (I'll use my water-only hunger strike to get right with my Supreme Being); and a physical & mental fight to the bitter end. This has been planned for years. It is not to be "a group protest" or necessarily a violent protest. It depends on TDCJ's reactions to my actions.

The protest has evolved over the last 2 months as I've witnessed these power drunk assholes terrorize my friends in their last days. I will have absolutely nothing they can take from me. That is all they know how to do. My 2001 - 35 days of water-only hunger strike got some publicity. This might get a lot. For a man to give up his last visits, food, possessions, rec, did I say food (smile)? is something these people don't know how to handle. Put ME in a cell with a camera? If I tear it up - what can they do to me? (smile) I'm at 263 lbs. & will get to 200! or less.

So you see - not everyone has to be asked or told "what is right to do". I wish your friends - probably some of my friends too - good luck & a good life. You are welcome to publicize my actions anywhere you want. I do not bend or fold. Once I start my protest - it's to the death. I came in naked & screaming and I will go out the exact same way (big ass smile).

Good luck & I pray you and yours have a wonderful life.

Peace, Love & Respects,

God Bless,

Roy

P.S. I love letters - so light the fire if you like!!

P.S.S. Letters come up missing so please drop me a card or something to let me know you get this. They are very short staffed - is probably why your letters made it in.

Roy Pippin #999170

TDCJ - Polunsky Unit

3872 FM 350 South

Livingston, TX 77351

(USA)

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