WHEN THE SLOP HITS THE FAN
Entry: 1/24/06 4:16PM
I couldn’t go another day without documenting this situation. Many people fail to realize just how prisoners are fed. I admit – it varies from state to state – but Texas stands as one of the worse and Polunsky Unit has decided to stand as a leader in that. The food that we are being served is beyond atrocious and it came to head on January 23rd.
The evening meal on 1-23 (which is served anywhere between 2:30PM and 4:30PM) was so disgusting that I could not stand it anymore. I’m already on level 2 so I cannot purchase commissary. The only thing that I can eat is what they put on the trays and what was on this tray was not eatable. It was supposed to be a “beef pot pie”, but what it was, was carrots, peas and slop mixed together. It looked and smelled disgusting. I couldn’t bare it. At tray pick-up time I proceeded to occupy their food slot and I requested to see a Sgt. The food was so bad that my neighbour offered me his. Not knowing it was so bad at the time I accepted both trays. When the Sgt. arrived I had 2 trays and I proceeded to explain to him that this food was foul and disgusting and that if I, in solitary with no commissary, will not eat it then what does he think of it. When he looked at the tray his eyes widened and he said: “My god! Did you mix this?” (meaning had I mixed all my food together into that pile of slop). He looked at his officer and asked if it came like that. The officer said yes. He told me that he’d go to the kitchen and address this because it was pretty bad. I accepted that. I’m always willing to give them a chance to rectify the matter.
New day! January 24th. Just moments ago. Chow is served. The lunch meal was pretty good, I must admit (spaghetti), but when the dinner tray arrived I was sickened. It was supposed to be “chicken and dumplings” but it was a yellowish, clumpy pile of sauce. That was the last straw. I immediately told them to call rank. Others on the run – 2 DRIVE comrades – said they’d hold their trays. Hearing the commotion, DRIVE comrades from the next section over asked what was up (I LOVE the sound of solidarity). I told them: “Do NOT give up your trays.” They responded: “Done deal.”
The same Sgt. arrived. He asked: “What’s the complaint?” They directed him to my cell. I showed him the food and told him: “I’m tired of this disgusting food Sgt. Y’all are starving us!” He said: “Give me the tray and I’ll take it to the major to see.” I told him: “No. Not this tray. Here’s what you do with this tray…” I then emptied the contents in the toilet, laid the tray on the ground and I commenced to stamp the tray to pieces. I stomped and stomped telling this Sgt.: “STOP FEEDING US LIKE DOGS! THIS IS SICK! YOU’RE STARVING US!” And then I slid the pieces out of the bottom of my door. I told him: “Take that to your kitchen, charge me for it and every time you bring us slop like that, that’s what’s going to happen.” He told us he’d address the kitchen on this. He then went and got a tray and left with it to the kitchen. The other men – some DRIVE comrades, some not – refused to give up their trays until they brought us something eatable.
I want you all reading this to realize that what took place next came straight from Death Row unity. The lieutenant, major AND warden came to our pod. They came, walked the runs and spoke to us. The warden came to me and I told him: “This is ridiculous to feed us like this.” He agreed (surprisingly). He said that the kitchen will be addressed. He said that for now on all food trays will be reviewed before served. It dawned upon them – 2 things – 1) if they wouldn’t eat it, why should we and 2) we were serious.
After the ranks cleaned out – about 50 minutes later – approx. 14 sacked lunches were brought to our pod. The lunches carried a fresh salami and cheese sandwich and a fresh peanut butter sandwich. Those that took a stance (and even some that didn’t) were fed like human beings.
Do you think that took place anywhere else on death row? Of course not! Why? Because the masses accept it. There’s no sense of solidarity or social justice. If an inmate looks to his shelf and sees commissary food he doesn’t care about the tray – yet if forgets that we HAVE to eat it. Just think if 70 – not 7 – men stood up (and it’s over 400 here). That is the key to betterment. Men must stand up and demand their human rights. If we don’t, they’ll continue to feed us this way. This is only an example of what can be done.
I ask all of you reading this to stop, right now, and send in a letter/complaint to:
Laundry and Food ServicesDoug Dretke, Director
Tony D’Cunha Correctional Institutions Division
PO Box 99 PO Box 99
Hunstville, TX 77342 Hunstville, TX 77342
(936) 437-4852 (936) 295-6371
Speak to them about what you’ve read. Don’t be fooled by the TDC menu when it says ‘Salsbury steak’, what that means is it’s a ground meatball with gravy on it. TDC is a capitalist venture. They sell us commissary at high prices then serve us the lowest grades of food. This keeps their profits blazing out the ceiling.
We need better treatment and we need you to help us speak out. We’re resolute to stand in the face of oppression. Stand with us!
DRIVE ON!!!
P.S. I will have to pay for that tray. I’m not sure how much it costs yet, but I don’t care if it costs $150. I’d do it again to feed these men and I have made a vow that every time they serve us slop like that, I will do it again. So heads up to everyone; I may have to start a new “Smashed Tray Trust Fund” to get me out of debt with TDC (smile). I’ll do what it takes for us to be treated like human beings.
No justice, no peace!
D.R.I.V.E.
DEATH Row INNER-COMMUNALIST VANGUARD ENGAGEMENT
