LETTERS
PE,
I'm writing in response to Eric's 2¢ letter which is basically a bunch of bullshit. It's clearly obvious his shitty, no hope attitude is not only extremely political, but also a sad mirror that displays the reflective nature of the very society that is oppressing his elitist ass right now. It is clear that he considers the working class to be a group of shits, yet at the same time he believes that in a state of anarchy or in the event of a revolution all murderers and rapists would be free. How fucking ignorant!
I'm not saying that the working class are anything except uneducated and unaware or oppressed by their own narrow minded fear of change; but usually the case is neither and it's a matter of the ridiculous hope of maintaining a tradition.
This love for tradition is why people can't accept new ideas or music and generally cause a negative regression. In the meantime, burn your elitist shit and smoke it.
Peace and Anarchy,
John Smith
Dear PE,
I would like to begin by saying that your zine is the greatest. I look forward to every issue.
I would like to let PE and it's reader know what kind of shit goes on behind the walls of N.Y. state prisons.
About a year ago, I was given a disciplinary ticket, charging me with, 'unauthorized activities/organizations'. The admin. here hates punks. I was found guilty and given 60 days in 'the box'. That is 23 hours a day locked down. While I was in the box, I witnessed the guards, three of them, beat the fuck out of a hand cuffed inmate. That inmate ended up dying. The guards said that he killed himself and the case was dropped. The inmate had numerous broken bones and fractures, his balls were crushed and neck broken. How the fuck could he have killed himself? The guards are still working here.
Another incident that I witnessed was an inmate going into convulsions. The guards on the unit watched him for quite some time before contacting the medical dept. That inmate also died. Again, the guards are still working here.
I have been held prisoner by the state going on seven years, I have three years left. I'm trying to just do my time and go home but I am getting to the point where, 'enough is enough'! I'm tired of taking this bullshit.
Well, I guess This is where I'll end. Those who would like to write me, I'll answer all letters.
Jon Harding #91A6597 / Fishkill Corr. Fac. / Box 1245 / Beacon, NY / 12508
P.E. and Readers,
Greetings from yet another Texas P.O.W. A fellow prisoner turned me on to you and I'm most impressed!
I was into the hardcore scene during my "rebel without a clue" teenage years, during the mid-late 80's. I still have all my old vinyl from those days, bands like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, DRI, GBH, Suicidals first album, Misfits, Minor Threat, you get the picture. I've even got the original P.E.A.C.E. comp that was reviewed in #32, booklet and all.
Thing is, I got away from the scene. I've been leading the straight life, working for a living until my incarceration. I'd still dust off that old vinyl now and then, but I was also listening to a lot of corporate metal and classic hard rock. Of course, anything "underground" has a place in my heart.
It's only been in the past few years (after heavy exposure to the bureaucracy and the criminal justice system) that I've been able to grasp the politics I spouted so much of when I was 16. I'm 27 now; older, wiser, and ready to come back to the fold.
I try to keep an open mind, and see that modern anarchism starts with libertarianism-working within the system to abolish the system. Chaos might be great fun, but it accomplishes very little politically. There are a lot of things about the current anarcho-scene that I may not totally agree with, but mutual acceptance is the key, as long as we're all working toward similar goals.
Let me give you another example of how fucked up the prison system is. The other day I was coming out of the chow hall when one of the guards decided to hassle me. I was in no mood for it, and mouthed off pretty bad, but nothing personal against him. Well this jerk's got me with my face to the wall and makes a racial comment. I give him a snappy comeback, then he calls me a coward!
By this time he's got back-up flunkies there, but I'M the coward. So I turn away from the wall to face him and ask who's the coward. I didn't make the whole 90 degree turn before 2 or 3 laws bodyslammed me.
Right now I'm sitting in lock-up because this asshole accused me of hitting him. I never touched the dude! When I go to kangaroo court, I'll find that all of his buddies lied for him, and I'll be screwed. And I was supposed to go home in 7 months!
This kind of shit happens every day in the prison system, and things are set up to even when we win, we lose. Sooner or later, somethings got to change.
There's a few things maybe you good folks out there can help with. In addition to everybody doing their part to buck the system, I'd like to hear from you. I'd really appreciate any input and dialogue you can offer. Also, having been out of the scene for so long, there are some terms I don't understand. Maybe someone could explain them to me. Things like crust, straight edge, emo, the difference between grind, NYHC, and West coast HC.
Most of the politico-economic issues I understand, but some of the musical stuff baffles me.
That's all for now. Hope to hear from any and all interested parties soon.
Till then Congregate, Demonstrate, and Aggravate!
Joel Allan Jackson #767213 / Doninguez Unit / 6535 Cagnon Rd. / San Antonio, TX / 78252
Profane Existence Collective,
I normally overlook something that older people say because I was raised to respect people older than me, but in your summer issue 1997, part one (#31) there was a letter from Robert Wilcox "treetop" Lewis, from Pittsburgh, PA.
Now this person I will not get off into a one on one debate, I'd like input on this issue worldwide if possible. He (Treetop) has really no foundation for his argument. He needs some serious "history" lessons. To say that all murderers and rapists must die, is about the craziest thing I've heard in some years now. Doesn't he "Treeetop" know that this cesspool(USA) was founded on rape and murder? The people that "Treetop" wants to kill are the victims of this beast which "Treetop" carries so highly. We (the people) are the effects of a system that knows nothing but vileness, i.e. rape, murder, etc.,etc.
He "Treetop" is the enemy and everyone should be aware of agents such as this, he is pro-establishment, and the time shouldn't have been wasted printing this bullshit, if "Treetop" is bored or whatever the case may be, then he must find other things to "play" with, this struggle is no joke and I face every single day trying to rid the land of scum like this "Treetop".
"Treetop" is not a spokesperson for new Africans(I'm black) we do not need, nor do we want "Treetop" and his kind to be our voice. Allies must be 100% focused on the objective, ending oppression, and all that supports these actions.
This "Treetop" is 36 yrs. old, and if he hasn't gained any knowledge of America by now then he is useless to any community, and prison has nothing to do with "Treetops" mindset. This person means no one any good, and should be watched very closely. So "Treetop" you can save your defeatist ass rap for your kind, because NEW AFRIKAN QUEENS AND KINGS were born winners, and we will have our freedom by any means, "Treetop" and his kind are only pawns, a pest, a distraction that should be smashed on sight, wasting no time, we ona move.
As you can see this got personal, but this is my life and this struggle is my life, you attack what I live for? Then be prepared for the dragon to spit fire. I could've accepted if "Treetop" was searching for understanding of this struggle, that wasn't the case.
One thing for a fact, a change is coming, the people are sick and tired of being sick and tired, now is the time to take action, no matter how "big" or "small" it may be, we as a nation of oppressed people must get involved in our communities. This is not a "black" and "white" thang this is a people thing, for our seeds the future must bring about a change. For life, we've got to keep this fire hot and know just when to strike the iron when it's just right, oppression will die, and die an ugly death, because thats all amerikkka understands.
I'm sure P.E. knew what would happen when they published this letter by "Treetop", but everyone deserves a chance to "X" press there view, "Treetops" case in view needs to do some studying, researching, etc. or he'll remain stone warped out of this world. But "Treetop" and his kind will see that the Revolution will not be Tel-lie-vised, the Revolution will be LIVE!
Struggling!
B. Brown D.O.C.#855988 DCH / Indiana Department of Correction / Indiana State Prison / P.O. Box 41 / Michigan City, IN / 46361-0041
Dear PE,
The events which transpired today illustrate a "business as usual" day here. Approximately 7 years ago the Fifth Circuit for the United States Federal Courts declared that it is legal to execute the mentally ill and mentally retarded. A Louisiana man had been on death row for many years. They could not execute him because without his psychotropic/anti-psychotic medication he was not fit to be executed. But in a twist of the reading of the Constitution, which says that no person can be tried and/or convicted for crimes when they are mentally incompetent, as determined by physicians and psychiatrists, the Fifth Circuit Court gave it their Old South, Good Ol' Boy Racist interpretation. By extrapolation a person could not be executed if they did not know or understand the reason for the 'punishment.' But, in this particular case, the man in question did 'understand' his environment however only while under the influence of the 'medication.' The court ruled that it was okay to medicate a person sufficiently to render them 'aware' of actions occurring around and involving them. Or so fucked up and wasted that it didn't matter to them and they didn't exert emotive one way or another.
We have several men here on Texas Death Row who are seriously insane. One man, whom I shall not name, refuses to bath, brush his teeth, shave or wear clothing. He screeches at all hours for them. They have what's referred to as an extraction team. Participants are 'volunteers' culled from the duty roster of the largest male behemoths this side of the Dallas Cowboy football team. They wear flack vests, shin guards, steel toe boots, elbow guards, finger free gloves and helmets. You anarchist punks and squatters know them all too well. They come five or seven to a team and argue to participate.
In minutes five of these bastards are lined up nut to butt at the cell door with a seargent, lieutenant and captain, a female nurse and a male nurse who works here because, as he was crippled by 'criminal juveniles' (his terminology), he sees to it that he gets revenge on every convict he comes into contact with-state sanctioned and compensated attitude. Reminds me of the kid who got his lunch money taken in grade school only to become a pig and raid your house, laughing all the while.
All this just to get the man to the shower. Does he get treatment? Is he referred to real psychiatrists? No on all counts. They say he's faking it. They say it's easy for someone to babble and yell at the top and full extent of one's lungs for seven or eights days nonstop. It's normal or not so unnatural for someone to smear their shit all over their body, leaving it there until it either falls off or grows appendages. It's easy to be sane and yet do all these things. This man is not so far out there that he even requires the medication, in their estimation, to render him aware of why he is here. To eventually murder him. In the mean time, he and the rest of us are brutalized, dehumanized, and desensitized. We hew and cry to "get that crazy motherfucker out of here!!" When we should be trying to get some help for the poor slob.
These are yet more examples of the dehumanizing process transpiring with murderous intent behind your tax funded prison walls. Whether you pay taxes or not, this concerns you because the 1996 anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act made it as easy as shit pie to put someone on Death Row. Texas is the worst offender of these so-called laws. You don't have to kill anyone to get here either.
I am also writing in response to Donald Barrois' letter in PE Summer Issue Part Two, #32. Donald got his ass kicked by 7 goons assigned to the housing area where he is held in prison. I can't speak nor vouch for the prompting and frequency of the 'use of force' exercises carried out in his stalag, but I can speak to the brutality and whip-ass tactics heretofore common on Death Row.
I speak specifically about Texas Death Row, Ellis Stalag, where the men are housed. They rotate shifts three per day. Second shift has by and large the worst record of any because their supervisors have a look away attitude and condone and cosign anything the guards do-bad or good, right or wrong.
The technique derives from the policy that any time an inmate faces up to a guard, the guard can use the excuse that the inmate was threatening him and body slam him on the spot. But that's as sanitary as it gets. All Death Row inmates who do not 'volunteer' to slave for the state are held in close custody 22 hours per day. Outside exercise two hours per week day. Any time a non-slave DR prisoner leaves his cell he is strip-searched and hand cuffed behind the back with palms out to the sides. Try reaching behind your back and touch the tops of your hands together for an idea. Escorted by two guards everywhere he goes.
This hokey pokey routine is enforced even while being escorted a maximum distance of 85 feet down the run to a shower smaller than a broom closet. So while you're walking down the run wearing your shower slides the guard behind says something invariably stupid, or, forbid, turn and look at the pig. Three of those four choices gets you beat to shit. So you're down beneath at least two goons with their knees in your back and neck, getting all holy shit beat out of you. But that's not good enough. Because it's excessive and unnecessary use of force, hence illegal, the pigs have to justify and multiply their fun by yelling 'FIGHT' which brings pigs from all directions like ants attacking an invader to the colony. Now that you're wrapped up like a broken pretzel, bleeding, bruised and likely bones broken, they hold you there while a sadist supervisor gets his Girl Friday with a video camera. All the while they're in chorus chanting "Stop Resisting, Stop Resisting..." Yeah right.
Not unlike the Anarchist Behind Bars Mr. Barrois, you get a disciplinary write up, you're automatically guilty, no matter what. No matter the number of witnesses testifying to the facts. Your visit with the disciplinary hearing officer nets you solitary time, loss of all privileges- which includes all personal property, including your fan, no way to but commissary, all books and zines GONE. No visits with anyone while you're in the hole.
Barrois summed up his letter explaining that most people simply want to do their time and go home. Here on DR we aren't doing numbers. When our appeals process is exhausted and the warrant is served, the executioner gets paid. If by chance we get a new trial, every little infraction incurred during our stay is used against us in the most egregious way. What looks worse than a conviction while in prison than assaulting an officer? Killing one. But that depends on your perspective. Considering the nature of PE, it's safe to assume quite a few people the world round would advocate that. I am a nonviolent man and I do not condone physical violence of any form.
I remain in Solidarity,
Michael L. McBride / Death Row / #903, Ellis Stalag / Huntsville, TX / 77343
Dear Profane Existence,
I live in the city right outside St. Pete, FL. St. Pete is getting a baseball team called the Devil Rays - you might have heard of them.
However, the club I go to in St. Pete has informed us that the city is trying to get St. Pete 'cleaned up'. Their definition of cleaning the city up is getting rid of the homless, the minorities, the punks, and the club that my friends and I go to watch our favorite underground bands.
They want to shut down this club for two reasons. One is because the club attracts so called 'shady' characters called punks. Number two is because this club feeds the homless with their profits.
Something has to be done! We need your support on this. Please help!
Bobby Ammon / 13370 82nd Ave N / Seminole, FL / 33776
OR: The Refuge / 328 9 St N / St. Pete, FL / 33705