[Pnews] Retaliation Against Hunger Strikers at Menard–Windows Blocked, Strikers Beaten

[Prisoner News]

*http://antistatestl.noblogs.org/post/2014/04/22/retaliation-against-hunger-strikers-at-menard-windows-blocked-strikers-beaten/*


  Retaliation Against Hunger Strikers at Menard–Windows Blocked,
  Strikers Beaten
  <http://antistatestl.noblogs.org/post/2014/04/22/retaliation-against-hunger-strikers-at-menard-windows-blocked-strikers-beaten/>

by ANTI-STATE STL 
<http://antistatestl.noblogs.org/post/author/antistatestl/> on 2014/04/22

The following consists of excerpts, lightly edited by Alice Lynd, from 
letters by eight men in Administrative Detention at the Menard 
Correctional Center in Illinois, dated April 12-14, 2014.

*Windows covered*

On the morning of Saturday, April 12, 2014, maintenance workers drilled 
big metal boxes on the outside of our windows. We can no longer see out 
the windows and barely any sunlight comes in.

All of the windows in the High Security Unit are being covered (blocked) 
with a steel covering in retaliation of our hollering out to the 
protestors that marched outside the facility during our last hunger strike.

We were told, “How you like your view now?”

With summer approaching, not only will our air flow circulation be 
affected, but we . . . have steel doors. We will now be forced to live 
in what will amount to an extremely hot tomb. I’m thinking there has to 
be a whole lot of information available dealing with . . . the effects 
of no natural sunlight in an area of indeterminate placement.

*Orange Crush*

C-wing. On Saturday, April 12, 2014, Orange Crush (Special Response Team 
who dresses in orange) came running into the H.S.U. to shake [us] down. 
We were strip searched and had handcuffs put on our wrists so tight it 
cut off the circulation to our hands. When we complained about this we 
were told to shut the fuck up and keep our heads down and eyes on the 
ground.

We were escorted to the shower and taunted with “Hunger Strike Bitches”;

“When’s the next hunger strike–tough guys? HA, HA, HA.”

In the showers our heads were shoved into the walls and told, “Put you 
fucking heads on the wall!” . . . [T]hey would walk back and forth 
shoving our head against the wall screaming, “I said put your fucking 
heads against the fucking wall!”

We heard screaming coming from the downstairs showers. Other A.D. 
prisoners were screaming, “Quit slamming his head!” “Warden, investigate 
this!” etc. . . .

[Assistant] Warden Lashbrook came to the upstairs shower asking us if we 
had any questions. One at a time prisoners were escorted to talk to her 
in a hallway and all of us prisoners could hear the conversations.

One prisoner asked if there were going to be any A.D. rules implemented 
and she said, “We aren’t working on any rules and you’re not getting any 
rules.” One prisoner asked her why we are in A.D. and she said, “You 
know why the fuck you’re here. You all know?” After speaking with three 
prisoners, she said, “Fuck this. That’s it. . . .” While going back to 
our cells she sarcastically said, “Any mice? Find any mice?”

Once back in our cells we realized . . . our pens were missing in order 
to prevent us from writing grievances. Our property was slung all over 
and some of it was destroyed. Also they took small things out of spite. 
Out of a deck of cards, one prisoner was missing one card. Out of a 
chess set, one prisoner was missing one chess piece.

B-wing. On April 12, 2014, the special unit tack [tactical] team called 
Orange Crush came up to B-wing where we in A.D. is located and searched 
our cells. . . We was strip searched [and] cuffed up. Our heads was 
forcefully pushed down [and we were] not allowed to look up. We was then 
taken to the showers and lined up against the shower walls. . . . The 
showers wall are not clean, which we request during the hunger strike on 
our grievance, which they have went back to how things was before the 
hunger strike. But when I refuse, the tack team push me against the 
shower wall with my face against the dirty wall and held me there. . . . 
Then they started to put us in rows of 3’s starting from the back shower 
wall.

During the whole time we were being extracted from our cells, 
[Assistant] Warden Lashbrook, Internal Affairs Lt. Reichert, Major 
Ziggler, Internal Affairs Supervisor Ms. Hecht including others was present.

While in the shower, we was ask if we wanted to talk to Warden Lashbrook 
which we all said yes. We was then escorted one by one by tack team to 
talk to Warden Lashbrook, which was right outside the showers. When I 
approached Warden Lashbrook, the tack team push my head down so that I 
couldn’t see who I was talking to which I stated, How the fuck am I 
suppose to know who I’m talking to if I can’t see them. Which then I was 
allowed to look up. . . . I ask Warden Lashbrook, why was I back on 
Administrative Detention. She responded by saying, “You don’t know why 
you are on A.D.?” I said, “No!” “So you don’t have no idea?” I said, 
“No. Nobody informed in no such way, neither in writing or verbal . . . 
.” She then stated that, “Well I don’t have to tell you anything for the 
safety and security of the institution.”

I then ask her, “Why haven’t we gotten any A.D. Orientation Manuals, or 
hearing to challenge our placement on A.D. or get a copy of our 90-day 
reviews, at least be present. Because right now, we don’t have ANY due 
process or any way to challenge A.D. . . . If I was to get a 
disciplinary report, I get a hearing to defend myself against Seg 
placement. We don’t have any way to challenge A.D. I filed a grievance, 
and I was told that A.D. is an Administrative Decision and it’s not 
grievable. And I exhausted my remedies all the way to the A.R.B. and was 
denied. Stateville & Pontiac gives A.D. inmates orientation manuals that 
explain the program.” She then stated, “We are not going to give none of 
you guys no orientation manuals or hearings, no matter what anybody 
says. If you don’t know why you are here, then that’s your problem.” 
Then the tack team took me back to the shower.

Then others went to go talk to her. When Tillman, #R40962, went to talk 
to Warden Lashbrook, there was a argument with Tillman & Warden 
Lashbrook over the illegal conditions of confinement. . . . I guess the 
tack team didn’t like how the conversation was going and I heard them 
say, “Come, bring your ass, you’re done.” So I turned around and saw the 
tack team pushing Tillman head down and bringing his arms up to the back 
of his head, which Tillman was cuffed behind his back. Tillman was 
yelling, saying, “My fucking head is down. You hurting me. Stop doing 
that shit.” The tack team was yelling, “Put your fucking head down.”

The tack team forcefully push Tillman against the dirty shower wall and 
when Tillman moved his face off the shower wall, the tack team rammed 
his head against the wall hard enough to make a empty coconut sound. All 
of us in the shower starting yelling to Warden Lashbrook, saying, “You 
see this, your tack team rammed Tillman head against the wall for no 
reason. Look, look, look, they doing it again!”

The tack team took Tillman down to his knees and had their stick in the 
back of Tillman head so it can push his head against the wall. We was 
all yelling to Warden Lashbrook to have her stop assaulting Tillman. She 
responded by not saying nothing and walking away. . . .

The tack team then took Tillman to the front of the shower where I can 
hear Tillman saying that his head hurt and that he needs to see Medical 
attention. Somebody told Tillman, “You ain’t getting no medical 
attention, and if you don’t like it, go on a hunger strike and cry about 
it like you guys like to do, and file a grievance.” . . .

After about two hours or so, we was taken back to our cells. When me and 
my cellmate was brought back to our cell, it was destroyed. Me and my 
cellmate property & legal work was all mix up and some was torn up and 
some was in the toilet. . . . Me and my cellmate was missing legal work. 
…Envelopes are missing. . . . They took most of our pens, and right now, 
there is 10 of us on B-wing and we have to share 2 pens between all of 
us. And some of us paper was taken. . . . It’s clear that the IDOC [is] 
still angry about the hunger strike.

After the hunger strike, everything went back to how it was prior to the 
hunger strike. They don’t clean or mop the showers or wing, no disinfect 
to clean the cells, no orientation manuals or hearing. Basically, 
nothing! The struggle still continues and it looks like it gonna get harder.

I was physically assaulted by tactical unit member(s). During the 
shakedown they were trying to use intimidation methods, screaming and 
yelling etc. This one C/O kept telling me to put my head down, to which 
I kept telling him, “If I put my head down any lower my glasses are 
going to fall off.” One C/O actually pushed my glasses back onto my face 
as they had almost fallen. . . . At this time I was placed a few feet 
away from other inmates. This C/O punched me in my ribs and he then took 
my glasses saying, “You can’t have these anyway. These are wire-frame.”… 
I reported being punched and the warden only said, “I thought you wanted 
to ask about A.D.”

I asked about my placement in A.D., receiving something in writing on 
why I am in A.D. . . . and allow me to challenge such placement, a 
statement given to inmates in the form of a rule book that lets us know 
the rules, regulations and standards of A.D. and how we can not only 
challenge placement but know what we must do to get released. She took a 
firm stance and said, “There will be NO rule book. You will not receive 
anything in writing. We make the rules and we don’t have to tell you why 
you are in A.D. Also, that we know why we’re here.” . . .I also asked 
what about the effects of long term isolation especially for mentally 
ill inmates in A.D. and disciplinary segregation. She stated, “Stop 
catching tickets!” I responded, “What would you have a mentally ill 
person do?” She stated, “Follow our rules and do their time.” Which is 
clear to me where the administration stands on our issues!

After we talked, this C/O led me back into the shower area where all the 
other inmates were being held. Upon pushing me into the shower he was 
lifting my arms into the air behind me by my cuffs. I told him he didn’t 
have to do all that and as he was lining me up against the wall he 
started repeatedly banging my head on the wall saying, “Put your head 
down.” . . .

At this point he began putting all of his weight down in between my 
hands onto the handcuffs, saying “get on your knees.” I wouldn’t. He 
then started saying, “Slip the cuffs. I want you to” etc. . . He then 
led me towards the front of the shower. . . . He began banging my head 
on the wall. Everyone started yelling to the warden, intel and other 
officers saying, “Ya’ll see this? He’s banging his head on the wall.” I 
don’t know if it was the same C/O but my feet were kicked from up under 
me. I didn’t fall because C/O was still holding and pulling the 
handcuffs. My shower shoe went sailing across the shower floor. At this 
time I was placed on my knees between an old out of compliance toilet 
and the shower bars. I stayed there until shakedowns were complete. I 
asked for medical attention at least 3 times. I was ignored and laughed 
at one of those 3 times. I asked the C/O working our wing (unit) that day.

… He stated he was about to go home, his shift was over. Grievance 
Filed!! I missed med-tech when she did her rounds. I was asleep. I felt 
groggy & my head was hurting & I was dizzy & disoriented when I first 
tried to get up. . . . My eyes were hurting, my back & neck. I threw up 
almost immediately (I had had no food by this point). . . . My nose was 
bleeding. I filed emergency grievance for immediate medical attention 
along with turning in sick-call request. I explained my symptoms to the 
C/O. He stated it’s maybe a concussion. I don’t know. I know my head is 
still hurting and sometimes swimming, especially when I stand up. My 
eyes also. My wrist from the cuffs, my back and neck also.

I do fear for my safety, security and well being. This unlawful, 
unwarranted and excessive use of force was completely unnecessary. The 
fact that it was done in front of the warden and intel proves that they 
have NO moral standings, no standards and that all of our safety and 
security could be in jeopardy at any given time.

We must also realize that I am the third victim of an assault back here 
in administrative detention since the hunger strike! . . . The fact 
that. . . warden told them to take the pens and that every time they try 
to fix something we find something else to complaint about, and we 
always writing grievances. These are no longer empty threats. They are 
assaulting inmates and stealing from us. . . . This is a dangerous time.

. . .WE need help! . . . Grievances will not work. It’s beyond that. I 
had my head banged on the wall, punched and kicked!! . . . Mental health 
professionals are telling me I have to find a way to just deal with it! 
I can’t anymore! What am I supposed to do? I’m begging for an answer 
because I honestly do not know anymore!!

*Double bunking*

Another very dangerous policy [is[ being enforced here in the High 
Security Unit. They have begun forcing individuals to accept double 
bunking. . . . Even more dangerous is that the facility is reviewing 
each individual’s past or present affiliations to intentionally place 
individuals with opposite past or present affiliations. . . . The 
facility is intentionally placing known enemies in cells together. They 
are doing this with the threat of disciplinary action and forcibly 
moving individuals into cells they do not want to go in. An already 
stressful, volatile, dangerous situation is being intentionally 
increased by the forcing of double bunking. . . . Should something 
happen in one of these cells because of the administration’s forcibly 
placing individuals together, I’m sure they would sell it as completely 
and totally the fault of those in the cell. . . . It’s clear they’d 
prefer our focus to be on each other, and not them. But this is clearly 
a recipe for disaster.

*Concluding remarks*

There has now been a total of three inmates assaulted since the date of 
January 15, 2014. Armando Velasquez was assaulted Jan. 15, 2014, moved 
to the hospital unit and hasn’t been seen since. Rodolfo Rosas was 
assaulted in the early part of March 2014 and remains in A.D. Joseph 
Tillman was assaulted 4-12-14 during shakedown. All assaults were made 
by correctional officers of Menard.

We are not safe and there is no oversight as even the warden has turned 
a blind eye to an assault.

The roads ahead will be long and hard but through the process we shall 
endure, not because we want to but because we don’t have any other 
choice! We stand to fight the powers that be armed with intelligence, 
dedication, determination, discipline, patience, persistence as means to 
persevere. . . .

[From a letter to the Warden:] Warden Butler . . . You censor our mail 
unnecessarily so that we can not hear. You instruct your S.O.R.T. to 
take our ink-pens so that we can not speak. You shutter our windows so 
that we can not see, and I’m sure this is your ideal convict, one who 
can not hear, speak or see. . . . You can shutter our windows, but you 
can NOT shutter our minds!
-- 

Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://freedomarchives.org/pipermail/ppnews_freedomarchives.org/attachments/20140422/5e90b15f/attachment.htm>