[Pnews] Kenny Zulu Whitmore - My Prolonged Isolation of 35 Years on Angola’s CCR

[Prisoner News]

  Voices from Solitary: A Day in the Life, Part IV

March 25, 2014 By Lisa Dawson <http://solitarywatch.com/author/lisadawson/>
*http://solitarywatch.com/2014/03/25/voices-solitary-day-life-part-iv/*

/This post is the next in a series of pieces Solitary Watch is 
publishing as part of a new project calling for people held in solitary 
confinement to write on various proposed themes (read the first, second 
and third entries here <http://solitarywatch.com/2014/02/18/pender/>, 
here 
<http://solitarywatch.com/2014/02/24/voices-solitary-day-life-part-ii/> and 
here 
<http://solitarywatch.com/2014/03/03/voices-solitary-day-life-part-iii/>). 
Our first suggested theme, ”A Day in the Life,” calls for writers to 
describe a day in his or her life in solitary confinement./

/The following comes from Kenny Zulu Whitmore, a political prisoner and 
former member of the Black Panther Party at Angola correctional facility 
in Louisiana, who has spent a total of 35 years in Closed Cell 
Restriction, 28 of which have been served consecutively. In his piece, 
Zulu describes the inhumane conditions to which he has been subjected in 
near sensory deprivation for the last three-and-a-half decades//. Zulu 
welcomes letters from supporters and can be reached by writing Kenny 
Zulu Whitmore, 86468 D-Hawk/CCR-4L, Lousiana State Prison, Angola, LA 
70712 or on his blog at Freezulu.org <http://Freezulu.org>.  –Lisa Dawson/

/*?????*/

*My Prolonged Isolation of 35 Years on Angola’s CCR, the equivalent of 
solitary confinement*

I have been held in CCR for a total of 35 years, 28 years of which have 
been consecutive. For over threedecades, I have been held in a 6×9’ 
cell, but because of the bunk bed on one wall and the 
lavatory-washbasin-combination toilet on the back wall, I have only 4×3 
feet of actual floor space to live in, 24/7. This has been my existence 
for 35 years, with the exception of one hour a day when I am given an 
hour on the tier to shower, exercise or just walk the hall. Three days a 
week, weather permitting, I am also placed in full restraints: waist 
chain, handcuffs and leg irons. We are permitted to wear a jump suit 
with only boxers and a T-shirt, not fitting considering the cold winter 
season. During these cold winter months, for example, there are only 
nine (9) coats for 52 men, some of whom exercise in the coat, while 
others blow their noses on the sleeves of the coat, etc. So you either 
wear this outwear as is or you refuse your hour out for recreation.

In the Closed Cell Restrictive Unit, the cells are both poorly lighted 
and ventilated, causing various health problems. Many men held on CCR 
wear prescription glasses, because of the lack of light in the cell. 
Inside the cell itself, you have a vision span of only 11 feet because 
you cannot see out of the small window.

During the hot summer months, the outdated ventilation system causes the 
temperatures in the cells to reach 100-110 degrees, resulting in stress 
and hypertension. I am now on two different kinds of high blood pressure 
medications (Carzaar, Novac). My eyesight has greatly deteriorated. That 
has nothing to do with age, as I have a degenerative muscle in my left 
eye, which causes it to involuntarily move, resulting in double vision.

CCR is a non-punitive housing unit, but the men housed on CCR are 
prohibited from participating in any of the educational and religious 
programs. We are not allowed to learn meaningful job skills that could 
be transferred in the event of re-entry.

After 35 years in CCR solitary confinement, my visitors have been 
restricted to only immediate family. I can no longer have visits with my 
nieces, nephews, cousins or friends. Why else would this restriction be 
put in place besides to punish prisoners? When visitation is such a 
vital tool in the rehabilitation process, inmate visits with family and 
friends helps to prepare one to re-enter society. This visiting 
restriction that has been in place for two years only creates undue 
hardship for the inmates, their families and friends. There is no 
penological reason that justifies this restriction that “only applies to 
the 100 men on Angola’s CCR/solitary confinement” and no other inmates 
at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

Inmates here at Camp-D CCR are punished and retaliated against when we 
speak out against the violation of our rights under the Civil Rights of 
Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA 
<http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/cripastat.php>). Look what 
happened to Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, and what is happening to 
Albert Woodfox right now with the degrading, humiliating body cavity 
searches which he endures up to six times a day. Only because he 
questioned why he has been denied contact visitation with family and 
friends.

No doubt, I too will be retaliated against once this article becomes 
public knowledge, but sacrifices must be made to bring about change. The 
U.S. is a democratic society today because of those like Crispus Attucks 
<http://www.crispusattucksmuseum.org/crispus-attucks/> , who made the 
ultimate sacrifice.

/“Freedom ain’t never been free/.” –Kenny Zulu Whitmore

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