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Previous PhillyIMC feature: I Live and Die on Principles, by Andre Jacobs
Andre Jacobs Targeted for Retaliation--Take Action Today
In the aftermath of Andre Jacobs recent victory in a federal civil rights suit against PA DOC employees to the tune of $185,000 the DOC has wasted no time in sending a message to prisoners fighting for their constitutional and human rights that any such efforts to combat the system of state torture will be met with relentless punishment.
On Deceber 17th, while Mr. Jacobs was being led to retrieve legal property of his C/O Miller said, "This nigger thinks he's a lawyer," and squeezed the prisoner's arm. When Mr. Jacobs asked why he was continuing to squeeze his arm, C/O Miller pushed the inmate in an effort to provoke a confrontation. Mr. Jacobs had alerted both Capt. Leggett and Unit Manager Abrams that Miller was harassing him in retaliation for the lawsuit the prisoner had recently won. Capt. Leggett and Abrams both indicated that this is to be expected. This incident has been verified by personal interviews with Andre Jacobs and Eric Lyons, along with correspondence from Patrick Brown and Tierre Davis.
Andre has experienced bruising on his arm by the continual rough treatment, particularly of C/O Miller, and has been denied access to important legal property needed to continue his battles in the court.
Criminal complaints have been filed against Miller, Leggett, and Abrams with the District Attorney's Office of Fayette County on Andre's behalf.
This round of retaliation and repression comes as part of a statewide backlash against prisoners in recent months, particularly those who testified on Andre Jacobs behalf. Michael Edwards and David Smith at SCI Camp Hill have received death threats from staff, and the latter has been assaulted again by guards. Eric Lyons has been issued several fabricated misconducts and has had his ability to pursue legal work deliberately obstructed through the theft of legal property and the breaking of his typewriter. Several others at SCI Fayette have reported the theft and/or destruction of their legal property, including Eric Robinson and Steven Gravely.
We are asking all members and supporters of the Emergency Response Network to mobilize and call the following offices to request the following:
1)—Target Law Enforcement: Request they enforce the law.
Fayette County District Attorney: Nancy Vernon phone 724-430-1245; fax 724-430-1828
Request an investigation into the criminal complaint, which should reach their offices on Wednesday and Thursday. Demand that these state employees be investigated for obstruction of justice, assault, and hate crimes due to constant racism. Also, be encouraged to print a blank copy of the state criminal complaint form and file complaints about this incident and others found in the attached abuse logs. Let's try to flood their office with formal complaints and phone calls.
Please send word to HRC/Fed Up! when you call and write so that we can document how many complaints have been made via telephone and letter.
2)—Target Media: Request Coverage of Important Human Rights Struggles
Daily Courier Newspaper, Connellsville, PA (near SCI Fayette): Roxanne Abramowitz phone 724-626-3530; email rabramowitz@tribweb.com
New Pittsburgh Courier newspaper, Pittsburgh, PA: News Desk phone 412-481-8302 ext. 126
Call and/or email these newspapers and request that they run a story on the retaliation against Andre. See attached press release.
3)—Courthouse Support, Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 1:15pm
Andre will be back in federal court this Thursday in response to a spurious motion by state's attorney Scott Bradley to vacate the verdict given in Andre's favor. Pittsburgh-based supporters are being asked to attend the hearing to ensure that Judge Conti does not try anything illegal, such as ruling in favor of the state on an utterly frivolous claim.
There will be a press conference on Thursday, January 9th outside the Federal building at 12:00 PM, to discuss the criminal complaint and the policies of repression that attempt to silence prisoners. At 1:30 pm Andre will be back in the Federal courthouse in response to a spurious motion by the state's attorney to vacate the verdict returned in his favor.
We at HRC/Fed Up! and all those writing us from inside the walls continue to express our appreciation for all who took action in 2008 and the hundreds (thousands?) more who will in 2009.
Join us in our vow to make 2009 a year of disgrace for institutions, officials, agents and supporters of white supremacist state torture.
As always,
Health, Solidarity,
Struggle, and Respect,
PS-HRC/Fed Up! is all-volunteer all the time, and we appreciate and need contribtions. We are currently $150 in the red and we need loot for the thousands of pages of printing and the hundreds and hundreds of stamps that keep us in communication with the men and women locked up in PA. Please consider contributing $5, $10, $20 or more by means of sending a tax-deductible check to HRC/Fed Up! at the address below. Thanks again.
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Human Rights Coalition - FedUp! Chapter
5125 Penn Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-361-3022 xt.4 hrcfedup@gmail.com
www.thomasmertoncenter.org/fedup/
