Right after our rally in front of CSP Los Angeles County over the suspicious deaths and abuse of Eric K´napp in April, 2005, the Inspector General Matt Cate did miraculously cause the Warden Michael Harrison to be demoted from Warden to a guard at Chino Prison. The head of "The Guard Assault Task Force, Lt. Charles Hughes was fired for his role in Arriaga´s death. Both should have been criminally prosecuted for the murder of Arriaga and others, not to mention the torture of Eric K´napp in my opinion and of all who witnessed what took place. This is one of the few times that any consequence at all was delivered to a warden and prison administrator by the Inspector General Matt Cate, but it certainly was no more than a slap on the wrist. When Assembly member Sharon Runner ran for office after Lt. Hughes was fired, she took money from him for her campaign. Obviously there is no oversight at CSP Los Angeles County when the prison guards own the state politicians from that area.
Eric K´napp's lawsuits are important. There is no good reason why he is being denied his medically-mandated typewriter and access to a properly set up legal library. We can only hope that the Judge gives him the extension that he needs and perhaps someone can step in who is monitoring Armstrong and Gilmore compliance and insist that the law gets respected. If Warden Michael Evans and Asst. Warden Eric Moore have their way, Eric K'napp will be tormented and blocked in the hole for 90 days. This is not the only legal action that he has in progress.
The primary goal of the prisons seems to be to break the body, mind and spirit of those being inhumanely and unconstitutionally sentenced and confined. If not for the courageous prisoners who litigate, who would ever know or care what they´re going through every day? All of this in the name of "God" and the name of "Justice" taking place in taxpayer-financed institutions beyond the radar of the media. Perhaps it is time for another protest at Salinas Valley Prison to make the point that people DO CARE about what happens to Eric K´napp and all jailhouse lawyers and whistleblowers. The safest way of course, is for the families of the prisoners to organize and hire lawyers on the outside who will take these cases forward. The families have the power of the vote and can end the oppressive prisons, or greatly cut back on their existence at any time that they decide to set up a funded voting lobby, but the uneducated and poor do not really understand how the system is set up.
http://www.1union1.com/Lancaster_protest_pictures.html
We want the terms of the Armstrong and Gilmore cases to be instituted and respected at every prison in California. There are prisoners in ad seg at Salinas Valley Prison who have been there for NINE MONTHS while being told they are awaiting a transfer. During this time, their access to courts, communication with their children and family members is cut off, they may not use the telephone. Their mail is blocked and tampered with. .. It appears that ad seg is cruelly being used as permanent housing.
This situation needs immediate intervention and there needs to be a place to go
for those who stand up for their rights and the rights of others via litigation in the future. There are more links at the bottom of this page. In spite of the pope dying that day, the television and newspaper people did give us some press coverage. This lawsuit is important to every California prisoner and the three million potential voters related to them. There is no reason why Eric K´napp should be blocked and abused for his talents.
My next column will deal with other violations of the Armstrong case that Eric K'napp is now suffering "for his own protection" including placement in a freezing cold room, stripped of all his clothing and put on display for 48 hours straight while being ridiculed by the guards. The "cold rooms" are another pattern of unconstitutional torment frequently used against prisoners who successfully litigate in an effort to break their spirits.
We can never have too many subscribers to the UNION Daily Newsletter who want to stand up against abuse, inhumane conditions and do actual campaigns and lawsuits.
email rightor1@yahoo.com to find out how can you can become an activist for change. 6500 people can change any law, elect or recall any politician from office, less workers cannot make the 150 day deadlines required to get initiatives on the ballot. Get off your apathy. Prison reform cost people a great deal of suffering and financial sacrifice which continues today.
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