IN
CAGED
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In caged
Witnessing a confused and mislead society dominated by its government, who determines what's moral and immoral ? As a victim of the judicial system I question the validity of what this government and society call Justice. Who does it truly serve?
The Scottsboro Brothers, A 1930 Frame Up
Arrested March 25th by a sherriff's posse who stop a southern freight train in Paint Rock, Ala. At that time an estimates (200,000) adults and children were illegally riding the rails from town to town, looking for work. Nine young Africans were found on the train : "Four were only teenagers, all following rumors about (Government Jobs) hauling logs on the Mississippi River. "
Victoria Price and Ruby Bates, two young white women dressed in overalls were also on the train. During questioning, Price and Bates both (vulnerable to moral charges) lied to the police by saying all the Scottsboro brothers raped them. An all white jury sentenced eight of the defendants to death; Roy Wright was the youngest. Nine innocent human beings were imprisoned under the name of Justice.
America's largest industries are gambling and prisons. The number of African Americans being held in Jail and Prisons doubled over the past (12) years. According to the Justioce Department, blacks are more likely than whites to be imprisoned.
Two thirds of Black Americans imprisoned are inmates in state and federal prisons. The remaining one third is in local jails. Reporter Ms. Molly Ivins of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, states in her column, "Jail-happy system imprisoning us one way or another." People are being placed in prison beacuse of the use of drugs. She never mentions that the Government shared involvement in a large drug deal. In 1990 a Grand Jury in Miami indicted a Venezuelan general for being a partner with assistant head of the CIA that supplied drugs to Black Americans. At least a ton of cocaine was sold to the CIA. Its clear who's responsible for placing the heroin and cocaine onto our city streets, into our community, neighborhood, barrios and ghettos, turning the people into addicts and criminals. Creating revenue for the Criminal Justice System by focusing on a generation of crack babies bearing the drugs imprint. The system serves (Who?).
In this paragraph, the history of our drug policy is that there's always some new drug to be frightened of. It is usually associated with a (feared minority) group, as opium with Asians, marijauna with Mexicans, and in the 1980's along came crack associated with inner city blacks. Ms. Ivins is pointing out the government, lawmakers of the US of America, is only defining seperation of class, social status, and rank in this paragraph. Its clear that justice only represents the ruling class. They would like the general public to believe Asians, Mexicans, and Blacks are responsible for America's drug problem.
Four black men were imprisoned for a double murder for two decades until Journalism students proved their innocence and won an unprecedented 36 million dollar settlement from Cook County. "How can America's Justice System convict (#4) innocent men for 20 years?"
Simple. The sherriffs officers who investigated the 1978 case were racists, hid evidence that would have helped the defense while ignoring leads pointing to the real killers. These are questions no one asks himself. No one has time to be concerned nor focus on the condition and treatment once the America's Justice has victimized the innocent.
Being a victim of Justice, housed on Ellis #1, Texas Death Row, I, myself, and so many others have witnessed the hand of repression. No one has time to care about it, just as the Scottsboro Brothers framed in 1930 were lost in time.
Here the administration and the gaurds are responsible for daily brutality, racist repression, and cruel acts against prisoners. We're held down by many cruel methods, mentally and physically. There isn't a school, personal books of history and culture are censored, and many are denied. Limited access to law books from the unit's law library is restricted to 3 days a week, 6 hours a day. This is an attempt to destroy prisoners IQ and their understanding of the legal proceedings surrounding inmates cases. Control methods are achieved through prisoner property and priveleges; personal pictures, books, magazines, stationary supplies, fans, radios, etc will be taken away for refusing to conform to their programming. TVs are mounted on the walls throughout death row, a tool used to manipulate. Level 1 receives two hours of recreation five days a week, Level 2 receives one hour four days a week, and Level recieves one hour three days a week. Level 3 only receives one visit a month, and is only allowed to buy soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. This is how prisoners are stripped of their dignity and the will to fight for their rights.
Where these methods fail other brutal tactics are forced onto prisoners. Prison officials say electronic stun belts are capable of knocking an inmate out (it packs 45,000 volts) and are an effective mathod for controlling dangerous animals. Then there's the pepper gas. Its used when one violates their programming. One prisoner was sprayed by the warden with gas for filing too many grievances. Its odd, when you're not being gassed you're you're being beat down by these gaurds.
(4-4-99) Officer Anderson refused to give inmate Gerald Tigner "syrup" as he passed out breakfast. Prisoners repeatedly informed Anderson he forgot to put syrup on inmate Tigner's tray. Officer replied "He's stuck out (!)" Several prisoners requested to speak to a sergeant only to be denied trays. Anderson informed Tigner he wasn't getting anything. He began to argue and threaten prisoners. "I'll make sure you don't eat the next time." Anderson became so angered he threw food all over me (Daryl Wheatfall) in my cell. When Sergeant Patrick asked this officer , "How did food get all over inmate Wheatfall and his cell ?" Anderson lied. stating he had no idea. Nothing was done to this officer.
(4-20-99) An inmate was jumped on by Captain E. Burse and three other gaurds. The disciplinary report states inmate Tigner, Gerard #999099 did cause F Wing to begin banging, yelling and throwing objects from their cells, causing outer doors to be closed, which resulted in a Major Use Of Force and officers placed in immediate threat from other inmates. This is the story told after someone is abused. "The Truth," this inmate requested a light bulb. He was forced to go three days without a light. He wasn't able to read his mail, nor anything else, because officers failed to do their job. On his way to the shower he laid down on the floor demanding a light, demonstrating a non violent protest. Here on F Wing solitary confinement officers do whatever they want. Executive Director Wayne Scotts claims he doesn't know anything about guard abuse.
The tortures so bad an article in the Houston Chronicle written by Kathy Walt (1/22/99) states "inmate claims racism fueled escape attempt." Wessie Scyrus of Houston said inmates were forced into trying to escape because of brutal racism suffered at the hands of guards. Scyrus and Gloria Rubac alleged that a group of death row guards known as "White Is Right" squad carred out the daily degradation, humilation, and brutality of inmates in the year 1998. One can only imagine the pain and abuse the Scottsboro brothers were forced to endure in prison after being framed for a crime they never committed. Being a victim of injustice I'm able to identify with this all too well.
The night of the incident co - defendant Matt Terrell came to my home needing a place to stay. I agreed to put him up for a few days. Later, Terrell told me a woman he knew advised him that this old man was housing drugs for a drug dealer.
This woman explained the old man likes to trick and would get drunk and tell her its a safe house for a dope dealer. Terrell refused to go with this woman. Instead he got one of his friends to do the job. Terrell was arrested December 15th, three days later, after his crime. The same day he implicated me to the police. Trial records show that the only reason Terrell testified was the Prosecutor promised him 50 years. By Justice standards, I was only another feared minority being locked away.
On February 5th, 1999, Governor Bush stated "I'm satisfied that everyone who' s been put to death in the Sate of Texas has been given full accord under the law. I believe (our system) has treated people on death row fairly." How fairly is it when testimony is being bought and sold for 50 years ?
This is why I question the valididty of what this government and society called Justice. Who does it truly serve ?
Being a poor minority I couldn't afford to hire an attorney to adequately represent me. I was forced to fight for my life with the misrepresentation of a court appointed attorney, unaware at the time the State Of Texas paid defense attorneys a mere 11.84 per hour, 800 dollars per case. These types of fees determine whether or not a defendant receives life in prison or death.
I am appealing with all the eloquence I can muster to all citizens who have taken the opportunity to read this article to consider all that has been mentioned. As stated by the great Desmond Tutu, "We who still advocate peaceful change and still talk about reconciliation and justice are in grave danger , the danger our credibility is being eroded."
Without you I do not stand a chance for survival. Together, with your most needed assistance, we can make a difference.
BY: DARYL WHEATFALL
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