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Report From Death Row Prisoner Robert
Casillas
(Hunger strike started: August 16, 1999)
Dear Sir/Madam:
My name is Robert Carlos Casillas. I'm presently at Menard Correctional Center as a inmate of the Death Row Population. Due to circumstances I have been attempting to obtain a transfer from this death row to the Pontiac death row. But as things stand at present, the administration is only willing to turn up their noses. I have attempted talking to the proper administrative members as though they had sense; this gets me nowhere. So I have been left to resort to the only other method I think would bring results: 'I went on a hunger strike. One which I have now been on for 30 days and counting. The only recourse the administration saw, was to put me behind a 'Steel Door within a Segregation Cell'. Quite the cruel punishment, don't you think? Especially when taken into consideration the fact I am not in the status of Segregation !
Put yourself in my place! I'm a proud,
American born Latino man. Yet, all my life I have suffered the slings &
arrows of this thing called Hatred & Racism since birth. One would
not think such things exist inside a prison, but they do!
In fact, they are more prevalent within
the ranks of the officers and the prison administration than ever between
inmates. Represented in the prison administration are KKK, Skinheads,
etc. And if this is not bad enough, there are individual officers that
hate just because I am different. This country; this State of Illinois
has to be brought to account for allowing such things to occur within the
ranks of the administration. They can't say they are unaware; they have
been told about officers referring to inmates as every thing from 'Spics,
'Niggers, 'Nigger Lover', 'Wet Back', etc. And nothing has been done! They
have been told of gambling by the officers on whether or not a inmate will
be executed. Of officers talking about children (young girls) being old
enough to bleed, they are old enough to breed. This is appalling by no
matter who it is that says or does these things.
The main reason I am endeavoring to obtain a transfer back north is due to the hate and racism shown by the officers. And as I am always subjected to this hatred, racism, and verbal sexual abuse of women and young girls, I need to get away from such cruelty. I am forced, if I want yard or recreation time, to do so in the presence daily, with sex offenders, even though this prison, as well as I.D.O.C. are quite well aware that two of my sisters were raped in the past; and my six year old niece was very brutally sexually molested. They know I have a strong hatred and aversion to being around such people, yet it is forced upon me. Again, how would you feel and react? In like, I imagine!
I did not have a easy life; I was brought up in a lower, middle class up bringing. As mentioned, both my sisters were raped. Having to hear talk by officers about such acts brings back many dark, once closed places. Places I thought I could keep hidden. I vividly remember my baby sister, 11 years old thinking she was bleeding to death from her pre-pubescent vagina; bleeding and crying because she had been raped. I can recall my older Sister, when she told my mother how she was raped so brutally. What I remember most vividly, though, was hearing my beautiful niece tell my sister how my brother-in-law's step father hurt her repeatedly, and was continuing even at that time. This is what continually goes through my mind as I hear sickness after sickness recounted by convicted rapists, as well as officers.
The life I had did not afford me the privileges most of the American children had. I ate from garbage cans from ages 10 to 12. I was raised on the streets; by no fault of my parents or family. But, the cruel lifestyle I had, did not allow me to turn out as bad or sick as the officers that oversee us. The only things missing are the white sheets, hoods, and burning crosses. Just because I am a American born Mexican, does not mean I can't be proud of my Latin heritage. Is not America the birth place of Free Will?, Free Choice? where all people are supposedly created and treated equal, no matter their ethnic nor racial make-up may be? Not in the Prison nor Judicial Systems!
One way or another I am going to be leaving this racist infested prison; either in chains and shackles, or feet first in a body bag. But to save my own sanity, I am in dire need of being transferred back north, to get away from these sick, sick people, and be near my mother and family. All I am asking of you, is that you assist me in this endeavor of bringing to the public what their hard earned tax dollars are paying for in the way of their Prison guards, Wardens, and Director(s) of prisons. If you would like to do a interview with me in person, I would need your complete name, age, address, sex, race, to add to my visitors list so you may enter. A interview over the phone would also be okay, but I am not allowed access to any phone other than the legal phone. So this method would be impossible.
I thank you for allowing me a few precious moments from your busy schedule. I hope you have sympathy enough to respond to me in my endeavor.
Sincerely Submitted!
Mr. Robert a. Casillas, N-33565
Menard Corr. Center
Cond. Unit
Lock Box 711
Menard, IL. 62259-0711
To Confirm hunger strike,
you can contact:
Warden Cowan, Menard Correctional Center
Phone: 618-826-5071
Superintendent Frentzel, Menard Correctional
Center
Phone: 618-826-5071
Mr. Marshall Hartman, Director of Capital
Litigation Center
Phone: 312-814-5100
(Hunger strike started: August 16, 1999)
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