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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1977)
Portland Observer Thursday, October 27, 1977 Page 3 From behind the wall by tarry Baber «35021 O.S.P. Corr«w¡<«ndeot Black inmates file petitions for a variety of reasons a girlfriend being denied viaiting privileges; being sent to isolation for a rule infraction; the confis cation of personal property; a guards abuse; discrimination of race. Many complaints have been filed in aversion to the food. One petition alleged ."...Judge, you wouldn't believe how grown men can foul up even hot dogs. The salad always has unidentified objects in it and the coffee would drive your car six miles." The petitioner summed his case in conclusion: "Our cooks is crazy, Judge." Officials and guards at the prison are not unduly concerned about the constant flow of petitions or being named as defendants in lawsuits. One guard expressed little concern, and sentiments are shared by most of his colleagues. "W rit writing keeps them (inmates) busy. If a con has a beef. I ’d sure as hell rather see him hit the law books than hit me. (Fortune News, 9/77) In the Oregon State Penitentiary, there are no George Jackson's, no Eld ridge Cleaver's or Malcolm X's. Black men, who were convicted by courts, thrown into dingy prison cells - only to emerge among society “social outcasts' with the undeveloped hidden skills and knowledge that terrorizes our courts, and prison officials today. The treatment of Black people behind stone walls and iron bars. It was through the eyes of a ballpoint pen, gliding across pages, and volumes of paper which revealed true stories and events of their prison exper iences as well as others. They soon had the public vomiting with guilt in knowing that their tax paying dollars were con- doning such treatment administered. It was through these w ritten materials that laws were changed; procedures were enacted and investigations were lodged. Sure, during the 60s and early 70s prison riots were born; prison strikes were formed - even right here in this great state we found our prison on fire - the names of Attica. San Quentin, Joliet, Walla Walla and McAlester became to pics of conversation. To the Black women standing in welfare lines; topics of con versation to men of dark color in bean and potato fields; words of fear within the eyes of small Black children in rundown ghetto classrooms. Why? Because most of them all had something in common. All were poor, most lived in Black communi ties and most had a loved one a father, brother, uncle, cousin or husband - con fined within. But today these names are slowly vanishing, along with the memories of the violence that came with them. The buildings and cell blocks have been rebuilt on their compounds or either revamped old ones with a new paint job. Even those human beings who had died senselessly by bullets, clubs and tear gas bombs have all been buried, some w ith out a tombstone, but the fear lives on in the minds and hearts of Black people in their communities and prison cells. Why must there always be violence before a problem is recognized? Why has this states Black prison popu lation jumped from 125 Blacks (10%) in 1970, with an average total population of 1,200; to well over 300 Blacks (19%), with a slight rise in population of 1,400. A question that not only many of the white leaders of this state can not answer, but many of the Black leaders shade their eyes to and refuse to «newer It can not be blamed on the rising Black population within Oregon (25,000 in 1970 to 30,000 in 1977). It was slightly over one percent of Black people living in Oregon to total population 1970, and it is still slightly over one percent today. A t work right now is another riot desperately trying to be created by a handful of Black prisoners at O.S.P., but this time it is a hope that not one drop of blood will be shed, not one head will have its brains bashed in, nor a cell will be damaged. This time the battleground hopefully will be a courtroom instead of a "Big Yard." The bullets will become the ink pen; the clubs will be sheets of paper; and the guns will become legal law books. It has clearly been proven throughout the past fifteen years that "the pen is still mightier than the sword.” Yes, prison riots have clearly taught one main lesson - it is they who suffer, it is they who become the victims, the targets, the losers. Portland City Commissioner Charles Jordan, a Oregon Black man and leader, stated that, “during 1976, 39 percent of all those persons who were arrested in Portland were Black," as w ritten in the October 16, 1977, Calvin O.L. Henry column. Henry went on to question, by writing, “One cannot help but wonder how many of these Blacks were convicted and sent to Oregon State Penitentiary. What happens to these inmates educa tionally?" W ell, at least Henry makes it a point to try and find out by volunteering his time each week to come behind the walls and teach a Black studies course -- where is Jordan? Since March of this year a small group of Black inmates, together with a small group of white inmates, have formed a group with the purpose of not starting a riot, not to fight a war between them selves. but to gain knowledge - know ledge of Oregon law. Since its inception the group has grown greatly. It was done voluntarily as well as being self taught. This motivation has drawn the attention of attorneys, law professors as well as even judges, throughout the state, to the point that they themselves have stepped forward to assist these inmates' needs voluntarily. This fall a full course mini-summary will be presented to help th irty inmates continue to gain and become more know- ledgeable within this field. Those sum maries will be provided by the Will« mette University People's Law School, under the guidance of a third year law student named T erry Johnson, and it will go as follows; October 26th Prisoners Rights. November 2nd Api>eUate Procedure. November 9th Parole Procedures and Probation November 16th Misdemeanor Crime and Your Right. November 23rd Wills and Probate. November 30th Divorce and Child Custody December 7th Self Divorce Clinic. Attorneys: Larry Matusar, Tim Spof ford, Gary Babcock, Scott McClaster, Marc Sussman, M ary Dahlgren, and Ann Hubard. Paralegal: Sandy Hobach. Third Year Student: James Rhoades. Circuit Court Judge: Judge Edmond, Bend, Oregon. People who have stepped forward, following in the footsteps of Judge Robert E. Jones, Attorney Bob Cannon and many others. No, there are no George Jackson's, Cleaver’s or Malcolm X's here at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Convicted Black felons who became national heros to Black people suffering in prison, communities and counties by letting their Black voices be heard throughout the courtrooms in America. No, there are none here, but there maybe someday. by Ron Flynn «32199 Under the constitution an accused person has the right to face his accuser, but not at O.S.P. This fact is more flagrantly flaunted in regards to the “reliable informant." “You have been accused by a reliable informant who’s identity must remain anonymous" is the standard text of a good percent of the disciplinary write-ups at O.S.P. The reliable informant has and can still cause: 1. An inmate to be returned from the Annex, and lose his custody because a “reliable informant" thought he was going to try and escape. I f an inmate were planning such a move he would be stupid to relate his thoughts to another. 2. An inmate to spend fourteen days in the "hole" while a reliable informant's information was investigated. No proof was found, but you cannot reclaim four teen days in the "hole." The reliable informant does not have to back up his story, after all, he is reliable. An inmate can present a defense on his own behalf, but the following quote indicates his chances are as the prover bial snowball in ------------ ! "To call witnesses - limitedly - A) Other inmates, or staff members who are working in the institution or whose duties take them within the institution may not be called as witnesses since their testi mony is unduly hazardous to institutional safety and correctional goals; B) other persons may not be called as witnesses if their testifying is unduly hazardous to the witness, institutional safety and/or correctional goals...". Who does that leave to present as witnesses. Your reliable informant is not as reliable as th eir............ A creature as silent as a snake, as repulsive as a hyena, burrowing as a mole ON SALE NOW! The 1978 Edition o f... ässi in»» ». X - -,-u- »’ • THE O LD F A R M E R ’S ALM ANAC! 186th year of publication. Crammed full o f useful information you won’t find anyplace else! Planting tables weather forecasts . . . zodiac secrets . astronomical tables . . . unusual recipes . and much, much more! Pick up your copy of the all new 1978 Almanac today! There's something o f interest — some thing that’s fun — for every member o f your family! ’V v .t S I M '1 ,o,.t »*»•’ • “ ' 2 ' W rtü w r For«»»»» 1. »«HO»»1 INCLUDES COMPLETE WINTER WEATHER FORECASTS FOR YOUR AREA! ONLY $1 A T NEWSSTANDS EVERYWHERE IF YOU DON’T SEE IT - ASK FOR IT! and evil as a wolverine, who will destroy its own limbs to save himself. Most outstanding characteristic about this ani mal is his distinctive "brown nose." For some reason, this “thing" only surfaces under an alias of w rite ups, secret reports and other devious para phernalia of the establishment. I t cannot sustain itself on its own, but most cling like a leech, sucking the blood of its own kind, never hesitating to dig, burrow and claw to survive. Its name, as applied by the establish ment, in in itself, a mockery. Reliable: “Refers to a person or thing that can be depended on as in need or emergency and often connotes levelheadedness or steadi ness." The first statement in the dictionary is more descriptive although it was unintended. "Applied to a person or thing that can be counted upon to do what is expected or required." The informant can truly be depended upon to do what is expected. I t has to in order to survive. For some reason, the “reliable infor mant" never seems to have as much prestige or carry as much "reliability” unless he is beneficial to someone who cannot carry their own program and must depend upon this source to fall back on. A t this point, the "informant" is all knowing, all seeing and indisputable. But what is there to dispute? A shadow? A make-believe phantom? Who can argue with a non-entity? W hy confuse the establishment with facts, when its mind is already made up? I t is sorry indeed, when intelligent!?) men must depend and use these T H IN G S in order to accomplish the ends to which they seem to thrive on, and to lower himself to the level of such a being. Could this be evolution in reverse? this arousal. Why? Because conjugal visits would be too expensive. Too expensive, how much is it worth to save a marriage, how much is the mental well being of 1,500 men worth? How much is it worth to save men from homosexual ity? Is it truly the will of the people of Oregon that these intolerable conditions of broken marriages and shattered men continue unabated? I don't think it is. There are 2,000,000 people in this state and the administration claims it would cost $400,000 for conjugal visits. Would you pay 50c to save a marriage, or 50c to save some 19 year old from being homo- American State Bank 2737 N.E. Union Oregon had the chance to give prison ers conjugal visits, but because the administration did not support it, it failed. So on one hand they sell us sexually arousing material and on the other they deny us any normal outlet for 282-2216 . . . U N IO N OR CO M PANY DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable a sse t. . . Use it to protect y o u r h e a lth and a p p e a ra n c e COMPLETE COOPERATION ON ALL DENTAL INSURANCE CLAIMS WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS by Thomas TarreU «38943 There is a thriving interest behind the walls in mens magazines, such as: Play boy, Penthouse, and others. These sex-oriented magazines are sold by the prison canteen for a substantial profit, and the inmates - who are separated from most aspects of human normality are naturally aroused by this vast out pouring of literature depicting what they are denied. sexually abused? That's what it would cost the citizens of Oregon, 50c a piece. How can the administration deny our basic human sexuality and then turn around and exploit that sexuality for a profit? In my opinion this is a classic example of a highly confused policy or intentional cruelty. W hat is the solution? The only realistic solution was denied us by the administra tion and the legislature. Of course they could stop selling the magazines but then what would be left for these lonely frustrated men in their bleak 6 x 8 cells. I leave the results to the imagination of the reader, because my mind recoils from our alternatives. Open Saturday Morning NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED Come in at your convenience PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot HOURS: Weekdays 8:30 a m to 5 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, DENTIST S.W . 3rd & YAMHILL ST„ PORTLAND, OREGON TAKE ELEVATOR TO 2nd FLOOR 3rd ST. ENTRANCE PKK TOUR PHONE. TAKE IT HOME. There’s a new store in town. The PhoneCenter Store. It’s conveniently located so you can actually shop for the right color, style and special services. Like Trimline® phone, Design Line* phones. You pick out exactly what you want. Then take your phones home. In some cases, all you have to do is plug them in. If installation is required, th at’s arranged at the PhoneCenter Store, too. You can also make changes in service and pay phone bills. But the nice part is you save $5 per phone. Check the PhoneCenter Store nearest your home. Portland Customers: East, 10522 S. E. Washington (Payless Plaza); Downtown, 238 S.\Y 5th; Hollywood, 2030 N.E. 42nd. Vancouver Customers: 610 Esther. •Trademark of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company Pacific Northwest Bell
