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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1979)
Behind the Wall Larry Baker »3502!, O .S .P Corrrspondeni A ll you can do n sit in anger, lis tening to radio reports or reading newspapers as the reports ro ll in. Each giving a different story; each sounding more gruesome and gory than the first . . . "Prisoners Mose T o Take Over Prison A t Oregon State Penitentiary ’ For three days now, we’ ve been locked-down in our cells. No visits, no phone calls, no activities o f any son. Just sit and wait. Three steel walls and thirteen iron bars govern our little 9’ x 12' world with a cement floor that’s ice cold. A cell that all of a sudden begins to play a squeeze game with your imagination. The air is foul with the smetl o f unbathed bodies. Windows arc shut tight, closing o ff the ventilation high on the fifth uer It has been ordered that you are to receive only two meals a day (10:00 a m. and 4:00 p .m ). Those meals consist simply of two stale sandwiches (baloney and jelly), an orange and a cup o f coffee. A ll you can ask is, “ W hy me. Lord?” 8:30a.m .. Wednesday. February 7. 1979 It happened so quick: “ A ll prisoners are to return to their cells,” came the command. A ll o f a sudden there appeared more guards then you ever imagined worked at O.S.P., directing tra ffic as each prisoner peacefully makes his way to his cell block to be locked-down. Many o f the prisoners begin to inquire from one another as to what is going cm. But it is not long before the answer to their questioning sur faces. Some of the inmates refused to leave their cells from another cell block to work in the prison's laun- drv. Only then comes a sigh o f relief — “ big deal.” It had been rumored all week that the inmates »ere not happy with the wages they were receiving down in the industry area due to a cut-back. But that's all it was, a rumor. In mates are paid from 5OC-S3 a day and only a siim few ever make the m axim um . These are the same wages paid to inmates for the past thirty years; while prices in the can teen have skyrocketed 100®« and more. O ne-fourth o f their wages are withheld until they have accumulated SI00, along with whatever money that has been sent to them by family and friends. No, this grievance is nothing new ; it has been expressed fo r years. Because o f the overcrow ding at O.S.P. it has been stated that there are not enough jobs. Over 300 in mates have to roam the “ big yard” in idleness. The normal capacity is 950, today O.S.P. holds 1.500. So you lie back on your steel bunk as anger creeps into your mind. 11:00 a.m . Thursday, February 8. 1979 A slip o f paper is handed to you through the bars. “ A ll inmates w ill remain in lock-down until everyone has been personally interviewed.” Personally interviewed, for what? Personally interviewed to find out who wishes to express views on a wage increase. For those slaving away in the industry or being caged 24 hours a day with all privileges sus pended? T his now makes you wonder where the sanity is in this prison ac tion? Surprisingly enough the inmates remained very calm and peaceful all through the transactions. Oh, a few windows are broken and “ cat-calls” express displeasure, but most spend tim e w ritin g letters, reading, or listening to the different reports on a prison disturbance that sounds as if it were happening elsewhere. "Prisoners Revolt To A ttract A t tention O f State Legislature. " "Prisoners Sit-Down Strike To Gain C ivil Right. ” Prison trouble, displayed w ith violence is the fartheTest thing from prisoners’ minds A ll through the day each watches another being es corted by a guard down into a small room where they are questioned. Those who are fo rtunate to be housed in a cell with a view over the wall sit in sadness watching visitors being turned away, many who had traveled countless miles. Once again anger comes creeping in. No, it does not make sense, why is it not possible to speak to prisoners in a large group about the wage problem and to air out whatever ac tions have to be taken in a proper Julius D. Snowden »38013 P o e m Editor 1 and legal mannei to reach a solution’ U e are net animals. W hy subject the »hole prison population to the discomforts being displayed? But then again, we don't have all t ‘ie facts or the reasons for th.s mass lock-down, only the facts on why and how this is affecting you and the other inmates around you at this moment. Oh, welV W hat else is new ? EFORE COLLEGE. 2:00 p .m . Friday, February 9, 1979 Wow! Another notice. “ You w ill remain locked-down until every prisoner is interviewed.” Same procedure as the previous day, stale sand» iches and coffee. Flash! News report — “ 30 In mates Locked Up In The Hole For Refusing To W ork.” A couple o f guards stop by vour cell, "H o w are you handling this whole situation?” they ask as a smirking smile crosses their faces. You can only look at them knowing better then to express your honest feelings verbally. A ll o f a sudden the air has grown a little fouler. Quickly you adapt your mind to the reasoning; to accept everything which is happening because it is completely out o f your control As you lie on a steel bunk thumb ing through today’s newspapers, an article suddenly stares back at you. “ Representative Biil Rutherford, R -M c M in n v ille , subm its b ill to replace cost o f S315,000 gas cham ber Injection o f lethal drug costing only S15 each. (Oregonian) The Prisoner's Dem ands We the coalition, O.S.P., demand to be :reated as human beings. Can any human being deny another this right? We feel the need, and we believe these are reasonable demands. The action we are taking to show our support fo r them are intended to be peaceful, n o n -v io le n t, and non- disruptive o f O.S.P. policies and routine. The truth o f conditioning, as well as the condition here is our most po werful weapon, and we seek only to expose the truth. (1) There is a total lack o f commu nication between inmates, between inmates and staff, between staff and administration. (a) We feel the need for an inmates council to carry on a continuing dialogue with the staff as well as the a dm inistration , aimed at solving existing problems and preventing their recurrence. (b) We feel, an ombudsman for corrections are useless and helpless without the aide o f an inmates coun cil, for they, the ombudsman can’t feel the pain o f this psychological warfare being perpetuated by the administration and some staff. We, the c o a litio n , see this present situation being paniculating by staff and the administration to endanger ed inmates lives, and we w ill not tolerate it. (2) We demerd a higher standard o f medical care. Inmates w ill no longer tolerate being denied more than one day to receive doctors at tention to their medical problems. (3) We demand the immediate commencement of regularly scheduled times fo r g ro u p p a r ticipation, meaning each day, i f need be Self-help groups are the only help an inmate can get in this institution. We, the coalition, see this as being helpful to the individual as well as to the administration. (a) We demand a chance to satisfy ones own personal needs; (b) to feel secure; (c) to get somewhere and be somebody; (d) to have a feeling o f belonging; and (e) to gain respect for ones self. The use o f the word demand, does not imply a threat. A man does not request his basic rights, he demands them. Prisoners here at O.S P. are not requested to obey O.S.P. rules and policies, they do not have the option o f refusing, therefore it is demanded that they comply or go to the “ hole” (“ lock up” ). We, the coalition, conclude that be cause o f these remarks, the admini stration and corrections division can no longer evade their basic respon sibilities, we do not request that they do so, we demand it! We, the inside coalition, are asking for your support, we need your help. I A prisoner alone in his call. the people o f the outside coalition are bang asked to contact M r. Jim Abel by mail. Write. M r. Jim Abel #40876. 2605 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97310. The O ther Side of the Coin To: Oregon State Penitentiary In mates; Date: February 9. 1979; From. H .C , Cupp, Superintendent; Re: Lock-Up Status. In early February a small m inority o f inmates began agitating fo r a work stoppage in industry shops. On the morning o f February 7, 1979 this agitation culminated in work stop pages in the laundry and as a result o f this conduct the entire population has been placed on “ lock d o w n " status to assure the safety and security o f the institution, its staff, and the inmate population. As you know, my staff is in the process o f interviewing each inmate to determine the source and cause o f the disturbances in the industries area. Preliminary inform ation indi cates that a few inmates, primarily w ith out-of-state penal histories, have agitated and coerced a majority o f inmates who want to work into cooperating in the strike. While indi vidual inmate opinion varies about the cause o f the problem, the prin cipal issue appears to be dissatisfac tion with the amount o f pay awarded to the inmate workers. The m anna which concans me the most is the way the inmates have chosen to express their dissatisfac tion with the existing law. To my knowledge, no other state grants prisoners in a maximum security prison greater opportunity to present complaints and suggestions. These avenues include the ability to contact without censorship or reprisal vir tually any public or private organiza tio n or in d ivid u a l, including the Governor, Legislators. News Media, and Corrections Division officials. Inmates have participated in the de velopment o f rules under the A d ministrative Procedures Act, as well as submitting th a r own legislation for considaation. We have provided more form al means o f registering problems by providing an Ombuds man fo r Corrections with fu ll in vestigatory powas and authority, in mate counselors, an evolving grievance mechanism, and a va il a b ility o f m yself and key s ta ff membas through the interview re quest process. When the foregoing methods have failed or been unsatis factory the record shows that in mates have enjoyed free access to the courts to a ir th e ir com plaints; assisted by the use o f the peniten tia ry's law lib ra ry w ith s ta ff and o th a inmates to provide assistance as well as private or appointed legal assistance when needed. Considering all the available channels, the illegal activity o f February 7, 1979 was totally lacking the level o f responsi b ility which these inmates should have demonstrated. Considaing the rights inmates already hold, it is un fortunate the action o f a few indi viduals should cause all inmates to s u ffa the loss o f visiting, canteen, regular meals, recreation activities as well as the o p p o rtu n ity to w ork. However, under the present circum stances 1 consider the safety and security o f the institution to be en dangered and 1 have no reasonable alternative to the present status. As S uperintendent, I w ill not tolerate inmate disruption or dis turbances. Many have expressed a (Please turn to Page 5 Column 3) „ .I , If you think you could get more out of college two years from now, consider the benefits of the Army’s new 2-year enlistment. A CHANCE TO LEARN. Joining for 2 years does limit your choice of Army specialties. But there are still many challenging choices available that will test your skill, strength and stamina. Plus, we guarantee duty assignment in Europe. You’ll learn discipline, respon sibility and leadership. Qualities that can make you a better person. A CHANCE TO SAVE. Starting pay is now up to $419.40 a month (before deductions). In addition, the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, for short) will help you accumulate as much as $7,400 for college. (Ask your Army Recruiter for details.) A CHANCE TO SERVE. Our country has always counted on the soldier. It still does. And you’ll be a prouder person for having served your 2 years in the Army. You’ll gain experience. Maturity. And a clearer idea of what you want. For more information, call your local Army Representative. The address and phone number are in the Yellow Pages under "Recruiting’’ Or call the number below toll-free. Call your Army Representative at 800-431-1976. T h n offer not anulahle in all focanont E X O D U i/u / S le a /m r n / e a /re 1518 N E KlLUNGSWORTH PORTLAND OREGON 97211 284 7997 February 1979 EXODUS Honors Black History Month ■la), A Lt King IT, my child, go on out, ir life will be a series o f bouts, fgrieves my heart and drains my soul ho see my baby strapped with chains o f old Your soft dark eves looked up with fright A n d you whispered. "But M ommy, there's loo many to fight. " I held your hand and wiped your face A nd sweetly explained the human race a pich seen fi *nuin would be to vain, s all the same !he Master's plan, varieties to fill this land The Powers, the animals, birds and bees He even meant people like you and me n th 1 That the »