[Ppnews] Retribution against Corcoran ASU hunger strikers

[Political Prisoner News]

<http://sfbayview.com/2012/ripple-effects-of-corcoran-asu-hunger-strike/>Ripple 
effects of Corcoran ASU hunger strike

January 30, 2012
http://sfbayview.com/2012/ripple-effects-of-corcoran-asu-hunger-strike/

by William E. Brown Jr.

Written Jan. 16, 2012 – We here at Corcoran State 
Prison, prisoners in ASU (Administrative 
Segregation Unit), went on a united hunger 
strike, aimed straight at the beast: injustice 
and negligence. As a 
<http://sfbayview.com/2011/new-hunger-strike-petition-for-improved-conditions-in-administrative-segregation-unit-at-corcoran-state-prison/>named 
petitioner, I was targeted for being a litigant 
and a spokesman for myself and the other Afrikans 
who are seeking justice and equal protection.

While we are going through the “due process” of 
Corcoran’s imperial domination, here are the 
ripple effects of our strike. The first slap in 
the face arose when they made the biased and 
discriminatory decision to send the ASU1 sergeant 
to move me and my young KAGE brother [another 
Black prisoner] away from our ASU cell F169 to a 
mental health building that’s used only for CCCMS 
(Correctional Clinical Case Management System) mentally ill inmates.

Since our protest was presented peacefully, we 
refused to partake in any violent resistance 
after being threatened with possible cell 
extraction, then an additional 115 citation for 
rule violations. As an older brother wise to 
CDC(R)’s trickery, I felt more than responsible 
not to lose control of the incident, which could 
have aggravated me and my young Black brotha’s present circumstances.

After allowing others alike involved to know that 
we will carry on strong and keep the revolt lit 
in honor of our united front, we agreed to move straight ahead.

The next slap in the face arose when an email 
came on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, 6:42 p.m., to 
[prison officials] Arnold Cruz and Vincent 
Marmolejo in hopes to use this coercion to end 
our civil rights to a peaceful protest. The email read:

“Can you speak to inmates Ryoo and Brown [the 
<http://sfbayview.com/2011/new-hunger-strike-petition-for-improved-conditions-in-administrative-segregation-unit-at-corcoran-state-prison/>Corcoran 
ASU hunger strike petition was signed by Pyung 
Hwa Ryoo, Juan Jaimes and William E. Brown]? 
Please let them know the hunger strike is over 
and resolutions to some of the issues they 
presented (in the petition) are forthcoming, as I 
had discussed with Ryoo last week. The inmates in 
ASU-1 ate tonight and declared hunger strike 
over. Let me know what happens. Thanks.”

On Dec. 31, 2011, the prison officials came and 
pulled us from our cell and took our personal 
property based on illegal grounds. We continued 
our peaceful protest! After threats and more 
coercion, we both pondered our wellbeing and the 
odds were stacked against us, meaning harsher 
retaliation. We came to an adult understanding 
with Lt. Rush, who in exchange personally walked 
an emergency copy of our 602 inmate appeal (complaint) to the warden’s office.

The third slap in the face came when I was served 
an additional CDC 115 (Rules Violation Report) 
charging a violation of CCR Sec. 3005(a) and 
citing the specific act of “inciting and leading 
a hunger strike.” I’m like “Wow!” Under “Circumstances,” the 115 reads:

“On Friday, December 30, 2011, the Southern 
Hispanic, Black, and Other inmates in ASU1 
participated in a mass hunger strike to address 
grievances in ASU1. Due to the ‘Hunger Strike,’ 
there was a disruption in the ASU1 program.
A list of demands was sent to staff, and you 
inmate BROWN T-58106 (ASU1-169) were listed as 
one of the instigators of the Hunger Strike. Your 
actions caused a disruption to the normal 
operations of ASU1, and possible health concerns 
for the inmates involved. Your actions created 
additional work for staff, and time delays in 
which it was necessary for staff to address your 
issues. Attached is a list of demands with inmate 
RYOO F-88924, inmate JAIMES V-08644 (ASU1-165), 
and inmate BROWN T-58106 (ASU1-169), listed as 
the signers for the inmate grievance. Based on 
this information you are deemed as leading the 
Hunger Strike and causing the disruption in ASU1.”

Prior to this whole incident, all we had done was 
submit a peaceful civil rights/human rights group 
petition reflecting the colorful complaints of 
all races, and all we got is retaliation. CDC(R) 
fails and refuses to comply with our demands, 
which are protected by case law as well as 
federal and state law, California Code of 
Regulations Title 15 and CDC(R) Department Operations Manual (DOM).

For many years, we’ve been dirt under the rug, 
left for dead by those in society who turn a 
blind eye, only to be cast as outlaws and black, 
brown, yellow and white trash. Even now as I 
humbly await my next 115 hearing to be conducted, I’m preparing a civil suit.


For many years, we’ve been dirt under the rug, 
left for dead by those in society who turn a 
blind eye, only to be cast as outlaws and black, brown, yellow and white trash.

Those same biased prison officials continue to 
violate many more inmates’ due process by failing 
or refusing to allow certain evidence or 
documents or even answer relevant questions 
pertaining to our defense. Many times we are 
refused access to witnesses who could possibly 
assist with our defense in hopes of a much 
greater outcome than the guilty verdict.

Just because the official has the power, there’s 
never a preponderance of the evidence standard 
considered when a hearing officer is labeled as 
being unlisted as having gone “through the 
procedure of the State Bar.” How could it not be 
determined that a hearing officer hadn’t made an 
impartial decision in his or her fact finding 
when he has not been through the training of the 
State Bar to legally enforce an order without a predetermined belief system.

These underground rules are being used as a 
gateway to target certain inmates who CDC(R) 
considers too active, or to later validate them 
as alleged gang members for inciting or leading 
certain racial groups. This is to discourage 
further litigation, advocacy – standing against 
the very injustice that Martin Luther King and 
others alike marched for. As King stood against 
genocidal environments, me and my brothers will continue to rattle the KAGE.


These underground rules are being used as a 
gateway to target certain inmates who CDC(R) 
considers too active, or to later validate them 
as alleged gang members for inciting or leading certain racial groups.

There are three possible aims of punishment: 
restraint, revenge or reform. Capitalism only 
seems to succeed at the first two. As we the 
prisoner advocates for justice know, the 
retributive and vengeful “justice” of the present 
system has been a total and utter failure.

Attempting to reform people through coercion and 
force can never succeed. Arguments based on fear 
and terror are never convincing. The 
institutionalized murder – the death penalty – 
has never had the slightest effect on violent 
crime figures. It amounts to no more than revenge.

If prison achieves anything, it tends to 
perpetuate crime with minor offenders who often 
go on to commit greater crimes. The motto then 
goes, Why not re-offend if nothing has changed?

Capitalism cannot solve the problem. It creates 
the very conditions which lead to most crimes. 
The supposed system of justice amounts to a 
closed cast of judges and legal professionals who 
are initiated into a tangled web of complex rules 
and regulations, where any concept of justice or 
fair play intrudes purely at random.

Because the beast is on its knees, because the 
moment is ripe, I’m approaching the oppressor’s 
gates with unity like the ants, the heart of a 
lion and the rage of a bull to liberate my 
people. I won’t lose ambition so long as I’m 
still breathing. Mandela stayed strong for 28 
years. Huey P. told us we bear rights. “Wait” sounds too much like never.

GLJ [George Lester Jackson] was a Soledad brother 
who made the jailhouse rock, saying, “You’ve got 
to find a way to make people know you’re there.” 
That’s crucial, whether in terms of making career 
gains, letting our families know we care or, like 
Malcolm, sending a message to our elected 
officials. I recommend that everyone read “Stride 
Toward Freedom,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first published book.

Send our brother some love and light: William E. 
Brown Jr., T-58106, P.O. Box 8800, Corcoran CA 
93212. See his 
<http://www.friendswithpens.com/viewad.asp?id=50000963370102823>FriendsWithPens.com 
page.




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