After the protest about Rick Perry today at the Courthouse, the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, along with one friend from Austin, went to the Prison Board to speak. First, we were able to wear our shirts in, showing the Board and the audience what exactly we stand for. Several of us spoke: Vicki, the mother of Juan Balderas, gave a moving speech in Spanish (which the Board refused to translate & told us it would cut her time if one of us assisted) about how a mother feels when seeing her son in such horrid circumstances of isolation. Yancy, the wife of Juan Balderas, pled with the Board to treat the prisoners like human beings, not dogs. She told them that here in the US, more humane treatment is given to dogs than to Texas Death Row prisoners. Angie talked about how the extreme solitary conditions affect the human psyche. Through scientific studies, extreme isolation, such as what is practiced on Texas Death Row, has the same affect as brain trauma. She reminded the Board that they were stewards of the humane treatment of human beings. Angie also asked the Board to look into the use of excessive force by the guards on Death Row. Joanne spoke about the horrid conditions of Death Watch, with its complete isolation and how unnecessary it is to move the guys to Death Watch before all of the legal avenues are exhausted. She also told the Board to please use their influence to change conditions on Death Row. Our friend in struggle from Austin, Allison Deiter, spoke about the conditions in the Death Row visiting room. Because she visits 7 men on DR, often times some of the guys are out there overlap and no one is allowed even to say a quick hi. Also, Allison questioned as to why the guys are moved every six months. Not only does it disorient them, it breaks down the communication between friends. Gloria brought before the Board six points for them to be aware of and change: 1) the Board has been aware of the affects of what solitary confinement does to people 2) why is the visitors list limited to 6 people, not 20 and why can the prisoners not change the list at will, instead of every six months 3) Why cant the Board meet with the Association of DAs and have them agree not to set execution dates so far in advance. There is no logical reason to set dates six, eight or even ten months in advance, especially when the DNA testing is not even completed 4) Why did the Board today not provide translation for one of member, Vicki? Not only was translation not provided, had we translated, it would have cut into her three minute speaking time 5) Why is there a necessity to have such mean and uncaring guards in the visiting room? Gloria brought up the fact that some people purposely change their days to visit loved ones in order to avoid this guard 6) Why does TDC allow and promote racism? John King, an avowed racist (one of the men who participated in the dragging death of James Bryd) is not only allowed to racially harass a Black, mentally ill prisoner residing next to him, the unit guards edge him on by encouraging his use of racial words and laughing his tirade towards this man. Pat used a request given to her by Larry Swearingen #999361 to bring up, question and ask the Board to act: 1) only 60 stamps are allowed to be purchased by DR prisoners; general population is allowed 120. Why? 2) DR guys are not allowed to purchase ear plugs. Why not? 3) DR prisoners are not able to purchase 2-plug outlets, even though a 2003/04 IOC from the Board stated that 2-plug outlets would be available after the 4-plug ones were taken 4) DR men are not provided make-up days for missed recreation due to weather conditions Why not? 5) Mail is being passed out between 10pm and midnight, contrary to policy. Polunsky administration says this is policy. Please check into it. 6) Regardless of many complaints, the showers have mold growing in them and nothing is done. This is a health hazard and easily fixable if only the governing personnel would do their job and sanitize correctly. The shower temperature is regulated by the guards and at times, the shower water is so hot and the men are left in the shower for an unusually long time, resulting in some men nearly passing out. Why is this happening? 7) Volunteer chaplains are not allowed on the pods without security, making religious practice non-existent. Even though this is because of constant lack of staff, religious practice is a written policy of TDC 8) The men are deprived of sleep because of the constant activity, beginning at 9pm. There is a count at 9 and 11pm, with the staff using the in large mail cell light instead of the smaller in-cell nightlight. Breakfast is brought between 2 and 2:30am, trays picked up at 4:30am, rec begins at 5:30. 9) The men are not being provided the 90 day phone calls that are part of the TDC policy. Why not? 10) And, last, but not least-the constant lack of mailroom staff to process the Death Row mail. There have been plenty of grievances concerning this issue and I (meaning Pat), received a letter after I spoke in front of the Board in April on this same issue, stating there was nothing wrong. There was and still is a breakdown in the Death Row mailroom and it needs someone please to look into the problem immediately, address it and rectify it. THANKS EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE KIDS, FOR COMING AND SUPPORTING THE DEATH ROW PRISONERS!
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 23:48:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015