VOICES OF THE
LUCASVILLE UPRISING

CONTENTS
Mosi 0 Paki
Evidence Designed and Denied 1
Greg Curry
HUSH 4
We Hold the Power 5 g 5
George Skatzes N
Twenty Eight Years and Counting 8 SERG
Siddique Abdullah Hasan 82 s
Revolutionary Greetings! 19 Seo® S
Bomani Shakur £50 H
Lucasville, a Brief History 22 3. g
B oas
LG
EVIDENCE DESIGNED AND DENIED

Written by Mosi O Paki

Adlter the uprising of April 11, 1993, ended, at Southern Ohio
Correciional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville, Mosi Paki was placed
in solitary confinement without a charge until February 1996. He
was then given a “ticket"(rule violation), by the Rules Infraction
Board. As a result of that administrative act, Mosi has been in
solitary confinement for 18 years and counting.

Mosi Paki (A210081), along with a number of other individuals

was railroaded with charges arising from the siege of the Southern
Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville, on April 11,

1993, and has been in solitary confinement since that time. For 13

of those years, Mosi has been housed in Ohio State Penitentiary

(OSP) Supermax Prison in Youngstown, because he has refused to
110 the lies designed against him. Although others were

charged along with Mosi, he alone was railroaded in a prison conrt
called the Rules Infraction Board (RIB).

Chain of Events

1, Mosi Paki was 45 years old when I was housed in LI-16 a single
man cell - when the April 11, 1993 siege of L-Block took place. LT
‘was the last block taken over. We were told 1o leave our cells and
80 into L-side corridor where I and numerous other prisoners
remained for 10-11 days during the siege, which ended April 21.
1993.1 was then transferred, along with 128 other inmates to
Mansfield Correctional Institution where I was locked in solitary
confinement without a charge until February 17. 1996.

Design

1 was then taken t0 Corrections Medical Center (CMC) in
Columbus and charged with a ticket (rule violation) for complicity
in the death of the only guard killed in the SOCF siege. As a result
of this bogus charge, I was subjected o two days of interrogation
(February 17-18, 1996) by members of the Rules Infraction Board
- lating eight hours each day. The normal duration of a RIB is 15 -
30 minutes. The RIB panel relied on coerced lies of inmates.
Kenneth Law and Sherman Sims involving me in the guards
death. I was railroaded and given an Administrative Control (AC).
T'was then transferred from CMC to Lebanon Correctional
Institution in Lebanon.

Evidence

On July 17, 1996, I received an aflidavit from. Sherman Sims
recanting his coerced testimony about my involvement in the
guard’s death. Also, on July 27, 1996, I received Kenneth Law’s
affidavit recanting his false statements regarding my involvement
in the guard’s death. In August 2003. I received from Attorney
Lynd, the sworn statement of Patrick M. Fardal. Chief Forensic
Pathologist whose testimony totally disproved statements of both
2
Law and Sims in the 1996 RIB files. On February 24, 2004, 1
received from Autorney Lynd a memorandum from Special
Prosecutor, Mark E. Piepmeier naming Kenneth Law and another
inmate as the only 1wo participants in the guard's death. Since
collecting this evidence I've presented it to OSP Warden Assistant,
Linda G-abour, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and
Correction’s Chiel Counsel, Greg Trout and Prison Director, Terry
Collins

Denial

They have all refused my release despite evidence proviag my
innocence against the deign (o railroad and convict me
administratively by using coerced lies. They have refused to hear
orlook at the truthful statements of my witnesses and the evidence
proving my innocence. This Evidence Designed and Denial has
gotten me a 12 year “flop” from the Adul Parole Board, which is
two year beyond the Parole Board's guidelines ofa 10 year
maximum flop.

1 humbly seek and need your assistance - letters, pro bono
auomeys and or by circulating this brochure along with your
Voices in society, 10 hold the ODRC responsible for, abuse of tax
dollars, corruption and “No Touch Torture” for the past 18 years.
and counting - against myself, Mosi Paki and numerous others.

I Mfiau‘td
W.rot

WRITE TO MOSI PAKI:
Mosi O Paki

210-081

LorCI

2075 Avon-Belden Rd
Grafton, OH 44044
HUSH

Foen by
the May Day Hunger Strike at
May 201

1 ried (0 love without my heart, didn't get far. but how would you
know?

1 ate something, drank something. took something (ioday).

felt good (today).

Tl try not to eat. drink or take anything (tomorrow)

that should feel good (tomorrow)

Since when did silence mean I have nothing to say?
Because there's no perspiration. it doesn't mean I'm not sweating
You think because you see no tears. that I don't cry.

You're moving really fast, or am I moving really slow?
How long can you keep that pace?

Where is this place you're in a rush to?

You claim it's a beautiful. popular place

Oh! I want to go also.

Must I improve my pace? Is admittance subject 1o a race?

4
Cai I get it without beating you (there)?
Is this place limited to just a few,
oris it important to know someone (there)”

You look familiar, but no,

T'm sure I've never seen you before.

You sound familiar, but no,

T'm sure I've never heard you before.

Yes. L recall (the thought) more clearly now.

That is you eating, drinking, and talking really loud and fast.
I'm confused because I see tears, but you're not crying.
While speaking from the heart and working up a sweat like a
preacher, you're convinced...

Yes. maybe I should of remained silent since I have nothing to
say.

WE HOLD THE POWER

Written by Greg Curry, April 2012,

L was convicted of riot-related prison charges stemming from the
April 11, 1993, prison uprising that happened at the Southern Ohio
Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville, Ohio.

Sitice I've been incarcerated in Ohio, I've been transferred from
prison (o prison and the constant scenario in each prison, on each
security level, is they are full of poor folks, and most of them are:
Black and Brown people from urban areas where employment
opporunities are sparse. In fact, almost all of them are in prison for
an auempt at “making a way out of no way.”

Society will, however, have hard-working citizens focus ona
desperaie people’s method— thef, robbery, burglary, selling drugs,
and so forth—instead of focusing on the much-needed discourse
which focuses on the capitalistic structure that has been the driving
fares behind most of the ils that have been plaguing this so- called
‘GREAT NATION.

No one thinks prison is a career oath. I’ ot a goal of any sane
person, nor is returning o prison multiple times. So. in my
opinion, any proper analysis must be done in the context of. how
‘can a united, dedicated and concerned group of revolutionary
thinking people shut down this movement that disregards humans
and fails to prepare them for reentry back into society. I have
‘witnessed numerous prisoners preparing (o leave prison. holding
God in one hand and hope in another, and swearing they were
going home to be model citizens. However. they quickly become
aware of society’s priority (money) on day one upon their release.
From the bus ride home (0 room and board (o clothing and the
essentials that accompany their release, they coma into the
shacking realization that their immediate needs drive an
unprepared. unsupported person 1o decide 10 take a chance or. as |
stated earlier, "(o make a way out of no way.” OF course. if they
are unsuccessful, they will eturn (0 prison or be killed

On the other hand, ifthey get lucky and continue to financially
prosper, it will not be easy for them to terminate their criminal
behavior. Why not? The short answer is,crime is habit forming
just as all aspects of capitalism are habit forming. Never should me
be lulled into thinking capitalism only affects our collective
financial lives. To the contrary, our thinking. our worship. our
health, our actions—all the way down to the number of years we
live—are affected by this beast: capitalism.

1 believe that not only will friends of justice, freedom and equality
(socialists) have to wake people up, but prisoners, especially those
of us in super-max prisons, also have to play our part in waking up
the masses so that the mind and body are accessible to positive
‘growth. But everywhere, among believers and activists in societ
there must be a number of houses, gardens, bakeries. study halls
and schools that can absorb like-minded prisoners returning to
society. Moreover, there must

6

ing facilities to develop and help pioneers 10 travel across
America and spread our words and deeds.

All have (o be ready and willing 1o do things we have not done
before in order (o achieve that which we have yet 10 achieve. Most
of us quietly recognize the low number of Black and Latino/a
people a1 Socialist events or Occupy turouts, but until visible
‘members of these groups can attest to A BETTER WAY for
others, then our work is undone.

Ifthe powers that be wan o deny

lucasvilleamnesty.org

Hreay Comg

WRITE TO GREG:
Greg Curry

213-159

ohio State Penitentiary
£78 Coitsville-Hubbard rd
Youngstown, OH 44505-4635
TWENTY EIGHT YEARS AND COUNTING!

Written by George Skatzes, in the voice of
his sister.

Twenty eight years and counting! I am truly at my wit's end!
Please let me exphin! Please hear me out!

A long twenty-eight years ago my brother was indicted for
aggravated murder in Logan County. Ohio. (Case Number $3-CR-
3). (Bellafontaine, Ohio). Needless to say, but he was convicted
and sentenced to a life term in prison. (15 years 1o life).

My brother was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to
life in prison on the lying word of a man that was doing 37 to 120

8

yeacs for armed robbery and kidnapping. It s clear that he waated
10 get out of prison, and he would do anything to achieve his goal.

The only thing they had 10 back up, L., comoborate this man’s
ying word was his wife! Their testimony was conflicting!
However, it was still good enough to convict! There was no
independent objective evidence, nor was there any physical
evidence 1o link my brother (0 the crime. (Nothing!)

If you are interested in learning more about this case, please read
George Skaizes, ‘My Day in Court.” When George was convicted
everybody really believed the appeals court would correct such an
injustice. Oh how naive we were! As it turns out the courts in this
land are not about justice! The only thing they are interested in is

proving they are never wrong! Never! The system will protect the
system!

After his dicect appeal of this conviction George was on his own!
He acted in a pro se fashion taking his case all the way to the US
Supreme Court. Not one court in this land would even consider this
case o ‘merits! Come to find out, when one fights the justice
system in a pro se capacity the courls don’t even consider the case,
10 matter how serious the injustice may be.

In Sister Helen Prejean’s great book, “The Death of Innocenis”,
there is just so much good information 10 enlighten one as to how
their justice system really works.

On page 9, Sister Helen wrote the following, “Now I know that 95
percent of the justice an accused person can expect (o gel in the
criminal justice system must happen at tral. Because once the
“raw swil” of forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts, police
reports, expert witnesses, and alibis is presented and decided upon
by a jury, chances are no court will ever allow it to be looked at
again.”

That is just the way i is. One being innocent doesn't really matter
in this justice system! Remember, they are never wrong!

9
Iknow for a fact after George’s case was turned down in court
afler court, he lost all hope! He lost his very will o live! This is
such a painful experience to watch one go through

Let us fast forward to April 11, 1993. George has told me many
times that this day was pretty well the worst day of his life. As
many of you may know, April 11, 1993 was the first day of the
Lucasville Prison Uprising. Nine inmates and one correction
officer were murdered.

George acted as a spokesman for the inmate body. He saved lives
in that uprising and many people acknowledge this fact. they
would have testified to such had they been called upon (o do so. As
it tumed out you wouldn't hear much about all the good George
done in that uprising in the trial.

After the uprising ended, three groups were transferred (o the
Mansfield Prison: the Muslims, the Aryan Brotherhood. and the
Black Gangster Disciples. About one month after the ending of the
uprising and the transfer of prisoners to Mansfield. the pressure
tactics began! At any cost they were out (o get somebody. anybody
for the murder of the correction oficer. (Read motion for
disclosure of exculpatory and impeaching information. enclosed)

Three of the alleged leaders of the uprising were transferred to the
Chillicothe Correctional Institution. They were placed in the North
hole. The North hole is total 100% isolated from the whole world!

George was one of the three alleged leaders they transferred (o
Chillicothe, they could not have visits, commissary. nothing! This
was nothing less than a serious pressure tactic (0 get these people
to break!

To better explain the situation, please read George’s letter 1o
Jeflrey F. Kelleher. attomey at law. Re: visits from the Highway
Patrol, (a lot), April 14, 1994, (enclosed)

10
What it boils down 1o, the Highway Patrol wanted George to
saitch! He would not do s, and he was charged with three capital
murder cases. (See the Indictment, enclosed.)

In an effort to make this writing as simple as possible, there is just
so much 1o all this, I will list the charges and the evidence used to
‘convict. Note: 1 am only listing the murder charges in this writing.
(The Indictment has all the info on the kidnapping and
specifications.)

1. The aggravated murder of Corrections Officer Robert
Vallandingham. Found guilty and sentenced to 30 years o life.
Evidence 10 convict? There was no evidence, nothing! I can not see
how they convicted George for this crime!

2. The aggravated murder of inmate Earl Elder. Found guilty and
sentenced 1o death.

Evidence to convict? The lying words of two inmates, one of
which was involved in this murder, but never charged! He is now
walking the sireets a free man! The other inmates that testified
against George in the Elder murder, he admitted to his involvement
in this murder, but he was paid for his testimony with a lesset
sentence. The testimony by these two inmates, their word, and
their word alone put a man on death row! There was no physical
evidence what-so-ever 10 link George Skazes o this murder!

Now the interesting fact about the murder of Earl Eler. Another
inmate, one that was man enough 10 step up and confess Lo his
involvement in the death of Earl Elder, made it very clear that
George was nowhere around, and be had nothing to do with the
‘murder of Earl Elder! The court found this man guiky and
sentenced him 1o life. Al this took place years after Georges
conviction.

Several other inmates made statements to the powers that be that
George Skatzes had no involvement in the death of Earl Elder, he

1
was nowhere around when Earl was killed. They would have
testified to this fact had they been called upon to do so! The trial
lawyer did not call them to testify! To put icing on the cake. the
testimony by the inmates in the Earl Eler murder was coniradicted
and undermined by the testimony of the forensic pathologist. The
inmate that confessed to the murder of Ear] Elder stated he used a
knife made from a piece of broken glass. This is consistent with
the forensic pathologist’s finding of a piece of glass in one of the
lethal wounds. Yet all this means nothing o the courts! George
was found guilty and that s that! Justice?

This is something to take notice of: In the trial of George for the
murder of Ear| Elder one inmate testified that George ordered him
1o murder Earl Elder. The state’s theory as (o what happened to
Earl Elder was pretty well set in concrete, no variation! One inmate
testified in step with the state’s theory, another inmate somewhat
testified the same way. There was a bi of difference in their
testimony as to certain facts, but that really doesn't matter. Mr.
Prosecutor explained it away. That makes the difference ok

‘The way one inmate testified to keep in step with the state’s theory
was George (allegedly) order him to kill Earl Elder. This inmate
stated that he allegedly went into the cell and stabbed Earl Elder
several times, per George's alleged order. This inmate also stated
that after he left the cell, after allegedly stabbing Earl Elder. Earl
Elder was stil alive! Of course this means this inmate did not
cause the death of Earl Elder!

‘The second inmate, the inmate the state used to corroborate the
first inmate’s testimony, testified he witnessed another inmate go
in the cell and stab ear] Elder, causing his death!

So, i, Isaid if all of the above were true, which I say it sure is not
true, according to the Ohio Jury Instructions* (this is the law of the
and), the most George would be guilty of s attempted murder, this
would surely make the death penalty in the Earl Elder Case illegal
for George!

12
See the lanocence of George Skatzes and Ohio Jury Instructions,
enclosed.

To sum the Earl Elder case up, you have the following,

1. Several inmates that would have testified to the truth, George
Skatzes had nothing to do with the death of Earl Elder!.

2. Another inmate confessed 1o the murder of Earl Elder, and he
Stated George Skatzes had nothing 10 do with it. The court
accepted this and sentenced this man to lfe in prison. (Accepted
his confession oaly did nothing about George’s conviction!
Nothing (0 right a wrong for conviction!

3. The Ohio Jury Instructions surely apply in this case!

Even with all this, the death penaliy against George Skatzes still
stands Is this justice? Did I happen to mention the fact that the
courts are never wrong? Never! There is 0o such a thing as justice!

The case of David Sommers, George Skatzes is on death row for
this murder. The evidence 10 convict? (Evidence?) Inmate
testimony only! Again, there is no physical evidence 10 link
George 1o the crime. It is worth making a note here, the inmates
that testified in this case against George are self-admitted
participates in the murder! Their testimony against George Was
bought and paid for! They received a lighier sealeace!

For a fact, the one inmate took himself out of the crime and put
George in!

As inall of this inmate testimony, there is no independent
objective evidence, and no physical evidence to link George 10 this
crime. It is 5o very hard for me to understand how a person can be
sentenced (0 death only on the word of inmate testimony, self-
admitted participates in the crime.

Just to sum the murder of David Sommers up, the coroner testified
that the cause of death was one massive blow 10 the head witha
blunt instrument.

13
In George’s trial Mr. Prosecutor made the claim that George is the
very person that inflicted that one massive blow to David
Sommer's head causing his death.

Another inmate was also charged with the murder of David
‘Sommers. In this inmate’s trial, Mr. Prosecutor made the claim that
this inmate was the person that struck the massive blow to David
Sommer's head causing his death.

Now we have two people convicted for causing the death of David
Sommers by dealing a single massive blow o his head. Two
people convicted for the very same act? Object is, of course (o
conviet at any cost!

As with the Elder murder, there were several inmates. who would
have came into George's irial and testify 10 the fact that he had
nothing to do with the Sommers murder! Again, the trial lawyer
did not call upon any of these witnesses 10 testify. My opinion this
cost George his life. As with the Elder case, see the innocence of
George Skatzes. Enclosed.

To sum these convictions up, we have a man convicted and
Sentenced to death on the word, only the word of jailhouse
snitches, Their word alone without any independent and objective
comoborating evidence. So much for the though that inmate:
snitches” testimony is considered unreliable! They say thata
heighiened reliability is required where death is the penalty! Don't
believe that! Let this case serve as proof that the sufficiency of
evidence to convict, even when death is the penalty, is very low,
almost zero in fact! The inmate testimony on both of these murder
cases, Elder, and Sommers, i refuted by the testimony of the
coroner! If there is any justice, any fairness in these courts, they
will throw these cases out! A conviction such as this, one that lacks
any sort of sufficient evidence cannot stand!

To add a litle fuel to the fire in the Sommers case, see the opinion
from the Court of Appeals for MOntgomery County, Ohio,
14
rendered on the 10th day of October, 2008. Enclosed. On page 16,
it reads, there was o way to prove who had inflicted the fatal head
injury. Even with such an admission from the Court of Appeals,
the conviction of George Skatzes still stands, as he rots on death
row! Unreal!

To give a litle sample as to how this injustice .. snitch system
works, see the excerpt from the [illegible] testimony in George’s
tril. Enclosed. Please see page 2851, I will help you if you help
me. This is nothing less than testimony bought and paid for. Such
is enough to convict, even in a death penalty case!

If what you have read so far is not enough to get your blood
pressure up, please see the pages from the Lavelle testimony in
George’s trial. Enclosed. Pages 4047, and 5751. Lavelle was pretty
well the state’s number one star witness.

Mr. Prosecutor stated on record, page 4047, “the state told him
(Lavelle) you are either going (o be my witness or I'm going (o
come back and try to kill you.” Talk about putting the pressure on
10 get a good snitching, lying inmate to say what you want him to
say!

See page 57851 of Lavelle’s testimony. This will serve as proof
that what I wrote out on April 14, 1999, my letter to Jeffrey F
Kellefer, Attomey at Law is 100% truel This is also enclosed.
‘What will it take to get their Injustices cleaned up? See the page
from the petition dated 12/6/06.

See number 46, Sharon O"Hara-Bruce, a criminal defense attomey
in Michigan. I have 10 believe most people would find the way Mr.
Prosecutor put what he did to Lavelle to get him to testify, on
record. Very hard to believe. Mr. Prosecutor was Bold! Very Bold!
Also see 47, Anonymous, this man, Mr. Prosecutor overstepped his
bounds, and it is high time we make some noise about all this.

See the motion (o dismiss Capital Indictment enclosed.

15
1t has to be plain for one 10 se that this is a case of arbitrary
selective Prosecution, for death penalty. Again, the one question
Semaias, bow can conviction and death sentence stand when in
fact it has 1o be nothing less than illegal?

This case is now in the first stage of the federal court, Will this
court serve justice or will it be as all the courts in the state of Ohio
and just lie about the facts, twist the truth only to uphold this
wrongful conviction?

It is my opinion that the courts will not do their job and serve
justice unless we the people force them to do so!

1 am a layperson when it comes (0 fighting this injustice syster. In
all my life I have never been involved with the law or trying 10
figh for justice. Tt s at this time that 1 am ruly at my wits” end. [
have to do something 1o help my brother! There is no doubt what-
So-ever in my mind that he is innocent of these crimes!

Knowing now how the system works I realize it is possible for the
counts to drag this case out for years and years! George is 65 years
old now. And it i not easy t0 g0 visit him ouly (0 see him
eteriorate right before my eyes. I never considered George asa
Wweak person, but how much can he stand? What will be be like in
another 5-10 years? How would any of us handle being locked up
for the past 28 years for crimes we did not commit? George hardly
comes out of his cell. He will come out about once a month 1o use
the phoe, Speading 24x7 in that cell can not be good! However, |
do understand somewhat as to how he feels. He feels very much so
‘out of his element, That I can really understand. This hell on earth
has to end for him, sooner rather than later!

When we visit George it is very plain for me (o see that he puts on
a front like all is well, he is fine and all, but I see through that!
Deep down 1 know he is dying inside! He has never bounced back
from his days in Lucasville when every court in this land turned

16
him down. He really lost his will to live and 1 believe in his heart
he has a death wish!

George has told me many times that he feels he will die in his rat
trap cell alone! He really believes the courts will drag this case out
for the next ten years or so. That is how they do it! They will never
admit they are wrong! All in all, if the truth had to be told, this
system destroyed his life! They murdered him without fring a
shot!

On our visits and through letters we always try to keep it positive,
keep some hope i his heart. George has asked many times, what
am I going to do coming out of here at the age of 70 plus? Just
what kind of shape will I be in afler 30 some years in prison?
‘These are the questions he asked! Guess one could try to walk a
mille in his shoes.

Fighting a serious depression, not being able (o function, write
letters, etc., this is nothing less than torture for him. He is forever
fighting with himself over this. Sounds crazy, huh?

‘This is an excerpt from the book Feeling Good by David Burns,
Pages 84 and 85.

1fyou have the hunch that you or someone else likes being
depressed and doing nothing, then remind yourself that depression
is the most agonizing form of human sulfering.

George sent this 1o me. He only wants people to understand him.

150 want to help my brother as well as all others that have been
wrongfully convicted. we have to stop this sort of thing! T am just
50 lost as what 10 do! | am very willing to do anything to help!

‘This is my heart-felt plea. people please let us join forces and make
these courts follow their own laws! I am asking for help, support to
right this wrong! I believe in people power!

17
am ope for suggestions! Please let me hear from you! Together
we can change this system! When only the lying word of jailhouse
snitches can put a person on death row, or convict a person of any
crime there is something wrong with this system!

Thank you for hearing me out! I can only hope we can join hands
1o bring about change in this system.

*Ohio Jury Instructions: 409.56 Other Causes, intervening causes
3. Independent Intervening causes of death. If the defendant
inflicted an injury not likely o produce death, and if the sole and
only cause of death was (natural cause) (fatal injury inflicted by
another person), the defendant who inflicted the original injury is
not responsible for the death.

Write to George:

George Skatzes

Chillicothe CI 173501

P. 0. Box 5500

15802 State Route 104 North
Chillicothe, OH 45601

18
REVOLUTIONARY GREETINGS!

Written by Siddique Abdullah Hasan, April
2012.

1 fervently pray this communication will find you in good health
and spirits, and, equally important, open-minded. As for myself,
I'mstillin the trenches and remain committed to the struggle to
fight against oppression, persecution and economic exploitation.
As you already know, all around the globe people are fighting for
their liberation and to remove the shackles of economic, political
and social oppression/exploitation that they’ve been experiencing
at the hands of the 17%; the powers that be. This year is expected o
be an explosive one—in fact, some recognizable groups and
persons have already went as far as calling for a revolution in the
United States, while others only want the economic situation to go
back to where it was prior to the recession.

19
If there's going to be a real revolution, then come what may and let
\he wind blow wherever. However, | wish t0 remind you, mysell
and all concered that, for there 10 be a revolution, there must be
revolutionary consciousness. Yes, revolution is a conscious,
scientifically planned process used by oppressed and exploited
Peoples to change their political, ecopomic, social condition. And
from what I've been reading, seeing and debating with others, the
masses are waking up and smelliag the coflee. The real issue or
question becomes, where do prisoners stand on this important
development in ou history? Over the decades I've heard many
prisoners say they're “revolutionaries"; however, I've ofien bad o
remind them that to be a revolutionary is to be an agent of change,
which is virtually impossible if one doesu't know what needs 10 be
changed.

1think we all can agree that the prison-industrial complex (PIC)
needs 1o be changed. Personally, I think it needs t0 be abolished,
plain aad simple. In case you were not aware, February 20,2012,
was Occupy for Prisoners Day, i.¢., a National Day of Action
called by Occupy Oakland. Al across the United States people
were protesting the draconian conditions that effect prisoners.
Occupy Columbus supported prisoners at OSP and throughout
Ohio.

In protest against the corruption of the worldwide marketplace,
which has led 10 ilegal foreclosures, mass unemploymeat, low
wages, high taxes and a penalization of all those who do not own
the '99% of the world's resources, on December 19, 2011, Occupy
Los Angeles General Assembly consented upon the following
statement:

Occupy LA [OLA] supports in principle a General Strike on May
1,2012, for migrant rights, jobs for all, a moratorium on
foreclosures, and peace — and 10 recognize housing, education and
health care as human rights, and calls for the building of a broad
coalition to make that a reality.

20
‘While nothing in this statement mentions anything about prisoners
or PIC, I have asked two of my outside connections to see can they
convince OLA to champion prisoners’ cause / struggle in the
General Strike.

Finally, it appears that on the anniversary of Occupy Wall Street
(September 17, 2012). a call will be nationally issued for prisoners
10 engage in an indefinite work stoppage and boycot of the
commissary until their issues can be equally resolved.

Keep in mind that our struggle and that of those on the outside is
one and the same- that is, the same government that is exploiting /
oppressing them is also doing the same thing (o us. Thus, we have
101ifl up our voices and join forces with our counterparts in
society.

Stifl resistance,

Imsm S13d1a;
Mhio State Panitansiery

WRITE TO HASAN:
siddique Abdullah Hasan
R150-559

Ohio State Penitentiary
878 Coitsville-Hubbard rd
Youngstown, OH 44505-4635

21
LUCASVILLE: A BRIEF HISTORY

From Bomani’s book, Condemned, which is
available online at Keithlamar.org

Based on the official account, the uprising was the result of a
discrepancy between the warden and Muslim inmates who refused
1o submit 1o mandatory Wwberculosis testing. Apparently the serum
being used to determine whether or not inmates were infected
contained an alcoholic substance called phenol which, due to
Islamic doctrines, Muslims were prohibited from ingesting.

In an effort to resolve this dilemma, several Muslims met with the
warden to suggest altemative ways in which the tests could be
given. However, for reasons | will exphin later, the warden
refused to listen 1o their suggestions and give them an ultimatum

2
demanding complete compliance or automatic lockdown and
forced inoculation.

Faced with something of an impasse, the Muslims decided to stage
what was supposed (0 have been a peaceful demonstration to
protest against what they perceived as unfair treatment. Since it
was known that alternatives (chest x-rays, urinalysis, sputum
samples, etc.) were being offered to Muslims at other institutions.
the Muslims at SOCF felt that protesting would force the
Administration to yield in their behalf. However, afler physical
force was used to strip guards of their keys and weapons (0 release
prisoners form their cells, the protest quickly erupted into what is
now known as the longest prison riot in history. But that’s only
part of the story. In truth, what happened on April 11, 1993 was a
long time coming.

In the fall of 1990 three years before the uprising, a school teacher
by the name of Beverly Taylor was viciously murdered by a black

mate. Allegedly, afler a botched rape attempt which turned into a
hostage situation. the inmate panicked and cut Beverly Taylor's
throat This caused a tremendous uproar in the surrounding
ccommunity and led to calls for the inmate to be put to death. The
inmate was put on trial, but because of his diminished mental
capacity was barred from receiving the death penalty. This
reignited the anger in the community, who then began calling for
the complete lock-down of the insttution. Ultimately, a new
warden was appointed.

The new warden's name was Arthur Tate, who was supposedly
chosen as someone who could restore order. However, since it was
against the law to permanently lock the penitentiary down, Warden
Tate immediately came under fire and had to wrestle against the
accusation that we were being coddled and catered to, which was a
perception that Warden Tate despised and sought to dispel by
severely limiting programs and out-of-cell time. But he could only
do 50 much. In a very real sense, his hands were tied and the best
he could do was to start enforcing a strict dress code, which

pA)
basically meant we had (o keep our shiris tucked in at al times. He
akso had yellow “caution” lines painted on each side of the hallway
floors, apparently to create the illusion of physical and
psychological distance between inmates and corrections officers.

Finally, as a last resort, Warden Tate sought permission from Eric:
Dahlberg, South regional director, to build high security (i.e.
super max) unit inside the prison. He was convinced that this was
he one and only way to address the potential threat that certain
individuals posed. But since SOCF was already equipped with a
high security unit consisting of twenty (20) cells which were very
Seldom, if ever, completely full, Warden Tate’s request was
denied. In addition to that, Mr. Dahberg’s office lacked the
finances necessary 1o fund the building of an additional unit and,
therefore, would have 10 convince the state legislature to provide il
They needed a riot

In order 1o prove that SOCF was unable 1o contain the poteatial
violence that Warden Tate predicted, they needed a disturbance
that exceeded their ability to control. Thus began what became
known as “operation shakedown.” Warden Taie gave his c/o’s the
green light 10 do whatever they wanied 10 do, and this unleashed
years of pent up rage, siemming from Beverly Taylor's death,
‘Which expressed itself in the worst possible way.

In the late 19705 and early 1980s, SOCF was known as a place
where inmates were routinely beaten and killed. And when Warden
Tate instituted operation shakedown, it became evident that old
trends would be resumed with renewed vigor. Al ofa sudden,
minor transgressions were met with extreme hostility, e.g. if you
were caught crossing the yellow “caution” lines it could result in
you being slammed head frst nto the wall and then rushed 1o the
hole to face disciplinary action. And this was only the beginning.

In prison, most of the day-1o-day operations are rua by the
prisoners themselves, Prisoners determine where you work, where
you cell and how much access you have to cenain areas of the

24
penilentiary, c/o’s are there mainly to prevent anyone from
escaping. When operation shakedown began, the whole
complexion of the penitentiary changed. Now the only way that
you could work where you wanted and cell where you wanted, you
had to be in cahoots with the Administration and there was no such
thing as middle-of-the-road: you either worked with the
Adminisiration or you were subject 10 the insanity that ensued.

Known racists were being forced to cell with black militants.
Homosexuals were placed in cells with individuals who were
known (o be homophobic. Rules were changed on an almost daily
basis, leaving us in constant confission. And just when you thought
things couldn't get any worse, Mansfield corrections, a northern
Ohio penitentiary, sent 200 to 300 of its most unruly inmates to
SOCF. In the midst of all this volatility, the Administration started
showing ultra-violent prison movies depicting inmates stabbing,
raping and killing each other.

As April approached, you could sense that it was only a matter of
time before something serious was going to happen. Tension
between prisoners and c/o's began to rise as the c/o's became more
and more violent. In hindsight, it’s hard to say what the Muslims
expected when they took the keys and weapons, but when all the
cells were opened, years of repressed animosity burst forward in a
torrent of unbridled aggression. Warden Tate had finally gotten
his riot.

WRITE TO BOMNAI:
Bomani_Shakur

317-117 (Lamar)

Ohio State Penitentiary
878 Coitsville-Hubbard rd
Youngstown, OH 44505-4635

25
2
The Lucasville Uprising was a rebellion against
oppressive and racist policies at the Southern Ohio
Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville, OH. Nine
inmates and one guard died during the uprising in
April of 1993. Today, many people are serving time or
condemned to death by the state of Ohio in relation
to the uprising. Wie demand amnesty for all of these
prisoners. The conditions at SOCF were (and still
are) intolerable and unconscionable

distributed by:

REDBI PO BOX 1291
PRISO i
ABOLITIO

The distributors this zine do not support the various
alleged affiliations of the prisoner contributors,
but strongly support their stand against government
oppression, and will do what we can to amplify their
voices. As shown by prisoner resistance nationally
there is a need for to look past individual beliefs
and alleged atfiliations, to stand together. Unity
takes avay the power of their captors to play puppet
masters and places power back to those enlightened

prisoners who choose not to be puppets. These
prisoners’ united stand across challenging divisions
and under the most trying of circumstances should be
an evample and inspiration to us all.

FREE ALL PRISONERS

H}..

LUCASVILLEAMNESTY.ORG