tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19068386326863970482024-02-07T06:19:34.863-08:00Re-Examining the Lucasville Uprising ConferenceBen Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-4381199996670499542013-05-08T23:12:00.000-07:002013-05-16T07:38:16.382-07:00Re-Examining Lucasville Conference RecapOn April 19-21, supporters of the Lucasville Uprising Prisoners held a three day conference to raise awareness and tell a more complete story about what happened twenty years ago at SOCF, and the legal repercussions that have deeply damaged many lives. <br />
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<u><b>The Hunger Strike </b></u><br />
On Thursday, April 11th, the 20th anniversary of the first day of the uprising, Greg Curry, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/04/bomani-shakur-announcing-hunger-strike.html">Keith Lamar (aka Bomani Shakur)</a>, and Jason Robb <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/04/20th-anniversary-hunger-strike-press.html">began refusing food</a>, and demanding that the ODRC grant access to media outlets who've requested on-camera interviews with them. On the following Monday, <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/04/osp-prisoners-join-hunger-strike-in.html">three other OSP prisoners joined</a> the hunger strike in solidarity. <br />
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There was significant outside media coverage of the 20th anniversary, and the hunger strike. The Associated Press ran 3 articles, including an interview conducted by phone with Siddique Abdullah Hasan. These articles went out on the wire and were syndicated nationally. <br />
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On May 6th, after hearing that the lawsuit would be going forward, and a final meeting with Warden Bobby (who was unable to offer anything) Greg and Hasan <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/05/media-access-hunger-strike-ends.html">ended their hunger strike. </a><br />
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<u><b>The Conference </b></u><br />
The conference started with the world premiere screening of D Jones' film, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheShadowOfLucasvilleMovie/info">The Great Incarcerator Part 2: The Shadow of Lucasville</a>. Full of great archive footage and interviews, the film does an excellent job of telling the story and also offers context and analysis for the events. D was able to interview special prosecutor Daniel Hogan for this movie, who admitted that he does not know, and “doesn't think we'll ever know, who killed the hostage, officer Vallandingham.” <br />
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D Jones also videotaped the entire conference and intends to incorporate some of that footage into the final version of the Lucasville documentary, for which we hope to raise the funds to distribute and screen as extensively as possible. <br />
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After the screening, we presented the voices of prisoners. Alice Lynd introduced archive footage of George Skatzes's attempts to initiate negotiations with guards. Then<a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/05/siddique-abdullah-hasan-conference.html"> Siddique Abdullah Hasan</a> called in and spoke about Lucasville, and his case. Then we played pre-recorded statements from <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/05/greg-curry-conference-statement.html">Greg Curry</a> and <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/05/jason-robb-conference-statement.html">Jason Robb</a>, while projecting their photographs on the screen. Keith was supposed to call in last, but he didn't get the phone until too late, so we played and projected <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/05/keith-lamar-conference-statement.html">a statement</a> he had pre-recorded as a back up.<br />
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Denis O'Hearn also spoke about the current hunger strike, bringing some of his expertise in supporting hunger strikers in Turkey and the famous Bobby Sands hunger strike in Ireland. <br />
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Saturday morning, things began with a few interactive workshops hosted by Alice Lynd where people came up and acted out portions of the actual trial and investigation transcripts, so we could more directly see how the state recruited snitches and how juries were stacked with supporters of the death penalty. <br />
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Next, Vicki Werneke presented on appeals processes. Vikki is George's Lawyer, and is also an expert on Federal Habeus Corpus (which is the point in appeals that all the death sentenced prisoners are at). She presented on changes in the law and legal precedents which have made it increasingly difficult to win exonerations for death-sentenced clients. <br />
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Third, a panel of people who were incarcerated at Lucasville at the time of the riot convened, told stories and took a few questions. Kunta Kenyatta, Sam Oliver, and Ishaq Al Khair made up the panel. They discussed the extent of the racism and lawlessness of staff at SOCF, but also helped people recognize that correctional officers are in prison as well, and that the policies that provoked and endangered the prisoners also endangered the staff. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOwpS4gi8GSsWMAgSytmhk9-ZVSraR3MyYSSyCabht3xNlgdm3RI3kvhsGx2lJs9P-HUxyyA1S_lwbl_vt9q6048mQBsmVBbcWF_Dj165U02hPuvrPM22nqTmHF7LtouwJqgwP6NnwnDl/s1600/IMG_3674_CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOwpS4gi8GSsWMAgSytmhk9-ZVSraR3MyYSSyCabht3xNlgdm3RI3kvhsGx2lJs9P-HUxyyA1S_lwbl_vt9q6048mQBsmVBbcWF_Dj165U02hPuvrPM22nqTmHF7LtouwJqgwP6NnwnDl/s320/IMG_3674_CR2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch, thanks FNB!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We allowed that panel to run overtime, but there were clearly still a number of people with questions. We took a quick break and then reconvened, for Staughton Lynd's presentation of a summary analysis of the primary legal issues at stake in the court cases as they presently stand. Then we had lunch, which was provided by Food Not Bombs, an anarchist project based on acquiring food that would otherwise go to waste and feeding hungry people (often on the street, but sometimes for activist gatherings like this one). <br />
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After lunch, the panel of legal experts convened. Mark Donatelli, who came from New Mexico, described the Santa Fe prison uprising for whichhe worked on the legal defense team. He compared what happened in that case to Lucasville. In brief, there were fewer days, more deaths, more prisoners involved, better media coverage, and fewer convictions and no death sentences. Niki Schwartz, who represented prisoners in Lucasville negotiations, and Rick Kerger, who represented Hasan in state court until taken off the case by the trial court judge, shared their experiences and perspective. Finally Phyllis Crocker, who chaired the American Bar Association task force on death penalty, in Ohio talked about recent developments in how Ohio conducts death penalty cases. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5ri-QzuWvgcEpINb8r4_S9en0w7Hhev4PElOMtd4GDOc4y3RnWMhZXHZ_7hyO14dusj7yF4hyphenhyphenNU2vC3YRawWm7jUTGA2fOsDo8I6IHAr6nyFUbM0YcjbP3lQJp24M4PBa6qP6SN7I9uo/s1600/IMG_3678_CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5ri-QzuWvgcEpINb8r4_S9en0w7Hhev4PElOMtd4GDOc4y3RnWMhZXHZ_7hyO14dusj7yF4hyphenhyphenNU2vC3YRawWm7jUTGA2fOsDo8I6IHAr6nyFUbM0YcjbP3lQJp24M4PBa6qP6SN7I9uo/s320/IMG_3678_CR2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Donatelli, Staughton Lynd, Niki Schwartz, Rick Kerger, and Phyllis Crocker</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bonnie Kerness and Ojore Lutalo were next on the schedule, they intended to present art work and a video on isolation as a tool of political repression in New Jersey prisons, but their flight was canceled due to weather and they could not make it. So instead, we extended the question and answer period, which turned out well, because Keith Lamar got access to the phone and called in during the Q&A and was able to make a brief statement and participate in the questions and discussion. <br />
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Then people broke for dinner, off site, and returned for the screening of part one of D Jones's documentary series, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/darklittlesecretmovie">Dark Little Secrets</a> which discusses the prison system in a more general sense. We wrapped up with some spoken word poetry and re-convened on Sunday morning. <br />
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First thing on Sunday was Noelle Hanrahan sharing her knowledge from running <a href="http://prisonradio.org/">Prison Radio</a> and working on the <a href="http://www.freemumia.com/%E2%80%8E">Mumia Abu Jamal</a> support campaign. Her key lesson was to always maintain positive relations and coordinate solidarity between different people who are participating in the support effort from different perspectives, for different reasons, and using different tactics and messaging. She also emphasized that supporters should always speak the truth to prisoners whose cause they are promoting. <br />
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On both Sunday morning and Saturday afternoon the conference attendees unanimously adopted <a href="http://www.re-examininglucasville.org/2013/05/re-examining-lucasville-resolution.html">a resolution</a> calling for amnesty for all of the Lucasville Uprising prisoners. <br />
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Then two friends of Ben's who have a lot of experience running workshops and facilitating discussions came in to help us brainstorm and begin thinking about the future. That conversation was fairly general, but we also provided a couple of immediate actions people can take, and set a time and place for more direct and specific planning and implementation of ongoing support. <br />
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<u><b>Follow up Meeting</b></u><br />
On Sunday May 5th, the group convened in Youngstown to discuss future activities. Actions in development include: <br />
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Distribution and screenings of D Jones' film. <br />
A lawsuit demanding media access to the Lucasville Uprising prisoners. <br />
Packing the court room at Keith Lamar's oral arguments. <br />
Considering starting a state referendum to abolish the death penalty. <br />
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<b>The group's next meeting will be Sunday June 23rd, in Columbus, OH. <br />Contact redbirdprisonabolition@gmail.com if you'd like more information.</b><br />
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<br />Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-45295790872555354122013-05-06T15:48:00.001-07:002013-05-06T15:48:15.479-07:00RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE RESOLUTIONHaving met in Columbus on April 19-21, 2013, to re-examine the history of the<br />uprising in April 1993 and the judicial proceedings that followed, we conclude:<br /><br /><b>1. No one should be executed for alleged conduct during the rebellion!</b> The State relied on the unreliable testimony of prisoner informants, obtained in exchange for substantial benefits. The State also concedes that it does not know who were the hands-on killers of Officer Vallandingham and the other victims. Investigators and prosecutors pursued a strategy of targeting prisoners who served as spokespersons and negotiators, in violation of the settlement agreement. There was no physical evidence except for the testimony of medical examiners, which repeatedly contradicted prosecution theories. For these and other facts, see below.<br /><br /><b>2. Twenty years is enough!</b> With regard to all verdicts of guilt, capital and non-capital, additional years of punishment should be set aside. See below.<br /><br /><b>3. The State should permit media access</b>, including face-to-face video and audio recording, to Lucasville defendants so that prisoners can tell their side of the story and make public what their juries didn’t hear!<br /><br /><b>4. Ohio should consider the example of Governor Carey of New York who, a little more than five years after the Attica disturbance, issued a proclamation of amnesty! </b>There is overwhelming evidence that the State shares responsibility, along with the prisoners, for the deaths that occurred. Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-2675361610503603742013-04-28T00:43:00.000-07:002013-05-16T07:38:48.047-07:00Layers of InjusticeLeading up to the Re-Examining Lucasville Conference, Staughton Lynd wrote a <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/search/label/Re-Examining%20Essays">series of essays</a> examining the legal facts and cases arising out of the uprising.<br />
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These essays have been edited and compiled into a single book, called Layers of Injustice. Which is available <a href="http://insurgenttheatre.org/public_html/LAYERS.pdf">as PDF here</a>. <br />
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<br />Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-90837807369022277082013-04-28T00:14:00.000-07:002013-05-16T07:39:06.104-07:00Staughton's Statement at the Conference <style type="text/css">H1 { margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 200%; widows: 2; orphans: 2; }H1.western { font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; }H1.cjk { font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; }H1.ctl { font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; }P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); widows: 2; orphans: 2; }P.western { font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; }P.cjk { font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 255); }</style>
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<h1 class="western">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Our focus this
morning has been a detailed discussion of what happened before and
during the eleven days and in the trials that followed. My comments
are intended to build a bridge between that analysis and the broader
perspectives that will be offered this afternoon. I will divide my
remarks in four parts. </span>
</h1>
<h1 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
First,
I shall recall the three biggest prison rebellions in recent United
States history. I will suggest that while we are just beginning to
build a movement outside the walls of both prisons and courtrooms,
there are particular aspects of the Lucasville events that help to
explain why that has been so hard.<a name='more'></a></h1>
<h1 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Second,
I will make the case that, despite appearances, Ohio’s prison
administration was at least as responsible as were the prisoners for
the ten deaths during the occupation of L block.
</h1>
<h1 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Third,
I shall describe the manipulation by means of which the State of Ohio
induced a leader of the uprising to become an informer and to
attribute responsibility for the murder of hostage Officer Robert
Vallandingham to others. I shall add that to this day the State says
it does not know who the hands-on killers were.</h1>
<h1 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Finally,
and very briefly, because I recognize this will be the agenda for
tomorrow morning, I will ask: What is to be done?
</h1>
<h1 class="western">
Three Prison Uprisings</h1>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
There have been three major prison uprisings in the United States
during the past half century.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The first and best-known rebellion was at Attica in western New York
State in September 1971. Prisoners occupied a recreation yard.
After three days, agents of the state assaulted the area, guns
blazing. The prisoners had killed three prisoners and a guard. The
state’s assault resulted in the deaths of 29 more prisoners and an
additional 10 guards whom the prisoners were holding as hostages.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Initially the State of New York, including Governor Nelson
Rockefeller, claimed that the hostage officers who died in the yard
had their throats cut by the prisoners in rebellion. A courageous
medical examiner said, No, the officers all died of bullet wounds.
And only one side in the conflict, or massacre, had guns.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Because the brazen cover story of the authorities was so soon and so
dramatically refuted, the prosecution of prisoners at Attica never
got far off the ground. On December 31, 1976, a little more than
five years after the events at the prison, New York governor Carey
declared by executive order an amnesty for all participants in the
insurrection. He stated in part:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Attica has been a
tragedy of immeasurable proportions, unalterably affecting countless
lives. Too many families have grieved, too many have suffered
deprivations, too many have lived their lives in uncertainty waiting
for the long nightmare to end. For over five years and with hundreds
of thousands of dollars and countless man-hours we have followed the
path of investigation and accusation. . . . To continue in this
course, I believe, would merely prolong the agony with no better hope
of a just and abiding conclusion.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The
governor concluded by saying that his actions should not be
understood to
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
imply “a lack of
culpability for the conduct at issue.” Rather, Governor Carey
stated,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“these actions are in
recognition that there does exist a larger wrong which transcends the
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
wrongful acts of
individuals.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In
1980 a second major uprising occurred at the state prison in Santa
Fe, New
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mexico. Again there
were numerous deaths, but all 33 homicides resulted from</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
prisoners killing other
prisoners. No officers were murdered. No prisoner was
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
sentenced to death.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Finally
we come to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville in
1993. In trying to understand the tangle of events we call
“Lucasville” one confronts: a prisoner body of more than 1800, a
majority of them black men from Ohio’s inner cities, guarded by
correctional officers largely recruited from the entirely, or almost
entirely, white community in Scioto County; a prison administration
determined to suppress dissent after the murder of an educator in
1990; an eleven-day occupation by more than four hundred men of a
major part of the Lucasville prison; ten homicides, all committed by
prisoners, including the murder of hostage officer Robert
Vallandingham; dialogue between the parties ending in a peaceful
surrender; and about fifty prosecutions, resulting in five capital
convictions and numerous other sentences, some of them likely to last
for the remainder of a prisoner’s life.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The
task for defense lawyers, and for a community campaign demanding
reconsideration, is more difficult than at Attica or Santa Fe. At
Attica, 10 of the 11 officers who died were killed by agents of the
State. At Santa Fe, only prisoners were killed. Lucasville presents
a distinct challenge: the killing of a single hostage correctional
officer murdered by prisoners in rebellion.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Who Is To Blame?</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In
a summary booklet Alice and I have produced, entitled <i>Layers of
Injustice</i>, we argue that the Lucasville prisoners in L block,
considered collectively, and the State of Ohio <b>share
responsibility </b>for the tragedy of April 1993. Both sides
contributed to what happened. Events spun out of control. Neither
side intended what occurred.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The collective responsibility of prisoners in L-block<b> </b>seems
self-evident. Ten men were killed. The victims were unarmed and
helpless. In contrast to what happened at Attica, all ten victims
were killed by prisoners.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
However, Muslim prisoner Reginald Williams, a witness for the State
in the Lucasville trials, testified that the hope of the group that
planned the 1993 occupation was to carry out a brief, essentially
peaceful, attention-getting action “to get someone from the
central office to come down and address our concerns” (<i>State v.
Were I</i> at 1645), “to barricade ourselves in L-6 until we can
get someone from Columbus to discuss” alternative means of doing
the TB tests (<i>State v. Sanders </i>at 2129.) Siddique Abdullah
Hasan, supposed by the State to have planned and led the action, said
the same thing to the Associated Press within the past two weeks.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Since the prisoners, whatever their initial intentions, nonetheless
carried out the homicides, the responsibility of the State is less
obvious. Here are some of the main reasons I believe that the State
of Ohio shares responsibility for what happened at Lucasville in
1993.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1. In 1989, Warden Terry Morris asked the legislative
oversight committee of the Ohio General Assembly to prepare a survey
of conditions at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in
Lucasville. The Correctional Institution Inspection Committee
received letters from 427 prisoners and interviewed more than 100.
Such was the state of disarray in 1989 that, four years before the
1993 uprising, the CIIC reported that prisoners “relayed fears and
predictions of a major disturbance unlike any ever seen in Ohio
prison history.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2. After the murder of educator Beverly Jo Taylor in 1990, a
new warden was appointed. Warden Arthur Tate instituted what he
called “Operation Shakedown.” A striking example of the
pervasive repression reported by prisoners is that telephone
communication between prisoners and the outside world was limited to
<b>one, five minute, outgoing telephone call per year</b>.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3. The single feature of life at Lucasville that the CIIC
found most troublesome was the prison administration’s use of
prisoner informants, or “snitches.” Warden Tate, “King Arthur”
as the prisoners called him, expanded the use of snitches. In 1991
the warden addressed a letter to all prisoners and visitors in which
he provided a special mailing address to which alleged violations of
“laws and rules of this institution” could be reported. Six
alleged snitches, a majority of the persons murdered during the
rebellion, were killed in the first hours of the disturbance.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
4. The immediate cause or trigger of the rebellion was Warden Tate’s
insistence on testing for TB by injecting a substance containing
phenol, which a substantial number of Muslim prisoners believed to be
prohibited by their religion. Alternative means of testing for TB by
use of X rays or a sputum test were available and had been used at
Mansfield Correctional Institution. In its post-surrender report,
the correctional officers’ labor union stated that Warden Tate was
“unnecessarily confrontational” in his response to the Muslim
prisoners’ concern about TB testing using phenol.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
5 . Before Warden Tate departed for the Easter weekend on Good
Friday, three of his administrators advised against his plan to lock
the prison down and forcibly inject prisoners who refused TB shots.
The warden did not adequately alert the reduced staff who would be on
duty as to the volatile state of affairs. Slow response to the
initial occupation of L block let pass an early opportunity to end
the rebellion without loss of life. It was two hours after the
insurgency began before Warden Tate was notified. The safewells at
the end of each pod in L block, to which correctional officers
retreated as they had been instructed, turned out to have been
constructed without the prescribed steel stanchions and were easily
penetrated.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
6. Sergeant Howard Hudson, who was in the administration control
booth during the eleven days and was offered by prosecutors as a
so-called “summary witness,” conceded in his trial testimony that
<b>the State of Ohio deliberately stalled when prisoners tried to end
the standoff by negotiation</b>. Hudson testified in Hasan’s case:
“The basic principle in these situations . . . is to buy time. . .
. [T]he more time that goes on the greater the chances for a
peaceful resolution to the situation.” This assumption proved –
to use an unfortunate phrase – to be dead wrong.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
7. By cutting off water and electricity to the occupied cell
block on April 12, the State created a new cause of grievance. The
prisoners’ concern to get back what they had at the outset of the
disturbance became the sticking point in unsuccessful negotiations to
end the standoff before Officer Vallandingham was murdered.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
8. On the morning of April14, spokeswoman Tessa Unwin made a
statement to the press on behalf of the authorities. Ms. Unwin was
asked to comment on a message written on a sheet that was hung out of
an L block window threatening to kill a hostage officer. Rather than
responding “No comment,” she stated: “It’s a standard
threat. It’s nothing new. . . They’ve been threatening things
like this from the beginning.” According to several prisoners in L
block and to hostage officer Larry Dotson, this statement inflamed
sentiment among the prisoners who were listening on battery-powered
radios. In the judgment of the officers’ union, in their report on
the disturbance:</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.42in;">
As anyone familiar with the process and language of negotiations
would know, this kind of public discounting of the inmate
threats practically guaranteed a hostage death.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.42in;">
When an official DR&C spokesperson publicly discounted the inmate
threats as bluffing, the inmates were almost forced to kill or maim a
hostage to maintain or regain their perceived bargaining strength.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.42in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
9. In 2010, documentary filmmaker Derrick Jones interviewed Daniel
Hogan, who prosecuted Robb and Skatzes and is now a state court
judge. Hogan told Jones on tape: “I don’t know that we will
ever know who hands-on killed the corrections officer,
Vallandingham.” Later Mr. Jones asked former prosecutor Hogan:
“When it comes to Officer Vallandingham, who killed him?” Judge
Hogan replied: “I don’t know. And I don’t think we’ll ever
know.” Nonetheless, four spokespersons and supposed leaders of
the uprising have been found guilty of the officer’s aggravated
murder, and sentenced to death.</div>
<h1 class="western">
Who Did Kill Officer Vallandingham?</h1>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
With the help of Attorney Niki Schwartz, three prisoner
representatives accepted a 21 point agreement and a peaceful
surrender followed. The agreement stated in point 6, “Administrative
discipline and criminal proceedings will be fairly and impartially
administered without bias against individuals or groups.” Point 14
added, “There will be no retaliatory actions taken toward any
inmate or groups of inmates.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
raw intent of the State to violate these understandings was made
clear during and immediately after the surrender. Inmate Emanuel
Newell, who had almost been killed by the rebelling prisoners, was
carried out of L block on a stretcher. A trooper asked him, What
did you see Skatzes do? Newell and John Fryman, who had been
assaulted by the insurgents and left for dead, were put in the
Lucasville infirmary. Both were approached by representatives of the
State. Fryman remembered:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
They made it clear they wanted the leaders. They wanted to prosecute
Hasan, George Skatzes, Lavelle, Jason Robb, and another Muslim. They
had not yet begun their investigation but they knew they wanted those
leaders. I joked with them and said, “You basically don’t care
what I say as long as it’s against these guys.” They said,
“Yeah, that’s it.”
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Newell named the men
who had interrogated him: Lieutenant Root, Sergeant Hudson,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
and Troopers McGough
and Sayers. According to Newell:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
These officers said, “We want Skatzes. We want Lavelle. We want
Hasan.” They also said, “We know they were leaders. . . . We
want to burn their ass. We want to put them in the electric chair
for murdering Officer Vallandingham.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With
the same motivation, the prosecutors pursued a more sophisticated
strategy. ODRC Director Reginald Wilkinson put it this way in an
article that he co-authored with his associate Thomas Stickrath for
the <i>Corrections Management Quarterly</i>:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
According to Special Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier, his staff targeted a
few gang leaders. . . . Thirteen months into the investigation, a
primary riot provocateur agreed to talk about Officer Vallandingham’s
death. . . . His testimony led to death sentences for riot leaders
Carlos Sanders, Jason Robb, James Were, and George Skatzes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The so-called primary
riot provocateur was prisoner Anthony Lavelle, leader of the
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Black Gangster
Disciples, who, along with Hasan and Robb, had negotiated the
surrender
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
agreement.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How
did the State induce Lavelle not only to talk, but to say what the
prosecution desired?
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
During the winter of 1993-1994, Hasan, Lavelle, and Skatzes were
housed in adjacent cells at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution.
On April 6, 1994, Skatzes was taken to a room where he found
Sergeant Hudson, Trooper McGough of the Highway Patrol, and two
prosecutors. This was the third such occasion and, as twice before,
Skatzes said that he did not wish to continue the interview, and
turned to go back to his cell in the North Hole.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
What happened next, according to Skatzes, was that Warden Ralph Coyle
entered the room and said that Central Office did not want Skatzes to
go back to the North Hole. Skatzes protested vehemently that this
would make him look like a snitch. Coyle was adamant and Skatzes was
led away to a new location.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Back in the North Hole, Lavelle reacted exactly as Skatzes feared.
Lavelle wrote a letter to Jason Robb that became an exhibit in
Robb’s trial: “Jason: I am forced to write you and relate a few
things that happen down here lately. With much sadness I will give
you the raw deal, your brother George has done a vanishing act on us.
. . . On Wednesday, April 6, 1994 G. said about 8:00 a.m. that he
had a lawyer visit . . . . Now to be short and simple, he failed to
return that day. Today they came and packed up his property which
leads me to one conclusion that he has chose to be a cop.”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Later, Lavelle himself testified that he turned State’s evidence
because he thought he would go to Death Row if he did not. This was
an accurate assessment. Prosecutor Hogan told a trial court judge at
sidebar that his colleague Prosecutor Stead had told Lavelle, Either
you are going to be my witness or I’m going to try to kill you.
According to the testimony under oath of prisoner Anthony Odom, who
celled across from Lavelle at the time Lavelle entered into his plea
agreement, Lavelle “said he was gonna cop out [be]cause the
prosecutor was sweating him, trying to hit him with a murder charge .
. . . He said he was going to tell them what they wanted to hear.”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Lavelle was understandably concerned that the prosecutor might hit
him with a murder charge because it is overwhelmingly likely thatit
was, in fact, he who coordinated Officer Vallandingham’s murder. I
have laid out the evidence in my book and in an article in the
<i>Capital University Law Review</i>. Briefly,</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Three members of the Black Gangster Disciples stated under oath that
Lavelle tried to recruit them for a death squad after Ms. Unwin’s
statement on April 14;</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sean Davis, who slept in L-1 as Lavelle did, testified that when he
awoke on the morning of April 15, he heard Lavelle telling Stacey
Gordon that he was going to kill a guard to which Gordon replied that
he would clean up afterward;</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The late James Bell a.k.a. Nuruddin executed an affidavit before his
death to the effect that Lavelle had left the morning meeting on
April 15 furious that the Muslims and Aryans were unwilling to kill a
hostage officer;</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Three prisoners saw Lavelle and two other Disciples come down the L-
block corridor from L-1 and go into L-6, leaving a few minutes later;</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
James Were, on guard duty in L-6 and thereby an eye witness to the
murder, went to L-1 when he learned that the action had not been
approved by other riot leaders and knocked Lavelle to the ground.
Willie Johnson and Eddie Moss heard Were explicitly blame Lavelle for
the killing;</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Two older and, in my opinion, reliable convicts, Leroy Elmore and the
late Roy Donald, say that on April 15 Lavelle told each of them in so
many words that he had had the guard killed.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Unlike prisoners who
testified for the State, the twelve men whose evidence I have
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
summarized received no benefits for
coming forward and, in fact, risked retaliation from
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
other inmates by doing so. No jury has
ever heard their collective narrative.
</div>
<h1 class="western">
What is to be Done?</h1>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
So, what can we do?
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The first task is to make it possible for the men condemned to death
and life in prison to tell their stories, on camera, in face-to-face
interviews with representatives of the media.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
For twenty years the State of Ohio, through both its Columbus office
of communications and individual wardens, has denied requests for
media access to all prisoners convicted of illegal acts during the
11-day occupation. Indeed, in the 11-day occupation itself, one of
the prisoners’ persistent demands was for the opportunity to tell
their story to the world. In telephone calls to the authorities
during the first night of the occupation, prisoner representatives
proposed a telephone interview with one media representative, or a
live interview with a designated TV channel, in exchange for the
release of one hostage correctional officer. At 7:00 a.m. on Monday,
April 12 the prisoners in rebellion broke off telephone negotiations,
demanding local and national news coverage before any hostage
release.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In the late morning of April 12, George Skatzes volunteered to go out
on the yard, accompanied by Cecil Allen, carrying an enormous white
flag of truce. The men asked for access to the media already camped
outside the prison walls.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
When on April 15 and 16 the prisoners released hostage officers
Darrold Clark and Anthony Demons, what did they ask for and get in
return? The opportunity for one spokesperson, Skatzes, to make a
radio address and for another, Muslim Stanley Cummings, to speak on
TV the next morning.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Now the Lucasville prisoners are again knocking on the door of the
State, hunger striking, crying out against their isolation from the
dialogue of civic society. They ask, Why are we being kept
incommunicado? What is the State afraid of?
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I urge all present not to be distracted by official talk about
alternative means of communication. The state tells us that the men
condemned to death can write letters and make telephone calls. But
the media access that these prisoners seek is the kind of exchange
that can occur in courtroom cross-examination. The condemned are
saying to us, Before you kill me, give me a chance to join with you
in trying to figure out what actually occurred.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
These are not homicides like that of which Mumia Abu Jamal is accused
or that for which Troy Davis was executed: homicides with one
decedent, one alleged perpetrator, and half a dozen witnesses. This
is an immense tangle of events. There is no objective evidence
except for the testimony of the medical examiners, which repeatedly
contradicted the claims of the prosecution. Very few physical
objects remain in existence. The medical examiner testified that
David Sommers was killed by a single massive blow with an object like
a bat. A bloody baseball bat was found near the body of David
Sommers. Special Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier ordered the bat to be
destroyed.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
We need media access to the Lucasville Five and their companions not
just to perceive them as human beings, but to determine the truth.
George Skatzes and Aaron Jefferson were tried in separate trials and
each was convicted of striking the single massive blow that killed
Mr. Sommers. Eric Girdy has confessed to being one of the three
killers of Earl Elder, using a shank made of glass from the mirror in
the officers’ restroom, and slivers of glass were found in one of
the lethal wounds and on the nearby floor. Girdy has insisted under
oath that Skatzes had nothing to do with the murder; yet the State,
while accepting Girdy’s confession, has not vacated the judgment
against Skatzes. Hasan and Namir were found Not Guilty of killing
Bruce Harris yet Stacey Gordon, who admitted to being one of the
killers, is on the street. The trial court judge in Keith LaMar’s
trial refused to direct the prosecution to turn over to counsel for
the defense the transcripts of all interviews conducted by the
Highway Patrol with potential witnesses of the homicides for which
LaMar was convicted, and LaMar is now closest to death of the Five.
Jason Robb did nothing to cause the death of Officer Vallandingham
except to attend an inconclusive meeting also attended by Anthony
Lavelle, but only Robb was sentenced to death.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
These things are not right, not just, not fair. The men facing death
and life imprisonment for their alleged actions in April 1993 need to
be full participants in the truth-seeking process. That is why, to
repeat, I believe that our first task following this gathering is to
make it possible for these men to tell their stories, on camera, in
face-to-face interviews with representatives of the media.
Journalists, for example from campus newspapers, who wish precise
information as to how to request interviews should contact me.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-88682193731299549552013-04-21T13:42:00.003-07:002013-04-21T13:42:36.315-07:00Support Lucasville Uprising Hunger Strike<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Call in support of the hunger
strike! Please call JoEllen Smith at ODRC central office and demand
that she and director Gary Mohr grant media access to on camera
interviews with the Lucasville Hunger Striking prisoners.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
JoEllen Smith <a href="tel:614-752-1159" target="_blank" value="+16147521159">614-752-1159</a>. Tell the
operator you do not want to talk to the Warden, you know that
director Mohr and communications director Smith are the actual
decision-makers. Tell JoEllen that you believe they are denying this
access because they do not want the truth to come out about April
of 1993. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sign the online petition at:<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/ohio-department-of-rehabilitation-and-corrections-allow-on-camera-interviews-with-lucasville-uprising-prisoners#" target="_blank">http://www.change.org/<wbr></wbr>petitions/ohio-department-of-<wbr></wbr>rehabilitation-and-<wbr></wbr>corrections-allow-on-camera-<wbr></wbr>interviews-with-lucasville-<wbr></wbr>uprising-prisoners#</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tell your friends to call in, to
sign the online petition, and to tell their friends to do so. We
need this to go viral if we want to get a meaningful response. In
the past when the guys have gone on hunger strike, Warden Bobby was
able to negotiate an agreement, this time it's not his call, and we
need to show broader support to pressure central office.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Request interviews. If you're a
journalist, student, blogger, radio personality, or if you know
anyone who is, please write a request for an interview. A message
from Hasan: “We are asking journalists, reporters and other
members of the media to lift up their pens and let their voices be
heard in protest against this unequal treatment and gross
miscarriage of justice... One thing you can do it write to Warden
David Bobby requesting to have an on-camera interview with these
four prisoners... to talk to them exclusively about their criminal
cases. Make it clear that you do not wish to talk to them about
overcrowding, indefinite confinement in super max, nor about prison
policies and proceedures. Even let Warden Bobby know that you would
have absolutely no problem with him or his designee sitting in on
the entire interview.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-27925559159619111392013-04-19T11:25:00.001-07:002013-04-19T11:25:44.412-07:00Media Access PetitionPlease sign <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/ohio-department-of-rehabilitation-and-corrections-allow-on-camera-interviews-with-lucasville-uprising-prisoners#">this petition</a> in support of the hunger striking Lucasville Uprising Prisoners. <br /><br />Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-52085647967947021122013-04-15T14:28:00.000-07:002013-04-15T14:28:33.002-07:00Tentative Schedule<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please <a href="http://www.re-examininglucasville.org/p/blog-page.html">REGISTER</a> for the conference so we know how many people to prepare for. Thank you. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>CONFERENCE LOCATION: CT Building, 339 Cleveland Avenue.</b><br />
Located just south of the I-670 exit ramp
and the old Wonder Bread factory. It is a one-story building with a
parking lot to the north and red awning at the front door. The sign in
front of the building says Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
On the Columbus State Community College website map, it is referred to
as "CT."</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<b>RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: SCHEDULE</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Friday,
April 19, 7 to 9:30 p.m., Introducing Lucasville</b>, Chairperson, Bob
Fitrakis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Welcome</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Derrick
Jones, documentary film, <i>The Great Incarcerator: Part 2, The Shadow of
Lucasville</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Denis O'Hearn<i> </i>speaking on the current hunger strike</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Lucasville
Uprising Prisoners speak</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 9 to noon</b>, Chairperson, Alice Lynd</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
9:00 - 9:55
a.m., two skits drawn from transcripts:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Making of a Snitch,” Highway Patrol
interview with man who became an informant;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Death-Qualified Jury,” exclusion of
potential jurors </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
10:00 - 10:55
a.m., Survivors of Lucasville </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Conditions
at Lucasville before the Uprising</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
11:00 a.m. -
noon, Struggle in the Courts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Vicki Werneke, Capital Habeas Unit, Federal Public Defender, on complicity and
obstacles in habeas representation</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Staughton
Lynd, attorney and author of <i>Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison
Uprising</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, noon to 1 p.m.,</b> Lunch, to be provided</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 1 to 3 p.m., Layers of Injustice, </b>Chairperson, Staughton Lynd</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Mark Donatelli, represented defendants after New Mexico prison uprising</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Niki Schwartz, represented prisoners in Lucasville negotiations </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Rick Kerger, represented Hasan in state court until taken off case by trial
court judge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Professor Phyllis
Crocker, Cleveland Marshall Law School, chaired ABA panel on death penalty in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
Ohio, member
of task force appointed by Ohio Supreme Court to examine death penalty</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 3 to 5 p.m., breakout sessions</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Bonnie
Kerness and Ojore Lutalo, art work and video “Sneak Peek” on isolation as a
political tool in New Jersey prison </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Central Ohio
Prisoner Advocates (COPA) and Redbird Prison Abolition, current conditions in
Ohio prisons</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 7 to 9:30 p.m.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Derrick
Jones, documentary film, <i>The Great Incarcerator:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part 1, Dark Little Secrets</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·
Entertainment, open mic poetry and music. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Sunday,
April 21, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Building Support, </b>Chairperson, Ben Turk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Noelle
Hanrahan, Prison Radio:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mumia Abu Jamal
support campaign</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Wide-ranging
discussion about possible future actions<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
To register
for the conference, go to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.re-examininglucasville.org/">http://www.re-examininglucasville.org</a>
click Registration</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-85468854928055290532013-04-15T13:18:00.001-07:002013-04-15T13:18:21.612-07:00The Shame of America’s GulagFrom <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/03/18-0">Common Dreams</a><br />
<br />
<i>Ojore Lutalo and Bonnie Kerness will be presenting on Saturday at the conference. Here's is a recent article about the work they've been doing, by Chris Hedges. </i><br />
<br />
<div class="node-title">
<h2 class="title">
The Shame of America’s Gulag</h2>
</div>
<div class="author">
by <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/chris-hedges">Chris Hedges</a> </div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
If, as Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote, “the
degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its
prisons” then we are a nation of barbarians. Our vast network of federal
and state prisons, with some 2.3 million inmates, rivals the gulags of
totalitarian states. Once you disappear behind prison walls you become
prey. Rape. Torture. Beatings. Prolonged isolation. Sensory deprivation.
Racial profiling. Chain gangs. Forced labor. Rancid food. Children
imprisoned as adults. Prisoners forced to take medications to induce
lethargy. Inadequate heating and ventilation. Poor health care.
Draconian sentences for nonviolent crimes. Endemic violence.<span class="image-right" style="width: 300px;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.commondreams.org/sites/commondreams.org/files/imce-images/colorblind300.jpg" style="height: 265px; width: 300px;" title="(Illustration by Mr. Fish)" /><span class="caption">(Illustration by Mr. Fish)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
<a href="http://solitarywatch.com/2012/11/08/bonnie-kerness-pioneer-in-the-struggle-against-solitary-confinement/">Bonnie Kerness</a> and <a href="http://www.abcf.net/prisoners/lutalo.htm">Ojore Lutalo</a>,
both of whom I met in Newark, N.J., a few days ago at the office of
American Friends Service Committee Prison Watch, have fought longer and
harder than perhaps any others in the country against the expanding
abuse of prisoners, especially the use of solitary confinement. Lutalo,
once a member of the Black Liberation Army, an offshoot of the Black
Panthers, first wrote Kerness in 1986 while he was a prisoner at Trenton
State Prison, now called New Jersey State Prison. He described to her
the bleak and degrading world of solitary confinement, the world of the
prisoners like him held in the so-called management control unit, which
he called “a prison within a prison.” Before being released in 2009,
Lutalo was in the management control unit for 22 of the 28 years he
served for the second of two convictions—the first for a bank robbery
and the second for a gun battle with a drug dealer. He kept his sanity,
he told me, by following a strict regime of exercising in his tiny cell,
writing, meditating and tearing up newspapers to make collages that
portrayed his prison conditions.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
“The guards in riot gear would suddenly
wake you up at 1 a.m., force you to strip and make you grab all your
things and move you to another cell just to harass you,” he said when we
spoke in Newark. “They had attack dogs with them that were trained to
go for your genitals. You spent 24 hours alone one day in your cell and
22 the next. If you do not have a strong sense of purpose you don’t
survive psychologically. Isolation is designed to defeat prisoners
mentally, and I saw a lot of prisoners defeated.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Lutalo’s letter was Kerness’ first
indication that the U.S. prison system was creating something
new—special detention facilities that under international law are a form
of torture. He wrote to her: “How does one go about articulating
desperation to another who is not desperate? How does one go about
articulating the psychological stress of knowing that people are waiting
for me to self-destruct?”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
The techniques of sensory deprivation and
prolonged isolation were pioneered by the Central Intelligence Agency to
break prisoners during the Cold War. Alfred McCoy, the author of “A
Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, From the Cold War to the War on
Terror,” wrote in his book that “interrogators had found that mere
physical pain, no matter how extreme, often produced heightened
resistance.” So the intelligence agency turned to the more effective
mechanisms of “sensory disorientation” and “self-inflicted pain,” McCoy
noted. [One example of causing self-inflicted pain is to force a
prisoner to stand without moving or to hold some other stressful bodily
position for a long period.] The combination, government psychologists
argued, would cause victims to feel responsible for their own suffering
and accelerate psychological disintegration. Sensory disorientation
combines extreme sensory overload with extreme sensory deprivation.
Prolonged isolation is followed by intense interrogation. Extreme heat
is followed by extreme cold. Glaring light is followed by total
darkness. Loud and sustained noise is followed by silence. “The fusion
of these two techniques, sensory disorientation and self-inflicted pain,
creates a synergy of physical and psychological trauma whose sum is a
hammer-blow to the existential platforms of personal identity,” McCoy
wrote.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
After hearing from Lutalo, Kerness became a
fierce advocate for him and other prisoners held in isolation units.
She published through her office a <a href="http://www.afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/Survivors%20Manual_0.pdf">survivor’s manual</a> for those held in isolation as well as <a href="https://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/torture_in_us_prisons.pdf">a booklet</a> titled “Torture in United States Prisons.” And she began to collect the stories of prisoners held in isolation.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
“My food trays have been sprayed with mace
or cleaning agents, … human feces and urine put into them by guards who
deliver trays to my breakfast, lunch, and dinner… ,” a prisoner in
isolation in the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility at Carlisle, Ind.,
was quoted as saying in “Torture in United States Prisons.” “I have
witnessed sane men of character become self-mutilators, suffer paranoia,
panic attacks, hostile fantasies about revenge. One prisoner would
swallow packs of AA batteries, and stick a pencil in his penis. They
would cut on themselves to gain contact with staff nurses or just to
draw attention to themselves. These men made slinging human feces ‘body
waste’ daily like it was a recognized sport. Some would eat it or rub it
all over themselves as if it was body lotion. ... Prisoncrats use a
form of restraint, a bed crafted to strap men in four point Velcro
straps. Both hands to the wrist and both feet to the ankles and secured.
Prisoners have been kept like this for 3-6 hours at a time. Most times
they would remove all their clothes. The Special Confinement Unit used
[water hoses] on these men also. ... When prisons become overcrowded,
prisoncrats will do forced double bunking. Over-crowding issues present
an assortment of problems many of which results in violence. ...
Prisoncrats will purposely house a ‘sex offender’ in a cell with
prisoners with sole intentions of having him beaten up or even killed.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
In 1913 Eastern State Penitentiary, in
Philadelphia, discontinued its isolation cages. Prisoners within the
U.S. prison system would not be held in isolation again in large numbers
until the turmoil of the 1960s and the rise of the anti-war and civil
rights movements along with the emergence of radical groups such as the
Black Panthers. Trenton State Prison established a management control
unit, or isolation unit, in 1975 for political prisoners, mostly black
radicals such as Lutalo whom the state wanted to segregate from the
wider prison population. Those held in the isolation unit were rarely
there because they had violated prison rules; they were there because of
their revolutionary beliefs—beliefs the prison authorities feared might
resonate with other prisoners. In 1983 the federal prison in Marion,
Ill., instituted a permanent lockdown, creating, in essence, a
prisonwide “control unit.” By 1994 the Federal Bureau of Prisons, using
the Marion model, built its maximum-security prison in Florence, Colo.
The use of prolonged isolation and sensory deprivation exploded.
“Special housing units” were formed for the mentally ill. “Security
threat group management units” were formed for those accused of gang
activity. “Communications management units” were formed to isolate
Muslims labeled as terrorists. Voluntary and involuntary protective
custody units were formed. Administrative segregation punishment units
were formed to isolate prisoners said to be psychologically troubled.
All were established in open violation of the United Nations Convention
Against Torture, the U.N.’s International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Kerness calls it “the war at home.”
And she says it is only the latest variation of the long assault on the
poor, especially people of color.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
“There are no former Jim Crow systems,” Kerness said. “The transition from slavery to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Codes_%28United_States%29">Black Codes </a>
to convict leasing to the Jim Crow laws to the wars on poverty,
veterans, youth and political activism in the 1960s has been a seamless
evolution of political and social incapacitation of poor people of
color. The sophisticated fascism of the practices of stop and frisk,
charging people in inner cities with ‘wandering,’ driving and walking
while black, ZIP code racism—these and many other de facto practices all
serve to keep our prisons full. In a system where 60 percent of those
who are imprisoned are people of color, where students of color face
harsher punishments in school than their white peers, where <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2012/03/13/11351/the-top-10-most-startling-facts-about-people-of-color-and-criminal-justice-in-the-united-states/">58 percent</a>
of African [American] youth … are sent to adult prisons, where women of
color are 69 percent more likely to be imprisoned and where offenders
of color receive longer sentences, the concept of colorblindness doesn’t
exist. The racism around me is palpable.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
“The 1960s, when the last of the Jim Crow
laws were reversed, this whole new set of practices accepted by law
enforcement was designed to continue to feed the money-generating prison
system, which has neo-slavery at its core,” she said. “Until we deeply
recognize that the system’s bottom line is social control and creating a
business from bodies of color and the poor, nothing can change.” She
noted that more than half of those in the prison system have never
physically harmed another person but that “just about all of these
people have been harmed themselves.” And not only does the criminal
justice sweep up the poor and people of color, but slavery within the
prison system is permitted by the 13th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution, which reads: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States. …”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
This, Kerness said, “is at the core how the
labor of slaves was transformed into what people in prison call
neo-slavery.” Neo-slavery is an integral part of the prison industrial
complex, in which hundreds of thousands of the nation’s prisoners,
primarily people of color, are forced to work at involuntary labor for a
dollar or less an hour. “If you call the New Jersey Bureau of Tourism
you are most likely talking to a prisoner at the Edna Mahan Correctional
Institution for Women who is earning 23 cents an hour who has no
ability to negotiate working hours or working conditions,” she said.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
The bodies of poor, unemployed youths are worth little on the streets but become valuable commodities once they are behind bars.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
“People have said to me that the criminal
justice system doesn’t work,” Kerness said. “I’ve come to believe
exactly the opposite—that it works perfectly, just as slavery did, as a
matter of economic and political policy. How is it that a 15-year-old in
Newark who the country labels worthless to the economy, who has no hope
of getting a job or affording college, can suddenly generate 20,000 to
30,000 dollars a year once trapped in the criminal justice system? The
expansion of prisons, parole, probation, the court and police systems
has resulted in an enormous bureaucracy which has been a boon to
everyone from architects to food vendors—all with one thing in common, a
paycheck earned by keeping human beings in cages. The criminalization
of poverty is a lucrative business, and we have replaced the social
safety net with a dragnet.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Prisons are at once hugely expensive—the
country has spent some $300 billion on them since 1980—and, as Kerness
pointed out, hugely profitable. Prisons function in the same way the
military-industrial complex functions. The money is public and the
profits are private. “Privatization in the prison industrial complex
includes companies, which run prisons for profit while at the same time
gleaning profits from forced labor,” she said. “In the state of New
Jersey, food and medical services are provided by corporations, which
have a profit motive. One recent explosion of private industry is the
partnering of <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/profiting_from_human_misery_20130217/">Corrections Corporation of America</a>
with the federal government to detain close to 1 million undocumented
people. Using public monies to enrich private citizens is the history of
capitalism at its most exploitive.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Those released from prison are woefully
unprepared for re-entry. They carry with them the years of trauma they
endured. They often suffer from the endemic health problems that come
with long incarceration, including hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV.
They often do not have access to medications upon release to treat their
physical and mental illnesses. Finding work is difficult. They feel
alienated and are often estranged from friends and family. More than 60
percent end up back in prison.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
“How do you teach someone to rid themselves
of degradation?” Kerness asked. “How long does it take to teach people
to feel safe, a sense of empowerment in a world where they often come
home emotionally and physically damaged and unemployable? There are many
reasons that ex-prisoners do not make it—paramount among them is that
they are not supposed to succeed.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Kerness has long been a crusader. In 1961
at the age of 19 she left New York to work for a decade in Tennessee in
the civil rights struggle, including a year at Tennessee’s <a href="http://highlandercenter.org/">Highlander Research and Education Center</a>,
where Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. trained. By the 1970s she
was involved in housing campaigns for the poor in New Jersey. She kept
running into families that included incarcerated members. This led her
to found Prison Watch.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
The letters that pour into her office are
disturbing. Female prisoners routinely complain of being sexually abused
by guards. One prisoner wrote to her office: “That was not part of my
sentence to perform oral sex with officers.” Other prisoners write on
behalf of the mentally ill who have been left to deteriorate in the
prison system. One California prisoner told of a mentally ill man
spreading feces over himself and the guards then dumping him into a
scalding bath that took skin off 30 percent of his body.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Kerness said the letters she receives from
prisoners collectively present a litany of “inhumane conditions
including cold, filth, callous medical care, extended isolation often
lasting years, use of devices of torture, harassment, brutality and
racism.” Prisoners send her drawings of “four- and five-point
restraints, restraint hoods, restraint belts, restraint beds, stun
grenades, stun guns, stun belts, spit hoods, tethers, and waist and leg
chains.” But the worst torment, prisoners tell her, is the psychological
pain caused by “no touch torture” that included “humiliation, sleep
deprivation, sensory disorientation, extreme light or dark, extreme cold
or heat” and “extended solitary confinement.” These techniques, she
said, are consciously designed to carry out “a systematic attack on all
human stimuli.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
The use of sensory deprivation was applied
by the government to imprisoned radicals in the 1960s including members
of the Black Panthers, the Black Liberation Army, the Puerto Rican
independence movement and the American Indian Movement, along with
environmentalists, anti-imperialists and civil rights activists. It is
now used extensively against Islamic militants, jailhouse lawyers and
political prisoners. Many of those political prisoners were part of
radical black underground movements in the 1960s that advocated
violence. A few, such as <a href="http://www.freeleonard.org/case/index.html">Leonard Peltier</a> and <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_unsilenced_voice_of_a_long-distance_revolutionary_20121209/">Mumia Abu Jamal</a>, are well known, but most have little public visibility—among them <a href="http://www.sundiataacoli.org/">Sundiata Acoli</a>, <a href="http://mutulushakur.com/site/">Mutulu Shakur</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Rap_Brown">Imam Jamil Al-Amin</a> (known as H. Rap Brown when in the 1960s he was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), <a href="http://www.freejalil.com/">Jalil Bottom</a>, <a href="http://www.sekouodinga.com/">Sekou Odinga</a>, <a href="http://www.cbpm.org/prlistnyatod.html"> Abdul Majid</a>, <a href="http://www.partisandefense.org/csdn/36/manning.html"> Tom Manning</a> and <a href="http://www.abcf.net/abc/pdfs/dunne.pdf">Bill Dunne</a>. </div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Those within the system who attempt to
resist the abuse and mistreatment are dealt with severely. Prisoners in
the overcrowded Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, a maximum-security
prison in Lucasville, Ohio, staged a revolt in 1993 after years of
routine beatings, degrading rituals of public humiliation and the
alleged murders of prisoners by guards. The some 450 prisoners, who were
able to unite antagonistic prison factions including the Aryan
Brotherhood and the black Gangster Disciples, held out for 11 days. It
was one of the longest prison rebellions in U.S. history. Nine prisoners
and a guard were killed by the prisoners during the revolt. The state
responded with characteristic fury. It singled out some 40 prisoners and
eventually shipped them to Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP), a supermax
facility outside Youngstown that was constructed in 1998. There
prisoners are held in solitary confinement 23 hours a day in
7-by-11-foot cells. Prisoners at OSP almost never see the sun or have
human contact. Those charged with participating in the uprising have, in
some cases, been held in these punitive conditions at OSP or other
facilities since the 1993 revolt. Five prisoners—Bomani Shakur, Siddique
Abdullah Hasan, Jason Robb, George Skatzes and Namir Abdul
Mateen—involved in the uprising were charged with murder. They are being
<a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/p/background.html"> held in isolation</a> on death row.</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
Kerness says the for-profit prison
companies have created an entrepreneurial class like that of the
Southern slaveholders, one “dependent on the poor, and on bodies of
color as a source for income,” and she describes federal and state
departments of corrections as “a state of mind.” This state of mind, she
said in the interview, “led to Abu Ghraib, Bagram and Guantanamo and
what is going on in U.S. prisons right this moment.”</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
As long as profit remains an incentive to
incarcerate human beings and our corporate state abounds in surplus,
redundant labor, there is little chance that the prison system will be
reformed. It is making our corporate overlords wealthy. Our prisons
serve the engine of corporate capitalism, transferring state money to
private corporations. These corporations will continue to stymie
rational prison reform because the system, however inhumane and unjust,
feeds corporate bank accounts. At its bottom the problem is not
race—although race plays a huge part in incarceration rates—nor is it
finally poverty; it is the predatory nature of corporate capitalism
itself. And until we slay the beast of corporate capitalism, until we
wrest power back from corporations, until we build social institutions
and a system of governance designed not to profit the few but foster the
common good, our prison industry and the horror it perpetuates will
only expand.</div>
<div class="copyright-info">
© 2013 TruthDig.com</div>
<div class="author-image" style="float: left; padding: 1px 15px 15px 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/chris-hedges"><img alt="Chris Hedges" class="imagecache imagecache-author_photo" height="113" src="https://www.commondreams.org/sites/commondreams.org/files/imagecache/author_photo/chris_hedges.jpg" title="Chris Hedges" width="90" /></a> </div>
<div class="author-brief-article">
<i>Chris Hedges writes a regular column for <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/" target="_blank">Truthdig.com</a>.
Hedges graduated from Harvard Divinity School and was for nearly two
decades a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. He is the author
of many books, including: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400034639?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" target="_blank">War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0743255127?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" target="_blank">What Every Person Should Know About War</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0743284437?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" target="_blank">American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America.</a> His most recent book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1568584377?tag=commondreams-20/ref=nosim" target="_blank">Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle</a>.</i><br />
</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-72355428840786364152013-04-15T13:14:00.003-07:002013-04-15T13:14:51.467-07:00Layers of InjusticeStaughton and Alice laid out the Re-Examining Lucasville Essays into a single document: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/11rx77fwwms50iz/LAYERS%20OF%20INJUSTICE%203-15-13.pdf">Layers of Injustice</a>. Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-14671032795145160782013-04-12T07:30:00.002-07:002013-04-12T07:30:26.877-07:00 Four Lucasville Uprising Prisoners on Hunger Strike.<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From <a href="http://lucasvilleamnesty.org/">LucasvilleAmnesty.org</a></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div>
<br />
<b>April 11th, 2013, Youngstown, OH-</b> Four prisoners housed at Ohio State Penitentiary began refusing food today. Greg Curry, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, Jason Robb and Bomani Shakur, who have been housed at OSP since it opened,<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> are demanding that media outlets be allowed to come for sit-down on-camera interviews with them</span>. In a<a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/04/bomani-shakur-announcing-hunger-strike.html"> recorded announcement</a>, Bomani Shakur described the hunger strike as a "protest [of] the state's unfair and unreasonable refusal to grant us access to the media... I am an innocent man. This is injustice, the state of Ohio is trying to kill me."<br />
<br />
Numerous news sources have recently contacted the prisoners because of their involvement in the Lucasville Uprising twenty years ago. The hunger strike was timed with the anniversary of the uprising, along with a conference focused on taking another look at what happened in 1993.<br />
<br />
"There are two important reasons for media access. The first is to humanize the prisoner... the second... [is to give] the prisoner a way to contribute to the search for truth about his alleged crimes" wrote long time prisoner advocate Staughton Lynd. "[When] a journalist and a prisoner can speak face to face... the reporter [can] ask follow-up questions as in a courtroom cross-examination." Lynd also cites legal opinions that advocate a right for prisoners to speak to the media. See Staughton's full statement at <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/2013/04/staughton-lynd-on-media-access.html#more" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Re-ExaminingLucasville.org</a>.</div>
<div>
The prisoners announced the hunger strike during a brief informal telephone interview with The Associated Press, who ran <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OHIO_PRISON_RIOT_INMATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">an article</a> on the eve of the hunger strike. Siddique Abdullah Hasan and Jason Robb were convicted of complicity in the murder of the hostage guard officer Vallandingham and condemned to death. They maintain their innocence and argue that as negotiators of the agreement that ended the uprising, they actually avoided further loss of life. Bomani Shakur (also known as Keith Lamar) and Greg Curry both surrendered on the first day of the uprising, but were charged and convicted of killing perceived snitches in the first hours of the disturbance. They both also maintain their innocence. Curry is serving a life sentence. Shakur <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">has appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
Supporters of the Lucasville Uprising Prisoners have planned a three day conference memorializing the Lucasville Uprising and re-examining the investigations and prosecutions that produced these convictions. The <a href="http://re-examininglucasville.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Re-Examining Lucasville</a> conference will take place at Columbus State Community College on the weekend of April 19th-21st.<br />
<br />
Advocates are also encouraging supporters to call Warden David Bobby at OSP and request that he negotiate with and allow media access. Warden Bobby can be reached at 330-743-0700 ext 2006. Supporters can also write to the prisoners at the following addresses.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Greg Curry <span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">213-159</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">Siddique Abdullah Hasan R130-559</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">Jason Robb 308-919</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">Bomani Shakur (Lamar) 317-117</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
###</div>
</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-12060276269072082242013-04-11T14:01:00.002-07:002013-04-11T14:01:43.695-07:00Staughton Lynd on Media Access for Uprising Prisoners<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Friends and colleagues,</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> Greetings.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
<div>
As you may know, there have been two AP articles
this week on the need for media access to prisoners found guilty of alleged
misconduct in the Lucasville uprising of April 1993.</div>
<div>
The second article, below, informs readers that
four Lucasville defendants at the Ohio State Penitentiary, S.A. Hasan, Keith
LaMar, and Jason Robb (sentenced to death) and Gregory Curry (sentenced to life
imprisonment), will begin a hunger strike tomorrow morning, Thursday April 11,
twenty years from the day the 1993 rebellion began. The sole issue of this
particular action is the demand for media access.</div>
<div>
The article also contains excerpts of an interview
the AP reporter conducted, over the telephone, with S.A. Hasan.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div>
I have been emphasizing to reporters and others
that there are two important reasons for media access. The first is to
humanize the prisoner. This was dramatically achieved in an event at
Youngstown State University on April 3, when Keith LaMar spoke to the
audience by telephone while pictures of him were projected on a screen.</div>
<div>
The second reason for face-to-face interviews is
that it gives the prisoner a way to contribute to the search for truth about his
alleged crimes. Other means of communication, such as writing a letter or
making a telephone call, cannot achieve what is possible when a journalist and a
prisoner can speak face to face, permitting the reporter to ask follow-up
questions as in a courtroom cross-examination.</div>
<div>
There is an important legal opinion on this
issue. In <i>Saxbe v. Washington Post Co.</i>, 417 U.S. 847 (1984), the
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia remanded the case to the District
Court with the request that the lower court determine "the extent to which the
accurate and effective reporting of news has a critical dependence upon the
opportunity for private personal interviews." The District Court took
testimony from six expert witnesses, including Arthur Lehman, counsel for
the New York State Special Commission on Attica. This evidence
persuaded the District Court "to find as a fact that the absolute interview ban
[at issue in the case] precludes accurate and effective reporting on prison
conditions and inmate grievances."</div>
<div>
When the case went up to the United States Supreme
Court, a ban on interviews in federal prisons was found to be lawful, despite
the holding of the District Court. But there is a powerful dissent by
Justices Powell, Brennan and Marshall, from which I take my summary of the
District Court proceedings.</div>
<div>
I also recommend a law review article: Alana M.
Sitterly, "Silencing Death Row Inmates: How <i>Hammer v. Ashcroft</i> Needs a
Rational Basis for its Rational Basis," George Mason University Civil Rights Law
Journal (Spring 2011). The basic point of this article is that a court
should not speculate as to the reasons why a prison administration <b>might
have </b>prohibited interviews. The prison administration should be
obliged to say why it forbade interviews and to offer evidence in the record for
this decision.</div>
<div>
Finally, I observe that the Lucasville prisoners
are speaking out more and more, and that at last we are beginning to build a
case in the "court of public opinion."</div>
<div>
I shall send the article and this message to Hasan,
Bomani, and Jason, as well as Gregory Curry, George Skatzes, and James Were, by
regular United States mail.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<wbr></wbr> <wbr></wbr> <wbr></wbr> Staughton
Lynd </div>
<div>
</div>
</span>Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-50899487442580600252013-04-10T22:15:00.000-07:002013-04-10T22:15:56.914-07:004 Lucasville Uprising Prisoners Start Hunger Strike Greg Curry, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, Jason Robb and Bomani Shakur will begin refusing food on April 11th. They are demanding that media be allowed access to sit-down interviews with them. These interviews are essential to humanizing the prisoners and allowing them to contribute to the search for truth about his alleged crimes. A face to face interview permits follow-up questions and a more direct and thorough interaction than other forms of interview.<br />
The Associated Press Columbus has written <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OHIO_PRISON_RIOT_INMATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">an article</a> on the hunger strike, which is getting national attention. <br /><br />Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-14587898787499226312013-02-05T13:07:00.002-08:002013-04-10T20:52:37.290-07:00Tentative Schedule<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Please <a href="http://www.re-examininglucasville.org/p/blog-page.html">REGISTER</a> for the conference so we know how many people to prepare for. Thank you. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>CONFERENCE LOCATION: CT Building, 339 Cleveland Avenue. </b><br />Located just south of the I-670 exit ramp
and the old Wonder Bread factory. It is a one-story building with a
parking lot to the north and red awning at the front door. The sign in
front of the building says Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
On the Columbus State Community College website map, it is referred to
as "CT."</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b></div>
<br />
<b>RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: SCHEDULE</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Friday,
April 19, 7 to 9:30 p.m., Introducing Lucasville</b>, Chairperson, Bob
Fitrakis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Welcome</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Derrick
Jones, documentary film, <i>The Great Incarcerator: Part 2, The Shadow of
Lucasville</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Lucasville
Uprising Prisoners speak</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 9 to noon</b>, Chairperson, Alice Lynd</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
9:00 - 9:55
a.m., two skits drawn from transcripts:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Making of a Snitch,” Highway Patrol
interview with man who became an informant;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Death-Qualified Jury,” exclusion of
potential jurors </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
10:00 - 10:55
a.m., Survivors of Lucasville </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Conditions
at Lucasville before the Uprising</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
11:00 a.m. -
noon, Struggle in the Courts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Vicki Werneke, Capital Habeas Unit, Federal Public Defender, on complicity and
obstacles in habeas representation</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Staughton
Lynd, attorney and author of <i>Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison
Uprising</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, noon to 1 p.m.,</b> Lunch, to be provided</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 1 to 3 p.m., Layers of Injustice, </b>Chairperson, Staughton Lynd</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Mark Donatelli, represented defendants after New Mexico prison uprising</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Niki Schwartz, represented prisoners in Lucasville negotiations </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Rick Kerger, represented Hasan in state court until taken off case by trial
court judge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Professor Phyllis
Crocker, Cleveland Marshall Law School, chaired ABA panel on death penalty in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
Ohio, member
of task force appointed by Ohio Supreme Court to examine death penalty</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 3 to 5 p.m., breakout sessions</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Bonnie
Kerness and Ojore Lutalo, art work and video “Sneak Peek” on isolation as a
political tool in New Jersey prison </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Central Ohio
Prisoner Advocates (COPA) and Redbird Prison Abolition, current conditions in
Ohio prisons</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Others to be
announced</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 7 to 9:30 p.m.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Derrick
Jones, documentary film, <i>The Great Incarcerator:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part 1, Dark Little Secrets</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·
Entertainment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Sunday,
April 21, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Building Support, </b>Chairperson, Ben Turk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Noelle
Hanrahan, Prison Radio:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mumia Abu Jamal
support campaign</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Wide-ranging
discussion about possible future actions<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
To register
for the conference, go to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.re-examininglucasville.org/">http://www.re-examininglucasville.org</a>
click Registration</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-57536610219718160652013-02-05T13:07:00.001-08:002013-04-10T20:50:23.934-07:00Tentative Schedule<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>CONFERENCE LOCATION: CT Building, 339 Cleveland Avenue. <br />Located just south of the I-670 exit ramp
and the old Wonder Bread factory. It is a one-story building with a
parking lot to the north and red awning at the front door. The sign in
front of the building says Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
On the Columbus State Community College website map, it is referred to
as "CT."</b></div>
<b> </b><br />
<b>RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: SCHEDULE</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Friday,
April 19, 7 to 9:30 p.m., Introducing Lucasville</b>, Chairperson, Bob
Fitrakis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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· Welcome</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Derrick
Jones, documentary film, <i>The Great Incarcerator: Part 2, The Shadow of
Lucasville</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Lucasville
Uprising Prisoners speak</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 9 to noon</b>, Chairperson, Alice Lynd</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
9:00 - 9:55
a.m., two skits drawn from transcripts:</div>
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·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Making of a Snitch,” Highway Patrol
interview with man who became an informant;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Death-Qualified Jury,” exclusion of
potential jurors </div>
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<br /></div>
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10:00 - 10:55
a.m., Survivors of Lucasville </div>
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· Conditions
at Lucasville before the Uprising</div>
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<br /></div>
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11:00 a.m. -
noon, Struggle in the Courts</div>
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· Attorney
Vicki Werneke, Capital Habeas Unit, Federal Public Defender, on complicity and
obstacles in habeas representation</div>
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· Staughton
Lynd, attorney and author of <i>Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison
Uprising</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, noon to 1 p.m.,</b> Lunch, to be provided</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Saturday,
April 20, 1 to 3 p.m., Layers of Injustice, </b>Chairperson, Staughton Lynd</div>
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· Attorney
Mark Donatelli, represented defendants after New Mexico prison uprising</div>
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· Attorney
Niki Schwartz, represented prisoners in Lucasville negotiations </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Attorney
Rick Kerger, represented Hasan in state court until taken off case by trial
court judge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Professor Phyllis
Crocker, Cleveland Marshall Law School, chaired ABA panel on death penalty in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
Ohio, member
of task force appointed by Ohio Supreme Court to examine death penalty</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Saturday,
April 20, 3 to 5 p.m., breakout sessions</b></div>
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· Bonnie
Kerness and Ojore Lutalo, art work and video “Sneak Peek” on isolation as a
political tool in New Jersey prison </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Central Ohio
Prisoner Advocates (COPA) and Redbird Prison Abolition, current conditions in
Ohio prisons</div>
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· Others to be
announced</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Saturday,
April 20, 7 to 9:30 p.m.</b></div>
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· Derrick
Jones, documentary film, <i>The Great Incarcerator:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part 1, Dark Little Secrets</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
·
Entertainment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<b>Sunday,
April 21, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Building Support, </b>Chairperson, Ben Turk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Noelle
Hanrahan, Prison Radio:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mumia Abu Jamal
support campaign</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none;">
· Wide-ranging
discussion about possible future actions<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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To register
for the conference, go to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.re-examininglucasville.org/">http://www.re-examininglucasville.org</a>
click Registration</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-33726640877402814652013-02-05T12:01:00.001-08:002013-02-05T12:01:32.213-08:00Lucasville Documentary PreviewDerrick Jones is working on a documentary film about the Lucasville Uprising. Here's the preview: <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WJHOU2st_mk" width="420"></iframe>Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-53192442442966741042012-12-17T09:02:00.000-08:002012-12-17T09:15:14.504-08:00Call for Submissions<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> A
group of lawyers, prisoner advocates, family members and supporters will be
presenting a weekend conference re-examining the history of Ohio's
most notorious prison uprising, the eleven day occupation of L-Block in the
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility at Lucasville in 1993. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The conference will present a comprehensive examination
of the facts, stories and legal proceedings from the uprising. We are also
interested in exploring the context in which the uprising occurred and the
consequences for the people of Ohio. To this end, we are seeking workshops,
presentations, participation from the broader community. We'd like you to help
us explore relevant issues such as the prison industrial complex, mass
incarceration, prison conditions, death penalty, solitary confinement, and
super-max prisons. Each of these topics is intimately present in the story of
Lucasville, and we hope you or your organization can help us provide conference
attendees with a broader understanding of how Lucasville relates to so many
issues that impact all of our lives. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The conference will be held from Friday
evening, April 19, through midday Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Columbus
State Community College in downtown Columbus. If you are interested in
participating, please submit a proposal describing your idea, workshop or
presentation to Re-ExaminingLucasville@gmail.com by Jan 18th. If you
have any questions, please contact me at
Re-ExaminingLucasville@gmail.com.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-65316038527154368662012-12-10T07:47:00.001-08:002012-12-10T07:47:57.916-08:00RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: ESSAY 7<br />
<div class="MsoTitle">
<div class="MsoTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBdCSg5QAc78F1bUn4gElja7sctLszSBVoZK5w1tmLc62bfjesgcJfUtV731oBHyRICadD7NaVdnf_Q6GpY5eH2usUg-ZbTNWteEi5siBv9gdojRWAKwAnE0fRyr6e8F-rAjhE3nv368/s1600/staughton.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
RE-EXAMINING THE LUCASVILLE UPRISING</div>
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By Staughton Lynd</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Essay 7 in the series I have been
writing on “Re-Examining Lucasville.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two persons, one an experienced journalist and the other a prisoner at
Lucasville in April 1993, have said the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They believe the main idea that should tie
our thoughts together is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>THEY DON’T
KNOW WHO DID IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That is,
five men have been sentenced to death for murdering ten victims during the
occupation of L-block, but the authorities (the State of Ohio, the Lucasville
Special Prosecutor, the several Assistant Prosecutors, and the Ohio State
Highway Patrol)<b> do not know who actually committed the homicides</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Instead,
the authorities have gone after the men who they believe were “leaders” of the
eleven-day occupation of L-block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have been able to get away with their claims because of the Ohio doctrine of
“complicity,” which allows courts to sentence people to death if they were
present at the scene of criminal conduct or were otherwise involved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It was the prosecution’s burden to
convince juries, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Five should be found
guilty of the murders that took place during the rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much has been said about the homicides in
previous essays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essays still to come
will examine in very great detail how I believe the State constructed a false
explanation of the murder that most concerned the public:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the murder of hostage officer Robert
Vallandingham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now, I shall gather
scattered references to the several homicides from the different essays, and
show that the State either did not know who did the killings, or knew, but
needed the actual killer as a witness and so blamed someone else.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Who Did the Murders?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here is a
summary of the State’s case concerning the different murders for which the Five
have been convicted, and why these narratives should not be believed because
the State does not really know who did the killing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1>
The Deaths of Depina, Svette, Vitale, Staiano and Weaver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The first
fatalities were among prisoners who had been placed in cells in L-block for
their own protection because they might be thought to be “snitches.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">How permission to carry out these killings
was obtained from Muslims in positions of authority remains a mystery.</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Stacey Gordon testified in various trials
that he was one of three Muslims who had planned the occupation, and that he
was a “security amir” with particular responsibility for L-6.</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yet as the “death squad” went from cell to
cell in L-6, dragging out men imprisoned there and ruthlessly killing them,
Gordon, according to his own testimony, watched from the upper tier of the pod
without interfering.</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Keith LaMar was tried and convicted as
leader of the death squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is
reason to believe that Gordon himself may have played that role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muslims Leroy Elmore and Edward Julious have
stated in affidavits that they saw Gordon enter L-6 at the head of a group of
masked and armed men; demand that a prisoner who was operating the console (the
electronic mechanism that opened and closed cell doors) open the cells where
supposed snitches had been confined; and threaten the man at the console that
he would be harmed himself if he did not comply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tony Taylor, a prosecution witness, testified
that Gordon went down the corridor of L-6 from cell to cell with other members
of the death squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Edinbaugh, who
witnessed the killings but whose testimony was withheld from defense counsel,
said that he witnessed the murders and that LaMar didn’t do anything.</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Weaver was killed later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prisoners who stayed on the yard after the
uprising began, or who returned to the yard after briefly entering L-block to
check on their property, were ordered into K-block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There they were stripped naked and confined
ten men to a cell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under these
conditions, someone or some ones in one of the K-block cells strangled prisoner
Dennis Weaver.</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The prosecution ascribed Weaver’s death to
Keith LaMar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the prosecution
withheld from LaMar’s defense counsel the summaries of interviews with other
men in the cell that the interviewing officers entered into the prosecution’s
computer database.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The defense has had
no opportunity to examine how agents of the State may have induced<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>prisoners to shape their trial
testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a strong possibility
that LaMar was singled out because he tried to persuade everyone in the cell
not to cooperate with Highway Patrol interviewers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>The Death of Earl Elder.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Skatzes was found guilty of the murder
of prisoner Earl Elder, and sentenced to death, for allegedly directing Rodger
Snodgrass to enter cell L-6-60 where Elder was confined and stab him to
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Snodgrass and another
prosecution witness, Timothy Williams, testified that the weapon Snodgrass
carried resembled an ice pick and made a small, round hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the medical examiner (Dr. Larry
Tate) said that the fatal blows were struck by an instrument with a wide blade;
a small piece of glass was found in the lethal wounds; and prisoner Eric Girdy
later came forward to say that he had helped to kill Elder using a weapon made
from a piece of broken glass in one of the officers’ restrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girdy also stated under oath that Skatzes was
not present and had nothing to do with Elder’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Although Girdy was indicted and
found guilty of Elder’s murder, prosecutors have made no attempt to vacate this
portion of Skatzes’ sentence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<b>The Death of Officer
Vallandingham.</b> There is general agreement that Officer Vallandingham was
murdered by prisoners in pod L-6 on the morning of April 15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who were these murderers?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On January 18, 1996, <b>prisoner
Alvin Jones (a.k.a. Mosi Paki)</b> was tried before a prison administrative
body known as a Rules Infraction Board for being one of two men who killed
Officer Vallandingham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jones was found
guilty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sergeant Howard Hudson, the
chief investigator of the Lucasville murders for the State, signed a summary of
his own witness testimony to the R.I.B. including the statement:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“[<b>Kenneth] Law took himself out of act
& replaced himself with inmate Darnell Alexander</b>.” Thus, as of 1996,
the State identified Officer Vallandingham’s hands-on killers as Alvin Jones
and Kenneth Law.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On February 24, 2004, however,
Chief Lucasville Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier and Assistant Prosecutor William
Breyer filed a “Motion to Dismiss Defendant’s Petition to Vacate” in the
Skatzes case wherein they outlined a theory that Carlos Sanders had ordered
James Were to supervise the killing of Officer Vallandingham, and stated on
page 26 of the brief that “<b>Inmates Law and Allen were the other two
participants</b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Allen” was Cecil
Allen, another Lucasville defendant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Thus, the State of Ohio has
identified four different<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>men--Alvin
Jones, Kenneth Law, Cecil Allen, and (in place of Law) Darnell Alexander--as
possible candidates for the two men who killed Officer Vallandingham.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In 2010, documentary filmmaker
Derrick Jones interviewed Daniel Hogan, who prosecuted Jason Robb and Skatzes
and is now a state court judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hogan
told Jones on tape:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know that
we will ever know who hands-on killed the ndCorrections Officer,
Vallandingham.” Later Mr. Jones asked former prosecutor Hogan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ When it comes to Officer Vallandingham, who
killed him?” and Mr. Hogan replied: <b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I don’t think we’ll ever know.”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Finally, it must be emphasized that
Ohio law requires that in a homicide case there must be medical evidence as to
how the victim died and what caused the death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a result, the only truly objective evidence in the trials was the
evidence of medical examiners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>The
testimony of several different medical examiners repeatedly clashed with the
prosecution’s narratives of the murders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The medical examiner who testified in the trials of Jason Robb, George
Skatzes and Siddique Abdullah Hasan (formerly Carlos Sanders) for the murder of
Officer Vallandingham was Dr. Patrick Fardal, chief forensic pathologist and
deputy coroner for Franklin County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the Robb trial, the prosecution offered informant testimony that the men who
killed Officer Vallandingham stood on an object like a metal weight bar and rocked
back and forth on his neck, crushing the trachea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Fardal testified that there was “no
injury to the voice box or the trachea” and that “Mr. Vallandingham died solely
and exclusively as a result of ligature strangulation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>State v. Robb</i>, Tr. at 4433, 4442.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Undaunted, the prosecution
presented the same lurid testimony about a weight bar in Hasan’s trial a year
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Fardal once again stated
under oath that the cause of death was ligature strangulation, that the larynx
had not been crushed, and that he could say with a reasonable degree of
scientific certainty that there had been no rocking back and forth on
OfficerVallandingham’s neck by two men standing on a weight bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>State v. Sanders</i>, Tr. at 4166-67,
7174-76.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>The Death of Bruce Harris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Prisoner Bruce Harris was killed on the
last day of the occupation, at about the same time that other prisoners killed
David Sommers (see below).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Harris was apparently a somewhat
mentally challenged individual who had been locked in a cell on the upper tier
of L-6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On April 21, the last day of the
occupation, the Muslims conducted religious services on the corridor of the
pod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harris screamed obscenities from
above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was told to be quiet several
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He persisted in interrupting the
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, several men climbed up
to his cell and killed him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Hasan and Were were indicted for
the murder but their juries found them Not Guilty. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Stacey Gordon was a valuable State
witness in trials of other homicides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>admitted that he took part in
murdering prisoner Bruce Harris but was never indicted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was indicted for trying to kill prisoner Fryman and for
assaulting two correctional officers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
a 1994 plea deal, the more serious charges were dropped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gordon was released from prison a few years ago.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>The Death of David Sommers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Skatzes and Robb were found guilty and
sentenced to death for the aggravated murder of prisoner David Sommers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The prosecutor argued that a number
of prisoners including Skatzes had stabbed, strangled, and battered the
victim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the medical examiner (Dr.
Leopold Buerger) testified that Sommers had been killed by a single, massive
blow to the head, struck by a blunt instrument such as a baseball bat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The testimony of prosecution
witness Snodgrass, as to where Skatzes was and what he did when, was
inconsistent with the testimony of the medical examiner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snodgrass testified that as Sommers lay face
down on the floor, Skatzes stood behind him and hit him with a baseball bat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Buerger testified that the fatal blow had
been struck from the front, apparently when Sommers was in a sitting position.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Snodgrass also testified that
Skatzes had struck the first in a series of blows that killed Sommers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Buerger’s expert medical opinion was that
the massive blow that crushed Sommers’ skull and caused his death was the last
and final act of aggression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Moreover, the prosecution in a
subsequent separate trial sought and achieved <b>the conviction of another
prisoner, Aaron Jefferson, for striking the same blow!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once more, Dr. Buerger testified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>State v. Jefferson, </i>Tr. at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>267-68, 275, 283.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again he insisted that the cause of death was
one single massive blow to the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Asked whether the fatal injuries could have been the result of multiple
blows, the doctor pointed to a picture of the head and told the jury that all
the underlying skull fractures were the result of “just that one blow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
A bloody baseball bat found across
the corridor from the shower where Sommers’ body was found was destroyed by
order of the chief Lucasville prosecutor, Mark Piepmeier.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robb and Skatzes were found guilty of the
murder of David Sommers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The prosecution’s story was that a
group of Aryans including Robb went to L-3 with the intent of killing prisoners
Creager, Copeland and Newell, who they thought had planned a coup within the
coup to take leadership of the rebellion away from its initial spokespersons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Muslim prisoners had locked the
three men in cells for their protection, according to the State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robb was allegedly dispatched to bring the
three to L-7 so that they could be killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, according to a prosecution witness, Creager and Copeland had
converted to the Muslim faith and their co-religionists would not release them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Accordingly, when Robb returned to
L-7 after speaking to the Muslims, someone—perhaps Snodgrass, perhaps Jesse
Bocook—supposedly said, “What about that bitch Sommers?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David Sommers had monitored operation of the
telephone by means of which Skatzes and others had conducted their negotiations
with the authorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prosecution’s
theory was that Sommers had to be killed because he knew too much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Then came a bizarre link in the
cause and effect proposed by the prosecutors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Robb, it was said, was sent to L-2 with the task of luring Sommers to
L-7 so that he could be killed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But the evidence at trial was that <b>Sommers
had chased Robb</b> to pod L-7!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Robb
was <b>never alleged to have touched Sommers or to have been anywhere near
Sommers when he was killed</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
Nor was there any solid
evidence a specific intent on Jason Robb’s part to harm or murder David
Sommers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its totality, the evidence
of Robb’s intent was a statement from the ever-present Stacey Gordon to the
effect that he heard Robb and Sanders discussing the need to silence Sommers as
the two left a meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gordon could not
remember the day or date of the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gordon said that the meeting involved only Lavelle, Sanders and Robb
although no other witness testified that there had ever been such a
meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, the trial court
concluded:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“On the last day of the riot
. . . Carlos Sanders and Robb ordered the killing of David Sommers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What Did the Five Actually Do?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Three of</b> t<b>he five men
sentenced to death and awaiting execution were, in fact, leaders in seeking and
bringing about a peaceful settlement</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Siddique Abdullah Hasan</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true that Hasan took part in planning
what he hoped would be a brief and peaceful occupation of L-6 to protest Warden
Tate’s intention of injecting prisoners with a substance containing phenol, a
form of alcohol, to test for TB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hasan
had brought to the Warden’s attention a letter from Muslim religious
authorities in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, condemning the test as contrary to
the Islamic religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His counsel also
sought to call as a witness at his trial a prisoner who, at a different Ohio
prison, had been tested for TB by a different method.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Moreover, after the disturbance
began, Hasan took pains to cause a number of prisoners who he thought might be
suspected “snitches” to be locked in cells for their own protection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Finally, Hasan was one of three men
who negotiated a peaceful surrender of the approximately 400 prisoners in
L-block, as well as the release of the hostages still being held.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>George Skatzes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>In the early hours of the rebellion,
Skatzes made sure that a severely wounded prisoner (John Fryman) and three
severely wounded correctional officers (Harold Fraley, John Kemper, and Robert
Schroeder) were placed where they could be retrieved by the authorities so as
to receive medical attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On Monday, April 12, Skatzes was
one of two men who went out on the yard to attempt to begin settlement
negotiations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
From Tuesday, April 13 through
Thursday, April 15, Skatzes communicated with representatives of the
authorities by telephone in an effort to arrange a peaceful resolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the evening of April 14, Skatzes and
prison negotiator Dave Burchett thought they had arrived at a basis for
settlement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that understanding was
rejected by a committee of prisoner representatives the next morning, Skatzes
again went on the telephone, pleading with the authorities to turn water and
electricity back on in L-block so as to avert the murder of a hostage officer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On the evening of April 15, Skatzes
accompanied correctional Officer Darrold Clark to the yard, where Clark was
released.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skatzes then made a radio
address in which he sought to explain the prisoners’ concerns and stressed a
desire to avoid more “unnecessary murders.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Skatzes’ trial, Officer Jeff Ratcliff
testified that Skatzes had saved his life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Jason Robb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Robb was found guilty of the aggravated
murder of Officer Vallandingham on the basis of a taped transcript of the
prisoners’ meeting on the morning of April 15 which, in fact, did not decide to
kill a guard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Robb, like Hasan, was one of the three
men who negotiated a peaceful surrender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Attorney Niki Schwartz testified at Robb’s trial about the significant
contribution Robb had made to averting a bloodbath like that which ended the
Attica uprising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schwartz told Robb’s
jury that Jason</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
deserved a large part of the credit for the
peaceful resolution of . . . the riot, that he had stuck his neck out as a lead
negotiator, that he had been selfless in negotiating, not trying to . . .
feather his own nest, but generally negotiated on behalf of the inmates, that
his concerns were legitimate ones, that he was reasonable in . . . accepting
things that couldn’t be changed or negotiated or wouldn’t be agreed to by the
other side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
At Attica in 1971, armed agents of
the state stormed the occupied recreation yard and more than forty human beings
-- hostage correctional officers as well as prisoners -- were killed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
Lucasville in 1993, after an occupation roughly three times as long as at
Attica, ten people died.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>On Singling Out Leaders.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>Thus
our generalization stands:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The State
does not know who did the murders, and so they targeted five men whom they
considered leaders and convicted them for aggravated murder on the basis of the
doctrine of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“complicity.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
prisoners in rebellion saw it coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the bedsheets that they hung out the windows of L-block they demanded:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No selection of supposed leaders!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their telephone negotiations the prisoners
declared:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There must not be any
singling out or selection of any inmate or group of leaders as supposed leaders
in this alleged riot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the list
of 21 demands agreed to by the authorities as the basis for surrender, and
signed by Warden Tate, Point No. 2 stated explicitly:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b>Administrative discipline and criminal
proceedings will be fairly and impartially administered without bias against
individuals or groups</b>.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But from
the very first moments after the surrender, the authorities, whether
correctional officers or prosecutors, were intent to blame everything on
supposed leaders.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John Fryman
was a prisoner who was assaulted by other prisoners and almost killed as the
rebellion began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was no friend of the
insurrectionists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confined to the prison
infirmary after the surrender, Fryman was accosted by correctional
officers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He later stated in an
affidavit:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
They made it clear that they wanted the
leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted to prosecute Hasan,
George Skatzes, Lavelle, Jason Robb, and another Muslim whose name I don’t
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had not yet begun their
investigation but they knew they wanted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>those leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joked with them
and said, “You basically don’t care what I say as long as it’s against these
guys.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said, “Yeah, that’s it.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
prisoner in the infirmary who had no reason to make up testimony favorable to
riot participants was Emanuel “Buddy” Newell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was one of three men whom the Aryans may have wanted to assault on
the last day of the occupation, and was actually assaulted with intent to kill
by Rodger Snodgrass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Newell states
under oath, in another affidavit, that as he too lay in the infirmary after the
surrender, Lieutenant James Root, lead investigator Sergeant Howard Hudson, and
Troopers Randy McGough and Cary Sayers talked with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Newell:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
These officers said, “We want Skatzes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want Lavelle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want Hasan.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also said, “We know they were
leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to burn their ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to put them in the electric chair for
murdering Officer Vallandingham.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Similarly,
Hasan’s prosecutor told the jury that the entire sequence of events between
April 11 and April 21 should be blamed on Hasan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hasan’s defense counsel were not permitted to
present evidence as to the causes of the prisoner rebellion at SOCF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No such restriction was imposed on counsel
for the State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prosecutor Gerald
Krumpelbeck began his opening statement to the jury in <i>State v. Sanders</i>
as follows:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Ladies and gentlemen, let
me introduce you to the riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility of
Easter Day, April 11, 1993.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
evidence will show, to begin with, that this riot is misnamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This riot was the idea of one man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This riot was planned by one man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This riot was organized by one man.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
In closing
argument in the same trial, co-prosecutor Richard Gibson sounded the same
theme:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Whose riot was this? . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who called for this riot? . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies and gentlemen, first and foremost,
this was his riot.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Testifying in Robb’s trial, Attorney Schwartz concluded that
implementation of the assurance in Point Two of the settlement agreement that
criminal prosecutions would be fair had been “an absolute disaster.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Shared
Responsibility</b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>The essence of the State’s approach to what happened
at Lucasville is 1) not knowing who really committed the murders, and so 2)
singling out “leaders” as responsible for everything done by anyone.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is guilt by association.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is scapegoating. A new capital punishment
law had been enacted by the state legislature several years before but there
had been no executions pursuant to its provisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the uprising, about 26,000 residents of
southern Ohio signed petitions and form letters demanding that the capital
punishment statute of Ohio “be applied.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Investigators and prosecutors were under heavy pressure to convict and
punish somebody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In reality, <b>both sides, the prisoners and the authorities,
share responsibility for what happened</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Warden
Tate took the unnecessarily rigid position that Muslim prisoners should be
injected for TB in the manner he had decided, even though there were other
methods, equally acceptable from a medical point of view, one of which had been
used in another Ohio prison. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The Warden
left SOCF undermanned for the Easter weekend even though he had been warned of
a possible disturbance, and failed adequately to inform those in charge of
predictable trouble.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
It took an
inexplicably long time for forces of the State to mobilize a response when the
prisoners took over L-block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
every reason to believe that the uprising could have been ended quickly,
without bloodshed, had the authorities acted promptly.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
The
so-called “safewells” in each pod of L-block in which several officers took
refuge proved not to be safe from assault by prisoners.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Proceeding
under a mistaken theory that the longer the siege, the less likelihood there
would be that hostages would be harmed, the authorities deliberately
stalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Following
an equally erroneous strategy of making life in L-block as difficult as
possible, the authorities turned off electric power and water for that part of
the prison. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, Ms. Unwin’s unfortunate remark on
April 14 that the prisoners’ threat </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
to kill a guard, written on
a bedsheet, was a “standard threat” and “nothing new,” was perceived in
retrospect by both prisoners and hostage officers in L-block to have been the
incident that triggered Officer Vallandingham’s murder. Indeed, <b>the union’s
written report on the uprising stated that Ms. Unwin’s comment “practically
guaranteed the hostage death [because] the inmates were almost forced to kill
or maim a hostage.”</b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is not to deny or de-emphasize the fact that several
prisoners, most of them presently unknown, carried out ten brutal improvised
executions of defenseless human beings.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Whatever
entrance to this maze is chosen by an investigator, one comes in the end to a
tangle of shared responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
To say, in
the face of the evidence, that the present sentences should be carried out,
that five men should be executed and a dozen others serve what may amount to
the rest of their lives behind bars, when in truth the State does not know who
did the killings, or is concealing their identities, would be stubborn and
irresponsible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-2722546795510168562012-12-04T13:01:00.000-08:002013-02-05T13:01:26.587-08:00Ojore Lutalo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://notmytribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ojore-nuru-lutalo-otero-sheriff-office-mug-shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://notmytribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ojore-nuru-lutalo-otero-sheriff-office-mug-shot.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Ojore Lutalo is a recognized United States Political Prisoner. He wa<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">s</span> held in new Jersey's State Prison's infamous Management Control Unit for 22 years of day in and day out, month in and month out solitary confinement. He was interned in this unit in an effort to break his mind and neutralize his radical political beliefs stemming from the Black Liberation Movements of the 1970's. Ojore is a political anarchist believing that people have the capacity to govern themselves through the process of consensus. Ojore, and other political radicals in US prisons have evidence of ongoing government surveillance. His release from this documented torture was ordered in 2009 via a court order. Ojore's freedom was interrupted last January 26 when he was "disappeared" from an Amtrak train, arrested and charged with "endangering public transportation". All of those charges were dropped. His story is the story of how the US uses psychological and physical torture for political reasons. Ojore's story is embedded in a report submitted to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review Working Committee which is due to review US political repression and the existence of US political prisoners this November.Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-65994094104232638642012-12-04T12:55:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:55:58.999-08:00Bonnie Kerness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://solitarywatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bonnie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://solitarywatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bonnie.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
Bonnie Kerness has been an anti-racist activist since she was 14, working at the University<br />Settlement House as a volunteer on issues of housing, and gangs. In 1961, at the age of 19, she<br />moved to Tennessee to participate in the Civil Rights Movement. In Memphis she was trained<br />as a community organizer by the NAACP. She continued her work and training at Highlander<br />Training School in Knoxville, where organizers from throughout the Civil Rights movement met<br />for training and brainstorming. Bonnie moved back North in 1970 and became active with welfare<br />rights, tenants rights and anti-war issues.<br /><br />Bonnie gained her Masters in Social Work and has served as a human rights advocate on behalf<br />of prisoners since 1975. Bonnie supervised the Family Stabilization Project, a re-entry services<br />project for the AFSC for over 15 years. She is currently Coordinator of AFSC’s Prison Watch<br />Project , which has isolation, other forms of no-touch torture and use of devices of torture in US<br />prisons as a primary focus. She has served as Associate Director and Acting Director of the<br />AFSC Criminal Justice Program in Newark and the National Coordinator of the Campaign to Stop<br />Control Unit Prisons. She serves on the Advisory Committee of California Prison Focus, Women<br />Who Never Give Up, and Solitarywatch.<br /><br />She has helped publish, “Our Children’s House – testimonies of Youth in Juvenile Detention”;<br />a play also called “Our Children’s House”; “Torture in US Prisons – Evidence of US Human<br />Rights Violations; “The Prison Inside the Prison: Control Units, Supermax Prisons and Devices<br />of Torture”, the Survivor’s Manual (written by and for people living in isolation) and “”Inalienable<br />Rights – Applying International human rights standards to the US criminal justice system”.”<br />Bonnie speaks widely on behalf of men, women and children in prison about US human rights<br />violations of the UN Convention Against Torture. She has been quoted in articles, books and<br />other publications on prison related subjects.Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-12453340557868895972012-12-04T12:37:00.000-08:002013-03-09T09:35:58.529-08:00Ben Turk<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ben Turk</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Ben volunteers with <a href="http://redbirdprisonabolition.org/">RedBird Prison Abolition</a> and occasionally tours the DIY theatre circuit with<a href="http://insurgenttheatre.org/"> Insurgent Theatre</a>.
He administers LucasvilleAmnesty.org and has been involved in
organizing with the survivors of the Lucasville Uprising since January
2011. </div>
</span></span></span><br />Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-59500928889891235942012-12-04T12:34:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:34:51.839-08:00Staughton and Alice Lynd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ohiocitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/lynds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ohiocitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/lynds.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Staughton and
Alice <span class="il">Lynd</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">The Lynds
have been supporters of the Lucasville uprising prisoners since 1996. They have
a long history of support for civil rights and for nonviolent alternatives to
war. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Staughton
was a history professor but no university would hire him after his activism
during the Vietnam War. First he,
and then Alice, went to law school and became labor lawyers. Staughton sued U.S. Steel in an
unsuccessful effort to keep steel mills from shutting down and to permit worker
community ownership. Alice worked
on employment discrimination cases, health and safety violations, and
represented retirees who lost pension and medical benefits as a result of plant
closings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As volunteer
attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, the Lynds were two
members of the team that brought a class action concerning the conditions of
confinement and due process rights of prisoners at the Ohio State Penitentiary.
That case went to the Supreme Court of the United States and established certain
procedural rights for supermaximum security prisoners nationwide. Staughton and Alice also wrote friend of
the court briefs on behalf of several of the men sentenced to death for their
alleged conduct during the Lucasville uprising. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Staughton
<span class="il">Lynd</span>’s book, <i>Lucasville: The
Untold Story of a Prison Uprising</i>, first published by Temple University
Press in 2004, is now available in a second edition published by PM Press, P. O.
Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94523.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Staughton
and Alice have been exceedingly generous and helpful to those who built this
site. They can be contacted via email at <a href="mailto:salynd@aol.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="il">salynd</span>@aol.com</span></a>. More
from Staughton <span class="il">Lynd</span>, <a href="http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/search/label/Staughton%20Lynd" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">here</span></a>.</div>
</span></span></span></span>Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-28402558299994893492012-12-04T12:31:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:33:22.960-08:00Bob and Suzanne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fitrakisforcongress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/BobandSuzanneOldetown-e1347244387441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://fitrakisforcongress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/BobandSuzanneOldetown-e1347244387441.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2 style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Bob Fitrakis and Suzanne Patzer</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bob Fitrakis</b> is a Political Science Professor in the Social and
Behavioral Sciences department at Columbus State Community College,
where he won the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1991. He was a Ford
Foundation Fellow to the Michigan State legislature in 1975 and studied
at the University of Sarejevo on scholarship in 1978. Fitrakis earned a
J.D. from the Ohio State Univeristy Mortitz College of Law in 2002. His
Ph.D is in Political Science from Wayne State University in Detroit,
Michigan. He has also taught political theory at the University of
Michigan-Dearborn and political science at Wayne State University and
Oakland Community College.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> He is the author of five <i>Fitrakis Files</i> books: <i>Spooks, Nukes & Nazis</i>, <i>Free Byrd & Other Cries for Justice</i>, <i>A Schoolhouse Divided,</i> <i>The Brothers Voinovich and the Ohiogate Scandal</i> and <i>Star Wars, Weather Mods and Full Spectrum Dominance.</i> compilations of his writings at the <i>Free Press</i> and <i>Columbus Alive.</i> Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman co-wrote <i>Did George W. Bush Steal America's 2004 Election? Essential Documents</i>and <i>What Happened in Ohio? A documentary record of theft and fraud in the 2004 election</i> (New Press 2006) (with Steve Rosenfeld) and <i>How the GOP Stole America's 2004 Election & Is Rigging 2008,</i> <i>George W. Bush vs. The SuperPower of Peace</i> in 2003 and <i>Imprison Bush</i> in 2004-2005. Fitrakis also wrote <i>The Idea of Democratic Socialism in America and the Decline of the Socialist Party </i>(Garland
Publishers 1993). Dr. Fitrakis is a frequent speaker on political,
labor and social policy issues at national academic and political
conferences.</span></div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-88885422582770974032012-12-04T10:18:00.000-08:002013-02-07T10:18:27.626-08:00Kunta Kenyatta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.prisonersolidarity.org/KenyattaAbout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.prisonersolidarity.org/KenyattaAbout.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Kunta Kenyatta</b>A former prisoner and activist, who was serving time at Lucasville
during the uprising, and author of several short stories about the
prison system.Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-5488366684564289012012-10-29T12:45:00.001-07:002012-10-29T12:45:11.335-07:00RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: ESSAY 6<div class="MsoTitle">
RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: ESSAY 6</div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
By Staughton Lynd</div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s try to visualize
the most unfair criminal trial we can imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s make a </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">list of elements that might be part of such an unjust proceeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The list might include the following elements. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge excuses one potential jury member
after another who states that he </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">or she could not in good conscience recommend the death penalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The evidence in support of convicting the defendant
consists entirely of </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">testimony<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by other prisoners.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Each of these elements was present in the trial of
George Skatzes, who was found </span></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">guilty and sentenced to death for the aggravated murder of prisoners
Earl Elder and </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">David Sommers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, in
the portion of the trial concerning Mr. Elder’s death:</span></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Skatzes was sentenced to death for allegedly
ordering prisoner Rodger </span></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Snodgrass
to murder Earl Elder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Snodgrass, a
prosecution witness, testified that </span></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Elder
was still alive when he left Elder’s cell. </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The medical examiner testified that Elder’s fatal
wounds were caused by a </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">broad blade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Snodgrass
himself as well as another prosecution witness, Tim </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Williams, testified that the weapon supposedly carried by Snodgrass was
a thin, icepick-</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">like shank that made small, round holes. </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim Williams was himself named by two other
prisoners as one of the three men who actually killed Elder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Williams is now on the street.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
prisoner, Eric Girdy, has confessed to being one of those three men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Girdy has repeatedly stated under oath that Skatzes was
nowhere around at the time and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
had nothing to do with what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Girdy testified that the weapon he used was a piece of broken glass from
an </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
officers’ restroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The medical examiner testified that he found a shard of glass in one </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of the potentially lethal wounds made by a broad blade. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Girdy’s belated confession was accepted as true by the special
prosecutor </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and Girdy was duly sentenced in the Scioto County Court of
Common Pleas. </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">In the portion of the trial concerning the murder of
David Sommers:</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several
weeks after Skatzes was convicted and sentenced to death for </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Sommers’ homicide, prisoner Aaron Jefferson, in a separate trial, was
found guilty of </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">allegedly committing the same murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in the trial of Skatzes, when Jefferson
was tried for killing Sommers the medical examiner testified once again that
Sommers had died as the result of a single, fatal blow by an instrument like a
baseball bat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus two men were found
guilty of striking the same lethal blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Ohio Court of Appeals determined that
there was no way to prove which man had struck the fatal blow, but Skatzes was
guilty anyway because of his “complicity” in the murder and his sentence of
death should be affirmed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing has been done to vacate George
Skatzes’ death sentence for the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
aggravated murders of Elder and Sommers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1>
What Skatzes Says</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>George
Skatzes has written a statement from which the following are excerpts:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Twenty eight years and
counting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am totally at my wits’
end!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please let me explain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please hear me out!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
testimony by the inmates in the Earl Elder murder was contradicted and
undermined by the testimony of the forensic pathologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet all this means nothing to the
courts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Skatzes was found guilty
and that is that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justice?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ohio
Jury Instructions 409.56, Other Causes, Intervening Causes, states:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If the defendant inflicted an injury not
likely to produce death, and if the sole and only cause of death was a fatal
injury inflicted by another person, the defendant who inflicted the original
injury is not responsible for the death.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>[George adds:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing
true about Snodgrass’ testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if,
for the sake of argument, we assumed that Snodgrass was telling the truth,
since Snodgrass said Elder was alive when Snodgrass left his cell, under Jury
Instruction 409.56 Skatzes could only have been guilty of <b>attempted </b>murder.]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the case of David Sommers, there is no physical evidence to link George Skatzes
to the crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inmates who testified
against George Skatzes are self-admitted participants in the murder!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
have two people convicted for causing the death of David Sommers by dealing a
single massive blow to the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
people convicted for the very same act?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The object is, of course, to convict at any cost!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Summing up his trial and convictions, Skatzes declares:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
We have a man convicted and sentenced to death only
on the word of jailhouse snitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was their word alone without any independent objective and corroborating
evidence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Law Versus
Justice</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In three
aspects of the courts’ proceedings concerning Mr. Skatzes and others of </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the Lucasville Five, prosecutors have been able to cite and
rely on the law as pronounced </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by state and federal courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that doesn’t mean that these convictions and sentencse </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
are just!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only
means that Skatzes, like other Lucasville defendants, is a victim of what </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
he calls “the criminal injustice system.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s
consider three of the judicial doctrines that stand between Lucasville<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
defendants and light at the end of the tunnel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in; text-align: center;">
<u>The Death Qualified Jury</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A jury’s recommendation of the death
penalty must be unanimous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes only
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
one juror in
twelve to prevent a recommendation for death. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But under current law in state and
federal courts, any potential juror who states </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
that he or she
opposes the death penalty under all circumstances will almost surely be </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
“excused,” that
is, excluded, from jury service in a capital case.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In contrast, a juror who indicates
support for the death penalty is asked another </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
question, namely,
Would you follow the instructions of the judge about the law?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
juror answers,
Yes,<i> </i>then that juror may be seated even though he or she favors the
death </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
penalty just as
strongly as opponents of the death penalty oppose it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The following extracts show the
doctrine of the “death qualified jury” at</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work during the “voir dire” (jury selection
process) in the case of George Skatzes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
<i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Juror
#1</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in;">
THE
COURT: . . . I have a question I want to ask you. . . . [I]n a proper case
where the facts warrant it and the law permits it, could you join in with
others in signing a verdict form which might recommend to the Court the
imposition of the death penalty?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, sir.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
THE
COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t believe you could do
so?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
THE
COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under any circumstances?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
THE
COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell me why?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a brother who was murdered and I found
it in my heart to forgive that man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would not have found him guilty to the extent that his life would be taken.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>THE
COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, you feel that if
you didn’t do it in your brother’s case, you wouldn’t do it in any other case,
right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right. . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[DEFENSE
ATTORNEY]: . . . Do you feel that this is a teaching of your church?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so much a teaching of my church as it is
an understanding of mine that I do not create life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not giver of life, so I feel that it’s
not my responsibility or within reason to expect me to take a life. . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>THE COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may step down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
<i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Juror
#8</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>THE
COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . In a proper case, where the
facts warrant it and the law permits it, could you join in with the other
jurors in signing a verdict form which would recommend to the Court the death
penalty?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, your Honor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY]:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . We brought you here
because we want to discuss with you your views on capital punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you share them with us, please?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I strongly believe in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish they were enforced more often.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY]:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . Do you believe the
death penalty is the only appropriate penalty in all cases of an intentional
killing?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY]:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that mean?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY]:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . You can think of the
wors[t] crime that comes to your mind and if you find that person guilty at the
first phase, we don’t go straight to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have the second hearing at which point you would get additional
evidence to consider in making your decision as to what punishment is
appropriate. . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>What
we need to know is whether you could set aside your thoughts as to what you
think the law should be and follow the law that the Judge gives you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in .5in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in .5in; text-indent: -1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY]:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you found someone guilty
of a horrible, horrible crime, as bad as you can think of, would you be willing
to keep an open mind and listen to the evidence at the second phase before
making a decision as to which penalty is appropriate?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY]:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how bad the crime?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>. .
. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>THE
COURT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . We want you back [to serve
as a juror in the case].</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
With the doctrine of the
death-qualified jury before us, there should be no </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
difficulty in understanding why, in such a high percentage
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cases, Lucasville </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
prosecutors either won a favorable jury decision or entered
into a favorable plea </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one
public forum concerning George Skatzes, known to fellow prisoners </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
as “Big George,” an attender who had read the dialogue
between the judge and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>potential </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
jurors<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>commented:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Big George is in Big
Trouble.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Studies cited by the American Bar
Association and the American Law Institute </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
indicate that the process of selecting a
death-qualified jury produces juries that are more </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
likely to convict the defendant during the guilt
phase of the trial, and more likely to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
impose the death penalty during the sentencing
phase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Paul Stevens, retired
Justice </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
of the United States Supreme Court, stated when he
was on the bench that this rule </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
“deprive[s] the defendant of a trial by jurors
representing a fair cross-section of the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
community.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is convinced that “the process of obtaining a ‘death qualified jury’ is </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
really a procedure that has the purpose and effect of
obtaining a jury that is biased in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
favor of conviction.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
The Doctrine of Complicity</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A familiar
hypothetical presents the problem of a group of bank robbers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Robber A is
the driver of the getaway car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While his
companions enter the bank, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
he stays at the wheel of their vehicle, perhaps listening to
the car radio or reading the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
newspaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meantime,
the men actually in the bank encounter difficulties, there is a</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>scuffle, robber B
uses his gun, and a bank teller falls to the floor, dead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What should
be the punishment of robber A?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under
Ohio law he can be found to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
be “complicit” in the entire criminal course of conduct, and
presumed to be just as guilty </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
as the man who pulled the trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, whereas under Ohio law someone
guilty of </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“conspiracy” to rob the bank would not be eligible for the
death penalty, under the Ohio </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
law of “complicity” every one in the group would be exposed
to the possibility of </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
execution. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
After Aaron Jefferson was convicted
of striking the same fatal blow for which </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Skatzes had been convicted, an Ohio Court of Appeals
considered the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The court began its explanation by stating:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Skatzes contends that his due process rights
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
were violated because the state charged and convicted two
inmates—Skatzes and Aaron </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jefferson—with the murder of David Sommers, when the
evidence suggested only one </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
fatal blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He argues
that these [were] ‘inherently factually contradictory theories’.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not so, the
court continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The state’s theory was
that both Skatzes and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jefferson were complicit in the crime; there was no way to
prove who had inflicted the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
fatal head injury. . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A defendant charged with an offense may be convicted of that </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
offense upon proof that he was complicit in its
commission.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The court may not have read the
transcript of the Skatzes and Jefferson trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
closing argument in the Skatzes trial, Prosecutor Daniel
Hogan did <b>not </b>say, “there was no </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
way to prove who had inflicted the fatal head injury.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, Hogan asked the jury to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
think “about David Sommers, . . . the one where [Skatzes]
wielded a bat and literally beat </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the brains out of this man’s head.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>State v. Skatzes</i>, p. 6108.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the Jefferson trial, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prosecutor Crowe told the jury:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
there was only one blow to the head of David Sommers, the strongest evidence
you have [is that] this is the individual—I won’t call him a human—this is the
individual that administered that blow. . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If there was only one blow, he’s the one that gave it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s the one that hit him like a steer going
through the stockyard, the executioner with the pick axe, trying to put the
pick through the brain.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<i>State v. Jefferson</i>,
Tr. at 656-57.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The court also failed to mention that whereas Jefferson
was sentenced to many </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
years behind bars, Skatzes
was sentenced to death.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Jason Robb
was the victim of a prosecution theory about Sommers’ murder that </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
was equally bizarre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to prosecution witnesses, Sommers
chased Robb from L-</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
2 to L-7, where Sommers was
beaten to death by prisoners other than Robb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet Robb </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
was convicted and sentenced
to death for Sommers’ murder!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
Ineffective Prohibition of Snitch Testimony</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Heightened
reliability is required in capital cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Convictions based on the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
testimony of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>informants, who are offered reduced charges, parole, or other benefits
in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
exchange for their testimony, are inherently unreliable in
the absence of independent and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
objective corroborating evidence connecting the defendant to
the crime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
recognition of the unreliability of informant testimony, the House of Delegates
</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
of the American Bar Association
resolved on February 14, 2005, that the ABA “urges </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in;">
federal, state,
local, and territorial governments to reduce the risk of convicting the
innocent, while increasing the likelihood of convicting the guilty, by ensuring
that no prosecution should occur based solely upon uncorroborated jailhouse
informant testimony.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, the
California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice declared in 2006:</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: .5in;">
A conviction can not
be had upon the testimony of an in-custody informant unless it shall be
corroborated by such other evidence as shall independently tend to connect the
defendant with the commission of the offense . . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corroboration of an in-custody informant
cannot be provided by the testimony of another in-custody informant.</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Lucasville prosecutions ignored
the necessity for objective corroboration of </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in;">
informant
testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The uncorroborated testimony
of prisoner informants, so-called </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in;">
“snitch” testimony,
was the principal basis for every Lucasville capital conviction.</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One way in which Ohio seeks to guard
against the perjury of snitches is by requiring the judge to give the following
instruction to the jury.</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: .5in;">
The testimony of an
accomplice does not become inadmissible because of his complicity, moral
turpitude, or self-interest, but the admitted or claimed complicity of a
witness may affect his credibility and make his testimony subject to grave
suspicion, and require that it be weighed with great caution.</div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
However, common sense suggests that
reading to a jury a long sentence that begins with </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
a double negative and is made up of
polysyllabic and unfamiliar words is unlikely to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
protect a defendant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prosecutors have many ways to make perjured
testimony appear </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
convincing to a jury. For example, an
informer may describe the scene of a crime with </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
seeming truthfulness since,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after all, often the witness was actually
there and simply </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
ascribes to others the actions he
himself committed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
The Lucasville
prosecutors used a variety of techniques to procure compliant </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
prisoner informants and prepare them
for trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Skatzes’ trial, prosecutor
(now Ohio </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
judge) Daniel Hogan admitted that
Daniel Stead, who prosecuted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the trial
with him, had </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
told a wavering prisoner, “you are
either going to be my witness, or I’m going to come </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
back and try to kill you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In preparing prisoner Robert Brookover as a
witness,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
prosecutors hit him with a rolled-up
newspaper until he stopped beginning each sentence </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
of his testimony with the words, “I’m
not going<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to lie to you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by bringing potential </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
prosecution witnesses together at the
so-called “snitch academy” in Lima, Ohio, </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
prosecutors sought to ensure that
their witnesses at trial would tell consistent stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
Ohio
court opinions also emphasize, as a second shield against unreliable snitch </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in;">
testimony, the right
of the defense to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this right </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
was
systematically obstructed by Lucasville prosecutors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically, officers of the Ohio </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
State
Highway Patrol interviewed potential prosecution witnesses as many as half a
dozen times before trial. Summaries of these interviews were then entered into
a computer database.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But only when the
witness began to provide the narrative that the </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
prosecution
desired were his remarks likely to be preserved in the form of a tape-recorded </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
interview
or deposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This prosecution-friendly
final product could then be provided<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to
the defense in “discovery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The database
entries might have revealed how much the testimony of the witness had changed
over time as it was shaped by interviewers from </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
the
state. These entries were often not produced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But in Keith LaMar’s case, prosecutors successfully impeached the
testimony of defense witness Gino Washington by using </div>
<div class="MsoFooter" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>interview records that had not been produced
in discovery. </div>
<h1>
Defense Alternatives</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Lucasville capital defendants were
faced with an excruciating choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
If they had not
killed anyone during the eleven days, they had the right to go to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
trial and try to convince a jury of
their innocence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But their juries would
be made up of </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
men and women willing to recommend
the death penalty; their trials would be governed </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
by the doctrine of complicity;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and their trial court judges would have no
way to assure defendants of the good faith and credibility of prosecution
witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
However if, recognizing that the
dice were loaded, the defendant elected to plea </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
bargain, the best possible outcome was likely to be
imprisonment for life.</div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906838632686397048.post-64650510131188607612012-10-09T20:28:00.005-07:002012-10-09T20:38:31.095-07:00RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE : ESSAY 5<br />
<b>By Staughton Lynd</b><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Representation
on behalf of the five Lucasville defendants condemned to death has been
frustrated by the prosecution’s unwillingness to turn over to lawyers for the
defense the records of its own interviews with potential witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, during the winter of 2011-2012,
lawyers for four of the five capital defendants won the right to see summaries
and transcripts of investigators’ interviews (for the most part conducted by
officers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol) with Lucasville prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The labor of collecting and evaluating this
material has barely begun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
What this, and the
several following essays, will report is what can be concluded at this time as
to each of the ten murders and the case against each of the five capital
defendants.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<h4>
<b><span style="font-style: normal;">The Death Squad</span></b></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i>All
the murders during the eleven days were horrific, inasmuch as they were to some
degree premeditated, and were carried out against unarmed and helpless victims.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
But the murders in the very first
hours of the disturbance on the afternoon of Sunday, April 11, are among the
most troubling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group of prisoners
that came to be known as the “death squad” went from cell to cell in L-6,
dragged individual prisoners from their cells, injured<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>of them, and killed five:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Darrell
Depina, Franklin Farrell, Albert Staiano, William Svette, and Bruce Vitale.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These
homicides are also among the most puzzling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>L-6 was a block in which many Sunni Muslims were confined at the time of
the rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the rebellion it
was used to house hostage officers, who were blindfolded and initially placed
in one of the L-6 showers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prisoners
guarded the officers to make sure they were not harmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
L-6 was also used
to house a number of individual prisoners who were suspected of being
“snitches” for the SOCF administration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amid the chaos of the first moments of the uprising, Muslim leaders
directed that several of these potential victims should<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be locked in individual cells for their own
protection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Under the circumstances,
these arrangements were relatively farsighted and humane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The puzzle is how a situation that appears to
have been initially intended to protect life came to be transformed into a
situation that made the vulnerable suspects easy targets for their killers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
A prisoner named
James Edinburgh (or, in some records, Edinbaugh) celled in L-3, directly across
the corridor from L-6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He described to
the Highway Patrol how some of the eventual victims of the death squad were chosen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that after the uprising began, he and
other prisoners were ordered by insurgents to move out of their cells into the
L-corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat there, with Depina
and Vitale nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three prisoners, whom
he named (and who did not include LaMar), came out of L-6 into the corridor of
L-block and ordered Depina and Vitale inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Interview #1105, Tape #A-168, conducted by Trooper Fleming on December
2, 1993.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The next question,
of course, is what happened in L-6 after the men were locked up there?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br />
<b>Keith LaMar (Bomani Shakur)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i>The
prosecution decided that the death squad had been coordinated by Keith LaMar
(Exhibit 1).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LaMar was indicted for
several aggravated murders in the summer of 1994, went on trial in June 1995,
was found guilty, and sentenced to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As he went through this ordeal, he decided to adopt the name Bomani
Shakur, Swahili for “thankful, mighty warrior.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
LaMar has
written a booklet about his experience entitled <i>Condemned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>In it he tells us that on April 11, 1993,
he “was 23 years old, serving my fourth year on an 18 year-life sentence for
murder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he woke up that morning in
his cell in L-6, LaMar continues, he had no idea that the Muslims were having
problems with the administration about the proposed method of testing for TB,
and were planning a protest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around
12:30 p.m., LaMar joined three or four hundred other prisoners in the
recreation yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spent the next
couple of hours jogging.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
About 2:45
p.m., “the warning alarm sounded to alert us that it was time to start lining
up to reenter the building.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As LaMar
waited in line, a correctional officer came running out of the building with
blood streaming down his face, followed by a masked prisoner screaming, “We
taking over!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few minutes later,
several more masked prisoners appeared on the yard and announced that L-block
was now under their control.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Like many
other prisoners on the rec yard, LaMar was worried whether his personal
property was secure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He decided to go
back into L-block and check on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
he reached his cell he found that it was being used to hold an “inmate
hostage.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
Impulsively, he says, </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
I ran up to the control
panel with intentions of releasing this individual from my cell, and not really
understanding how to operate the panel, inadvertently opened several of the
adjoining cells which were also being used as holding cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing this, the individual previously
operating the panel screamed to me to leave the pod, and I was escorted out to
speak with one of the leaders who very briefly explained what was going
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was then given two options, to
leave or to stay and join the rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I chose to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was back on
the yard by 3:30 p.m. . . .</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
For all
of the above, see LaMar’s book, <i>Condemned</i>, pp. 15-20.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>LaMar writes that he was indicted for leading the death
squad only after the prosecution had begun to determine which prisoners were
prepared to become informants and had assembled many of them at the Oakwood
Correctional Institution, which became known as the “Snitch Academy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Emanuel
Newell was a prisoner who was very nearly killed at the end of the uprising by
other prisoners and for that reason cannot be viewed as biased in favor of the
insurgents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newell has described life
for the potential prosecution witnesses at Oakwood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cell doors were left open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commissary items were available in abundance
as were special meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Agreeing with
Newell, prisoner Anthony Walker stated in a deposition that prospective
witnesses at Oakwood got all the cigarettes they wanted and that their doors
were never locked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deposition of Anthony
Walker, Feb. 3, 2006, <i>LaMar v. Warden, </i>Civ. No 1:04CV00541 (U.S.D.Ct.,
S.D.Ohio).</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Newell also
stated under oath that prisoners at Oakwood were encouraged to coordinate their
narratives and, on occasion, prosecutors instructed witnesses what they were to
say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, according to Newell,
if a potential witness at the Snitch Academy described perpetrators who wore
masks, “We were advised that because the prosecutors required specific visual
identification” we should say that the accused did not wear masks and,
moreover, that it was the accused who committed the crimes about which the
witness was being questioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Affidavit
of Emanuel Newell, June 4, 2007, paragraphs 6-10.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The prisoner informants at the Snitch Academy did not
include the two most important prosecution witnesses against Keith LaMar:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lewis Jones and Stacey Gordon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jones and Gordon, like key prosecution
witnesses in other Lucasville trials (Anthony Lavelle, Rodger Snodgrass,
Kenneth Law and Robert Brookover), were “prepared” for trial individually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we will see, Jones appears to have
invented the bizarre theory used by prosecutors to explain LaMar’s alleged
behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Gordon, he may have
been the actual foreman of the death squad.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br />
<b>Lewis Jones</b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i>On July 27, 1993, Troopers Long and McLemore, as well
as Lieutenant James Root of the Highway Patrol Investigative Team, interviewed
prisoner Lewis Jones at the Lorain Correctional Institution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jones’ wife, Kim Jones, and his lawyer, Joel
Feld, were also present.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Jones
claimed that, after the disruption began, he was one of a group of prisoners in
the L-block corridor who wanted to go out to the rec yard, but were prevented
from doing so by Muslims guarding the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to Jones, the group came up with the idea that if they killed
several of the prisoners who had been locked up in L-6 as possible snitches,
they would then be permitted to leave L-block.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This theory is hard to take seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Homicide, even if “only” killing another
prisoner in the midst of a prison rebellion, is very likely greatly to extend a
perpetrator’s time behind bars and to cause the perpetrator to be segregated
from general population for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of the prisoners who stayed in L-block when the uprising began did not become
active participants in the insurgency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their aim was simply to survive it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often they sat and slept in the corridor near one or two particular
friends, eating and drinking what was available like everyone else, and coping
as best they could with the absence of electric light and water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would such a person jeopardize
hard-earned prison time by indiscriminate murder?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Besides
propounding this unlikely explanation for the genesis of the death squad, Jones
was one of a very few Lucasville prisoners who confessed to having been a death
squad member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Here is
Jones’ own account on the stand in LaMar’s trial, Tr. at 406-407.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
Q. How
did it come to be that you ended up in L6?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
A. Well,
group of inmates that I were with were talking amongst Muslims with the
bullhorn and questions were asked as if we going to L6 and kill all the
snitches, can we be let out to the yard . . . .</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
Q.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And so what’s the next thing that happened or the next thing that took
place?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
authorization was given to the guy with the bullhorn and it was transferred
back to the guy that was with us who asked the question . . . to the guy.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Q.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what
resulted as a result of those verbal exchanges, what took place, where did you
go, what took place next?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proceeded into
L2 block.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Q.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did you do in L2?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
particularly where guys were masked up, grabbed weapons and different things of
that nature.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Q.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of
weapons were grabbed?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shovels, bats,
weight bars.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Q.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did you
have?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weight bar.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
In the trial of another
alleged member of the death squad, Derek Cannon, Jones testified that he had
struck Bruce Vitale six or seven times with the weight bar.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
After he
agreed to be a prosecution witness, Lewis Jones was never indicted for
anything.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br />
<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><b>Stacey Gordon </b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i>Stacey Gordon was a tall African American and, like
Keith LaMar, a boxer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been
convicted of Aggravated Burglary in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in
October 1989.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the April 1993
uprising, he was indicted in March 1994 for Attempted Murder of prisoner Johnny
Fryman, and Felonious Assault on Correctional Officers Conrad Nagel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Kenneth Daniels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By his own admission he was also involved in
the murder of prisoner Bruce Harris on the last day of the uprising. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
About three
months before the Lucasville disturbance, Gordon had become a Muslim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long after the disturbance, in the
context of plea negotiations with the State and supposedly for religious
reasons, Gordon abandoned the Islamic faith.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Once
immunized by his plea agreement, Gordon made some extraordinary
admissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Gordon was
one of three Muslims who planned the takeover of L-block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>State v. Grinnell</i>, Tr. at 328.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Gordon was
one of three “security amirs”—that is, security commanders or officers--for the
Muslims involved in the April 1993 uprising, with special responsibility for
security in L-6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Gordon could have been
convicted for complicity in the kidnapping of every officer held in L-6.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He claimed to be the righthand man of Imam
Carlos Sanders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Id. </i>at 327,
330-331, 343.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Sanders
directed Gordon to make sure that prisoners did not assault other
prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sanders didn’t want anyone
harmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Id.</i> at 357-358, 361, 378,</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gordon was inside L-6 at the time of the death squad
murders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Id.</i> at 318, 365.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw and heard the homicides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Id.</i> at 321-324, 367.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As Gordon understood it, the L-6 cells in which
“snitches” were confined were not to be opened to let other prisoners come in
and kill those people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Id.</i> at
372.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gordon did nothing to prevent the killing of supposed snitches
in L-6 as the murders were being carried out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Id.</i> at 370, 374.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In addition to his own admissions, the statements of
several other prisoners point to Gordon as the man who may have engineered the
death-squad massacre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the habeas
appeal of the related case of <i>State v. Farocq a.k.a. Grinnell v. Russell, </i>Case
No. C-2-97-838,<i> </i>to the United States District Court, Southern District
of Ohio, Judge Algenon Marbley summarized as follows the relevant testimony of
prisoners Prentice Jackson and Leroy Elmore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both men testified that Stacey Gordon entered L-6 with the death squad
and directed the prisoners operating the L-6 console to open the doors of the
cells where inmate hostages were confined.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
Prentice Jackson . . .
was housed in L-3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Approximately one and
one-half hours after the riot began, he was ordered by unidentified inmates to
go to L-6 to get food. . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly
after he entered L-6, a group of men, including Gordon, came to the door and
Jackson observed [Grinnell] tell the group they could not come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jackson testified that [Grinnell] was then
threatened by Gordon who ordered [Grinnell] to man the console.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
Leroy Elmore, who was . .
. not housed in the L-Block, entered L-6 out of curiosity approximately twenty
minutes after the riot began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he
looked into L-6, he saw Gordon ordering everybody out of the block and Girdy at
the control panel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also saw Gordon
threaten [Grinnell] and tell him to work the control panel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also observed masked people with weapons
go to the top of the range.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
Opinion and Order, <i>Farocq
v. Russell</i> at 23-24, summarizing testimony at the trial of Timothy Grinnell
in the Court of Common Pleas, Tr. at 476-478 (Jackson), 521-523 (Elmore).<i> </i></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Significant testimony from other
prisoners corroborated the trial testimony of </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
Jackson
and Elmore. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Reginald Williams, a Muslim prisoner who testified for the prosecution,
told </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
Troopers
Brink and McGough of the Highway Patrol in Interview #867 on July 15, </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
1993,
that he had seen Stacey Gordon sitting at the L-6 console “letting these guys
out” </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
of the
cells.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
In Interview #871 on July 20, 1993, Tony Taylor, one of the prisoners
suspected<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
of
snitching and locked up for his own protection, told the Highway Patrol that
Stacey </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gordon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>had “come down the range” with the rest of the death squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taylor recognized </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
him
because Taylor celled in L6-16<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the
bottom range and Gordon celled in L-6-57 on </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
the
bottom range, directly across from Taylor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moreover, Taylor testified that Gordon </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
was not
wearing a mask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gordon, according to
Taylor, “helped kill Vitale and Depina.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
(Taylor
also stated that Gordon was in L-6 on the morning of April 15 when Officer </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
Vallandingham
was killed and, in fact, was one of two men who went to the cell on the </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
upper
range where Vallandingham was being held and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>brought him down to the shower, </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
where he
was murdered).</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Prisoner Edward Julious produced an affidavit that was later filed by
Grinnell in a </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
second
effort to obtain a new trial:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
A
prisoner named Stacey Gordon was assistant in charge of security for the Sunni
Muslim community on L side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A prisoner
named Timothy Grinnell for a time operated the console in L-6.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I heard the imam or prayer leader for the Muslim
community, Siddique Abdullah Hasan also known as Carlos Sanders, instruct Mr.
Grinnell that certain prisoners were to be locked up in L-6 for their own
protection and were not to be harmed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I witnessed Mr. Gordon enter L-6 with a group of
prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Gordon ordered Mr.
Grinnell to open the doors of the cells in which various prisoners were
confined whom Mr. Gordon described as “snitches.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr. Grinnell refused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Gordon and his associates left L-6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While he was absent, a prisoner named Eric Girdy replaced Mr. Grinnell
at the console.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr. Gordon returned and ordered Mr. Girdy to open cell
doors.<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Mr. Girdy did so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group that became known as the “death
squad” went from cell to cell, beating and killing the prisoners confined
there.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
Affidavit
of Edward Julious, Apr. 17, 2008.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
There were
additional problems with the theory that Keith LaMar coordinated the death
squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaron Jefferson sent a message to
prosecutors admitting that it was he who had killed Darrell Depina, and that no
other person told him to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he
made this confession, he was not even a suspect nor was he a friend of
LaMar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was doing three-to-fifteen
years and had no reason to lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet the
State failed to indict him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this
was because Jefferson was a member of a group called the Black Gangster
Disciples, headed by Anthony Lavelle, and Lavelle had become a key prosecution
witness.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Forthermore,
there were conflicting accounts of the murder of another supposed victim of the
death squad, William Svette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Svette was
said to have been carried out to the L-corridor while he was still alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, according to witness testimony,
prisoner Freddie Frakes beat Svette to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the State indicted Frakes for murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>What Did the Prosecution Do?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
In summary,
a good deal of evidence points to prisoners other than Keith LaMar. and
especially to Stacey Gordon as the figure at the center of the death squad
massacre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on his own admissions
and the testimony of other prisoners, even if Gordon did not lead the death
squad from cell to cell, he was a principal planner of the uprising and it was
he who was responsible for safeguarding hostage prisoners as well as hostage
officers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evidence suggests that
Gordon led the death squad to L-6; that after an initial rebuff he returned
with the death squad and was admitted; that he angrily told the men operating
the console to open the doors of the cells; and that he then looked on as the
members of the death squad did their bloody work.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Gordon was
not investigated and prosecuted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, the following occurred. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
First, on
September 8, 1994, the State dropped the most serious charges against Gordon,
reducing his sentence for conduct during the rebellion to three to five
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Exhibit 2.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Next, that
same day Assistant Prosecutor Steve Tolbert took a statement from Gordon in the
Court of Common Pleas of Scioto County, transcribed by Court Reporter Deborah
S. Adkins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tolbert asked Gordon if he
knew Keith LaMar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gordon answered, No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Tolbert asked:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Did you see Keith LaMar in the L-6 block in
the early hours of the riot at Lucasville?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gordon again answered, No.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Thereafter,
Gordon testified against LaMar and against the defendants in the other major
Lucasville trials.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
Lastly,
Gordon was released from prison in 2007.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<b>Why Didn’t Counsel for
LaMar Use This Information at Trial?</b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They didn’t use it because they didn’t have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LaMar’s prosecutor, Seth Tieger, declined to
give defense counsel the transcripts of interviews conducted by the State with
more than forty men who had been in L-6 during the afternoon of April 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, Tieger proffered two separate lists
to the judge in the trial court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first list contained very brief summaries of the Highway Patrol interviews but
deleted the names of the prisoner who were interviewed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second list contained the names of
forty-three prisoners who had been interviewed but not what they had said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was left to LaMar’s lawyers to guess which
prisoner had said what.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whether such withholding of information denied LaMar a
fair trial is the main issue in LaMar’s appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of
Appeals in Cincinnati.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Ben Turkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04838599516482103220noreply@blogger.com0