What happened and is happening to Rashid serves as a strong reminder of the unchecked power of the criminal injustice system. These District Attorneys, Police, Prison Officials, and Judges have all become complicit in the murdering of prisoners AND the retaliation against individuals who champion the causes of these tortured souls!
For us to remain silent makes us complicit too!
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
From Retaliation to Torture in a Florida Prison- Written by: Kevin "Rashid" Johnson
From Retaliation to Torture in a Florida Prison
Unfit for Habitation (2018)
By Kevin “Rashid” Johnson
Inhumane conditions
Known today as Florida State Prison (FSP) what was originally called Florida’s East Unit was
constructed in 1961, and included another institution now known as Union Correctional
Institution.
Nearly 60 years old, FSP has been poorly maintained with cellblocks unfit for habitation.
During Florida’s sweltering summer and autumn months the cells, lacking air conditioning,
become sweat boxes and infested with ants, spiders and huge cockroaches, with black mold
growing on the ceilings. Rats frequent the cell blocks year round and all cells suffer water
leakage from faulty plumbing and rainfall.
Paint peels from cell surfaces like large open sores, exposing oily concrete and the rusted
surfaces of metal bunks, doors and fixtures.
During the cold months the cells remain like refrigerators, so cold that even with multiple layers
of clothing and bedding one finds it difficult to get warm.
As I exposed in a recent article (1), this condition is caused by the large cell windows’ metal
shutters having become so warped that they don’t close at all or completely, and therefore admit
the cold outside air. But the cold air doesn’t just naturally drift into the cells, it is rather sucked in
by powerful exhaust fans mounted on top of each cellblock that remain on 24/7.
So while the prison does have internal heating, it does not work because all warm air that is
supposed to blow and circulate into the cells is sucked out through the exhaust fans, while they
suck in the cold outside air through the open and drafty windows.
In many cells this icy air is pulled in with such force it creates a loud whooshing sound. The
effect is like having a window fan turned on high and blowing outside winter air into an unheated
room (with outside temperatures in the 30-50°F range).
The windows in some cellblocks are in worse repair then in others. In fact, they are worst in the
disciplinary wings (B and C-wings), which seems intentional, where in these cellblocks prisoners
may not retain thermal underwear, and are allowed only one set of thin state-issued clothing.
They are also frequently targeted with strip cell status, on which they are left for no less than
three days in the cold cells with nothing but boxer shorts.
FSP maintains one of Florida’s main solitary confinement, or Close Management, units, where
prisoners remain locked inside single occupancy cells all day every day.
Many of these cellblocks have metal commodes that must be flushed by guards from outside the
cells. The guards often refuse requests to flush them, and many times these cells house mentally
ill prisoners who don’t request flushing.
Decades of these conditions have caused thick layers of rust, and residue of fermented body
waste to build up inside these commodes and their piping, which emits a horrible stench, that
cannot be cleaned. In most cases FSP officials seldom, or never, provide prisoners with supplies
with which to try and clean them.
One can readily see that living conditions in FSP are outright barbaric.
Inhumane retaliation
When I wrote my article, “Florida Prisoners are Laying it Down,” which was published online on
January 9, 2018, the FSP warden Barry Reddish incensed by my publishing abusive conditions in
Florida’s prisons – especially in FSP – had me targeted with a bogus retaliatory disciplinary
report (DR), charging me with “inciting to riot.” I exposed this abuse in a subsequent article. (2)
On January 19th a kangaroo ‘hearing’ was staged on the DR by others of Reddish’s subordinates,
who acted as prosecutors rather than impartial triers. The hearing team’s representative, a
classification worker named M. Albritton, argued that I had no rights to write anything and the
very fact of my article’s publicizing and criticizing prison conditions was punishable conduct in
the eyes of Florida Department of Corruption (FDOC) officials. This expressing their shared
aversion alongside Reddish to having the inhumane conditions at FSP exposed to the public.
The hearing was only a formality, as my fate was already decided from when Reddish first had
the retaliatory DR written. The conviction was planned before the hearing was even conducted –
I was told beforehand that I was already slated to be moved to B-wing on disciplinary
confinement status.
Accordingly, as soon as I left the ‘hearing’ to be returned to my cell I was instructed to pack my
property and was immediately moved to B-wing, in what was obviously one of the wing’s most
damaged cells (cell B1220).
The cell light was busted open, the commode wouldn’t flush and was clogged with debris and
fermented body waste, the sprinkler head was broken off, and of course the cell window
wouldn’t close. With outside temperatures in the 30°s that morning, the cell was literally
freezing. It was so cold in fact that I was only able to write two brief legal letters before my
hands stiffened and the ink in my pen became so thick from the cold that I couldn’t write
anymore.
The letters brought attention to this torturous and retaliatory abuse, but I remained with a
window that wouldn’t close from January 19th until January 26th when, while I was visiting with
an attorney, the warden decided to have the window ‘fixed.’
That morning he had a captain B. Woods enter the cell to ‘observe’ the outside air being sucked
in through the window with such force it sounded like a waterfall. During the attorney visit I was
able to have this captain admit, in the presence of the attorney and her assistant, that the window
indeed required repairing. He assured us that it had now been fixed.
It wasn’t repaired, however, but ‘fixed’ by maintenance workers bolting its warped shutters
down by power-drilling screws through them. This resulted in making the window unable to
open at all anymore, although it still admitted a draft. Which is telling, since it demonstrated
such severe structural damage and malfunctioning of FSP’s cell windows that they can’t be
repaired to operate as designed. Obviously, screwing more windows shut is no solution, because
then there’d be no air circulating into the cells at all, making them death traps during the
sweltering summer and autumn months.
So, while my cell window was screwed closed, all the other cells still have malfunctioning
windows and their occupants still suffer in extreme cold —and many are targeted daily with
abusive strip cell status as I discussed in my prior article “Time on Ice.” (3)
In fact several who were housed in cells around and next to me wrote sworn statements about
their own suffering in cells with damaged windows, and how strip cell status is routinely abused.
These prisoners included: Isaac Logan #W23317; Eduardo Vargas #L61184; Emanuel Edwards
#E37896; Urshima Weaver #J21206; Vincent Murphy, Jr. #A129485; Ulrick Watson #V28829;
Willy Brown # L80586; and Carlos Mendoza #B07979. (Their statements are posted with this
article.)
A Temporary Fix
But bolting the window closed in my cell wasn’t intended to correct or resolve my predicament.
It was only a reaction to deflect outside protests against, and attention to, the warden’s retaliatory
torture. Especially since I could and ultimately would be moved at any time to another cell with
yet another malfunctioning window. Which is exactly what occurred on February 7th, when I
was moved from B1220 to C1204. So I am now once again confined in a cell with a window in
almost the exact same condition as the one in my prior cell before it was bolted closed.
It is well known that many Florida prisons are in disrepair and unfit for habitation. This has been
exposed in the mainstream media and made the subject of state legislative hearings. (4) Yet, as
demonstrated, FSP remains and it’s prisoners continue to live in such inhumane conditions.
We need active, sustained public protest of these conditions and if they cannot be immediately
repaired, the prisoners should be removed from them.
Contact Florida legislators, like representative David Richardson, who sits on the criminal justice
subcommittee, about these conditions, and demand their correction or our removal from such
housing, and an end to my retaliatory treatment for publicizing such abuses.
Representative David Richardson can be reached at:
Capital Office
200 House Office Building
402 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399–1300
Phone: (850) 717-5113
District Office
Suite 402A
1701 Meridian Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139–1890
Phone: (305) 535-5426
Also, join and support Florida SPARC (Supporting Prisoners And Real Change), a new
organization composed of Florida prisoners’ loved ones and supporters, oriented to building and
growing a statewide public support base and network for us that will educate and inform the
public of the reality of Florida’s prison conditions. Florida SPARC aims to organize and build
public awareness and protest against these inhumane conditions and abuses, and build support
for us.
Just type in SPARC Florida (on Facebook) and/or write flsparc@gmail.com.
And spread the word!
Dare to struggle, Dare to win!
All power to the people!
Notes:
*This article was completed on February 16, 2018. Before I could mail it out I was, that same
day, abruptly packed up and transferred away from Florida State Prison to Florida’s Santa Rosa
Correctional Institution. Despite my transfer, the men still at FSP and its future victims continue
to suffer the mistreatment described in this article, as the attached affidavits attest to. Those
conditions must be protested until eliminated.
1. Kevin Rashid Johnson, “Time on Ice: Florida Officials Torture Prisoners with Freezing Strip
Cells” (2018). http://rashidmod.com
2. Kevin Rashid Johnson, “Florida Warden Retaliates for Article Publicizing Prison Abuses,
Slave Labor and Prisoner Protest”(2018) http://rashidmod.com
3. op. cite
4. Mary Ellen Klas, “‘Horrific’ Conditions at Florida Prison Languish Until Legislator Shows Up
and Asks Why,” Miami Herald, December 6, 2016; Julie K Brown and Mary Ellen Klas,
“Former Florida Prison Chief Says Governor Rick Scott Ignored Crisis in Corrections System,”
Miami Herald, January 31, 2015.
Unfit for Habitation (2018)
By Kevin “Rashid” Johnson
Inhumane conditions
Known today as Florida State Prison (FSP) what was originally called Florida’s East Unit was
constructed in 1961, and included another institution now known as Union Correctional
Institution.
Nearly 60 years old, FSP has been poorly maintained with cellblocks unfit for habitation.
During Florida’s sweltering summer and autumn months the cells, lacking air conditioning,
become sweat boxes and infested with ants, spiders and huge cockroaches, with black mold
growing on the ceilings. Rats frequent the cell blocks year round and all cells suffer water
leakage from faulty plumbing and rainfall.
Paint peels from cell surfaces like large open sores, exposing oily concrete and the rusted
surfaces of metal bunks, doors and fixtures.
During the cold months the cells remain like refrigerators, so cold that even with multiple layers
of clothing and bedding one finds it difficult to get warm.
As I exposed in a recent article (1), this condition is caused by the large cell windows’ metal
shutters having become so warped that they don’t close at all or completely, and therefore admit
the cold outside air. But the cold air doesn’t just naturally drift into the cells, it is rather sucked in
by powerful exhaust fans mounted on top of each cellblock that remain on 24/7.
So while the prison does have internal heating, it does not work because all warm air that is
supposed to blow and circulate into the cells is sucked out through the exhaust fans, while they
suck in the cold outside air through the open and drafty windows.
In many cells this icy air is pulled in with such force it creates a loud whooshing sound. The
effect is like having a window fan turned on high and blowing outside winter air into an unheated
room (with outside temperatures in the 30-50°F range).
The windows in some cellblocks are in worse repair then in others. In fact, they are worst in the
disciplinary wings (B and C-wings), which seems intentional, where in these cellblocks prisoners
may not retain thermal underwear, and are allowed only one set of thin state-issued clothing.
They are also frequently targeted with strip cell status, on which they are left for no less than
three days in the cold cells with nothing but boxer shorts.
FSP maintains one of Florida’s main solitary confinement, or Close Management, units, where
prisoners remain locked inside single occupancy cells all day every day.
Many of these cellblocks have metal commodes that must be flushed by guards from outside the
cells. The guards often refuse requests to flush them, and many times these cells house mentally
ill prisoners who don’t request flushing.
Decades of these conditions have caused thick layers of rust, and residue of fermented body
waste to build up inside these commodes and their piping, which emits a horrible stench, that
cannot be cleaned. In most cases FSP officials seldom, or never, provide prisoners with supplies
with which to try and clean them.
One can readily see that living conditions in FSP are outright barbaric.
Inhumane retaliation
When I wrote my article, “Florida Prisoners are Laying it Down,” which was published online on
January 9, 2018, the FSP warden Barry Reddish incensed by my publishing abusive conditions in
Florida’s prisons – especially in FSP – had me targeted with a bogus retaliatory disciplinary
report (DR), charging me with “inciting to riot.” I exposed this abuse in a subsequent article. (2)
On January 19th a kangaroo ‘hearing’ was staged on the DR by others of Reddish’s subordinates,
who acted as prosecutors rather than impartial triers. The hearing team’s representative, a
classification worker named M. Albritton, argued that I had no rights to write anything and the
very fact of my article’s publicizing and criticizing prison conditions was punishable conduct in
the eyes of Florida Department of Corruption (FDOC) officials. This expressing their shared
aversion alongside Reddish to having the inhumane conditions at FSP exposed to the public.
The hearing was only a formality, as my fate was already decided from when Reddish first had
the retaliatory DR written. The conviction was planned before the hearing was even conducted –
I was told beforehand that I was already slated to be moved to B-wing on disciplinary
confinement status.
Accordingly, as soon as I left the ‘hearing’ to be returned to my cell I was instructed to pack my
property and was immediately moved to B-wing, in what was obviously one of the wing’s most
damaged cells (cell B1220).
The cell light was busted open, the commode wouldn’t flush and was clogged with debris and
fermented body waste, the sprinkler head was broken off, and of course the cell window
wouldn’t close. With outside temperatures in the 30°s that morning, the cell was literally
freezing. It was so cold in fact that I was only able to write two brief legal letters before my
hands stiffened and the ink in my pen became so thick from the cold that I couldn’t write
anymore.
The letters brought attention to this torturous and retaliatory abuse, but I remained with a
window that wouldn’t close from January 19th until January 26th when, while I was visiting with
an attorney, the warden decided to have the window ‘fixed.’
That morning he had a captain B. Woods enter the cell to ‘observe’ the outside air being sucked
in through the window with such force it sounded like a waterfall. During the attorney visit I was
able to have this captain admit, in the presence of the attorney and her assistant, that the window
indeed required repairing. He assured us that it had now been fixed.
It wasn’t repaired, however, but ‘fixed’ by maintenance workers bolting its warped shutters
down by power-drilling screws through them. This resulted in making the window unable to
open at all anymore, although it still admitted a draft. Which is telling, since it demonstrated
such severe structural damage and malfunctioning of FSP’s cell windows that they can’t be
repaired to operate as designed. Obviously, screwing more windows shut is no solution, because
then there’d be no air circulating into the cells at all, making them death traps during the
sweltering summer and autumn months.
So, while my cell window was screwed closed, all the other cells still have malfunctioning
windows and their occupants still suffer in extreme cold —and many are targeted daily with
abusive strip cell status as I discussed in my prior article “Time on Ice.” (3)
In fact several who were housed in cells around and next to me wrote sworn statements about
their own suffering in cells with damaged windows, and how strip cell status is routinely abused.
These prisoners included: Isaac Logan #W23317; Eduardo Vargas #L61184; Emanuel Edwards
#E37896; Urshima Weaver #J21206; Vincent Murphy, Jr. #A129485; Ulrick Watson #V28829;
Willy Brown # L80586; and Carlos Mendoza #B07979. (Their statements are posted with this
article.)
A Temporary Fix
But bolting the window closed in my cell wasn’t intended to correct or resolve my predicament.
It was only a reaction to deflect outside protests against, and attention to, the warden’s retaliatory
torture. Especially since I could and ultimately would be moved at any time to another cell with
yet another malfunctioning window. Which is exactly what occurred on February 7th, when I
was moved from B1220 to C1204. So I am now once again confined in a cell with a window in
almost the exact same condition as the one in my prior cell before it was bolted closed.
It is well known that many Florida prisons are in disrepair and unfit for habitation. This has been
exposed in the mainstream media and made the subject of state legislative hearings. (4) Yet, as
demonstrated, FSP remains and it’s prisoners continue to live in such inhumane conditions.
We need active, sustained public protest of these conditions and if they cannot be immediately
repaired, the prisoners should be removed from them.
Contact Florida legislators, like representative David Richardson, who sits on the criminal justice
subcommittee, about these conditions, and demand their correction or our removal from such
housing, and an end to my retaliatory treatment for publicizing such abuses.
Representative David Richardson can be reached at:
Capital Office
200 House Office Building
402 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399–1300
Phone: (850) 717-5113
District Office
Suite 402A
1701 Meridian Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139–1890
Phone: (305) 535-5426
Also, join and support Florida SPARC (Supporting Prisoners And Real Change), a new
organization composed of Florida prisoners’ loved ones and supporters, oriented to building and
growing a statewide public support base and network for us that will educate and inform the
public of the reality of Florida’s prison conditions. Florida SPARC aims to organize and build
public awareness and protest against these inhumane conditions and abuses, and build support
for us.
Just type in SPARC Florida (on Facebook) and/or write flsparc@gmail.com.
And spread the word!
Dare to struggle, Dare to win!
All power to the people!
Notes:
*This article was completed on February 16, 2018. Before I could mail it out I was, that same
day, abruptly packed up and transferred away from Florida State Prison to Florida’s Santa Rosa
Correctional Institution. Despite my transfer, the men still at FSP and its future victims continue
to suffer the mistreatment described in this article, as the attached affidavits attest to. Those
conditions must be protested until eliminated.
1. Kevin Rashid Johnson, “Time on Ice: Florida Officials Torture Prisoners with Freezing Strip
Cells” (2018). http://rashidmod.com
2. Kevin Rashid Johnson, “Florida Warden Retaliates for Article Publicizing Prison Abuses,
Slave Labor and Prisoner Protest”(2018) http://rashidmod.com
3. op. cite
4. Mary Ellen Klas, “‘Horrific’ Conditions at Florida Prison Languish Until Legislator Shows Up
and Asks Why,” Miami Herald, December 6, 2016; Julie K Brown and Mary Ellen Klas,
“Former Florida Prison Chief Says Governor Rick Scott Ignored Crisis in Corrections System,”
Miami Herald, January 31, 2015.
Juneteenth Call to Action- Written by: Keith "Malik" Washington
Juneteenth Call to Action
ATTENTION! Black Activists, Freedom Fighters, and Concerned Citizens.
Subject: Request for Mutual Aid in Raising the Public’s AWARENESS in regard to the MOVEMENT which seeks to ABOLISH PRISON SLAVERY and Amend the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution
From: Keith ‘Malik’ Washington
Peace & Blessings Sisters and Brothers in the struggle!
My name is Keith ‘Malik’ Washington and I am a human rights and civil rights activist who is currently incarcerated in the state of TEXAS. Juneteenth is an abolitionist Holiday in which WE celebrate and reflect about the moment in history when Slaves in Texas finally got word that the Civil War had ended.
For two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, ROGUE slave owners continued to exploit Black People by forcing slavery upon our Ancestors. This year during your regular Juneeenth celebrations and fellowship with loved ones and members of your Community--OUR COMMUNITY--I am requesting you consider doing something that will help raise the Public’s Awareness in regards to The Struggle.
Sisters and Brothers, there is a Movement which seeks to Abolish ‘legalized’ Slavery in Amerika. A Movement which is fighting hard to Amend the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution which has allowed ‘slave like’ conditions to continue under the guise of Mass Incarceration and forced Involuntary Servitude.
We would like your help in raising the public’s awareness as it relates to Ending Prison Slavery inside the State of Texas and Beyond!
I’d like to encourage all of you to arrange viewings of Director Ava Duvernay’s trailblazing film “13th” on JUNETEENTH!!
Texas has the largest state prison system in the United States. There are disproportionate amounts of Black and Brown Human Beings who are trapped inside these modern day Slave Kamps and Gulags. We are being degraded, dehumanized, mistreated, and abused and what is shocking is your Tax Dollars are Funding these institution!!!
Sisters and Brothers, there can be No Meaningful Change Without YOU!
Let’s create positive conversations and dialogues about this topic. I and hundreds of like minded activists across the Nation would certainly appreciate your help. God Bless you All!
Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win, All Power to the People!
Keith ‘Malik’ Washington is a co-founder and chief spokespersyn for the End Prison Slavery in Texas Movement, a proud member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and he is the Deputy Chairman of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party (Prison Chapter). Malik has been instrumental in calling for the abolition of legalized slavery in Amerika and is very active in the Fight Toxic Prisons campaign. Malik has begun to work closely with Heshima Denham who is the Chief Spokespersyn and Chairman of Amend the 13th and is also partnering with Bennu Hannibal Ra-Sun (Formerly known as Melvin Ray) a founding member of the Free Alabama Movement. You can view Malik’s work at comrademalik.com or you are encouraged to write him directly at:
Keith ‘Malik’ Washington
TDC#1487958
Eastham Unit
Lovelady, Texas 75851
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Justice for Syed!- Written by: Keith "Malik" Washington
Justice for Syed!- Written by: Keith "Malik" Washington
Peace & Justice Sisters and Brothers!
Approximately 1 week ago a dedicated and respected Environmentalist named Syed Amani was found dead in an Iranian Jail Cell! Iranian Media reports the cause of death to be suicide but most times this meant the "Secret Police" beat Syed to Death! Syed fought to protect endangered animals in Iran and he was passionate about preserving The Earth. We must lift our voices in protest of the execution of this beautiful humyn being.
Don't be silent- speak up!
Visit Rashid Now!- Written by: Keith "Malik" Washington
Visit Rashid Now!
Written by: Keith "Malik" Washington
Revolutionary Greetings Sisters & Brothers! Kevin "Rashid" Johnson is a New Afrikan Freedom Fighter being held in a Florida Gulag. He has been subjected to tortured and abuse. When loved ones and supporters of Rashid as well as Media Correspondents DEMAND to visit Rashid this places a Shield of Protection around him and many others trapped inside the Florida State Prison. Please visit Rashid Now!
All Power to the People!
Time on Ice- Written by: Kevin "Rashid" Johnson
Panther Love- Written by: Keith "Malik" Washington
Keith ‘Malik’ Washington is a
co-founder and chief spokesperson for the End Prison Slavery in Texas Movement,
a proud member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and Deputy
Chairman of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party Prison Chapter. Malik has been
instrumental in calling for the abolition of legalized slavery in Amerika and
is very active in the Fight Toxic Prisons campaign. You can view his work at comrademalik.com
or you can write him directly at Keith ‘Comrade Malik’ Washington, 1487958,
Eastham Unit, 2665 Prison Rd. #1, Lovelady, Texas 75851.IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM COMRADE MALIK! (2/13/18)- Written by: Keith “Malik” Washington
IMPORTANT
UPDATE FROM COMRADE MALIK! (2/13/18)
Written
by: Keith “Malik” Washington
On Monday- January 29th, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
I was told by Officer Dunn that I was moving!
I moved from G-2-13 to E-3-07 my next-door neighbor in E-3-08 was my
best friend and Comrade Antonio Tucker #1460669 AKA Pharoa.
I thought this was a Trick- too good to be True! Pharoa and I are the only inmates in Eastham
Ad-Seg who were raised as Muslims and we both are conscious Black Men! We were happy.
Well our happiness was short-lived. On or around Saturday- February 2, 2018 a
young white female officer last name Johnson worked on E-Line Ad-Seg she
spent an inordinate amount of time at Pharoa’s cell talking to him. I thought this to be very strange, but I held
my tongue until she left and I asked Pharoa what’s up? He said that when his mother died in December
2017 Officer Johnson escorted Pharoa on a trip to Jester 4 for a Mental Health
evaluation.
Apparently, Officer Johnson had lost her Mom too and
Pharoa felt that they had “bonded” over this shared pain! This was all “Game”!
On the Morning of February 6th, 2018, I
heard Johnson tell Pharoa to write her a “kite” or written note. Unknown to Pharoa the Region I Director was
on Eastham Unit. Once Johnson convinced
Pharoa to write the note she took it to her Handlers/Supervisors in
Triumph! Moments later Ad-Seg Sergeant
Logan Bowers informed Pharoa he was being moved to the Disciplinary wing A-line
and being charged with a Major Case! Attempting
to establish a relationship with an Officer!
Before leaving Johnson a white female officer made a point to tell me: “You’ve
pissed a lot of people OFF Washington and now it is time for payback.”
My friend Antonio Tucker had a chance of being
released from Ad-Seg in May 2018. He fell
victim to a spy tactic known as the Honey-Pot scheme!
Help me expose these Un-Ethical Employees of the
State!
Keith ‘Malik’ Washington is a
co-founder and chief spokesperson for the End Prison Slavery in Texas Movement,
a proud member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and Deputy
Chairman of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party Prison Chapter. Malik has been
instrumental in calling for the abolition of legalized slavery in Amerika and
is very active in the Fight Toxic Prisons campaign. You can view his work at comrademalik.com
or you can write him directly at Keith ‘Comrade Malik’ Washington, 1487958,
Eastham Unit, 2665 Prison Rd. #1, Lovelady, Texas 75851.
Muslims & Jews in Texas Prisons need Legal Aid!- Written By Keith ‘Malik’ Washington
Muslims & Jews in Texas Prisons need Legal Aid!
By Keith ‘Malik’ Washington
Peace and blessings sisters and brothers!
I want to take this time to clarify some important issues regarding the recent dismissal of my lawsuit
which relates to the growing of our Beards and the wearing of Kufis and Yarmulke prayer caps inside
facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) (reference: Keith Washington
v. Bryan Collier, et al. Civil Action No: 6:16-cv-1139-RC-JDL)
which relates to the growing of our Beards and the wearing of Kufis and Yarmulke prayer caps inside
facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) (reference: Keith Washington
v. Bryan Collier, et al. Civil Action No: 6:16-cv-1139-RC-JDL)
First, I want to state for the record that the Albritton Law Firm located in Longview, Texas has
exceeded all of my expectations in regards to this lawsuit. We won on many issues and forced policy
change which promotes a more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant environment inside Texas prisons.
exceeded all of my expectations in regards to this lawsuit. We won on many issues and forced policy
change which promotes a more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant environment inside Texas prisons.
Allow me to describe this in more detail in order to provide a clearer picture:
#1 With regard to the beard issue, TDCJ now has a policy which permits all prisoners to grow a fist
length religious beard upon request. This includes Muslims and Jewish prisoners.
length religious beard upon request. This includes Muslims and Jewish prisoners.
#2 TDCJ no longer requires prisoners to shave our beards on an annual basis! (This policy change was
a direct result of this litigation.)
a direct result of this litigation.)
#3 In reference to the Kufi and Yarmulke issue; TDCJ now has a policy which permits all Muslims and
Jews to wear religious headgear throughout all TDCJ facilities. However, the Attorney General of Texas
and TDCJ interjected some deceptive language!! The only Kufi and Yarmulke we can wear must be
purchased from the prison commissary!! I have a serious problem with this new policy and so should
you. Here’s why: 70% of the prisoners housed in facilities operated by TDCJ are indigent – they have
no money and TDCJ refuses to pay or compensate prisoners for the labor they perform.
Jews to wear religious headgear throughout all TDCJ facilities. However, the Attorney General of Texas
and TDCJ interjected some deceptive language!! The only Kufi and Yarmulke we can wear must be
purchased from the prison commissary!! I have a serious problem with this new policy and so should
you. Here’s why: 70% of the prisoners housed in facilities operated by TDCJ are indigent – they have
no money and TDCJ refuses to pay or compensate prisoners for the labor they perform.
So the question presents itself: “If we have no money, how can we purchase a Kufi or Yarmulke and
enjoy the Tenets of our faith?”
enjoy the Tenets of our faith?”
Sisters and brothers, TDCJ and the state of Texas cannot craft a policy which discriminates against
prisoners who are indigent or have no money!! Moreover, there are hundreds if not thousands of
Muslim and Jewish prisoners in Texas who have received approved Kufis and Yarmulkes for free (no
charge) from non-profit religious organizations. We have these items in our possession but Texas in
trying to monetize our right to practice our faith and extorting our family members!
prisoners who are indigent or have no money!! Moreover, there are hundreds if not thousands of
Muslim and Jewish prisoners in Texas who have received approved Kufis and Yarmulkes for free (no
charge) from non-profit religious organizations. We have these items in our possession but Texas in
trying to monetize our right to practice our faith and extorting our family members!
The new policy on religious headgear is blatantly discriminatory and violates the Equal Protection
Clause of the 14th Amendment. We also may have a 1st Amendment – Free Exercise Clause Violation
here. This specific issue was outside the scope of Albritton’s representation of me in this particular
civil lawsuit. With that said, other prisoners are stepping up to the plate and challenging this policy
as we speak! TDCJ and the Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton continue to craft policies which
smack of antisemitism, islamophobia, and xenophobic tendencies.
Clause of the 14th Amendment. We also may have a 1st Amendment – Free Exercise Clause Violation
here. This specific issue was outside the scope of Albritton’s representation of me in this particular
civil lawsuit. With that said, other prisoners are stepping up to the plate and challenging this policy
as we speak! TDCJ and the Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton continue to craft policies which
smack of antisemitism, islamophobia, and xenophobic tendencies.
Albritton Law Firm can’t do all the fighting alone. We desperately need help from Muslim and Jewish
lawyers from organizations such as CAIR, the ACLU, the ADL. I am requesting that there be interfaith
cooperation on this subject. We need your help. Dare to struggle, Dare to win, All Power to the People!
lawyers from organizations such as CAIR, the ACLU, the ADL. I am requesting that there be interfaith
cooperation on this subject. We need your help. Dare to struggle, Dare to win, All Power to the People!
Keith 'Malik' Washington is a co-founder and chief spokespersyn for the End Prison Slavery in
Texas Movement, a proud member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and he
is the Deputy Chairman of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party (Prison Chapter). Malik has
been instrumental in calling for the abolition of legalized slavery in Amerika and is very active
in the Fight Toxic Prisons campaign. You can view his work at comrademalik.com or you can
write him directly at:
Texas Movement, a proud member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and he
is the Deputy Chairman of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party (Prison Chapter). Malik has
been instrumental in calling for the abolition of legalized slavery in Amerika and is very active
in the Fight Toxic Prisons campaign. You can view his work at comrademalik.com or you can
write him directly at:
Keith 'Comrade Malik' Washington
TDC #1487958
Eastham Unit
2665 Prison Rd. #1
Lovelady, Texas 75851
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