Texas Inmate Goes On Lone Hunger Strike In Protest Of Living Conditions : Houston Indymedia

Texas death row inmate Taichin Preyor has decided to go on a lone hunger strike as of May 12, 2009. In a letter from Preyor he speaks about the deplorable conditions he is forced to live under while he is incarcerated on the death row unit in Livingston Texas, The Polunsky Unit.

"I have along with many other prisoners here on Texas's death row been severally affected by daily acts of physical, psychological, and verbal abuse" he states. "This inhumane treatment and malicious neglect comes from the prison guards, ranking officers, and the supporting staff here at Texas death row." He goes on to say "with our living conditions worsening daily, we have been pushed into action, taking up the first fight for justice against these systematic forms of oppression."

Fear of being retaliated against have kept Preyor quiet in the past, but Preyor now states "Today I am breaking the chains that have once bound me psychologically. Take for example my bold decision to step out on faith with a nonviolent protest with the hope of drawing attention to the despicable living conditions here on death row. This is a brand new day and time, but at present the old fight against repression rage's on." "I have at this time committed myself to a lone hunger strike as a means to shed light on the dark deeds being implemented daily by the TDCJ administration and supporting staff.

Preyor quotes Gandhi several times in his letter, and one passage from Gandhi inspired him to hunger strike. " I have learnt through bitter experience the one supreme lesson: to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmitted into energy even so our anger controlled can be transmitted into a power which can move the world" Gandhi

Several Texas death row inmates Speak Out
Other Texas death row inmates have been writing and having family and friends post on the Internet their concerns of the conditions on death row. Peaceful inmate advocate, Hank Skinner has written several letters of concern and in one letter states "Who've done nothing to deserve it. We were put on lockdown yet again, for 5 more days, searched, strip searched, wanded, scanned, strip searched again, had all our property confiscated, even our mattresses and bedding. We were put in empty cells with vents blowing ice-cold air all night and left like that until 2:30 AM the next shift." The complete writing can be read here.

http://prisonwritings.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-01-10T13%3A36%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7

Inmate Rob Will speaks about sleep deprivation on death row. "It's impossible to sleep for more than an hour without being pulled from your sleep by a variety of noises: count time(!), clean-up crew, chow-time(!), scream-talking(!) by other inmates, beating on doors, slamming gates, slamming doors, etc!, etc!, etc!" Rob is a talented writer, and his writing can be read here.

http://prisonwritings.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-01-10T13%3A36%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7

Death row inmate Mark Stroman has also written several letters in regard to the conditions on death row. From one of his writings Stroman states "The day started again with banging of doors at 3:00am. Cold coffee, raw pancakes and spoonful of applesauce a baby would refuse to eat plus a set of hate-filled guards that would pass your cell up if your light is off and you're not standing at your door."More of Stroman's blog posts can be read on his page here.

http://www.myspace.com/428432430

Others have written about the conditions at the Polunsky Unit, but that information is unavailable at this time.

Past hunger strikes

There have been hunger strikes in the past at Texas death row, and January 1, 2007, several inmates hunger striked to bring awareness to the deplorable conditions. Patrick Knight, Gayland Bradford, Steven Woods, Reginal Blanton, Carlton Turner, Ryan Dickenson, William Mason, and Stephen Moody, all inmates, and some which have already been executed all went on a hunger strike after Daryl Wheatfall began his. More about this can be read here.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/114641/texas_death_row_inmate_begins_early.html?cat=17

A short lived hunger strike took place on October 2006, and that information can be read here.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/103178/texas_prison_hunger_strike.html?cat=62

The conditions they want changed are:

1. Food: Nutritional and proper preparation.
2. Medical: Proper and unbiased medical treatment.
3. Hygiene: Hygiene products to be passed out on a weekly basis.
4. Laundry: All laundry be washed thoroughly with bleach and detergent.
5. Oppressive punishment: Gassing of inmates, being slammed while cuffed, and being fed food loaves (A grotesque mixture of food mixed into one loaf).
6. Contact and religious visits
7. Psychological services
8. Visitation list, and special visitation for inmates with visitors from overseas
9. Work program, and recreational time
10. Access to the law library
11. Cell maintenance and property boxes
12. Commissary
13. Mail be delivered in a timely manner, the limitation of stamps, and legal corresponding supplies.
14. Telephone calls
15. Television, art supplies.

The Cell Phone Scandal
Advocates and inmates both believe that conditions have worsened since TDCJ was the scandal of contraband and smuggled in cell phones in October 2008. Advocate and sister of Texas death row inmate Jeff Wood came forward with the information that prison guards were the only means of smuggling in cell phones. More information can be read here.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1247474/terri_been_sister_of_death_row_inmate.html?cat=49
Death row cells were searched, and a number of cell phones and chargers were confiscated. Inmates believe they are being punished for this, more than usual, and their basic human rights have been violated.

In an attempt to bring conditions to a bearable level a retired attorney in Austin by the name of Mary Felps, and another retired lawyer have stepped forward. According to Ralph Ward, member of the Dallas Chapter of TCADP has stated "What is required are letters from family members and friends of death-row inmates describing these abuses, both physical and psychological, and other details relative to these abuses which might indicate time, date, supportive facts, etc. These letters need to be sent to Ms. Felps as soon as possible. If you should know any of these family members, friends or attorneys, please contact them with this information and encourage them to write very soon. Ms. Felps address is as follows;"

Mary Felps
PO Box 49339
Austin, Tx 78765