THE FOLSOM PRISONERS MANIFESTO OF DEMANDS
AND
ANTI-DEPRESSION PLATFORM
WE THE IMPRISONED MEN OF FOLSOM PRISON SEEK AN-END TO THE INJUSTICE SUFFERED BY ALL PRISONERS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, OR COLOR.
The preparation and content of this document has been constructed under the unified efforts of all races and social segments of this prison.
We the inmates of Folsom Prison totally and unlimittedly support the California state wide-prison strike on November 3rd 1970; under the united effort for designated change in administrative prison practice and legislative policy.
It is a matter of documented record and human recognition that the administrators of the California prison system have restructured the institutions which were designed to socially correct men into the FACIST CONCENTRATION CAMPS OF MODERN AMERICA.
DUE TO THE CONDITIONAL FACT THAT FOLSOM PRISON IS ONE OF THE
MOST CLASSIC INSTITUTIONS OF AUTHORITATIVE INHUMANITY UPON MEN, THE FOLLOWING MANIFESTO OF DEMANDS ARE BEING SUBMITTED:
"MAN'S RIGHT TO KNOWLEDGE AND THE FREE USE THEREOF"
• • - - • ..;..-'
We the inmates of Folsom Prison have grown to recognize beyond the shadow of a doubt that because of our posture as prisoners and branded characters as alleged criminals, the administrators and prison employees no longer consider or respect us as human beings, but rather. as domesticated animals selected to do their bidding in slave labor and furnished as a personal whipping dog for their sadistic, psychopathic hate.
We the inmates of Folsom Prison, say to you, the sincere people of society, the prison system of which your courts have rendered unto, is without question the authoritive fangs of a coward in power.
Respectfully submitted to the people as a protest to the vile and vicious slavemasters:
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
THE CALIFORNIA ADULT AUTHORITY
THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE
THE CALIFORNIA STATE COURTS
THE UNITED STATES COURTS
AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT THIS SYSTEM OF INJUSTICE.
CALIFORNIA PRISONERS UNION
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We the inmates of this prison have vested the power of negotiation regarding settlement of the stipulated demands within the judgement and control of these four men of the outside world society:
SAL CANDELARIA, (BROWN BERETS)
HUEY P. NEWTON (BLACK PANTHER PARTY)
CHARLES GARRY (3'RD WORLD LEGAL DEFENSE COUNSEL)
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CALIFORNIA PRISONER'S
UNION (TO BE DESIGNATED)
All and any negotiation will be conducted'by Prison and State Authorities with these four men.
There shall be no convict committees.
AT 8:30 A.M. NOVEMBER 3RD, 1970, ALL CONVICT LABOR AND ASSIGNED ACTIVITY SHALL CEASE TO FUNCTION, WITH THE STIPULATED EXCEPTIONS OF:
•(1) HOSPITAL WORKERS
•(2) CULINARY WORKERS
ACTIVITY SHALL NOT RESUME UNTIL THE PRISON INMATE POPULATION HAVE RECEIVED DIRECTION FROM THE STIPULATED FOUR PERSON PANEL AS ABOVE MENTIONED, EITHER THROUGH RADIO.. NEWS MEDIA, OR PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
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We the men of Folsom Prison have been committed to the State Correctional Authorities by the people of society for the purpose of correcting what has been deemed as social errors in behavior. Errors which have classified us as socially unacceptable until reprogrammed with new values and more thorough understanding as to our roles and responsibilities as members of the outside community. The Folsom Prison program in its structure and conditions have been enslaved on the pages of this Manifesto of Demands with the blood, sweat, and tears'of the Inmates of this prison.
The programs which we are submitted to under the facade of rehabilitation, is relative to the ancient stupidity of pouring water on a drowning man, inasmuch as we are treated for our hostilities by cur program administrators with their hostility as a medication.
In our efforts to comprehend on a feeling level an existence contrary to violence, we are confronted by our captors with as to what is fair and just, we are victimized by exploitation and the denial of the celebrated due process of law..
In our peaceful efforts to assemble in dissent as provided under this Nation's United States Constitution, we are in turn murdered, brutalized and framed on various criminal charges because we seek the rights and priveleges of ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE.
In our efforts to intellectually expand in keeping with 'the outside world, through all categories of News Media, we are systematically restricted and punitively offended to isolation status when we insist on our human rights to the wisdom of awareness.
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MANIFESTO OF DEMANDS
11/3/70
1) We demand the constitutional rights of legal representation at the time of all Adult Authority hearings, and the protection from the procedures of the Adult Authority whereby they permit no procedural safeguards such as an attorney for cross examination of witnesses, witnesses in behalf of the parolee, at parole revocation hearings.
2) We demand a change in medical staff and medical policy and procedure. The Folsom Prison Hospital is totally inadequate, understaffed, prejudicial in the treatment of inmates. There are numerous "mistakes” made many times, improper and erroneous medication is given by untrained personnel. The emergency procedures for serious injury are totally absent in that they have no emergency room whatsoever; no recovery room following surgery which is performed by practitioners rather than board member surgeons„ They are assisted by inmate help neither qualified, licensed, nor certified to function in operating rooms. Several instances have occurred where multiple injuries have happened to a number of inmates at the same time, A random decision made by the M.Ds in charge as to which patient was the most serious and needed the one surgical room available. Results were fatal to one of the men waiting to be operated upon. This is virtually a death sentence to such a man who might have lived otherwise,
3) We demand adequate visiting conditions and facilities for the Inmates and families of Folsom prisoners. The visiting facilities at this prison are such as to preclude adequate visiting for the inmates and their families. As a result the inmates are permitted two hours, tip times per, month to visit with family and friends, which of course has to be divided between these peoples. We ask for additional officers to man the visiting room five days per week, so that . everyone may have 'at least four hours visiting per month. The administration has refused to provide or consider this request in prior appeals using the grounds of denial that they cannot afford the cost of the extra officers needed for such change. However, they have been able to provide twelve new correctional officers, to vacate the gun rails of this prison, armed with rifles and shotguns' during the daytime hours when most of the prison population is at work or attending other assignments. This is a waste of the taxpayers motley, and a totally unnecessary security precaution.
4) We demand that each man presently held in the Adjustment Center be given a written notice wi th the Warden of Custody signature on it explaining the exact reason for, his placement in the severely restrictive confines of the Adjustment Center,
5) We demand the immediate end to indeterminate adjustment center terms to be replaced by fixed terms with the length of time served being terminated by good conduct and according to the nature of the charges, for which men are presently being warehoused indefinitely without explanation.
6) We demand an end to the segregation of prisoners from the mainline population because of their political beliefs. Some of the men in the Adjustment Center are confined there solely for political reasons and their segregation from other inmates is indefinite.
7)
We demand an end to political persecution, racial persecution, and the denial of prisoners to subscribe to political papers, books or any other educational and current media chronicals that are forwarded through the United States Mail.
8)
We demand an end to the persecution and punishment of prisoners who practice the constitutional right of peaceful dissent. Prisoners at Folsom and San Quentin Prisons according to the California State Penal Code cannot be compelled to work as these two prisons were built for the purpose of housing prisoners and there is no mention as to the prisoners being required to work on prison jobs in order to remain on the mainline and/or be considered for release. Many prisoners believe their labor power is being exploited In order for the State to increase its economic power and continue to expand its correctional industries which are million dollar complexes, yet do not develop working skills acceptable for employment in the outside society, and which do not pay the prisoner more than the maximum sixteen cents per hour wage. Most prisoners never make more than six or eight cents per hour. Prisoners who refuse to work for the two to sixteen cents pay rate, or .who strike, are punished and segregated without the access to the privlieges shared by those who work, this is class legislation; class division, and creates class hostilities within the prison.
9)
We demand an end to the tear-gassing of prisoners who are locked in their cells, such action led to the death-of Willie Powell in Soledad Prison, in 1968 and of Fred Billingsley, on February 25th 1970 at San Quentin prison. It is cruel and unnecessary.
10) . '
We demand the passing of a minimum and maximum term bill which calls for an end to the indeterminate sentences whereby a man can be warehoused indefinitely, rehabilitated or not. That all prisoners have the right to be paroled after serving their minimum term instead of the cruel and unusual punishment of being confined beyond his minimum eligibility for parole, and never knowing the reason for the extension of time, nor when time is completed. The maximum term bill eliminates indefinite lift time .imprisonment where it is unnecessary and cruel. Life sentences should not confine a man for longer than ten years as seven years is the statute for a considered lifetime out of circulation and if a man cannot be rehabilitated after a maximum of ten years of construction programs, etc., then he belongs in a mental hygiene center, not a prison. Rescind Adult Authority Resolution 171 - arbitrary fixing of prison terms.
11)
We demand that industries be allowed to enter the Institutions and employ inmates to work eight hours a day and fit into the category of workers for scale wages. The working conditions in prisons do not develop working incentives parallel to the money jobs in the outside society, and a paroled prisoner faces many contradictions of the job that adds to his difficulty to adjust. Those industries outside who desire to enter prisons should be allowed to enter for the purpose of employment placement.
12)
We demand that inmates be allowed to form or join Labor Unions.
13)
We Demand that inmates be granted tte right to support their own families, at present thousands of welfare recipients have to divide their checks to support their imprisoned relatives who without the outside support could not even buy toilet articles or food. Men working on scale wages could support themselves and families while in prison.
14)
We demand that correctional officers be prosecuted as a matter of law for shooting inmates, around inmates, o| any act of cruel and unusual punishment where it is not a matter of life or death.
15)
We demand that all institutions who use inmate labor be made to conform with the state and federal minimum;wage laws.
16)
We demand that all condemned prisoners, avowed revolutionaries and . prisoners of war be granted political asylum in the countries under the Free World Revolutionary Solidarity Pact, such as Algeria,. Russia, Cuba, Latin America, North Korea, North Vietnam, etc., and that prisoners confined for political reasons in this country, until they can be exchanged for prisoners of war held by America, be treated in accord with the 1954 Geneva Convention; that they, their personal property be respected,. and allowed in their possession, and that they not be manacled.
17)
We demand and end to trials being held on the premises of San Quentin Prison, or any other prison without the jury as stated in the U.S. Constitution as being picked from the cquntry of the trial proceedings and of the peers of the accused; that being in this case, other prisoners as the selected jurors.
18)
We demand an end to the escalating practice of physical brutality being perpetrated upon the inmates of California State Prisons at San Quentin, Folsom, and Soleded Prison in particulay.
19)
We demand-that such celebrated and prominent political prisoners as Reis Tijerina, Ahmad Evans, Bobby Seals, Chip Fitzgerald, Los Siete, David Harris, and the Soledad Brothers, be given political asylum out side this country as the outrageous slandering of the mass media has made it impossible either for a fair trial or for a safe term to be served in case of conviction as the forces of reactions and repressions will be forever submitting them to threats of cruel and unusual.punishment and death wherever they are confined and through out the length of their confinement.
20)
We demand appointment of three lawyers from the California Bar Association for full time positions to provide legal assistance for inmates seeking post-conviction relief, and to act as liaison between the Administration and inmates for bringing inmate complaints to the attention of the Administration.
21)
We demand update of industry working conditions to standards as provided for under California law.
22)
We demand establishment of inmate workers insurance plan to provide compensation for work related accidents.
23)
We demand establishment of unionized vocational training program comparable to that of the Federal Prison System which provided for union instructions, union pay scale, and union membership upon completion of the vocational training course.
24)
We demand annual accounting of Inmate Welfare Fund and formulation of inmate committee to give inmates a voice as to how such funds are used.
25)
We demand that the Adult Authority Board appointed by the Governor be eradicated and replaced by a parole board elected by popular vote of the people. In a world where many crimes are punished by indeterminate sentences; and where authority acts within secrecy and within past discretion and given heavy weight to accusations by prison employees against inmates, inmates feel trapped unless they are willing to abandon their desire to be independent men.
26)
We demand that the Statd and Prison Authorities conform to recommendation #1 of the "Soledad Caucus Report," to wit, "That the State Legislature create a full-time salaried hoard of overseers for the State Prisons. The Board would be responsible for evaluating allegations made by inmates, their families and friends, and lawyers against employees charged with acting inhumanely, illegally or unreasonably. The board should include people nominated by a psychological or psychiatric association, by the State Bar Association or by the Public Defenders Association, and by groups of concerned, involving laymen."
27).
We demand that prison authorities conform to the conditional requirements and needs as describe in the recent released Manifesto from the Folsom Adjustment Center.
28)
We demand an immediate end jfco the agitation of races relations by the prison administrations of this state.
29)
We demand that the California Prison System furnish Folsom Prison with the services of Ethnic Counselors for the needed special services of Brown and Black population of this prison.
30)
We demand an end to the discrimination in the judgement and quota of parole for Black and Brown people.
31)
We demand that all prisoners. be present at the time that their cells and property are being searched by the correctional officers of state prisons.
Distributed by
CONNECTIONS
330 Ellis St.
S.F. 673-0298
