29/05/19

John Bowden needs the support of people outside prison in order to increase the likelihood of his release after four decades inside. He was denied parole again in March not for reasons of public safety or rehabilitation but because of his anti-authoritarian political activity. His lawyer’s attempts to appeal to the Ministry of Justice have been ignored, hindering and delaying the possibility of a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision, which can commence only after the exhaustion of all other avenues appeal.

John was denied parole despite meeting the three primary criteria used to determine the “suitability of release” of life sentence prisoners: 1) he has served more than a sufficient length of time to satisfy the interest of retribution, 2) the relevant professionals believe that he represents no risk to the community and 3) that he could be ‘safely managed’ outside. For more detail, read John’s response to the Board’s decision here.

England and Wales have by far the highest number of people serving indeterminate sentences in western Europe. John is one of many kept in prison well beyond their tariff.

Please write to the Ministry of Justice to demand that the department respond fully and promptly to all communications from John’s lawyer and stop unnecessarily prolonging his imprisonment.

You can write to:

David Gauke
Secretary of State for Justice
102 Petty France
Westminster
London
SW1H 9AJ

Or contact him via email: [email protected]

Or contact him at the Ministry of Justice: https://contact-moj.dsd.io/correspondence/topic

You can also write to John at:

John Bowden A5026DM
HMP Warren Hill
Grove Road
Hollesley
Woodbridge
IP12 3BF

---------------------

John has written on the subject of the release of life prisoners in his latest article, Who Should Determine When Life Sentenced Prisoners Should Be Released?

Call For Solidarity With Those Imprisoned During Operazione Scintilla

24/02/19

On Thursday February 7, 2019, at 4:40 a.m., the eviction of the squat "Asilo occupato" (the occupied kindergarden") in Via Alessandria 12 in Turin, occupied since 1995, began. The eviction was carried out as part of the "Operazione Scintilla" ("Operation Spark"). Several hundred Carabinieri in riot gear, police officers and Guardia di finanza with machine guns and plain clothes police not only evicted the house, but also arrested six anarchists. A seventh person is still being searched for.

The charges are serious: formation of a subversive association, incitement to crime and the possession, manufacture and transportation of explosives in a public place. The charges are related to the resistance against the Italian migration regime, namely against the deportation camps/prisons CPR and CIE (Centro per l’Immigrazione e il Rimpatrio = Immigration and Repatriation Centre; Centro di identificazione ed espulsione = Identification and Deportation Centre), more information below.
The Asilo was evicted as part of this operation because the state regards it as the "logistical and operational base" of this "subversive, insurrectional association".

The eviction of the Asilo was delayed by the squatters for 36 hours because some of them had retreated to the roofs. In the meantime, sympathisers organised wild demos in the city, where there were clashes with the police. The Asilo was made uninhabitable in the last few days (destruction inside, bricked up windows, etc.).

During the big solidarity demonstrations there were several arrests and over 300 identity checks. Many arrested people report bruises inflicted by the police when they were arrested. At least four people had to go to the hospital because of their injuries. The accusations for the twelve people arrested at Saturday’s demonstration are devastation, looting, resisting orders, bodily harm and possession of weapons. However, in the meantime, these twelve people who got arrested at the demo are again free but have to report daily to a police station (as of February 13).

*Details of the accusations*

The allegations: formation of a subversive association; incitement to crime; possession, manufacture and transportation of explosives in a public place.

The six persons were arrested at the request of the anti-terror group of the Turin public prosecutor’s office. The indictment is that the accused

"have promoted, constituted, organised and participated in the creation of a subversive association (ex Art. 270 c.p.) which is intended to and can influence national immigration policy through the repeated destruction of the CIE/CPR and through systematic acts of violence and intimidation against the companies involved in the management of the abovementioned structures."
("aver promosso, costituito, organizzato e partecipato a un’associazione sovversiva (ex art. 270 c.p.) diretta e idonea a influire sulle politiche nazionali in materia di immigrazione mediante la ripetuta distruzione dei CIE/CPR e con sistematici atti di violenza e intimidazione nei confronti delle imprese impegnate nella gestione delle sopra indicate strutture di accoglienza")

The arrested are accused of "21 subversive attacks" in various Italian cities: On the one hand, 15 parcels of explosives were allegedly sent to companies in Turin, Bologna, Milan, Rome (French Embassy), Bari and Ravenna; six other explosives affected the offices of the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane) in Turin, Bologna and Genoa. Poste Italiane was allegedly hit because, as the owner of the airline "MistralAir", it has held the ministerial mandate for deportation flights since 2011.Two of the arrested (together with two yet unidentified persons) are accused of having placed explosive devices in front of Poste Italiane ATMs in Turin on April 30 and June 9, 2016.

"In order to establish contacts within CPR, they threw tennis balls with a multilingual brochure and a mobile phone number with which they agreed simultaneous actions within and outside the CPR structure. Then they put matches and everything needed to start a revolt and setting Fire in packages of biscuits and other goods."

Allegedly, the aim of these actions was to weaken or destroy the CPR’s "capacity" (see
www.nuovasocieta.it/operazione-scintilla-sgombero-dellasilo-e-anarchici-arrestati-per-associazione-sovversiva/).

*Practical solidarity*

A lot of money is needed, long prison sentences are imminent – people are very grateful for solidarity contributions to the following account:

Giulia Merlini e Pisano Marco
IBAN IT61Y0347501605CC0011856712
ABI 03475 CAB 01605
BIC INGBITD1

—————————————————————————

You can continue to write letters to and support the remaining Turin prisoners:

Silvia Ruggeri, Casa Circondariale Rebibbia, Via Bartolo Longo 72, 00156 Roma, Italia.

Niccolò Blasi, Casa Circondariale Ferrara, via Arginone 327, 44122 Ferrara FE, Italia.

Giuseppe De Salvatore, Casa Circondariale Ferrara, via Arginone 327, 44122 Ferrara FE, Italia.

Antonio Rizzo, Casa Circondariale Ferrara, via Arginone 327, 44122 Ferrara FE, Italia.

International Anarchist Defence Fund: Appeal For Action And Solidarity

04/10/18

A-Fund turned one year this September. This was the time when we issued our first call for joining the project last year. It took us another half a year to figure out collective processes and the concept of the fund. We have tried our best to reach out to groups with a call to donate, but so far we haven’t received as much feedback as we were expecting. The lack of publicity results in low number of donations, and this situation can eventually lead to the loss of interest from the side of support-seekers. We would like to provide bigger support, but this involves attracting more donations. We are determined to break this vicious circle. But we need your help.

So, as our next steps, we have identified reaching out to all possible anarchist groups, asking them to spread information about the fund, spread our flyers, put a banner on their websites, putting advertisements in anarchist magazines, etc. But the problem is that we don’t know so many languages and contexts, that’s why we need the help of volunteers from all imaginable countries and regions who would help us compile a comprehensive list of anarchist collectives in their regions, get links to their websites and contacts, identifying sites with open publication, etc.

If you are one of these people, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

You can have a look at our last quarterly report at: https://afund.antirep.net/second-quarterly-report/

Global Day Of Solidarity With Kevan Thakrar & Against Solitary Confinement

05/03/19

When: Wednesday March 13, 2019 @ 12 noon.

Please join us for a peaceful demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ.

If you cannot make it to London, organise a solidarity demo where ever you are in the world.

The 13th March 2019 marks nine years that Kevan has been held in a Close Supervision Centre (CSC) under conditions of solitary confinement. He was first incarcerated in the CSC after suffering an assault by four prison guards in his cell at HMP Frankland in 2010. He defended himself, for which he was charged with attempted murder and GBH and placed in the CSC system. He won the case brought by his assailants but today, over seven years after he was cleared, remains in the CSC with no indication of when he may leave. His indefinite isolation clearly contravenes the position of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and on these grounds we demand his immediate release from the CSC system."

What: We are calling for people to organise actions and events in their region. IWOC London will also be organising a demo, with details to be announced. We encourage groups to not only raise awareness about Kevan but to highlight solitary confinement in their own countries and amplify the voices of those behind bars. It is Kevan’s birthday on the 9th of March, and we encourage people also to write letters and birthday cards!

Why: Kevan Thakrar has been fighting for his life for the last 11 years after a wrongful conviction [1]. In 2008 at the aged of 20 Kevan began serving a life sentence, with a minimum term of 35 years, under the highly controversial “joint enterprise” doctrine [2]. Kevan’s refusal to submit to racist abuse from prison guards has made him a target for reprisals. Notably, in 2010 he suffered a premeditated attack in his cell by HMP Frankland guards. When he fought back, he was charged with attempted murder and GBH, and put in solitary confinement, wherein one form or another he remains to this day. The charges were sufficiently brazen that a jury cleared him unanimously in a rare victory against the testimony of prison offices.

Despite his success in court, Kevan has been isolated in Closed Supervision Centres (a ‘prison within a prison’) across the country and currently at HMP Whitemoor. Closed Supervisions Centres are the most extreme form of imprisonment in the UK, modelled on the “supermax” prisons in the United States, and Kevan’s testimony is one of the few sources of information available to those on the outside. They are the ultimate punishment in the British prison system and subject people within them to brutal dehumanisation, degradation and demonisation.

Kevan Thakrar is a crucial voice from inside the UK prison today, writing extensively on the conditions endured by people held in the worst prisons in the country. Read his recently published letter that he sent to the Justice Secretary that details the perpetual injustice of his case[3]. You can also read two historical zines published about the CSC written by Kevan distributed by Bristol Anarchist Black Cross [4]. Kevan continues to suffer both PTSD and further reprisals for shining a light on the abuse suffered by himself and by other incarcerated people but still refuses to stay silent about the abuses of the prisons system in general and the Closed Supervision System in particular.

“All I can ever do is drag some of these events into the light. Ignorance can no longer be an excuse for indifference.” – Kevan Thakrar

Support - Please send IWOC reports from your actions. Email [email protected]

If you would like more information about Kevan or would value support from IWOC to help organise an event/talk/info night, please contact: [email protected]. We have friends, family and comrades of Kevan who are keen to help share his story, as well as an ex-prisoner who was in the CSC who passionately wants to expose the system.

Letter From Kevan:
Wednesday 13th March 2019 marks the 9th anniversary since I was first isolated from the mainstream prison population and detained within the notorious Close Supervision Centre (CSC) system under Prison Rule 46. The majority of this time has been spent in conditions which can accurately be described as Solitary Confinement, but thanks to the support and pressure of those outside, for the last few months I have been in small group isolation instead, mixing with five other guys. It is well known that serious harm is caused by detaining a human being even within the slightly improved environment I currently find myself in, for the shortest period of time. Reports have been published condemning this kind of treatment as long ago as 1997 by Amnesty International, and the prison service even have their own report saying the same things authored by their Chief Medical Officer, Sir Donald Acheson. It is for these reasons that the prison service lie about the conditions. They force me to suffer, officially they do not subject anyone to Solitary Confinement in this country.

They claim that I was sent here to HMP Whitemoor’s CSC to enable me to access an “improved regime” and “psychological risk reduction” so that I can progress out of CSC. The problem is that to date they have never identified any so-called risks to reduce because of the fact that I have been wrongfully selected to the CSC based upon false allegations made by corrupt and racist prison officers at HMP Franklin, which I was subsequently proven innocent of at Newcastle Crown Court December 2011. The focus of psychologists then has been to coerce, manipulate and pressure me into going to the High Secure Hospital Broadmoor so that the prison system no longer has to deal with the problem that they have created.

Why should I go to a Mental Health Hospital to alleviate the pressure on prison service management to get me out of the CSC, rather than fight to be returned to mainstream prison population like I have been doing for the last nine years? So, what is needed instead is an increase in the pressure to progress me which to start with could begin with a protest demonstration to mark the anniversary.

I, therefore, call for the support of everyone willing and able to help me to overcome this challenge by publicising, then turning up for the demo, which will be announced by IWOC, as well as organising actions at embassies and other places where you are.

Thank you all in advance for your support, and I look forward to soon being able to tell you the positive results of your action.

Kevan Thakrar A4907AE
HMP Whitemoor
Long Hill Road
March
PE15 0PR

Further Information
1. Read more about Kevan’s case and appeal here: https://justiceforkevan.org/
2. www.theguardian.com/law/2018/jan/25/senior-tories-urge-government-to-review-joint-enterprise-laws To learn more about Joint Enterprise, check out grassroots campaign JENGBA visit www.jointenterprise.co/
3. Kevan Thakar Letter 10th October 18
4. CSC Zines – https://bristolabc.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/close-supervision-centres-in-the-uk-2-a-brief-follow-up/

Action Alert: Stop The Harassment Of Kevan Thakrar

20/08/18

Kevan Thakrar is a miscarriage of justice prisoner who has served over a decade in prison. He was moved to the Close Supervision Centre at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire in July and is now being subjected to an even more repressive regime, as well as targeted harassment from prison officers.

Kevan repeatedly challenges his conditions and captivity with complaints and legal challenges, many often against prisoner officers and members of the Prison Officers Association. In retaliation, the Prison Officers Association have been actively encouraging officers to try to get Kevan moved to a different prison. Staff have been trying provoke an incident after Kevan’s requests for them to wear body-worn cameras (for his own protection, following incidents of physical violence inflicted against Kevan in the past).

On Thursday August 16, Kevan was put on an even more brutal regime. He is now locked up 23 hours a day. He has 30mins outside and 30mins to shower, make phone calls or do anything else he needs to do. When he is unlocked, everyone else in the CSC is locked in. This is creating animosity between the prisoners (a desired effect for the officers).

Kevan has requested to see the Governor and has so far been refused. His planned meeting with the prison’s Diversity Officer was also refused by the Governor.

Close Supervision Centres are designed to break human beings. Most people leave and enter psychiatric custody following what they are subjected to. Kirsty White, head of the CSC unit has told Kevan the reason for his restricted regime is that Kevan’s PTSD is being triggered and that he is clearly “distressed” because he is asking for body-worn cameras. Kevan developed PTSD after experiencing extreme racial, physical and sexual abuse at HMP Frankland in 2010.

Kevan has been fighting for his life as a miscarriage of justice for the past 11 years. Learn about his case. He has been kept in solitary confinement for over 8 years. You can read more about his experience in prison here.
What you can do

Follow the IWOC on facebook for updates on upcoming demonstrations

1. Please contact the Head Governor Will Styles at HMP Whitemoor:

Address: HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0PR
Tel: 01354 602 350
Fax: 01354 602 351
Email: [email protected]

2. Write to the Justice Secretary, David Gauke MP:

Email: [email protected]

Or contact him via the Ministry of Justice: https://contact-moj.dsd.io/correspondence/topic

3. Write to the MP of the area, Steve Barclay: http://stevebarclay.net/contact/

4. Complain to the Prison Officers Association: [email protected]

5. Write to Kevan:

Write to Kevan! He needs your support and solidarity. Send letters to:

Kevan Thakrar A4907AE
HMP Whitemoor
Longhill Road
March
Cambridgeshire
PE15 0PR

You can also use emailaprisoner.com

Jock Palfreeman Denied Parole

27/07/19

Last week in Sofia, Bulgaria, 32-year-old anti-fascist Jock Palfreeman was denied parole on his 20-year prison sentence for murder. Jock was convicted in 2009 of the stabbing murder of Andrei Monov and the attempted murder of Anton Zahariev. The death occurred after Jock went to the aid of two Roma boys who were being attacked by a racist gang in Sofia in December 2007; he has now spent over 11 years behind bars as a result. All appeals against the conviction and sentence — along with attempts to convince Bulgarian authorities to allow him to serve the rest of his sentence in Australia — have failed, and it seems likely that Jock will not be released until the full 20-year sentence has been served.

Coming to terms with serving such a lengthy sentence in a foreign country is obviously a difficult matter, but during the course of his incarceration Jock has remained politically-active. Thus Jock has been an outspoken prisoners’ rights advocate throughout his term and in 2012 Jock was instrumental in establishing the ‘Bulgarian Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Association’ (BPRA), the first organisation of its kind in the country. In 2015 he was even nominated for a human rights award for his work in this field. Despite operating within a very hostile political environment, Jock’s work and that of the BPRA has nonetheless won recognition and support by some outside Sofia prison’s walls, and it’s hoped that reform within the prison system might be accompanied by positive changes outside of it — as unlikely as that may presently seem.

While far from being a household name in his native Australia, Jock’s case has received some media coverage, including on two ABC-TV shows (‘Australian Story’ in 2011 and ‘Foreign Correspondent’ in 2009) and is the subject of a 2013 book, Every Parent’s Nightmare, by journalist Belinda Hawkins. Green Left Weekly has also been following the case, and regularly provides updates. In addition, a small number of activists in Australia continue to to take action to support Jock and the BPRA, and merchandise produced by and for the union is often seen on display at various anti-fascist and anti-racist events across the country. Before his death, veteran Australian-Bulgarian anarchist Jack Granchraoff (1925–2016) also expressed support for Jock.

Outside of Australia, Brighton ABC and other groups and networks have been supporting Jock, and in 2014 anti-fascists in the United States organised ‘A Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoner Jock Palfreeman’ (July 25); the following year, this became the ‘International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners’, drawing attention to Jock’s case along with those of dozens of other imprisoned anti-fascists.

The court’s decision to deny Jock parole was preceded in April by his taking part in a hunger-strike in order to protest maltreatment at the hands of prison authorities. The strike ended in May after 33 days. According to one report:

Palfreeman’s lawyer Kalin Angelov said the hunger strike had been in response to Bulgarian authorities cracking down on the Australian for exposing corruption in the country’s prison system and the abuse of inmates.

Mr Angelov said Palfreeman had been a model inmate with a completely clean record, until a new national government was elected in May 2017. The incoming administration then began to systematically wind back his privileges, his lawyer said.

Mr Angelov said his client had been sacked from his prison job, banned from receiving visitors and denied access to phone cards to contact the outside world.

This was not the first time Jock and of course other prisoners have been punished by authorities for trying to improve their conditions, and/or to address abuse and corruption within the prison system. Bulgaria itself is known as being both the poorest and the ‘most corrupt’ country in the European Union, with a small but significant far-right movement, including government parties, organised under the umbrella of the ‘United Patriots’. (Oddly enough, the defunct Australian far-right groupuscule the ‘United Patriots Front’ helped inspire the Christchurch killer Brenton Tarrant, whose activities in Bulgaria remain the subject of investigation.)

[source]

Antifascist Prisoner Jock Palfreeman Is On Hunger Strike

24/04/19

Since this Sunday, April 21st, Bulgarian Prisoners’ Association Chairman of the Board Jock Palfreeman is on hunger strike as a protest against the corruption and abuse of power by the management of Sofia Prison, and in particular, the chief of staff, Desilav Angelov Traykov.

You can send messages of solidarity with Jock’s hunger strike to the Bulgarian Justice Ministry (Министерство На Правосъдието) here:

https://newweb.mjs.bg/en/contacts/

You could even leave a message on their Facebook page HERE

When Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance Is A Duty!

(via Bulgarian Prisoners’ Association)

Stop The Repression Of The Bulgarian Prisoners’ Association & Its Founder Jock Palfreeman!

30/06/18

Jock Palfreeman is a 29-year-old Australian anti-fascist who had the courage to stand up against 16 neo-Nazis on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria. He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to the boys' aid, he did his best to keep the Nazis at bay by waving a knife at them but they attacked him. Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice but to defend himself. Andrey Monov, one of the Nazis, and a son of a prominent politician, was stabbed and killed and another, Antoan Zahariev, was injured. The Roma boys ran away.

Jock has since been tried for murder and attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, in addition to a fine of 375,000 Australian dollars, in a trial that didn’t even try to give any resemblance of “fairness”.

More about his case: www.brightonabc.org.uk/jock.html

During his time inside Jock founded the Bulgarian Association of Prisoners, the first ever official prisoners union in Bulgaria. The BPRA has had many successes in struggle to establish better conditions for prisoners and against the arbitrary rule of the prison authorities. For this reason Jock and his comrades became a target of repression. Recently he had been charged by the prison administration with the distribution of BPRA stickers. According to the authorities, stickers with a slogan “When injustice becomes the law, resistance becomes a duty” are promoting racism and are hate speech! No-one explained against which race or national group those stickers are supposed to be directed, but as a result Jock had been stripped of all privileges for a period of 2 years. That means he had been stopped from continuing his university studies, his visits have been severely limited, he is not allowed any of the supervised leave that he had previously been granted and he has been refused any paid work.

This is a clearly fabricated charge and Jock, an anti-fascist prisoner, must be the only person in Bulgarian prison ever prosecuted for racism! This is an act of vindictive repression against him and all those connected with BPRA as the authorities are clearly unhappy about their activity. They need our solidarity.

What can you do?

– Sign the online petition:
www.change.org/p/bulgarian-minister-of-justice-stop-repressions-of-bulgarian-prisoners-association-and-its-founder-jock-palfreeman

– Send a protest email or letter to the Minister of Justice, Tsetska Tsacheva, and demand that the repression against Jock and others associated with BPRA cease, and that his privileges are reinstated:

email to: [email protected]

mail to:
Tsetska Tsacheva
Minister of Justice
ul. "Slavyanska" 1
1000 Sofia Centre, Sofia, Bulgaria

– organise a solidarity protest outside the Bulgarian embassy or consulate nearest you
[www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/bulgaria/ for list of places worldwide]

– spread the information about this case

– donate to the BPRA: http://bpra.info/en/home/

– write to Jock with messages of support:
Jock Palfreeman,
Kazichene Prison,
Kazichene 1532,
Region Pancherevo,
Sofia,
Bulgaria.

Brighton Anarchist Black Cross

Urgent! Take Action To Support Herman Bell's Freedom Today

26/03/18

Certain Days founder and one of its inside editors, political prisoner Herman Bell urgently needs your help. As you may know, Herman was recently granted parole. Unfortunately since then, there has been a major campaign of intimidation and threats and being heaped upon both Herman and the Parole Board for their decision. We want to make sure that Governor Andrew Cuomo, other elected people and the public hear how much support Herman has, and allow his parole to continue as planned - immediately.

Herman has dedicated his life to helping others. For those of us who have been lucky enough to work alongside him on the calendar for almost 20 years, we know him to be a kind and extremely thoughtful person. He has supported and mentored those around him, on both sides of the walls, and he is a continuous inspiration to all of us in organising for a better world.

Please join us, and take a few minutes right now to support Herman by taking these 3 simple and concrete actions. We need to keep up the pressure until Herman comes home. You can do these actions every day, and help counter the nonsense coming from police unions and right-wing publications.

In solidarity,

The Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners calendar collective

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Three weeks ago, the New York State Board of Parole granted Herman Bell release. Since the Board's decision, there has been significant backlash from the Police Benevolent Association, Mayor DeBlasio and Governor Cuomo. They are demanding that Herman be held indefinitely, the Parole Commissioners who voted for his release be fired, and that people convicted of killing police be left to die in prison.

We want the Governor, policymakers, and public to know that we strongly support the Parole Board's lawful, just and merciful decision. We also want to show support for the recent changes to the Board, including the appointment of new Commissioners and the direction of the new parole regulations, which base release decisions more on who a person is today and their accomplishments while in prison than on the nature of their crime.

Herman has a community of friends, family and loved ones eagerly awaiting his return. At 70 years old and after 45 years inside, it is time for Herman to come home.

Here are three things you can do RIGHT NOW to support Herman Bell:

1-CALL New York State Governor Cuomo's Office (010) 518-474-8390

2-EMAIL New York State Governor Cuomo's Office

www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

3-TWEET at Governor Cuomo: use the following sample tweet:

"@NYGovCuomo: stand by the Parole Board's lawful & just decision to release Herman Bell. At 70 years old and after more than 40 years of incarceration, his release is overdue. #BringHermanHome."

Script for phone calls and emails:

"Governor Cuomo, my name is _________ and I am a resident of [New York State/other state/other country]. I support the Parole Board's decision to release Herman Bell and urge you and the Board to stand by the decision. I also support the recent appointment of new Parole Board Commissioners, and the direction of the new parole regulations, which base release decisions more on who a person is today than on the nature of their crime committed years ago. Returning Herman to his friends and family will help the heal the many harms caused by crime and decades of incarceration. The Board's decision was just, merciful and lawful, and it will benefit our communities and New York State as a whole."

Certain Days - Freedom for Political Prisoners & Prisoners of War Calendar
www.certaindays.org
www.facebook.com/certaindays/
@CertainDays

Support Anarchist Political Prisoner Evgeny Karakashev

21/03/18

We call for solidarity and support for the Crimean anarchist Evgeny Karakashev. The collection of funds for the work of a lawyer and paying for support parcels has already begun.

Evgeny was born on August 21, 1978. He lives in Yevpatoria, Crimea. He is a leftist activist with anarchist beliefs. On February 1, 2018, Karakashev was detained, and on February 2, 2018, arrested on suspicion of committing crimes under Part 1 of Art. 282 (the incitement of hatred and enmity) and Part 2 of Art. 205.2 (public calls for terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. He is in custody from February 2nd 2018.

Case description

On February 1, 2018, Evgeny Karakashev was detained by police officers in Yevpatoriya. Journalist Alyona Savchuk wrote in Facebook that on the day of his arrest, Karakashev was searched. "They took him violently: some men in civilian clothes broke into flat, did not introduce themselves, immediately laid him on the floor, grabbed [his arms and] handcuffed him behind his back. Evgeny says that he stayed in handcuffs until [they reached] the temporary detention facility. On his right forehead is a huge abrasion. Only in the evening [was he allowed to] call a friend and ask for a lawyer to be found," Savchuk said. "The investigator Abushayev said that he does not remember how long Karakashev had been handcuffed - 5 minutes or 3 hours - and that Karakashev voluntarily agreed to an «offer» to go to police department".

On February 2, 2018, the Evpatoria City Court ordered Evgeny to be detained for 2 months on suspicion of committing «incitement of hatred and enmity» and «public calls for terrorism».

It appears from the order on the institution of criminal proceedings, according to the investigation, Karakashev published a video on one of his pages in social network VKontakte at the end of 2014, which allegedly calls for terrorism. In addition, according to the order, in January 2017, he posted from another account in a chat room for 35 people a text that contains signs of «propaganda of the ideology of violence» and «calls for terrorist activities». It is not specified exactly what Karakashev published, however, the document says that the experts investigated «teletext, starting with the words "use grenade against" and ending with the words "in the windows of authorities, good luck"».

It is obvious that the reason for initiating the criminal case was the video 'Video Appeal of the Primorsky Partisans' published in the social network VKontakte, in which partisans explain the motives of their actions. This video is recognised in Russia as an extremist one, as it "incites hatred towards a particular social group" [i.e. the police].

According to lawyer Alexei Ladin, Evgeny Karakashev himself believes that the initiation of a criminal case against him and the subsequent arrest are related to his activism: he opposed the construction in a resort zone near Yevpatoriya close to a salt lake. Evgeny is an anarchist and anti-fascist. Karakashev always took an active civil position, such as taking part in a protest near the FSB building in the city of Simferopol, and in November 2016, he planned to hold an action "against police brutality in the Crimea" near the building of the Ministry of the Interior of Evpatoria. The latter action was banned by the local authorities. After this incident, Evgeny was called by the staff of the so-called law enforcement agencies and invited to an interview to give explanations. Evgeny refused to give any testimonies.

Signs of political motivation for persecution

It is highly probable that the criminal case against Evgeny Karakashev was initiated in the context of his oppositional public and political activities as a participant of protest actions in the Crimea. In the context of the persecution of left-wing activists and anti-fascists since January 2018, the motivation for Karakashev's case seems highly politically.

Thus, the circumstances of the persecution allow us to believe that the detention of Evgeny Karakashev was used to stop his public activities. At the same time, detention was applied in violation of the right to a fair trial, other rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and was based on the tampering with evidence of the alleged crime in the absence of elements of a misdemeanour offence.

How you can help: You can transfer money with the Paypal system: our address is [email protected] [please mention "for Evgeny Karakashev"]

Prison address of Evgeni:
Karakashev Evgeni Vitalevich, bul. Lenina 4, 295006 Simferopol, Respublika Krym, Russia.
Note that in remand prisons, only letters in Russian are accepted.

Moscow ABC

Protest The Abuse And Illegal Treatment Of Kevan Thakrar

14/05/18

Kevan Thakrar has been moved to Long Lartin prison. Although Long Lartin does not have an official Close Supervision Centre, he remains in solitary confinement. Kevan gets very little time (less than an hour) out of his cell each day and then has to exercise in what amounts to a cage.

KEVAN IS SUFFERING ABUSIVE CONDITIONS AND TREATMENT:
For example;
Sunlight and ventilation in his cell is restricted by rubbish just outside his window
He often is forced to shower in cold water because of a broken boiler which is not being replaced
He is allowed only one phone call daily
The toilet is filthy and he has no privacy when using it
The cell has virtually no furniture and no storage space
His personal property from the previous prison is still being withheld
He is being denied the medical care he needs
He is denied any physical contact with visitors who sit behind a screen
He is not allowed access to the money in his account to which he is entitled so he is unable pay for other phone calls he would be entitled to make
There is no gym, no employment opportunities, no education provision, and no means for him to progress out of solitary.

OTHER PRISONERS SENT TO LONG LARTIN DO NOT RECEIVE THIS LEVEL OF DEPRIVATION.
Please phone the Home Secretary Sajid Javid on 020 7035 4848
Or email: [email protected]
Demand that these abusive conditions be lifted and Kevan be released from solitary and returned to general population immediately.

BACKGROUND
Kevan suffered a miscarriage of justice when he was convicted of murder under the discredited Joint Enterprise Law. Kevan has been held in Close Supervision Units (CSC), solitary, for more than eight years. He was placed in CSC for defending himself against a racist attack by guards. He was then accused of attacking the guards but successfully defended himself in court. Guards pledged revenge for the justice he won and Kevan has been locked up in solitary ever since. It is urgent that he be returned to general population but this will not happen without public protest -- the prison authorities are doing all they can to frustrate his efforts to get out of solitary.

Both the European Union and the United Nations consider anything longer than two weeks in solitary to be torture.

Please see more about his case on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JusticeForKev/

Get Kevan Out Of Solitary Confinement

28/06/17

JENGbA is a grassroots campaign supporting prisoners wrongfully convicted using the doctrine of 'joint enterprise'. Joint enterprise is used to convict more than one person of a single offence. It is often used in cases of murder. In the case of Kevan Thakrar he was not even at the scene of the crime when 3 men lost their lives, this was accepted at his trial.

Since his conviction he has been held in various Close Supervision Centres (CSCs) throughout the country for 7 years. CSCs are, in Kev's own words, "the English version of American supermax prisons, indefinite solitary confinement within the most oppressive and brutal environment found in this country. Psychological warfare is used upon its victims on a constant basis, with frequent physical attacks supplementing the arbitrary punishment." As only around 50 prisoners fall victim to the CSC at any one time its existence is largely unknown even amongst the general prison population.

JENGbA now wants to raise funds for Kevan to have an urgent psychological assessment, which will prove vital in proving that it is more damaging for him to be held in the CSC than the main prison estate. This is not only for Kevan, we are hoping that once we raise enough funds to enable Kevan and his family to move forward and get him an urgent assessment, we will also be helping to bring this barbaric punishment regime into the public arena and help others in the same unfortunate circumstances.

Kevan's lawyer, Dean Kingham, says "Long term solitary confinement can have long term adverse effects. It is well documented that progression within the CSC system is limited and there is very little of it. Progression out of the CSC system is rare and difficult to achieve.
The system is often viewed as lacking legitimacy, transparency and has a long term adverse psychological impact on it's residents given its lack of independent scrutiny or external involvement in decision-making.
The longer term potential for psychological deterioration due to the lack of meaningful activities and very nature of the detention is very real.
We are seeking to obtain an independent psychological assessment to ensure that there is transparency, legitimacy and Mr. Thakrar can progress".

Legal Aid is available for psychological assessments of prisoners and Kevan's lawyer has applied. But the delay has been so long that we feel now it is vital that the assessment takes place before his health deteriorates further. Seven years in solitary confinement is an unusual and inhumane punishment for any prisoner, let alone a man who continues to maintain his innocence.

If you can reach out to help Kevan, with any contribution no matter how small, it will be used directly for his assessment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, if you are unable to help financially at this time, please spread the word and let people know that these places, with their concrete beds and chairs, actually exist in English prisons.

www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice-for-kevan/

Urgent Medical Campaign For Robert Seth Hayes

07/03/18

As people know, ensuring that Robert Seth Hayes receives adequate medical care has been an ongoing struggle over the past 20 years. Seth reports that, when he went to change the sensor on his insulin pump (sensors must be changed every 6 days) on February 23, 2018, he was informed that Sullivan did not have any sensors at the facility.

So for almost two weeks now, Seth does not have a continuous glucose monitoring device (the sensor continuously reads interstitial glucose levels and relays them to the monitor) and has had to rely on his daily finger sticks to determine his sugar levels. Once again, NYS DOCCS is violating Seth's constitutional and human right to adequate health care, in additon to being in stark violation to the United Nations Nelson Mandela Rules on the treatment of prisoners.

The whole point of Seth's having the insulin pump/monitor is because he can no longer tell when his sugars are high or low. It is hard to believe that "medical" personnel at Sullivan have once again failed to order the necessary sensors in a timely fashion.

Please call, write and fax the following people to demand that all supplies for Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280's insulin pump be adequately stocked at the Sullivan clilnic. Be polite but firm. Feel free to email [email protected] to let us know what response you receive. Staff at Sullivan usually state that Superintendent Keyser will not take phone calls and that all complaints must be in writing. If that is the case, ask to speak with guidance and ask for Seth's counsellor.

Carl J. Koenigsmann M.D.
Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer
NYS DOCCS Division of Health Services
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Phone: (010) 518-457-7073
Fax: (010) 518-445-7553
[email protected]

Anthony J. Annucci
Acting Commissioner
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Phone: (010) 518-457-8126
[email protected]

Superintendent Keyser
Sullivan Correctional Facility
325 Riverside Drive
Fallsburg, New York 12733
(010) 845-434-2080

Emergency Campaign For Robert Seth Hayes!

26/06/17

Just heard from Seth this evening. He had an incident last night, apparently low sugars again. He woke up at around 1 a.m. and his bathrobe was on the floor. He reached over to get it and fell out of bed onto the floor. He was then unable to get up, with his arms and legs flailing about. (Seth also suffers from diabetic neuropathy in his legs.)

He managed to drag himself over to the toilet and used that to somehow pull himself up. It did not occur to him to call out and let folk know he was in trouble. (This happens when his sugars drop, since it affects his thinking.) This morning, he found his glasses in the toilet.

Anyway, he went back to bed and slept for a while. Then he woke up because he was freezing (because his sugars were so low), so he ate a couple of peanut butter cookies and went back to sleep.

In the morning, his sugars were 150. But after breakfast his sugars were over 300 at 11 a.m. In response to this, they apparently put too much insulin into his bolus.

He ate all of his lunch plus a couple more cookies, and his sugars were only 87 when the took them at 4 p.m. So Dr. Wolf said, "You didn't eat enough!" and Seth told her he had eaten all of his food. Then the nurse said, "This pump doesn't work for you."

Whether it is medical incompetence or something else, this is the same thing that happened in the past, giving Seth too much insulin when his sugars are high and then having his sugars become too low. Obviously, medical staff at Sullivan are doing the same thing as when Seth was getting insulin injections. When his sugars are high, they give him too much insulin, and then his sugars become too low. This happened again today. Seth's sugars were almost 400 at 11:30 a.m. So the bollus insulin was too much, and Seth's sugars were at 56 at 4:30 p.m., despite having eaten his entire lunch plus some high sugar items.

Clearly, staff at Sullivan need additional training in the use of the insulin pump. Also, Seth needs to have the monitor as soon as possible as a life-saving measure, as well as the manual for the insulin pump/monitor.

CALL SULLIVAN AT (010) 845-434-2080

Ask to speak with the Superintendent. This will probably not happen. but you can state your concerns to whomever answers the phone. Be sure to get their name.

You can state the following: I am calling on behalf of Robert Seth Hayes, number 74A2280. I am a friend of Mr. Hayes, and am very concerned for his health and well-being. Although Mr. Hayes finally received his insulin pump a while ago, he has not yet been given the accompanying monitor. Additionally, his sugars have been ranging from almost 400 down to as low as 56 within 12 hours.

Since Mr. Hayes can no longer tell when his sugars are high or low, he must be given the monitor as soon as possible as a life-saving measure.

Also, if you work in the healthcare field, let Sullivan know if you are a Doctor, Nurse, Paramedic, EMT, etc. This has an impact. If you, a family member or loved one has diabetes, you know how important this is.

Please let us know what day you called and what response you received. Encourage all of your friends, family and co-workers to call as well. Send us an email at [email protected].

Write to Seth:

Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280
Sullivan C.F.
P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.

Send him a get well card or write him a letter. Seth loves corresponding with people, and it also shows the prison that people are paying attention.

Anne Lamb
NYC Jericho Movement

Seth wants to start a campaign about the issue of the COs, not the doctor and nurses, making medical decisions in the infirmary. Sullivan is supposed to be a regional medical hub, but the doctor and nurses are mostly upstairs in the clinic, and the COs are running the show in the infirmary. I will write this up in a follow-up shortly.

To contribute to ongoing efforts supporting Robert Seth Hayes, please donate online at:
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/810a58

Update On Political Prisoner Robert Seth Hayes

23/06/17

As people know, Seth has been having serious problems with his blood sugar levels in the past month, especially since finally receiving the insulin pump. While the process of properly calibrating the pump is rather complex, there has also apparently been some medical incompetence in the use of the pump (without the monitor).

Seth’s sugars have, if anything, always tended to run too low, leading to incidents of him passing out, having "Code Blues" called, and being rushed to an outside hospital on an emergency basis. However, since the installation of the pump, his sugars have been running high (in the 200+ to 400+ range). In one recent incident, the infusion set was improperly inserted, and Seth was receiving no insulin whatsoever. His sugars were in the 500-600 range, which is life-threatening.

After one of the nurses arbitrarily removed the pump more than a week ago, stating that Seth was "too delicate" to have it, Dr. Wolf (the prison doctor) has been very concerned, since this is totally undermining her authority as a physician. This occurred during a weekend, when Dr. Wolf is not at Sullivan. (Also, the pump was removed, but the infusion set was still inserted into Seth’s body for 2 days after that. Luckily, he did not develop an infection.)

Dr. Wolf had Seth in the "infirmary" all last week, and that is where I visited him on Father’s Day. The last time I visited Seth when he was in the "infirmary," he was allowed to come up to the regular visiting room. However, this time I had to visit in the "infirmary," which was an educational experience for me. When I arrived to the visiting room, the Sergeant called down to the "infirmary" to ask if Seth could come up to the visiting room. I also asked if I could at least bring down some water and light snackage, and was told that I could not.

When I was on the elevator to the infirmary, I asked the CO, who was not wearing his name badge, when visiting was over, and he told me "We will kick you out of here at 2 p.m." This was fine with me, as the bus driver had requested we all come out with the 2:30 escort.

So Seth and I are in a locked glass-walled small visiting room right in front of the COs’ desk. At around 11:30 a.m., the technician came to do the finger stick. He was very professional, placing the vial of insulin on the table so Seth (and I) could see exactly what he was being injected with. Seth stated that his sugars had been at 70 in the morning, but the fingerstick monitor showed his sugars were 280+. The technician then injected him with 6cc of insulin.

So, the standard practice is that the patient is to eat shortly after receiving the insulin, even if the sugars are high. This is to prevent a precipitous drop and allow for a gradual decline in the sugars. Since the food cart had gone by shortly before that, we had to make sure that Seth got his lunch. Luckily, one of the nurses happened to arrive at that time, and I knocked on the glass to gain her attention. I asked for the lunch tray, but she could not hear me, so I made an eating motion, and she went down to the hall to speak with the COs, and then shook her head. So I made the motion of Seth getting an injection, and she nodded her head and the CO arrived with the food tray within 5 minutes. So kudos to the nurse who did the right thing and did not let herself be intimidated!

So I finally got to see the infamous "Class B" diet that Dr. Koenigsmann insists is an adequate diabetic diet. I don’t know where he went to medical school, but he obviously doesn’t know much about diabetes and nutrition. The lunch consisted of white pasta, a large hamburger on a white roll (with ketchup), and beets, all of which were cold by the time Seth got to eat. (Of course, since Seth’s sugars are high, let’s make sure we give him even more sugar!)

Since they keep giving Seth milk with every meal even though he is lactose intolerant (Seth has had diarrhoea off and on for almost a week), I took the little milk container. This caused the CO (same one who brought me down to the infirmary on the elevator: a tall, slim white guy with glasses) to leap out from behind the desk, rush into the visiting room and come within an inch of physically assaulting me. He was screaming at me "That’s what I thought! You did this on purpose so you can eat his food!" with his fists up as if he was going to hit me. I haven’t seen anyone so enraged in a long time. I remained calm and replied, "I was told when I came in that I could not bring anything to eat in here. I’m only drinking the milk because Seth is lactose intolerant, and this gives him diarrhoea." The thought of anyone actually wanting to eat this food (which I would not serve even to a rat) was so hilarious that Seth and I burst out laughing. We couldn’t help ourselves. We were laughing so hard we were practically in tears. Meanwhile, CO FNU LNU (First Name Unknown Last Name Unknown) quickly locked the bathroom door before once again locking us into the visiting room and Seth literally forced himself to eat the hamburger and some of the beets.

Since the inside bathroom was locked, I asked to use the bathroom and thus got an informal tour of the infirmary. One thing I can certainly say is that it is freezing in there. Seth said that luckily, since all the beds are not occupied, he can grab an extra blanket from one of them.

Since I had been told by this same CO when I came in that visiting in the infirmary ended at 2 p.m., I was not concerned about the time, but it certainly seemed longer than it should have been. (There is no clock.) When the escort came to get me, it was already 3 p.m., so of course that meant I was late for the bus. I guess this was FNU LNU’s petty revenge for me having made sure, with the assistance of the nurse, that Seth was given his food (if you can call it that) in a timely manner. So I commented to the escort that I was late for my bus, and she replied, "That’s your responsibility.’ I replied, "Well, since I was told that infirmary visitation ends at 2 p.m., and since I have not yet developed the ability to pass through locked doors and walls, there wasn’t too much I could do about it."

So I went back up to the regular visiting room with this young woman CO and waited for the rest of the visitors who were there. As we were walking out, we visitors were conversing. People asked where I had been, and I explained that we were visiting in the infirmary, where visitation is supposed to end at 2 p.m. I also commented the FNU LNU seemed to be hyperactive and extremely aggressive and possibly should be given some antipsychotic medication to calm him down.

When I finally arrived outside, it was 3:15 p.m. and the bus was not there. Since the prison now insists we cannot even put our cell phones in the lockers, my phone was also on the bus. I nice woman offered me a ride if I was going toward Albany, and I replied: "Oh, the bus probably went to Woodbourne to pick up people there and will come back for me." Then I saw the bus coming up the hill. Jeff, the bus driver, said the COs said to leave me behind, and I said, "Yes, they did that once at Mohawk when a visitor was caught in the count and they wouldn’t let him leave. I went inside to see what the delay was, and the COs said to leave without him. I replied; "You are COs. You do that. We are community; we don’t leave our people behind." Jeff smiled and said, "Exactly. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and have never left anyone stranded in the middle of nowhere!"

Seth called as I was getting off the bus in the Bronx to see how I was doing. He was concerned because I had not had anything to eat. So I told him not to worry about that and asked what his sugars were at 4 p.m. At that time, his sugars were at 202, but if he hadn’t eaten, they probably would have been at around 60 or 70. Seth is to see Dr. Wolf today, June 19, 2017, to discuss the current situation and see what next steps are. Of course, Seth wants to have the insulin pump and monitor and so does the endocrinologist at Coxsackie.

We have an update from Seth this evening, Monday, June 19, 2017 on the outcome of that conversation with Dr. Wolf. When I asked him what his sugars were today, he told me that not everyone is as professional as the technician who was there on Sunday, and he was not told what his glucose level was. He is still in the infirmary, but hopes to be out of there soon. In the meantime, people can write to Seth:

Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280
Sullivan C.F.
P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116
USA.

Send him a get well card or write him a letter. Seth loves corresponding with people, and it also shows the prison that people are paying attention.

Also, you can call the facility at (010) 845-434-2080. Ask to speak with the Superintendent and state you are concerned about Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280. Be polite but firm and say you are calling to make sure Seth gets the insulin pump and monitor returned to him as a life-saving measure for his diabetes.

Anne Lamb
NYC Jericho Movement

Seth wants to start a campaign about the issue of the COs, not the doctor and nurses, making medical decisions in the infirmary. Sullivan is supposed to be a regional medical hub, but the doctor and nurses are mostly upstairs in the clinic, and the COs are running the show in the infirmary. I will write this up in a follow-up shortly.

To contribute to ongoing efforts supporting Robert Seth Hayes, please donate online at:
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/810a58

NYC Jericho received word on May 9, 2017 from Seth's lawyer, Eve Rosahn, that his Article 78 appeal of his parole denial was also denied. You can read the decision here.

Continuing Urgent Medical Campaign For Robert Seth Hayes

14/02/17

PLEASE CALL, WRITE AND FAX!
MONDAY, FEB. 13 THRU FRIDAY FEB. 17, 2017

Seth suffered another Diabetic Coma or Code Blue on Feb. 5, 2017. This time he fell so hard he broke a tooth and opened a cut above his eye. He reports that he awoke in the shower in a pool of blood and does not really remember passing out. He was taken to the nearest outside hospital with a possible fractured skull, which was ruled out. Seth did suffer a severe concussion and is still having headaches as a result of this. He was kept in the so-called infirmary at Sullivan for two days for observation. Seth reports that being in the infirmary is like being in SHU, all by himself with two COs constantly present and no witnesses except the nurses, who do everything the COs tell them to.

Seth is also concerned because the medical personnel at Sullivan have told him that, even if he gets the insulin pump, he will still need to be monitored three times a day. This is leading Seth to believe that he will be getting an insulin pump without a monitor, which is not what the endocrinologist at Coxsackie told him back in October. Seth absolutely wants the pump with the monitor, as he can no longer tell when his sugars are high or low. He feels that having an insulin pump without the monitor may actually worsen his current situation.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND THE INSULIN PUMP/MONITOR AS A LIFE-SAVING MEASURE FOR SETH.

Seth has been suffering from uncontrolled diabetes for over 16 years now. His sugars go up to the 400's, then down so low he falls into a diabetic coma. Each diabetic coma he goes into could end in death if not noticed and treated right away or from a fall such as the one that occurred today.

We are asking that Seth be given an insulin pump/sugar monitor immediately to avert these near fatal incidents. He had consultation with an endocrinologist at Coxsackie in early October 2016 and was told the paperwork to receive a insulin pump would be pushed immediately. On November 20, 2016 Seth wrote a grievance stating he has not heard anything. He has still not received any response to this grievance almost 3 months later. Despite the endocrinologist's recommendation, call in campaigns, and the grievance, it is months later and still no pump.

The NYS DOCCS is completely aware of the situation and is stalling; we cannot afford to have another incident of low sugar. THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH!

Seth's constant extreme fluctuations in sugar levels have led to him no longer being able to tell when his sugars are high or low. The sugar monitor sends a loud warning if his sugars are beginning to get either too high or too low and the pump allows him to use small dosages of insulin when needed along with his eating schedule and daily activity.

In addition, Seth had another incident of low sugar on Monday, November 28, 2016, and was in the infirmary for overnight observation. It really is a matter of life and death that Seth be provided with an insulin pump/sugar monitor as soon as possible.

Seth called on December 4 to state the following:
If Seth's sugars are high in the morning, he is given a dose of Levamir. If his sugars are still high at 11 a.m., he gets a dose of actual insulin. By the time his sugars are checked at 4 p.m. they are usually in the 30's, prompting an emergency response.

We therefore urge you to call, write and fax to demand immediate provision of an Insulin Pump/Sugar Monitor to Robert Seth Hayes 74A2280. Seth needs this device immediately!

The Demands
1. Immediate provision of an Insulin Pump/Sugar Monitor to Robert Seth Hayes 74A2280. Seth needs this device immediately!
2. A Diabetic Diet that consists of fresh fruits and vegetables and all the current recommendations for diabetics. Not the false diabetic diet that is currently being issued. A bologna sandwich on white bread at night is NOT A DIABETIC DIET!

We ask people to please remain calm and respectful but to be clear in these demands.

PHONE, WRITE, FAX THIS DEMAND TO:

Carl J. Koenigsmann M.D.
Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer
NYS DOCCS Division of Health Services
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Phone: (010) 518-457-7073
Fax: (010) 518-445-7553

Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci
NYS Department of Corrections
and Community Supervision
Harriman State Campus, Building 2
1220 Washington Ave
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Phone: (010) 518-457-8134
Fax: (010) 518-457-0076

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (010) 518-474-8390
Or Email: https://www.governor.ny.gov/ content/governor-contact-form

Thank You for Your Time & Effort. It has and continues to make a difference!

Write to Seth and let him know he is in our hearts and on our minds:
Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 116, Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/810a58

Urgent Medical Campaign For Robert Seth Hayes

21/11/16

Please Call, Write and Fax
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Nov. 21, 22 & 23!

Seth has been suffering from uncontrolled diabetes for over 15 years now. His sugars go up to the 400’s, then down so low he falls into a diabetic coma. He has had 3 such code blue diabetic comas in the past 2 months. Each diabetic coma he goes into could end in death if not noticed and treated right away.

We are asking that Seth be given an insulin pump/sugar monitor immediately to avert these near fatal incidents. He was seen by an outside Endocrinologist in early October. The endocrinologist recommended he be issued the device. The NYS DOCCS is aware of the situation and is moving in the right direction but it is not fast enough; we cannot afford to have another incident of low sugar.

The sugar monitor sends a loud warning if his sugars are beginning to get either too high or too low and the pump allows him to use small dosages of insulin when needed along with his eating schedule and daily activity.

We therefore urge you to call, write and fax to demand immediate provision of an Insulin Pump/Sugar Monitor to Robert Seth Hayes 74A2280. We are thankful that DOCCS has been more responsive to Seth’s medical needs lately, but Seth needs this device immediately!

PHONE, WRITE, FAX THIS DEMAND TO:

Carl J. Koenigsmann M.D.
Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer
NYS DOCCS Division of Health Services
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050, USA.
Phone: (010) 518-457-7073
Fax: (010) 518-445-7553

Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci
NYS Department of Corrections
and Community Supervision
Harriman State Campus, Building 2
1220 Washington Ave
Albany, New York 12226-2050, USA.
Phone: (010) 518-457-8134
Fax: (010) 518-457-0076

Thank You for Your Time & Effort. It has and continues to make a difference!

Write to Seth and let him know he is in our hearts and on our minds:

Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.

To contribute to ongoing efforts supporting Robert Seth Hayes, please donate online at:
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/810a58

Urgent Medical Campaign For Robert Seth Hayes

23/10/16

Seth has been suffering from uncontrolled diabetes for over 15 years now. His sugars go up to the 400’s, then down so low he falls into a diabetic coma. He has had 3 such code blue diabetic comas in the past 2 months. Each diabetic coma he goes into could end in death if not noticed and treated right away.

We are asking that Seth be given an insulin pump/sugar monitor immediately to avert these near fatal incidents. He has just recently been seen by an outside Endocrinologist who recommended he be issued the device. The NYS DOCCS is aware of the situation and is moving in the right direction but it is not fast enough; we cannot afford to have another incident of low sugar. The last coma just happened earlier this week on Monday and Seth had to spend the night in the hospital.

The sugar monitor sends a loud warning if his sugars are beginning to get either too high or too low and the pump allows him to use small dosages of insulin when needed along with his eating schedule and daily activity.
We therefore urge you to call, write and fax to demand immediate provision of an Insulin Pump/Sugar Monitor to Robert Seth Hayes 74A2280. We are thankful that DOCCS has been more responsive to Seth’s medical needs lately, but Seth needs this device immediately!

Please Phone, Write and Fax This Demand Today To:

Carl J. Koenigsmann M.D.
Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer
NYS DOCCS Division of Health Services
Harriman State Campus, Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050, USA.
Phone: (010) 518-457-7073
Fax: (010) 518-445-7553

Thank You for Your Time & Effort. It has and continues to make a difference!

Write to Seth and let him know he is in our hearts and on our minds:
Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 116, Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.

To contribute to ongoing efforts supporting Robert Seth Hayes, please donate online at:
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/810a58

Robert Seth Hayes Denied Again At His 10th Parole Board Hearing

18/06/16

Everyone was enraged to report that Political Prisoner Robert Seth Hayes received notice on June 16, 2016, that he was once again rejected by the Parole Board. This is the tenth time Seth has been to the Board, and the tenth time he has been denied, despite having an excellent record and meeting all the requirements to be released on parole.

His supporters in the US say that there will definitely be an appeal of this denial. In the meantime, please take the time to write to Seth and let him know he is in our hearts and on our minds.

Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility,
P.O. Box 116,
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.

Seth Hayes Health & Parole Update

11/05/16

Seth has been breathing much better, but his sugars are not stable, and he still has congestive heart failure. The medical staff has decided that the heart situation was more serious than previously thought and so they have scheduled him to get a pace maker. He had pre-operation tests last week and most likely is undergoing the surgery today. Seth has been encouraged by getting the operation in conversation but we know it is a very serious one and we ask just please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Seth is coming up for parole next month June. If you are interested in writing a support letter there isn't much more time. Details are below. Thank you all for your support and please keep Seth on your minds today and send a him a card at the address below.

Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility,
P.O. Box 116,
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.

[see posts below for the background to Seth's situation and for further details of what you can do]

UPDATE: Seth is back in Sullivan and doing well. The pacemaker surgery went well and he was in good spirits. He had a slight fever but he said that was normal after the procedure. [15/05/16]

Robert Seth Hayes 2016 Parole Campaign

02/05/16

Once again, we are preparing for Seth's upcoming parole hearing on June 7, 2016. Since the PBA, the FOP, and the Correctional Officers union are able to collect thousands of signatures against parole, we must work to gain as many signatures and letters of support for Seth as possible. In addition to the online petition, there is a hard copy that can be downloaded here. Since many members of our community do not have regular access to the internet, it is important to use the hard copy and return it to us.

You can also download and print out the parole campaign brochure explaining Seth's case as a way of educating people about the political nature of the case and the parole board's constant denials despite national and international support for Seth's release on parole.

Sign the online petition to Tina M. Stanford, Chairwoman of the NYS Board of Parole, for Seth's Release on Parole in 2016!

Seth has also prepared a fact sheet for those who would like to write letters to the Parole Board on his behalf.

Write to Seth:
Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 116, Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.

Support Robert Seth Hayes' 9th Parole Bid

13/04/16

Robert Seth Hayes has been to the New York state parole board nine times and has been denied each time. His next parole board appearance will be June 7, 2016. Each time, the board—always made of up former law enforcement personnel and former prosecutors—reviews his very impressive record, all the institutional programs participated in and completed, college attended while inside, his job offers, his numerous letters of support from family, friends, and community members from many walks of life. Seth had a petition that received over 1000 signatures at his last trip to the board.

They have before them evidence of all the ways Seth has helped so many people throughout the course of his confinement and is still leading a positive and progressive life despite being locked up now for over four decades. And then they deny him parole based on their opinion that to release him would "deprecate" the serious nature of his charge of conviction. Is this rationale not, in effect, an illegal re-sentencing to life-without-the-possibility-of parole? When one goes to trial, there is a prosecutor, one's defense attorney, a judge, and a jury. When one goes to the parole board, there is only the prosecution.

Seth has taken responsibility for his part in the Black Liberation Movement's resistance to racist authority. He has paid a great price—43+ years of imprisonment thus far. He is going to the New York state parole board for the tenth time in June 2016 and deserves to be paroled, to come home to his family and community.

If you feel you cannot write a letter to the parole board, please take the time to sign the online petition: Release Robert Seth Hayes #74A2280 on Parole in June 2016

Please write your letter to the parole board on professional letterhead.

Please indicate how you know Seth, or if you don't know him personally, how you know of him.

What it would mean to you and the community if Seth was released rather than kept inside?

State what you do for a living and any other pertinent personal details, such as where you live, as well as what ways, if any, you could help Seth, financially or emotionally.

Say why you believe Seth will not commit another crime (i.e. what you know of his personality or interests, his institutional record, etc.)

Your letter should be addressed to:
Attn: Supervising Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator
Sullivan Correctional Facility
325 Riverside Drive
P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116

The subject line should be "Robert Seth Hayes 74A-2280"

Mail to Seth's Lawyer:
Eve Rosahn, 125 Frenchtown Road, Shohola, PA 18458.

Seth very much appreciates your efforts and your support.

Dowload the background to Seth & his appeal here.

Robert Seth Hayes Medical Update

24/11/15

Seth was recently at Albany Medical Center for a week and returned to Sullivan on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. Seth has since said that he is doing much better and is in good spirits. They took a CAT scan of his heart, lungs, blood tests, which showed that there was no heart problem or lung infection; just the build up of fluids. In response there has been an adjustment made tohis diabetes treatment, changing his medication type and amount. He has also been placed on anti-clotting meds due to having to be laying down in the hospital for the entire week. As a consequence, his breath is much better but he has to build up to walking longer distances and exerting himself again, because small amounts of exertion still put him out, but he is excited to start building up strength with the way he feels now.
He of course is unhappy with how long it took to get him hospital attention and the complications that could have been avoided had they taken care of it earlier. However, he is happy to have that problem looked at given how he feels now.
Seth wished to thank all who contacted the prison and will given an update when he is able to get access his records.

Write to Seth:
Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280, Sullivan Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 116, Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.
To contribute to ongoing efforts supporting Robert Seth Hayes, please donate online at: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/810a58

Update On Seth Hayes - Now In Outside Hospital

18/11/15

Greetings Everyone, thank you all for those who called, wrote and faxed for Seth! Seth was taken to an outside hospital on Sunday morning unbeknownst to us and we have received confirmation that he is alive and undergoing tests. Though we have not heard directly from him, we are for now are going to call off the call in campaign until we find the results of these actions. We are hopeful but not naïve, we are so thankful for people's vigilance and we will keep you abreast to the situation as it unfolds. We know ultimately Seth needs to come home to get healthy. Prison life is not meant for health. He goes to parole this year for 9th time, not including other parole denials in between the two year hits. Being outside prison he could receive true medical, family, nutrition and other related aspects of life that can contribute to the immense healing process that is needed.

Urgent Need To Support Political Prisoner Robert Seth Hayes

10/11/15

As many of you know, Seth has had a chronic cough since May of this year for which he did not receive any diagnosis or treatment for many months.
When Seth finally saw the pulmonologist at Coxsackie on Monday, November 2, the doctor wanted to know why the medical personnel at Sullivan had waited so long to bring Seth for a pulmonary exam. The pulmonologist intends to schedule for Seth a CT scan, a CT scan of his heart, and bloodwork. The pulmonologist thought there might be some infection, but needs more info.
In addition, the facility doctor (Dr. Sidorowicz) told Seth to come to the clinic to use the nebulizer whenever he feels short of breath. Seth has been using an inhaler twice a day (Seth does not get to carry his inhaler, and so needs to go to medical when he gets short of breath) and also the nebulizer twice a day for a while now, although he does not yet have a diagnosis of the cause of this chronic cough.
On a prior occasion about 10 days ago, C.O. Slater, who was accompanying Seth to the clinic, stated that Seth did not really need the nebulizer. Then the nurses did not attend to Seth, and he had to overcome his difficulty breathing on his own.
Today, the same thing happened again, with C.O. Slater once again claiming that Seth did not really need the nebulizer. Seth passed out shortly thereafter and a Code Blue was called on him.
We need people to call Superintendent Keyser at Sullivan specifically about C.O. Slater interfering with and preventing Seth from receiving needed medical attention. This C.O. should never accompany Seth to the medical clinic again. Also ask why the nurses are not following the facility doctor's medical advice instead of paying attention to C.O. Slater.
We also need people to call and fax Dr. Koenigsmann and Nancy Lyng in Albany to demand that Seth receive all needed pulmonary tests as soon as possible and that C.O. Slater be prohibited from accompanying Seth to the clinic in the future.
This is attempted medical murder of one of our beloved freedom fighters and we must do everything possible to help Seth at this time.

Superintendent Keyser at Sullivan: (010) 845-434-2080

Dr. Koenigsmann: (010) 518-457-7073 (phone) and (010) 518-445-7553 (fax)

Nancy Lyng: (010) 518-445-6176

Seth needs visitors and letters:
Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280, Sullivan Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 116, Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116, USA.