news – #DeeperThanWater

The Associated Press – November 13, 2018
Relatives say inmate’s death linked to bad prison water [ also on US News ]

The Boston Globe – November 12, 2018
“After a prisoner’s death, renewed calls for change at MCI-Norfolk”

The Boston Globe – August 2, 2018
DPH cites two prisons for ventilation problems

The Boston Globe – August 13, 2018
Health inspectors visit prisons after receiving complaints about heat

Unicorn Riot – September 7, 2018
Harsh Conditions, Violent Repression: Stoking the Flame of the 2018 Prison Strike

Prison Legal News – Jun 5, 2018
“Water at Massachusetts Prison Under Scrutiny from Prisoners, Advocates, Public Agencies”

It’s Going Down – May 24, 2018
“Rally at MCI Norfolk on Malcolm X’s Birthday” [ mirror on Indymedia ]

Spare Change News – May 9, 2018
“Inmate Spends Ten Days in solitary Confinement to Protest Lack of Clean Water”

WBUR, NPR All Things Considered – March 30, 2018
“Drinking Water Remains A Concern At Norfolk Prison In Mass.”

Democracy Now! – March 30, 2018
“Punished for Distributing Clean Water, MA Prisoner Enters Hunger Strike”

The Boston Globe – March 24, 2018 – by David Abel
“In protest of foul water, prisoner starts hunger strike at MCI-Norfolk”

Spare Change News – December 7, 2017 – by Zach Mobrice
“Coalition Pushes for Clean Water and Justice in Massachusetts Prisons”

The Sun Chronicle – June 17, 2017 – by Stephen Peterson
“Norfolk prison water still an issue”

The Boston Globe – June 17, 2017 – by David Abel
“Water at state’s largest prison raises concerns” [ see full text here ]

Ways to boycott

Don’t set foot in a McDonald’s. Encourage others to do the same.
Flyer outside a McDonald’s to let them know that one of the reasons they are so massive, is their unending commitment to using products made with prison slave labor.
Cancel bank accounts and credit cards. When they ask why you are cancelling, tell them that you don’t want to support modern slavery.
Take those credit card applications you get in the mail, leave it blank and write “END MODERN SLAVERY” (or custom message) and mail it back, postage already paid. Please note: the barcode at the bottom of the return envelopes allow them to trace where it is coming from. Please do at your own risk.
Find your local ongoing anti-eviction group. Boston folks: join City Life / Vida Urbana, which fights the predatory practices of banks like Bank of America every single day.
Participate in eviction blockades.
Use alternative gas stations. Major GPS applications make it easy to find alternative gas stations in your area.

Things to consider

We recognize that there are various levels of commitment to a boycott. For example, under capitalism, many people are forced to patron a specific company for a special food or medicine.
If you are voting for a boycott of a particular medication manufacturer, for example, please be explicit in your support for those who need these to survive. True solidarity includes finding ways to make boycotted products available without contributing to spending.
Do NOT shame those that need these services to survive. If comrades who must use these services are interested, help them identify other actions they can take to participate in the BDS campaign. As you can see, the list is depressingly endless of target companies.

CALL TODAY AND DEMAND WAYLAND’S RELEASE FROM SOLITARY!

(508) 660 – 5900, ext. 299, ask for Deputy Superintendent Tiana Bennett

Deputy Director of the Central Inmate Disciplinary Unit, Christopher Langlois (508) 660-5990

Governor Baker’s office: (617) 725-4005

Sample call script

Hello, my name is ____________________ and I am a friend of Wayland Coleman’s. He has been thrown in solitary confinement yet again and has not received any information about why. We understand this to be part of a pattern of retaliation against prisoner activists. I demand his immediate release!

Why is Wayland in solitary? Will you confirm he will be released immediately? If not, why and when will you release him?

Make yourself heard

Not sure what to write? Click below to load our template:

send with template (opens email client)

Did you already send an email? Let us know!

Let them know how you feel about injustice:

Thomas A. Turco III
Commissioner
Tel: (508) 422-3330
Fax: (508) 422-3385
Thomas.Turco@massmail.state.ma.us

Bruce I. Gelb
Deputy Commissioner
Tel: (508) 422-3495
Fax: (508) 422-3385
Bruce.Gelb@massmail.state.ma.us

Charlie Baker
Governor of Massachusetts
Contact his office directly through this form
Tel: (617) 725-4005

Today through Monday morning, we will be flooding MA Department of Correction Commissioner Turco and DOC Chief of Staff John O’Malley’s inboxes to demand Alex immediately be released to his family.

Find below a sample email and a photo - please download and embed this photo of Alex to your email, so that Commissioner Turco has to look at the man they are killing.

email them!

Template

Dear Commissioner Turco and Chief of Staff O’Malley,

I am outraged at your administration’s decision to cruelly sentence Alexander Phillips (W92949) to death by prison. The MA Department of Correction is to blame for Alex’s stage 4 cancer, which is a direct result of systematic medical neglect and toxic conditions at MCI Norfolk.

You testified against Alex’s compassionate release, sealing his death sentence and signing off on the provision of inadequate medical care. The DOC has demonstrated it is willing to turn a 15 year sentence into a death sentence. I demand you free Alex immediately.

Sincerely,
[name]

Send to:

Thomas.Turco@massmail.state.ma.us
John.A.OMalley@MassMail.State.MA.US

Romano call-in script

Hello, I’m a [ concerned citizen/friend/loved one ] calling about Romano Newball, MA DOC prisoner W41909. Romano has been suffering from a debilitating flesh-eating skin rash and has been asking to see an outside physician for some time now since the treatment offered by prison medical has been ineffective.

We are deeply worried about his health, and ask that the DOC send him to an outside doctor for treatment right away. Can you confirm that Romano will see an outside physician?

[If so] how quickly can he see a doctor?

Who should I call to make sure that this has happened?

[ Note: the DOC has been telling callers that information is inaccurate but that they cannot tell you which information they believe is wrong. Here is a possible response: ]

Can you confirm that Romano has seen a doctor who is not part of the prison medical staff?

Alex Phillips, 1987 – 2018

Centerville – Alex J. Phillips, 31, died on November 24, 2018 after a nine month journey through the harsh landscape of cancer. He died peacefully at home under the loving care of his family and VNA Hospice. Alex is survived by his mother Ann Burke, his father Dennis Phillips and step-mother Dale Phillips, his brother Justin Phillips and sister-in-law Emily Phillips. Alex was a loving uncle to his niece Grace Phillips and nephew to Melody and Mark Burke and his aunt Dawn (Phillips). He also leaves several cousins. Alex earned his BA, graduating magna cum laude from Boston University this past June. Writing and debating were two of his passions and he was the featured speaker at the graduation ceremony where he urged his classmates to “stand up and make a difference for the better”, and to see graduation not as an end but as the story of a new beginning. His family trusts that now his struggles are over. He has a new and peaceful beginning held in the loving arms of those who passed before him. Donations in his memory can be made to VNA Hospice, 434 Route 134, Suite D3, South Dennis, MA 02660. Visiting hours will be on Saturday, December 1, 2018 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm with a funeral service to follow at John Lawrence Funeral Home, 3778 Falmouth Rd., Marstons Mills, MA.

Obituary and funeral information: found here.

Category: news

In the news