from the Indiana Coalition Against SuperMax Abuse
                in cooperation with the Prison Activist Resource Center ===>

** SUPPORT THE FASTERS AT SUPERMAX PRISON IN INDIANA **

For months, the prisoners at the Secured Housing Unit of the Wabash Valley
Correctional Institution have been sending out pleas for help.  They have
been subjected to an agonizing situation where they are locked into
isolated cels for 23.5 hours per day with no interaction with other
prisoners.  Psychologists agree that such conditions often lead to
insanity.

A random 21 day survey was taken of the meals in the Unit.  The survey
showed that on only 2 days of the 21 were minimum calorie standards met for
an average man of 20 to 53 years.  Most of the prisoners have lost
substantial amounts of weight.

They use of chemical spray and subsequent beatings of the prisoners to
"keep them in line" have become commonplace inside the prison.

These conditions must end!  Prisoners do not give up meals unless there is
something dreadfully wrong.  Yet in a non-violent show of unity, these
prisoners have chosen to do just that.

They need our support desperately as they try to convince the prison
administration to negotiate with them.  Please join the struggle by taking
the following steps:

1. Call the assignments editor of the Indianapolis Star Newspaper at
317-633-1240 (fax: 633-9423).  Tell them that you know about the current
hunger fast at Wabash Valley Correctional Institution and urge them to pick
up the story.  Also call the Associated Press in Indianapolis at
317/639-5501 (fax: 638-4611).

2. Call Warden Hanks at the WVCI 812/398-5030 (fax: 398-5032).  Voice your
concern for the health and safety of the prisoners and demand that the
superintendent meet with representatives of the fasting prisoners and begin
negotiations at once.

3. Call Commisioner DeBruyn at the Indiana Department of Corrections
317/232-5715 (fax: 232-1675) and state your concerns.

Following are some points to emphasize:

+ 23.5 hours per day with no interaction with other prisoners is cruel and
unusual.  Prisoners should be granted tome opportunites for interaction
immediately.

+ Prisoners should be allowed educational, religious, and work
opportunities of their choosing.

+ Caloric levels of all meals should be increased to meet prisoners' needs.

+ Macings and beatings should cease immediately.

+ Forcing prisoners to wear hockey masks to prevent spitting etc.. (which
the administration has addmitted to) should cease immediately.

-- for more info, contact Charles Carney of the Coalition at 312/641-5151 --

___________________________________________________________________________
Prison Activist Resorce Center|          PeaceNet Prison Issues Desk
PO Box 3201 Berkeley CA 94703 |           
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e-mail: parcer@igc.apc.org    |  ~~~ a resouce for educators & activists ~~~
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