Prisoner Hungerstrike in Texas

50 - 75 Ad -Seg. prisoners are on hunger strike at the Eastham Unit, in Lovelady,Texas, near Houston, Texas; over a multitude of grievances, between 350 & 400 have already been submitted at this 98.75 % to at-capacity unit. 304 beds shy of overflow, there have been two riots in General Population that have taken place in the past week. The word is out that imminent Unit - Lockdown status is forthcoming.

One of the hunger strikers, a self-styled Anarchist / Eco / Prison Activist, Ernest Martinez, Jr., #761046, with his Ad-Seg.-cellblock in lockdown, has sent us a list of 14 complaints/grievances from his assessments, and asked us for solidarity, and to publicize this, and also to write letters lodging complaints to the Eastham ( called the "HAM" ) administration : Senior Warden David L.Stacks, TDCJ Eastham Unit, P.O. Box 16, Lovelady, Texas 75851.

The deplorable conditions that exist at the "HAM", are here in the main list of demands:

1. Educational / Library access has been terminated due to budget cuts.

2. Food portions have been cut in half.

3. Food is being served cold / No bread (s) on tray for over a month.

4. Dishwasher broken / several weeks ( increasing hepatitis riskd )

5. Many cellblocks with very little or no heat. During rainy weather lower level cells are flooded due to leaks in roofs, walls, vents, and windows.

6. Prisoners who are elligible - are NOT being brought up for promotions and / or not being allowed to make a 5 - minute phone call every 90 days.

7. There is a chronic staff shortage. ( this includes both medical as well as guards )

8. Due to staff shortage, prisoners are not given alloted recreation periods. Some times we are only given 1 -3 hours of rec. per week.

9. Ad-Seg. rec. yard-kennels are literally caked with bird excrement ( very unsanitary and a health risk ).

10. Prison officials do not respond to and / or even bother to return requests made by prisoners.

11. Guards are quick to wtite updisciplinary reports for even the most mundane and / or archaic rule infractions.

12. Sick - Calls go unanswered for up to 2 weeks. ( Note: this prisoner has submitted two Sick - Call requests within the last 9 days and still has not been seen. )

13. As of December 13, 2003, U.S Mail is is no longer picked up / distributed on Saturdays.

14. Haircutting implements are not being properly sanitized. On haircut day 20 - 40 prisoners are forced to have their hair cut with the same clippers and blades. ( Increases Hepatitis risk / other skin and scalp infections )

Ernest says..." of course this is just the tip of the adversity iceberg, many other aberrant violations occur behind these walls every day."

Also write a letter to:

R.C. Thaler - Director Region I
TDCJ Region I Director's Office
1225 Avenue G, Huntsville, Texas 77340