The Shakedown

As of January 26th, Chris still had not received his meds, 3 weeks after his entrance into Irwin County Jail. Chris' Dad Dave stands up for Chris and shakes down the warden. As of yesterday, Chris has finally received his meds and though they are not the ones he wanted to continue on, we are grateful!

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January 26, 2011
RE. Chris Spicer #7060

Dear Warden Walrath and Captain Paulk

I am writing on behalf of my son Chris Spicer. After several days, I understand he was finally able to make a call this evening to his legal counsel Robert Phares. Mr. Phares called me to provide certain information. My wife and I have not been able to hear from Chris since January 18. And I can tell you I am very unhappy to hear this news from Phares.

Despite making repeated requests that Chris be administered his medication and being informed by Captain Paulk that he was in fact finally getting these meds as of last Friday, January 21, our son now informs Mr. Phares that he is still NOT receiving these meds or any meds that might be generic and has NEVER received any meds..

This is outrageous, against the law and I want this corrected immediately. You have on file a letter from his treating psychiatrist Dr. Francis Alouf that Chris Spicer needs to be on this medication on a daily basis. There is absolutely no justification for your actions and the actions of your staff.

I am once again contacting my US Senator Patty Murray today. As you know, her offices have already contacted Irwin (last week on January 18) to lodge a complaint. If necessary, I will contact both of Georgia’s US Senators and making immediate request that they also conduct an investigation into your operations and find out how many other inmates besides my son are not receiving their medications. If necessary, I will file a formal complaint with the Bureau of Prisons and also have a US Department of Justice conduct a formal probe into your prison and its operations.

My son is serving time for engaging in a single act of civil disobedience and received the maximum sentence possible of six months for protesting the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning. This is a crime of trespass and represents a simple misdemeanor and he is a first time offender. The treatment he is receiving at your detention center is outrageous. And I suspect there are countless others in your prison who are treated likewise.

I expect to hear from Captain Paulk today along with my son on the phone to me confirming TODAY that he is receiving his medications.

I hope you understand I am dead serious about taking action if this is not immediately resolved.

Sincerely,

Dave Spicer

Cc: Senator Patty Murray, State of Washington

Cc: Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, State of Georgia

The Blackout ...or in other words how does it feel to be jerked around

Usually when a person is incarcerated, there is a blackout period in which the prisoner is unable to communicate with the outside. It can be a couple days to about a week. It's a scary time as you might imagine for any friends and family because they have no idea what is happening to their loved one: if they are eating, if they are safe, if they are alive. I don't really understand why this is the case but it has something to do with the fact that once a person enters the prison they are simply at the mercy of the system. And the system is not designed to rehabilitate: it is designed to punish and isolate.

Let's take what happened with our own Chris Spicer. Chris went in on January 5th. He was able to speak to his parents the day of and his advocate very briefly on day 2. But then there was silence for almost 14 days. No one in Chris' community heard from him: his legal advocate, his support at the White Rose Catholic Worker, his parents. For almost two weeks, no one heard Chris' voice or received as much as a letter.

His parents of course were admittedly very concerned. They did not understand what was going on, why Chris couldn't contact them. Chris, come to find out, didn't understand what was happening either.

You see, a key thing is that once you enter you have no money. This is hard for us to really understand on the outside. You have NO MONEY...not ten bucks, not one dollar, zippo. And if you have no money, you can't make a phone call and you can't buy stamps (never mind extra food or a pair of socks).

It turns out they have something called a commissary fund where people can send small amounts of money to the prisoner to buy things like stamps and socks. Chris' parents had indeed sent $50 for Chris right after his sentencing. They had followed the jail's policy and yet Chris did not receive the money. So the days roll by, and no one knows what is going on.

In the meantime, Fr. Bob does thankfully have a visit with Chris. It was a Thursday, about a week into Chris sentence. We find out that, yes, Chris is alive and in fact doing quite well in terms of finding his place there with the other inmates (Thank God). Fr. Bob passes on the news to Chris' parents and to all of us. Now, Fr. Bob, who drives from about an hour away to Irwin County Jail, is eager to return the following Thursday for a visit. So he calls the prison a day or so out only to find out: "Oh, I'm sorry sir, you can only visit male inmates in the morning." Uhm, since when? It wasn't that way last week or last month. Well, tough luck, buddy, they changed the rules. Too bad for you, and definitely too bad for Chris.

What is going on here?

What IS going on here? That is the question. I don't know, but I do know a private company is running this prison for profit. Yep, you heard me. And Irwin County Jail is not the only place where this is happening; it is happening all over the country. Prisons are Big Business, and like all companies priority number 1 is to make money. Not to rehabilitate, not to necessarily provide the best incarceration system. No, it's money -- and it sure seems like these companies can do what they want, when they want. And who cares anyway, they are servicing the lowest of the low -- the drain on society. So what if they focus on profits at the expense of you and I and our friends and family and all those people who have no one to stand up for them. So what if they focus on profits at the expense of the overall wellness of our ENTIRE SOCIETY.

There's more.

Chris needs meds. Before going in, he procured a letter from his doctor according to prison policy. Does Irwin County Jail follow this? One guess...that's right kids, NO. They decide that Chris needs to be evaluated by one of their doctors to see if in fact Chris does need medication. Would these be the same doctors whose salary is paid for by the company running the prison, the company who wants to make the most profit so maybe won't actually give Chris what he needs if it costs them more money? Hmmmm. Something smells funny....let's get Erin Brockovich on the case. (And of course they don't hop right to it but a whole 2 and a half weeks goes by with no movement to even evaluate Chris.)

So it begs the question: if you commit a crime and are caught and sentenced, along with your freedom do you give up your human dignity? What rights are you allowed to keep and which ones are we stripping away? This question might be easy to answer in thinking about Chris because we know and love him, but what about others: drug dealers, prostitutes...or even murders, rapists, robbers. Do we feel the same about them? Are they entitled to call a friend to tell them how they are doing? Are they entitled to the expensive medication they may need?

In the end, Chris' Dad Dave came tearing out of the hornet's nest and took on the system with phone in hand and a testy attitude. He placed multiple calls over several days to the warden, to support staff at the prison, to Chris' advocate Bob. Dave even got Senator Murray's office in the loop with Ed O'Neill calling the prison. So finally, on January 18th, 13 days after his son was sentenced, Dave spoke with Chris. They straightened out his commissary privileges and Chris has been able to call and to send snail mail.

It is lucky that Chris has someone educated and dedicated enough to advocate on his behalf. Something tells me the others might not be so lucky.

Finally word from Chris!

Hey folks, finally letters from Chris have arrived! I am literally swamped with his letters both to me and others. In time I will get them up on the blogs. Here is page 2 of a letter Chris sent me (read the more personal page 1 here). It talks about the people to whom he is ministering in the prison. I did change the names of people to protect identities. God bless Chris! He is a beautiful spirit!

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Dear Anne,

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under feet, and turn again and rend you." (Mt 7:6) I ask you, how do I distinguish myself from the swine? My answer: Be Love. To the extent that I return good for evil and love my enemy I rise to fuller stature as a Christian person. The society in which a Christian finds himself imprisoned among the scorned, a society judged by how it treats the least of these, must as to receive correction if wise and God fearing. With love for the society in which I live, convinced it wise, I plead with it to mend, become wiser. The judgment against me is from a dog that bites the hand that feeds it. Although I cannot ignore my present circumstance nor the pains I incur by this judgment, God's gift of the Holy Spirit instructs me in the delight of suffering with the least. I befriend and enjoy the company of men in my housing unit; by experience I know the blessing they are to this world, each a man made in the image and likeness of God.

I present to you Dave Sanders who left drug dealing on the streets two years ago. He had nearly completed a bachelors in computer and electrical engineering when arrested recently. He admits that a call would ring, that bills had to be paid, and he answered the call. I enjoy the content of his character at our nightly Bible study and his defense in tonight's discussion of the above passage of the abundant charity of God and the instruction to "give and give again." Inside he forgives himself, harbors a humor that his torn groin muscle does not dampen, and surprises me tonight with joy by asking me to teach him Spanish. His five year old son takes after him with intelligence, already in the first grade. They were inseparable.

I present to you Eric, at first a grim cold figure who then complemented the style of my glasses. Already intimidated my alarm bells rang. His consistent good advice won me over though, and I confessed to him my initial impression but how now he reminded me of my favorite boss Fr. Kevin Connell, SJ. Although it is my strict policy to say nothing why I am here (beyond how picayune the sentence is), I made exception to share with hi a letter that indirectly gave him context. He asked for a Powerade, I gave him two, and now he is my sworn defender. Speaking with wrenching sincerity he revealed the pain of his 57 months: missing his son. "Eight years sleeping beside me in my bed, and now it's been seven months and we've talked but once. Every day I wake up sick in the heart." When he gets home he vows to live the straight and narrow: "I will eat beans the rest of my life."

What make both Dave and Eric special is their relationship with God. A weaker man could not hold fast to the truth of a loving God who gave his only son for us and our salvation. These men face the separation of their time apart from their sons as a challenge and a gift. As Joe put it: "Prison can't break my soul." It reminded me of William E. Henley's poem "Invictus:"

Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole
I give thanks to whatever God's may be for my unconquerable soul.
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul

Chris

Update from Nancy

Chris was arrested in November with a woman named Nancy. She is an upbeat and beautiful 77 year old woman who is also serving 6 months in prison to protest the School of Americas. Here is a wonderful reflection of hers that paints the picture of her first days in jail.

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Irwin County Detention Center
Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Dear SOA Watchers,

…on the 5^th day the mail arrived! And, oh my it was good. So many people wrote wonderful words of support and encouragement. I was just astounded by the wealth that just fell on me!

I’m in a dorm of 32 women, 4 to a room, with double-bunk beds. The facility here at Ocilla (GA) is clean, modern, warm (most of the time) with lots of heavy doors that bang shut throughout 24 hours. Food is inexcusably bad, but it comes regularly 3 times a day and a vegetarian like myself can usually trade the (what passes for) meat for (what passes for) vegetables.

The next stop will be a transfer to a federal prison. Or not. Some of the women have been here for over a year and expect they might just serve their full sentence here. Or not. And it’s the not knowing that keeps everyone on edge. The stories are heart breaking to hear; many get in trouble through drugs, pills or because their boyfriends committed an offense. Many have small children at home, no financial resources, no job skills, no support system, no education, and some face very long sentences. Hold them in your heart; light a candle for them. They need you very badly.

There is a common room for the women in this unit, metal tables with attached benches, a TV set and microwave. The ceiling is very high and gives the feeling that we’re underground. There are three space openings leading up to small skylights. That’s our only glimpse of what’s outside. I saw a small beam of sunlight this morning.

I talk about SOA all the time. Because I’m such an oddity here, many want to know what I did to get here and I tell them. They are horrified of course, when they hear what SOA graduates have done and we have some good conversations about governments and abuse of power.

And we also joke a lot, sitting around laughing, passing the time. You may be interested to know that I’m developing a southern accent. Not good enough to pass, but I’m working on it. One of my roommates says if I let my hair grow out a bit, she will braid it for me (corn rows?)

Great warm hugs to you all, wherever you are, Nancy

Sending Chris Money

I received this email string from Jake, his great support at the White Rose Catholic Worker house in Chicago, and from Bob, his prison legal advocate. For those of you who don't know, prisoners have something called a commissary fund which allows them to buy small items like stamps, toiletries, shoes -- all at a generous mark-up for the for-profit business that runs the prison. Its nice to know that once you are in jail they punish you and your family in unlimited small ways designed to further isolate and mentally and emotionally breakdown the prisoner. So much for rehabilitation!

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Quick update from Bob regards to Chris. Bob called me this morning after having spoke with Chris. Chris is now receiving vegan meals and eating three times daily. He has still not received mail but has sent mail out a few days ago. He no longer has any money on his books. It is looking like Chris could be at Irwin County Jail for a while in transit, so it seems best to put money on his account and send mail there. Chris was asking for $60 and I'm going to do that today.

Chris also requested the White Rose to manage his money. You can send money to "White Rose Catholic Worker" and we will make sure he has enough for the length of his stay.

White Rose Catholic Worker
2127 W. Devon
Chicago IL 60659
773-856-031

He has a doctors appointment tomorrow and will most likely be put on meds after that. Probably not what he has been on, according to Bob's conversations with the jail, but he will receive some medication. Thanks all.


-peace-
Jake

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Dear Dave and Marti –

I was getting ready to e-mail you, but Jake was quicker. Chris phoned me at home around 8:45 last evening. I had only enough money on my phone account so that we could talk for around 8 minutes. So I did not get to ask him all of the questions I had. I did take written notes during the conversation.

Before I wrote you this morning I wanted to talk to Jake regarding the money issue – because Chris asked me last night to phone Jake and ask him to put $60 in his account at the jail so that he could buy more stamps. As you can see below, Jake will be doing that ASAP. I asked Chris if he has been able to get mail. His response was that he has not been able to receive mail on a regular basis – but that he had received mail on four different days. I asked Chris if the jail personnel had not let him send out mail. He said that the reason he had not been sending out mail was that he did not have stamps. He said that he was able to go to the commissary last Friday and buy stamps. He has been busy writing letters since then. He put 14 letters in the mail yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

Regarding the food situation, Chris said to “be sure to tell my mother” that he received his first vegan platter yesterday and that he ate all three meals yesterday. He hopes that the vegan meals will continue on a regular basis. He also said that he is still not receiving any medications. He believes he will be put on some medication after his appointment with a doctor tomorrow (Friday). We had time to briefly discuss his “In transit” status. He said that other men in the dorm tell him that “in transit” could still mean that he stays at Irwin County several more weeks. I believe that is the conversation that triggered his phone call to me. Chris now believes there is a good chance that he will be there a while longer and was not able to get in touch with Jake directly regarding the money.

I wish I had more information to pass on, and especially more positive information regarding a speedy move to a federal prison in Illinois. But Chris did sound in good spirits with a strong voice and promised to phone again soon. I will be adding more money to my prison phone account today.

All for now,

Bob

Sending Books to Chris

Hi everyone!

Here's the scoop: books ordered from Amazon always get through. This is because they are packaged professionally and easily recognizable. But if you buy from a smaller or used book seller, there is a chance the book will not make it to Chris. Prison policy does not allow prisoners to receive any packages from individuals and alot of the used book sellers send packages that look like they could be from anyone. So, they get stopped.

My advice:

1. If you have a choice and can afford it, send books via Amazon.
   
   
2. If you want to order from another place, call them and ask how they package it. Ask if it is packed in cardboard or envelope, if it has a printed label, etc. Then make a decision whether or not to risk it.

Remember, please let me know what books you send Chris so that I can remove them from his list, which is posted at the bottom of this page.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

A Visit with Chris

Fr. Bob Cushing in GA visited Chris in prison on Thursday. We love Fr. Bob! He has been doing prison ministry for over 30 years and is a former prisoner of conscience himself. Read his update on Chris.

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Dear Anne and friends:

Things went pretty much as usual at the Irwin County Detention Center today for my visit with Chris Spicer.

I was delayed when leaving my office by checking my e-mail. Thank God I did because I got the good news of the support system [earlier e-mail below] that Anne Tropeano has developed for Chris. It has been my experience that, when there is one dedicated friend or family member who fulfills the role of "Anchorwoman" or communications central for the prisoner of conscience, then life support systems seem to blossom in various ways and the person in jail time can focus their ministry and witness while everyone on the outside remains in prayerful solidarity with a focus that makes the world change. At least I would say that we are transformed by the process, and my experience has been that the incarcerated friend becomes a light shining in the darkness for many others in and outside the penal system.

Chris was waiting for me when I arrived in the interview room. This is the first place I have ever visited where they do not allow me, as a priest/chaplain, access to my people, to give them Holy Communion and the touch of the sacraments. As we picked up the telephones to speak to one another through the thick plastic glass booth wall, Chris looked a little skinny in the prison jump suit, but his face was focused, his smile was at ease and eyes were clear. When I asked how he was doing he said quite confidently that he felt emotionally grounded and content. The gift he is enjoying the most is his prayer group with guys in the dorm. He said the bible study that he is doing with the guys has been exciting for him, and just hearing the stories of the men who are being held by ICE. They are so depressed with their lives so out of control. He is glad for his fluency in Spanish and his ability to bring some humble comforts to these brothers.

His prayers and concerns are focused on being in solidarity with the work of Witness Against Torture and the suffering endured by those still incarcerated at the Guantanamo Prison. He feels like he is learning much about the heart of solidarity. His only "stress" is his own need to be productive, and today also was in anticipating a letter from Anne. He was miffed that the locals sent his medications back to the US Marshall - something about a letter that was still needed. We enjoyed sharing stories about how we have both resolved not to be discouraged by the long and slow development of the church. Rather we just need to move ahead with the Spirit.

Tomorrow I will drive back to Ocilla to visit Nancy Smith and chat with the Captain about being able to possibly bring them the Eucharist. Although I didn't get far in that argument today, just like with Louie, the Captain agreed to take in a simple missalette with the readings and prayers so that Chris might have a liturgical sense of time. One must be content with tiny victories.

As we have seen in the past, this is only a holding station for them. They could be there for another few weeks or be gone tomorrow. Louie and Michael David went from here to Atlanta, so that's a probable bet. We take things tentatively with them. To set up a phone connection is a bit arduous but you can do so by calling 800.844.6591 and pay $25 minimum via credit card, western union, or from your check book, then $6.95 for a processing fee, or do it all online at www.inmatecallsolutions.com where they lead you through the various steps (takes a while). And there are other means as well.

Thank you all who are part of this network of support. The government seems to want to make this as difficult as possible and to isolate us; but our game plan is communion, solidarity, and to always "Give'm Heaven!"

Each of us is doing his/her part, for we are one!
Blessings of peace,

Bob Cushing
St. Theresa Catholic Church
Cordele, GA

Searching for Particulars on Sending Mail

A few of you have questions about what you can send Chris and how. I am working on getting the particulars but I can't get anyone at the prison. I am hoping they have a document with what can be sent and how it needs to be packaged.

I do know that you cannot send any packages yourselves. All mail has to be in a regular envelop with Chris' name and inmate number and your return address. Generally inmates are allowed to receive books from Amazon but I am not sure about other small businesses (like if you buy a book used on Amazon).

Do know too that they open and read everything. So no questionable content please.

I'll keep you posted!

Articles on Chris' Trial

Chris' Dad sent me these articles:

Judge Sentences 2 SOA protesters to 6 months in prison
SOA Watch Activists Face 6 Months in Prison

Also, if you want to find out more about the School of Americas, please visit www.soaw.org.

A Reflection from Dad

Padre John and Steve,

I have just come back from Georgia after being witness to Chris Spicer’s trial and his sentencing in Columbus, Georgia. Back on November 21, 2010, Chris engaged in a single act of nonviolence and civil disobedience by challenging the School of the Americas by crossing over the line. After the trial concluded, Judge Hisle rendered his decision and pronounced that Chris Spicer was guilty of the federal crime of violating criminal trespass laws preventing entry onto US Government property, specifically the grounds of Ft. Benning.

As you probably know, Ft. Benning is the location of the so-called School of the Americas nka Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation WHINSEC. At this site there has been training for Latin American military personnel in learning the tactics of torture, assassination, kidnapping, etc and there are innumerable documented instances of acts attributable to trainees from this program e.g. in El Salvador, Guatemala and more recently, in Columbia. .These horrendous acts continue to this date regardless of the name change.

In response, Chris gave an eloquent, faith filled statement sharing his experiences that helped transform his world view. He shared about the sister parish relationship and his additional three trips back to El Salvador to study, to serve and become closer in solidarity with families living in Arcatao as well as in the desperately poor ghetto that encircles San Salvador. He shared about El Mazote, the massacre in 1979 where an est, 900 Salvadoran men, women and children were massacred. He concluded by sharing the Nicene Creed and how his faith in Jesus brought him to Ft Benning.

Honestly, his statement was incredibly inspiring and powerful and it was done without notes. I could hardly believe this was my own son.

When he concluded, the judge sentenced him to the maximum possible sentence of 6 months. It mattered not that Chris was a first time offender, that he was very respectful of the Court and that he was a person of strong Christian faith. Chris knew that was the risk (as much as 6 mos) and he left the courtroom with the Federal Marshall with great dignity and spirit.

He is now serving time in the Irwin County Detention Center. Somehow, I truly hope that St. Joes Church can offer some way of providing prayers for Chris is a way that is sustainable. He will need prayer, letters, and visits when possible and hopefully will be re-assigned here to the northwest in about 3-4 weeks but that may be a long shot and he could stay in Georgia. As his legal team said, Chris is now a prisoner of conscience and everything our church can do to support him will be important in the weeks and months ahead. And it will be important for our family.

Dave

Send a Letter to Congress!

I received this note from Chris' mom, Marti. If you like, I can email you the sample letter, just let me know.

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Below is an SOA Watch sample letter to congresspersons that gives a brief summary of the issues about SOA/WHINSEC. If you should be moved to write a letter of support for the closing of SOA/WHINSEC, please send Chris a copy so he knows your efforts.

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[Date]

The Honorable [full name]
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator [last name]:

I am writing to urge you to support human rights in Latin America by supporting legislative efforts to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly the United States Army School of the Americas (SOA). The graduates of this institution have a long history of human rights violations. From the atrocities in El Salvador and Guatemala in the 1980's, to recent violations in Colombia, SOA/WHINSEC graduates consistently appear in reports on human rights abuses in Latin America. SOA/WHINSEC training has resulted in civilian massacres, assassinations, disappearances, death threats and has led to both attempted and successful coups of democratically elected governments in the hemisphere. Recently, it was uncovered that WHINSEC has trained known human rights abusers, despite the congressionally mandated vetting of potential students.

Despite efforts to silence opposition to the Ft. Benning-based training school through a name change and cosmetic changes, it is still a combat training school that provides dangerous skills and weaponry to countries with serious current human rights problems. The proliferation of skills like counter-insurgency and psychological warfare in countries like Colombia, where impunity is offered to paramilitaries, only perpetuates the cycles of violence. Keeping the school open under any name sends a powerful anti-human rights message. Establishing reasonable living conditions for the people of Latin America and strengthening civil institutions will do more to stabilize the region than training militaries. Closing the SOA/WHINSEC, whatever its name, would demonstrate that the United States has made a clean break from the tragic history of the school and its graduates.

Currently there are over 100 bi-partisan co-sponsors of HR 1217 in the House. As your constituent, I urge you to stand up and introduce companion legislation in the Senate. Contact the Legislative Coordinator in the SOA Watch's National Office to discuss this further, (202) 234-3440.

Please send me a letter with your position on this issue. Thank you for your time and commitment to this important matter.

Sincerely,

[Your full name; Group, if applicable; Full Address; Phone; Email]