My Last Post

I’ve written over 30 something blogs that haven’t been posted.  Most are harsh where I’m attacking the Administration here and the retaliation that I’ve endured the past six months.  I don’t write anything that’s not true.  That’s not my style.  If it’s rumor, then I let you know, if it’s allegations that I can’t substantiated then I’ll tell you.  If I’m telling you something that I have video evidence, then I let you know as well.  Like on Saturday November 19, 2011 at 6:04 am the video of P=Dorm 4 wing, left bottom shows the staff not even stopping at my door to feed me.  They just walked past stating, “we don’t have enough trays”.  Yet they fed all the prisoners on both side of me. And the camera shows two trays on the food cart as it was pushed off the wing.  The camera also shows me getting my mild and coffee, but they refused to feed me.  Oh well, I can and will endure.

They’ve been playing dirty like this for six months.  They threw away my mail for over two months.  The records here will show that they haven’t allowed me to go to recreation since September 1.  All because I got in the media and did an interview.  They’ve been denying me access to the law library, law clerks and legal material for almost three months now.  They threw my laundry away (when I sent it out to be washed).  They “lied”, writing three straight bogus Disciplinary Reports (DR) to keep me here in lock up, deny me visits, media interviews and tried like hell to shut the death row poet down.  They placed me on heightened security, suspended my visits for two years.  All this is because I’m exercising my right to freedom of speech.  Yes, they are doing all of this and so much more.   All of this I’ve written about that you have never gotten to read.  A lot of my blogs were thrown away here.  The ones I did get out on   racism, inmate assaults and so many other controversial issues never got posted.  I never got to tell you all of the hell that I have experienced.  That destroyed me!  I can’t even make you understand how I feel.  It took the wind out of my sail.  It made me want to just roll over and die.  That’s the best way I can explain it.

I fought the best fight I could and I was running into road blocks, brick walls…my hands were seriously tied and not just by what the administration was doing but by the censorship that I was enduring.  It’s tearing me up to just lie down… but for now I must.  I’ve got to recruit some new individuals to run and operated the death row poet blog.  I need a new, stronger alliance with individuals with the same mind set and determination that I have, with a no surrender mentality.  I don’t believe in violence but I damn sure don’t believe in silence!  Peaceful protest, letter writing campaigns, hunger strikes and yes I’ll risk and give my life if need be to further the cause.  Whether it’s my fight against capital punishment or prison abuse, if you believe in it, then you must be willing to step up and risk everything to accomplish your goal.  You must have a no back down mentality.  If you don’t have it, you don’t believe in it.

I’m looking to recruit strong willed individuals who are hell bent on bringing change to the system.  I’m one man on a mission to bring this change.  I just need help and I hope to find it.  For now this site will be left up to read, but this will be my last blog until I find the assistance I need to go at this whole heartedly with one goal….Victory.

In peace, love and friendship,
Ronald W. Clark, Jr.
The Death Row Poet

Blog Help Needed

Ronnie is looking for someone to help him run his blog.  If you are willing and able, please contact him directly at the following address:

Ronald W. Clark Jr. #812974
Union Correctional Institution
7819 N.W. 228th Street
Raiford, Florida 32026-4410
USA

Premeditated Murder

September 28, 2011, Wednesday 8:52am

I am very tired, stressed out and just don’t feel good at all.  Although my conditions and circumstances over here are hellish, to say the least, my mind is on the premeditated murder of Manny who is sitting over at FSP on death watch with a little over 7 hours to live.  I wonder what is on his mind. What is he going through? What is his family going through? I will tell you this, the crap that’s taking place over there right now, is the highest form of premeditated murder that will ever exist outside of the human race.  For they have scripted his death/murder down to the last detail.  What other murderer in society has ever done that?  None that I know of. This is a cold calculated heinous act that our government official’s are participating in.  From Governor Rick Scott’s blood signature on the death warrant  to our legislature official’s who approve of it to our corrupt, severely flawed judicial system that has murdered many innocent people under the mantel of justice, as was probably the case last week with Georgia’s murder of a possibly innocent man Troy Davis.  And so what if he was innocent.  He’s dead, murdered by his own government and there is not a damn thing they can do now to correct it, our justice system is just absolutely unbelievable!  Our people, our government all know and recognize its fallible nature and yet continue to spit bodies out of machinery of death with not qualms, shame or conscious. Our government is a serial killer, disguised under the false pretense of justice.  There’s no justice in rubbing out a human life, call it like it is, this is a cold calculated act of revenge!  And any fool can see this is not justice, its revenge, murder guised under the mantel of justice! But it is what you want isn’t it? Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life! Vengeance guised as justice! Legalized excuse for committing murder.

It is now a few minutes past 4:00 pm and I have no knowledge if Manny’s murder is taking place, but I can picture some of what he is seeing, then I think of Governor Scott and his blood signature on that death warrant.  I wonder what he is doing at this very moment.  Is he seated in a plush chair sipping a cold drink as this murder is unfolding about a half mile down the road here?  Yes all of this is running through my mind as I sit here in this death cage watching the minutes tick off my watch.  Governor Scott….have you become a cold blooded murder, murdering under this false pretense of justice?  Have you done the right thing and issued a stay of execution, issued a statement saying, “Sorry folks, but what we are doing here is not justice and I can not and will not participate in the act of murdering another human being?” I can only sit, wait and hope that this is what Scott has done, and Governor Scott, I surely hope you have done this, washed your hands of this murderous act.  The minutes continue to tick as I sit and wait to learn a mans fate. To live or to die.  It is a hell of a thing to be waiting on… a healthy human being to be murdered.  Welcome to my world!

We learned that Manny Vallie was given a three hour stay, and at 7:00 pm, September 28, 2011 our government murdered Manny.  They made him wait and suffer three extra hours under the imminent imperil of death! If that is not cruel and unusual then nothing is.  This was truly a premeditated act of murder on a scale like not other.  One day, yes one day, hopefully people will open their eyes and see this for what it is.

In much peace and love,
Ronnie

Law Suit Update

Today is November 8, 2011.  I received an order yesterday from the court stating I have to amend my 42UCS Section 1983 Civil Rights Complaint case No 3:11-cv1051-J-34Tem Middle District Court Jacksonville, Fla. by December 28, 2011.  I am not in this for money.  I am in this to stop the retaliation that I’ve been enduring for the past 6 months.  I am in this to bring change to the F.D.O.C.  Specifically, I am hoping to bring new technology of personalized audio and video devices making them part of the officer’s uniform.  That would not only have eliminated the retaliation that I have faced in the past 6 months but it would stop all of this corruption and abuse that is taking place here in the F.D.O.C.  This is the way of the future.  This is much needed technology that needs to be implemented in order to weed out the corruption that has run rampant throughout this place. Money is not my objective.  Positive change is what I’m seeking.  I’m talking about human rights!  Human decency!

I need an attorney to step up and fight for us.  They can have any money that they can get.  I want the retaliation to stop and I want my privileges restored.  I have not been to recreation in over 2 months.  I can’t go to the library, see law clerks or go get legal material.  My visits have been suspended.  I’m cut off at every avenue.  We need change and for the abuse to stop.  I sent a notice out to Secretary Tucker today.  We will see if he does the right thing.  I can only hope.  If not, I need help filing this amended complaint.

In Peace and Love,

Ronnie

Milo Rose Needs Your Help

On October 18, 1982, when I was 32 years old, I was placed under false arrest for the murder of my older girlfriend’s 28 year old son.  My nightmare of having been falsely arrested, convicted and sentenced to death continues to haunt me to this day, even though there is overwhelming evidence that explicitly proves I was railroaded and framed and innocent of any kind of murder.  All of this can easily be brought to light by simply confronting the five attorneys involved with my case on the trial level with exculpatory/favorable evidence withheld by the Clearwater, Florida Police Department in order to achieve a conviction by any means possible.  When confronted with this evidence these five trial level attorneys will all have to admit I did not receive a fair and impartial trial.

Sadly, there is compelling evidence the state and federal courts acted in complicity to mark me as sacrificial lamb in order to oppress and suppress the evidence of a pattern of widespread corruption within Florida’s Pasco/Pinellas counties legal community to obtain convictions by any means possible that when revealed will open a huge can of worms which the legal system does not want opened.  This revelation standing by itself should shock the conscience of society as it shows the Death Penalty is morally corrupt and cannot be trusted or condoned!

Please help me network my plight and come out from under the blanket of obscurity to force the five trial level attorneys to come forward to confront the evidence that will vindicate/exonerate me of any kind of murder.

To learn more about me, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6086683418&v=info

http://www.zafu.demon.co.uk/index.htm

I also seek assistance to start a blog and welcome all media and legal inquiries as well as individual communication/support.

To read more about Milo's case, please click here:  http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11054215/milorose1.pdf

Thank you for your time and attention.

Milo Rose #090411
Union Correctional Institution
7819 NW 228th Street P3225
Raiford, FL 32026-4430

December 11, 2011  Additional Information about Milo Rose's case:


On October 3, 2011, The United States Supreme Court denied Florida death sentenced inmate Milo Rose certiorari.  Silently denying him the Due Process right of not acquiescing to representation not his own, as outlined by the following copy of his July 21, 2011, pro se addendum to the fraudulent writ of certiorari filed by attorney Bjorn Brunvand.

No. 10-10919

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

Milo Rose,
Petitioner,
Edwin G. Buss, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections,
Respondent

PRO SE ADDENDUM TO
WRIT OF CERTIORARI SEEKING RELIEF
THROUGH DILIGENCE OF NOT ACQUIESCING
TO NON-REFLECTIVE REPRESENTATION
CAPITAL CASE
MILO A. ROSE #090411
ACTING PRO SE
UNION CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
7819 NW. 228TH STREET P5205
RAIFORD, FLORIDA 32026-4450

This petitioner is humbly coming before this court pro se to preserve his sixth amendment right under the theory of Faretta v. California in not acquiescing to representation before this court that is not reflective of his attached thirty-two page December 2, 2005, filing before the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, PETITIONER SUPPORT BRIEF ADDRESSING FARETTA STANDARD WHILE AMENDING AND INCORPORATING ALL HUBEAS ISSUES PENDING BEFORE THIS COURT.

Petitioner asserts the lower courts repeatedly misconstrued his pro se pleadings/right of not acquiescing to representation not his own and by doing so violated the logic of the Sixth Amendment while denying relief or guilt/innocence due to thrusting non-representative counsel upon petitioner.
Petitioner now begs this court to weigh the merits of attached December 2, 2005, pro se support brief and grant certiorari on all guilt/innocence issues.

Petitioner swears under penalty of perjury that everything contained within this petition to be truthful and supported by the record.
Submitted on 21st day of July, 2011, by pro se petitioner;
Milo A. Rose #090411
Union Correctional Institution
7819 Nw. 228th Street P5205
Raiford, Florida 32026-4450

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
 A true and correct copy of the foregoing petition has been forwarded through the United States first class mail on this day 21 of July, 2011, to the following parties: Bjorn Brunvand, Esq., 615 Turner Street, Clearwater, Florida, 33756—Carol M. Ditter, Office of Attorney General, 3507 East Frontage Road, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33607.

On October 6, 2011, Five judges on the Florida Supreme Court made the following ruling in death sentenced Robert Gordon’s pro se postconviction appeal:
“Based on our solemn duty to ensure that the death penalty is imposed in a fair, consistent, and reliable manner—as well as our administrative responsibility to work to minimize the dlays inherent in the postconviction process—we hold that death-sentenced appeallants may not appear pro se in postconviction appeals.  Accordingly, Gordon’s motion to discharge counsel and appear pro se and appellate counsel’s motion for leave to withdraw are denied.”

Two Florida Supreme Court Justices dissented and wrote the following opinion:
(Canady, C.J., dissenting, Polston, J., concurs) “This is Mr. Gordon’s Case, and it is a case in which Mr. Gordon’s life is at stake.  I would not presume to impose postconviction appeal counsel on Mr. Gordon if he has made a knowing, informed, and voluntary choice to repudiate that counsel.  It is true that appellants in direct criminal appeals do not have the right to proceed pro se.  But there is one very important difference between direct appeals and postconviction appeals: a remedy is available for the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in direct appeals, but no such remedy is available with respect to postconviction counsel.  Even if there is no constitutional right for a prisoner under sentence of death to proceed pro se in a postconvicion appellate proceeding, I conclude that it is an unwise and unfair policy to saddle such a litigant with counsel against his wishes—particularly when the litigant is without any meaningful remedy for the ineffective assistance of counsel.”

Florida Supreme Court jurist, Canady and Polston, receive accolades from innocent death sentenced inmate Milo Rose.  Saying their courage to dissent from the Courts’ majority with an ethical and honestly addressed opinion tells how the barbaric practice of execution needs to be abolished, or at the very least given more insurance an innocent sentenced to death has every avenue left open to be heard,  Instead of being dropped into the obscurity of a dungeon cell, never to be heard from again, while giving the false appearance of justice having been served.

Coincidentally, the trial judge Susan Schaeffer, and appeal attorney Bjorn Brunvand, in the Robert Gordon case are also involved in the Milo Rose case.  In which Milo Rose alleges a pattern of evidence exist to charge them, and a host of others, with being members of a vigilance committee.  Guilty of racketeering through the criminal act of obstruction of justice.  In order to conceal the fact of Milo Rose having been railroaded, feloniously found guilty and sentenced to death.  While evidence supporting the killers of the victim in his case were left free to kill again, and send another innocent man to Florida’s death row is being suppressed and oppressed…

Milo Rose needs help to network the injustice he suffers.  To learn more Google “Milo Rose innocent on death row” to visit his website and also join his facebook page: One Eagle Campaign for justice.  Milo also welcomes snail mail addressed to:

Milo Rose #090411
Union Correctional Facility
7819 Nw. 228th Street P5205
Raiford, Florida 32026-4450

Playing By the Rules

Today is Sunday, October 9, 2011 and I am still stuck in this Disciplinary Confinement (DC) cell, and it is wearing on me today.  I can’t work out because I have nothing but scalding hot water coming out of my sink, so I don’t have water to drink or wash up with. Not being able to exercise has taken a physical and mental toll on me.

I don’t know how much weight I have lost. I can’t eat when certain staff are working.  They have me seriously paranoid that they are going to mess with my food.  A few officers take jabs at me, reminding me that my food can be tampered with. I’m careful about what I eat.  If it looks tampered with I won’t eat it.

Other inmates have witnessed this and so much more.  I have some who are willing to testify and give affidavits, but only if we can get a court to issue an order restraining these people from retaliating against them.  Guys see what is happening to me and they do not want to face this type of retaliation.  I can’t get my mail out, and with no mail going out, I’m getting very little in, and what I do get in is letters saying “I haven’t heard from you lately.”  I am hoping to get an attorney to send my blog posts out so I can let everyone know what is going on back here.  Right now I am feeling very isolated, lonely and cut off from the world.

I will bend, but I’m not going to break.  I will expose this corruption and stop this abuse using the laws and rules laid out before me.  I will continue to play by the rules, and I will play with the honor and integrity that this administration is lacking.  Please wish me luck, because I need it.

In peace and love,
Ronnie

Letter From Ronnie

I am sharing the following letter I received from Ronnie dated November 2, 2011:

Hey there,

Well, we got some serious business.  There’s an old man here, Seburt Connor #124517 and the poor old man is in a strip cell cause he didn’t make his bed. They should have given him a disciplinary report (DR) for 6-1 disobeying a verbal order.  But this is uncalled for. 

They also tried to block me from writing to his attorney.  I’ve got an affidavit going out of here to notify the court of everything that’s going on.  This old man could die tonight, and there’s a very good chance that he might because it’s seriously cold in here.  I’ve got a sweatshirt and a jacket on and I’m still cold.  That old man, if he makes it through the night, he’s tough.  He’s 70 years old.  This is why I’m making all these sacrifices.  It’s got to stop.  And if not me, then who?

They’re building a closed in cell to put me in to try to cut me completely off from everyone.  But it doesn’t matter.  Never surrender!

I sent a motion and affidavit out this morning. I’m now working on another one, which I’ve got to complete tonight so if they show up tomorrow to notarize it, I’ll be ready.

I feel bad for that old man.  These people just have no compassion whatsoever.  I’ve got to bring about change here.  We cannot turn a blind eye to what is taking place here. Oh, you know I’m putting my butt on the line but I don’t care. I’m going to do what’s right, even if they kill me.  Cause that’s really the only way they will stop me.

I’m out of envelopes right now.  I ordered some from the canteen but I don’t know if I’ll get them.  Canteen will come tomorrow or Thursday.  I’ve got a letter going out tonight to Mom.  I’ve tried to get it out of here twice.  Last night my mail wound up on the floor.  Hopefully it won’t happen again.  I need you to stand strong with me in this battle cause it’s not over yet.  Keep a watch on the US Courts web site to see what the courts are going to do.  I’m hoping to get Ken Tucker’s attention and bring this madness to an end. 

I can’t get this old man out of my head.  I can actually feel what he’s feeling and it’s a very helpless feeling.  What’s wrong with human beings?  It’s a messed up world.  Well my friend, I’m going to bring this to a close.  I’ll write again soon, tomorrow, if I have envelopes.  I love you! Please take care of yourself and stay strong!

Lots of love,

Ronnie

Stop The Madness

I cannot believe the behavior that is taking place within the UCI administration.  It is just absolutely inconceivable.  The mind games….coming by my cell to smirk at me, making sly comments and threats.  It blows my mind!  What are they thinking?  I guess that is the whole problem; they are not thinking.  If they were, they would stop the madness and and act like the professionals they are paid to be.  However, I don’t look for this to happen without court intervention.  This is why I plan to file a Civil Rights complaint for violations of the 1st, 8th and 14th amendment.  My mail - legal, media and regular mail - is being tampered with.  My outgoing mail is not reaching its intended recipients. I suspect this is an attempt to shut down my blog.  There are all types of 8th amendment violations from the torturous acts in June to fraudulent Disciplinary Reports (DR's) that have kept me tethered to the harsh conditions of Disciplinary Confinement (DC) since May 20, 2011.  All this is being done because I stood my ground with the administration.

Although it is very difficult to get my blog posts out right now, I will continue to write.  You will, at some point in time, read about what is happening here.  The madness needs to stop.

In peace and love
Ronnie

P.S.  I have been in this cell with nothing but scalding hot water for over a month now, but I stand firm in my conviction that change needs to happen.

The Retaliation Continues

Today, Thursday, September 1, 2011, while I was on the recreation yard my cell was once again shook down.  That is twice this week alone.  This is getting ridiculous.  I don’t have a thing to hide but I do worry about them planting something in my cell.  I had that happen to me before in 2000 at Florida State Prison where an officer planted a lighter in my cell and said he found it.  I also saw them plant a knife in a guy’s cell that they didn’t like.  Since I have seen this first hand where officers have set me up and set up other inmates, my fear of being set up is completely valid.   That is why I am worried about all these shake downs resulting in me being set up with another bogus, fraudulent, retaliatory Disciplinary Report (DR) like I received on August 1, 2011.  When a staff walks by, I’m wondering if they’ve sent them here to set me up and lie in another DR.  This has been causing me a great deal of stress and messing with my sleep.  I am fixing to get my Prozac raised up to 60 mg a day because of all that’s been taking place here.

The retaliation is not coming from correctional officers (CO’s) but rather being ordered by people of power in this Administration who told me “Boy you better remember where you are.”  Well I know where I am and I know how dangerous these people are.  They just promoted one of the Lieutenants to Captain.  He is the one who tortured me from June 8 through June 13th.  Those 5 days in that cold cell without a mattress or blanket and left in my underwear.  This same Lt. who is now a captain told me several years ago, “You can F---, fight or hit the fence”.  I was simply trying to move to avoid an altercation and yet the Lt. clearly wanted this altercation.  Luckily for me, they moved him out of P-Dorm.  Now however I have to deal with him once again as a captain.  Why they promote the most vindictive among them is beyond my comprehension.

We need some serious changes here and I’m hoping that my efforts using this blog will bring positive changes.  Until them I must suffer and endure the madness.  Please take care.

Peace and Love, 

Ronnie

September Update

Admin Note:  Thanks to everyone for visiting Ronnie's blog and for your support. It means everything to Ronnie and his family.  I have not been able to post recent updates because I have not been receiving mail from Ronnie.  He has been on DC since July, and was denied a visit with his mother this week.  So we have had no word from him in weeks.  As soon as there is any news, a new update will be posted.  Again, many thanks for your support.

Formal Complaint

The following is a link to a copy of a complaint filed by Ronnie on August 8, 2011:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11054215/SCN_0004.pdf

Oppressive Tyranny

I fight against the oppressive rules of the Florida Dept. of Corrections (FDOC) and yes, I often stand to face retaliatory actions by tyrants within the FDOC and their tyranny that rains down upon me.  You ask, why fight?  That is the question people often ask.  But my question is “Why not fight for change?”  Why not stand up and let your opinions and voice be heard?  Say what you mean, mean what you say.   Think for yourself, believe in yourself and stand for something!  Yes, I’ve failed miserably in this life and I’m going to continue to fail.  However, I’m going to at least try because if I don’t try then I will never know if I could have had success.

We must always stand up for what we think and believe in, no matter the consequences we may suffer.  Yes, I stand alone in my battles and I often face the retaliatory behavior of the administration’s tyranny.  So if I don’t stand up, I don’t say anything, then who does?  The oppression continues because there is silence as no one will stand up and say what is on their mind.  Do you not see the problem with that?  I see that as a bigger problem.  Silence does NOT bring change!  It breeds tyrants and tyranny.
In life…we stand for something or fall for anything.  I’ve been on that side.  I stood for nothing and fell for everything and when I looked in the mirror I didn’t like what I saw.  I decided it was time to change.  Now I’ll give you this—I need to pick and choose my battles a lot more carefully.  I need to lean when to walk away, when to regroup and recognize a losing battle.  I have problems with that.  I’m head strong, hard headed and those are not good qualities in this environment that I’m in now.
I loath the oppression of these prison administrators who pick and choose what rules they like to follow.
They only follow the ones that most benefit them at the time.  This is the case with my contact visits right now.  They are misapplying 33-106.735FAC, non-contact visits using it in a way that it is not designed for.  It seems to be like that with all the rules.  They make them, break them and manipulate them into fitting their agenda and I am supposed to say nothing?  The way I see it is if I say nothing, then it’s “My Fault!”  for I have allowed them to oppress me, violating their own rules and regulations.  I have now become part of the problem instead of part of the solution.

It’s the same with this 33-210.101 (9) Routine mail rule that is making my life oppressively miserable.  Not allowing me to run pen pal ads seeking pen pal correspondence.  This is just another oppressive rule that has no penal logical justification.  I can show you numerous other rules that boarder on the edge of stupidity and are designed to oppress the prisoners, making our already difficult lives that much more difficult.  Yes, I will always stand up and fight for what I believe in and if for some reason it costs me my life, so be it.  If there is nothing in life worth fighting and dying for, then there surely cannot be a thing worth living for.  Fight the good fight.  Fight for what you believe in.

In Peace and Love,
Ronnie

Help Needed!

If you’ve been following my blog then you know about the torture I endured for five days.  Well, I just received one of the grievances back and as you can see, the administration is doing everything they can not to investigate this.  Please click here to see Exhibit A retaliation/torture grievance.  I have appealed this to Tallassee and called for the Inspector general to investigate.  This grievance was and is in compliance with Chapter 33-F.A.C.  This administration knows that it violated my constitutional rights when they retaliated and tortured me into submission by housing me for 5 days in an ice cold cell with no blanket, mattress, toilet paper soap or anything except my underwear.  Please feel free to download this grievance and send it to Amnesty International, as well as the as office of the Inspector General at 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallassee, FL 32399-2500.

Thank your for your time and hopefully your help in bringing attention to this issue.

In peace and love,

Ronnie

Expectations

Expectations….It’s a good thing when you place them upon yourself.    Your expecting yourself to improve…to be better…to do, or accomplish something.  In those terms expectations are great.  But when you start placing expectations upon others…you are setting them up for failure, at least in your eyes.  People very seldom, if ever, live up to the expectations that we put upon them.  We in return are angry or disappointed in that person who has failed to live up to our expectations, “demands” that we have place on them!  That we have expected them to live up to!  By doing this, we have caused ourselves “disappointment” and set that person up to fail in our eyes.  We forget that we are all fallible human beings.  We neglect to think back on our own mistakes that may be locked in our dark closets before we start judging others for failing to be who or who we expect them to be.  I…myself have been guilty of this.  I try to catch myself when I find myself placing expectations upon someone.  I expect myself to accept you for who and what you are.  Your good and your bad.  I expect myself not to judge you on anything other than how you treat me.  Even if a mistake is made there, I expect myself to forgive you.   I try to remember that we are not always going to see eye to eye.  There are times it’s best to agree to disagree and respect you even if I don’t like your views or your opinions.  I don’t expect anything of anyone other than to be who and what we are, fallible human beings.  Think about this the next time you are angry or disappointed in someone who failed to live up to your expectations.

In Peace and Love,
Ronnie

Unforgiven

You can’t judge me, for I condemn myself.  I don’t ask or want forgiveness because I don’t deserve it.  I’ve made far too many mistakes in this life.  I’ve made more mistakes than 10 men combined.  I’ve hurt more people and caused more pain than you could ever imagine.  I’ve been a disappointment from day one.  I disappoint myself!  And I often question the thoughts behind my actions, and I don’t have a good answer.  I’m compulsive, self destructive and a walking talking disaster. I question every decision I make just because I am a thought away from another bad decision.

The Apostle Paul wrote in first Corinthians 4:3 that he doesn’t even judge himself.  Maybe this is another bad decision judging myself so harshly and condemning myself as being unforgiven. But that’s the way I feel, so why hide what you truly feel about yourself?  I know that I am not worthy of forgiveness.  I live with a daily guilt that runs so deep.  A guilt over Connie’s death, over Sarah, Ann and Adreesa, that just eats me alive.  I live with the guilt about the way I treated Lisa, a guilt of allowing Josie to ruin her life.  A guilt of not being a better son to my mother.  A guilt of Charles Carter’s death, the death of Ronald Willis, the death of my friend Jimbo. I live with the guilt of the death of the couple I hit head on in a car wreck in August 1987 that cost them their life.  I live with the guilt of not being more responsible, getting my dumb ass off drugs and alcohol.  I live with the guilt that most of you could never possibly imagine.  So I am my own judge and I find myself unforgiven.  I know my faults, my crimes and my heart, and I am not worthy of forgiveness.

It is written in Exodus 10:20 that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and because God did this, who is to say he did not show mercy and compassion to Pharaoh?  For it is written in Exodus 33:19.b “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  In my instances, if I am shown compassion and mercy, so be it but “I” know that I do not deserve compassion or mercy.  I don’t want prayers.  If you want to pray for me, you send my prayers to God for that child that is dying and suffering in your local hospital.  Send your prayers to that mother who is praying for that dying child.  For there are too many deserving people in this world that deserve a blessing, an answered prayer and I am not one of them.  I’ve had contempt in my heart for God, from the moment I came into this world, or at least from when I lost my Big Ma, another painful, guilty memory.
I don’t have the answers to the mysterious questions of life.  I only know what I’ve experienced and what I feel, and you can not say this, that or the other.  For you have not walked in my shoes, and thank God you haven’t!  For this has been one rough path that I wouldn’t wish for anyone else to have to travel.  I have no problem showing mercy and compassion to others.  For I know the heart of fallible man, and how we sit back and question our own mistakes, our own stupidity.  Yes, I probably should be more forgiving to myself, but the reality is, I can’t.  I am the unforgiven and I wrote this because of my sister Mary and others who have said “you need to learn to ask for forgiveness.” But I don’t forgive myself, so I can’t ask others to forgive me.  All I can say is “I am very sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused, and for the mistakes that I have made.” Sorry doesn’t cut it, it doesn’t fix a broken heart.  So yes, I remain to be the unforgiven.

Regretfully submitted,

Ronnie

About The Prisons

Today is Sunday, July 17, 2011.  I haven’t had a recreation since May 24.  It has  been almost two months now.  I’ve filed grievances and everything to no avail.  Their laws, their rules, their way!  That’s just the way it is…but I will continue to stand up and fight for what I believe is in.

I read Paul’s comment this past week which he left under Life on San Quinten’s Death Row dated 7/1/11 on how he thinks prisoners should be treated.  It saddens me to read that.  I do also understand the act of a vengeful heart.  Although I don’t agree with the torturous conditions that he would like to see enacted.  He does have the right to his opinions.

Now Allen Cox wrote a piece and I want you to read it because although the American prison system isn’t quite the torturous environment that Paul would like, this is not a pleasant environment.  The American prison system has over 2 million inmates.  That is more than any other country in the world.
Why?  Because it has become a 60 billion dollar a year corporation that doesn’t give a damn about society, or the inmates.  Damn rehabilitation!  The prison system needs and desires the inmates to return.  The American prison system is a failure to everyone except the rich corporations that profit from it.  That is why they allow the thug criminal environment within the prisons and rehabilitation has become a thing of the past.  There is nothing easy about life in this environment where every day is a struggle.  A place where you constantly have to look over your shoulder never knowing who you can trust, which in most cases that is no one.  Right now we are currently dealing with the temperature.  Right now in my cell the temperature is in excess of 100 degrees and when you add the Florida humidity into that….well it’s down right “miserable”.

But Paul, we all make mistakes and torture is not the answer.  For hate builds upon hate and anger upon anger and creating an angry vindictive inmate is what you are talking about – and my friend, that’s what the American prison system is already doing by allowing rapes, assaults, and abuse by turning a blind eye to the torture you never hear about that takes place in the dark isolated areas of these prisons.
Thank you for allowing me to share this with you and thank you for as well for reading Allen Cox’s essay “Taxpayers of Florida”.

In Peace and Love,

Ronnie

Tax Payers Of Florida by Allen Cox

You better open your eyes and take a look at what is going on in the prison system.  Currently your money is being spent to raise an army of mad dog thugs that will one day be released in your back yard.  Some of you screamed for tough prison time and that is what you are getting, but you are the ones who will end up being the victims when these men are someday released.  This is how things are.  You put 1,000 men in prison, most with long sentences.  Five hundred of them have no family to help with small amounts of money that is needed to survive and there are no paying jobs.  So the 500 are forced to rob and steal and extort protection from the other 500 that do get money from family.  After years of surviving this way the 500 thugs are released.  They are programmed to rob and steal but it’s YOU who will be their victims now.

The answer to this problem is simple and would save the taxpayers a great deal of money.  Bring back the farm system the prison system.  The prison system has the manpower to raise most of the food that is needed.  Pay the inmates to work instead of forcing them to work for nothing because 90% of what they get paid will be spent right back into the inmate canteen.  Each prison could have a factory that makes most of the snacks that are currently sold in the canteen which would create more paying jobs.  There is no reason why the taxpayers of Florida should not have the burden of supporting the prison system taken off their shoulders.  So, do you want a prisoner who has learned to work for money or one who has had to rob and steal to survive living next door to you?

Allen Cox

Judge Not And You Will Not Be Judged

Guys like me on Death Row are often judged harshly by the Christian community.  This was something that really turned my stomach when I was a young Christian.  It is written numerous times in the biblical text to “Judge not, and you will not be judged”.  Let me take you through the scriptures and show you what I'm talking about.

Let’s start with what Jesus says in Matthew 7:1-2“Do not judge, or you will be judged For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measures you use, it will be measured to you” There you have it...the harsher you judge others determines the harshness that you will be judged.  This is reiterated by Jesus in a slightly different way in Luke 6:37-37.  Lets view.  37.  “do not judge and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.” 38.  “Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap.  For with the same measure you use it will be measured to you.” Right above those verses Jesus was teaching about loving those who do not love you.  Let's view that before loving on.  Luke6:32-36  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners love those who love them.  33.  and if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners do that.  34.  and if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to the sinners expecting to be repaid in full.  35.  but love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great,  and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  36.  be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  That says a lot....not only is He trying to teach His followers to love one another and not judge one another...but to step outside the realm and love and do for those outside the Christian community.  That verse 32 is powerful because it is easy to love those who show us love.  It is much more difficult to step out side and show love to a complete stranger.  Look at what Paul is preaching in Hebrews 13:1-3 keep on loving each other as brothers.  2.  do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angles without knowing it.  3.  remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisons.  And those who are mistreated as if you yourself was suffering. That goes hand in hand with what Jesus was saying above.  But how many people really live by that?  Few, if any!  None that I've ever met in real life.  James 4:12 warns about judging one's neighbor stating---”Who are you to judge your neighbor?”  And what did Jesus say about our neighbors?  Let's examine that starting with Matthew 19:19  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Mark 12:31 coincides with that as does Paul's teachings in Romans 13:9 and Gal. 5:14 and James 2:8.  Lets look at who Jesus says your neighbor is and for that we turn to Luke10:25-37. 25  on one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.  “Teacher”, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  26”What is written of the law?” He replied.  “How do you read it?”  27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  28.  “You have answered correctly” Jesus replied.  “do this and you will live”  29.  But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus “and who is my neighbor?”  30.  In reply Jesus said “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away leaving him for dead”  31.  A priest happens to be going down the same road and when he saw the man he passed by on the other side.  32.  so too, a Levitt when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  33 but a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  34.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  35  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the inn keeper.  “look after him” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have”  36  which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man to fell into the hands of robbers?  37 the expert in the law replied “the one who had mercy on him”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise” There we have it --- our neighbor.  Let's look at it a little deeper...looking at our enemies.
For this turn to Matthew 5:44 where Jesus says  “But I tell you.  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”  Which is further supported by what Jesus says in Luke 6:27 and Luke 6:35.  27 reads but I tell you who hear me:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.  Which he reiterates here in verse 35 but love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expectation to get anything back.  Then your rewards will be great and you will be the sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  36  be merciful just as your Father is merciful.
Jesus is consistently teaching forgiveness, mercy and compassion here.  Rejecting judgmental, vengeful behavior...a trait that today's Christian needs to look closer at.  To be a Christian is to be Christ like … are you living up to these teachings? Jesus early on dealt with rich followers.  See Matthew 19:16-24, Mark 10:17-30 and Luke 18:18-30.  He was addressing those who were not willing to sacrifice their earthly treasurers in order to follow Him and His teachings.  We see this all the time in the churches.  Over priced rings, chains, clothes, etc.  Christians bound by earthly goods.  That reminds me of the parable of “A Tree and its Fruit” given in Matthew 7:15-23 where christians on judgement day will be coming forward saying we know you Lord and Jesus responded in verse 23.  Then I will tell them plainly, “i never knew you.  Away from me you evildoers!”  This is to say that not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is truly a Christian.  Your salvation doesn't simply rest on your faith (believing).  Most people read John 3:16 and stop!  Failing to read John 3:16-21 about living and walking in the light.  Paul goes on further to explain the need to stop deliberate sin.  Over in Hebrews 10:26-31   Verse 26 reads “if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left.  It goes on to show how deliberate sinners are treating the blood of Christ with total disrespect.  Study it if you are a Christian.  Look what is written in First John 2:3,4,5,6, 9 and 10.  Verse 3.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey His commands.  4.  The man who says I know him, but does not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. 5.  but if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in Him.  6.  whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.  Now let's examine verse 9 and 10.  9.  Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in darkness.  10.  Whosoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

Now look at First John 3:6 and 9  6.  No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.  No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or Known Him.  9.  No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him.  He cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God.
Verse 10 goes on to tell you that this is how we know the children of God and also recognize the children of the devil.  So it's clear that not everyone who says “I'm a Christian” is living inside the realm of Christ. Paul wrote about revenge over in Romans 12:19-21 which he took from Proverbs 25: 22
Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.  For it is written It is mine to avenge.  I will repay, says the Lord.  20.  On the contrary if your enemy is hungry, feed him.  If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  21.  Do not be over come by evil, but over come evil with good.  The bottom line is, are you going to follow the teachings of Christ, living like the good Samaritan in Luke 10:33-37, being a good neighbor, loving others as you love yourself?  Or are you going to be like the rich man who would not give up his earthly possessions to follow Jesus seen in Matthew 19:16-24? Many years ago I'd go to Christians and ask for financial assistance.  They knew I had no way to earn money and yet they would say “sorry I can't help you out”.  I found out that non Christians would give me more help than Christians and that really boggled my mind...That Christians could recognize my suffering....some of the volunteers even coming in and witnessing it first hand and yet would not even consider any financial assistance.  I'd never say “some neighbor you are” although I's clearly think about those verses, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Ministries, preachers and priest would always reject any type of financial help.  They didn't care about your needs in the earthly realm.  “I come to save your soul” they would say.  Not to reduce your earthly suffering but to show you faith.  What did James say about Faith without deeds.  See James 2:26  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 let your good deeds shine before me so they may praise your Father in heaven.  Also view First Timothy 6:17-18  Command those who are rice in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rice in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. Joel Osteen, the Grahams, Pat Robertson, with all their wealth will only contribute small amounts of their fortunes that they can write off in their ministries.  Hebrew10:31 “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Closing in Peace and Love.

Ronnie

Disciplinary Confinement, The Hole, Lockdown

Disciplinary Confinement (DC) aka The Hole, aka Lockdown.  Here on Florida’s death row it is basically the same as the other cells.  It’s 9x7 … 63 square foot.  The only differences are, there’s no light switches so you can’t turn the light off.  You have bright cell light beaming in your eyes 18 to 19 hours a day.  This deprives you of sleep.  You are then denied weekly recreation for the first 30 days and then only given recreation once a week after that.  You have no TV, radio, or any of that.  To top that off there are no magazines, new papers or books.  The only reading material you are allowed is religious text.    There is nothing to do to keep the human mind occupied.  On top of all of that you can only order canteen every other week and then you can only purchase paper, envelopes, stamps, pens.  No shampoo or soap and definitely not any food items!!  You have to live off this nasty disgusting state food which no way to supplement or improve any of it like soups, cheese, mayo, ketchup, mustard, etc. which greatly improves the slop that they feed us.

As you can see, I spend my time writing and since I can’t read or any anything else, I write even more.  There is nothing fun about D.C.  You stay hungry.  You are constantly bored and you start counting the days down till you get off.

I’m down here on a 9-35, trying to conduct a business through staff or volunteers which is a 60 day Disciplinary Report (DR).  What I should have gotten was a DR for a 9-14 which carries 30 days.  But because I pissed so many people off with my writings, they were out for blood.  That is why they went for a 9-35 to ensure that I did an extra 30 days on D.C.   So I am bored stiff.  I haven’t had recreation in 44 days which is a clear violation of their own rule.  But this is their world, I just exist in it.  Their rules for them to make, break and apply how and when they want.  Yes, I stand up in the face of adversity. I challenge them and their rules constantly, most of the time to no avail.  But I never quite trying.  Yes, life here on Florida’s death row is hard and life on D.C. is even harder.  There is nothing pretty about it but this is just another existence  where I survive day to day. This is D.C., the hole, lockdown.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  Please take care and fight the good fight.

In peace and love,
Ronnie

Final Hunger Strike Update

I wanted to give everyone an update on the hunger strike and the results.  It didn’t turn out the way I wanted.  I set a goal aiming for 30 days, and as most of you know, on day 19 the prison administration violated all kinds of constitutional rights by taking all my property; mattress, blanket, soap, toilet paper, etc… I had nothing but my underwear.  My body was already in shock from having very little water and no food for 19 days.  Now added was the shock of extreme cold and sleep deprivation.  And that night, June 8. 2011, I began throwing up.  I had been staying in my bed, not getting up at all.  So on top of all this, I’m having to walk.  My feet hurt and went numb, as did my legs. I fell probably a dozen times that night.  By the next day, Thursday, June 9, not only did my body give up but my mind did as well.  I had to endure four more days of torture.

I had to go through 40 hours of IV treatment, while still laying on a concrete floor, suffering sleep deprivation and sever joint pain.  Finally, on Monday, I was able to hold water down.  And at lunch on June 13, I ate my first meal in 24 days and it was hard to get down and keep down.

On June 14 I was moved back over here to P-Dorm Death Row housing cell P-4105 Disciplinary Confinement (DC) and what amounts to a heat box.  It’s like an oven back here.  I was denied my property for another week.  No fan, no legal material, no address book, etc… Finally, on Monday June 20, my property was returned.  And some of it had been stolen.  So I didn’t get the issue resolved, which I was fighting for on the hunger strike.  We’re not getting weekly recreation on DC and we’re still being sleep deprived due to 18-19 hours of bright cell lights that we can’t turn off.  I ended up getting the maximum of 60 days on DC, so I won’t get off until August 12.

I have written some controversial essays going into more detail about issues going on here but I’m sorry to say you won’t get to read until I get some help from outside the United States to operate my blog.  I am currently looking for this and hope to find someone in the near future.

The bottom line is the only thing accomplished by my hunger strike was being tortured by the administration, which I will be filing a lawsuit on.

Was it worth it?  Probably not.  Would I do it again?  Most definitely!  Because one thing about me is that if I feel I’m done wrong, I’m going to stand up and be heard.  This blog is my only voice to the outside world and mother feels it’s in my best interest to be censored.  I feel you need to know you’re not always getting my full message and it hurts me to my heart that I can’t say what I really feel.  I love my friend and my mother but I don’t like censorship.  Eventually I hope to make changes to the blog so that I alone am responsible for it’s content, and have one or two people outside the US and its laws who will pass out my word and post my writings with out any type of censorship because then and only then will my voice truly be heard.

So to say the least, I failed miserably.  Will there be another hunger strike?  Stick around because only time will tell.  Thank you to all who supported me through this.  Please take care and be good or be good at it.  In peace and love, Ronnie

Life on Florida's Death Row

Florida currently has three hundred ninety something inmates condemned to die in Florida’s death chamber.  These inmates are split unequally between two prisons.  One being Union correctional Institution (UCI) P-Dorm death row housing that was built back in the early 90s.  P-Dorm was built to hold 335 death row inmates.  Due to the 14 cells designated to house Disciplinary Confinement, known as (DC), we only have approximately 320 death row inmates assigned to death row here at UCI.  FSP (Florida State Prison) is where the death chamber is located and houses the other 70 something inmates.  Mainly new arrivals are house there until space is available at UCI.  FSP also houses inmates who have had problems for one reason or another at UCI.  These prisons are located on the Union, Bradford county lines on State Road 16 located between Gainesville, Lake City and Jacksonville up in Florida’s Northern Region.  Inmates on Florida’s death row are classified as Administrative Confinement (A/C) under a new rule Chapter 33-601.830.  Before this time, there were no rules governing death row.  We are not classified into groups.  The sane and insane are housed together.  When you house a sane person around a mentally ill individual, it begins to take a toll on the sanity of the sane person.  This is not something they care about in the least little bit.  Your comfort, your sanity is not an issue.  We have white supremacist, Muslims, gang bangers all mixes together.  UCI has six wings with two floors on each wing and each wing has two sides, 14  9x7.. 63 square foot cells per side.  Each wing upstairs and downstairs has 56 cells.  We are permitted to have a TV, radio, fan and a battery operated razor which you must be able to afford to purchase off an overpriced canteen from funds that family or friends send.  We have a desk, TV stand, a solid metal bunk and a toilet and sink combination all mounted securely to the wall.  We are permitted two foot lockers.  One is for personal property and one for legal work.  Some guys spend 24 hours a day in these cells only coming out for three 5 minute showers a week.  There are two showers located at the front of each wing.  We are always handcuffed behind our backs before our cell doors are opened.  We are then escorted to the shower… the shower door is closed, locked and secured.  The handcuffs are then removed and we have approximately 5 to 7 minutes to shower and dry off.  We are then escorted back in the same manner and placed in our cells.  We get six hours of recreation a week.  It is currently being broken down into two three hour periods… which I am trying to change to get three two hour recreation periods because the yard officers can run us on Monday and Tuesday and then the next five days we are stuck in our cells.  Five straight days without a break is hell!!
We can also go to the law library once a week for two hours.  There we are locked in a secure 4x4 foot cell with a glass patrician.  On the other side is the law clerk who is from population.  They will bring us the legal material we request and slide it through a slot.  When you are finished, you return it in the same manner.

Anytime we leave our cells for what we call, “call outs” whether it is to the law library, medical, mental health, legal phone calls or visits we have to go through a strip search.  Most officers say “I don’t want to see it, get dressed”.

When we go to the recreation yard, hand cuffs are placed on until we get out there.  Then they are removed in a secure area between two gates.  The officer, after removing the handcuffs, opens the second gate that allows us on the yard where we can interact with one another by playing basket ball, volley ball, exercising on the dip and pull up bar or run or walk around.  They recently cut back on the numbers they put us out there in.  We were being put out there with between 30 and 40 other inmates which that yard is far to small for that many men.  Now there are maybe 20 of us out there at a time.
The only other time we don’t have handcuffs on is when we get a visit.  Our visiting park, call (VP) is a large room about 30 feet wide and 100 to 120 feet long that has 26 metal tables that has 4 attached metal stools.  An officer’s desk is up front.  There are four bathrooms, one male, one female for the visitors and two inmate bathrooms.  There are two soda machines, Pepsi products and a snack machine as well as a canteen window that you can order drinks, sandwiches, chips and microwavable foods.  There are three microwaves in the V.P.  We have to go through a dress out room and change from orange pants to white pants and orange shirts.  We then walk out into the VP, go to the sgt’s desk to check in and they tell you what table you are at.   Each table is marked with a number 1 through 26.  We usually already know for our visitor is already there.  We walk over, give our visitor a hug and kiss and then we decide what to do.  We can sit and talk, walk around the room or go order food and get a game to play.  Visits are on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am until 3 pm – six hours of freedom.  The one time you actually feel free.  You feel as if you are treated like a human being.  Very few people are lucky enough to get visits and even fewer get visits every week from wives, girlfriends or family.   Some guys have been here 20, 30 years and never got a visit.  Sad but true.

We have very little to look forward to in here.  We get mail five days a week Monday through Friday and it arrives any where from 6 to 9 pm.  It is a very sick feeling to see that mail man pass your cell without stopping.  I know because I’ve experienced it a lot these days.  Other than mail, visits and recreation, the only thing else to look forward to is canteen and if you have no family or friends then you have no canteen.  No deodorant, shampoo, lotions, powders, etc much less food.  We can order canteen once a week.  We turn the order in on Thursday and that order is scanned on Monday morning and delivered to us by Wednesday or Thursday.  When you have no money and you watch them roll past your cell, you can smell the food and they look in at you, look at your cell number and keep rolling.  It’s a very bad feeling, for not only do you feel unloved and abandoned but you know the canteen man is probably thinking, sorry man but no one loves you or cares…yes.. it’s not a good feeling.  If I have canteen and I’m around someone that doesn’t have anything then I share a little something.  You just have to have some type of compassion for you fellow human beings.  The food that we are served is “God awfull”.  That means terrible.  Most everything is processed to death and soybean patties are hard to eat.  The food here in the FDOC has really gone down hill in the past 5 to 10 years.  A lot of guys are getting cancer.  We don’t know if it’s the water or the food.  We’ve heard this place is built on a dump.  One thing is certain UCI is a multi million dollar unit that is only 20 years old and is falling apart.  The foundation is pulling away from the walls, there are cracks in the ceilings some of some of the cells big enough to stick your finger in.  There is mold and mildew in the ventilation system.  The plumbing is a mess.  Hundreds of gallons of fresh water are wasted every day here in P-Dorm because water buttons will get stuck and they don’t have the parts to fit it.  There are probably half a dozen to a dozen sinks running at any given time.  There is no air conditioning and in the summer time it’s 100 plus degrees in these cells.  It is like walking into an oven.  If dogs were treated like this in America, there would be an uprising of the people.  I guess they see us a less than animals.

Let me emphasize we do have some good professional officers in here.  But we also have those of the criminal element who commit assaults, steal, introduce drugs and contraband for financial gain.  We also have inmates who act like officers.  These inmates come over from population and some of the officers treat them as an equal.  The inmate then starts running the damn prison.  It’s really mind blowing.
We need a lot of serious changes in here and we are hoping that Mr. Edwin G. Buss is going to bring about these positive changes.  This is our life on Florida’s death row and I would like to thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

In Peace and Love,
Ronnie

Extreme Torture

This administration at Union Correctional Institution (U.C.I) used torture tactics on me for 5 days straight and this is how it happened.  On Wednesday, June 8, 2011 while I was housed in R-Dorm medical cell R-1-202S at approximately 1:30 PM a lieutenant, a sergeant and two COs showed up.  I was ordered to strip down to my boxer shorts.  I complied and was then handcuffed and placed in the hallway.  All of this can be seen on R-Dorm video, which I'm requesting to be held as evidence.  All of my property, clothing and bedding was removed.  For 5 days I was kept in this ice-cold cell with the air conditioning running with inadequate clothing to stay warm and nothing to sleep on but a steel plate or concrete floor.  Because of the cold I had to continuously walk all night!  I would lay down 5 or 10 minutes shivering before having to walk again to warm up a little.  This was extreme torture!  Because of the hunger strike and not eating in over 19 days and walking to exhaustion, I fell numerous times getting a cut over my right eye and bruising in my right knee.  As well as other bangs and bruises.  I would lie on the floor shivering eventually falling asleep only minutes at time from pure exhaustion.  My joints were hurting extremely, extremely bad from lying on the cold floor!  I was in pain like I have never felt before.  Late that Wednesday night I began throwing up which lasted three days nothing but bile and stomach acid.  I'm surprised I didn't get pneumonia from being held in those extreme temperatures lying on concrete.  These were the worst 5 days of my life.  I came very close to committing suicide to escape those torturous conditions.  I was sleep deprived, hurting and within 24 hours I was not thinking rationally.

I did nothing to deserve this.  I'm going to be calling for the Inspector General (IG) to give me a lie detector test as well as the Lt. That caused this.  I was told my property was taken because I had told the Lt that I was going to flood my cell.  The video will substantiate that this is a lie.  One of the CO’s came in after they took my property and said “I'm sorry, I tried to talk them out of it.”  I had a right under Article one Section 23 of the Florida Constitution to conduct this peaceful protest hunger strike without retaliation.  The Lt. Violated this constitutional right as well as my sixth, eighth and fourteenth amendment constitution rights by denying me due process and putting me through measures of extreme torture in order to break me.  Even when I broke, the administration continued their acts of torturous treatment until Monday at approximately 10:00 am when CO’s can be seen on video returning my mattress and clothes.  During those five days I was also denied access to my attorney and I was denied access to not only my mail, paper, pens and envelopes but to grievance forms as well.  This is a violation of 42 UCS 1997 (e).  All of which I'm going to have substantiated through a lie detector test.  A lawsuit is going to be filed to insure that no one else is tortured in this manner that they tortured me those 5 days.  That was 5 days of pure and total hell that I wouldn't put my worse enemy through.

Please download this essay and take it to Amnesty International, the ACLU or anyone else that will listen.  This was a brutal act of torture through sleep deprivation, inadequate clothing, extreme temperatures and pain from lying on concrete.  The concrete was better than the steel bed with no bedding.  Please help me prevent this from ever happening to anyone else.

In peace and love,

Ronnie

Hunger Strike Update

On behalf of Ronnie, thank you to everyone for their support during his hunger strike.  It has meant everything to him and he is beyond grateful.  According to his mother, Ronnie ended his hunger strike after 3 weeks, on Friday June 10.  He is in the medical unit and has been taking water, and although he initially had trouble keeping food down, he is beginning the journey to recovery.


News will be posted as it's received.


Thank you.

Hunger Strike Update Day 16

June 5, 2011 I’m taking Zantac now so the stomach acid is under control and the stomach and abdominal pains have lessened.  Friday I was authorized a 3 minute phone call with my mom, which is unheard of.  They allowed it hoping she would talk me out of this.  I did agree to fight for medical issues only.  Since the administration has already agreed to give me the Hepatitis A & B vaccine, I’m fighting now primarily for a liver biopsy to be able to determine the damage that HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) has done to my liver.  I’m also fighting for proper diet that consists of no processed foods or sugars.  Doctors who specialize in HCV recommend that I eat fresh fruits and vegetables and lean low fat meats such as fish and white-meat chicken and turkey.  None of these items are provided on the regular FDOC diet.  Fruit is only served every 4 weeks  and nothing but processed meats are served to Death Row, which contain numerous chemicals that my already damaged liver has to work harder to filter out.  I’ve filed a grievance that will be going out in the morning.  I’ll post their response here on my blog.

I hope to end my hunger strike in the next week.  I hate to drop other issues but I’m doing this for my mom.  Thank you for you time and for those of you who have supported me.

In peace and love,
Ronnie

Hungar Strike Update Day 10

Violence breeds violence, intolerance breeds division.  I’m currently on day 10 of this hunger strike and a lot has come to my mind.  I seem to be able to see more clearer as each day rolls by.  Many people do not support what I’m doing and although it’s disappointing, I also understand.  No two people will agree on everything – so in some cases when you can’t see the other individual’s side… it’s best to just agree to disagree.

I am fighting the only way I have to fight, by doing a peaceful non-violent protest to raise awareness to issues that are not only affecting me, but that are affecting others as well.  I have however, decided to stop allowing the anger to eat me up.  I’ve had a lot of anger in my heart towards Warden Reddish and I’ve been way harsher with him than I should have been.  As you know my writings are on pure raw emotions.  I’ve decided some of that needs to change and hopefully it will.  I did meet with Mr. Reddish on Friday May 27, 2011 and discussed several of these issues.

1. I really do want the following changes to take place either through Mr. Reddish or Mr. Buss.
It was a bogus Disciplinary Report (DR).  I did not attempt to do business with a staff member or volunteer and for what reason alone the DR needs to be thrown out.
2. I want all reprisals to end.  I’ll bring the grievances to an end.  If I have an issue, I’ll write a request or letter.
3. I’d like my contact visits restores.  The rule I’m being held under contact visits with immediate family only does not exist.
4. The cell moves that are causing all this friction among the inmates on death row needs to be stopped.  Not everyone likes each other and not everyone can live around each other.
5. We need light switches place in the A/C, D/C cells so the lights cannot be used as a form of punishment causing sleep deprivation.  Cell lights are on for 18 to 19 hours a day.
6. Prisoners on Disciplinary Confinement (DC) need to be permitted books, magazines and newspapers, Chapter 33-FAC does not prohibit it and the American Correctional Association (ACA) standards for adult corrections facilities also recommends it.
7. DC prisoners need to be given the same 6 hours recreation per week.  Please see Exhibit (A) 33.601.830 Death Row F.A.C. (7) (i) and (7)(i)2.  Recreation is only to be denied if there is a “Major” rule violation, and only for 15 days.  D.C. inmates are denied recreation for the first 30 days which goes against the rules.
8. It is also recommended by the A.C.A. that D.C. prisoners be allowed to order food items from the canteen which needs to be considered due to the lack of food we are served.
9. When placed on Administrative Confinement (A/C) the visitation should not be denied, unless there is a “Major” rule violation.  This is hurting our family and friends who travel hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles and spend hundreds and thousands of dollars usually months in advance for the visits.  Sometimes visits are being taken away for minor rule violations that could take place at the last minute.  This is a very serious issue the needs to be addressed.  If nothing else, non-contacts visits should be permitted because this is punishing both family and friends.
10. I have a liver disease Hepatitis C which I’m not getting treatment for.  I need the following:
     a) The Hepatitis A and B vaccine.
     b) A diet consisting of no processed foods or sugar.
     c) A liver biopsy which is the only way to know the true conditions of the liver.

All I’m asking for is to be treated fair and equally.  I’m not asking for any more than that.  Mr. Buss and Mr. Reddish are Christians.  I ask them both to please consider Hebrews 13:33 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisons and those who are mistreated as if you yourself were suffering.
I’m asking for the mercy and compassion of these men to consider the above needed changes in order to reduce our suffering.  Thank you for your time and consideration and for bringing this to the attention of Mr. Berry V. Reddish and Mr. Edwin G. Buss.

Respectfully submitted in Love and Peace
Ronald W. Clark, Jr.

A Request for Support

At the request of Ronnie's mom, I am posting this information.  


Please consider contacting the following people in support of Ronnie:


Mr. Edwin Buss  850/488-7480  buss.edwin@mail.dc.state.fl.us
Warden Reddish  386/431-2000
Regional director  386/693-6000

Hunger Strike Updates Days 3-6

Hunger Strike Update Day 3

May 23, 2011

Gandhi tried to bring attention to matters through hunger strikes, peaceful protest, which is exactly what I’m trying to do.  I’m trying to bring attention to issues that need to be changed.  Trying to bring attention to retaliatory action and stop it.  As Gandhi said “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”  I’m trying to protest and bring change in a positive, peaceful manner.  Thank you for your support.

Please view this Disciplinary Report (DR) (coming soon), reported by Luther S. Henkly who retired hours after this report was made.  Lt. Adkins, who I’ve filed numerous grievances against, wrote this DR for Violation 9-35 which is a very serious offense.  Violation 9-35 is attempting to establish a business with staff members or volunteers.  I wrote to a Christian organization not a staff member or volunteer.

Thank you for your time and help.  Please continue to send letters, e-mails and phone calls protesting this retaliatory action. 

Hunger Strike Update Day 4

May 24, 2011

Today I’m a little weak from lack of water.  Lips are cracking.  My weight has dropped from 227 lbs on Friday to 210 lbs today.  I’m more thirsty than hungry.  Going without food is one thing, denying yourself water is a whole nother ballgame.  I hope to live through this to drink water again. 

I’m actually on a status called Administrative Confinement (A/C) which is listed under 33 602.220 (FAC) instead of Disciplinary Confinement.  This is not supposed to be a punishment, just a status. 

If you are on A/C, you might be required to take a drug test.  If you have been refusing all food and water and you are unable to produce urine, you will immediately receive a Disciplinary Report (DR). 

If you receive a DR you are placed on a DC wing.  Under A/C status you’re denied recreation but even worse, you’re denied visitation.  Even is a family member or friend planned a trip well in advance and has spent money on tickets and travel, they will be turned away when they arrive at the prison.  There is no compassion for the visitors.  This is what is on my mind today.

Hunger Strike Update Day 5

May 25, 2011

I’m a lot weaker today.  Yesterday they put me in R Dorm (medical) for about three hours, and then they brought me back to my cell.  Last night I had the dry heaves.  It was gut wrenching heaves that feel like they’re tearing your insides out.  When you’re not drinking water, you have nothing inside you to throw up.  I’m not doing well at all.  Cramps and on top of that I blacked out yesterday.  It actually felt pretty good; probably what death would feel like.  All of my problems seemed to fade away and although it was only for seconds, it felt longer.

I’m not sure I’ll be giving you any more updates.  My vision is really shaky today. I know this is only going to get worse.  Soto all my supporters: thank you and take care.

Later:  I’ve been moved to R Dorm (medical) where I will be until I start eating.

Hunger Strike Update Day 6

May 26, 2011

I’m still going strong. I had to start drinking water so I can last longer.  The longer I go, the more likely I am to bring about necessary changes to my conditions.

I’m here to fight this battle and I really need your help and support.  Please consider leaving comments here. I thank all of you who are supporting me.  And those who don’t, I still love you too Luke 6:32-38. In life sometimes we must make difficult decisions and stand up for ourselves.   That’s all I’m doing through this peaceful protest – saying enough is enough!

Thank you for your time and concern.

In peace and love,

Ronnie

Hunger Strike

On Friday, May 20, 2011, Ronnie was placed on DC (Disciplinary Confinement) for allegedly running a business, which is against FDOC policy for inmates.  As some of you may know, Ronnie draws beautiful cards by hand as gifts for loved ones on special occasions.  He has never sold a single card and no such business exists.  Ronnie believes that these false charges have been brought against him in retaliation for an essay he wrote and planned to post here. 

To protest his disciplinary confinement, Ronnie began a hunger strike on Friday, May 20, 2011.  He is refusing all food and water.  In a letter dated Sunday May 22, 2011, he stated that he expected to be under medical care by the end of this week.  The following is a short excerpt from his letter:

“Today is Sunday, May 22, 2011.  I’ve now been 50 plus hours without food or water.  My weight on Friday May 20 was 227 lbs.  I’m now at 220 pounds.  Most of it’s water loss.”

Ronnie also reported that most of his property has been taken, including his art supplies, and he was told that he is facing multiple disciplinary reports.  Anyone who writes to Ronnie and would like a response is asked to include a self-addressed stamped envelop along with their letter, as he doesn’t know when he will have access to his writing supplies again. 

Ronnie needs support now more than ever.  Please consider reaching out and letting him know that he matters.  All comments left here will be forwarded to him.  Leave a note or send him a letter to let him know you are aware of what’s happening and that you care. Please lend your support.

On behalf of Ronnie, thank you for reading this.  Updates will be posted as they are received.

Between A Rock And A Hard Place Hebrews 13.3

People in this place are not allowed a job and even if we were, we would not be paid for our work.  We are not allowed to run a business per Chapter 33-602.207 (F.A.C) or get any type of compensation through writings, art, etc...

We are prohibited from running ads seeking financial assistance from anyone on the street who is willing to assist us per 33-210.101 (9), so our hands are tied.  In order to take care of ourselves financially which means being able to order deodorant, soap, shampoo, stamps, writing materials, batteries and very overpriced food items by a price gouging company “Keefe Corporation,”  we have to either break the rules … or just sit back hoping and praying that some one is kind enough to send us some money.

The F.D.O.C. and Keefe are running a canteen.  We are allowed to spend up to $100.00 a week.  That's $5,200 a year with no way to financially support ourselves.  Does anyone else see a problem with this?  Most of us don't have family and friends.  We've been in here two and three decades.  Most everyone in our lives have moved on and the ones who do come into our lives usually stay around a year or two and then move on.  Once again we are left between a rock and a hard place...break the rules …or go without.

Why can't I write and say, "I need financial assistance. Anyone who would like to help me out or correspond with me, I'd be truly grateful to hear from you"?  Who is that hurting?  These Administrators claim to be Christians and yet they do not live by the word.  Does not Hebrews 13.3 read “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
                                      
Yet they want us to suffer and go without....and they call themselves Christians.  Did not Jesus teach “Love thy neighbor as thyself”.  Also see Luke 10:27.  Paul was teaching the same thing in Romans 13:9, Gal. 5:14 and James taught it in James 2:8... Do you think they would want themselves to suffer as we suffer in this cage under the sentence of death?  I think not!  If they were in here, they would take care of their own financial needs.  They would make sure they had deodorant, shampoo, etc...  They would make sure they had money to eat with.  They would make sure they received mail at mail call.

But it's one thing to love yourself...it's a whole nother ball game to show someone else equal love.  I don't understand that hypocritical mentality and I never will.

One thing is fur sure --- the F.D.O.C. enjoys seeing us suffer and go without our needs and wants.

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

Sincerely,

Ronald W. Clark, Jr.  #812974

Life On San Quentin's Death Row

Willie Johnson, who has been imprisoned on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison in California for more than 20 years, wrote the following essay.  An Actual Innocence hearing for his case is scheduled this fall. 

San Quentin State Prison in located in prime real estate overlooking the San Francisco bay.  Designed to house five thousand inmates, it currently holds twice that number.  Of these ten thousand or so inmates, seven hundred are on death row.  Isolated from the majority of the general population, death row inmates are divided into three groups. 

The main group is located in East Block and they are considered Grade A inmates.  But they have their own exercise yard so they never come into contact with other inmates, while the rest of the East Block inmates are divided into five other groups and these groups share five yards.  These inmates are divided for various reasons.  Some because of conflict and others because if the nature of their cases.  This is also done so that the prison staff can manipulate the situation.  By having prisoners separated in this fashion, prison staff can maintain control by creating an environment of mistrust among the prisoners, which keeps the heat off of them. 

On the yard, there are four card tables, a dip bar, pull up bar and single basketball court, which are shared by sixty to seventy inmates.  Because of the racial factor, inmates have worked out a schedule so that each group gets a chance to use the dip and pull up bars, but anyone can play basketball.  Each group has a card table. 

The next group of Death Row is located in North Seg.  North Seg is located on top of North Block.  And it’s where the original death row was housed.  It has sixty-four cells and all the prisoners are considered model prisoners.  Although they are also considered to be Grade A inmates, North Seg inmates are considered to be “above’ East Block inmates.

All inmates are housed in single man cells.  But North Seg inmates get more yard time than the others.  Other than that privilege, their status is the same.  Privileges consist of contact visits, phone calls and quarterly food packages.  Inmates are also allowed a certain number of books in their cells.  As for appliances, Grade A inmates are allowed a television, radio, electric fan, type writer and electric razor.  If an inmate loses his Grade A status due to a rule violation, then all these items are subjected to being sent home.  Commissary is another privilege given to death row inmates.  Grade A inmates are allowed to spend up to two hundred dollars on commissary and Grade B inmates are allowed to spend fifty five dollars.  Canteen consists of everything from writing materials to food items.  As for Grade b inmates, they are considered program failures and most of them are housed in the adjustment center.  There are also some housed in East Block. 

The ones in the adjustment center are assigned to walk alone in small cages on the yard.  Each cage has a sink and toilet.  Lined up in three rows of nine cages, these inmates go outside every other day for four hours.  Most of the inmates there are labeled gang bangers by the prison administration. Some of them have been there for over 20 years.  The only way out is to snitch on their friends.  While on Grade B, inmates are not allowed contact visits, phone calls, fans, electric razors or quarterly food packages, so most inmates try to avoid Grade B, which is really hard.  Not only because of some asshole police, but also because of some knucklehead inmates.  Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between guard and inmate.  That’s because some guards are infatuated with the criminal lifestyle and are known to mimic criminal behavior.  Not to mention that many of them come from the same environment as the prisoners.  What a lot of people don’t know about California prisons is that there’s a major rift between inmates from the north and inmates from the south.  And this crosses all racial lines.  The only way he different groups come together is when there’s a racial issue.  Other than that, it’s a north/south thing.

There is another group worth mentioning.  They are the mentally ill.  Some were disturbed before coming to prison and others became ill while incarcerated.  They are known to cause havoc with other inmates and guards alike.  Some nights they bang on their bunks and scream at the tops of their lungs all night long.  It’s not unusual to hear about them gassing (throwing a concoction of urine and feces on) police, or about guards setting one of the perpetrators up to be harmed.  Although there’s a large number of psychologists assigned to death row, the mentally ill population on death row is continually growing.  The number of suicides continues to increase as well. 

The other thing that is killing prisoners at an alarming rate is the food.  There have been more inmate deaths from the food than form execution.  But the prison staff writes them off as natural causes.  You would think the medical staff would speak out on this issue, but they continue to allow it to happen which peaks volumes about the level of health care that inmates are receiving on death row.  Undernourishment and psychological deterioration are the natural causes for premature death on death row.  So let it be known that the California Prison System is in violation of its citizens’ human rights.  And no matter what a person has done to be sent to death row, they are still entitled to the right to be treated humanely.

Willie Johnson

C-35635 5EY55

San Quentin State Prison

San Quentin CA 94974