July 24, 2001
Letter from John
Dear family and friends,
Good
morning -- and it is indeed a good morning. Today is the
beginning of my second week of incarceration. I'm doing just fine
in large part to receiving your cards and letters at mail call last
evening. Thank you very much!
I'm writing the first part of this letter to everyone and closing it with individual letters.
We
arrived here about 1 PM after a great sendoff Sunday and another
gathering, including some media, Tuesday morning before we left Dayton.
Accompanying
Bill Houston (pronounced HOUSE ton) and me were Paula, Beth Lerman, a
friend from POR (Pledge of Resistance), Judy McCray from our church,
College Hill, Ed Schwinn, a friend from Habitat and Jerry Swaim, a
friend from the Global Mission Committee and a traveler from our first
(and life-changing) trip to Colombia.
We
arrived and immediately went to the wrong facility. Our orders
called for reporting to the FCI. They didn't have us on the list
to take us in. They sorted it out and found we were supposed to
go to the Prison Camp. Am I happy about this!
We knocked on the door marked "New Commitments" and in we came for our six months.
We
have been treated very well. Right from the beginning, our fellow
prisoners have been very helpful. We have been taught "the ropes,"
given or loaned stuff we needed before we had commissary privileges.
The staff provides a minimum of anything even close to harassment and
is quite professional. I liken the atmosphere to a small town where
everyone knows your name and your business.
One
of the things that pleases me a lot is that the word has quickly gotten
around about what we're in for. A number of guys have come by, introduced
themselves and asked about the SOA. We have gotten into some good
conversations. I think it is fair to say we are respected.
If
there is a downside thus far, it is that we are not busy. Each of us
will be assigned to a work detail but that won't happen for about a
month. This time allows for A & O (Admittance &
Orientation). Bill and I have been reading a lot, journaling and
working out (jogging and walking). At this point, I liken it to a
retreat atmosphere.
You might
be wondering if it is a threatening atmosphere. So far I have seen
nothing of it. The guy that preceded me in my two-man cubicle did get
into a fight and got sent across the road to FCI.
My "celly" (cellmate) is Danny, 26, from Detroit. He is a nice guy and has been a big help.
Finally
let me describe the prison and a bit about inmate profile.
Federal Prison Camp Ashland has four units that house 74 persons
each. Currently there are about 250 here, I've been told. Housing
is a two-man 8'X10' cubicle with one bunk bed and a storage unit a&
clothes rack for each. I'm in the lower bunk because I'm
"older." There is one writing desk & (3) chairs
(folding). Bathroom and showers are in a common area.
FPC
is enclosed by 8" fence with coiled razor wire on top. Most of the time
there are two gates open. There is a library, chapel, and exercise
facilities: basket ball, racquet ball, weightlifting, running,
horseshoes, bocce. The facility is well kept.
The
inmates seem to be in two categories: nonviolent, first-time offenders
with relatively short sentences (6-24 months) and older men with longer
terms who have earned their way down. I've met about 40 guys so
far. I'm enjoying the challenge of getting to know them and being
able to call them by name.
One
final thing: I ask for your support in closing this school [SOA] and
bringing new, deserved hope to millions of people in Latin America who
deserve the right to a full and productive life, just like you and me.
In
my humble opinion, the most important strategy is to write and lobby
our congressional representatives to co-sponsor bills (HR1810) and vote
to de-fund and close it. Will you write monthly?
In love and solidarity,
John
