We have received letters from three more men serving time because of the Lucasville Uprising. Rasheem Mathews, Derek Cannon and Thomas Backmon will be contributing to this site, and helping organize the Re-Examining Lucasville Conference next April.
We're glad to be able to share more of the stories of the uprising and the unjust trials and investigations following it. If you would like to write to these new contributors, you can find their information on the contact page.

The Lucasville Uprising was a rebellion against oppressive and racist policies at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville, OH. Nine inmates and one guard died during the uprising in April of 1993. Today, many people are serving time or condemned to death by the state of Ohio in relation to the uprising. We demand amnesty for all of these inmates. The conditions at SOCF were (and still are) intolerable and unconscionable.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Rasheem Matthews
Rasheem Mathews was at Lucasville on a false conviction when the uprising happened in 1993. He was again falsely convicted of murders that occurred during the uprising, and is currently incarcerated at OSP, Ohio's super-max prison. This is Rasheem's story.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Re-Examining Lucasville Conference Call for Submissions
A
group of lawyers, prisoner advocates, family members and supporters will be
presenting a weekend conference re-examining the history of Ohio's
most notorious prison uprising, the eleven day occupation of L-Block in the
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility at Lucasville in 1993.
The conference will present a comprehensive examination of the facts, stories and legal proceedings from the uprising. We are also interested in exploring the context in which the uprising occurred and the consequences for the people of Ohio. To this end, we are seeking workshops, presentations, participation from the broader community. We'd like you to help us explore relevant issues such as the prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, prison conditions, death penalty, solitary confinement, and super-max prisons. Each of these topics is intimately present in the story of Lucasville, and we hope you or your organization can help us provide conference attendees with a broader understanding of how Lucasville relates to so many issues that impact all of our lives.
The conference will be held from Friday evening, April 19, through midday Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Columbus State Community College in downtown Columbus. If you are interested in participating, please submit a proposal describing your idea, workshop or presentation to Re-ExaminingLucasville@gmail.com by Jan 18th. If you have any questions, please contact me at Re-ExaminingLucasville@gmail.com.
The conference will present a comprehensive examination of the facts, stories and legal proceedings from the uprising. We are also interested in exploring the context in which the uprising occurred and the consequences for the people of Ohio. To this end, we are seeking workshops, presentations, participation from the broader community. We'd like you to help us explore relevant issues such as the prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, prison conditions, death penalty, solitary confinement, and super-max prisons. Each of these topics is intimately present in the story of Lucasville, and we hope you or your organization can help us provide conference attendees with a broader understanding of how Lucasville relates to so many issues that impact all of our lives.
The conference will be held from Friday evening, April 19, through midday Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Columbus State Community College in downtown Columbus. If you are interested in participating, please submit a proposal describing your idea, workshop or presentation to Re-ExaminingLucasville@gmail.com by Jan 18th. If you have any questions, please contact me at Re-ExaminingLucasville@gmail.com.
Monday, December 10, 2012
RE-EXAMINING THE LUCASVILLE UPRISING: Essay 7
Monday, November 19, 2012
Bomani Appeal Schedule

Here's what we know of the schedule at this time.
In the case of Keith LaMar vs. Warden,
briefs are to be filed during the coming months in the United States
Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Both sides are
appealing. This is the schedule as it now stands:
First Brief, December 31, 2012, to be filed by counsel for
Petitioner-Appellant (LaMar);
Second Brief, March 4, 2013, to be filed by counsel for
Cross-Appellant/Appellee (Warden);
Third Brief, May 6, 2013, Appellant Reply/Cross-Appellee's Response
Brief;
Fourth Brief (optional), 17 days after Third Brief, Cross-Appellant's
Reply.
Friend of the court briefs are to be filed within 7 days of the first
brief by the party being supported.
It is likely to be months after the last brief is
filed before the court will hear oral argument in Cincinnati.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Lynds' Statement to Senate Judiciary Committee on Solitary at OSP
Hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights,
and Human Rights on Solitary Confinement in U.S. Prisons
July 19, 2012
Statement by Alice and Staughton Lynd
and Human Rights on Solitary Confinement in U.S. Prisons
July 19, 2012
Statement by Alice and Staughton Lynd
Monday, October 29, 2012
Re-Examining Lucasville: Essay 6
The sixth essay in Staughton Lynd's new series,
leading up to the 20th Aniversary Conference of the Lucasville Uprising in
April of 2013. Reviewing this background page and this timeline might help
provide a context and more general understanding for the detailed information
contained in Staughton's essays.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Solitary Confinement Testimonials...
The Unreliability of Prisoner Informant Testimony
A presentation given by Alice Lynd for a panel on wrongful convictions at the Cleveland Marshall School of Law
on October 22.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE : ESSAY 5
The fifth essay in Staughton Lynd's new series,
leading up to the 20th Aniversary Conference of the Lucasville Uprising in
April of 2013. Reviewing this background page and this timeline might help
provide a context and more general understanding for the detailed information
contained in Staughton's essays.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
21 Point Agreement
This document, signed by Arthur Tate, is the 21 point agreement that ended the uprising in a peaceful surrender. The State of Ohio almost immediately violated essential points of the agreement, when it pursued legal action against alleged leaders and others who refused to cooperate with investigators.
Re-Examining Lucasville: Essay 4
The fourth essay in Staughton Lynd's new series,
leading up to the 20th Aniversary Conference of the Lucasville Uprising in
April of 2013. Reviewing this background page and this timeline might help
provide a context and more general understanding for the detailed information
contained in Staughton's essays.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Recent Radio Interviews
Siddique Abdullah Hasan recently did a couple of interviews on the radio with Bob Fitrakis.
Fight Back! 06/27/12
and
WVKO 7/14/12
Fight Back! 06/27/12
and
WVKO 7/14/12
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Kite from Hasan
This kite was written by Siddique Abdullah Hasan and received by Warden Arthur Tate just a few days before the riot. It was mentioned in Staughton Lynd's second Re-Examining Lucasville essay.
Request to Construct a Maximum Security unit at SOCF
Letter written by Warden Arthur Tate requesting to expand SOCF's supermax cells. Mentioned in Staughton Lynd's second Re-Examining Lucasville Essay as evidence that Tate would benefit from causing a riot at SOCF.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Update on Bomani's Appeal Case
Judges recently issued a filing deadline of Oct 1st for briefs in his appeal case. This deadline may be delayed. Bomani is facing the death penalty, his appeals are further along than any other death sentenced prisoner from the uprising. The judges and magistrates have thus far ignored sound legal arguments supporting Bomani's innocence. He is being railroaded in the most racist federal district in Ohio, and this deadline brings him one step closer to the end of the line.
Please write Bomani a letter of support and prepare to help us pack a courtroom when it reaches oral arguments in the spring. Lets derail that train.
Please write Bomani a letter of support and prepare to help us pack a courtroom when it reaches oral arguments in the spring. Lets derail that train.
Keith Lamar 317-117
OSP
OSP
878 Coitsville Hubbard RD
Youngstown, OH 44505
birthday: 05/31/1969
Personal website: Keithlamar.org
Friday, August 3, 2012
RE-EXAMINING LUCASVILLE: Essay 3
The third essay in Staughton Lynd's new series,
leading up to the 20th Aniversary Conference of the Lucasville Uprising in
April of 2013. Reviewing this background page and this timeline might help
provide a context and more general understanding for the detailed information
contained in Staughton's essays.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
RE-EXAMINING THE LUCASVILLE UPRISING: Essay 2
The second essay in Staughton Lynd's new series,
leading up to the 20th Aniversary Conference of the Lucasville Uprising in
April of 2013. Reviewing this background page and this timeline might help
provide a context and more general understanding for the detailed information
contained in Staughton's essays.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
RE-EXAMINING THE LUCASVILLE UPRISING: Essay 1

The first in a new series of essays by Staughton Lynd, leading up to the 20th Aniversary Conference of the Lucasville Uprising in April of 2013. Reviewing this background page and this timeline might help provide a context and more general understanding for the detailed information contained in Staughton's essays.
Factual Timeline Based on Evidence Presented at Trial
CHRONOLOGY BASED ON TESTIMONY AND EXHIBITS
Sunday, April 11, 1993
3:00 p.m. As prisoners returned from the yard at the end of recreation period,
disturbance began in L-block.
4:45 p.m. Prisoners released Officer Harold Fraley through the end of L-8 stairwell with
severe head injuries.
6:46 p.m. Johnny Fryman, a prisoner, was put on the yard, severely beaten.
8:05 p.m. Prisoners placed Officer John Kemper on the yard, severely beaten.
9:17 and 9:27 p.m. The dead bodies of prisoners William Svette, Bruce Vitale, Franklin
Farrell, Albert Staiano, and Darrold Depina were placed on the yard. Prisoners “Itchy” Walker
and Andre Stockton were placed on the yard with severe injuries.
11:02 p.m. Officer Robert Schroeder was placed on the yard with severe injuries.
First night, time unknown. Prisoner Earl Elder died of stab wounds in L-6-60.
Sunday, April 11, 1993
3:00 p.m. As prisoners returned from the yard at the end of recreation period,
disturbance began in L-block.
4:45 p.m. Prisoners released Officer Harold Fraley through the end of L-8 stairwell with
severe head injuries.
6:46 p.m. Johnny Fryman, a prisoner, was put on the yard, severely beaten.
8:05 p.m. Prisoners placed Officer John Kemper on the yard, severely beaten.
9:17 and 9:27 p.m. The dead bodies of prisoners William Svette, Bruce Vitale, Franklin
Farrell, Albert Staiano, and Darrold Depina were placed on the yard. Prisoners “Itchy” Walker
and Andre Stockton were placed on the yard with severe injuries.
11:02 p.m. Officer Robert Schroeder was placed on the yard with severe injuries.
First night, time unknown. Prisoner Earl Elder died of stab wounds in L-6-60.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Jason Robb Suspends Hunger Strike After 9 Days
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jason Robb Suspends Hunger Strike After 9 Days
Sunday, June 17th, 2012, Youngstown, OH- Last Friday, Jason Robb a death sentenced prisoner at Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) suspended his hunger strike demanding transfer to death row at Chillicothe Correctional. Jason's description of his meeting with Warden David Bobby is below.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Please Sign the Petition in Support of Jason Robb's Hunger Strike - Thank you!
http://www.change.org/petitions/ohio-state-penitentiary-transfer-jason-robb-to-standard-death-row-status-at-chillicothe-ci#
Text of the petition to Warden D. Bobby:
On June 6th, Jason Robb began a hunger strike with one simple demand: to be transferred off Level 5 super max status and housed with and treated like other Death Row prisoners at Chillicothe Correctional.
Jason has spent the last 19 years in 23 hour a day lock down at Ohio State Penitentiary and Mansfield Correctional (before OSP was built).
In his 13 years of isolation at OSP Jason has completed many programs, received no violent or serious conduct reports, and, in the warden's own words "displayed good interaction with staff and other inmates".
Jason is wrongly convicted of complicity in murders that occurred during the 1993 Lucasville Uprising at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF).
---
Thank you for signing!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Jason Robb Starts Hunger Strike

Thursday, June 7, 2012
20 Year Anniversary Conference
A weekend of speeches, workshops, lectures, call-ins, art, and discussions about the 1993 Lucasville Uprising at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, it's causes, the aftermath, and how it relates to mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex.
Details and registration coming soon.
If you'd like to host a break-out session, lead a workshop, or contribute to the effort, please contact lucasvilleamnesty@gmail.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Greg Curry's Trial Transcripts
In these excerpts from Greg Curry’s trial transcripts, you
can see Judge William Stapleton and Special Prosecutor Daniel Hogan assure the
jury that any deals made with witnesses will be fully divulged. One witness,
Lou Jones repeatedly denies making any deals with anyone. In his closing argument,
Prosecutor Hogan tells the jury that it is illegal for him to conceal deals
with witnesses from the defense attorneys. Then... in an appeal brief,
Prosecutor Hogan describes the deal given to Lou Jones, and concealed from
defense attorneys and the jury. I’m not a lawyer, but it sure looks like Hogan probably shouldn't have been allowed to be one either. Now he’s a judge.
Read the transcripts for yourself.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
May Day Speech - S A Hasan
Siddique Abdullah Hasan recording of a recent speech he gave at a May Day event in Denver.
Audio on Prison Radio.
Transcript here.
Audio on Prison Radio.
Transcript here.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Ohio Super Max Prisoners on Hunger Strike
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, Youngstown OH- OSP Hunger Strike Ends. After long negotiations with Warden David Bobby on Monday, May 7th, the hunger-striking prisoners at Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) began eating again. Two of the men held out through Tuesday, unsatisfied with the agreement. The warden met with them separately, and they agreed to come off the strike. Warden Bobby reported that "by lunch time today, everyone was eating." This was confirmed by two prisoner sources.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
New Website and Facebook for Bomani Shakur
There is a new website and a facebook page for Bomani. The website includes the text of Bomani's short book, CONDEMNED.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Sean Swain's Letter in Support
Siddique Abdullah Hasan is on Death Row in Ohio. If I didn`t know anything else about him, I would be able to tell something about the quality of Siddique's character just because Ohio has condemned him, this "State of Ohio" has never met a kind, peace-loving, honest, capable person it didn't want to kill.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Hasan's Prison Radio Recordings
Siddique Abdullah Hasan has recorded a couple of podcasts for prison radio.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Solidarity Statement from David Gilbert
“Warm greetings and strong solidarity go out to the Lucasville brothers now facing the death penalty and broader repression as a result of standing up for prisoners' rights. I can only imagine how difficult and challenging your situation is. Still, as we know from the centuries of struggles to abolish slavery, early principled stands, even when the odds are completely against us, help create a legacy that makes later advances possible. Everyone who cares about human rights should support you. I salute your courage and principles and wish you the very best in the struggles ahead.”
(David Gilbert, anti-imperialist PP)
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Occupy 4 Prisoners Hunger Strike
Siddique Abdullah Hasan and other prisoners at OSP participated in a hunger strike this week, demanding improved conditions. They won many of their demands after three days.
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