New Contributors

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.

Derek Cannon (Abdul Wajid Abu Rakim)

Derek Cannon was injured during the uprising. He's been falsely convicted of kidnapping hostage guards and served almost 14 years in supermax at OSP. This is Derek's story.

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.

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.

RE-EXAMINING THE LUCASVILLE UPRISING: Essay 7

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. 

Bomani Appeal Schedule

Bomani Shakur is expected to have a court date in Cincinnati next spring. These will be oral arguments for the appeal of his death penalty case. Bomani will not be allowed in the court room, but we will. Lots of us. We hope you're ready to join us. 

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.

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

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. 

Solitary Confinement Testimonials...

Jason Robb asked me to re-post some testimonials on solitary confinement that have made it into the news recently. Jason, Namir, Bomani, Hasan, and Greg Curry have all been in solitary confinement for 20 years in Ohio's Super-Max Prison, Ohio State Penitentiary.

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.

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. 

Convict Unity and Full Contact Visits

Written by Ben Turk of RedBird Prison Abolition, during the first week of full contact visits, Sept, 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. 

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

 

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.

Truth and Justice for George Skatzes Video

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.

Bomani Shakur (Keith Lamar)

Keith Lamar 317-117
OSP

878 Coitsville Hubbard RD

Youngstown, OH 44505

birthday: 05/31/1969

posts by/about Bomani

Personal website: Keithlamar.org

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. 

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. 

YouTube Video about Bomani Shakur

From his website.

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.

What Degree of Torture???

Written by Mosi Paki, April 2007, re-written 2010.

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.

Please Sign the Petition in Support of Jason Robb's Hunger Strike - Thank you!

Please sign by clicking here:

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!

Jason Robb Declaration of Hunger Strike

written by Jason Robb, Wednesday June 6th, 2012, on the first day of his hunger strike.

Jason Robb Starts Hunger Strike

Jason Robb is on a hunger strike beginning with the evening meal on June 6. He is demanding that he be transferred to Chillicothe Correctional Institution and treated like any other death row prisoner. Chillicothe CI currently houses all but six of Ohio's death row prisoners.

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

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.

Evidence Designed and Denied

biography of Mosi O Paki.

HUSH

 Poem by Greg Curry written following the May Day Hunger Strike at OSP, May 2011.

Revolutionary Greetings

 Written by Siddique Abdullah Hasan, April 2011. 

We Hold the Power

 Written by Greg Curry, April 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.

Twenty eight years and counting!

Written by George Skatzes, in the voice of his sister. 

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.

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.

Sean Swain's Letter in Support

 An Open Letter in Support of Siddique Abdullah Hasan

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.

Hasan's Prison Radio Recordings

Siddique Abdullah Hasan has recorded a couple of podcasts for prison radio.

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)

Cell at Ohio State Penitentiary

Drawn by Greg Curry

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.