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I'm sure you are aware of the attempted escape of several men from death
row in Huntsville - one successfully? Since this occurred, you would not
believe the treatment we are given. Just two weeks ago, we were informed
that not only would we be strip-searched for our one hour of recreation
a
day, but also when taken for a shower. So for the last two weeks, we have
been stripped no less than six times a day, and our cells have been
completely ransacked. This is every day, sometimes at times like 2:30 and
3
a.m., and we never leave the building - or our cells for that matter.
Out of seven of us, four of us chose not to work for various reasons of
both
physical and emotional health. If you are on the work program, you are
locked in a huge cage-like facility and only allowed to use the bathroom
once
every four hours. For some of us, that's physically impossible, and the
emotional stress is just as great.
If you work, you are given a project, such as pulling apart huge bundles
of
cotton into small pieces. And if you don't finish what they expect you to
do,
you are given a citation. It's not fair to assume everyone can do the same
amount of work. But receiving a citation, no matter how small or minor,
can
be the difference between life and death in our situation. And what's so
sad
is that these people recognize that - yet almost seem to enjoy writing them.
In 18 years, there has never been even so much as a threat of violence on
the women's death row in Texas.
I cannot even begin to explain some of the events we have witnessed here.
Patients are brought in at all times of the day and night in various stages
of
hysteria or fear or anger. We have been subjected to numerous gassings.
This is only supposed to be meant for the individual who, in their words,
"won't comply." But since there is not one single window that will open
in
this building, we are all greatly affected. We have witnessed numerous
women who are most obviously "out of their senses" have excessive uses of
force applied, such as slamming them to the floor and against the walls.
I can't even begin to name or put a number on how many nights I've sat up
listening to some poor woman scream out as officers sit around laughing
or
making fun of her.
Kathleen, I never wanted to believe that the stories I had heard about the
officers were true. I always chose to believe that they were professionals
who cared in some degree for the people around them and their well-being.
But as I sit and watch the events in here, it's all I can do to keep from
becoming bitter. I constantly try and remind myself that they, too, will
have
to answer for so much.
I and the other women have written grievances, talked to everyone we
possibly can here at the Mountain View Unit, and no one will listen to us.
In
fact, it seems the more we request to simply talk to someone, the more we
are punished. Almost as if they are simply trying to shut us up.
It's sad because I truly try to never complain. I always tell myself, "It
could
be worse, it could be worse," but now I think it's at its worst. We are
women, not animals or even troublemakers.
Please write letters to Governor Bush and the Warden and anyone else you
feel might be of help and demand that we be granted the same human rights
we demand of other countries.
Thank you very much,
Brittany Holberg #999258
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