MICHAEL D GONZALES 999174
POLUNSKY UNIT
12002 FM 350 SOUTH
LIVINGSTON TEXAS
77351 USA
Michael Gonzales
I am an individual prisoner (ONE) of nearly 150,000 persons, IMPRISONED at one of over 110 prisons within the State of Texas. (Land of the Free)…Us here on the row are from DIVERSE racial, ETHNIC and RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS, but we are all HUMAN. The least of all are Native American Indians and some of the ones most harrassed because of a simple Feather, a Medicine Bag, and small items one may have managed to acquire, because the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division does everything it can to prevent any member of the Native Americans from any individuals or group religious activities. Sure TDCJ-ID has instituted a few places they even designated as strictly for Native Americans, however it is impossible to be transferred to one of these units, and at the same time, the ones at those units are being constantly harassed for numerous reasons.
The POLITICAL PRISONERS of Texas Judicial Systems' SLAVE LABOR CAMPS, range from mere children to very old and severely mentally handicapped. We all together share many millions of accumulated years. Regardless of a persons GUILT or INNOCENCE, the people are here, and the courts refuse to look at anything that could prove a persons innocence. ..(If they are locked up, they must be guilty if something.) I myself am serving a death sentence. I posses documents that my trial attorneys had possession of 10 months prior to trial and never used them. No attempts were made to prove my innocence. My attorney did only what the District Attorney wanted done. (Hang me out to dry, and die in prison.) I have not the Legal Funds, and some of the ones in here do and are eligible, it turns out to be also another fantasy, an illusion of their minds. Texas Death Row is the State of Lost Hope...
The prisoners of Texas endure DEHUMANIZATION, and HUMILIATION. as well as being WAREHOUSED AS WARDS OF THE STATE of TEXAS. Texas Prisoners are DEMONIZED by the MEDIA and Politicians, and economic gain. Prisoners of Texas are viewed as LEPERS, and have been OSTRACIZED as such. The authorities seek to WEAKEN and FAMILY TIES, and deprives prisoners of community support, which is a prisoners lifeblood, and without it, the prisoners looses all meaning to live any longer. (Guess this is the reason for the Suicide rate...)
Most prisoners are subjected to ARBITRARY rules and regulations as well as BRUTALITY by prison guards. This same BRUTALITY is widespread through out the system. Many prisoners are singled out and subjected to additional harrassment because of attempts to better ones self. I like all other prisoners are treated HUMAN CHATTEL economic commodities...
Texas prisoners have become CASH CROPS for the State of Texas and its Good ol Boys Politicians. We now live in a system that provides (NO HOPE) and has been replaced with DISPARITY, affecting not only the prisoners, but the prisoners friends and families, if any still exist. I myself have no family whatsover !!!
I, Michael D. Gonzales continue to STARVE FOR TRUE JUSTICE, FOR ONLY THIS WILL SET ME FREE. I possess very important Legal Documents that PROVE beyond any reasonable doubt that I am 100% Innocent of any crime, except maybe stupidity. None of my trial attorneys would investigate or use the documents even though they had them in their possession for 10 months prior to trial.
Texas needs a FREEDOM FIGHTER organization on the WEB SIGHT to fight for Texas prisoners. To seek out and demand FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS for all poor and Oppressed people being FALSELY accused, Convicted, and Imprisoned in Texas. Texas needs to begin by changing laws, and allow the thousands of prisoners still incarcerated for crimes that is no longer an offense, or their offense has been reduced from a Felony to a Simple MISDEMEANOR out of prison...
Commute these thousands of prison sentences, that were imposed under old and now repealed omitted, deleted and redefined PENAL laws, and COMMUTE the sentences of anyone that is serving a long sentence that was ENHANCED by the State's use of some OLD OUTDATED, Repealed, Redefined, and or Omitted Panel Law. The TEXAS PRISON SYSTEM is PACKED full of people that were convicted of 3rd degree felonies (with a Max sentencing of 10 years) but which was ENHANCED and sentenced to SEVERELY LONG SENTENCES or even LIFE. Look at where I am at ? TEXAS DEATH ROW !!
When the State of Texas used old and repealed prior laws to Enhance the sentence of someone convicted of a 3rd degree felony is a total waste of Tax Dollars especially when the Current Sentence the person is serving has also been redefined, omitted, deleted, etc. The State of Texas is wasting tax dollars on feeding and providing some sort of SUB STANDARD MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THOUSANDS OF ELDERLY PRISONERS THAT ARE NO THREAT TO ANYONE...
Many people go to a zoo and see a Gorilla in a cage and find it SHOCKING for a GORILLA to be kept in a 30x40 cage. The Gorilla is played with, feed fruits and vegetables, and given sunshine and fresh water and lives in a cooled area. I myself live in a CAGE, a TOMB, with no windows, 6 ft by 10 ft, sleep on a concrete slab with no mattress, fed limited rations, and lost from 250 lbs to 169 lbs after 369 days in solitary confinement...
I was totally mentally depressed and suicidal at the time of my trial, and had a careless attitude because my attorneys said the statements would not be used because they had to live in that County and would not fight against the District because the DA wanted me convicted and sent away to prison.
The public finds the conditions the Gorilla lived in SHOCKING, but the conditions I was in were deemed ok by the Federal Courts. The Death Row advocates YELL and SCREAM that the DEATH PENALTY is cruel and unusual punishment. Of that I agree, but at least they are given (WE) an injection to let them fall asleep and never wake up. Myself and many others like me are also sentenced to death, but in a slow Painful, Death by depriving us of medical treatment, forced to do SLAVE LABOR, given no HOPE of nothing, and kept locked away from our homes and families for a crime that may even be (NO CRIME AT ALL) or in thousands of cases, the law has changed and laws have been repealed.
When I first came to prison, I learned about the struggles and sacrifices that were made by prisoners, to bring about change, before I even arrived. While in prison I have met, and participated with, the prisoners who continue to struggle and sacrifice for change. Over the years there have been positive changes. However, with every positive change, TDCJ-ID does that much more to make things worse...
There is much change that still needs to be made. The reason means there is still much struggle and sacrifice ahead.
We all know that prisons are one of many battlefields in the larger struggle for true freedom. We prisoners can struggle each and every moment, but the fact remains we cannot do it alone. We have to have outside support - and this support must be continuous. True, we have some support, but, lets be honest - it is not as it should be, nor are the various supporters as united as they should be.
The prisoners, as well as the supporters, need to put aside the petty differences that are keeping us divided - thus, not allowing a result of continous change for the better. Lets not fool ourselves, we are being watched. We prisoners know how we are being watched, and the support groups / individuals are also being watched, be it over the Internet, or through various other COINTELPRO methods. They are sitting back and saying, " They cannot even unite amongst themselves, so what do we have to fear of them ?"
When us here on Texas death row, were transferred from the Ellis unit, in Huntsville, Texas to the Terrell Unit in Livington, Texas, prisoners were beaten, and gasses, etc...because of their striving to make a difference. There was a little bit of unorganized outside support. many of these were newly formed groups that came to be because of Terrell Unit, many of the "Big"., well known groups were not really (better read truly) interested in being involved. However when prisoners started starving themselves and a prisoner cut off his finger tip, and Terrell Unit started getting national media attention-then all kinds of groups wanted to support the prisoners.
Does all of that have to happen again, before the prisoners on the AD-Seg and other various control units, get the support-a unified support-they deserve ?
Right now I happen to be on the Terrell Unit , and much needs to be done for the prisoner on the Unit. So, I wil speak out about that. We are not allowed advanced piddling program, Rec Groups, T.V.s, Religious Services, and all the other little details the "Original Activity Plan," gave us specifically, not to forget the work capable program. We are entitled to this under the ORIGINAL DEATH ROW ACTIVITY PLAN THAT THE RUIZ FINAL SETTLEMENT ORDERS THE STATE TO "MAINTAIN." The prisoners recieve bogus conduct reports, are harassed by the gaurds and denied most of the rights we are supposed to have. For example : we are supposed to have Two hours of recreation daily (Mon - Fri), but most times we only get one hour (usually one 1/2 hour). It depends on which gaurds are working that day. They literally tell you, "so what, file a grievance," Most grievances are never returned or ruled on ! We've even had a guard go so far as to tell us, " we use the grievances to wipe our asses with." (Well...if so, I hope they get some paper cuts on their rearend and ink causes an infection.) I could go on and on about the things occuring on this Unit, but it would take up pages, and pages, so I will move on.
Beatings by prisoners by guards is a major and growing problem throughout the State of Texas, especially on all the Ad-Seg. Many of the prisoners being beaten are the mentally ill and Political Prisoners (many are harassed and singled out for physical assault because of their filing complaints and Litigation against prisoner / prison officials and guards.) Our lives here on the Row are not safe due to the extreme conditions and the possibility of brutality we must face daily...
We are fed up with this injustice. Are you ? I call upon you, the people, to be real with us and with yourselves. Please contact the person who write this letter for more detailed info about what is occurring on the Unit I live in. Help us expose the wrongs, the conditions, the racism and the brutality against prisoners in the Texas Death Row - and demand that an independent investigation is initiated into the beatings and assaults (past and present) of prisoners by guards ( I know of these personally, I have the scars to show it does occur....)
I call upon you to assist and help us now - not after a prisoner has been resorted to starving himself, cutting off a finger, (or been beaten to death by guards, which will occur eventually again), because they / us need your assistance.
We prisoners continue to look back at yesterday - and seeing tomorrow. What do we do next? Please support us prisoners. We can oly do so much - without you !
Anyone wishing to help, or send funds please write to me at the following address. I will respond right then and there to show you how to send funds. I have to send to you an Inmate Trust fund slip first, thats if you would like to help out. Anything will help out : Letters of solidarity will be greatly appreciated.
ALWAYS AND FOREVER, L'il Mike
MICHAEL D GONZALES 999174
POLUNSKY UNIT
12002 FM 350 SOUTH
LIVINGSTON TEXAS
77351 USA
Penpal Request
Name: Michael Dean Gonzales
Date of birth: 9/1/73
Race: Hispanic
Native County: Ector
State: Texas
Prior occupation: laborer
Education level: 9 years
April 14, 1999 - I
had been told all my life that I was an animal, a loser, and would never
amount to anything. I had done a great job in living up to those
words. But, now I was out of prison, a Christian, and married to a
Christian woman so a large part of my development was up to my
words, that I had said
when I got out. There were many changes I went through out in the "free
world" since I was very institutionalized learning to live out there was a
whole new way of life for me. Things like eating with a fork, writing
a check, or just handling money legally were just a few of the challenges.
I had to learn how not to get in a fight with someone who crowded in a buffet
line, and how to slow down my eating at meal time. I was fragile to
take a shower because most of the stabbings took place in the prison showers.
There were many insecurities I had to deal with. I was arrested May
7th, 1994 on this charge. But, if I am a cold blooded killer,
what do you call the Govenor - who could have shown mercy , but choose to
continue on the path of a methodical serial killer with a license? Society
is caught up in the revenge factor. The prosecutor says "I'm not the
killer, I just present the facts to the jury." The jury says, "we're
not the killer, we're
just triers of fact and follow the instructions of the judge." The
judge says, "I'm not the killer, I apply the law as the legislature dictates."
The legislature says, "We're not the killer, we just make laws that
the people vote on," The people say "We're not the killer, its the executioner
who murders." The executioner says, "I'm not really the killer, I
carry out the law..." I did not have any idea what love was, is, till
I got to Texas Death Row, and all family, loved ones left, forsook
me, totally left me alone, in great pain, my pride, which was great, died.
My lusts (wants) for self died. I realised that all my life I wanted,
searched for love, that which quenches the pores of the heart.
I looked and did it all the wrong ways and places not knowing any better.
Once all was taken away, family, and wfe, and hope in people and this world,
I realised by Christ, that we are not meant to hope for, nor expect of this
world and life. We're here to learn by experience, to become selfless to God...is
love...Yet rather you endure the pain here of
loneliness, to serve
others, to help them to hope - thats love. Love can never expect anything
back. If you expect, this is not love...(Real love) gives peace and
joy for what is to come. That faith helps us to endure here.
We are meant for something higher. Yes, I know all too well how this
is a battle. For I feel lonely constantly and I just want to be held
in love. But I fight that, Christ in me fights that. Our wrongs
to others, others wrongs to us, are not because we are "evil."
Its because we are blind and lost, looking for fulfillment any way we can
get it. I
experience constant degrees
of sweating, salt loss, headaches, dehydration, constant thirst, dizziness
and sqaunder great deals of time trying not to move about in the cell so as
to avoid hot flashes and profuse sweating. I would love to hear
from anyone!
Michael D. Gonzales 999174
Polunsky Unit D.R.
12002 FM 350 South
Livingston Texas
77351 USA
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