<div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">LJ Reynolds</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lauriejoreynolds@gmail.com" target="_blank">lauriejoreynolds@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 1:16 AM<br>Subject: send this on to the good people of C-U?<br>To: barbara kessel <<a href="mailto:barkes@gmail.com" target="_blank">barkes@gmail.com</a>>, James Kilgore <<a href="mailto:jjincu@gmail.com" target="_blank">jjincu@gmail.com</a>>, Ryan Griffis <<a href="mailto:ryan.griffis@gmail.com" target="_blank">ryan.griffis@gmail.com</a>>, Rob Scott <<a href="mailto:rob.scott.is@gmail.com" target="_blank">rob.scott.is@gmail.com</a>>, Belden Fields <<a href="mailto:a-fields@illinois.edu" target="_blank">a-fields@illinois.edu</a>><br>
<br><br><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><div><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><div><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Hi everyone,<br><div><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><div><br>
</div><div>Happy Thanksgiving! </div><div><br></div><div>As most of you know, we have an emergency situation with the Tamms closure. <b><div style="font-weight:normal;display:inline!important">AFSCME and downstate legislators are attempting to put funding for Tamms and all the prisons <b>back into the state budget via an override of the governor's veto</b><font color="#3f0383">. </font>One of the senators in the coalition to do this is Senator Frerichs. Most of you probably know that too!</div>
</b></div><div><b><div style="font-weight:normal;display:inline!important"><br></div></b></div><div><b><div style="font-weight:normal;display:inline!important"> We have heard from legislators and the gov's office that AFSCME, the guards union, has been pressuring the Dems extremely hard on this and that they do have the votes to override, or very close to it.</div>
</b></div><b><div style="font-weight:normal"><b><div style="font-weight:normal;display:inline!important"><br></div></b></div><div style="font-weight:normal">We have this link and are trying to do a quick mini-campaign to make sure legislators know that their constituents are watching this issue. <b><div style="font-weight:normal;display:inline!important">
<b><div style="font-weight:normal;display:inline!important">We only have Friday (today) and Monday to reach them. </div></b></div></b></div></b><b><div><br></div></b><div><div><b><div style="font-weight:normal"><div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">
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</div><div><br></div><div>We had about 100 emails sent on Weds, but none were to Frerichs. I wondered if you all could spread the word down there so he gets some feedback about this!</div><div><br></div><div>Any thoughts welcome! Much more info below.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Laurie Jo Reynolds</div><div><a href="tel:773-505-3896" value="+17735053896" target="_blank">773-505-3896</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></b></div></div><div><div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">
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</div><div>_______________________________________________</div><div><b>HERE'S THE SITUATION</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div style="font-weight:normal">AFSCME and downstate legislators are attempting to put funding for Tamms <b>back into the state budget via an override of the governor's veto</b><font color="#3f0383">. </font>They probably have the votes to do it.</div>
<div style="font-weight:normal"><br></div><div style="font-weight:normal">We only have Friday and Monday to reach them. We need an outpouring of support to maintain Governor Quinn's veto.</div><div style="font-weight:normal">
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<div><span style="background-color:transparent"><b>1) Contact your legislators today, ask them to VOTE NO and let us know what they say.</b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
It just takes 2 minutes with this link! <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qfTjN%2F6KPh%2FRLCZSVTIPcoHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/<u></u>dontfundTamms</a></div>
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<div>We really, really need you. We are counting to see if we have enough votes against it.</div>
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2) Come to our Lobby Day to Close Prisons on Wednesday, November 28.</b></span></div>
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</div>Details below.</div><div><br></div></blockquote>We give thanks to each of you for giving your time, labor, resources and love to help people in isolation who you don't even know. Please read below for excerpts from mail from Tamms. These letters remind us why we are doing this.<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><br></div></blockquote>Tamms Year Ten</div><div><br>ACT NOW: <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1TMS8dAeKwd4KoPow%2FKMtIHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/<u></u>dontfundTamms</a><br>
JOIN FOR UPDATES: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tammsyearten" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/tammsyearten</a><br><div><div><div>VOLUNTEER: <a href="mailto:tammsyearten@gmail.com" target="_blank">tammsyearten@gmail.com</a></div>
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<div>______________________________<u></u>____</div><div><b>TY10 NEWSLETTER</b></div>
<div><b>1. CALLING YOUR LEGISLATORS</b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-weight:normal"><b>2. PLEASE COME TO LOBBY DAY ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28</b></span></b></div>
<div><b>3. TIMELINE FOR NOT FUNDING TAMMS</b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-weight:normal"><b>4. PHOTO REQUESTS FROM SOLITARY +</b></span></b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-weight:normal"><b>5. RECENT LETTERS FROM TAMMS</b></span></b></div>
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<div><b>1. CALLING YOUR LEGISLATORS</b></div>
<div>Please CONTACT your legislators and ask them to <b>VOTE NO on any veto override. </b></div>
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<div><span style="background-color:transparent"><b>Take care of it now! This link makes it so easy!</b></span></div>
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<div><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=SCaN%2FEIoo9mWTo6dRP8EuoHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">!</a><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=iyHwypcnneg9pvQIB5C9PoHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/<u></u>dontfundTamms </a><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=3JPz01%2F4wMy1anQ6lHFmOYHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank"></a></div>
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<div>If you call, ask the staff person for a call back. Tell us what they say! We are counting votes.</div>
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<div><b>2. PLEASE COME TO LOBBY DAY ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28</b></div>
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<div>Depending on how many people are coming, we will rent a coach bus or caravan in cars.</div><div><br></div>
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<div><b>PICK-UP TIMES:</b></div>
<div>5:45 am West Side pick-up: 3212 W. Harrison Avenue (Target Area Corporation)</div>
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<div>6:00 am South Side pick-up: 7859 S. Ashland Avenue (AFC Center)</div>
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<div><b>PARKING: </b></div>
<div>There is parking for the day in both places. If you need help getting to these locations, we will try to help you arrange a ride!</div>
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<div><b>DETAILS:</b></div>
<div>We will return at least by 7:30pm. Probably much earlier. We will have food and snacks. For those who have means, we invite you to contribute $30 toward the price of the bus. But don't worry, we just need you to be there, and appreciate the sacrifice of time and labor you are making!</div>
<div>RSVP to <a href="mailto:tammsyearten@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span>tammsyearten@gmail.com</span></a> OR to Megan at <a value="+18123910491" href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Kw0cyXpUMib75JITJlsyfYHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">(812) 391-0491</a>.<br>
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If you can't come, make a donation to help someone else! And, thanks so much to everyone who has contributed already. You have made this campaign possible. <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Q793709CnneX5CullhHAK%2F4KbTtrAeu8" target="_blank">http://www.yearten.o<u></u>rg/category/act-now/donate/</a></div>
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<b>3. TIMELINE FOR NOT FUNDING TAMMS</b></p>
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<div style="background-color:transparent">For those who want to understand this complicated funding tale, here's a short timeline:</div>
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<div><b>February 2012</b> — Governor Quinn announced his plan to close Tamms, Dwight, and youth prisons IYC Joliet and IYC Murphysboro.</div>
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<div><b>May 2012</b> — House and Senate leadership chose to fully fund Tamms and all the other prisons in the budget bill (SB 2474).</div>
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<div><b>June 2012 </b>— Governor Quinn vetoed the funding for Tamms and the other prisons (SB2474). This was a line-item reduction veto.</div>
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<div><b>November 2012</b> — During the veto session, downstate legislators and the guards' union (AFSCME) will attempt to override Quinn's veto of the funding. In other words, they want to restore money for these prisons. We will lobby to convince our legislators to stop this nonsense.</div>
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<b>4. PHOTO REQUESTS FROM SOLITARY +</b></div>
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<div><span style="background-color:transparent">Thanks to everyone who came out to this moving event, including the speakers, the performers and each person who has taken or is taking a photograph for a man in solitary confinement. The photos are still up. Come visit!</span></div>
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<div><span style="background-color:transparent">See this media about the project:</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color:transparent">WBEZ "<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tQBR%2BWaTXHWQoajyXSP2bYHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">Photographers give IL prisoners a glimpse of outside world.</a>"</span><br>
Prison Photograhpy "<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ZsN1rncbkgEqKgBV3yG8fYHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">Views from Solitary</a>"</div>
<div>Greg Ruffling "<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=YhUHZyjWtp9ixOgYFl86R4HBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">Requests from Solitary</a>"</div>
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</blockquote><p>In other news...</p>
<div>• The <i>Chicago Tribune </i><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=LRZPTEvSO3ouH0%2BDRNVUX4HBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">supports Tamms closure</a>. They categorize it as a half-empty obsolete facility. <br>
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</blockquote>• This is <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QvMqdFGPOx7LC%2FVvH4zOhIHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">hard evidence</a> that the culture has shifted since 2008.<br>
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<div>• The state of Illinois and AFSCME <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XOt0UXN3s4gAlW2k4UMxaIHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">are still embroiled in a legal fight</a> about whether the governor can close prisons. An arbitrator has now found that the state should be able to close these prisons. But the appellate court just upheld the judge's injunction against closures. It now goes to the state Supreme Court.<br>
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• <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=h87JZchHdHj8fKOUXMqyEoHBwrovnNzO" target="_blank">Here's an action where Tamms Year Ten members called-out AFSCME Deputy Director</a> for proudly supporting a prison that violates international standards for humane treatment.</div>
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<blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"> </blockquote> <blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"> </blockquote><p>______________________________ <b><span style="font-weight:normal"><b><br>
5. WHY WE MUST CLOSE TAMMS</b></span></b><br>
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<b>I AND MANY OTHERS</b> here in Tamms are so grateful for your support. We are blessed to have people like you on our side. I and many others here are anticipating our eventual transfer to Pontiac....On a side note. I would like to bring to your attention the number of food superiors that are employed here in Tamms. There are 16 currently assigned that title. Why so many? No wonder the state of Illinois is in debt.<b><br>
—JUAN</b></p>
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<b>IN MY CURRENT SITUATION: </b>I have been in hunger strike since October 14, 2012 and I've yet to be seen by medical staff. I can be dying due to Helath complications cause by starvation, but no one seems to give a care. Today on October 23, 2012 I was retaliated against for filing grievances and exercising my rights to partake in a hunger strike. I was moved to a unit where mentally ill inmates are housed. I was placed on a wing where every inmate on the wing have boxes and shields on their doors. Where the entire wing reeks of feces and uring. Inmates bang and yell all day and night. I have done absolutely nothing to warrant my placement on a wing like this...</div>
<div>The wing I am currently housed on (B5) is extremely disturbing. At this moment there's an inmate who's smearing feces all over himself and cell door. He's yelling, banging and swearing at the Lt. Starkweather and another unknown c/o whose bringing me back in from the law library, it is now 10:29am. </div>
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Thank you very much for your time and hard work in helping the so-called helpless in our times of need. May God continue blessing your wonderful and caring heart. </div>
<div><b>—FABIAN</b></div>
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I HOPE WHEN THIS</b> letter reaches you that you are in the best of health....I came here on 8-9-2000 and I had insanity but been in Tamms made me insane....this not contact with another prisoner mess my mind up, cause since I been in solitude in Tamms, I had a lot of bizarre self-mitilation, multiple incidents requiring the use of therapeutic restraints. I take 5 time a day psychotropic medication and I see a mental health professional on a treatment plan every 2 weeks. I been on suicide watch a lot. When I got here on 8-9-2000 they had me on "Elevated Security Negative Unit" [this unit has more deprivation] for 5 years and been on elevated security made me start cutting myself cause I was not use to been real hard isolated like that, it made my mind snap....Over the years, I been to the outside hospital a few times cause I cut artery and the nurses could not stop the bleeding. I have the scars on my arms...</div>
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Everyday I am fighting with myself cause my mind keep telling me to cut myself and my mind tell me that's the right thing to do. I been having a mental behavioral problem in Tamms for 12 years and when the mental health professionals do their evaluation on me, they say I do not fit the qualities to be on psychiatric unit cause I do not have a mental ill problem, I have a behavioral problem. The mental health professionals try to help me with my mental problem but I am way out there with this mental behavioral problem cause this cutting myself became a mental habit and when I see my own blood, I got a mental rush. This Tamms torture did my mind like this. When I was in a regular prison, I never cut myself....Right now I'm on the edge of the cliff and if the Governor Pat Quinn do not close this facility, I think I am going to fall off the cliff. Hope you will try to understand what Tamms did to me as a person. </div>
<div><b>—TERRANCE</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div style="font-weight:normal"><div> </div><div><br></div></div></b></div>
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