Gary Graham Beatings

[Philip Ferguson <plf13@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just got this, which was circulated around various left-wing people in
New Zealand:


> ACTION NEEDED!! SUPPORT NEEDED!! ================================== Just
>got off the phone with Ricky Jason (409)  924-7303 who has been faithfully
>visiting and communicating with  Gary Graham (Shaka Sankofa) for over a
>year now.  They  corresponded so regularly that Ricky became concerned
>when he  hadn't received a letter from him recently, felt something  was
>wrong,  and immediately set  out to see Gary yesterday (5/9) a.m.  He got
>to the prison at 8:00 a.m. and was forced to  wait almost 45 minutes for
>them to bring Gary out.  While  using the  restroom, Ricky overheard the
>racist guards  laughing about Gary having used up his last appeal and that
>"now we can execute that nigger."     When finally allowed to see Gary,
>Ricky Jason along  with witness William Butler did not even recognize him,
>and said to each other "Man look! God have mercy! What  happened!"   Gary
>was covered in  filth with his shirt ripped, looking as though he had been
>wallowing on the ground.  He had a  huge knot over his eyebrow and was
>shaking like a leaf,  stuttering, and asking for food.  Gary wanted to
>know how  Ricky got in, that they had put him on restriction so that  only
>a lawyer, minister or media person could see him.  All  regular visits
>have been stopped. Ricky told Gary to just hurry up  and tell him what had
>happened in case the guards came in  and forced him to leave.   Gary told
>Ricky that the day the execution date was  set,  guards came to his cell
>with their heads covered  with hoods to conceal their identity.  They
>said, "Let's  go, Graham" and Gary said, "I'm not going anywhere, I'm
>innocent, I  didn't do nothing."  Guards told him he had to be moved  to
>the next phase and tear gassed him twice, beat and dragged  him to the
>other room, where Gary passed out.  The  guards took everything from Gary,
>his radio, his typewriter,  even his underwear.  Gary had a large box of
>mail ready  to be sent out and the guards said they were not going to let
>Gary's  mail go out and  these many, many letters have not been  seen
>since.   Gary said he hadn't eaten and that the chaplain has  to be
>present when he eats  or does anything at all.  They are  trying to cover
>up  all this sick torture they are putting on him and Gary feels totally
>isolated and  vulnerable to racist attacks by the guards.   Ricky said as
>soon as he got home he called  the warden and was kept on hold for 30 to
>40 minutes. He called  back later and they did the same thing to him.
>Ricky  said he hasn't slept at all last night and is extremely worried
>and upset about Gary's condition yesterday and who knows what of  his
>condition today?     From Ricky:  "They are dragging him down just  like
>they did James Byrd.  Gary Graham is a leader and that  is why they are so
>scared of him.  We got to stand up and  do something right away!  If
>they're beating him down  now, imagine what they will do to him next month
>when his execution  date is closer?  The racism in the prison is very easy
>to see, the guards are brutal and I haven't slept worrying  about the
>condition I saw Gary in and what may be happening  to him right now.  We
>need to call into the warden,  the president, Gov. Bush, anyone and
>everyone and stand up and  stop this torture and this execution.  Gary
>Graham  is innocent and they know it!"   PLEASE SUPPORT BY PASSING THIS ON
>AS FAR  AS POSSIBLE.  ANYONE WHO HAS MEDIA  CREDENTIALS *PLEASE* WORK ON
>GETTING IN TO SEE GARY,  HIS CONDITION MUST BE MONITORED REGULARLY AND
>HIS STORY MUST GO OUT WORLDWIDE ASAP!  PAM  AFRICA IS CALLING ON ALL
>SUPPORTERS OF MUMIA TO  ALSO SUPPORT GARY GRAHAM AT THIS CRITICAL  TIME!
>HERE IS THE CONTACT INFO FROM THE PIECE THAT  WAS SENT OUT YESTERDAY (WILL
>SEND OUT CONTACT  INFO FOR WARDEN AS SOON AS SOMEONE SENDS IT TO  ME):
> GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH JR.
> OFFICE  OF THE GOVERNOR
> P.O. BOX 12428
> AUSTIN, TX  78711
> PHONE:  (512)  463-2000
> FAX:        (512)  463-1849
> E-MAIL:   www.governor.state.tx.us/email.htm1
>
> BOARD  OF PARDONS AND PAROLE
> GERALD GARRETT, CHAIRMAN
> PRICE DANIEL,  SR. BUILDING
> 209 W. 14TH STREET, SUITE 500
> AUSTIN, TX  78701
> PHONE:   (512)  463-1679
> FAX:        (512)  463-8120
>
> AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
> LETTERS TO THE  EDITOR
> P.O. BOX 670
> AUSTIN, TX  78767-0670
> PHONE:   (512)  445-3500
> FAX:        (512)  445-3679
>
> THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
> LETTERS TO THE  EDITOR
> P.O. BOX 655237
> DALLAS, TX  75265-5237
> PHONE:   (214)  977-8222
> FAX:         (214)  977-8319
>
> HOUSTON CHRONICLE
> LETTERS TO THE  EDITOR
> P.O. BOX 4260
> HOUSTON, TX  77210-4260
> PHONE:   (713)  220-7171
> FAX:         (713)  220-6677
>
> HOUSTON DEFENDER
> LETTERS TO THE  EDITOR
> P.O. BOX 8005
> HOUSTON, TX  77288-8005
> PHONE:   (713)  663-6996
> FAX:         (713)  663-7116
>