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It's been a while since I've been on here so bear with me for a moment because the anger that I'm sitting with is getting in the way of coherent writing.
When I say that I'm angry people often dismiss it as something that's temporary and that I'll get through without ever really asking why I'm angry or how that anger is affecting my life.
As the mother of two adult sons sentenced to LWOP--anger has become an unwelcome guest in my life. I wake up angry and go to bed angry. I spend much of my day angry and organizing, but still angry!
I put my energy into dismantling this system that is destroying so many of us. This system kills us little by little in ways that are often too subtle for people to recognize as destructive.
People assume that because I show up with a smile and make jokes about being angry that all is well, but all is NOT the F well.
My oldest son, Claude is sitting in the SHU where he's been since June following a week in the hole. He doesn't get to go outside to feel the sun on his skin. Whenever I step outside I'm reminded that he and many others are sitting in cages. This makes me angry!
Claude and Paul have been the targets of harassment by prison officials who are angry at me for speaking out about the problems in Delaware prisons. Over the years officials have retaliated against them in a variety of ways in attempt to silence me.
I
willnotbesilenced!
willnotbesilenced!
Claude is a jailhouse lawyer and he knows the prison's procedures better than most officials. They don't like this and they twist themselves into knots to find ways to silence him. This latest round is an attempt to break his resolve and destroy his righteous anger.
When I spoke out about what was happening at Vaughn in June--officials escalated their retaliation by deactivating Claude's PIN so that he couldn't make calls. They also wrote everyone up that contacted me to report on the conditions inside.
Here's an example that underscores the level that Delaware prison officials will go to when they are challenged in any way:
Whenever someone is given a disciplinary sanction they have the right to appeal it. Keep in mind that people are having to appeal to their jailers. In Claude's case the deadline to file his appeal was weeks away, and he was preparing to file it when received the rejection letter.
Let me repeat: 
He received notice that officials rejected his appeal BEFORE he even filed it. If you're not angry you're not paying attention!
He received notice that officials rejected his appeal BEFORE he even filed it. If you're not angry you're not paying attention!
Claude's now facing an additional 10 days in the hole and a 50 days loss of all privileges. This means that he will not be allowed to make calls or have video visits until SEPTEMBER. It also means that he can't buy food from the commissary.
Solitary confinement is TORTURE! It destroys people and no one comes out of solitary "okay". Both Claude and Paul have spent years in solitary. This makes me angry because I am watching the state slowly kill my sons.
I sit with anger every day and there's no soothing this anger. My anger doesn't mean that I am without hope. I don't know how you do this work from a place of hopelessness.
If you want to support, I'm asking that you write to Claude this week so that he can get letters next week while he's in the hole. You can read our statement on @Beyond_Prison's website.
