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Action Alert: Jailhouse Lawyer Andre Jacobs being starved & held without property

Submitted by andys on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:42am
The Human Rights Coalition has just received reports that Andre Jacobs, a jailhouse lawyer incarcerated in SCI Coal Township, is being starved and held without his property, in retaliation for grievances and lawsuits that he has filed against the Department of Corrections.
 
He needs our help!: Call in to the prison, to DOC officials and to state legislators to voice your support for Andre and your outrage that prison officials are allowed to torture people using state-sanctioned methods of oppression!   See the "Call-in guide" below. Questions? call Andy 267-269-5448 or Bret 412-654-9070.
 
Here's more details on the situation, as reported by HRC member Bret Grote:
"I just received a call from Andre Jacobs' grandmother. She went to visit him at SCI Coal Township today and told me that he has been held for the last 7 days in a psychiatric observation cell without any legal or personal property. He has been starved and had only begun being fed today after being deprived food for at least 4 straight days.

She said that he did not report being physically assaulted. Also, he gave no indication of depression or suicidal tendencies, which would be out of character for him anyway. Andre told his grandmother that he was not told why this was being done, but the reason is all too clear: the PA DOC sees Andre as a leader of the human rights resistance and they are trying to break his mind and crush his spirit.

Last Monday the PA House Judiciary held a hearing on solitary confinement. Eastern Regional Deputy Secretary Michael Klopotoski represented the DOC. This is the man who oversees SCI Coal Township where Andre is currently held. Klopotoski was also the Superintendent at SCI Dallas when HRC was working with prisoners like Andre to expose systematic race-based torture in the solitary confinement units. Klopotoski angrily stalked out of the hearing after LuQman's testimony regarding DOC torture and before I could confront him with my testimony. This man is certainly aware that I have formally requested that the Justice Department arrest and prosecute him.

One or two days after the hearing Andre was taken from his solitary confinement cell, stripped naked, deprived all property, and has been held like that for the last week. He has been starved. Andre is currently litigating more than half-a-dozen cases, including the case he won against the DOC in 2008. Andre was awarded $185,000. This case is currently in the appeals process. The DOC has repeatedly gotten phone calls from HRC members and supporters on Andre's behalf.

It is inconceivable that such a high-profile prisoner would be held naked and starved and have his access to more than 6 ongoing court cases obstructed without the knowledge and approval of Superintendent David Varano. Similarly, Varano would never permit this without the implicit or explicit approval of his immediate supervisor, Michael Klopotoski."
 

*******   CALL-IN GUIDE      **********************************
Please call Supt. Varano 570.644.7890, Klopotoski 717.975.4865, Secretary Beard 717.975.4918, OPR Director Barnacle 717.214.8473, Representatives Waters, Vanessa Brown, and Caltigirone (who were at the recent hearing on solitary-see above), local and federal law enforcement, and all other appropriate persons. (click the links for phone numbers)
 
Spread the word to anybody with the decency to speak out. 
 
Demand the following when speaking to the prison and the DOC officials:
1) immediate removal from the pscyh cell: Andre is not suicidal and is not a threat to himself or others;
2) Andre is to be given clothes immediately
3) Andre is to be given his legal property immediately
4) Andre is to be given all his state issue items and personal property immediately
5) these racist guards are to keep their hands off of him and stop starving him
 
Ask the following (specifically of SCI Coal Township, whose Supt. Assistant is Kandis Dascani--she will say confidentiality prevents her from speaking, don't fall for this, don't let her put you off, tie up her phone and do not lay off):
1) when did Varano authorize this?
2) how is this behavior justified?
3) when was Klopotoski last at Coal Township?
4) when did Klopotoski last speak to Varano?
5) when did Beard last speak with Varano? 
6) Does Andre have clothes yet? is he out of the psych cell? does he have his property?