John’s newsletter from Eastham Unit n°39

JOURNEY FROM DEATH ROW
John’s newsletter from Eastham Unit n°39
15th of May 2009

Dear all,
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to the second part of John’s article about his transfer last December. I would like to thank the three “As” (Emma, Laura, Barbara!!!) who helped me translating this document in French.

Tina and Celine, editing committee

How is John doing these days?
No news since last newsletter.

What’s new about his judicial procedure?
Nothing new to share with you.

John’s own words

Recent tour of Texas Prisons
12-23-08-12-31-08


On the morning of the 29th they told me I was on the chain again, after spending 6 days at the Walls unit. Around midnight they pulled out all going on the chain and put us in that big shakedown area to be searched and property searched and given different clothes again. They finished around 12:30 but we did not get to go back to our cells and sleep. We were placed inside of a chain link, like dog kennel cages on concert. There were four different ones.

We stayed in there until between 3-4am and they brought us to the outside cages where you wait cramped up with all the other prisoners for the bus. That morning it was really cold, the temperature was in the lower 30's. Everyone was huddled together and the smell was not pleasant at all! I had luckily put on my long-john shirt and a t shirt before catching the chain, having been through this before. But it was still bone chilling cold!! All you could hear in the cage were teeth chattering, literally! There were a couple of dudes I knew from other units so we huddled together for warmth.

About 7am a white van pulled up and they called my name. They chained me up by myself and brought me to the back of the van and opened the doors to put me in. There were already 6 others in the back and one small space to left to sit, next to an extremely obese dude. So I got up in there and was thinking that at least it warm in there. Now my thoughts start drifting off to going back to the Polunsky unit and what it would be like being back over there. At Polunsky they keep death row in one building and general population in the rest of the unit.

As I am defrosting and my mind is drifting the smell starts to hit me. The 400 pounder beside me must have not bathed in for days, he smelled of urine and funk! Then he spoke to the guy across from him and his breath hit me like a baseball bat to the face! I almost lost my breakfast right there and then! It was so bad I finally had to say something. I usually mind my own business and don't socialize unless it is someone I already know. Jungle rules, don't be too friendly! Anyways, chancing a confrontation with this beast, I spoke up. I told him 'no disrespect but your breath smells like straight up decomposing roadkill and you are making me nauseated, you think you could hold it down or turn head the other way when you talk?'. It got silent for a second as we stared at each other then one of the other dudes in the van spoke up and said 'damn I was wondering what that smell was I thought we were being gassed!', which resulted in laughter from some of the others and the tension broke. Luckily after that big boy did not speak anymore the rest of the ride, he sat there and pouted.


To be continued next month...