Classic Prison Brutality at Florida State Prison 2001
By Gregory Mills
August 20, 2001Today, the Law Office of Margaret Gondleman Gold, 1448 Shady Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15217, tel. 412-480-5589, received the following letter
from Gregory Mills, #747233/B1110S, Florida State Prison, P.O. Box 181, Starke, FL 32091:Dear Attorney Gold,
On August 5, 2001, at approximately 10:30 p.m., while housed on B-wing, I heard Inmate Troy Hall scream out loud and a lot of noise like someone or persons moving around real fast. That's when I yelled down stairs to the first floor and asked Eric Green what was happening.
He advised me that the officers had sprayed chemical agent on Troy Hall and removed him from his cell. So I screamed for the officers to leave Troy Hall alone. That's when I was called back to the window and Eric Green told me that the officers were spraying him and some other inmates.
Before I knew it, these officers were on the third floor with chemical agents to my cell, B1315S, and opened my door flap to spray me. By this time, I had my mattress in front of me to block the chemicals from getting on me.
So Colonel Clark, who was present, sent for a chain and placed it on my cell door and inmate Sylvester Butler, who was housed next door in Cell B1316S. The officers took turns spraying myself and Butler with two cans at a time.
They will open my cell door and spray me. Then do the same with Butler and cross the hall to Bi324S, Troy Griffin.
Each time one of us was sprayed with chemical agents, the officers were laughing, calling us Boys, Niggas, pussyboys, etc., and there were nothing but white officers present.
There were about 14 inmates who were sprayed and only one out of the 14 is a white inmate.
I'M CRYING OUT FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THESE HARSH CONDITIONS OF RACISM AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. IT HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT WE INMATES HAVE TO BAND TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR HEADS ABOVE WATER. EVERYWHERE WE TURN, THE DOORS ARE BEING CLOSED ON us such as the grievance process, Inspector-General's Office, Governor Jeb Bush, FBI and every other form of organization in Florida.
Even the cell extraction team was all white when they entered my cell and took me to Q-wing.
Ma'am, the attorneys pertaining to the Close Management lawsuit had just left from out here, seeing some inmates about the case, and I believe this was one of the reasons why we got assaulted a few days later.
HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN FORWARD THIS LETTER TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD GIVE US EMERGENCY RELIEF BY INVESTIGATING THE ABOVE.
Thank you for your time and assistance!!
Sincerely yours,
Gregory Mills
Editor's note: No investigation is needed. Legislation is needed!