On April 28, 2015, two prison guards and a sergeant brutally assaulted a Black prisoner. The immediate response was awry within seconds. Five guards were seriously injured, and many more were physically hurt. Roughly two hundred prisoners seized the recreation yard. Guards suddenly retrieved rifles. The state prison at Houtzdale was placed on emergency lockdown. Medical and media helicopters were flown in, and above, the prison. At least 100 or more [unclear] correctional emergency response team personnel equipped with snipers, negotiators, etc., arrived and stationed themselves outside of the yard, with state troopers at all four quarters.
After several hours of negotiating, the resistors opted to be led in one by one. The following days consisted of torture, mistreatment, interrogation, searches, trumped up charges, lies, round ups, and ship outs. Forty-five prisoners were accused, mistreated, and transferred to other harsh prisons. Prison remained locked down for two weeks while the Department of Corrections’ Media Advisor deceived the media, up to the present day, in regards to the true cause of the insurrection. After the lockdown, more than once, prison staff held news interviews in silhouettes, concerning corruption and fear here at Houtzdale. Some did it openly and lost their jobs. An independent investigation should be launched, including support for the accused prisoners because Black Lives Matter, even in prison.
These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
