This is a poetic piece called I want mine to matter. This is a poem that addresses the harsh realities of violence and police brutalities that has led to death, an effect that many inner city communities leaving a trail of sadness and hopelessness. It also touches on the injustice of the criminal justice system while painting vivid scenes of trauma.
I want mines to matter.
Revolutionary mind state, got to keep my people safe
See the riot gear and humvees, why you think we irate?
When peaceful protests become attack in the rest
Smoke screens for situations, the system won’t address.
Talking police brutality and unjust confinement
Because it’s sad when the traffic stop can leave you dead.
The last “I love you” leave to a moment of dread
Knowing if you black in America, it’s a risk
Handcuffs, poverty or death. It seems to come down to this
Or the whole race and bigotry equals fear.
I hate to see my daughters cry another tear,
Still from the cell, I can’t wipe away the pain,
Doing my best to reverse this life and change.
Cause if black lives matter, I want mines to matter
Investing in the positive me from nine to the latter.
I said, cause if black lives matter, I want mines to matter
investing in the positive me from nine to the latter.
I want mines to matter
![Prison Radio is sharing an abbreviated version of a press release covering recent racist incidents at SCI Rockview in PA and the organizing to demand accountability. We are reaching out to people incarcerated at Rockview as well as recently transferred folks, inviting them to call, in hopes of hearing commentaries from them.
Benner Township, PA.-
On November 24th, 2023, imprisoned people at SCI Rockview found two nooses hanging in the CO’s office, displayed visibly for many prisoners to see. When the prisoners asked the staff why the nooses were hung, they were told it was a joke.
By December 4th, prisoners filed a grievance to document what they saw, noting that the hanging of the nooses was “unethical, racially motivated, hateful, [a] deliberate debasement of black inmates" and “unsafe for inmates, staff, [and] the whole prison in general.” In the grievance, they demanded that Sgt. Mosser and CO Richard be fired and investigated for a hate crime, and for CO Kirchner to get therapy. Captain Andrews, the head of security, denied the grievance.
The sergeant and COs are still working in the prison to this day, with no repercussions...
As of March 10th, prisoners have reached out to Pennsylvania officials at the Dept. of Corrections in a letter campaign, sending 100 copies of the grievance. Copies of the letter also were mailed to Governor Shapiro, Senator Fetterman, Senator Street, and various advocacy groups. The demands for relief in the original grievance have now become the platform of demands for this campaign. About 20 of the 100 letters were withheld by the prison.
Activists on the outside are joining forces with prisoners to elevate their demands, flooding the phone lines of DOC offices, assisting with outreach to media, and circulating the stories of prisoners who have found unity in opposition to the facility's virulent institutional racism.
In any other workplace, hanging a noose would be grounds for immediate termination. However, Nicki Paul, the superintendent's assistant and "grievance coordinator" informed the public that they self-investigated their staff and found they did nothing wrong.
Read the full article at i
https://conta.cc/4ayDxlB](https://www.prisonradio.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)