Russell Maroon Shoatz, a Black Liberation fighter since his youth, after many years of struggle, has prevailed in his action to bar the Pa. Dept. of Corrections (DOC) from ever holding him in isolation again.
In a remarkable Settlement bringing an end to the 2-year old “Shoatz v. Wetzel, et al.” case, Maroon won on all counts–the only thing lacking is a judge’s written opinion.
Upon hearing of the Settlement, Maroon stated:
“I have nothing but praise for all of those who supported me and my family for all the years I was in Solitary Confinement, as well as helped to effect my release. Since joining the struggle for Human Rights in the mid-1960s, I have always chosen to fight! Frederick Douglass was right when he said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” So have no doubt that I see this Settlement as anything but the latest blow struck, and you rest assured that I will continue in the struggle for Human Rights. Straight Ahead!”
Under the terms of the Settlement, the DOC has agreed to not place Maroon in solitary over his prior disciplinary or other activities; he is to be single-celled for life; and he was awarded a monetary settlement.
Maroon was held in solitary confinement from 1983 to 2014; with the exception of 19 months he spent in federal custody at Leavenworth, where he lived without incident in general population. Upon his return to Pa., he was immediately thrown back into the Hole.
For 22 consecutive years–a lifetime!–Russell Maroon Shoots has been held by the State of Pennsylvania in isolation-conditions described by the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Juan Mendez, as “torture.” Méndez, who served as a court expert for Shoats, also called publicly for his release from solitary.
Russell Maroon Shoots, an acclaimed author and self-trained historian (His last book: Maroon, The Implacable), was represented in this federal civil rights action by Bret Grote and Dustin McDaniel of the Abolitionist Law Center of Pittsburgh, Pa., Harold J. Engel, Esq., and attorneys Rick Etter and Stephanie L. Burt, both of the law firm, Reed Smith.
Maroon’s latest struggle against the depredations of solitary confinement reminds us of Mao’s famous dictum: ‘Dare to struggle; Dare to Win’!
![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
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