Red Onion State Prison Update: Ekong’s Journey

Ekong’s Journey

Dear Friend,

” My name is Ekong Ben Eshiet Jr. son of Marsha Pritchett & Ekong Eshiet Sr. Brother of Akon Eshiet, Breon Eshiet, Ben Eshiet, and Aaliyah Eshiet. I am 1 of the several brothers that was incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison (ROSP) who decided to take a stand against the oppression, the crookedness, the corruption, etc. that was being operated by ROSP employees… Sad to say but these same employees who swore by oath to protect & serve, are only protecting & serving themselves by harming and depriving the inmates & convicts housed at that warehouse… “

Justin Harrell is the most recent prisoner to self-immolate in response to the tortuous conditions at Red Onion State Prison.

The VA Inspector General’s Office refuses to conduct a serious investigation–and retaliation has begun. Two of the most outspoken and visible prisoners who self-immolated in ROSP, Ekong Eshiet and Demetrius Wallace, have been transferred to Indiana and Maine, respectively. Kevin ‘Rashid’ Johnson points out that “VA prison officials have a long history of using interstate transfers as retaliation and punishment against disliked prisoners, and especially those who resist and challenge abuses in their prisons” as he himself was a victim of this abuse.

“These transfers weren’t meant to remedy their suffering. They were timed to remove two outspoken witnesses and victims of abuses from the Virginia prison system on the eve of the system’s new ombudsman’s opening a long delayed but supposedly “prioritized” investigation into conditions at Red Onion.”

Folks are speaking out against the human rights violations that occur daily at Red Onion and its twin facility, Wallens Ridge. We must continue to amplify the voices inside and expose the corruption that governs these prisons. We must demand Corrine Louden, Virginia’s Chief Deputy Inspector General, investigate Red Onion. The VA legislature created the Prison Ombudsperson under the OISG. The lies of VADOC Director Chadwick Dotson must be exposed. He has blatantly lied about the self-immolations to the media while leaked memos and charges levied against prisoners like Demetrius Wallace by the prison demonstrate that they know otherwise.

What you can do

Demand accountability for abuses against prisoners at Red Onion.

Call for the resignation of VADOC Director Chadwick Dotson and VADOC Chief of Corrections Operations David Robinson.

These postcards demand an investigation. Order here and share with your community: houseparties, roommates, churches and collectives can come together and send masses of these to the VA Dept of Corrections:

“The people of VA, Governor Youngkin, and the state legislature demand answers to the crisis at Red Onion State Prison. SB 456 passed in April 2024. NY Times and the Virginia Mercury are reporting. Prisoners and their families must be heard. The culture of retaliation and repression must be addressed. This is an investigation of the conditions and criminal neglect. Your “results” can not be simply fixing a complaint form on the website. Your office can not wait for “permission” or an “MOU” from the DOC to begin this investigation.”

Hear from our correspondents about the ongoing struggle at Red Onion on our newest special collections release

On Red Onion compiles commentaries detailing the inner workings of one of America’s supermax prisons. Our bold correspondents rail against systemic abuses, even having broken the story of inmate self-immolations on our website. We stand in solidarity with our correspondents and their insistence to be heard.

We must continue pushing for abolition: the release of those held behind bars and an end to the brutality that is the carceral system.

Why Your Support Matters

Prison Radio is a lifeline for incarcerated people, providing a platform to share their stories and shine a light on the darkest corners of the prison industrial complex. Each story we amplify is a call to action, exposing systemic abuse and building the power needed for change.

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Together, we can bring these stories to light and make a difference in the fight for justice.

In solidarity,

Chris

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