Dear Friend,
We need your help to stop a cruel act of retaliation. Darren Stanley, also known as Knowledge Born God Allah, is a Prison Radio correspondent currently incarcerated at Solano Prison, but he is being threatened with a transfer to Pelican Bay State Prison—a facility notorious for its history of violence, isolation, and inhumane conditions.
“They could send me to any other institution close to my house. Yet Pelican Bay? I ask that you call and show your love and support to help me stay at Solano or be sent to a nearby institution where I can receive visits from my family.”
– Darren Stanley (KnowledgeBorn God Allah)
This transfer is not just a matter of inconvenience; it is a direct attack on Darren’s rights and his family. Darren has already faced retaliation for his advocacy work, including a questionable disciplinary report earlier this year. Now, despite being eligible to remain close to his home and family, CDCR is attempting to send him nearly 400 miles away to one of California’s most infamous prisons.
Why This Matters
Family Hardship:
Darren is from Oakland, California, and his family is elderly and facing serious health issues. His aunt is 78, his uncle is 83, and his cousins are in their 70s. A transfer to Pelican Bay would make it nearly impossible for them to visit him, severing vital familial connections that are critical to his well-being.
“I was convicted in Oakland, Alameda County, period. Gavin Newsom signed a bill saying we are to be housed close to where we were convicted.”
Retaliation for Advocacy:
Darren believes this transfer is retaliation for his work advocating for incarcerated individuals and bringing the 5th Semination of God and Earth to CDCR facilities. This is a blatant attempt to silence his voice and disrupt the programs he has built.
Pelican Bay’s Horrific History:
- Early years saw rampant abuse by guards, including beatings and staged fights.
- Hunger strikes by thousands of prisoners protested the facility’s long-term isolation practices.
- Lawsuits revealed egregious conditions, leading to some reforms, but the prison remains a symbol of excessive punishment and cruelty.
How You Can Help
Darren is asking for your support to stop this unjust transfer. You can take action by calling CDCR’s Classification Staff Representative (CSR) Headquarters and voicing your opposition to Darren’s transfer to Pelican Bay.
Here’s what you can do:
- Call CSR Headquarters in Sacramento at 916-324-7308
- Ask them to reconsider Darren Stanley’s transfer to Pelican Bay.
- Emphasize the following points:
- Darren’s family hardship—his elderly family members cannot travel such a long distance.
- Gavin Newsom’s directive for incarcerated individuals to remain housed near their county of conviction.
- Pelican Bay’s violent history and its unsuitability for Darren.
Your Voice Matters
Darren’s plea for help is not just about one man. It is about resisting a system that retaliates against advocacy, severs families, and subjects individuals to inhumane conditions. By taking a few moments to make this call, you can stand in solidarity with Darren and ensure he remains close to his family and community.
Let’s work together to protect Darren from this retaliatory transfer and show CDCR that we are watching.
Madeleine Matz
Prison Radio