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Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, an incarcerated advocate for prisoners’ rights, has been abruptly transferred to another prison without any of his property, and guards are reportedly threatening Rashid’s life. We must show prison officials that he has support on the outside and we are watching their every move.
Demand his property be returned and that guards stop harassing him.
On July 12th, Rashid was transferred from Wabash Valley prison in Indiana to the custody of the Ohio Department of Corrections and brought directly to their intake center. He was there for less than three weeks before transferring to Ohio’s Lucasville prison on July 30th.
In an email sent out to Rashid’s supporters, his partner reached out for urgent support. When Rashid was transferred to Lucasville, all of his material belongings, including his $400 commissary fund, suddenly “vanished”-- even his shoes. On top of that, Rashid has had erroneous charges brought against him out of the blue.
On July 30th, Rashid was charged with threatening guards, tried, and convicted within a matter of hours. As a result, he has received a 30-day restriction from using the phone and commissary. Rashid has been shut off from the outside world and prevented from purchasing any basic necessities. He’s also been intentionally placed in close proximity to other prisoners who are plotting with guards to harm him -- and the guards were bold enough to tell him so.
Here’s what’s behind all of this: Rashid says the Department of Corrections in Indiana recently submitted false evidence in court and Rashid was working to have them sanctioned. Not too long ago the Department had to pay over $150,000 for submitting false evidence in a case where a prisoner later died. Rashid wrote about this case last year.
Prison officials are attempting to prevent Rashid from responding to the case in Indiana, either by phone or mail. The 30-day restriction means that he will not be able to contact anyone on the outside by phone or email for 30 days. Further, the commissary restriction is to prevent him from buying paper and pencil to respond to the court case.
Take action now to help Rashid have a fighting chance in his court case.
Rashid is a longtime prison organizer. He is a founding member of the Revolutionary Intercommunal Black Panther Party Prison Chapter, having previously founded the New Afrikan Black Panther Party. His work over the years has garnered attention internationally, and he is the author of two books, as well as an accomplished artist.
As a direct result of his work Rashid has been subjected to political repression for years: interstate transfers to new jurisdictions whenever his organizing or litigation begins to make a real impact. Originally from Virginia, where he became politicized as a young, incarcerated man, he was subsequently transferred to Oregon… then Texas... then Florida... before ending up in Indiana in December 2018. And now, Ohio. Each transfer is disruptive. It can take a long time before Rashid receives his property, which includes legal materials and research materials for articles. Property he had access to in one jurisdiction is often denied or “lost” on its way to the next.
In every prison system he has been held in, Rashid has worked to expose the injustices he has encountered, from lack of adequate food and healthcare, to the violence and abuse from particular guards. His work has involved writing articles, working with other prisoners, and litigation -- both on his own behalf and also helping other prisoners to file suits. Our social-justice movement needs Rashid and Rashid needs us.
Stand in solidarity with Rashid by sending an email now to prison officials.
-- The RootsAction.org Team
