Mail is so difficult to predict and letters take a lot longer to clear the special investigation services mailbox than articles.When he gets a stack of mail it could be from last week or from 2 months ago it’s difficult to tell. Eric has been getting some amazing letters and he wants to answer them all but in the last few months his health problems that have developed over years of medical neglect and 5 years spend in isolation cells have left him so much pain writing letters is excruciating. He wanted to let folks know that he’s probably going to be unable to write in the next couple months leading up to hopefully at some point a halfway house placement. We know everyone is desperate and waiting for news, we assure you we are as well. That August estimate didn’t really age well did it ⌚?

He sends his love thanks and support. He’s nervous and excited about re-entering the world after 10 years of development he missed out on. He’s super giddy about the December release of this project that they have worked so hard on.

https://truthout.org/articles/oral-history-of-political-prisoners-shows-enduring-power-of-revolutionary-hope/

https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2023/09/10/oral-histories-of-political-prisoners-the-role-of-anarchist-radio/?fbclid=IwAR0vtvQZel_DcO08CcGaCO1NxSNOPBg58SuZ53CA2MnviEOYwVxFloFpFRs

He is invigorated about entering right back into that system that he was so desperate to leave and becoming a paralegal and pursuing the field of law when he is free. 👀 Those former guards and “expert” witnesses around the adx need a little job competition as well 😁.

We are so close to the goal on his outdate fundraiser. If folks could take the time to share it would be greatly appreciated 🖤

https://www.gofundme.com/f/release-funds-for-political-prisoner-eric-king

Greetings friends, comrades, and assorted government voyeurs! This is my second RDTW from ADX. The “Alcatraz of the Rockies” is a weird place, filled with creepy, abusive predators, and a few hundred prisoners!

I’d like to focus on how important things like tangible support and the ABC Warchest are for prisoners. Everything that makes prison somewhat tolerable costs money — stamps and envelopes; paper and pens; emails and phone calls; coffee, non-meat protein like nuts, beans, and peanut butter; supplemental food to deal with abysmal food quality and portions, snacks to add something enjoyable to your day; warm clothes, athletic clothes, shoes; watches, radios, headphones. MP3s are almost $1.50 per song. If you’re sick, all your medicine costs money, as does just talking to a nurse (a $2.00 visiting fee). Tooth paste, shampoo, floss, tooth brushes, decent soap, lotion, etc. If you have hobbies to pass the time, they are all crazy expensive — markers, paints, papers, knitting, any craft-work, typewriter supplies to do legal work; copy cards to use the printer for legal/art/gambl-work. Fifty copies for $5.00. Prison is a for-profit industry. Everything they offer for free is shitty to the point of offensive. Remember also that we are paid peanuts. At Florence Medium, I had two jobs, five days a week and made $20/month, just enough to cover shampoo, soap, and coffee.

This is why the Warchest — and all tangible support — is so vital. Having consistent support allows you to budget, plan your schedule, and remove that very heavy cloud of stress that can linger over your head. Because of the Warchest, because of Bloomington ABC, because of people sacrificing and caring, I’ve never had to go into debt. I haven’t had to do weird hustles and I’ve been able to help others who are struggling. Beyond the sectarianism and trendism that exists within the “movement,” the Warchest sees the brutality of prison and tries to make it a little less shitty for those who need help. I give the biggest solidarity and warmest hugs to all those who in any way do what they can to help those inside. No matter the custody level or length of the bid, prison exposes you to the worst society has to offer, and the people who care expose us to the best. Thank you all for caring. I hope the weather is nice!

I’ll wrap this up by encouraging people to look out for and fight for our elders — harass their prisons or legislators, get ahold of director Collette Peters, demand real health care, compassionate release, more legal representation, more eyes on them, or whatever they personally need. There’s no victory without total liberation. Thank you to everyone who has ever helped me in any way. Big love to my support team, legal team, family, and friends. We’re almost there.

#FreeOsoBlanco

#FreeJenniferRose

#FreeMichaelKimble

#FreeKojoBomaniSababu

#FreeJoe-JoeBowen

#FreeEdPoindexter

Free all of our elders!Anarchy always, antifa everywhere. — EK

—Big Jay—

This is an essay Eric submitted for an ADX program

Eric is in a step-down unit of the ADX.

It was determined it would be unconstitutional to release someone from ADX-level-deprivation to the streets, so the ADX created a special unit for people within a year of their release. They are supposed to be able to earn privileges to help them adjust to the outside world. They have specialized caseworkers that help them know what kind of programming they’re eligible for, they can get phone calls, they can get snacks, they can earn a lot of things.

Eric has not been OFFERED and programming. Through other prisoners, Eric found out about a program (all by himself) in which he could write essays for treats and submit them to psych.

(As a reward for this essay, Eric requested “sugary cereal pls.” He also wrote before beginning: “Do you accept free-verse ‘poems’? Let’s find out! 🙂

Big Jay

Does Big Jay know how much those brief, star gazing night walks meant? Does Big Jay know that watching him do tarot readings in the library was inspiring? He didn’t give 2 shits that some found that weird as shit…his confidence oozed out and it was infectious…people respond to radical self-belief. Does he know how much it meant to me that when I asked him to read “Shrill”, he actually read it? Then we spoke about it for 3 days after …what patriarchy meant, how we both were actively benefitting from it… what shame meant, what love meant… Amazing, vulnerable conversations that are so rare in prison.

Does Big Jay know that when he stood up for me in the religious group, I felt like I had a true friend. Some people have real aversions to little dudes who speak their mind, especially when those views are contrary to ‘group-think’ …Big Jay respected it and instead of bowing to social norms, spoke up for me… not giving a shit about his own social standing, he stood by me MULTIPLE times …using his clout to empower my voice.

Does Big Jay know how safe he made me feel? Altho murders at Mediums are very rare, getting your face kicked off is very common. I annoyed a lot of people, a lot of people felt I was a burden or a race traitor… at 5’6″, 145 lbs, being different can be very dangerous… Big Jay is massive. 6’4″, 260, he honestly looks and sounds like high-bred English nobility… He never used his massive size (or massive intellect) to bully or belittle people, but he did use it as a shield, especially for me. He was both a direct and indirect protector… there was never the slightest doubt that Jay would tolerate even the slightest threat to my safety. He didn’t rush in, he’d let me work out my beefs and settle them however I needed to… but he was always beside me (literally) and on more than one occasion put out what could’ve been a nasty fire.

Big man… big knowledge… big muscles and big heart… big compassion and big brain… big loyalty… the day he was released was one of the happiest and saddest of my life. One of a kind… a true great friend. Big Jerry B forever.-EK

This is an poem Eric submitted for an ADX program

Eric is in a step-down unit of the ADX.

It was determined it would be unconstitutional to release someone from ADX-level-deprivation to the streets, so the ADX created a special unit for people within a year of their release. They are supposed to be able to earn privileges to help them adjust to the outside world. They have specialized caseworkers that help them know what kind of programming they’re eligible for, they can get phone calls, they can get snacks, they can earn a lot of things.

Eric has not been OFFERED and programming. Through other prisoners, Eric found out about a program (all by himself) in which he could write essays for treats and submit them to psych.

Eric asked for a “cereal” for the reward for this piece

In response to centuries of religious repression, 

In response to government hatred and repression, 

In response to flagrant and bigotry masked as faith, 

A culture of radical flamboyance blossomed 

A decision not to hide 

A decision to reject the shame 

He decision that there is safety with invisibility 

The choice to live however they feel 

Expressing their love of Life on their own terms 

A rebellious choice to be happy, loud, vibrant and proud 

OUT 

A decision to share their stories, ideas, hopes, loves 

To proclaim that the dark ages are over 

Progress only moves forward 

Love and life shine brightly 

And I honor them 

Anarchist 

Anti-fascist 

Ally 

This is an essay for an ADX program

Eric is in a step-down unit of the ADX. It was determined it would be unconstitutional to release someone from ADX-level-deprivation to the streets, so the ADX created a special unit for people within a year of their release. They are supposed to be able to earn privileges to help them adjust to the outside world. They have specialized caseworkers that help them know what kind of programming they’re eligible for, they can get phone calls, they can get snacks, they can earn a lot of things.

Eric has not been OFFERED and programming. Through other prisoners, Eric found out about a program (all by himself) in which he could write essays for treats and submit them to psych.

Eric asked for a “nutella” for the reward for this essay

Patterns

I went to college for a few years and got buckets worth of credit.. but it isn’t facts or stats that I took from my “higher education “ .. the number one thing I learned in college is ‘HOW’ to read, ‘how’ to read the news, how to think critically and how to look for patterns.

When I watch the news today, all the fear and hatred and blame being placed on trans people… what I see is a remix of the same tired tropes and tactics of years past.

It wasn’t so long ago when every story on the news was about rap ruining America. This was a play on the “all blacks are thugs” trope… Rap was villainized. Stores try pulling the albums, Christian group boycotted their sponsors and literally bulldozed rappers albums in protest. Lies of precious white children being forced to learn ebonics in school we’re never challenged by reporters happy to exchange fear for ratings.

Of course we can’t forget those pesky muslims.. what started pre 9/11 spiraled into full-blown hysteria post 9/11 and culminated in the early Trump days. The shit said about Muslims openly, on daily news, didn’t even try to avail its bigotry.. all Muslim men were pedophiles and rapists, they beat and tortured “their women” (misogyny and racism all in one) the Muslim woman were all essentially sex slaves with no brains or thoughts of their own.. every mosque being built was a terrorist recruitment center, trying to brainwash “our” children.. Muslims were plotting to take over local city councils to force Sharia law on good Americans.. after all “they” hate us for ‘our’ freedom.. local governments past meaningless ordinances banning Sharia law and teaching the Quran in schools. Separation of church and state.. Muslims would not be allowed to indoctrinate our children

Of course gays and lesbians are a long time fear target. Same bullshit as above. They were all child rapists, all wanting to sneak up on you.. they use religion to shield the bigotry… “it’s a sin” it’s against God’s will, etc. Politicians became theologians and prayed they wouldn’t be caught up in a Minnesota airport bathroom. The gays were ruining “our way of life” … they would “corrupt our society” … same ol fear same ol tactics same ol bullshit.

Immigrants would naturally come under fire.. they are everything bad, nothing good, let’s hate them!

Now it’s transgender people. Continuing the trend of the country’s most powerful people accusing a group with literally zero political power of “taking over” or “attacking” the powerful.. same lies, same over exaggerations, seem deliberate misconstruing.. you can’t blame them though, considering trans folks built billion dollar conglomerates that poison our air and water and refuse to clean it up, they got billions gambling on JUNK loans…profiting beyond belief while thousands lost their homes and pensions…they fought it all costs to prevent affordable health care and then did everything possible to steal that healthcare during the worst pandemic of Our lives…they accept lobbyist money to create laws that benefit corporations, crush workers rights and literally poison and endangered citizens…they have all that power, and it must be stopped.

This is the pattern and it works a marginalized group gets attacked-they speak up against this treatment they get accused of attacking those in power, anyone that stands with the marginalized group gets accused of “forcing their agenda on ‘regular’ Americans. While the fear mongers are distracted with lies, politicians are doing real damage. Banning books is serious, denying people to talk about their existence is dangerous, preventing access to trans healthcare is deadly…and people buy into this, forgetting we just heard the same bullshit about a different group.. further, when all you hear is how shitty a group is most are not interested in seeking out the truth, of speaking to trans youth or the parents, understanding their lives, of understanding that “trans healthcare” is healthcare.. they see another victim trying to force themselves on “us” by not letting “us” erase them. Well conservatives pretend to be worried their precious child may have to breathe trans air, parents of trans children worry they may go to prison for supporting their children or their child may have to go without mental or physical care.

Trans people are people, not scapegoats. My life has been saved by trans people, Calvin, my lawyers ect.. my life has been enriched and enhanced by trans people…. Too many otherwise good people don’t see this pattern, or simply don’t care.. same old lies, same old pattern…same old brutality. #ProtectTransKids #HonorTransLives dignity isnt a grace bestowed by conservatives.

-EK

This is an essay for an ADX program

Eric is in a step-down unit of the ADX. It was determined it would be unconstitutional to release someone from ADX-level-deprivation to the streets, so the ADX created a special unit for people within a year of their release. They are supposed to be able to earn privileges to help them adjust to the outside world. They have specialized caseworkers that help them know what kind of programming they’re eligible for, they can get phone calls, they can get snacks, they can earn a lot of things.

Eric has not been OFFERED and programming. Through other prisoners, Eric found out about a program (all by himself) in which he could write essays for treats and submit them to psych.

Eric asked for a “sugary cereal” for the reward for this essay

My mom is spectacular

My mom made me an anarchist. She would cringe reading that, but to me it’s the highest compliment. She truly lets people be who they are and radiates mutual aid and love. Without meaning to, she taught me to resist patriarchy, class solidarity, love, and hard work. For a long hard period my mom had to raise My brother and me by herself often fleeing violently abusive biological dad. She didn’t shrink from life, she didn’t take her out on me and my brother. She took a shitty job at a cold storage company and worked every hour they would allow. Should be given projects with unreachable deadlines and have to meet them. There were countless nights she’d have to pack me and my brother up in the car with box of toys and pillows we’d have slumber parties at the office…she wanted a house so we wouldn’t have to live and my grandpa’s front room, she wanted economic autonomy. If my brother and I hadn’t been such spoiled shit-heads this autonomy would have surely come sooner. She put needs before wants, she built a real family.

My mom didn’t have a degree, the idea would have been ridiculous.. she got a high school diploma and got to work. Over the years she would move up and rank and always overworked and underpaid…like many poor single parents, she didn’t develop passions or indulge youthful dreams, I doubt she ever knew she could have dreams.. family and financial security always came first. Well my mom didn’t chase her dreams, she put me in the position to chase every one of mine. Whether due to being busy, being happily remarried (then tragically widowed RIP Jim) or just relief I wasn’t acting like mike, she developed a real laissez-faire (sic) attitude to my upbringing.. she would support me thoroughly, but as long as I was out of trouble, going to school and checking in with her we were good. When I develop a new passion she’d ask questions or show worry, but then it’d be full support. Imagine having a high school son who got up at 4:00 a.m. to say the rosary, went to the gym at 4:30 to 6:30 a.m. then school, back to the gym, or racing home to watch English football, who existed on a diet of fish, lean meats and veggies. The only hard “NO” I can remember is when I tried to go to Palestine with some franciscans my senior year…weird ass kid.

She never preached or forced her values on me. How to treat people going through hard times, how to let people be with who they are, how to love people without judgment.. how to stand by those you love, how to survive. She’s been through and outlandish amount of hard times but is still the best example of Christianity I’ve ever seen. She always helps, she always cares. She taught me how to be a good husband (and my wife taught me how to be a good son, full circle) I am blessed to have her as a mum

-EK

This is an essay for an ADX program

Eric is in a step-down unit of the ADX. It was determined it would be unconstitutional to release someone from ADX-level-deprivation to the streets, so the ADX created a special unit for people within a year of their release. They are supposed to be able to earn privileges to help them adjust to the outside world. They have specialized caseworkers that help them know what kind of programming they’re eligible for, they can get phone calls, they can get snacks, they can earn a lot of things.

Eric has not been OFFERED and programming. Through other prisoners, Eric found out about a program (all by himself) in which he could write essays for treats and submit them to psych.

Eric asked for a “nutella” for the reward for this essay

(Eric has just made his third phone call since August when he arrived. And his third phone call since 12-2018 as a part of another program for prisoners that are on sanctions. Being on sanctions at adx is a double whammy you are subject to the almost absolute communication restrictions as well as disciplinary sanctions from whatever incidents land them there. Predominantly these sanctions are removed when they hit the ADX although the lucky thing like Eric get to keep theirs)

One Little Square

A few months ago while I was in C-unit, all of the power went out, including all the outside flood/alarm lights.. although the lights were only down for about 30 or so minutes they opened up a whole universe for me.

There’s a very skinny window in all of our cells, most of them face a brick wall and nothing else … This is true of c-unit.. where are windows face what I assume is the back of another unit.. however, at the very top of the unit window is about 2 in by 3 in of “sky”.

During normal times these few inches of sky are mostly useless.. you can see a little of the sky, but the big ass flood lights kill any joy. Reminding you your freedom daydreams are a waste of time. During the evening that sliver of sky becomes a terror, burying you with light… if you don’t cover up your window at night you’re basically having eight flashlights blasting you in the face.

Things all changed during the-night-without-light (NWL) … During the NWL, I looked out the window and nearly fainted. The entire 2×3 was painted with stars, seemingly more than I could count… It was like having a bowl of freedom ice cream, double scoop. All the wonders of the universe inviting my gaze, they’ve been hiding there all along!

looking up at the stars is a passion of mine. My Da was a partial astronomer with an amazing telescope who would take photos of the planets and other galaxies. He and my Ma would sit/stand on the balcony, enjoying life with the celestial wonders … Just taught me to love all those sparkling stars. We can take so much joy from the wonders around us… It’s free and delightful!

One of the worst parts about prison has been losing the Stars. The last time I got to stargaze was at night at Florence medium, 5 years ago. Me and the amazingly wonderful (and now free)Jerry Burkholder Big J would walk back from evening wreck at the library… My neck cleaned up engaging and thoughtful convo… It was as good as non-visiting day prison could be… Big Jay would let me ramble and point out Stars, he’d share interesting things about Lilith or similar topics. And I would feel semi-complete. God I miss that guy, our walks, the Stars, the visits….

Staring out my windows sliver I felt all of the above. I could feel my wife beside me, looking at the same stars, feeling the same awe our oldest ancestors felt. 30 minutes of sorrowless, thoughtful introspection… Me, my family and the universe.

This is an essay for an ADX program

Eric is in a step-down unit of the ADX. It was determined it would be unconstitutional to release someone from ADX-level-deprivation to the streets, so the ADX created a special unit for people within a year of their release. They are supposed to be able to earn privileges to help them adjust to the outside world. They have specialized caseworkers that help them know what kind of programming they’re eligible for, they can get phone calls, they can get snacks, they can earn a lot of things.

Eric has not been OFFERED and programming. Through other prisoners, Eric found out about a program (all by himself) in which he could write essays for treats and submit them to psych.

Eric asked for a “food grab bag” for the reward for this essay

(Eric has just made his third phone call since August when he arrived. And his third phone call since 12-2018 as a part of another program for prisoners that are on sanctions. Being on sanctions at adx is a double whammy you are subject to the almost absolute communication restrictions as well as disciplinary sanctions from whatever incidents land them there. Predominantly these sanctions are removed when they hit the ADX although the lucky thing like Eric get to keep theirs)

Thompson is Everywhere

Recently the bop said it was shutting down the SMU. Liberals lauded this as lovely progressive move.. they saw it as the Bureau recognizing a serious flaw and taking care of it. They brought up an audacious amount of 205 gunning shots (over a thousand in four years 😯) the violence between prisoners and the overall shite living conditions.

While naturally I was happy to see (despite its best intentions perhaps) who on Earth thought locking up the supposedly most violent convicts in a cell with one another for 23 hours a day, all in the same prison, for 9 to 18 months was a good idea? This must be the most harebrained idea.. ever? I assume they created the SMU much like the CMU to trick Congress into allocating more $ to the Bureau… It’s generally accepted among prisoners that the SMU was a project to get prisoners to hurt each other and empower gangs.

Second thought is; what took so long? The SMU isn’t more vile now than in the past, in every iteration it is a blood bath. Oakdale, Tallahassee, Florence and Lewisburg all had the same issues as Thompson, violence in the absence of any other stimulation is Colette stomping her foot down? *Staff* is responsible for a larger amount of that violence… Placing incompatible people as cellmates, not searching people on their way to rec, placing people in opposition rec cages, not observing wreck either in person or on camera, snitch and cho-jacketing people in front of their rivals. This is all basically easily solvable except that officers buy into their surroundings-the gang and convict culture, and the most basic human need to be liked…but it costs people their health and lives.

Lastly, what about the rest? Everything I listed happens at every custody level in the USPs it leads to severe violence, humiliation and death.. in the mediums it’s fights and ostracizing, and at low’s it’s stolen trays, occasional fights and mental stress. Everywhere prisoners are pitted against each other and set up to punish one another and it seems just business as usual. I’ve only been in the bureau since 2016 and it’s happened personally six different times and it’s a powerless terrifying feeling.

-EK

Eric’s release fundraiser

https://www.gofundme.com/f/release-funds-for-political-prisoner-eric-king

Eric King 27090045
USP Florence ADMAX
PO BOX 8500
Florence, CO 81226

Eric wanted to communicate what this week feels like for him. This week would have been his out-date. Halfway house would have been behind him, he would be home and starting his new life. The targeting, monitoring, inciting, and just constant attacks has cost him immensely. Yesterday he spoke about what it was like being a human stuck in a cage. Unable to hug his family, unable to do anything besides live in his mind, play out worries, losses…. over and over. No power, or knowledge about how this is going to all play out. The unsurety is huge regarding even the most basic things… if he is going to be able to come home to his family. If he will be accepted into the federal district that we have built our home.

He was eligible for a halfway house in February, and if he would only just claim to be homeless… He could be free within 1-2 months. He has lost over 8 months because of Bureau of Prisons psyops. Over physical attacks, Union cards and poems. Each lost day is connected to a horrible moment that he’s lived through. Each day is connected to phone sanctions and visit sanctions and deprivation and loss. Every. Single. Day… Is felt. And it hits in a very brutal way when he’s actively fighting so so hard to get medical care for a terrifying situation.

We’ve been trying for three and a half years… We’ve had biopsies canceled… Scans ordered on the wrong side. Electrocution belts worn to medical appointments and doctors that just don’t give a s***. At USP Robert E Lee…. Medical staff claimed to a inquiring Senator that there simply was no mass at all, contrary to all the recent scans as well as the scans in Englewood prior to his trip to Lee. They recommended that he wait years to go to a doctor to follow up.

Last week Eric was given the doctor’s interpretation of an ultrasound that the prison received a month ago. They have been telling prisoners lately over and over that they have access to their medical records …yet someone at the ADX is sitting with his ultrasound report and it’s not him. All he gets is some mumbling about “abnormal”, “ENTs” and “comparisons to past scans”. From the date the prison received his results to the date that he was given it is about how long it takes for him to get a letter there. So apparently his medical information is subject to the same scrutiny And delay that every other piece of mail is.

The FEEL in this is heavy when we know we could have him in a specialists office getting a biopsy within a month if he were out… Yet he gets to start over next week… attempting to call over any staff that walks past his cell… beg for appropriate care. Beg for those ultrasound results. Beg for that biopsy.

The reality is he doesn’t know how any of this is going to turn out. There are a million ways it could go but it isn’t looking good. And as a human being… Sitting in that prison. Without phone calls, emails and a plethora of other things five visits a month (which is a heaven we haven’t felt in years). He wanted to talk about what all of those days feel like in between… The agony of loss.

ALSO wanted to let folks know how beautiful it was to tell him about the fundraiser being at 15k 😍 he definitely cried. He’s been so worried about the future, a world that has grown far past him. But today feels a bit more secure.

Two essays about things that happened one week in January 2021 following Denver’s global noise demo on New Year’s Eve at FCI Englewood. Eric’s ADX referral was extensively about a protest outside the facility that neither he nor his support team had anything to do with organizing.

These are essays that Eric is writing in his programming. He is not able to participate in any other pre-release programming but he is able to write essays for snacks and rewards.

These are two of them.