It is pretty impossible to count the amount of retaliatory disciplinary write ups since Eric has arrived at FCI Englewood that the prison has attempted to send to the FBI for investigation. These are some of the latest rejections that the FBI determined there was no grounds for prosecution.
In addition, the write-up that Eric received after he was attacked by an officer On April 3rd 2020 in the showers of FCI Englewood was not only rejected for investigation by the FBI, the BOP’s own disciplinary system expunged the disciplinary write-up that claimed Eric assaulted this officer. The “court” within the BOP, that requires little to no evidence could not even proceed with the disciplinary process.
We would hope that since it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Eric had no part in his own assault the Captain and Warden will decide to actually investigate this officer’s behavior towards Eric leading up to the assault and the complaints that were filed, as well as the harassment from this officer after the assault. However no one is going to hold their breath.
We are midway through black August and I’ve been doing lots
of thinking, fasting, and trying to grow as a person and as a radical
anarchist. Lots of fitness , reading, mentally taking stock.
This is my third black August in SHU. I was thrown into segregation two years ago on August 17th and was kept within for a year pending prosecution, then after they brought these new charges, we’ve done another year pretrial. It’s been a rough two years filled with restrictions, violence, abuse but also love strength and friendship. Resistance is strong.
Last years black August was spent partially at USP Lee, where I met Thomas Smith (aka Mad Dog) a blood leader an revolutionary who was also participating. He had been in SHU at that point for 18 months pending an ADX transfer. We fasted together, had long conversations on resistant strength and what it means to be a revolutionary today. I still think of Mad Dog often an encourage everyone to write and send reading material into him.
Thomas D Smith 14998045 USP FLORENCE ADMAX U.S. PENITENTIARY PO BOX 8500 FLORENCE, CO 81226
This year I began with the basics, I fast to feel the
hunger, to remember the pain and sacrifices of those before me, those fighting
today. To fast I cutoff breakfast, eat a full lunch and then only half my
dinner. And then I add another hour of fitness… this is difficult sometimes
because the dizziness of the head trauma is always there, but I keep moving. Every
chance I get to be active, I am active. Then mentally I’ve dedicated 30 minutes
in the morning before breakfast, and an hour at night, to think about what this
all means. What it means to be a political prisoner and how I can be an ally
while inside. Also though, what it means to be a person, to be kind, to strive
for decency in a world of repression and savagery. To be a good husband, father
and comrade.
Black August to me isn’t just about George Jackson… It’s
about Jaan and Sundita, Dr shakur and Oso… it’s about Mad Dog and Sean Swain
it’s about everyone who dedicated their lives to their ethics an found
themselves fighting for dignity and humanity. It’s about those outside who will
fight selflessly for us . It’s about George Floyd but also it’s about all of us
who have learned that the cops inside don’t wear bodycams… Supporters are our
reporters. ( btw Can we get people to protest actual prisons instead of just
jails? She is serious inside it can’t just be overlooked, can it? )
I value black August because it helps refocus my thoughts and energies. Reminds me I’m not the first to go through this, the hardest or longest. Reminds me of my privilege even within the terror they inflict on me. Since there have been prisons out there, there has been prison abuse and prisoners that have been traumatized , beaten, raped, deprived, killed. Prisoners have fought back, organized and shown solidarity, gone on strike, resisted, rioted, fasted… Our resistance is long in history and powerful in memory and spirit.
My love goes out to the political prisoners throughout the
country and the world, those who resist on any terms those who have gone
through it and been released and survived, and those in the street who won’t
let us be buried.
We also desperately need his legal defense fundraiser shared around to fund his legal team to fight this and anything else thrown his way. … please share and encourage others to share!
It is important to note that the BOP has held Eric incommunicado since his last legal call. His 20-minutes-a-week legal call to prepare for his case was taken away with no explanation. The BOP is unresponsive, as well as the prosecutor who STILL has not responded to this brutal attack.
Some points that can be made on both calls.
North Central Regional Office
NCRO (913) 621-3939
Let folks know you are calling in reference to Eric King 27090045 currently housed at FCI Englewood
The North Central Regional Office needs to open an investigation into the unnamed officer who assaulted Eric in the showers at FCI Englewood on June 18th 2020 and turn said information over to the Inspector General.
The North Central Regional Office also needs to review and open an investigation into the “after action report” when Eric was attacked at FCI Florence in August 2018. They need to review the video footage that showed Eric, a compliant prisoner, being 4-pointed (cuffed to a cot at his wrists and ankles) for several hours before being transferred to ambulatory restraints. It was the Regional Office’s duty to review this footage for abuse. The Regional Office failed to protect Eric while he was under their authority once already. Lets not let this happen again.
This week, Eric was denied his weekly allotted 20 minute legal phone call given to him to prepare for the case. FCI Englewood is holding him incommunicado since the recent attack on Eric in the showers. The Regional Office needs to make sure that the prison sets up a legal call THIS WEEK. We do not know his current health status and are gravely concerned.
Some questions the Regional Office need to answer
Is there any open investigation into this same officer throwing a book at Eric in 2019? (The same officer that attacked Eric recently in the shower)
Is it prison policy to continue contact between an officer and prisoner after a “use of force complaint” is filed by a prisoner?
Is it policy that a “use of force” investigation be carried out after a prisoner alleges an attempted assault? (Eric has an ongoing grievance regarding the officer who assaulted him in 2019 throwing a book at him)
Is it policy to allow an officer that a prisoner alleged attempted to assault them, take that prisoner anywhere alone, off camera? (This officer has TWO documented incidents with Eric in the shower that occurred after Eric’s complaint of assault was made)
Why would an officer who wrote a specific prisoner up for assault be continued to be assigned to that specific prisoner’s unit? Is it policy to continue to house a prisoner at the same prison after such allegations are made?
Is there an open investigation into how FCI Englewood handled Eric’s PREA complaint that was filed in 2019? There needs to be.
US Marshals
J Sheehan Director of Prisoner Operations for the US Marshals. 703-740-8400
We are asking folks to call into the Colorado Marshals to demand they immediately transfer Eric From FCI Englewood
Let folks know you are calling in reference to Eric King 27090045 currently housed at FCI Englewood.
The Marshals need to know FCI Englewood is holding Eric incommunicado from his lawyers after this most recent attack on him in the showers.
The Colorado Marshals have been made aware over and over that Eric King is not safe at FCI Englewood yet they refuse to transfer him elsewhere. Because of this deliberate indifference Eric was attacked by guards while cuffed up in the shower on June 18th 2020. It is time that the Marshals who are bound to protect pre-trial prisoners move Eric to another facility and open an investigation to both Eric’s recent assault and the attempted assault in 2019 by the same unnamed officer.
There are 6 other facilities that are non-BOP that Eric could be easily placed at during pretrial.
The Marshals are the ONLY entity that can authorize a move pre-trial (at least without court intervention). With SO many warnings regarding Eric’s safety, why are the Colorado Marshals digging their heels in and refusing to move him?
Documented communication over the past year that show the Marshals have been made aware of the danger of continuing to hold Eric at FCI Englewood
On August 21st 2019 the Marshals were made aware Eric needed medical attention for a potential mini stroke he had earlier that month. Eric has yet to receive ANY medical care or medical evaluation by experts.
The Marshals have been notified over and over that FCI Englewood is interfering with Eric’s ability to be able to have adequate pre-trial communication with his attorney to prepare his defense.
On Sept 6th 2019 the Marshals were made aware that their decision to place Eric at FCI Englewood was going to be a danger to him.
On September 27th 2019 the Marshals were made aware of a threat that an officer made to have Eric raped as well as other disgusting things said by the guard.
Communication from September 30th 2019
On April of 2020 the Marshals were made aware of Eric being placed on suicide watch but continued their deliberate indifference and chose to merely keep Eric at FCI Englewood.
How would it make folks feel to know that Eric had an active grievance filed about the officer that slammed Eric’s head into the concrete while his hands were cuffed behind his back in the shower?
Or that FCI Englewood currently does not have an officer assigned to the specific facility that investigates officers who violate prisoners?
Or that this officer has given Eric SIX bullshit disciplinary write-ups in the last 6 months?
How about that when a prisoner complains about an assault or attempted assault, by policy it needs to be investigated and the officer needs to be removed from contact?
And if they have ZERO concern for Eric’s safety, then we defer to the policy in which: if a staff member claims they were assaulted by a prisoner and a protection order goes into place, the prisoner is not put in a situation where they interact with that specific guard from that point forward.
This shot was given the DAY after the prosecutor was given evidence (per this prisoner) that staff at FCI Englewood were attempting to coerce another prisoner into attacking Eric.
Putting aside the fact that this shotagainst Eric for “assault” was given THE DAY AFTER THE DOCUMENT PROVING AN ATTEMPTED ASSAULT ON ERIC WAS DELIVERED TO THE PROSECUTOR…..
If this guard really felt that Eric assaulted him in the shower by allegedly flicking water at him, then why was he so determined to (against policy) continue to interact with Eric?
The fact is when this officer threw a book at Eric, that should have stopped this officer from interacting with him. But he has since been able to give Eric disciplinary write-up after disciplinary write-up. Plenty of time to come and threaten Eric. To tell him that we (“your folks on the outside”) should tell the world about what a strong union they have and how prison guards can do whatever they want.
We are going to honor his request: we are going to tell the world the prison, the union and North Central Regional Office actively shelters abusers.
On June 18th Eric was taken into the showers while shackled, and was then attacked. The guard took the metal detection wand and swung at each of Eric’s ankles, and when Eric would lift his leg this officer would swing at the other. The guard then picked Eric up and dropped him on his head onto the concrete in the shower. He woke up after losing consciousness for 10 seconds thinking they were pouring water on his face. But it was his own blood.
Eric was transported to Swedish Medical Center, was given 6 stitches and was diagnosed with a moderate to severe concussion. The hospital would not give Eric the results of the scan, or release it to his family or lawyer, because they told him “he is government property”.
The reality is, folks have been fighting for over a month to get an expert in to assess Eric. We believe he is suffering from a traumatic brain injury after officers at FCI Florence kicked him in the head for 5 minutes in August of 2018. We were so hopeful that we were going to be able to get help for him and see where he is at with the mixture of trauma and brain injury he has been struggling with. His memory has been affected, as well as many other aspects of his life. Officers at FCI Englewood know this. They knew that we were trying to get a medical expert because of a head injury… and then they dropped him on a concrete fucking floor on his head in the bathroom while shackled up.
This all follows evidence that his case manager out of FCI Englewood attempted to make a deal with a WP prisoner (who did not cooperate) to get Eric attacked. This information was turned over to the courts before they denied Eric’s transfer to another facility. What the prosecutor chose to do with this evidence, evidence that a crime was committed at FCI Englewood, was merely to run and tell Englewood prison about the evidence. Within a week, both Eric and the WP prisoner had assault shots from water “assaulting” guards at two different sections of the prison.
The guard who recently attacked Eric was the same guard who claimed Eric assaulted him with a drop of water. The prison attempted to refer this case to the FBI for prosecution but less than a month ago, the FBI released the case back to the prison, meaning the guards’ attempt to have Eric charged criminally from those shots fell flat.
But the reality at this point is Eric is not safe in BOP custody. Over the past two years, at 5 different prisons, the BOP has a pattern of placing white supremacists in cells, or in fenced in areas, close to Eric on his tier, in an attempt to have Eric attacked.
When Eric returned from the hospital, he discovered his entire tier was attacked and pepper sprayed after Eric was left. He was denied the ability to contact his attorney and family. It was only on Eric’s weekly allotted 20 minute legal call that we were given this news. The prison also denied him last week the ability to consult with his counsel when he had an appellate deadline. The pattern of BOP intervention impeding his ability to fight his case continues.
The US Marshalls need to move Eric to a non-BOP facility during leading up to trial
The North Central Regional Office NEEDS to open an investigation into this officer, as well as the ones that may have been standing by watching. When Eric asked for an investigation to be opened, he was denied.
The prosecutor needs to drop this fucking case.
We are very hesitant to ask for folks to call in and advocate for Eric because the last time this happened, a year and a half ago, his phone privileges were taken away. But at this point Eric needs all our help.
J Sheehan is the Director of prisoner operations for the US Marshalls. They’re the ONLY entity that can choose to move Eric out of FCI Englewood right now. Their phone number is 703-740-8400
The BOP North Central Regional Office is the office that decides if the BOP will investigate this *criminal* attack on Eric. Their phone number is (913) 621-3939
Eric’s prisoner number is 27090045
Eric cannot receive letters
Eric cannot receive books
Eric cannot receive magazines
Eric cannot call his family
Eric is completely isolated at the whim of the Trump DOJ right now and needs folks to help keep him safe.
The Warden at FCI Englewood has decided, during a global pandemic to remove all general mail from Eric. This illustrates so well the deliberate indifference that belongs to ALL wardens to the lives of prisoners. While further isolating Eric that you have on a suicide management plan.
For the next 6 months (until this restriction is re-evaluated) Eric will be unable to send or receive any mail from anyone other than his mother and wife.
This is completely devastating for those who care for Eric, worrying about the difficulties of him surviving torture while so isolated. But there is a bit of good news in this. Eric will still be able to receive books and magazines.
Right now this is the only way to let Eric know folks out here are rallying for him and here to support him during this terrifying and turbulent time for him.
Softcover books and magazines only. If it is questionable content wise, it is advised not to send it. FCI Englewood is heavily censoring Eric’s incoming literature.
Books can be sent in mail and from the publisher, or a site similar to Amazon.
Eric King 27090045 FCI Engelwood 9595 w Quincy ave Littleton Co 80123
Eric also still desperately needs help raising legal funds
While the BOP is upgrading their website and pretending they have some sort of plan to keep folks alive during this pandemic, FCI Englewood is again up to no good.
We can assume in a retaliatory (previously predicted) move inspired by either a) the court filings regarding the ongoing and constant abuse the BOP is continuing to serve Eric via FCI Englewood or b) the article that was published that exposes some pretty gross fash BOP/Guard, Eric has been given two separate severe disciplinary infractions.
BOP Disciplinary Program Statement is available here if folks want to follow along
All disciplinary write-ups are categorize by severity level, 300’s being least severe and 100’s being the most severe. Different level offenses bring on different disciplinary procedures. But the common theme in all of them is the only defense you are allowed (because no lawyers) is: one of *them* (BOP) that they pick to “defend” you… against their own. 300’s don’t even involve hearings and 200-100 series shots can come with additional federal criminal charges.
Eric was given two shots, one of the greatest severity offense (100 series) and highest level of offense (200 series).
The 100 series shot Eric received on 3/31 was for 1. Encouraging others to riot and 2. Use of the mail to further criminal activity (greatest seventy)
The story goes the CTU or Counter Terrorism Unit of the BOP contacted FCI Englewood when a NY ABC newsletter that is sent into prisons re-published a poem that Eric wrote that the BOP is considering a direct threat to the warden.
I first heard your voice when I was 15 Had no idea what it was to be free Sheriffs kicking in doors, leaving furniture in the streets Learning you could starve if you didn’t have the means All the saints taught me, listen to no worldly kings Principal, coaches & priests, all the same things When the police blinded me with war chemicals laughter was my partner, I hadn’t broken my rules After god went away, Anarchy never faded Politicians love to recruit but I can’t be persuaded My anarchy, grew with me, walmart & McDonalds Protests Activism always went through stages learn-act, learn more-act more, growth, always growth Sometimes I was an an archo-fascist, forcing my freedom with fists and knives, words and hated the first dominant behavior I had to destroy Was my own loud-always-right voice To me Anarchy meant facing up to my own Patriarchy, xenophobia, racism, homophobia All of my most productive battles weren’t vs cops But against hidden learned behaviors Anarchy meant allowing growth, loving myself to acknowledge being harmful The revolution always begins between our 2 ears & the more I open myself to experiences not my own The better I become For me anarchy is in the heart & in the streets I meant friendship, not chances to be judge I’ve failed in this aspect many times Anarchy was a way to live free A way to find what that means then instill it in my everyday life Anarchy means standing up when it counts Being there when able My anarchism couldn’t have existed In a vacuum removed from action There was never a movement for me nor was I a “loan wolf” Sometimes comrades joined me other times the goddess was my partner There was no attendance, roll-call Just a desire to make the world better Anarchy to me meant love, it meant calm it was living how you want the world to be Some took it in lots of opposing directions that was ok also No one owns an idea although some swear to have the receipt My anarchism loved plants & nature wasn’t a big fan of consumerism & hated genocidal meat “farms” … My anarchism loved people who love people Cops, military folks, government bureaucrats were not welcome If your prerogative was to limit, take from or own/control people we were enemies Does anarchy still exist? I pray so I’m afraid of the internet swallowing it whole & “clicktivism” overriding activism Of sectarianism splintering any progress being made Of Trump wearing everyone out then some being convinced in electoral leadership But only if Berndog wins Prisons need to be burned, CEOs beheaded communities need to grow & heal together That’s what Anarchism is to me Action based healing and growing
100 series shots, or GREATEST level severity shots carry some pretty hefty sanctions
When speaking with his staff representative Eric was told that the only way to even SEE this “evidence” against him is to file a Freedom of Information request since it is classified. They recommend he just plea to the disciplinary charge
Already disciplinary hearings are a joke and now he is not allowed to even review the evidence against him. Despite the fact this could impact his legal case he is not permitted his own defense or even to MEET with his lawyer at this time. This shot as well as the other can carry the shadow of a potential charge whenever it strikes their fancy. The Federal Colorado prosecutors waited until a year after his first incident to bring up the charges Eric faces now in court.
Eric’s second shot came on 4/3 when he was showering and a guard led a sex offender into and through the showers. The guard alleges that Eric shook a shampoo bottle at them and a drop of water got into the guard’s eye.
Eric is now being charged internally again for assault of an officer.
It really is unnecessary to unpack this with some deep explanation for what is going on here. Its pretty blatant. Eric was clear Englewood was going to find a way to prevent his family from visiting…. that happened. The BOP is responding as the BOP does when they are exposed https://truthout.org/articles/incarcerated-anti-fascists-report-targeted-beatings-by-guards/ https://supportericking.org/2020/03/11/erics-declaration-regarding-abuse-at-fci-englewood/ (its especially hefty when the exposure comes both in court and in the media). And it will likely follow Eric for the rest of his sentence. No, there will be no justice in these hearings as there has not been justice for anyone who has sat in those hearings before Eric. There is no justice for the now 13 dead federal prisoners because of BOP failures. Why would we find justice in *their* disciplinary system.
Prose and musings are threats worthy of years of restricted contact with families apparently. Business as usual at FCI Englewood on this Tuesday afternoon.
Eric can still use letters and books. His capacity to respond is severely limited because he isnt allowed to hold onto his letters but he is making an effort and appreciates the support.
Eric King 27090045 FCI Englewood 9595 w Quincy ave Littleton co 80501
