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HRC's Southwest Philly Town Hall Meeting- Myers Rec Center 4/24/10

Submitted by andys on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 3:29pm

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Human Rights Coalition Pushes for Prison Reform

University City Review | 28.APR.10

By Kaley Iacovetta
Special to the UC Revew

Former prisoner Luqman M. Abdullah suffered in shackles, with arms and legs chained to his bed frame for days at a time, while cold, damp air circulated, ravaging his shivering naked body.

Sister Sayeda Quaye described the holding cell as an overcrowded cattle corral, bodies strewn atop one another, the rancid stench of excrement poisoning the air.

One is likely to think that such harrowing experiences occurred somewhere far across the world, perhaps in some primitive subterranean dungeon. However, these individuals are not prisoners of war in a foreign land. She says they are American citizens and Philadelphia residents, subject to the unjust cruelty of the City’s prison system.

Everyday, according to Quaye, thousands of inmates are stripped of their basic rights as human beings. They are tortured, beaten, confined, and starved. The Human Rights Coalition (HRC) seeks to restore proper rights to prisoners. The organization’s greater mission is to reform the prison system into a functional tool for rehabilitation rather than an abusive institution that breeds recidivism.

At a town hall meeting at the Francis Myers Recreation Center (58th St. ,between Kingsessing & Chester Aves) this past Saturday, the HRC invited the community to join the fight for change. The organization reaches out specifically to citizens whose loved ones are currently incarcerated. "Our goal is to organize prisoners’ families to take the lead in challenging prison abuse and to bring about prison reform and reentry reform," says former prisoner and HRC member Richard Tut Carter. As both a support group and a radical movement, the HRC hopes to affect the community with positive change.

The meeting featured several state government officials in support of the coalition including State Senator Shirley Kitchen and State Representative Ronald Waters. Kitchen focused on the difficulties prisoners face upon reentering society after they have served their sentence. Many former prisoners are denied employment due to their record. Kitchen outlined a bill proposal that would seal an individual’s record from the public after a certain period of time. "Everyone makes mistakes," says Kitchen, "do we have to pay for them for the rest of our lives? We have to set people free, we have to give them a second chance."

Waters expressed a more grave perspective. "Those incarcerated are the new slaves of this country…. if we don’t teach our children and prepare them properly for life; they will become a part of the slavery movement." Waters also emphasized the necessity for strong education and youth support systems. "Let’s not react to the problem but prevent the problem before it happens."

Presentations were also given by Philadelphia Attorney Angus Love, concerning prison overcrowding and unjust sentencing and by HRC members concerning the ways the community can aid in the cause. Carter and Abdullah outlined the Know Your Rights workshops that the organization seeks to advocate in the community. "The workshops will enable family members and community leaders to know exactly what to do if they receive information about prison abuse, how to go to the legislation in the area and how to contact prison officials," says Carter.

At the end of the meeting, HRC organizers and community members were invited to share their experiences with the injustice of the Pennsylvania prison system. West Philadelphia resident Teresa Shoatz, whose father has been incarcerated for nearly forty years, explained how she is forced to call the prison regularly to ensure her father receives proper medication for his prostate condition. Patricia Vickers spoke concerning the letters she frequently receives from her son, describing the abusive treatment he receives from prison guards. These women represent just a small sample of the individuals in our own community, both prisoners and family members, who are suffering from the denial of basic human rights.

Currently, the HRC is calling out the community to join in the fight for prison reform. "One of our greatest challenges is building up our membership and retaining family members to keep our momentum and to keep the organization growing," says Carter. If you or a loved one has experienced the debilitating abuse of the Pennsylvania prisons or if you support prison reform, the HRC encourages you to get involved. For more information, visit their website at www.hrcoalition.org or call 215-921-3491. You may also visit the HRC office located at 4134 Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia.