Facebook Twitter Email
Bennard Dallasvuyaoma (Hopi)
DECEMBER 1999

On August 30, 1999, a riot at the Santa Rosa, New Mexico medium security state prison resulted in the death of a guard. Prison officials are charging several prisoners responsible for the instigating the riot and participating in the death of the guard.

Meanwhile, the rest of the prisoners in the same unit were sent to Wallens Ridge State maximum security prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia in the first week of September. Since their transfer, these prisoners have been cleared of any wrongdoing and participation of the riot. Several of these transferred prisoners are Native American.

Abuse of Prisoners
During the transfer of over 100 New Mexican prisoners to Virginia, numerous reports of physical abuse and excessive use of force have surfaced. Additionally, the Native prisoners complained of mental abuse and racial discrimination by White prison guards.

After weeks without communication privileges, the prisoners called and wrote to their loved ones here in New Mexico, speaking about these abuses. Only until then did the abuses stop--due to public and media intervention.

To date, the Virginia prison has not allowed any face-to-face contact with these prisoners, which includes attorney visits, except for officials from the New Mexico Department of Corrections.

The Coverup
New Mexico officials have conducted their own investigation and Robert Perry, Secretary of Corrections, reported their findings to the New Mexico Legislative Committee on Courts, Corrections, and Criminal Justice, on December 20th, 1999.

Mr. Perry states in his report "Findings And Recommendations Concerning The Conditions of Confinement of New Mexico Inmates In Wallens Ridge State Correctional Facility, Virginia" of November 30th, 1999, that no alleged abuses took place.

However, in the Albuquerque Journal on December 21st, the committee co-chair, Senator Michael Sanchez, stated the committee would seek independent investigaton. Additionally, co-chair David Pederson believes Perry's report "has got the hallmarks of a whitewash".

Still Isolated
The majority of these prisoners are classified to serve in minimum and medium prisons. Yet they are presently still being held in Wallens Ridge at the highest level of incaration. Since they have been cleared 100% of any wrongdoing, why are they still being detained?

The committee also recommended to Perry that they be brought home immediately. Yet they still remain there, far away from their families during the holiday season.

Make no mistake--Perry is entirely responsible for the decision to send these prisoners to Virginia. In front of television cameras, Perry stood on the tarmack of the Albuquerque International Airport in his military fatiques directing the transfer of these prisoners. Cameras captured prison guards, brandishing rifles and accompanied by K-9s, as they loaded the prisoners one by one onto a plane bound for Virginia.

He is also entirely responsible for the conscious effort to keep them there. By suggesting that New Mexico develop a "supermax" facility similar to the Virginia one, Perry is purposely delaying their return.

How to Help
These prisoners have been isolated long enough. Particularly in these holiday times, it is important that they return home.

Help join the campaign to bring these prisoners back home to New Mexico. Call Robert Perry at the Department of Corrections in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at (505) 827-8660.

Let him know that you support the rights of these prisoners to serve their setence in a minimum or medium security prison. Let him know you support the Legislative Committee and their recommendation to bring these prisoners home immeediately.