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Apr 22, 19

Phone Zap Called in for Solidarity with Hunger Striker Kenneth Traywick

Call to support hunger striker Kenneth Traywick who is fighting against retaliatory actions by the Alabama Department of Corrections. Traywick has been attacked by prison officials for exposing horrific and violent conditions inside.

We want to update you all on the urgent situation at Limestone Correctional Facility as hunger striker and friend Kenneth Traywick endures continued retaliation from wardens, staff, and the highest officials of the Alabama Department of Corrections.  A phone zap is on for tomorrow (Tuesday) to demand that the ADOC and Limestone CF refrain from any further retaliatory actions against Traywick as he remains committed to his strike and is facing his own degrading health.  We know that Traywick has been enduring consistent retaliation because he is part of the movement to expose ADOC for its torture practices, extortion, and commitment to keeping prisons violent in order to fuel the expansion of the private prison economy in Alabama.

We heard last night from Traywick that the head nurse in the infirmary, a Sergeant B. Williams, said she hoped he died and they dragged his body out in a body bag.  She also made jokes about how much it was going to hurt when they shoved tubes down his nose and throat when his kidneys shut down.  While sympathetic nurses later told Traywick Sgt. Williams was cruel and had no right to say such things, we have no doubt that this behavior is reflective of the complete hostility shown Traywick by those wielding violent force and institutional power within Limestone and the ADOC.  They need to know we are watching and will not allow business as usual while Traywick makes this sacrifice and his life hangs in the balance. Please join today’s phone zap: https://tinyurl.com/yxjghr3v

We excerpt the most recent press release which includes Traywick’s demands:

On April 21st, the Alabama Department of Corrections placed an I.V. in Traywick against his will, to “force feed” him. He has made it clear that he will continue to hunger strike once off of the I.V. His demands are as follows:

  • ADOC must remove any and all disciplinaries against me (Kenneth Traywick) received from Warden Jimmy Patrick on 4/11/19.
  • Limestone Correctional Facility must end the unconstitutional use of the bucket detail practice at Limestone with belly chains, shackles, handcuffs, and tape. (See: http://tinyurl.com/adocbucketdetail )
  • Limestone Correctional Facility must end the illegal use of C Dorm, i.e. placing inmates in segregation without any disciplinaries and refusing to give them the 45 minutes of exercise outside the cell.
  • That I (Kenneth Traywick) be transferred from Limestone Correctional Facility and that the ADOC must stop the retaliatory transfers of me from facility to facility making it impossible for me to participate in educational and rehabilitative programs (I’ve been transferred over 8 times in 2 years).
  • That ADOC refrain from retaliating against me (Kenneth Traywick) for the actions of the outside organization Unheard Voices O.T.C.J.

On March 26, 2019, Kenneth Traywick was transferred out of general population at a level 4 facility to Limestone Correctional Facility (level 5) –without an infraction or explanation–where he was placed in segregation with no disciplinary for one week.  We know that upon returning to general population as the result of a successful hunger strike, Traywick, alongside other confined citizens, began informing others at Limestone of their rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. In response, Captain Langford informed Robert E. Council that Warden DeWayne Estes and Assistant Warden Jimmy Patrick ordered that Council and Traywick stop posting flyers.  (For more context, see: https://tinyurl.com/yxbqtv79 )

This update is a collaboration of:

Swift Justice

Free Alabama Movement

F.A.M. Queen Team

Unheard Voices OTCJ

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