Post by unlawflcombatnt on Apr 22, 2012 15:53:59 GMT -6
This article from Common Dreams summarizes the situation of 2 Americans who've been kept in Solitary Confinement in Lousiana's Angola Prison--for over 40 YEARS.
There was a prison riot in Angola Prison in 1972 where a prison guard was killed. The 2 men were accused of being involved with the killing and have been in solitary confinement ever since.
40 Years in Solitary Confinement:
US 'Pushing Boundaries of Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment'
Tues, April 17, 2012
by Common Dreams staff
"Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace have been in solitary in Angola Prison since 1972
Today marks the dark anniversary of 40 years of solitary confinement of Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace at Angola Prison in Louisiana.
Amnesty International will hand over a 65,000-signature petition to Louisiana Governor Jindal today demanding an end to Woodfox and Wallace's solitary confinement.
The 40-year isolated incarceration of Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace "pushes the boundaries of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and flies in the face of international standards to which the US is a party,” stated Everette Harvey Thompson, Southern Office Regional Director of Amnesty International USA.
Describing the cell he's lived in for 40 years, Herman Wallace says, "I can make about four steps forward before I touch the door."
* * *
The Guardian: Forty years in solitary: two men mark sombre anniversary in Louisiana prison
* * *
Democracy Now!: 40 Years in Solitary Confinement: Two Members of Angola 3 Remain in Isolation in Louisiana Prison
* * *
Amnesty International: US authorities urged to end two men’s 40-year-long solitary imprisonment
The convictions were also based on questionable inmate testimony.
Over the years of litigation, documents have emerged suggesting that the main eyewitness was bribed by prison officials into giving statements against the men and that the state withheld evidence about the perjured testimony of another inmate witness. A further witness later retracted his testimony."[/ul]
There was a prison riot in Angola Prison in 1972 where a prison guard was killed. The 2 men were accused of being involved with the killing and have been in solitary confinement ever since.
40 Years in Solitary Confinement:
US 'Pushing Boundaries of Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment'
Tues, April 17, 2012
by Common Dreams staff
"Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace have been in solitary in Angola Prison since 1972
Today marks the dark anniversary of 40 years of solitary confinement of Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace at Angola Prison in Louisiana.
Amnesty International will hand over a 65,000-signature petition to Louisiana Governor Jindal today demanding an end to Woodfox and Wallace's solitary confinement.
The 40-year isolated incarceration of Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace "pushes the boundaries of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and flies in the face of international standards to which the US is a party,” stated Everette Harvey Thompson, Southern Office Regional Director of Amnesty International USA.
Describing the cell he's lived in for 40 years, Herman Wallace says, "I can make about four steps forward before I touch the door."
* * *
The Guardian: Forty years in solitary: two men mark sombre anniversary in Louisiana prison
* * *
Democracy Now!: 40 Years in Solitary Confinement: Two Members of Angola 3 Remain in Isolation in Louisiana Prison
* * *
Amnesty International: US authorities urged to end two men’s 40-year-long solitary imprisonment
The convictions were also based on questionable inmate testimony.
Over the years of litigation, documents have emerged suggesting that the main eyewitness was bribed by prison officials into giving statements against the men and that the state withheld evidence about the perjured testimony of another inmate witness. A further witness later retracted his testimony."[/ul]