Let’s fight hard to get Rashid out of Florida now!

Comrade-Malik-art-by-Rashid-1116-web-271x300, Let’s fight hard to get Rashid out of Florida now!, Abolition Now!
“Comrade Malik,” a tribute from one leading member of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party Prison Chapter to another – Art: Kevin “Rashid” Johnson

by Keith ‘Malik’ Washington

Revolutionary greetings, Comrades!

Sisters and Brothers, I don’t know about you, but this entire state of affairs concerning Comrade Rashid just is not sitting well with me.

Rashid uncovers the abuse and murder of prisoners in Texas and then the state conspires with Florida DOC to place him in a worse place and in harm’s way? Hell no! Why isn’t this story on the front page of the USA Today? I mean, somebody must be willing to do an exposé detailing this story. I’m extremely grateful for the Bay View but we can do more.

This is what I need to bring to your attention. For the past two and a half years, Dr.  Heinz Leitner in Austria has been giving me detailed updates about the Florida Department of Corrections. We have specifically been following the case of a mentally ill Black man named Darren Rainey, who was scalded to death. This happened at Dade Correctional Mental Health Unit on June 23, 2012.

Rashid uncovers the abuse and murder of prisoners in Texas and then the state conspires with Florida DOC to place him in a worse place and in harm’s way? Somebody must be willing to do an exposé detailing this story.

Protect-Our-Leaders-art-by-Kevin-Rashid-Johnson-web-231x300, Let’s fight hard to get Rashid out of Florida now!, Abolition Now!
“Protect Our Leaders” is the name Rashid gave this artwork he created in 2007. Since then, his art and journalism having inspired people inside and outside prison across the country, setting in motion revolutionary movements, he amply deserves to be recognized as a leader. – Art: Kevin “Rashid” Johnson

I became very interested in the story because not only was Rainey a Black man, he was Muslim. I was further drawn in because a white male prisoner named Harold Hempstead courageously came forward to tell the truth how Mr. Rainey was scalded to death in the shower by Florida DOC prison guards. The story is shocking!

Like Rashid, Harold Hempstead was punished for exposing torture and abuse. An investigative reporter for the Miami Herald named Julie K. Brown did an excellent job covering this story and I would venture to think that she would be very interested in Rashid’s story.

The New Yorker did an exposé on Harold Hempstead entitled “Madness: In Florida prisons, mentally ill inmates have been tortured, driven to suicide and killed by guards.” Rashid deserves this type of coverage! Those human beings who were killed at the Bill Clements Unit in Amarillo, Texas, deserve this type of coverage! Prisoner Lives Matter!

Dare to struggle, dare to win.

All Power to the People!

Please contact my friend and comrade Kevin “Rashid” Johnson and if you happen to be a journalist, please help us shed light on the ultra-corrupt and immoral Texas Department of Criminal Justice. They are telling the world a lie!

Contact: Kevin Johnson, 158039, FSP, P.O. Box 800, Raiford, FL 32083.

And send our brother some love and light: Keith Washington, 1487958, Eastham Unit, 2665 Prison Rd 1, Lovelady TX 75851.