Survivors of Lucasville Uprising denied phone calls and threatened with solitary to censor them

by Azzurra Crispino with Greg Curry

Youngstown, Ohio – The recent prison uprising in South Carolina is often described as the deadliest in 25 years, referencing the Lucasville Uprising, which began on April 11, 1993, and lasted 11 days and took the lives of nine prisoners and one correctional officer. This week is the 25th anniversary of the 1993 Lucasville uprising, which is being “celebrated” by correctional officers by silencing the survivors of that riot, some of whom were framed for murder while the prisoners responsible for the violence were able to plead out and avoid punishment.

Greg-Curry-on-phone-123017-300x225, Survivors of Lucasville Uprising denied phone calls and threatened with solitary to censor them, Abolition Now!
Greg Curry shares his New Year’s message on Dec. 30, 2017.

Greg Curry has long maintained his innocence regarding the Lucasville Uprising, but was nevertheless convicted of murder. He has been asking all of his supporters to raise awareness of the Lucasville Uprising during this anniversary. Unable to legally censor the survivors of the Lucasville Uprising who are in general population, the prison has recently denied Greg phone calls.

According to Greg’s long-time romantic partner, he was able to get a visit from his mother but has had his JPay access and phone calls suspended “indefinitely.” “This is so unusual. Greg and I talk every day and email every day. EVERY day.”

She also let us know that Greg, who was recently released from administrative segregation, is facing another trip to the hole in what can only be described as an attempt by Ohio State Penitentiary to silence him from speaking out about what really happened at Lucasville 25 years ago.

Greg writes, “In 2017, the state lost an important battle on that front. The five prisoners held at Ohio’s Supermax (for 20 years) are now allowed to do face-to-face interviews. All month long we will be shining light on the brutal treatment inside the prison and biased treatment in the judicial process.”

Greg, who was recently released from administrative segregation, is facing another trip to the hole in what can only be described as an attempt by Ohio State Penitentiary to silence him from speaking out about what really happened at Lucasville 25 years ago.

In other words, Greg and others were planning on doing interviews, but have been stopped by the inability to access the phones and are being threatened with more time in the hole for speaking out about the injustices in the judicial process they have suffered.

As Imam Siddique Abdullah Hasan stated in his recent interview regarding the Lucasville Uprising, “Part of the 21-point agreement, that no inmate or group of inmates would be singled out for retaliatory action, that was not the case” and we can infer this continues not to be the case. The prisoners agreed to surrender because of this 21-point agreement, but 25 years later, it is not being followed.

Since Greg cannot speak for himself, it is time for us to speak out on his behalf and join survivors in remembering the Lucasville Uprising.

Write to Greg: Greg Curry, 213-159, Ohio State Penitentiary, 878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd., Youngstown, Ohio 44505.

Donate to his legal fund at https://fundrazr.com/GregCurryLegalFund?ref=em_a7C8d3_ab_4GJn22OOHiy4GJn22OOHiy.

Since Greg cannot speak for himself, it is time for us to speak out on his behalf and join survivors in remembering the Lucasville Uprising.

And write the other survivors of the Lucasville Uprising here: http://www.lucasvilleamnesty.org/p/contact.html.

Contact Azzurra Crispino of PAPS Texas at iheartpaps@gmail.com and visit PAPS Texas at https://papstexas.blogspot.com/.