Speakers criticize treatment of prisoners

Using terms such as "United Snakes of America," and wearing T-shirts displaying the word "Amerikkka," the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League encouraged students and community members to fight for the rights of American prisoners Friday night.

While the intended speaker, Frank "Big Black" Smith, who led the 1971 Attica prison rebellion, did not attend due to an illness, two replacement speakers attempted to deliver his message about the inhumane treatment of prisoners by describing their own experiences.

The first speaker, Ann Arbor lawyer Johnathan Rose, expressed his empathy for those in prison.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Black Panther Gary Fareead speaks about problems with the U.S. prison system.

"In all prisons, prisoners believe they are there unjustly. I agree," Rose said. "The definition of crime is political and temporal."

Rose also expressed his concern for the U.S. sentencing system.

"The search for symmetry in sentencing in criminal cases is a tremendously wasteful and foolish trend that results in wasteful long punishments and destruction of lives," he said.

Rose said students can fight injustices by being aware of what's going on around them.

"Students need to keep active," Rose said. "Resist the oppression that affects students."

Gary Fareead, a former Illinois prisoner who now attends Wayne State University's law school, shared his experiences and thoughts as a person released from prison and on "the other side of the fence."

Fareead said he found his prison experience to be liberating to his mind, but at the same time challenging to his identity.

"Prison is about dehumanization in America," Fareead said. One way he tried to prevent himself from losing his identity was to explain to guards who would refer to him by his prison identification number that his name is Gary.

Fareead encouraged students to be "instrumental in bringing back a humane perspective to the prison condition." He invited them to confront local agencies.

"Let them know, with my knowledge, I'm your local watch dog," Fareead said. "You University students have the power to do that."

Most students who attended the event agreed that prisons in the United States should be reformed.

LSA senior Hayley Macon said she came to the event because she had seen "videos of the Attica rebellion and was sickened by the things that went on in prison."

Macon said her disgust intensified after visiting a prison as part of an internship program in Washington D.C.

"People don't understand how bad prison is," Macon said. "I was forced to visit some in Washington D.C. during my internship and was scared by the unchecked power that went on there."

Corey Fielder, a RAIL member, said she hoped those who heard the speakers will become involved in the cause.

"RAIL does not hold events just so that the information can be absorbed and alter dry up," Fielder said. "We hope that the information will mobilize people to stop the proliferation of prisons."

RAIL plans to reschedule Smith for a speech in February or March.

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