HUNGER STRIKE ATTEMPTS TO BRING ATTENTION TO THREE CRITICAL PROBLEMS:
1. High Temperatures in Cells
2. Undocumented, Illegal Abuse of Chemical Agents
3. Undocumented, Unnecessary and Excessive Use of Force
M E M O
To: Florida Legislature, Congress, House of Representatives and the National Media
From: Ronald W. Clark, Jr., #812974
Subject: Request for fans to be available to inmates of F.D.O.C. through the Commissary
This memorandum is sent to you regarding the inhumane mercilessness of captivating a human being in a 9 x 6, 54 square foot cage to endure 90 plus degree temperatures, with the high humidity of Florida, with no air conditioning or fans.
The stench of sweltering human bodies, men facing the imminent imperil of death, yet left in this cage, forced to endure sub-human conditions. Permitted no more than 3 showers a week. These are the conditions of Florida’s Death Row in the 21st Century. Conditions created by the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), inhumane conditions accepted by a “civilized society”.
Fans are denied by the F.D.O.C., for “security” reasons. However, I can show that the denial of fans are for no other reason than to cause misery and suffering. In these 9 x 6 foot cages, we have steel lockers, shelves, TV stands, as well as 12” black and white TVs, which also contain metal as well as glass. That in itself shows that an 8” fan, which is permitted on other Death Rows throughout this country, are denied here for no reason other than to cause misery and suffering.
I contend that this is no more than cruel and unusual punishment that needs to cease immediately. I’m calling for the F.D.O.C. to sell fans in the Commissary, a simple resolution to this problem.
Yet a problem that I doubt that Secretary James V. Crosby, Jr. cares about. In the late 90’s, Crosby was Warden here at Florida State Prison, and at that time, officer-on-inmate assaults were at their all-time high in this building, until that fatal day on July 17, 1999, when 9 of James V. Crosby, Jr. officers beat, stomped and murdered inmate Frank Valdez while he was handcuffed behind his back. Just as Crosby showed no compassion or mercy when he was Warden, I expect nothing more of him at the present time. So I am now taking my plight to resolve this situation and bring decency and humanity to the F.D.O.C., to the Florida Legislature, Congress, the House of Representatives and to the media.
Here in the 21st Century, the need for progress is an absolute must. I’m pleading for your help to bring humanity to these cruel and inhumane temperatures.
Thank you,
Ronald W. Clark, Jr.
RETURN TO
Ronald Clark's Hunger Strike
