Voices from the Inside

This page is for the words we recieve from our allies and comrades inside Pennsylvania's prisons. Many of these statements were given to us to be read at protests and rallys, including the February 20th Occupy for Prisoners rally and the November 19th Tribunal to put the PA Prison System on trial.

If you or someone you love is currently incarcerated and wants to submit something for our Voices from the Inside section, write to us at:

Decarcerate PA
PO Box 40764
Philadelphia, PA 19107

To purge and oppress: The cup of equality, and the chalice of justice, are replete with emptiness in america The so-called justice system in america -- in particular the 49 contiguous states, preys on the poor, as well as ignorance and immaturity, (immature minds of the youth), and exclusively survives... READ MORE	Life Without The Possibility of Parole (LWOPP) and The Absolute Prohibition of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment By Asar Imhotep Amen (Aka T.T. Thomas) Life without the possibility of parole (LWOPP), both as a general practice and through the specific methods of implementation and... READ MORE
A posteriori By Curtis “Tawfeeq” Braxton The word “penitentiary” has its origin in the word “penitent,” which is synonymous with “repentance” which adds the implication of a resolve to change, the... READ MORE	Message to the Black People I hope and pray this message finds y’all in great health! This message is targeted toward the black youth of this day, which I am a part of, too. Long before the white man came to this country,... READ MORE
Support from Coal Township There was a motion in our Triumph organization here at the institution to donate $500 to your organization. It was denied by the administration, stating that you were not on our approved vendor... READ MORE	STAYING IN THE FIGHT By Ernest R. Morris Dear Community:... READ MORE
LETS STOP HIGH TECH LYNCHING "The Negro does not want love. He wants justice." - E. Franklin Frazier, 1894 - 1662 ... READ MORE	Right to Redemption By Terrell, SCI Graterford *What is your name? How long have you been incarcerated?* My name is Terrell and I’ve been incarcerated... READ MORE
BLACK LIVES MATTER by Usamah aka Dante Burton 6-10-2015 We have become blinded by the fact that we have gained rights, and the fact that we were treated better. However, black lives have never really... READ MORE	Nkechi speaks out about compassion, justice, and being sentenced to die in prison ... READ MORE
To get ‘smart on crime,’ follow some basic steps By Richie Marra, SCI Chester The “tough-on-crime” mantra... READ MORE	Rights of the Condemned By David Lee, SCI Coal Township What follows is an excerpt from a longer article written by David... READ MORE
WHAT HAPPENED?! By Kevin White These words are just a few of the many statements and phrases that are said to an attorney, a prosecutor or judge after a criminal defendant is found guilty of a crime in... READ MORE	SCI-Coal Township Inmate Dining Hall Boycott Rundown by Incarcerated Citizens Coalition (ICC) On June 16 to June 23, men at SCI Coal Township initiated a 1-week, peaceful boycott of the Inmate Dining Hall in response to the implementation of... READ MORE
The Pigeon and Me By Sergio Hyland, SCI Green I saw something interesting last night. It was after midnight, and I was outside shoveling snow. In prison, any job you can get that allows... READ MORE	Open Letter to LeBron James July 16, 2014 Mr. LeBron James Cleveland Cavalier One Center Ct. Cleveland, OH 44115 Dear LeBron: Cordial greetings. I am writing to you at this time for many... READ MORE
Capturing History: Imprisoned Men at SCI Coal Township Stand on the Right Side of History By David Lee On June 16^th, the men here at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institute at Coal Township started a week-long, non-... READ MORE	POEM: The Power of Protest Mass incarceration is certainly the new “Jim Crow” There are many better ways to spend our dough… Our youth deserve better, should be given the tools, ... READ MORE
A statement for the March to Harrisburg First of all, I want to commend everyone in attendance for their commitment, passion and humanity. The new prisons being built represent so much more than prison expansion and all of you... READ MORE	Why we cannot afford to build any more prisons By Fred (SCI Graterford) Building new prisons is just an external symptom of the cancer that is eating away at our society’s core. At the root of the issue is the ever-... READ MORE

Pages