Ash

My situation is deteriorating. Despite spending 61 days in the SHU, the punitive unit for inmates who attack other prisoners and guards, I have once again had my conditions downgraded. Since the time I have come into this jail I have been forced to endure punitive housing. During my time here, I have watched men come and go, men who have stabbed other inmates. These men are only forced to stay in these cells for 7 days until rereleased to general population. I have been here for 61 days and counting. Today, I was informed that I was finally changing cells. However, I was moved to another cell inside the same SHU unit in far worse condition than my past one. I no longer have hot water of any kind. I no longer have air conditioning of any kind. I have a serious roach infestation, with 10/15 visible roaches on the ceiling and walls at any one time no matter how many I kill. I have stone-cold water and filth. That’s it. NOTHING else. My last cell was already the minimum which could be attributed to me inside of this prison, they’ve found a WORSE cell and forced me to move. There is absolutely no reason for this to be happening. I understand FDC Miami has received thousands of complaints due to the conditions they house inmates in. I understand that after large-scale protests, ICE detainees are no longer held in the SHU unit because of the damage done to their physical and mental health. So illegals are too good for these rooms, but I’m in one. I, an American citizen, here legally, with zero criminal record globally and no accusations of crime in the United States, am held in the SHU unit. This is a cruel and unusual punishment. This violates civil rights. This is being done to me on purpose. I have done nothing but show respect to every single guard. I have been kind to everyone. I have sat in the SHU for 61 days, longer than anyone currently in custody, sitting in the dark and filth focused on my breathing. I have endured. Yet they do not respect me for this, in fact the senior staff sees me as a fool for being patient and respectful. As prisoners who flood cells and attack guards get moved to better conditions and I am ignored. I have repeatedly requested the attention of senior staff regarding my conditions who are now refusing to talk to me. Last time their attention was requested he apparently replied “fuck that guy” Why? I've only been nice to him. I called him sir. I smile and nod my head. I've done nothing to this man which could be considered negative by the furthest stretch of any imagination. The last time he spoke to me, was two weeks ago, when during Rec he stormed into the yard with other guards, handcuffed me and Tristan behind our backs and screamed in our faces. He screamed with rage, as if somebody kicked his dog, foaming at the mouth… because we had extra books in our cell. He lost his mind over books. I've never seen a man so angry, over a book. I felt sorry for him. Tristan and I said nothing and apologized despite the fact it was pathetic. I haven’t seen him since, and he’s downgrading my conditions and leaving me to rot. I would like to add there are good staff here, hard-working men and women who know what is happening to me is unfair and understand this place isn’t fit for humans. They repeatedly apologize to me and state that the senior staff have never treated other high-profile prisoners this way. I'm the only one. Nobody knows the reason why this is happening. But someone is ordering it. This is my life, I am living it and it is brutal. I have been left with no choice but to take legal action against FDC Miami for the conditions of my confinement. This is a civil rights issue. I do not ask for special treatment. I asked to be treated the same as any other prisoner and American citizen. In fact, I ask to be treated as well as an ILLEGAL. Not only am I in jail, I have been downgraded by 95% from what normal prisoners receive. I have prepared a package, currently with my legal and PR teams, of every single infraction I have witnessed in this facility. The corruption, the lack of recreation, the filth, the unsanitary conditions. ANYONE who has previously complained against this facility can contact my legal team. I understand they have tortured thousands of people, and all of them were not even treated as badly as I am being treated. There is no ambiguity here - what is happening to me is against the law. There is absolutely no reason for FDC to be treating men this way, whether they are American citizens or otherwise. They are deliberately torturing me. The Romanians treated me better than this. To all Main Stream News outlets, if you want to understand why this facility received thousands of complaints, I have the story and the proof - contact my team immediately. I would never kill myself.