http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=02/08/20/9076884 Thomas Tripp: In His Own Words On January 28, 2001, seven others and myself took part in a direct action protest of the lack of educational opportunities, the religious restrictions placed on Native Americans, the harsh, isolated conditions, and disrespectful, abusive guards at Two Rivers Prison in Umatilla, Oregon. We took over a housing unit there for nearly two hours and laid waste to it. We destroyed televisions, computers, fax machines, soda and ice machines, files, phone systems, all the windows on the unit, even the ceiling. We also flooded the entire unit. Having no weapons, we ceded control of the unit when the prison's "Tactical Emergency Response Team" (TERT) arrived with shotguns, pistols, and an M16. After we had surrendered and were lying face down on the floor, the TERT threw a concussion grenade at us. We were then stripped naked and forced to lie handcuffed in between glass and water. Finally, we were marched - still nude - through the prison to segregation. We had caused over $57,000 dollars worth of damage to Oregon Department Of Corrections (ODOC) . Personal reasons for this action varied with the individual taking part. While I cannot speak for my comrades, I can say that none of us belong to a "white supremacist splinter group," as was portrayed in the ODOC's press releases - releases that were faithfully reprinted with no independent corroboration in the state's lousy rag The Oregonian. Speaking for myself, my motivation, as mentioned above, was to attempt to win back from the ODOC our educational programs, to ease the restrictions on Native Americans, and to get some sort of recreational programs at Two Rivers. Further - and more importantly - I had hoped that our example would be picked up and emulated by prisoners across the state. I had hoped that other prisoners would see that one does not always have to accept the abuse, that ways of fighting back exist. Finally, because I believe that the truly revolutionary moment will be the result of constantly engaging in "insurrectional moments at ever-closer intervals." I was simply doing my part. That was a year ago. Since then, I have been locked down 23 hours a day - first for six months in the "Disciplinary Segregation Unit" (the hole), and for the last five months here in the "Intensive Management Unit" (the hole). According to the people who run this place, I'll be in the hole at least until September 2002, and probably until February 2003 (despite the fact that I am scheduled to parole on August 23, 2002). On October 3, 2001, I was indicted by a Grand Jury of Umatilla County on three new felony charges: Riot, Criminal Mischief 1, and Inmate in Possession of a Weapon. These charges carry a possible combined total of thirty years in prison. After the District Attorney illegally postponed my arraignment for nearly three months, I was arraigned by video court on December 26, 2001, and my trial was set for April 19, 2002 - my 24th Birthday. Since December 26, the only contact I've had with an attorney has been a letter from mine on December 31 stating his intent to withdraw from my case. Despite my attempts, I have been unable to ascertain the nature of the evidence against me. I have no idea what the District Attorney is attempting to do, or how much time he is pushing for (although I've been told everything from five to twelve years). Although years of my life hang in the balance, I am being kept entirely in the dark by the state of Oregon. Whether or not this is intentional, I do not know. This much I do know: Every available weapon will be used against me in this case - including the tragic events of September 11 - as they will be used against every revolutionary comrade with the courage to strike back against the state and capitalism. That the state would use thousands of dead bodies as a means to further oppression illustrates the point I made in my previous article "The States Are The Real Terrorists" (see Break The Chains #8, available for $1 at the PO Box below) - the state is afraid. It has been made afraid by the growing number of insurrectionary and explicitly anti-state and anti-capitalist actions over the last five years. It fears these courageous actions because it cannot control them, it cannot stop them. It fears their inherent lack of hierarchy. This fear, along with the state's newly acquired weapon of September 11, puts me - and every other revolutionary comrade - in a very precarious position. We cannot allow this to make us hesitant - we must proceed - despite the state's paltry consequences. As I have said before, the state assumes that if it locks enough people away for long enough periods of time, the movement will disappear. We must continue to challenge that assumption. No one else can liberate us: We must free ourselves. For more information, contact: Break The Chains, PO Box 11331, Eugene, OR 97440. Thomas Tripp is in serious need of financial and emotional support. Monetary donations can be made out to "Uncivilized Books," and can be sent to the address above. Please send along a note specifying that you would like your donation to go to Thomas Tripp. Link: www.breakthechains.net
