venerdì 16 marzo 2012

Letter from Manuel Salas


Denver ABC lists Manuel Salas as one of our politicized prisoners. Manuel recently sent us this letter and asked that it be broadly distributed.

“My name is Manuel C. Salas, founder of National Animal Rights and Anarchist Network (NARAN). I ask everyone to remember we only stay blind as long as we allow ourselves not to grow and see the injustice and differences between what is lies and what is truth. And justice is not just for one, but for all and should be the same for all and not juggled by the color of one’s skin, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other factor.

I write this page to request support and to get more information out on the injustices going on with me as I move on with my fight to get justices. So that I do not repeat myself, people can see my other updates on my web page listed at the end of this page.

After being moved to the Waupun in January of 2011 I had to go through hell to get my vegan food back. After making the Department of Corrections (DOC) change their policy, the DOC started to harass me more in every way they can. But I have had more problems that are very serious.

The serious medical problems are due to staff—both security, HSU and kitchen staff—at WCI playing games with my food. I am a vegan and eat NO animal products at all.

For a long time, every few days I have been getting animal products on my food trays being given to me, but it got worse after two officers started working on the seq wing I’m on causing it to where I have been forced to not eat on the first shift for over 28 days. My blood sugar went as low as 48—as the medical papers show—and also causing a lot of other problems. On Valentines Day I blacked out and staff third shift had to get me emergency medical treatment.

And then on 2/21/2012 Second Shift, staff—all rookies except for two—battered me by using force on me. Photos were taken of my leg, arm and hand. I’m just taking one day at a time. I was having medical problems with my blood sugar and staff would not do their job. So what do they do? Batter me.

I want to stand up and what better way than 4-19-2012. I do not have the support I need, but I would like to get a protest/rally outside of the Waupun Correctional Institution in Waupun, WI. This would be to show support to me and to all prisoner vegans! And to stop the unjust conditions behind prison walls.

4-19-2012 would be the day I want to get this together because of the history of the day and what better way to show respect to our comrades and activists that died that day fighting for justices.

Any support would be greatly appreciated and anyone that would be willing to help me get this protest/rally going please let me know ASAP.

People can look me up at www.supportmanuel.com to see and read other things and movements that I’m going through to fight the injustice. And people can write to me at the address below, just please print.

In Solidarity,

Manuel C. Salas #504212

Waupun Correctional Institution

PO Box 351

Waupun, WI 53963-0351″

www.supportmanuel.com

Manuel Salas
Manuel C. Salas
#504212
Waupun Correctional Institute
PO Box 351
Waupun, WI 53963-0351

Manuel Salas is a 25 year old politicized prisoner who is vegan and an animal rights activist. He has recently founded the National Animal Rights and Anarchist Network (NARAN).

Personal Background
Manuel was born in Virginia, but later moved to Texas and finally Wisconsin, where he has spent most of his life. He became interested in animals rights when he was 15. He became vegetarian, started volunteering at shelters for battered and abused animals and also worked with some groups that rescue and rehabilitate injured animals. He also began attending fur protests and organized an anti-hunting protest. At 18 he became vegan.

Life in Prison
The Fight for Vegan Meals

A few months before his 19th birthday Manuel was arrested for arson (unrelated to his animal rights activism). He was originally held at the Columbia Correctional Institute where he had vegan food, but was not nutritionally adequate. He protested the food, asking for better quality meals and was instead moved to Waupun Correctional Institute, which did not provide vegan meals at all. He then went on hunger strike to gain access to vegan meals and won. He is now working again to improve the quality of the vegan meals in prison.

Raising HIV/AIDS Awareness in Prison

In addition to animal rights work, Manuel is also working to raise awareness around HIV/AIDS and improve the level of care for those who have AIDS and are imprisoned. His brother is HIV positive and faces harrassment and inadequate health care because of it.

Manuel is always interested in new pen pals and additional outside support for himself and the work he is involved with.

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