Blog
8-20-2002
» Reflections
Around four-thirty this morning I was up. My neighbor MS got his bus ticket. He has 121 years to life to do. I wish him luck. Now I have a new neighbor who has a mental condition. He bangs on the bed and yells out loud. He’s stressing. Other people taunt him. I don’t know how he feels, but I empathize with him. I feel blessed that I don’t have his condition. I gave him a book and two magazines to read. He has been quiet.
I received a letter from Mom. She’s traveling out of the country with Dad to celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary. She told me she saw S and his girlfriend. She said he’s lucky. She also said that her and Dad are not getting healthier, but getting older and in deteriorated shape. She wants to see me home next to her so she can love me. I felt a sadness that prompted me to give up everything so I can be home with her. I don’t want to wait too long before they get too old. I want to go home.
Rico found that the BPT took his date. I feel sorry for him too especially under these conditions. He will win his freedom and more because the prison officials totally violated his rights. I sent him a note to show him my support.
G was in a hurry today so we talked briefly.
I wrote a letter to A just to say hi. I forgot to ask him about the visiting application. He hasn’t tried to contact Mom yet.
Mike and I played three games of basketball today. We lost two. His blister came back because he doesn’t have a pair of tennis shoes. I jammed my neck and am sored now.
I wrote a 602 on ICC not taking me to committee every 30 days. I also wrote out all the 602s I’ve filed since I’ve been in the hole. I wrote to the appeals coordinator about my two unresponsive emergency 602s. They’re violating my due process right continuously. I still haven’t received any paperwork yet. I want to get this thing over with.
I rewrote my poem. I’ll make a copy then send it out to friends.
I’m tired from the day’s activities. I’ll get to rest my body tomorrow.
San Quentin T.R.U.S.T. Health Fair
» Reflections
The overcast weather and cold wind welcome the volunteers as everyone enter the gates of San Quentin State Prison for the 8th annual T.R.U.S.T. (an inmate activity group) health fair. Centerforce, Bay Area Black Nurses Association, Alameda County Public Health Department and Urban Male Health Initiative are the proud sponsors for this event. Health professionals and non-profit organizations provide health information and reentry resources for hundred of prisoners on the lower yard of the prison.
One of the most popular services in the health fair was from the Love Your Body Chiropractic Wellness Studio. Volunteer professionals provide chiropractic adjustment for the prisoners. People were lining up for hours to get a chance to have their bodies adjusted.
I was able to participant in the event with a group of Asian and Pacific Islander volunteers and staff from the Asian health Services. We were able to provide cultural competent resources for the API prisoners. For many of the prisoners, they just wanted to talk to someone from the outside.
I’m always grateful whenever I have an opportunity to go in the prison that is once my home. I get to talk to many of the prisoners I still know who are doing life terms. It’s sad to know that many of them have been incarcerated for 30, 35, and 40 years. When I was reflecting with this Native American brother who’s been down for 40 years about hope and freedom, I told him many of the young African American males in the community don’t get to live up to 40 years before they’re murdered. Sometimes it’s blessing to be able to survive 40 years of incarceration. and remain sane.
There are too many transformed life term prisoners deserve to be out of prison and given the opportunity to utilize their experiences and skills to make a positive impact in society. The Prison Industrial Complex must stop wasting tax payers money to warehouse people who have rehabilitated themselves.
8-19-2002
It’s been a fast moving day. I read the disciplinary section of the Prisoner’s Handbook.
G dropped by briefly to share his weekend with his great-granddaughters with me.
I did my workout before shower. It felt good to take a hot shower then at the end shower in cold water for a minute. It woke the body up.
I wrote to ZY in Chinese. I noticed I have lost a lot of the vocabularies. I can talk better than I write. I dropped J a couple of pages. She hasn’t received my letter yet. When she does she’ll have plenty to read about. I received a letter from M. It’s a pleasant surprise. She’s living in Emeryville with her boyfriend F. She’ll be teaching in Oakland Tech. It’s great to hear from her. I sent her the visiting application so she can come see me. I need to stay close to the Bay so I can be connected with friends and family.
I started reading the economic book by Heilbroner “The Worldly Philosophers.†I’m in the first chapter and I like it already. I’m reading three books at the same time.
I haven’t done my lesson on the statistics yet. I have too much to do. I need to manager my time better.
I haven’t heard form Mom. I hope all is well with everyone.
8-18-2002
» Reflections
It’s C’s birthday. I hope she has straightened out her life. She had been through much suffering.
I didn’t finish writing the letter to ZY. I wasn’t thinking logically anyway. I’ll rewrite it tomorrow. I wrote to A and told her about my feelings on starting to implement our ideas prematurely. I also reminded her to be sure the youth have fun when they get into activism and politics. I look forward to hear what she had accomplished concerning my campaign.
It was cold outside today. Mike and I walked for a while. He didn’t play ball caused of his blisters. I played some 21s and then we did some burpes. He’s still trying to get his strength back.
I took a nap, read a little, and wasted the night away. I ate a big bowl of rice with bean, soy meat, preserved vegi and salad for dinner. I still wish the water’s hotter.
Another day went by quickly. Mike thinks that we’ll be settled down by the end of September. I hope things will work out for me. I don’t mind going to Solano prison and concentrate on my parole. I have to beat whatever charges they try to get me on.
I talked to R for a bit. He’ll see me on the streets. He’s a cool dude. God bless me.
Breathin’: The Eddy Zheng Story
» Reflections
What can I say? Nine years ago today, I was in a cold cell surrounded by concrete and steel in San Quentin’s solitary confinement learning how to fight for my rights and freedom. Today, there is a story to be told. It is another history in the making. However, as always, this story of redemption cannot be share without the support from all the people who believe in transformation and restorative justice. Please support this documentary project by spreading the word and donate.
8-17-2002
It’s a slow day. I slept for a while after working out and shower. The room was cold.
Mike shot me his Prisoner’s Handbook and some cases on retaliation. I read for a long time. All the cases come down to whether there is a penological interest for the prison authority to violate a prisoner’s right. If there isn’t, then the 1983 (Federal Civil Rights law suit) retaliation claim will be strong. We have to wait and see if ours will stand up in court.
I have been eating more than I should. I have letters to write, but I felt lazy. I read a couple of chapters of” Writing Well.” It’s very helpful.
8-16-2002
» Reflections
I have been here two months and I have no idea how long I’ll stay. Everything is in a holding pattern. I just have to go with the flow and roll with the punches.
It’s been cold out in the morning. I’m glad that I have my thermals. Mike and I played a couple of basketball games. We beat the two brothers badly. We’re too healthy and out hustled them. Mike doesn’t have basketball shoes on so he got blood blisters. We did some pushups and squat. It felt good to be out on the yard. Too bad Rico can’t join us. It makes a huge difference not being able to go to yard for a long period of time.
I read the yoga book for a while. I received the Board of Control forms. I don’t know if I will have a chance to win later. I did some brainstorming on the youth project. I studied a couple of section of the statistics. It’s a lot of reading.
I received three more books. That’ll keep me busy for a long time. I don’t’ think I’ll be able to read all the books. I’m tired so I’m turning in early.
