Sign to support Native American Prisoner Jason Campbell's Hunger Strike for religious freedom
SUPPORT NATIVE AMERICAN PRISONER JASON
CAMPBELL'S HUNGER STRIKE FOR THE RIGHT TO
PRACTICE HIS RELIGION!
Sign online to tell President Obama, Attorney General
Holder, Ohio Governor Kasich, Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Correction Director Moore, the Ohio State
Penitentiary Warden Bobby, the Ohio Legislature, the Ohio
Congressional Delegation, Congressional leaders, U.N.
Secretary General Ban, and members of the media you want the
right to Native religious practices of Native prisoner Jason
Campbell (Native name Vo'kome Nahkohe) and all Native
prisoners respected, Jason's hunger strike demands met and
Jason released from isolation with no reprisals.
click HERE
to sign. click HERE
to view petition text.
Statement from Native American prisoner Jason Campbell,
an inmate on hunger strike at Ohio State Peniteniary:
The following is a statement from Jason Campbell, an
inmate in Ohio State Penitentiary, where Lucasville
uprising prisoners Siddique Abdullah Hasan, Bomani Shakur
and Jason Robb recently won significant improvements in
the terms of their confinement through a 12-day hunger
strike and an international campaign of support. Campbell
chose Feb. 27 to start his hunger strike because it is the
38th anniversary of the liberation of Wounded Knee by the
American Indian Movement. On March 2, when his hunger
strike became official after refusing his 9th meal, he was
moved to isolation without access to tv, radio or walkman,
and his religious necklace was illegally confiscated.
Please sign the ONLINE
PETITION at http://www.iacenter.org/prisoners/campbellpetition
demanding he be released from isolation with no
retaliation and that all his demands for practice of
native religion be granted for him and all native
prisoners
Thank you for your interest in my current plight. I am
grateful that there is at least one voice still willing to
speak up on behalf of those in my position.
Since my incarceration in 2003, I have diligently fought
for the religious rights of incarcerated Native Americans in
Ohio prisons. I feel – seeing that I have the ability, that
it is my responsibility to insure that we have the same
protections under the law that other faith based groups
generally enjoy. Personally, I have requested everything I
could think of, trying to get as much approved as I could –
as I know it would set the tone for what others will be
allowed in the future. Basically, I am being prevented from
practicing my Native beliefs in every way. I have requested
and been denied all of the following: Tobacco, tobacco
ties(twists), moccasins, feathers, beads (sewn into objects
like a head band or medicine bag)), fur, animal hair (such
as horse and buffalo), head band (of a color other than
white – where beads are concerned), sacred objects (for
Medicine Bag and Medicine Bundle), Native American flute,
hand drum, rattle, access to sweat lodge (for purification),
and to have a ‘Sun Dance’ ceremony.
I also have requested and have been approved for: A
‘prayer pipe’, Medicine Bag, and a Medicine Bundle, but I
must point out that these are useless without: tobacco for
the prayer pipe, and sacred objects for the Medicine Bag and
Medicine Bundle. Without tobacco, I am unable to pray.
Without sacred objects for the Medicine Bag and Medicine
Bundle, they are just empty vessels – void of their purpose.
One last thing. My hunger strike is not considered
“official” until after I refuse my ninth meal – which will
be Wednesday, March 2nd, at breakfast. When I get to the
ninth meal and refuse to come off of the hunger strike, I
will be moved to the segregation block (the Hole). I’m told
it is to prevent other prisoners from giving me food. In
fact, I believe that it is to punish me into coming off of
the hunger strike by putting me in a cell with no
electricity. If you can find a way to address this as well,
it would be much appreciated.
I hope – fervently, that this information can help you in
assisting me - and through me, all other Native Americans
in Ohio prisons. Present and future. Thank you again for
your help. – “Mitakuye Oyasin” (to all my relations)
Sincerely,
Jason Campbell
#476-229
SAMPLE PETITION TEXT:
To: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director
Moore, Ohio State Penitentiary Warden Bobby, Ohio Gov. Kasich,
Attorney General Holder, President Obama
cc: Ohio Legislature, Ohio Congressional Delegation,
Congressional Leaders, U.N. Secretary-General Ban, members of
the media
Honor the right of Native American Prisoner Jason Campbell
(Vo'kome Nahkohe) to practice his religion! All of his religious
freedom hunger strike demands are just and legitimate. They must
be granted immediately! His religious necklace, which was
confiscated from him illegally, must be immediately returned.
Remove him from isolation and restore all privileges. No
reprisals for his just hunger strike action!
On February 27, Jason Campbell #476-229 (native name Vo'kome
Nahkohe) began a hunger strike to demand that his ability to
practice his native religion be respected by the Ohio prison
system. On March 2, having refused 9 meals, his action became an
official hunger strike. He was sent to isolation where he is
deprived of tv, radio and walkman, and his religious necklace,
which has been approved as a religious accommodation, was
illegally confiscated. Campbell is demanding religious objects
necessary to the practice of his religion, such as tobacco,
beads and animal hair as well as the right to practice his
religious ceremonies including a Sun Dance ceremony. Over the
course of the past several years he has exhausted all legal
remedies to obtain what he needs for his religious practices. He
therefore felt he had no recourse but to initiate a hunger
strike for himself and other Native American inmates in Ohio's
prisons.
Jason Campbell and all Native American prisoners must be
accorded the same rights to practice their religion as other
prisoners!
Sincerely
(your signature appended here)
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