Update on/from Daniel McGowan
Hi all,
Daniel has been getting settled into FCI Sandstone and has made a number of calls to friends and family. He's back on his 300 phone minutes a month and is able to start responding to letters, although he may not be able to respond to every single person. Daniel's job (all federal prisoners must work for the prison) is a clerical position in the psychology department. He starts it this week. He's been playing "pickle ball" (not quite sure what that is) and has been eating a lot better than at previous locations. We're relieved to hear he's doing OK, getting into a routine, and passing his time.
Daniel's latest "blog" entry is pasted below. You can also see past entries here: http://www.supportdaniel.org/prisonlife/blog.html. We're working on getting a real blog on the website soon.
September 18, 2007
Whew, so I finally made to FCI Sandstone — a low security prison in northern Minnesota and my home for the next couple of years. It’s been a rough couple of weeks — 2 flights, 2 long days in a bus, 11 days in the hole and not having a clue when I would be moved. Transit in the federal prison system is disorienting and frustrating but I’m here now and things are starting to normalize. Big thanks to everyone who wrote me in Oklahoma, Terre Haute, and Oxford — the letters are starting to catch up with me this week. I am way behind on correspondence and at times feel like I will be for a while.
How to describe Sandstone. Well, it has fences and barbed wire but it's not Oz! The first couple of days here were tough — trying to figure out what to do, where to go, how to do mundane things that others know already. With some help, I’m adjusting and each day gets easier by far. I hear once you learn how everything works, the boredom sets in but I’m doing all I can to keep busy by reading, preparing for my master’s program, running and signing up for classes.
I want to thank everyone who came out for the September 1st benefit in Brooklyn, NY that was held to help me pay for tuition. From what I heard, it was a lot of fun and really successful — I can’t wait to see the photos.
Finally, I want to ask you for your participation in this year’s Leonard Peltier Annual Holiday Toy Drive for the children of the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. This project has gone on for years and I’m happy to be part of it this year in a supporting capacity. My support crew will be creating a registry of toys that will make it simple for you to buy a toy or two for the Native children on the Pine Ridge reservation. I’m honored to be working on a project initiated by Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier and run by the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee — true allies in the struggle for political prisoners and environmental protection. Please participate as much as you can to make a real difference in the lives of these children who live on one of the poorest reservations in the nation and also by lending your support to the struggle to free Leonard Peltier. Check www.supportdaniel.org and www.leonardpeltier.net for more information in the near future.
Thanks for all the letters and support!
Daniel
http://www.supportdaniel.org/prisonlife/091807.html
Daniel McGowan is an environmental and social justice activist. He was charged in federal court on many counts of arson, property destruction and conspiracy, all relating to two incidents in Oregon in 2001. Until recently, Daniel was offered two choices by the government: cooperate by informing on other people, or go to trial and face life in prison. His only real option was to plead not guilty until he could reach a resolution of the case that permitted him to honor his principles. As a result of months of litigation and negotiation, Daniel was able to admit to his role in these two incidents, while not implicating or identifying any other people who might have been involved. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison on June 4, 2007 and began serving his time on July 2, 2007.
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