My name is Nomi Isaac, I am writing in my capacity as a regional organizer for the Virginia Student Power Network. The Virginia Student Power Network is a statewide organization that represents hundreds of young people (aged 18-35) throughout Virginia. We support initiatives that work to end slavery and combat criminalization, because we understand that Future Elders (or youth) are the targets of the criminal legal system, which includes Supermax prisons that are too-big-to-fill or fail. Red Onion is one of those prisons. Over the past few weeks, I and other community members have been left outraged by the disturbing headlines stating that young, Black Men in Virginia’s prisons were setting themselves on fire as a last ditch effort to be transferred out of Red Onion Supermax Prison. In the days following that initial article authored by the Virginia Defenders, one person’s words have rang in my mind over and over again. It’s those of 28-year-old Ekong Eshiet, who said: “Before I have to stay up here and do the rest of my time…I would rather die…because every day I’m dealing with discrimination, whether it’s behind my race, my last name or my religion.” He said he’d light his whole body on fire if that’s what it took. With such strong resolve, at first, I didn’t understand why Eshiet emphasized that these self-immolations were not protests, rather acts of desperation he’d committed with the hope of getting out of an insufferable situation. But then I thought back to my own, brief experience in lockup at short-term detention facility, for a non-violent offense, as a Black Muslim: I was forced to remove my head covering, I found little to eat, and as an asthmatic with chronic bronchitis my calls to medical went ignored for hours – the hours of isolation and starvation left me contemplating doing unthinkably injurious things to myself: the indignity of it all was crisis-inducing. That was only 24 hours in a low-level facility. During that time, I often wondered what would happen if, 24 hours turned into weeks or years. What if this jail were a prison? Thinking back on that moment, is when I understood Ekong’s intentionality. I understood that this is not simply an objection to unfair treatment – it is survivance, or the conjunction between resistance and survival, in the wake of the continued practice of slavery in Virginia. Ekong has now been deemed a danger to others – is the person who lights themself on fire to shed light to abominable conditions dangerous? Or is it an institution that forces people to light themselves on fire in order to be heard – in order to be witnessed – in order to be regarded as human that is dangerous? There is a longstanding and well-documented criminality with regard to the substandard treatment of men experiencing serious health conditions and disability at Red Onion. It is part of the reason why long-time Prison Rights Activist, Kevin Rashid Johnshon was in the medical unit where he picked up this account from Ekong to begin with: because Red Onion is systematically disabling prisoners through medical neglect. And that’s not even scratching the surface of the abuses of power. Whether it be cancer or hypertension; depression or anxiety; suicidality or self-injury, being sick in a Virginia state correctional facility is a death sentence. Even if you come in well, you will leave ill, or die trying.

What role do economic incentives play in keeping Red Onion open?

As someone who just recently moved to Virginia, I was appalled upon first learning of the conditions at Red Onion state prison. The recurring evidence for these conditions - including firsthand testimony from inmates who self-immolated in an attempt to be transferred away, documentary evidence going back more than a decade ago - should shock and disgust anyone. It's clear to me that Red Onion's continued presence and conditions are a result of cynical economic motivation, which casts aside basic human rights as a consequence. The attempt by the Virginia Department of Corrections to cover up the conditions at this prison only makes the situation more clearly dire. The representatives at the Virginia General Assembly should reject the narrative that VDOC would attempt to peddle, and instead investigate conditions at Red Onion themselves. Listen to the firsthand accounts of prisoners, listening to them as you would the accounts of any human being worthy of respect, and weighing them just as heavily as those of employees at the prison, if not more. Be honest about what you see - and if you find yourself tempted to lie or downplay conditions for the sake of jobs, or some vague economic principle, know that with each word you betray the humanity of each and every person still trapped under the cruel conditions of that prison.

I'm Fatimah Muwahhid, the Virginia State Representative for Survivors 4 Justice Reform. I want to personally address the members of The House Public Safety Committee and members present from VADOC on the current issue of self harm in VADOC and ask you all to prioritize everyone's well-being by seeking avenues to healing and collective action to understand and avoid further self-harm. Survivors 4 Justice Reform is a global coalition of Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking who stand for justice reform. We advocate for options that reduce further harm for all and increase transparency and accountability in that pursuit. We recognize that unhealed traumas occurring in the carceral system will only encourage future harm in our communities. That is what I wanted to speak about today, the dehumanization around the self-harming events reported at Red Onion and the broader issue of extended isolation, the real root cause of these tragedies. The well-being of people behind bars is a widespread concern among loved ones of those behind bars at facilities across the state. It is also of widespread public concern for us all because of how this affects others in our communities, now and in the future. These are actions from desperate human beings who have reacted to their conditions by hurting themselves in an attempt to simply change something. Such conditions, if unaddressed, will not help rehabilitation nor assist in social reintegration of those who will ultimately be returning to our communities. The use of extended isolation to confine the incarcerated impacts the public in more ways than just public safety. It can breed indifference towards DOC staff and officials, hostility towards loved ones and other residents, and lead people to be sent home unhealed, more likely to harm others again in the future. These conditions anywhere within VADOC facilities, including but not limited to Red Onion, are therefore public safety matters that I hope will be addressed by this committee. My request is for the committee to gain answers about current efforts to maintain safety and to initiate collective strategies to better understand the root causes of these issues, especially as it relates to extended isolation in all its forms. As a survivor who does not want people acting out when they return home, I hope that by you and other stakeholders working together, we can avoid any tragedies in the future and bring mutual healing for those under the control of VADOC, keeping them well and helping us all be safer when they return home. Thank you, Fatimah Muwahhid

The conditions at Red Onion are on appalling and inhumane. The resort these types of facilities exist is to warehouse populations and to exploit people labor and make money off them through the shady business of the prison industry. Shut down Red Onion and Wallens Ridge. They are not necessary and simply exist to turn profits from human suffering. They make billions from this and divert attention away from addressing the underlying conditions we are all suffering from.

I am writing as someone with a loved one incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison. I want to share the heartbreaking realities faced by those inside this facility, realities that have taken an immense toll not only on those incarcerated but also on their families and communities. In recent months, several individuals reached such a point of despair that they set themselves on fire. These acts of desperation are not isolated incidents but rather a reflection of the appalling conditions within the prison conditions that have persisted for over two decades. Just last year, Kevin Johnson nearly died after a 70+ day hunger strike to protest these very conditions. The VADOC continues to dismiss these acts of self-harm as isolated mental health crises while ignoring the systemic issues causing this suffering. This prison’s conditions violate not only basic human rights but also the principles of rehabilitation. Long-term solitary confinement, excessive lockdowns, inadequate medical care, inedible food, and physical abuse are not the hallmarks of justice, they are acts of dehumanization. Even in general population, incarcerated individuals are confined to their cells for over 20 hours a day, denied sunlight, outdoor recreation, and meaningful programming. Solitary confinement exacerbates mental health crises, and yet it continues to be used as a punishment, even for individuals with documented mental illnesses. The ripple effects of these conditions extend beyond the prison walls. Families like mine are left to endure the pain of knowing our loved ones are suffering. I have experienced physical symptoms of stress from the worry and fear for my loved one’s safety. His young child barely gets to connect with him due to constant lockdowns and visitation restrictions. This isolation is not just a punishment for the incarcerated; it’s a punishment for their families as well. How can such cruelty be tolerated in a facility governed by the laws of this state and the Constitution of our nation? The VADOC must be held accountable. These issues have been brought to light through countless lawsuits, hunger strikes, and tragic deaths, yet meaningful action has been absent. The Constitution protects against cruel and unusual punishment, and what is happening at Red Onion is a flagrant violation of that promise. I urge this committee to take immediate and decisive action: -Conduct an independent investigation into the conditions at Red Onion State Prison and other facilities in the western region of Virginia. -End the use of long-term solitary confinement and ensure compliance with VADOC Policy 801.4 regarding recreation and programming. -Hold facility leadership accountable for systemic abuses, including the excessive use of force, denial of basic human rights, and patterns of racial discrimination. -Implement trauma-informed care and rehabilitative programming to address the needs of incarcerated individuals. I implore you not to let this letter be one of many that simply adds to a growing file. Visit Red Onion. Speak with individuals across all areas of the prison, including long-term segregation. Talk to families and advocates. The stories you will hear, including mine, will paint a clear picture of the urgent need for change. Thank you for your time and for taking these concerns seriously. I am willing to provide further details or documentation if requested. The time for action is long overdue.

We need to shut down Red Onion and Wallens Ridge immediately. Nobody, not a single human, deserves to be killed in a prison, and Red Onion has a horrible history of suicides, attempted suicides, and murder (by correctional officers), in addition to the brutal physical violence that people living there face everyday. Imagine being so fed up and with so few resources that you set yourself on fire, just to have some hope of improving conditions. Imagine setting yourself on fire to improve your life. One single person doing this is more than enough, but it has been many people. As the governing body of this state, you are responsible, and you must shut down Red Onion and Wallens Ridge immediately and transfer all inmates to non-supermax prisons closer to their families.

The Red Onion Supermax Prison is a hub of cruelty, brutality, lawlessness, and torture—where corrections officers are keeping 2/3 of the prison inmates in solitary confinement—a war crime. The guards use live ammunition, resulting in the murder of prisoners and the ultimate denial of their humanity. The use of dog attacks on the prison population by the guards, the use of electrocution as a form of torture, and the denial of basic amenities like toothbrushes and books have created a culture of inhumanity and complete disregard for all civil rights of the incarcerated at Red Onion. The extreme forms of torture are severely traumatizing the prison population, many of which are already setting themselves on fire so as to be transferred out of the facility. Red Onion is a $70 million, 24/7, government sponsored torture facility that produces systematized suffering, institutionalized brutality, and has successfully codified and enshrined the violation of human rights in its daily operations. These criminals and torturers are using their badges and authority to enact terroristic violence on the public with our tax dollars, and an independent investigation must be undertaken in order to hold to account these violent sociopathic policies being carried out by public servants. Investigate Red Onion, hold the torturers and slavers to account for their crimes, and uphold the civil rights of those incarcerated.

Hi there, I am writing with regards to the crisis at Red Onion prison. It is well known that the conditions at Red Onion (along with those at Wallens Ridge) are absolutely abhorrent and cruel, in violation of state standards. Immediate action is necessary to secure the safety of those incarcerated at these prisons, along with longer term pans for closing these inhumane institutions. Thank you for your time, Hannah Neukrug

As a Virginia tax paying citizen i am deeply concerned for the safety of the men and women behind our VADOC walls. My fiancé is currently housed at Wallens Ridge. On November 24th he was brutally attact at Greensville Correctional Center until he stopped breathing. The 2 officers one being a CO at Greensville and the other a strike force officer entered his cell without probable cause and without body cameras. His injuries were so severe that they had to medivack him to VCU where he was placed on a ventilator for 2 and a half days. The DOC stated that his family and i did not need to be notified because it was not medically necessary. My fiancé prior to the incident was already disabled with one arm being completely paralyzed. Now he is being retaliated against. Greensville lost his property, tried to give him legal mail that was not his and had him sign for it and worst of all they transferred him to the medical hole at wallens ridge after Greensville stated there were no charges against him! The Dr nor the supervisors have yet to be in to see him. Medical neglect, serving food with roaches crawling on the trays, serving food that states "not for human consumption", the racial derogatory remarks, the physical and emotional abuse day in and day out and the excessive lock downs! I am deeply concerned for my fiancé life because of the officers that are suppose to be there to protect. I do want to take a second and thank Delegate Otto for calling Greensville and checking on my fiancé’. I also want to thank the safety committee for hearing our concerns. Please help us protect our love ones behind the walls.

Virginia General Assembly, Why aren’t you all talking about getting the family involved and taking responsibility? More security measures, counselors, etc are not the answer. All of this just mask the problems. The lack of high standards and expectations, coupled with discipline and consequences. Stop allowing cell phones, laptops as the only way to teach. Textbooks and paper pencils are essential and the research proves it! Many schools are failing to provide what their children are learning at school. I hear from parents who want a paper copy instead of emails all the time but don’t know how to ask for it. How do you all know if the free cell phone policy is being enforced by the teachers, administrators etc? Have you read about the Henrico High School and the smell of marijuana? Why would anyone want to go there? The last four years or more the lack of discipline and accountability have been a major issue. There are some schools that encourage consistency, high expectations, and support from all stakeholders and other schools that expect the opposite. We know them and it is shameful.