Prison Radio Audio Feed

"Columbus Day, Gang Wars and Prison Violence." Columbus day just passed, and I can't help but wonder how we have come to celebrate Christopher Columbus with a national holiday. What lies have to be told and believed for Congress to make Columbus Day a national holiday? Columbus was a murderer, rapist, fraud, failure. He wasn't some great heroic explorer who discovered America. He was a con man who brought in his wake death and destruction. Columbus day reflects what's wrong with our criminal justice system. Do we honestly celebrate truth and justice for all or cunning, deceit, and bias? The New York state prison system is currently experiencing a statewide gang war that has caused disturbances to several correction facilities. On October 12th, I was in the yard here at Great Meadow reading a book to three young men under my wing, when a gang fight broke out. We had to duck gas canisters being fired into the crowd of guys fighting, and we all were made to lay face down on the ground by hyper-aggressive prison