In a restaurant in Milwaukee, a long time ago, Steven D. Stewart was attacked by a man with a knife. Like so many US citizens he carried a gun and he shot the man. For an African American man, such an act is never justified self-defense. He is in prison, and he is made to know.
From 1999, Mr Stewart was held in Wisconsin Secure Program Facility (WSPF), a so-called “supermax” prison in Boscobel, where one is taken for the most dangerous man in the world. He was held there, because the prison had to be filled up: he never had any write-ups or complaints in the previous years of detention. You, reader, heard about this prison before, amongst others when guards wanted to beat up Lornell Evans, because of prolongued disobedience (he refused to eat); that he did not eat is true: he had died of neglected aftercare of his cancer-operation (October 2005).
On February 22nd, Mr Stewart was operated on one of his many complaints and illnesses: Rectal Prolapse, a serious bowel disease. Mr Stewart still had complaints after that, and he asked for help. Instead, guards beat him up (March 8th). This resulted in his whole operation becoming undone. After more exams it turned out that he had Multiple Sclerosis. The Doctor of the Department of Neurology at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Dr Brooks, said Stewart had a problem "much worse than multiple sclerosis" and needed treatment "asap". The head nurse at WSPF, Cindy Sawinsky, did not give that information to the warden nor the head of the DOC, Mr Matthew Frank. A MRI x-ray taken on April 13th showed that something was on both sides of Mr Stewart's spine, according to the hospital doctor. The prison staff said: "There is nothing wrong with your spine, you only have hemorrhoids." This is being denied by the hospital doctors.
The incident when Mr Stewart was beaten up on March 8th was completely recorded on video. The guards can make up an excuse why they attacked a sick prisoner, they will say for example that he bit them. He was placed in a solitary cell with no property, and what is called “back of cell restriction” for 15 days. This means that the prisoner is made to kneel down with his hands behind his back at the end of the cell, when something (medicine, food) is given to him through the food slots in the doors.
The same sergeant, Hassell, beat up Mr Stewart at the UW Hospital in Madison, Wi on April 5th, 2006. He was a few minutes from surgery, they brought him back to the Boscobel supermax without him getting his surgery repaired. The next day, April 6th, 2006, Mr Stewart passed out on the floor. He was taken to the Boscobel hospital by paramedics. When he was stable enough to leave there he was walked out of hospital naked: no clothes, shoes, socks or underwear. He had to walk on the cold ground barefoot.
On June 5th, Steven Stewart was transported to Waupun Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison. He was taken to the administrative segregation unit (the hole), where unclean cells, often still smeared with faeces of previous inhabitants house the severely ill patient Mr Stewart has become. He lost many stones in weight, and up to now his urinary drain has not been changed. He is able to do it himself, but they won't let him. They say he refuses to have it changed. For what reason? Apart from MS, he suffers from bleedings from the prolapse and now he has an urinary infection, hernia in his back and a lump in his abdomen.
How much longer does a sick person have to suffer in Wisconsin's prisons?
A few months ago we asked the readers of the SF Bay View if they would send him a greeting card, to boost his morale. He really appreciated the gesture and the colorful cards, and it helped him stay focused and hopeful that there are still decent people around.
In August 2006 Stewart may come up for parole. It would be good if he could be relieved from being subjected to care for his health which he thinks inappropriate - apart from being out of the prison anyway.
Steven D. Stewart, 143599
Waupun Correctional Institution P.O. Box 351,
Waupun, WI 53963
(Originally written for SF Bay View, which has been hacked by The Man).
