Greg speaks during the Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit 2019

Here is the text and recording of Greg Curry speaking at the Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit 2019, on 26th of January. Thanks to Pittsburgh ABC!

Here is the recording, and below is the text.

Hello everyone,

Greg Curry at the kiosk where he can have a picture made, phone and write a Jpay to his family and friends.

Thank you for taking time to attend this important conference. Since last year I was finally allowed to leave the Supermax prison and come to a more normal prison setting. Comrades among you agitated for my
transfer and we won the transfer, so never underestimate the power of collective energy coming out of this conference. I do have a few ideas I’d like to share with you.

First, I feel you should get to know the prisoners you advocate for and
establish a bond so that even if you make a wrong decision we will
understand you weren’t working against us. Also, don’t settle for a
response that supports your position on prison or race issues– ask
more questions, examine the logical conclusions. For example, in the
last election in Ohio, many progressives supported issue 1 of a bill to
let only non-violent drug offenders out of prison. No one asked the
question, if progressives don’t advocate for violent offenders’ release,
especially those who have already done lengthy sentences, then who will?

Your support and your calls to prisons, to parole boards, the media, all
matter in time of crisis. Continue to support us in that way, as well
as visit. Many of us have limited human contact. Encourage up and
coming journalists, documentary makers, and attorneys to make a name of
this self by looking into some of these cases involving in race, class,
and sexual orientation.

As a convicted member of the Lucasville riot case, I can tell you the
injustice that no one saw was in plain sight. Don’t let that be the case
with the members on trial for the Vaughn incident. Call the judge,
the defense attorneys, write the prisoners on trial, send them a few
dollars for stamps and books, and be ready to support them through all
forms of retaliation that will come as a result of convictions, so they
will not suffer in silence as the Lucasville convicted did.

In closing, I’d like to say, let’s bring some people home and be sure to those who put on this event on.

Freedom First!
Greg Curry

Greg Curry: Let’s love with our actions

HELLO EVERYONE,

Greg Curry

It has been quite a year for me personally. As many of you know, I was finally let out of the SUPERMAX prison after 25 years. Actually, I wasn’t LET out, many of you made demands, continually called, refused to give up, prayed, legally put the STATE on notice, or some combination of the above. PEOPLE POWER at its best.

Many of you have never expressed any particular feeling for me specifically, yet your love for humanity is felt by your actions, not your words. Many of you continue to be concerned about my adjustment at a regular prison and I just want y’all to know I feel you, I’m adjusting I’m looking forward to getting my case in the courts this coming year.

Your support on all levels the pictures, cards, hugs, calls, visits, they all keep me connected, keep me looking forward to FREEDOM. Let’s make the new year even bigger. And those of you that could have done better, well it’s never too late! I need you, this struggle for JUSTICE needs you.
Let’s love with our actions.

FREEDOM FIRST,
GREG

Greg holding a picture depicting a beach with “Free All Prisoners” written in the sand

Columbus, OH: Rally to End ODRC #PrisonStrike Retaliation

Action report from abolitionist and anarchist groups coming together to push back against repression following the National Prison Strike in Ohio
From It’s Going Down and Pittsburg ABC:

On Friday November 16th, activists from across Ohio and Pennsylvania collaborated for an action outside the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) Central Office in Columbus. The rally was in response to a number of repressive and retaliatory actions against prisoners following the massive #August21 prison strike.

Organizers of the action included Lucasville Amnesty, Pittsburgh Anarchist Black Cross, Central Ohio IWOC and BQIC (Black Queer & Intersectional Collective). Amplified voices recounted the demands of 2018 prison strikers, sounded off on the mistreatment of the prison strikers and all prisoners by the ODRC, and called for solidarity with queer and trans prisoners. Interested ODRC staff lined the windows to witness the spectacle.  A few pedestrians that passed by the rally stopped to speak about the harm that the ODRC had inflicted on their lives.  The rally culminated when the following demands were hand delivered to the Central Office receptionist and security by the protestors:

1. End all retaliatory communication restrictions against Siddique Abdullah Hasan and throw out the Serious Misconduct Panel decision.

2. Cease the violent attacks on Toledo Correctional hunger strikers and meet their demands.

3. Reverse all visitation restrictions imposed on the prisoners’ supporters and new policies designed to harass prisoners’ visitors at OSP.

 

Free All Lucasville Uprising Prisoners: Rally on 18th Nov 2018 at ODRC Hq, Columbus, OH

 

More information on the demands:

1. Siddique Abduallah Hasan is an outspoken prisoner movement leader who the ODRC retaliated against for merely trying to speak to the public about the #August21 prison strike. He was brought before a “Serious Misconduct Panel” which violated due process to impose a year long ban on his phone and email access, and permanent visiting restrictions on some of his supporters and close friends. These restrictions take away vital connection to the outside world, which have helped Hasan survive decades in supermax solitary confinement at the Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP). More details on Hasan’s situation can be found in a recent Shadowproof article.

 

No More Prisons: rally outside Ohio Dept. of rehab. and corr. (ODRC) 18 Nov. 2018

 

2. David Easley, James Ward and others at Toledo Correctional have been engaged in off and on hunger strike protests since the national strike started August 21. Their main demand is that the ODRC release them from solitary confinement and stop using solitary confinement to exacerbate the mental health crises that confinement in prison causes. The latest hunger strike started on Saturday November 2, and staff at Toledo Correctional responded by shooting the strikers with chemical weapons and refusing them access to showers so they can clean the mace and pepper spray off. Learn more from announcement post on It’s Going Down by hunger strike supporters.

3. Following the strike and the highly suspect “mysterious toxic substance” scare in Ohio and Pennsylvania, ODRC has changed visitation policies for many prisoners, especially at OSP. Experts have described the scare as a “mass psychogenic illness” caused by guards’ paranoia, not the actual presence of toxic substances. Moreover, drugs are much more likely to be smuggled into Ohio prisons by staff than by visitors. Yet, the ODRC persists in new visitation policies (such as requiring visitors to use bathrooms in the downstairs lobby rather than the visiting room) that harass visitors and waste precious time with their incarcerated loved ones.

Rally outside ODRC HQ in Columbus, Ohio: Solidarity with the hunger strikers

The protest was part of an ongoing campaign to gain amnesty for Lucasville Uprising prisoners, who were falsely implicated for crimes after the 1993 riot, which erupted in response to the horrendous state prison conditions. This October, after over 20 years of solitary confinement at the OSP supermax, Greg Curry, was transferred into general population at lower security, Toledo Correctional Institution.  He credited his supporters’ pressure on the ODRC for this huge victory in his ongoing fight for freedom. For more information on Lucasville Uprising prisoners, visit LucasvilleAmnesty.org.

Greg’s supporters’ tweet of 25 Oct 2018

Update: Greg is in Toledo C.I.!

Greg Curry in the video-visiting booth at OSP, 2018

Update 10-25-2018:
Greg called from Toledo C.I., and he sounded excited about being there, being on a real yard, with geese (yes the geese have landed there), and going to a chow hall to eat together with other people. He also was excited that he was no longer accompanied by guards whenever he leaves his single cell, and that he can use the phone more or less when he wants to during the day. There is so much he has missed for the last 25 years that he was entombed in the Ohio supermax that is called Ohio State Penitentiary.

Greg also had a message for all the supporters, thanking everyone for getting him transferred, and that he hoped that even though he no longer was in OSP, he hoped peopel would not forget about his plight to regain his freedom, his release after being falsely accused and wrongfully convicted since 1993. So please, stick with Greg Curry! Thank you all!

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Even though Toledo C.I. has the same level 4 as what Greg was qualified for as security level, there are differences between Ohio State Penitentiary level 4 (max.) and other maximum prisons in Ohio. For instance, at OSP Greg can only go in an outside cage for “yard.” He can only have visits behind glass, whereas in other maximum prisons there is apparently normal visiting. He can go to a chow hall to eat together with others, and at OSP he could only eat alone in his cell.

It will be a big change, and there will be different challenges, but there will also be opportunities for gaining justice and doing programs and such. There will be different staff and people in captivity. This is what Greg wrote:

“Finally since 1993 I’m being returned 2 a “normal” prison. I’m looking 4ward 2 yard, chow hall and being away from this repressive place.”

We understand from different sources that Greg is already in Toledo CI, even though the inmate locator says he is still at OSP. His new address and info about the prison (incl. phone numbers for the warden, how to send money, write, etc) can be found here: https://www.drc.ohio.gov/toci

They give as correspondence address for prisoners:

(name prisoner: Greg Curry #213159)
Toledo CI
PO Box 80033
Toledo, OH 43608

You can also write him via Jpay dot com. The Jpay email system gives his location as being at Toledo C.I.

We really hope that this is the chance for Greg to march on to justice, with all of our support of course. Let’s do this!

Lucasville Prisoner Supporters being retaliated against at OSP by having visits restricted!

From Greg:
“BEN T. has been and believe will be a unyielding friend, comrade, Brother. A MAN of his word and that apparently disqualified him from visiting me here at OSP.

 

I know BEN will not accept defeat easy so I hope y’all out there are able to support his effort to continually expose the STATE for the conditions they hold me in, the arbitrary use of policy/rules/judgement to keep me at a high security prison while I fight to get FREE.

 

This decision is about silencing our message at a time when more people are becoming aware of the injustice of the 1993 prison riot and the treatment of us ever since including placing me and HASAN in the hole during BLACK AUGUST. The STATE knows what is at stake. DO YOU?! “

 

Greg added to this today: “please include Ms Joyce Jones,” who has also been restricted in visiting Ohio State Prison supermax, including Hasan and Greg! Joyce has been an enormous support for the men, and the prison wants to punish the supporters and at the same time silence the vocal prisoners.

We must let the autorities know they must stop the restrictions at once.

Black August at OSP

This was published on: Lucasville Amnesty, Sept. 10th, 2018

Statement by Greg Curry.
Greg Curry intended to make this statement at the recent pig roast solidarity event in Central Ohio, but was unable to connect with organizers at that time. Instead we’re printing it here.

Salute,

Today I’d like to give you a mental picture of how Ohio’s supermax is set up so that the context of what follows will make sense.

There is severely limited movement here in 4 blocks: A, B, C, D.

A & B are on top of each other, C & D are on the other side of the prison on top of each other.

In each block there are 8 pods. Eeach of those pods holds up to 16 people.

Each pod is isolated from the next so much so you may never see them even though its just a door/wall between y’all. Likewise, the blocks are even more cut off since there’s a floor between A & B, then 1/2 a football field between the other side of the prison where C & D blocks are similarly set up.

There is actually only one or two jobs per pod. This is the backdrop for which any organizing would take place within these walls.

However, we do have successes. Usually it’s some situation brought on by repressive cops armed with oppressive rules, drawing a response that temporarily disrupts operations around here.

For Black August, one of my closest Comrades, Siddique Hasan is accused of organizing Statewide action against the orderly operations of prisons. In the process, this Comrade was placed in the hole, stripped of his personal property and his access to communicate is severely cut back.

Of course he continues to lead, to deeply care about justice for us all, even as he fights for justice to keep the State from murdering him.

Some of you know the prison rules was twisted up just to find that Hasan broke any rule. He did 3 weeks on hunger strike while many of you made calls demanding fairness.

I want to say on his behalf: THANK YOU!
I want to encourage you all to continue your work CONVENTIONALLY & NOT SO CONVENTIONALLY.

HASAN & I appreciate you. Our collective Energy is what will tear down all resistance to FREEDOM!

As for the events inside of this prison with all attempts to FREE people you first have to wake them up to their condition. In the process of doing that, late in July, the cops was being overly aggressive writing prisoners up for minor stuff just to put them on restrictions. In my pod I noticed the frustration & started sharing reading material, even with the Trump-supporting white supremacists, about the value of of their labor, about Black August.

Events across the country and how just by refusing to continue to work for cops that treat them so bad that they could make a difference. Because I have a reputation for being solid and my actions speak for themselves, all over Ohio Prisons people began to say let’s do this right here, right now.

Of course there was a number of SUPER JANITORS the cops knew they could count on for information & work. These guys was excluded from any idea sharing and as the cops put pressure on them for info and work equally, the pressure was put on them by prisoners to stay out the way of this protest. READ INTO THAT WHAT YOU WISH! As this strike took place ahead of the nationally planned Black August dates but for 3 weeks this strike was every bit Black August inspired and I hope we made all our comrades past and present Proud.

That pod was shut down, the administration wanted to hear OUR concerns, no one crossed the Pickett line, and although I was put in the hole, and LOST personal property, the whole pod was relocated to bust the spirit!!!

Here now several of us did a 3-day fast while refusing to spend money with commissary during the national protest. I have heard in other parts of this prison there is also hunger strikes / commissary boycotts but I can’t confirm this due to the isolation of each section.

In closing I speak for myself and I’m sure Hasan would agree, we need y’all out there, we need all that energy aimed at a time when 3 weeks in August Injustice has a moment and the rest of the year justice prevail for Black folks, for immigrants, for Women, for living wages, for the environment, for the poor, for LGBTQ.

“Our collective Energy is what will tear down all resistance to FREEDOM!”

At this moment in time it has been placed upon us to move humanity forward. Let’s get it done.

I’d like to ask you all a small favor tonight. Sign a post card or email to the SAN FRANCISCO BAYVIEW, tell them thank you for participating in the liberation of us trapped inside.

FREEDOM FIRST,

GREG CURRY

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Greg’s Birthday is coming up on September 26, he’s asking people to make Tshirts that say “Free Greg Curry” on them, with “GregCurry.org” on the back and send photos of yourself wearing it to his Facebook page. 

Also write to Greg: Greg Curry
213-159
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd
Youngstown OH 44505

Donate to his Justice Fund please by clicking here.

Website: Gregcurry.org

Greg needs a fair trial – please donate to get him one!

We are crowdfunding for a fair impartial hearing for Greg Curry, who was wrongfully accused & sentenced in Ohio following a 1993 prison riot in which he did not take part at all. Greg seeks your help, the help from people who care to see justice for all!

Please donate:

There are currently two ways you can donate:

1) Paypal Pool for Greg Curry Legal Trustfund

A personal Paypal-pool that can be shared, all money that is donated goes towards the set goal.

2) Crowdfunder: https://fundrazr.com/GregCurryLegalFund?ref=ab_7nAtlw0CXOA7nAtlw0CXOA

Most of the money donated goes to the goal, about 5% is taken for money transfers and the crowdfunding platform.

Greg Curry’s cause is pure and simple justice: a fair, impartial hearing which is long overdue.

---

The money we raise will be used for investigative work and legal representation by an attorney.

The expenses, the filing decisions will all be posted.

The fund is being held in a Trust-account.

Why?
Numerous times Greg attempted to receive justice by filing pro-se motions with help of jailhouse lawyers. The proper judicial arguments are present in his case, but those legalities must be brought before the Court by an experienced attorney.

This is why Greg seeks your help, the help from the people who care to see justice-for-all be a reality for all.

What is needed?
Large or small donations all help, as well as recommending to others you know to make a donation, or when attorneys and/or Innocence Projects donate their time.

Contact

Annabelle Parker is fundraising for Greg Curry, with the help of Mosi Paki.

Contact us via email at: Freegregcurry@gmail.com, or visit and contact the Facebook profile for Greg. Or DirectMail us on Twitter (plz be patient if you do not directly receive a response!)

Reaching Out
My name is Mosi. In 1993, myself and hundreds of others caught up in the S.O.C.F. siege/riot unjustly received criminal and/or prison-convictions based on lies from those involved in the crimes.

As a result I was forced to do 25 years incarceration of which 18 years in isolated confinement, and I was released on the max. release date in November of 2013 to freer society.

As a truck driver, married, with 8 grandchildren, I’ll never forget my innocent good brothers still incarcerated. I’ve been a voice for these men.

To assist Greg Curry’s Legal Fund is another way to assist an innocent brother. It would be great if other ex-felons and others would reach out to help someone to help themselves in their fight for freedom.

Mosi Paki, August 25th, 2018

Please donate via:

1) Paypal Pool for Greg Curry Legal Trustfund

2) Crowdfunder: https://fundrazr.com/GregCurryLegalFund?ref=ab_7nAtlw0CXOA7nAtlw0CXOA

THANK YOU!

 

Update: Greg is out of the hole! (was: Greg is locked up in the hole)

Today Aug. 15 Greg called to let the webmaster know he is out of the hole! He was told he will not get a write-up, and that he did nothing illegal basically.

Greg is still pursuing his request to be moved out of Ohio State Penitentiary, since everything he does is turned into something bad. He said, if I would shout, I would already be suspiciously looked at (by staff). I cannot do anything right here for them. I have to keep a low profile all the time.

Also, at OSP, there are “dog cages” as they are called for recreation time. So Greg and others do not get to stretch their legs on a real yard, but they have to go to cages for their “rec. time.” And this has been going on for 20+ years…

So it is still important that we stay supportive of Greg’s need to get moved to a real level 4 prison away from this atmosphere that is causing harm to Greg’s wellbeing.

Thank you to everyone who made calls and who emailed!

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(edited 8-14-2018)
Since August 10th or 11th, Greg is in the hole at OSP and he has not yet had any charges/writeups against him.

The shadow of “Lucasville” is cast over Greg, who had no participation in the Lucasville uprising back in 1993, but who was charged and sentenced solely due to snitch testimony, an ineffective public defender and basically a court and jury not of his peers. Ever since, he has received harassment from those who keep him locked up.

Greg has asked many times to be moved out of Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP), but they keep him there because they say “Level 4 is appropriate for him,” but in other prisons “level 4” does get recreational yard time, eating in the chow hall, etc. which he does not get at OSP. He has been at OSP since its beginning, and it is and remains a supermax prison, with very few chances to progress to lower levels with less restrictions, such as more and a better recreation yard, going to the gym, going to the chow hall, simple things that mean so much.

After all these years we support Greg’s request to be moved, for his personal well-being, and because he should not get the disciplinary treatment he gets at O.S.P. because of the label that was put on him following the Lucasville prison disturbance, with which he had nothing to do. It is unprofessional to treat someone with personal hatred and retaliation when one is a professionally hired person working for the state.

Greg has asked to email the overall director of ODRC to ask why he cannot be moved to another level 4 prison with privileges such as contact visits, recreation time, etc.

Greg has also asked everyone of you to gather behind him and to write him via Jpay, but to also include with every letter a return-stamp, otherwise he cannot respond. Thank you.
Greg’s registration nr is: #213-159. Look his name up in Jpay.com, he is in Ohio if you hadn’t guessed!

His address is:

Greg Curry #213-159
OSP
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road,
Youngstown, OH 44505

Remember: Greg has no stamps, you must write a Jpay (jpay.com) and add an additional stamp for him to respond to you! Thank you!

Greg Curry announces upcoming Transfer and Fundraiser

Greg recently sent us a video, recorded via Jpay, in which he announces our upcoming Fundraiser for his case of innocence. It is high time we found a dedicated lawyer, whom we have to pay, who is willing to fight for Greg, in order to overturn the wrongful conviction in the courts.

The Lucasville prison riot (or uprising or disturbance) of 1993 resulted not only in the death of prisoners and staff, but also in false arrests, indictions, and the use by the prosecution of state snitches, used to convict 5 people to death (the spokespeople who tried to intervene, not the actual people who did the killings!!) and at least 4 received a life sentence. One of them is Greg Curry, who at the time was not involved with any of the riots, but a snitch was instructed to get a conviction on Greg.

It is high time that these false convictions are overturned!! Let’s do it.

 

Text:

Greg Curry, November 12th, 2017:

Hello there everyone, this is my website that has supported me over the years.

It looks like this time is coming to an end: I’ll be transferred to a different prison.

So I just want to say thank you all for your support, and I’m gonna need yoru continued support as we build this legal defense fund, and the details of that is coming soon.

Thank you. Solidarity with all of you struggling for freedom and justice.

Freedom First!

Greg interviewed by Bursts on The Final Straw (2016)

Listen to Greg Curry being interviewed by Bursts, it start at 14′:

https://archive.org/details/afm-final-straw-09182016exp

“This week Bursts speaks with Greg Curry, a prisoner serving time for
alleged participation in the Lucasville Prison uprising of 1993 where
prisoners took over the Ohio prison, leading to the death of 10 inmates
and one guard.

For the hour, they speak about incarceration in the U.S., intersections of race and class, the prison strikes, capitalism and resistance.”