FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday October 25, 2007

Incarcerated Six Nations Man Threatened by Institutional Staff

by Janie Jamieson, Six Nations

Skylar Williams, a Mohawk Wolf from Six Nations has been held without bail at the Hamilton Barton St. Jail since the illegal arrests at Stirling Street September 19, 2007. Today we held a rally for him outside the jail where he has been in the "hole" for two days.

We have reason to believe if Skylar is harmed in any way, we know he is the target of planned and deliberate threats and violence by jail institution staff members.

A few days ago Skylar woke up to find the plumbing in his cell on range 5 was backed up. He notified institution staff on his range. He was accused by staff of backing up the plumbing. The mess was left. Skylar asked for a drink of water, he was told by staff to drink from the toilet. Skylar responded, "there's shit" in there. The institution staff's paid professional advise to Skylar was to "take the shit out and then have a drink." Skylar refused and notified his lawyer of the situation. At this point Skyler was without clean water for approximately 18 hours.

Skylar's lawyer then notified another institutional staff member with a higher ranking position. The plumbing was fixed. Skyler left his cell but at lockdown upon his return, Skylar discovered the plumbing was mysteriously backed up again. The higher ranking institutional staff attempted to solve the problem by moving Skyler to another cell.

After this incident Skylar was approached by an institutional staff member and taken to a room with two other staff. At this point Skylar was told by one of the staff that that particular staff member referred to himself as being "GOD" at Barton St. Jail. He then threatened Skyler by telling him if he and his lawyer didn't stop "causing shit" for him, he was going to "fuck" Skylar up. He also said he would have it arranged so Skylar's lawyer would have no access to him.

This staff member went on to inform Skylar of his plan to "fuck" him up. (There were 2 other staff present when this threat occurred.) According to the staff member Skylar's fate is supposed to happen in three steps...

1. Skylar would be given a "misconduct" by the institutional staff.

2. Skylar would then be sent to the "hole" for 3 days.

3. After Skylar was done in the "hole" he would immediately be sent to "Range 3" of the jail.

Range 3 is where the men who are waiting to be tried for rape, murder and other serious crimes are held. Some of these men have already been convicted of such crimes and are waiting to be shipped off to federal institutions.

This is where men who have nothing left to lose are sent. In this range, the inmates do special favours for the institution staff (i.e. 'guards') for as little as an extra meal or coffee. It's a place where you simply do not "rat" on the institution staff. Inmates are pitted against one another. It's also a place where Skylar was told, there are men as big as 321 pounds that could really "fuck" him up. (The jail staff asked Skyler how much he weighed just to verify Skylar would be quite smaller and at greater risk of being injured if sent to Range 3.)

Skylar was also told by the institutional staff the last guy they had "fucked" up had to crawl to the jail cell door covered in blood. Skylar was told there were men in Range 3 "waiting" for his arrival. Skylar was advised by this paid government employee to "quit his bitching" and "to take his lumps."

Skylar's lawyer spoke with the high ranking institutional staff and was told by him the only thing he could do to guarantee Skylar's safety was to put him in isolation where he would be under 24 hour video surveillance, however Skylar would have to give up the staff members' names who were threatening him.

Skylar's lawyer has already filed a motion for "habeus corpus" to have Skyler physically present in court tomorrow for his bail review.

Skyler's cell mate contacted his family this morning and informed them in the last 24 hours Skylar has been given a "MISCONDUCT" by staff and has been placed in "the hole" for 3 days.

The instituional staff member has kept his promise to threaten Skylar's life and safety. This staff member's plan is gone passed the first two stages.

Something needs to be done immediately to guarantee Skylar's safety and security. If there is interference in Skylar's safety and security or if his life is put at risk we believe it would be the direct result of mistreatment at the discretion of institution staff. We believe they are abusing their authority to ensure Skylar's life and well being is put at risk. We believe their attempts at intimidating Skyler are deliberate and being somewhat overlooked by senior institution staff.

Let's hope Skylar gets out of Barton St. Jail safely with his life. His bail review is at the Cayuga Courthouse [Friday, October 26] at 9:00am.

Please forward immediately.

niawen, skennen

Janie Jamieson
Six Nations