Undaunted
"The first rule of [brutish] tyrants everywhere: create confusion and uncertainty. What is acceptable today must be forbidden tomorrow." — Benita Eisler
Like thieves in the night, the brutish Georgia Department of Corrections arrived in a pre-dawn raid. Transportation officer Barnes' words, "Jones! Get up. Pack your stuff. You leaving here", sprung me to my feet. Reeling slightly and naked, I asked "Where am I going?" No-one answered.
As I stood before the sink brushing my teeth, I became annoyed in the realisation that two of the three men ordering me to hurry were taking perverse pleasure in observing the ritual of my morning routine. When I turned to drain my bladder, only one of them mustered the natural urge to look or walk away during my obvious need for privacy.
If you have ever wondered how mean spirited Georgia's prison administrations can be to a prisoner, and the prisoner's family/friends, consider that this is akin to a one, on a meanness scale of 10.
Keep in mind that I have broken no prison rules or regulations. Recently my Australian family and I decided that we needed to visit as soon as possible. In September I requested, and the prison administration approved in writing, a "special visit" for October 2. I do not need to tell you how poor I am, or how hard my Australian family worked on two jobs to be able to pay for the trip. It took months to save enough money for a 10-day stay. It costs thousands, even with modest accommodation.
One can only assume that my sudden move, from Jackson to the Reidsville prison, is an administrative attempt to demoralise my family; while all Georgia state prisons are governed by one man — whose minions approved the October 2 visit at the prison in Jackson — the Reidsville prison has no approval for my family to visit at this writing. It is clear that by the time Reidsville prison goes through its approval routine, my family will have to be back in Australia, or lose their job(s).
It was no coincidence that at about the same time that I was being moved, my family was boarding a plane bound for the US. Now, I am approximately 170 miles (270 kilometres) away in Reidsville. It is not like the prison administrators had forgotten that they had approved the regular visits before and after the October 2 "special visit." They did not even have the courtesy to let the family know that I would not be present for the regular September 28, let alone the special October 2, visit.
When you wonder why so many families forsake so many men, women and children in US prisons — and why so many prisoners walk out of prison so angry and full of rage — just remember what you have read here, and that this is but a one, on a meanness scale of 10.
Six days into my stay at Reidsville, I am still waiting for this prison's administration to return my personal belongings. I am being held incommunicado, since I do not have my address book, calendar, legal papers or the letters that many of you have sent to me. I tried to make a phone call on September 27, but the man who brought the phone to the cell was less than eager to try another number after getting an answering machine. I even have on the same shirt and pants I wore from Jackson. The shirt smells so bad I am sure that if I took it off it would stand on its own and would give Mike Tyson a good fight.
Those readers who have any kind of direct access to our growing circle of friends and supporters in Australia, England, Scotland and the Netherlands, I respectfully request that you call or snail/e-mail them immediately and let them know the new nature of my confinement. If I owe any of you a letter, it is not likely to be answered: prisoners who were already here when I came have informed me that "when and if" my personal belongings are returned, those letters and a host of other things will not be. Please write again. Be sure to print, very clearly, your name and address because my address book may be destroyed.
Those who know me well will know that I try to find some good in all bad situations. The good news is that here at Reidsville, on the "Georgia State Prison Store List", there are items that they do not have at Jackson. You cannot send me any of those items; I have to purchase them from the prison store. Among other things listed are the "Panasonic RQ-V60 Cass/Radio $31.00; Koss CD/4 Headphone $31.00; Reccton AC Adapt[er] AD100, $13.75 ..." This means that I may actually hear some music of my choice. I do not have any money at this time, unfortunately. Anyone who is willing to help me in this regard can send (via American Express money order only) a donation to Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, Georgia State Prison, HC01, C-1-30, Reidsville, Georgia 30453.
I speak for everyone who loves me when I say that we are grateful that people like you care about us all (whether in or out of prison). We love you, we thank you, and we wish you peace. The endless struggle continues. We remain undaunted.
[The writer is awaiting a re-sentencing trial in which the death penalty will be sought against him again. He welcomes sincere comment(s) and friendships.]