| From West by Northwest.org Voices of Peace Peg Morton's Letters from Prison: We Are Many, We Are One By Peg Morton Apr 26, 2004 Before she left her sweet home to serve her sentence Ms. Morton decided to share her letters with West By Northwest.org readers. We will be publishing Peg Morton's Letters from Prison on a regular basis for the next three months. Considered by many to be a cadillac or minimum security of federal prisons, the Dublin, California prison is still prison. Peg Morton, a prisoner due to her conscience, learns what it means to put personal freedom on the line for what she hopes is a greater good. And to share the life and the stories of the Federal Prison Camp Dublin.
Friday, April 9 Federal Prison Camp Dublin Margaret M. Morton Reg. No. 92102-020 5675 8th St. Camp Parks Dublin, CA. 94568 Dear Friends and Family, It is early afternoon on a sunny day. I am sitting in an area full of empty bunks, peaceful, down the hall from my bunk area. I am housed in C4, upstairs. (Ann, you will know about that!) It is a condemned area, but they needed the room, so new “commits” are here. Leisa Barnes, one of our 27, from Sacramento, and I “surrendered” together on Tuesday, April 6. Others from our group were surrendering into minimum security prison camps around the country. But to back up a few days. . I feel as if I have been accompanied into prison by flocks of angels. First, two weeks ago, there was a rip-roaring party in my honor, with singing, dancing, skits, and a silent auction. It felt as if all my Eugene friends were there, giving me cards, gifts and wishes. They raised a significant amount of money for my prison expenses, CISCAP (Committee in Solidarity with the Central American People) and SOA Watch. Then there was a gathering of Friends in my friends Lucy and Karen’s home, or a quiet time of spiritual sharing and support. On Sunday, after meeting for worship, I heard singing from the courtyard, “May the long-time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the true light within you guide you all the way home.” I was guided to the end of a long arch, and passed under the arms of my friends, laughing, crying and hugging. My friend Julie Rogers, Stuart Mulford from the Friends Meeting and I climbed into Julie’s car and were off, down the road towards Berkeley. We spent the night in a guest house near the beautiful, sacred Mt. Shasta, and arrived in Berkeley mid afternoon on Monday, to be welcomed by Lisa Zee. Lisa is my daughter Heidi’s age, and our families were close friends in Carbondale, Illinois. Now she is in Strawberry Creek Friends Meeting, and those Friends filled the apartment for a potluck supper. Late on Tuesday morning we found our way to a BART parking lot in Dublin, east of Berkeley, where a group of SOA Watch supporters, some Berkeley Friends, and, importantly, my great nephew Josh Warner-White and his partner, Ingrid, gathered for a picnic lunch and another showing of support. There were several prisoner of conscience “graduates” there with their supporters. We shared thoughts, prayers and songs in a circle before I walked away towards the prison, with Julie, Stewart, Lisa, Josh and Ingrid. The group we left behind sang “You will not walk alone, “ and waved. As we neared the gate, we turned and they were there in the distance. I entered prison completely filled. So ends Prison Letter #1. I end it knowing and feeling the love and support coming from all of you. I will write Letter #2 this afternoon, and let Michael send it out in a day or two at his discretion. *** *** April 9 Federal Prison Camp Dublin Margaret M. Morton Reg. No. 92102-020 5675 8th St. Camp Parks Dublin, CA. 94568 It took us over two hours to be processed over to the prison – my shots, finger prints, strip search (“squat and cough”) a medical interview, a prison outfit (blue pants, T-shirt, blue shirt, slippers, socks, and a warm jacket, plus a packet of bedding and toiletries.). We climbed the stairs to C4 and were assigned a bunk. Then came the unbelievably warm welcome from the other women assigned to that section. “Do you need this?” - - - We are a warm, loving group – African-American, European-American, Latina, ranging from at least one in her 20’s to me. We are all “E&O’s” (Entry and Orientation), so how long our time together, or in this section, will last we don’t know. We arrived in time for the 4 p.m. “count.” We stand silently while all the inmates are counted. Then they call “Clear!” on a loudspeaker, and we all head for the cafeteria dining-hall. There is rice and beans and lettuce at most lunches and dinners, so I am sort of taken care of. Leisa and I discovered very soon that we “protesters” were expected. Women have found us at each meal, to introduce themselves. “Do you know Ann?” and “Chani was my friend.” “Do join the Buddhist meditation group.” (Ann and Chani, I will soon absorb names and write down messages.) And we soon began to hear personal stories, too, of long sentences, children left behind. I am hoping to begin documenting some of them soon. There is a woman here who is working on a book. After the 4 p.m. supper, there was mail call. Then I walked on a quarter-mile cement track around a field. And found my way to the chapel area for a peek. Some of my roommates were there, rehearsing for a skit for the Easter Sunday Protestant service. There is a fenced-in area, with kegs of toxic waste from WWII at one end of the field. Near our barracks building is a grassy area with picnic tables. The buildings all seem to be newly painted and clean. There are blossoming bushes, birds, including geese and even some goslings, some ground squirrels, and cats. There are about 250 women here. I collapsed into bed at 9:00, listening to women offering prayer and singing as I went to sleep. We eat breakfast at 6:00 A.M. and begin work at 7:00 A.M. I’m helping clean the bathroom of our unit, my “Zen practice.” I’ve been sleepy but am doing very well. My lower bunk is comfortable. I received my shoe inserts yesterday, and some soft “diabetic” shoes also – much better than the boots. I have a not helpful counselor whose reputation preceded my first encounter with him. No free phone call, he said. Leisa got one. I’ll keep trying. (I went to his superior who let me call - & leave a message for my daughter, Do Mi.) Love and thanks again to you all. Peg P.S. Some books came for me and were returned because more than three came at once. So please, no one send me more than one at a time. I am especially loking for People’s History & the Africa mystery, both from Heidi, and a journal from Lea. Others might wait a bit. I would love a subscription to FAMMGRAM if anyone is up for it: 1612 K St NW 56 700 Washington, DC 20006 Families Against Mandatory Minimums) www.famm.org *** *** April 16, 2004 Federal Prison Camp Dublin Margaret M. Morton Reg. No. 92102-020 5675 8th St. Camp Parks Dublin, CA. 94568 “Inside Prison Camp Dublin” There is pain here, and laughter There is beauty, and there are fights Loneliness and friendship Hidden tears and joy There is wisdom. If we can live here, behind invisible bars, Black, white and tan Guam, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam Native American, Alaskan, Hawaiian In for drugs, theft, fraud, protest Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical Christian, Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, Quaker and seeking. If we can live together here in peace Work, eat, sleep, quarrel and play Over 200 If we can live together here in peace Then maybe there is hope for the world. --Peg Morton “From Another Bunk” I lie resting on my bed Tears of fatigue swim in my eyes Sleep hovers And from around the corner, from another bunk A cry of pain: “They took away my freedom They took away my children They took away my dignity.” Does some guard, some person in the outside world, Ask, “Well, why did she do what she did?” No! No! The tangled nets of social injustice Of a society, a world, sick, dying?, With poverty, greed, violence Power grabbed Cold, uncaring Struggle for survival People caught in a net. No tears she. She, they, do not choose a waterfall of tears. She reads instead. She works, she smiles, she prays. She walks straight and tall. Dignity she has. *** *** Friends, I just interviewed Peg Morton from Dublin Prison. The first of many interviews with her during her incarceration. The interview will air Monday, April 26th at 6:30 PM on KWVA 88.1FM or online KWVAradio.org Please spread the word about this interview so many folks will listen to Peg and feel reassured that she is OK, spunky, positive, inspiring as always. And so they will learn about even more activism that she is asking us to do. Amy Amy Pincus Merwin InForm Productions and Radio, progressive community affairs and news KWVA 88.1 FM/Eugene, Mondays 6:30-7p, KWVAradio.org KBOO 90.7 FM/Portland, Tuesdays or Wednesdays news hour CTV/Channel 29-Eugene; Sundays 7pm, Mondays 7am, Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7am 2220 Sandy Drive Eugene, OR 97401 o. 541-345-1633 cp 541-521-5062 fx 541-344-5830 amy@informproductions.com Visit Peg Morton's writings at West By Northwest.org A Cross and a Fence: The question is "How do we live our beliefs?" A Quaker grandmother has an answer. and follow the links. © Copyright 2000-2004 by West by Northwest.org |
