Malik is asking for calls to be made into Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution due to the lack of quality food they are providing Muslim adults in custody for Ramadan!
THE ISSUE:
“Islam has never been respected or allowed to be practiced freely inside. They started Ramadan a day late providing us our meals late, luckily most of us have our own food so fasted and broke fast still. Still, it’s not something that we should have to miss out on if we don’t have food. Yet to add insult to injury, the very simple basic meal they provide us to eat ([which is] supposed to be 4 pieces of bread, 2 for peanut butter and jelly and 2 for a meat and cheese sandwich, a ramen, carrots, and celery, bag of chips, and some baked “dessert”–that’s how it’s been across institutions) is not standardized, and varies based on the proclivities of the kitchen coordinator. At OSP, we got rotten meat and complained. The coordinators response was to only give us one day with meat, one day with tuna for our sandwich. When the tuna came rotten and we complained, they took away dessert. At Snake, they also rotate meat one day, tuna the next, sometimes neither.
Now here, we are also given bread and cheese, no meat. Not even tuna. The reason here is apparently because of a complaint about it being rotated between roast beef and turkey. The coordinator, in spite and retaliation for the complaint, now gives us only bread and cheese. Kosher meals are provided daily for those of the Jewish faith but our bare minimum is too much to ask. We don’t get halal meals special and our Eid meals everywhere I’ve been has been substandard, save for OSP because they allow Muslims to prepare the food. Now we’re being discouraged to complain for fear of more retaliation. The chaplain and the kitchen coordinator need to be informed and corrected and the dome building need to give us standard dignified meals and treatment no matter the plan.”
THE DEMAND:
Provide dignified standard food with meat that meets a daily calorie count suitable for adults.
Phone Zap How-To
If you’ve never done a phone zap for someone behind bars before, here are some helpful pointers.
- We want to focus on putting pressure on the Chaplains and EOCI, so start by calling the Chaplains and Faith-Based services line and the general line. Proceed to call as many of the remaining numbers as you can!
- Dial *67 before entering the prison phone number in order to prevent the caller ID at the prison from registering your number
- Be aware that prison guards and officials may sound hostile or annoyed, lie, try to intimidate you, or ask for information such as AIC names and SIDs (state identification number). You do not need to give them any information about yourself or who you’re calling on behalf of. Malik has requested that their name and SID are not included in calls, so simply remain firm and polite in your demands.
- If you get directed to voicemail, simply leave your message. Again, you do not need to leave your number or any other personal information.
- It is possible that you will be transferred to various different numbers and offices when you call. This is normal.
- It is important that we keep a record of who we’ve been able to reach and what information they have provided, especially since it is common for prison officials to lie or give contradictory information. If possible, please log your calls on THIS SPREADSHEET.
Numbers to Call
EOCI Chaplains and Faith-Based Services: (541) 278-3641 and (541) 278-3642
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution General Line: (541) 276-0700
Michael Reese (Director of Oregon Department of Corrections): (503) 945-0927
Jessica Hale (Executive Assistant): 503-945-0978
Ryan Dwyer (Acting Inspector General): 503-945-0988
Sample Script:
“Hello, I’m calling on behalf of the Muslim adults in custody at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. I was extremely concerned to hear that since the start of Ramadan, they have been provided with delayed meals and food that is not suitable for adults, consisting of simply bread and cheese. Not only is this discrimination based on their religious practices, but it is extremely unhealthy and dangerous. I am contacting you to demand that the adults in custody practicing Ramadan at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution are supported with standard food that meets the daily caloric intake required for adults, including meals with meat in them. Additionally, adults in custody have been retaliated against by the kitchen coordinators for complaining about the quality of food being provided. I am requesting that this retaliation ceases at once.”
* Please note that Malik has requested that their name and SID do NOT be included in calls! If asked for AIC names or SIDs, keep statements generalized *