Epistle from Victorville

October 15, 2003

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from Victorville!! Many thanks for your wonderful letters of love and support. I have not done too well keeping up with my end of the correspondence.

Thanks to those who have sent your e-mail address to Sue Ablao at sablao1@yahoo.com so that my limited budget allows me to keep you updated.

I am adjusting slowly but surely to desert living. Mornings and evenings are very comfortable but as afternoon wears on it is very hot. I have seen so many beautiful sunsets, in fact last nights was spectacular. I have never been so fortunate to witness daily sunsets nor the moon cycles. Mars is still very visible but moving farther and farther away. There are two hummingbirds that dash from flowering bush to flowering tree making me grateful for God's creation.

This prison is located on the former George Air Force Base. We are living on top of a toxic dump so I have been purchasing some of my drinking water. Local water is used for cooking and bathing however. The water has been cleared for industrial use - whatever that means!

It is amazing how many, who have written, know exactly where Victorville is. Guess there are not too many towns in the desert between L.A. and Las Vegas. It stands out as an oasis. The seven prisons in the area no doubt helped increase the population from 40,000 in 1990 to 72,000 in 2000. I'm sure the residents see us as their job security.

We are blessed with an excellent, though long winded Catholic Chaplain. He is truly a human being in his contact with us. There are approximately 25 women who regularly attend Sunday evening mass.

I have experienced my first "Team Meeting" with two case managers and my counselor. This initial meeting is a chance to ask any questions and according to the BOP policy book and opportunity to receive "assistance" in setting up a schedule of classes and a payment plan to cover the court assessment ($200.00) and restitution ordered by the court.

The meeting began with my counselor telling me that I would pay $25.00 per month toward my court assessment and restitution -sign here to OK the withdrawal! Needless to say, I refused -SO -I am now on "Refusal Status". Consequences have to do with my housing assignment, future furlough and half-way house assignment. These present no problem, but limited commissary spending may pinch a bit. The women have been wonderful in making arrangements to cover my needs so I'm not too concerned at this point.

The three of us have been ordered to pay $3,080.04 in restitution to the government for damages (escalated by the Air Force) at the missile site. It is impossible for any of us to pay one penny to a government which would designate it for the "kill chain."

The Team then told me to take a "Victim Impact Class". I laughed at the thought of this government being a "victim" of our action.

At present I have no assigned job though the camp administrator told me that "this is a work camp". The majority of the women here have been transferred from Dublin, CA and Phoenix, AZ to assure that the maximum security prison for 2,000 men will be ready to open by March 2004. It has been truly slave labor -pick axes to loosen desert terrain so that landscaping can be done -raking manure so that grass can be planted for soccer and baseball fields -raking rocks -painting cells -lugging mattresses, etc. etc.

Unicor (a nation-wide prison industry) has been building humvees and army trailers. These are the highest paying jobs so there is a waiting list for employment. Basically, there are too many women for the jobs available here so many women are not being paid the normal wage of twelve cents an hour.

Health care in the facility is horrendous. The Physician Assistant in charge told me that this is not a place to become ill. She tries desperately to keep up but runs into many brick walls with the administration. The most difficult part of being here is listening to the tragic stories of so many women. Many who had such trust in the court system that they refused to plead guilty to false charges and went to trial where they experienced severe sentencing for conspiracy charges which are nearly impossible to defend yourself against. Actually, there is not one woman here that you would hesitate to invite into your home. If we were not all "in green" it would look like any gathering of women in "Anywhere USA". Imprisoning vast numbers of our population is big business and I fear, part of empire building! A recent issue (I believe-October) of Sojourners magazine has two excellent articles: Dangerous Religion George W. Bush's theology of empire. by Jim Wallis and The Project for a New American Empire by Duane Shank. If you cannot buy the magazine, check it out on the internet. An other interesting web site to check out is: Project for a New American Century this should be able to be located on a "google search". We acted in Colorado twice, specifically because it is the home of the "kill chain". The Air Force Space Command just celebrated its 21st anniversary. The following is an excerpt from a speech given at Peterson AFB on September 22,2003 by General Lance Lord, Air Force Space Command Commander: "We have lived up to the Air Force mission statement, which was revised in 1992 to read, Defend the U.S. through control and exploitation of air and space...Our focus will remain on our ability to operate from, in and through space with combat ready forces...we must be ready to dominate any potential adversary of tomorrow with full-spectrum warfighting effects. "This mission statement does not make me feel secure but rather more fearful for our future as a nation. It is a task for the informed to undertake the task of stopping this nation's drive toward such a future of exploitation and  domination. May we each find the role we can play in this effort. I will stop here and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. May your lives be blessed, may the Light guide you on your journey toward a peace-filled planet. Much love,Jackie

P.S. If you are planning to be in the Victorville area it would be great to see you. The process for approval to visit can take up to a month, so... the first step is to write me and ask for a form to be mailed to you. I am allowed to have 20 names on my visiting list at anyone time.