San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

What role does society play in the development of felons?

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Entrance to Pasrchman State Penitentiary in Mississippi

Be it California or Mississippi, when news of suicides, murders or riots reaches any prison population the feeling is always the same: “damn”—if it’s spoken or not. Especially if you’ve been through it or witnessed these things.

Society might think “there goes those violent monsters acting up again.” What is rarely discussed is that we are a product of the society. Most of us incarcerated and are Americans, and America is filled with double standards (we’ll get to that later) and most of the time breeds intolerance.

Black people and others are still suffering under racism, and we don’t have to go back to slavery to see this. Black people can’t BBQ, sell water or lose cigarettes without the police being called. A Black man was even arrested for eating a sandwich at a San Francisco BART transit station platform. We can’t even sit in our own homes without being shot and killed.

Have we ever talked about collective trauma? It’s not just individuals who suffer. It’s whole communities. Our immigrant community is being detained, and kids are/have been separated from their parents—OK, more trauma. Our President even ordered the assassination of a Iranian general using violence in the name of stopping violence.

Have we been raised to be intolerant against any and everyone who is not like us (on both sides)? Has violence been shown as a way to solve our problems? Is this learned behavior?

We witnessed our President say that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in broad daylight and not get charged. Damn! That’s a criminal threat, or what we incarcerated call a “terrorist threat,” and people in here are doing three to five years, if not a life sentence, for a statement such as that.

During President Trump’s House impeachment trial started by the Democrats—more separation—Trump was alleged to have attempted to strong arm, bribe or leverage—or whatever a good word choice would be (quid pro quo)—to get the Ukrainian president to investigate his rival, excuse me, his possible political opponent, for his own advantage.

Once again, there are hundreds of thousands of people serving long sentences for attempting to do a crime. But what really was most interesting to those incarcerated was how the Republicans, Trump’s “homies” (supporters), kept touting that all the evidence against him was just hearsay. Wait, wait, wait—how many people are sitting in U.S. prisons and jails convicted on hearsay evidence? And I haven’t yet mentioned the venomous call to reveal the name of the whistleblower. Trump’s supporters came just short of calling the confidential informant a “snitch.”

When the smoke cleared Trump was impeached in the House (by his rivals) on “Abuse of Power” and “Obstruction of Justice.”

But, he was acquitted by the majority Republican Senate. Imagine that! a jury of one’s peers. I think most people incarcerated would have loved to have their friends, supporters or homies on their juries. It wouldn’t be hard to guess the outcome.

Now let’s talk about prison violence and reform. When people are sentenced to 800 plus years, what is expected? They have officially written their lives off and wonder what they have to live for or if they will ever see the streets again. Add to that, they are incarcerated in harsh and questionable conditions.

WALL CITY Edicion Espanol: Entre el cielo y la tierra

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Por Lucía de la Fuente, Editora de español

“Nadie puede decir en qué momento comienza el despertar del hombre” (Eduardo Subirats, Utopía y Subversión, 1975, p. 148)

En lo que más me fijé la primera vez que te conocí, fue en tus manos. Grandes, con las uñas bien recortadas y con un tatuaje imperfecto. Tus manos siempre cargaban algo: una pluma, papel, tarjetas con números telefónicos, periódicos, libretas y bolsas de plástico trasparente con comida. Puños llenos de sueños… Tus manos eran por si solas un taller de trabajo, una oficina, una librería, una lucha hispana. Esas manos tuyas reflejaban de una manera muy pulcra tu trabajo: cuidadas, útiles, en eterno movimiento y fuertes.

Entre el cielo y la tierra (ese sitio donde nosotros, los ridículos y dramáticos humanos, intentamos vivir y sobrevivir) estaba tu laboratorio. En el hacías experimentos para revolucionar la existencia de los que no sabemos cómo saborear la vida de una forma sana. En el construiste comunidades y derribaste muros. En el luchaste por todos nosotros; de hecho, este espacio en el que hoy estoy escribiendo en español, nos lo conseguiste tú.

¿De quién eran esas manos mágicas que trabajaban entre el cielo y la tierra? Eran de un hombre que soñaba despierto y despertaba a sus sueños: correr programas de rehabilitación en español; “les voy a enseñar (alascorreccionales) cómosedebe

de hacer la rehabilitación adecuadamente”, me decía. Eran de un hombre que no recibía un “no” por respuesta; “eh, Lucía, va a estar bueno. Vamos a agarrar lo mejor para la raza. Tú confía”, me repitió. Eran de un hombre que tocaba puertas, que luchaba por los “compas”, que explicaba cuando nadie quería oír, que compartía con los demás hasta lo que no tenía, que respiraba profundo “cuando la cosa se pone fea”, que miraba siempre para adelante y dejaba atrás rencores y remordimientos, que creía ciegamente en la unión y el trabajo en equipo, que disfrutaba el estar vivo. Eran las manos de un hombre de palabra que, invariablemente, caminaba con la cabeza bien erguida porque estaba orgulloso de su cultura; orgulloso de nosotros.

Compañeros, ustedes que hoy están leyéndo estas palabras, déjenme decirles que le debemos mucho al dueño de esas manos: ahora es nuestro turno de trabajar entre el cielo y la tierra, para derribar muros y construir comunidades. A él no le importaba

si eras “blanco”, “moreno”, “latino”, o cualquier otro color; “no le hace. Aquí con nosotros todos son bienvenidos”, decía con una gran sonrisa. Mis compas, compitas, centroamericanos, y de cualquier otro país hispano, de Norte a Sur y de Sur a Norte, de

este a oeste, todos somos uno y uno somos todos. Juntos, vamos a mantener vivo el trabajo que él comenzó entre el cielo y la tierra; porque ese trabajo era y es para y por nosotros. Porque entre el cielo y la tierra sólo podemos caminar. ¡Ya basta de correr! Vamos a andar, un pie delante del otro. Vamos a despertar y a dejar ese racismo que nos pudre por dentro. Vamos a recorrer, cogidos de las manos, las carreteras que no entienden de fronteras; las carreteras que sólo saben de unión.

“No se descubre al sueño por haberlo des-cubierto, no son las luces del día, de la conciencia y la razón, las que lo desvelan. Más bien revelan una nueva luz. Una nueva claridad que penetra en la vida vigil con las sombras de recuerdos de deseos olvidados […] Al amanecer no se despierta del sueño; es el sueño el que despierta la vigilia” (pp. 147-148).

Despertemos de ese sueño que nos tiene adormecidos. Ese sueño que nos hace sentir cansados y desganados, esclavos del hartazgo. Despertemos al sueño de ser el mejor ejemplo de nuestras raíces. ¿De qué sirve una vida llena de sueños, si dormimos durante el día? Arnulfo T. García: esta lucha no se acaba aqui.

Being more conscious to our readers in the New Year

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Happy New Year! Yeah, another year down and a decade gone. For those who have been incarcerated since the 1980s and ’90s, we have officially moved into what we call the Buck Rogers dates (named after the late ’70s TV show). This term was coined to show how far off someone’s release date was back then, so good luck in this decade.

As times changes and new generations are born, languages, terminologies and definitions can also go through a metamorphosis. Now we are in a time of criminal justice reform, a time where self-identification for some people and organizations has also taken a shift.

It’s a time where using pronouns such as they/them for gender nonconforming (GNC) people has gained traction. In short, words have power; they can either build someone up or tear them down.

San Quentin News wants to put our readers on notice that we will start being conscious of not using the word inmate(s). We are not taking away this word as an option for our contributors or our journalists.

But, we are in the process of creating acceptable word options such as the incarcerated, incarcerated people, inside participants, etc. For those who have returned home, terms such as returning resident, formerly incarcerated person or system-impacted will be used.

We do understand the power of the media and word choices, where we are addressed as inmates, offenders or convicts. It’s about humanizing the incarcerated people; we are not monsters, our crimes or any other negative label.

None of these different word choices takes away having accountability for the harm that has been caused to victims/survivors or the community as a whole. This does not include the truly innocent of crimes, because we know these people exist as well.

Using words that generalize people and other negative epithets can create societal stigmas that can hinder rehabilitation or a successful reentry. This doesn’t help public safety.

I know and understand that some incarcerated people don’t care what they are called one way or the other. Everyone’s opinion is valid, but as a news agency we are aware of the debates going on regarding what incarcerated people should be called in the media, as well as how to address individuals.

Prison reform advocates and organizations and some government officials are adopting new guidelines to stay away from language such as felon, or ex-con, etc., to help remove barriers for returning residents. We who are incarcerated need to know that there are people fighting to show the rest of the world our humanity, especially those who have returned back to society. We applaud and support their efforts. In our role as journalists, we share in the efforts to also support and inform our readership in a healthy way for their human transformations—most of the times we get this right, and sometimes we can make mistakes.

But overall, we want the best for everyone, especially those who seek redemption in these dark places called prisons.

Changing what we call ourselves may take some time to have some psychological affect, but we must put forth our effort.

Well, when it comes to celebrating New Year’s Day, some people make resolutions. I guess I recommend focusing on choices and changes. One has the choice to change one’s life for the better or stay in the same place mentally, emotionally and even physically. The choice is yours.

So for you young people, who have just started doing your time or are involved in some questionable activities, take notice. When we were sentenced we were given what we called Buck Rogers dates. For your generation you have Terminator, the movie set in the 2040s. Understand this: that’s just 20 years from now.

If you think you can’t get or serve that type of time, just ask any OG, who has served two decades or more. It’s a reality.

Lastly, we as a news agency not using the word inmate(s) may seem trivial. But the alternative is supporting thing-ify-ing (objectifying) us as incarcerated people.

In self-help groups, we learn not to do the same thing. When you thing-ify (objectify) someone you take away their identity as a person who has feelings, emotions and families, where it’s easy to cause them harm. What about us? Don’t we have the ability to change or have remorse? Our are we not people?

Its just food for thought.

Once again, Happy New Year!

Reflecting on the Texas murder of an unarmed Black man

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Amy Guyger, the White former Texas officer who killed unarmed Botham Jean, a Black man in his home, was found guilty of murder last month. Race normally wouldn’t or shouldn’t be an issue when it comes to a tragedy, but with the inequalities in the U.S. criminal justice system it will most likely be a part of the conversation.

As an incarcerated Black man, what surprised me were a few events that took place that shocked most people and sparked many debates from those incarcerated and those on the outside. First, a police officer was held accountable for murdering a Black person, though numerous other officers were either not prosecuted or were acquitted. Second, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

But what really drove some people crazy was when the brother of the victim hugged and forgave Guyger. Then another shocker, Judge Tammy Kemp, a Black woman, also gave Guyger a hug and a Bible, which sparked its own debate about the separation of church and state.

If that wasn’t enough, the prosecution’s star witness was murdered not too long after the trial was over.

Man, we got a lesson into the multifaceted nature of our criminal justice system: restorative justice, disproportionate sentencing and possible witness intimidation. But what amazed me the most was the debate, especially among those incarcerated, about the victim’s brother hugging and forgiving the offender (Guyger), which is an example of Restorative Justice.

I’m around people every day, be they men in blue or volunteers, who believe in Restorative Justice. Many people believe in and fight for prison reform. Should my views change because she was a police officer who “tripped the hell out,” as we say in the neighborhood, for breaking into someone else’s house and killing them?

I know many people who have done senseless things, including myself. Do I want forgiveness from the people I have harmed? Do you want forgiveness for your past or present indiscretions? I have had the chance to witness the healing power of victim/offender dialogue first- hand: check out prior issues of SQ News. We also have a Re:Store/Survivor column. But Guyger was a police officer, some argue. She should have known better. True.

If she were Black—not to mention if the roles were re- versed and it were a Black man who shot a White woman—do I think there would be the same treatment? History says most likely not. There are people serving life sentences for stealing a slice of pizza or drug possession. So Black people and people of color are disproportionally sentenced throughout the nation.

There is so much pain in the community when justice is not balanced. But when it comes to forgiveness, this doesn’t mean one forgets. Forgiveness is not just for the one who has offended, it can start the healing process for the victim/survivor or their families.

Constantly reliving that trauma can affect one’s quality of life. There are still people being denied 20 to 30 years later at the parole board because family members are still attending the hearings and seeking some form of justice.

So I have to commend the brother and the judge for breaking the status quo when it comes to the criminal justice system. Everyone has his or her own time to heal. It is not for me to judge someone else’s pain. But I am of the same opinion as Danielle Sered, author of Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration and a Road to Repair.

“We need these stories of extraordinary forgiveness and the complication they introduce. They are critical testaments to the human capacity for compassion. They, like the pained stories of hungry revenge, deserve their place in our public consciousness,” Sered wrote.

“But like those other stories, they are not fully representative of most survivors. Most of us lie in the vast space between complete hatred and full forgiveness,” Sered continued.

Racism and violence are, sadly, a part of the fabric of our society. I’m inside looking out and seeing that our nation is in desperate need of empathy and emotional intelligence— the main qualities that are required for someone to be found suitable at the parole board to go home.

Violence is violence and police violence is violence. As I finish up this editorial, another Texas officer shot and killed a Black woman who was inside her own home. I sit sad and confused. So what will be the new debate?

Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: The Women’s Issue

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These pages are written by women, about women. Here’s why.

How powerful is a voice when no one will hear the cries? “Everyone has a voice, but not

everybody has a platform,” said Tracy Brumfield. Brumfield is the founder of RISE Up News. She is one of the formerly incarcerated women featured in our “Over the Wall” section.

Her statement made me imagine someone alone in the woods surrounded by mountain-high trees. The person starts to scream at the top of their lungs, look- ing for a way out, but no one hears them. Not a soul understands the desperation of being separated from the rest of the world and not knowing if they will live or die in this dangerous environment.

All people know is that you strayed off the path. Only a few people wonder how you got lost. You start to wonder your- self how you got lost.

The woods are an unforgiving place. Some have come out the other side battered and abused but primed to help the world. Others stumble out more damaged and disconnected than be- fore. Some never make it out at all.

Women’s voices are growing loud around the world with the #NeverthelessshePersisted, RESIST and #MeToo movements. There is a segment of women who have suffered the same hardships as the women who start- ed these movements, but their voices are rarely heard. The men of San Quentin News are honored to give the pages of the third issue of Wall City to these incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women so we can hear their stories.

Charisse Shumate is one of the women whose stories can be found in these pages. Shumate helped change California’s prison healthcare system. She was the lead plaintiff in Shumate v. Wilson, the first ever class action lawsuit filed by women prisoners in California. Formerly incarcerated firefighter Amika Mota is also in these pages. She details some of the pain, struggles and joys she navigated in prison while she fought fires. We also hear the voices of the young women housed in Ventura Youth Correction Facility. They give us insight into the trials of reckoning with their

actions and growing up in an institution. In our legal section, Sara Kruzan shares her story of surviving violence only to be re-traumatized as she went in front of the parole board. Kruzan has become a parole success story—she now works as an advocate, preparing others for a positive parole hearing.
Some of these stories would not have come to fruition without the help of the California Institution for Women and the Department of Juvenile Justice Administrations. We thank them for getting the word out to the women within their institutions and facilitating getting us the stories. We could always be critical of the administration, but in fairness, they are juggling safety and security concerns with rehabilitation efforts. Once we understand that we are all an integral part of this system of incarceration, we can build the bridges that truly heal our society. This system tests everybody’s humanity—whether you are a prisoner or an administrator.

We also thank the California Coalition of Women Prisoners for their contribution to this project. It’s their continued work both inside and outside of prison that brings awareness to women’s issues. I thank all the contributors and advisers for making this issue possible. All your words and stories have challenged the flawed male belief system I grew up with of being self-centered, domineering and uncaring. Thank you for giving me insight into your trials and strengths. Let me say, I hear you.

Grammy-nominated Nipsey Hussle remembered

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Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle

Happy Birthday and rest in peace, Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom. On March 31, the late rapper was gunned down in front of The Marathon Clothing store, his place of business in the Crenshaw District of South Los Angeles. Nipsey Hussle would have been 34 years old on August 15.

I didn’t know you as person- ally, but I bought your 2019 Grammy-nominated debut al- bum “Victory Lap” and a couple of your mix tapes “Slauson Boy Volume 1” and “Bullets Got No Names Volume 1-3.”

Your tragic murder made me reflect on my own act of senseless violence. My role in the ongoing Black on Black violence. The hurt and pain of crying mothers, wives and children. Growing up in South Central myself, I know and understand the gang culture.

Wherever a simple dispute ends with gun violence, retaliation and decades of more murders, the Black community suffers. As the saying goes: one Black man died, the other in jail. The cycle continues.

We lost a young king who transformed his life. He went from a gang member to a business man who reinvested in his community. Nipsey was different from most other young rappers.

He promoted investing in real-estate rather than cars and jewelry. He started his own music label “All Money In.” This allowed him to own the rights to his music.

Nipsey bought the strip mall in his neighborhood on Crenshaw and Slauson, where his store sits. He had plans to renovate some of the space for affordable housing units that would include healthy food options, reported the Los Angeles Sentinel.

He launched the “Too Big to Fail” initiative to bring the tech industry to the ‘hood. The initiative focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs for the inner-cities.

Nipsey was scheduled to meet with the Los Angeles Police Department’s top brass to discuss ways to reduce gang violence and start youth pro- grams. He was killed the day before the meeting. Nipsey Hussle made money and gained fame but he never left his community.

Something we seem to love the most could become the thing that does us in. Nipsey Hussle has become one of a growing list of rappers, the voices of our community, who died from gun violence. We lost 2Pac, Biggie, Mac Dre and XXXtentacion.

This list does not exclude the countless men and women whose names only their families know. The pain and grief is real even for someone like me, who caused harm. The ripple effect is real –just a few seconds of violence can cause a lifetime of pain.

When I called home to check that my uncle was outside watching Nipsey Hussle’s funeral procession going down the street, he spoke about the large crowds and the peace of the city pay- ing homage to one of the city’s own.

Ermias“Nipsey Hussle”Asghedom leaves behind a wife, two kids and family members who love him.

We recognize you in your final lap, Nipsey. The marathon continues. Much love and respect.

Editorial: Marcus Henderson

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Marcus Henderson

I am proud to have worked and walked the journey of prison journalism with a remarkable group of men for the past five years. These dedicated men have produced the award winning San Quentin News while also balancing college and rehabilitative programs.

That hard work has paid off for some of those in the newsroom: Six of our fellow staff members received commutations from former Gov. Jerry Brown, while other staff members have been “found suitable” by the parole board and are home now.

I am honored to have my name recently added to the distinguished list of editors- in-chief of San Quentin News. Coming off a Level Four yard with a life sentence, I never thought I would find more to my life than just doing time.

I thought I was OK because I was functioning. I wasn’t self-medicating with drugs or prison wine. I still had my hard exterior, but I was dead inside.

I locked up a lot of the real me. I didn’t know what “making amends” was until I came to San Quentin. The first day I arrived, my old cell-mate from Calpatria State Prison, Rahsaan (“New York”) Thomas, asked me to help cover a baseball game in which the prisoners were playing a team from outside, an event that would be unheard of in my former prison world.

Thomas told me to inter- view those people. My mouth dried up, and I realized I haven’t talked with anybody besides prisoners and guards for more than 15 years. That was my introduction as a reporter. I had to learn the power of capturing history and fairness, no matter if you like a topic or not.

I have been working for the paper for five years now, after beginning as a member of the Journalism Guild and working my way up to become the Journalism Guild Chairman. I learned the importance of telling our stories.

When we produce this paper, we do have all of you in mind, your families and ours and those who have paroled and are trying to reintegrate back into society.

We read all your letters, your complaints, support and grievances. We want you to know and understand that we are a news agency; it’s our responsibility to report on different aspects of our prison life. Our mission statement is to report on rehabilitative efforts to increase public safety; that is our task.

Some question us on why we are reporting on sports and entertainment? I would like to say San Quentin has a long history of entertainers performing within the prison –from Eartha Kitt, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Common and many others.

By coming in to entertain us, these visitors give us a sense of normalcy. It is a moment in time to allow us to imagine being free. These same people are using their celebrity status on behalf of criminal justice reform, including Kim Kardashian, Common, J. Coles and many others we have covered in the San Quentin News.

Bob Meyers, Golden State Warriors general manager, and Eric Reid, former 49ers safety, who took a knee with Colin Kaepernick, sat on a Sports and Social Justice Roundtable at San Quentin that was moderated by Van Jones, a CNN political commentator and founder of #Cut50, an organization to reduce U.S. prison population by 2050.

These people make contributions beyond sport and play by adding their voices to our cause. Meyers gave a former San Quentin resident a shot at the D-League. Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant produced a documentary, called “Q-ball,” about the basketball program here and its rehabilitative nature.

We recently hosted a team of CDCR recreational coaches from around the state prisons system to discuss how they could bring some of these sports programs to their institutions. We continue to work to show that change is possible for those who want it.

Some readers want more legal advice, but not one of us is a lawyer, and we wouldn’t want to misdirect anyone.

But we will always report on CDCR policy changes and any new laws that are passed. Believe me, we hear you— and we are doing time just as you are.

Even if you don’t like something or someone, it is not for us to take away their voice. Our stories are intended to give voice to all of our audience, including volunteers, staff and administration.

San Quentin News has been working for our incarcerated population since its revival in 2008 and that’s more than a decade. Our staff will continue to get a newspaper out and into your hands, despite lock-downs, quarantines and searches.

Starting off 2019’s resolution by being their best self

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I am motivated when people believe in me. I used to do things to please others

Every year starts with so much promise. During the first quarter of the year, everyone believes in their full potential, especially me. 

New Year’s resolutions are a person’s desire to be different — better.

Everyone starts the New Year with at least one resolution. Some want to lose weight, others want to exercise more, some want to spend less and others want to make more. 

I have noticed that most resolutions that involve weight control and exercise help boost gym memberships but not necessarily gym attendance and participation. 

I have discovered that although the desire for improvement is present, the will power to see it through can wane depending on the day, mood, and weather.

New Year’s resolutions are not the only thing that fluctuates, criminal justice reform ebbs toward leniency or floods toward severity depending on what is ‘politically correct’ and ‘socially acceptable.’

Resolutions can be misconstrued as lasting improvement instead of the beginning of a process toward improvement. Similarly, justice-system reform is mistakenly seen as a solution without actually dealing with the systemic issues that led to the conditions in the first place.

New Year’s gym membership offers and criminal justice reform efforts are opportunities that can promote personal initiative, accountability, and responsibility but they are no guarantee of success.

Individuals are the only ones that can guarantee their own success. They have control over whether or not something benefits them, and to what extent.

However, resolutions and reform efforts pave the way because they embody our hope in our capacity to change and improve.

I believe that we are all incentivized to perform better, and be better, when others believe in us.

I am motivated when people believe in me. I used to do things to please others. 

In fact, I made a lot of bad choices because at the time I felt it was what I needed to do to belong.

However, eventually I met people who believed in me even when I did not recognize my own potential; their encouragement paved the way for me.

I discovered that small incentives empowered me because I felt validated and that I mattered in spite of my circumstances. 

I made small behavioral changes like waking up earlier so I could read more or going to bed later so I could write one more letter. 

Through those small changes, I reaped significant benefits such as better reading comprehension and enriching correspondences with family and friends.

No one could have told me that those extra hours of reading and writing were preparing me for the role I have now for the San Quentin News.

Nevertheless, none of this would have been a reality without the support of many people and the reforms that planted a seed of hope and the possibility of social redemption.

I am convinced that New Year’s resolutions and justice reform will benefit those that position themselves for success by surrounding themselves with people who believe they can be better, and do better not just for the first quarter of the year but for life.

San Quentin News' historical journey

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It is a well-known fact among the San Quentin News staff that former Warden Clinton T. Duffy wanted inmates to voice their opinions about whatever subjects they felt comfortable addressing. Duffy’s creation, San Quentin News, was the beginning of inmate journalism at San Quentin and an opportunity given at the time to increase public safety and strive for social justice.

SQN Staff Oct 2010 – Richard Bonaru Richardson, Julian Glenn Padgett, Drew Piazza, Fernando Lemus, Kevin O’Donnell, Michael Harris, Arnulfo Garcia


It is a well-known fact among the San Quentin News staff that former Warden Clinton T. Duffy wanted inmates to voice their opinions about whatever subjects they felt comfortable addressing. Duffy’s creation, San Quentin News, was the beginning of inmate journalism at San Quentin and an opportunity given at the time to increase public safety and strive for social justice.
But in the 1980s, prison journalists and the prison administration had differences of opinion. The warden at the time became convinced that San Quentin News was incompatible with the goals of the institution, and the newspaper went out of existence.
In 2008, Warden Robert Ayers Jr. didn’t agree with having the newspaper sidelined and resurrected San Quentin News, which started our mission to change the prison culture.
While the mainstream media emphasize the latest violent incidents occurring at Folsom, Soledad or Corcoran State Prisons, San Quentin News covers stories about the 73-year-old woman or man who has earned a GED, maybe even a college education.
The more success stories San Quentin News highlighted, the more inmates wanted to be a part of that change and positive growth. We hoped this change would lead to a safer society once these inmates returned home.
An earlier executive editor, Michael “Harry O” Harris, said it best. “The human beings that are encapsulated inside these prison walls have the power to change themselves, as well as influence others in positive ways. Some of us will never get out and others will. What has become obvious is that we can learn from our mistakes, and so can others, if we, as a community, are brave enough to share in this undertaking.”
Harris, who later stepped down as executive editor after he was paroled, knew then that we as a community can influence positive growth, but recently the term “influence” has been given a negative connotation. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what we want to do. In order for us to change the prison culture, we must win over those inmates who believe that they cannot change for the better.
In 2010, then Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger enacted sweeping budget cuts across California that closed down many prison vocational programs and educational classes, including the San Quentin print shop.
San Quentin News was printed and distributed through the vocational print shop, and that might have been the end of the line for the newspaper when the print shop shut down at the end of 2009.
But Harris and Arnulfo Garcia did not want to give up on San Quentin News and the fact that information can change a prison culture with stories of rehabilitation. Acting Warden R.K. Wong, Lt. R. Luna and Principal Ted Roberts held a meeting, and they made a deal to keep the newspaper up and running. However, the deal specified that the content and layout out of the paper had to be produced on just one computer. Furthermore, San Quentin News would also have to be produced in a print shop not fully up and running.
These conditions represented major obstacles to survival. Trying hard to keep that positive voice of inmates alive, Harris and Garcia were struggling to keep San Quentin News afloat. Just when it looked like Acting Warden Wong was about to pull the plug, San Quentin News produced its first edition of 2010.
However, the threat of shutting down the paper wasn’t over. While printing the January-April editions, we were told that we could no longer utilize the abandoned print shop to print, and we lacked the resources and funds to print the newspaper elsewhere.
Once again, Harris came to the rescue. Agreeing to pay for the newspaper out of his own pocket, Harris talked with San Quentin News Adviser Steve McNamara to facilitate a deal for printing the newspaper off site.
Suddenly San Quentin News was back up and running after nearly going out of business. At that point, executive editor Harris made sure that stories of rehabilitation flooded each issue.
Eighteen months later, Harris thought he had earned his release from bondage. The Parole Board agreed that he was rehabilitated after spending more than 23 years behind bars and found him suitable to be released back into society. However, on Oct. 11, 2011, federal agents picked Harris up and transported him to a federal prison.
Many of San Quentin News staff and advisers were confused, disappointed and in disbelief. With all the rehabilitative efforts, groups and programs Harris had either started or been a part of, we couldn’t believe he was not being released.
Harris was very instrumental in making sure groups like, Keepin’ it Real, The Green Life, MOMAS, and The Last Mile established themselves here at San Quentin. He believed that the more programs inmates had access to, the less likely they would recidivate.
Garcia, who had succeeded Harris as executive editor, said that he was “committed, compassionate and a great leader. He strongly advocated not to define a person by his past but by the person’s desire to change his past anti-social behavior and to develop pro-social habits.”
Many of us wanted Harris to go home with the skills he had learned in prison and become an agent for change in communities throughout California and beyond. But knowing that so much positive energy is sitting behind prison bars really proves that the criminal justice system is still broken and needs to be fixed.
San Quentin News will continue to advocate for those inmates without a voice and report on what works in the criminal justice system, what doesn’t and how we can join together and fix it.
Portrait of Richard ‘Bonaru’ Richardson

Portrait of Richard ‘Bonaru’ Richardson

Building lives through health and wellness TRUST

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise

A Look Back at Aly Tamboura’s Legacy and Accomplishments

Remembering a great brother, father, son and friend

Remembering a great brother, father, son and friend

by

Arnulfo Timoteo Garcia was our mentor and best friend.
He died in a car crash shortly after gaining parole, but I still feel his hand guiding everyone in the San Quentin News family to do the best for our community, including our advisers, volunteers and prison administrators.
He’d always say: Moving forward!
When we first met, I didn’t see myself working for a prison newspaper. But Arnulfo saw a reporter in me. He brought me into the San Quentin News family and it ended up being the most important job I’ve ever had.
Arnulfo Timoteo Garcia, Bonaru and Carmelita

Arnulfo Timoteo Garcia, Bonaru and Carmelita

Each time I patiently listen to someone tell me a story, I credit Arnulfo.

Each time I have the honor to write and make someone visible, I credit Arnulfo.

Each time I review a story for the newspaper or magazine or set up a video project, I credit Arnulfo.

But, most of all, I credit Arnulfo for changing my life. He enrolled me into Victim Offender Education Group, Guiding Rage Into Power, Creative Writing and The Green Life. These programs have given me guidance and purpose.
Moving forward!
Arnulfo would be proud to see how the office looks, as it was his idea to have it professionally revamped. Consequently, the whole San Quentin Media Department looks great!
Timoteo’s leadership brought the newspaper in a direction that has earned the respect and admiration of our fellow inmates, prison staffers and the public at large.
Back in the day, we’d sit at breakfast and he’d plan our day. He’d talk about meetings with people or conversations with those socially responsible, always seeking to find new and underreported stories.
He also understood the power of writing for families in the free world, letting them know what’s happening to their loved ones. He knew that when they learned about the redemption and trans- formation happening inside San Quentin, families would reunite — bonds would be strengthened. He knew all of this, because that’s what happened to him when his daughter was born.
All of Arnulfo’s time spent in San Quentin, and the short time thereafter, was full of redemption and transformation — so much so that when I read what Jeff Rosen, district attorney for Santa Clara County said about him in his eulogy, I committed my- self to continuing Arnulfo’s dream of providing people an opportunity for change.

One of his most amazing achievements was encouraging San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon to create a Formerly Incarcerated Advisory Board.
Arnulfo enjoying 2017 Day of Peace

Arnulfo enjoying 2017 Day of Peace

Moving forward!
Arnulfo always said that a person has to take responsibility for their past actions, be accountable, and once they do, they can change — they can be rehabilitated. Arnulfo believed in leaving the door open for people to have second chances. It is those kinds of stories that he loved telling.
Though it’s been a year, it seems like yesterday that he was here.
The paper continues to grow, videos are being produced, a magazine was launched and staffers are looking at their futures, beyond the bars.
Prisoners, teachers, professors, advisers, volunteers, students, prison administrators, correctional officers, counselors, doctors and nurses — all who knew this kind and generous man wish him to rest in peace.
Moving forward!

In December 2017, Garcia’s family began the Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation to carry on Arnulfo’s dream. Supported by the Horse Club Foundation and the Con-Ex Restorative Justice Project, the Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation is developing its initial program of a horse ranch style reentry facility.

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Arnulfo T. Garcia a dream continues to prosper

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