“There Was an Old Man Who Lived in a S.H.U.”

Fr. Louie Vitale’s Fourth Letter

From a Minimum “Segregated Housing Unit”

Dear Friends,

Many, many thanks for your great support in so many ways during our nonviolent civil disobedience at Ft. Huachuca, AZ during the action, the long trial process, and during this time of our incarceration. We started our imprisonment at a federal contract facility in Florence, AZ. After 2 weeks I was suddenly called to “roll it up” at about 11 p.m. on Halloween night. We gave a few treats to our cellmates, but got the trick ourselves. Steve held out a few more weeks until moved to a federal facility in Taft, California.

I had learned at Columbus, Georgia that some jails and prisons have a “senior section.” As my sister told me, at 76 we need all the help we can get. These sections are quieter (i.e., not riotous) medical services are more readily available, they are aware announcements have to be loud and clear, some of us need lower bunks, etc. The sergeant in charge here said rather than “the camp, I will keep you in the jail.” They have a section for federal prisoners – mostly arrested for smuggling drugs or people without papers at the nearby border.

The section is technically a “minimum segregated housing unit” (S.H.U.) where you might be alone in the cell except for an hour out in the day. If there are no other restrictions on your presence (harm could be done to you, or by you to others) you may have a cellmate and could be in a small group that goes into the day room (which also houses the showers, phone, television, etc.) or on the occasional trip to the yard for exercise (maybe once a week for about an hour).

Since I am a “senior fellow” I am neither a target nor an aggressor. So most of the time I have had a cellmate, usually for a week or two at a time, and then they move off to court, camp, or another federal facility, usually San Diego Metropolitan Correction Center. Presently, we have a group of five or six. As the elder member, I am “Don Vitale.” The sergeant in charge appreciates the “calm” and hints at keeping me longer. He said he might put me on the payroll (yea!!).

So I am an old guy who lives in a S.H.U., like the nursery rhyme: “There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do!”

The latter phrase describes the place, the old man describes the circumstances. So I am in one of the small two-person cells, sometimes alone, sometimes with another (usually a young Mexican man who stretches my Spanish), and usually part of a group an hour or so a day – sometimes longer.

No, this old man “who lives in a S.H.U.” doesn’t have children, but I do think of these young guys as “mi hijos.” The rest of the verse – “not knowing what to do with them” — is seeing the desperations of their lives (two of the small number here have attempted suicide) some face near life-long federal minimum sentences (mostly for drugs).

I’m sure the older lady who lived in a shoe in the nursery rhyme nevertheless felt blessed by her children, loved, and cared for them, and welcomed with joy their presence and affection.

So yes, I welcome each one that enters my cell or group (and those I greet through the door) and try to help them in anyway I am able. We had a really nice Ash Wednesday “liturgy.” We have some other prayers, liturgy, and bible studies (mostly in the cell), always well received.

The “protestor priest” label spread rapidly. Martin Sheen visited and they brought him through the jail and into our cell and that gave us a bit of notoriety. Most of the group are very supportive of our actions, and even most of the staff seem sympathetic, even if they pull out a lot of unapproved mail (clippings, etc.) and hold up mail – but I do not think that it is “cause” related.

I am very grateful to be here. It is a privilege to be able to share at least in a small way in the oppression and suffering of those in prisons and places of torture throughout the world.

Thank you for your compassion and for sharing in solidarity with these victims.

May we also grow our efforts to the elimination of torture in our times, especially in the name of our own government.

With Much Gratitude,

Louie