[ed note: I had sent Ray a letter, some news articles, some post cards, and 10 envelopes- the latter being almost impossible to get in the SHU. I received the following in reply. It has been slightly edited. Explanatory text on my part will be indicated by [ ]. ]

Bro:

Appreciate yrs of 11 Oct w/ enclosures- for some reason they didn’t let the envelopes slide. I got the post cards OK and will gradually use- I like that special touch at hand for special moments. [ed note: the postcards are very weird]   So far, I’m managing to tread water on the envelopes.  As long as I can get the chaplain to give me a weekly dose of Hallmark reject cards, I have a fallback. I still haven’t gotten back in touch with a number of people since leaving ADX. 

 The recent 12/16 mailing looks good. ["Nice Fella" – Ray was simply writing a letter & didn’t know we would publish his comments ] In retrospect I wish I had been more detailed and hard- hitting re: Atlanta SHU for "Nice Fella". I want to get down with an article on it this weekend, tho some of the SHU issues I don’t want to get into w/o more info. …..

 Let me briefly update you on things here. Shortly after writing you last [sent out to the Email list as "It Took 2 Seconds"] a third prisoner got put on the floor of this cell. Almost 2 weeks now with barely room to move. 90% of these cells are now tripled up with men on the floor. We just went 32 hours with no water. No drinking, no flushing. The plumbing is ancient. Rank. Remember, we’re in these cells all the time except for what’s supposed to be a daily 2.5 hrs of rec time in cages- which has been averaging 1- 2 hr period per week. 

It’s bad.  The large majority of the problems here spin off the overcrowding. And it’s illegal. 

Earlier today, I had my third interview with "nice fella", the wardens hatchet man. And he was pissed.  He tells me "you didn’t listen to me" and got outside people "in my business". Reread the riot act. He said "no one can help you in here." And he was as serious as a heart attack. Then he made it real clear that because outside people are expressing  their concern about me,  I can stay in Seg "6 months" before he’ll consider letting me into gen.pop. 

I’ve really got to be alert & cautious  that I don’t get set up with a disciplinary report or confrontation.  I explained to [x] we must have lawyers [all acting pro bono] increase the effort. . Continue pressing.  Now is not the time to let things go. The administration has got to understand there are real people and resources in my corner – that they are capable and wont go away until the grievance is redressed. I suggested that the next round tie in the issue of extreme overcrowding that’s obviously illegal. 
Very important I don’t get left hanging at this time…..
 

A large collection of Rays essays and letters can be found at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~neoludd/