Rape Blocks

(col. writ. 9/29/11 © ‘11 Mumia Abu-Jamal) Several months ago I reported on the firing of a trio of high-ranking prison officials in connection with a series of sexual assaults in a Southwestern Pennsylvania prison. Few news agencies took up the story especially national ones. This was astounding given the nature of the charges: prison guards both raping men and forcing others to assault them, on their very whim. Prison administrators turning a collective blind eye. Is this not news? Since that initial report one prison guard (who spent months on suspension), Harry Nicciletti, has been arrested and faces over 90-90!--charges stemming from the events. According to the local DA 11 other guards will soon be arrested on related charges. When news first broke of the scandal, it forced some prison observers to recall ex-President George W. Bush, who, after the rise of the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq pointed to Saddam Hussein's usage of the prison and particularly made note of his "rape rooms.