(AllHipHop Features) C-Murder’s hunger strike to oppose Angola Prison’s conditions and the handling of its inmates may have come to a close, but problems persist inside of the nation’s largest correctional facility.
C-Murder is serving a life sentence for the 2002 slaying of a 16-year-old.
The rapper and several inmates launched a three-week hunger strike over the wretched conditions they are being kept in.
While Angola Prison received some positive press last week, thanks to the death of the Reverend Billy Graham, but the inmates continue to suffer.
Prisoners at Angola constructed the coffin Rev. Graham was buried in and were rewarded by having their names wood burned onto his casket.
But shortly before the news of Rev. Graham’s death, a new account highlighted the harsh circumstances these very inmates are still kept in.
AllHipHop.com’s original story about C-Murder’s hunger strike inside of Angola led to an independent investigation by The Daily Dot.
The website received new footage inside of Angola, provided by a guard who wished to remain anonymous.
The latest video shows inmates having to clean up flooding, with their bare hands.
The inmates claim Angola is infested with rodents, cats, and dogs, who all roam freely around the jail.
To make matters worse, some inmates insist worms come out of the shower heads when they turn on the water as they attempt to wash.
Inmate Keith Kisack was one of the several inmates who joined C-Murder in his hunger strike to protest the conditions inside of the prison.
Keith Kisack is serving a life sentence in Angola, after a case that made headlines throughout the state of Louisiana.
Keith Kisack received his life sentence when he was convicted of having a smuggled cell phone while he was locked up in a different prison.
On December 27th, 2011 a correctional officer at Orleans Parish Prison discovered the phone inside of a black sock, which was hidden inside of the crevice of a wall.
When investigator’s examined the cell phone’s contents, they found a selfie of Keith Kisack, along with hundreds of text messages, including a few sent to an attorney named Jason Williams, who represented Kisack in a 2011 murder case.
Keith Kisack, who had been caught with a phone inside of the jail twice, was promptly charged with possession of contraband, while his then-attorney Jason Williams was called to testify about his communication with the person on the other end of the phone.
Several messages Jason Williams had sent to the device were addressed to someone he identified as “K.K.” and included personal messages and holiday greetings.
In July of 2014, Keith Kisack’s former defense attorney worked with prosecutors and testified against his ex-client regarding the messages sent to the cellphone.
Jason Williams testified there was no way he knew who was receiving the messages since he represented dozens of defendants over the years, and that he didn’t know the phone was inside of the Orleans Parish Prison.
Keith Kisack’s new lawyers argued that their client was being singled out after a shocking video leaked in 2010, showcasing prisoners inside Orleans Parish Prison using drugs and drinking beer, handling a loaded gun, and even leaving the facility to hang out on Bourbon Street.
https://www.google.com/sorry/index?continue=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_rRZ9ejTqU&q=EgQs6nbMGMqTg_kFIhkA8aeDS1Wn_W0NqBQeZC_f7JwrX4X_iBpIMgFy
A jury convicted Keith Kisack of having the contraband and in less than 20 minutes, handed him a life sentence with hard labor in Angola, with no chance of parole, for being a habitual offender.
“On the surface, life imprisonment for possession of a cell phone is seemingly ‘too severe’ in light of the particular circumstances of the case; however, when considering Kisack’s long criminal history, and that he was incarcerated at the time of this offense awaiting trial for second degree murder, we cannot conclude that the trial court was manifestly erroneous in handing down a life sentence for this fourth felony conviction. In fact, we could conclude the possession of a cell phone in prison poses a clear opportunity for a threat to prison security,” wrote Judge Daniel L. Dysart in a March 2016 ruling.
Jason Williams went on to become city councilman at large for the city of New Orleans.
As of March 2018, Keith Kisack has not been tried or convicted for the murder case since the main witness was killed and the state allegedly believes Kisack was involved.
Keith Kisack reached out to AllHipHop.com to discuss his situation, and even though he has ended his hunger strike too, he maintains he continues to be targeted for protesting conditions inside of the jail.
Keith Kisack
Offender ID: 345993
The things mentioned in last week’s articles are happening here at Angola, a lot of us here are going through extreme racism and civil rights violations. When we speak up or file a compliment, we are thrown in the hole or suffer extreme punishment.
They also will jack inmate’s cases up by putting harsher sentences once the original charge is almost up.
With my case, once they were not able to stick any charges to me, Angola got me on an alleged contraband (cell phone) allegation and gave me a life sentence for a cell phone… LIFE
This is an injustice and in no rational mind dat a person should be given a life sentence in prison for a cell phone. No ongoing criminal activity or wrongdoing – simply fighting to get out of prison.
No doubt psychologically I am damaged, plus b/c this is a non-violent crime and has become a personal issue from all levels. My previous lawyers who suppose to be fighting for me, has been playing for position with and for da opposition.
What I have learned lately that my lawyers either rented office space from judges that oversee cases at Angola or they went to school together. So we (Inmates) have no chance in beating the bogus charges or time.
I really need a civil rights lawyer outside of Louisiana who has no history with this corrupt system up here, to help not just myself but to look into other inmates cases and see past the Angola BS.
