Prison files reveal ongoing harassment of Mark Curtis

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Mark Curtis, a packinghouse worker and member of the Socialist Workers Party from Des Moines, Iowa, was arrested in 1988 and convicted on frame-up charges of rape and burglary.

He has been in prison for two years and 10 months on a 25year sentence.

On Aug. 6, Curtis was transferred from the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility to the Iowa Men's Reformatory in Anamosa. He had only been at Mount Pleasant for three weeks.

During his time at Mount Pleasant, prison officials had tried to get Curtis to enroll in their Sex Offenders Treatment Program. But Curtis told the authorities that he could not participate in a program that Mark Curtis: Had become "too powerful" would require him to abandon his defense efforts and confess to a crime he didn't commit.

Soon afterward, he received word that, because he had "refused" to undergo treatment, he would be transferred to Anamosa.

"Mark didn't refuse to enter their program," John Studer, coordinator of the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, told defense supporters. "He just refused to stop fighting." Studer said that the authorities hope to point to Curtis's alleged refusal in order to sabotage his eligibility for release on parole.

Curtis's next parole hearing is scheduled for November. In addition, a trial is scheduled in federal court on Nov. 25 on a lawsuit Curtis filed against the Des Moines police for violating his civil rights and beating him. This is the second time that Curtis has been incarcerated at Anamosa.

According to official records that Curtis received as part of his fight for parole, he was transferred out of that facility in 1990 because authorities believed he had become "too powerful" as a political activist.

He had been elected secretary of the Martin Luther King Jr.

Organization, which organized political and cultural programs for the prison inmates.

The very first entry in Curtis's 120-page file, written upon his arrival at Anamosa on Dec. 19, 1988, reads: «Political activist for El Salvador. Promotes socialist causes. Nationwide campaign as a political prisoner." The entry then adds: "Was involved in labor dispute at Swift Packing two days prior to arrest."

These references to Curtis's political views and activity continue throughout the file, especially in entries prepared for review by the state parole board. The first question parole board members asked Curtis in his 1990 hearing was, "Do you still consider yourself a political prisoner?"

Thus, Curtis's legal and political efforts to overturn his conviction-as well as his political activity inside prison—are being used as grounds to keep him behind bars.

Letters supporting parole may be sent to the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, Box 1048, Des Moines, Iowa 50311. tional rights of women such as these that are being assaulted by religious fanatics and governmental opponents of a woman's right to control her own body. The battle for abortion rights in Wichita is part of the nationwide challenge that pro-choice defenders face, in the streets as well as the courts.

"Pro-choice, and proud of it!" proclaim flyers announcing a San Francisco march and rally to defend abortion rights. Set for Saturday, Oct. 5, 1991, the action was called by the San Francisco Area Pro-Choice Coalition, the organization which mobilized a demonstration of over 20,000 in April 1989.

The 1989 action was called as the U.S. Supreme Court was deliberating the Missouri case which led to the infamous Webster decision, That decision dealt a blow to safe, legal abortions by allowing states to place prohibitive restrictions on the facilities where they could be performed This action comes at a time most pro-choice activists consider even more critical for women's rights. A letter from the Pro-Choice Coalition soliciting support from organizations for its Oct. 5 Call to Action cites several alarming attacks on legal abortion.

These attacks include the growing restrictions on abortion passed by states and territories (Pennsylvania, Guam, Louisiana), the parental consent laws, the Clarence Thomas nomination to the Supreme Court, and most ominously, the U.S. Justice Department's intervention on behalf of Operation Rescue's illegal efforts to blockade women's clinics.

The Oct. 5 demonstration will assemble at Justin Herman Plaza at the foot of Market Street and march to the Civic Center for a rally. For more information and to volunteer to help build this important action, call: (415) 255-1989.

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Railway Labor Act rather than relying on

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Pro-Choice march in S.F. on Oct. 5