Talk:Terminal Island

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Prison Riot, Terminal Island, California

As a former resident of Terminal Island, I would like to relate to you a actual event that was witnessed by my-self and about one thousand other inmates who we there on that very scary weekend of the day we were susposed to have pork chops for lunch.

I wont get into the why this happened but I will tell you a story about the mousey correctional officer who saved the lives of about seventy- five black inmates. This Officer is one of the bravest men I have ever met.The race war was between two factions, one was the latino gangs, the other was the black gangs.

On sunday there was alot of tension at the prison. The inmates knew what was gonna go down. The Officers had no idea what was gonna happen. this is the way life is in prison, the officers control the doors, the inmates control the population. and it will always be this way.

The chow hall was just about full. there was about maybe 75-80 black inmates in their section of the chow hall, on the other side were the latinos. to the officers everthing seemed normal, to the inmates how ever it was a differant story. I was working the chow hall bussing tables, my normal duties. but even I could see that thse shit was gonna hit the fan. The thought of finding a safe place to hid never occured to me as this is a place where the inmates are convicted criminals, just as I was. There is no safe place in prison ever...

The chow hall was filled with about 200 inmates, unicor was just released and there were about 500-600 unmates in the yard. and how the tower officers never saw it is way beyond me, but there was separation going on inn the yard... a group here and a group there. my god it was plain as day..!!!!

Sure enough it started at the chow hall exit doors. a fight btween a black inmate and a latino. as I looked that direction I seen that ever head was turned in the same direction that I was looking. then suddenly like a crack of lighting and the separation of the red sea by god... the chow hall split down the middle!!! with the blacks on one side and the latinos on the other. bith groups had their agitaters in their groups yelling at eacher.. I look ed at where the door was where the officers ate and I saw this little officer trying to put the key into thr doornob. it took him abit longer that normal but when the door opened about 6-7 officers ran into the litte dinning room and to safety..

Who was left with all this violence was this little mousey correctional officer named Merserve. he was about 5and ahalf feet tall and made of bricks!!

Mr. merserve ran inbetween the two groups and all by himself began to order the armed inmates to drop their weweapons which were broken broom sticks and smashed napkin haolers, pretty sharp those things can get.one lalatino inmate challenged Mr. Merserve and made the inmate disarm and back down. This tough little officer kept control of the imates for about 30 minutes untill help arrived. back and forth Mr. meserve patrolled the open space that separated the inmates, "DROP THAT WEAPON!!, GET BACK!" he yelled just one man was inbetween those inmates who where at war with each other. In my book this is a man above all others. this is a true story. I was there at terminal island.

I wrote a letter to the Warden trying to let him know what this brave officer did, but the letter was ththrowen out by my unit manager. I later asked Mr. meserve if he got a letter of recognition or something but he said no he did not. what a shame this man saved alot of people and got no recognition. I did personally thank Mr. Merserve because he also saved my life that day.

There is alot more I could tell ya but whats the point so as long as there are prisons there will be riots.but no matter where a person may be at a time there my be a person who is willing to die for people even if they are inmates.

Mr. meserve I would like to personally thank you for that day. you are a man above men!!!

Sincerly M. Garcia 36174-048, Terminal Island, California 2002-2004

[edit] Demographics

Jeohnny (talk • contribs • logs • block user • block log) added the following to the Terminal Island article:

Demographics:

The population of Terminal Island (as of 2006)was 1,500 people. The racial background of Terminal Island is 32.01% White, 23.92% Black, 1.39% American Indian & Alaska Native alone, 2.79% Asian, 0.84% Native Hawaiin & other Pacific Islander, 21.06% some other race alone, 4.11% two or more races, and 37.94% Hispanic or Latino.

Since I could find no demographics info from the US Census factfinder website, and since 1,500 people seems highly unlikely for an industrial area, I've deleted the demographics section from the article. Besides, the number don't add up. ^BlankVerse 14:42, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

I forgot about Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, but that articles says that there are less than 1,200 inmates. ^BlankVerse 11:37, 28 November 2006 (UTC)