Unity

"Focus on the victory and freedom and strengthen your mind, will, spirit, and body by right training, right meditation, and attitude."

Those are words from my Jewish brother Stephen in San Quentin. Stephen was one of the brothers who had signed the proposal asking for Asian studies classes. Since then, the prison administration separated us by sending us to different prisons. Our collective effort to exercise our constitutional rights was a threat to an oppressive and corrupt system. The prison administration wanted to isolate us to break us down. However, it didn't work. It only made us stronger and closer to one another.

We were able to get permission to correspond with one another because of our legal issues pending in the courts. We all filed a civil rights lawsuit against San Quentin Prison for its violation of our constitutional rights. The wait for justice seems neverending. Yet we are able to learn patience and the the importance of fighting together.

I'm always encouraged by the wisdom of Stephen.