Originally published in the Winter 2024 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 74, printed February 21. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Winter 2024 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

The regular subscribers and readers of The Defender may already be familiar with this particular incident and case. I was asked to write a brief update.

On Dec. 21, 2021, I was the victim of a Hate Krime at River North Correctional Center. Upon my arrival at the prison from another prison and while still handcuffed, shackled and chained in transport gear I was escorted into a corridor off-camera and beaten by approximately seven prison guards as they hurled/spat racial epithets. I sustained serious injuries and permanent scarring.

I filed a Civil Rights Complaint/ Lawsuit, but withdrew it in 2023 as I attempted to find counsel. I have since refiled the lawsuit and I have managed to find an attorney to take the case who specializes in both Civil and Human Rights Violations.

One of the points I want to make is this: Guards at River North are well-known for beating prisoners and then covering it up by hiding evidence, erasing video footage, falsifying medical records or blaming the victim for his own injuries, as they did in my case. This is a part of a larger culture that has been allowed to go unchecked by VADOC-Richmond and the prison administration within itself, and also extremely pervasive in this Southwestern Region.

A region where prisoners are routinely beaten, victims of dog bites by trained k-9 attack dogs and orchestrated physical attacks. When u look into these incidents, you will discover that it’s the same ol group of guards involved, and none have bn terminated for conduct.

These cases and incidents need to both be exposed and pursued. The culture and sense of diplomatic immunity needs to be changed.

Contact: VADOC HQ in Richmond and demand an investigation into these abuses!!

Alert media contacts and ask progressive reporters to either demand access or have the heart to do some investigative journalism.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me thus far in demanding some form of Justice n accountability and bringing this case to trial.

Peace!! Shaka Shakur

BEAUMONT CORR. CENTER