“They are trying to scare me into submission”: Bernard Gadson’s struggle for justice
TW: physical assault, sexual assault, suicide
Mr. Bernard Gadson is fearing for his life. He first contacted The Remedy Project from FCI Oxford, Wisconsin. Mr. Gadson has previously submitted reports against staff for their egregious behavior and actions that led him to be targeted by staff and suffer immensely. He has endured medical neglect, prolonged solitary confinement, death threats, sexual abuse, racial slurs and cruel and unusual punishment – all at the hands of FCI Oxford staff.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Handbook clearly states, “You have the right to expect that you will be treated in a respectful, impartial, and fair manner by all staff.” They are, without a doubt, not upholding that sentiment when it comes to Mr. Gadson. Rather, he has been treated like an animal.
Mr. Gadson’s suffering began on July 3, 2024, when he was called into the Lieutenant’s (LT) office. The LT informed Mr. Gadson that he was going on a medical trip. Instead, Mr. Gadson was transferred to the SHU (special housing unit) where all his privileges were revoked. When Mr. Gadson entered the cell, his cellmate rendered a knife, making clear attempts to fight him. Turns out, the staff had told his cellmate that Mr. Gadson was coming to hurt him, so the man was attempting to protect himself. Mr. Gadson, after being lied to, transferred, and abused, had to explain to his new cellmate that he was not there to cause any harm. The two men were able to resolve the situation.
Mr. Gadson’s struggles did not end there. On July 5, 2024, Mr. Gadson was found lying unconscious on his cell floor. Rather than helping him, staff sprayed him in the genitals and face with OC Bear Pepper Spray. When he woke up, he was in the hospital, still covered in pepper spray. Despite being in immense pain, staff denied him a shower. They also refused to address why Mr. Gadson was found unconscious and unresponsive. Instead of providing Mr. Gadson with medical care, they put him in a suicide watch cell for 26 hours. After 24 hours of being in physical agony, staff eventually permitted him a shower.
A few days later, Mr. Gadson was forced into full-body restraints by 10 officers for absolutely no reason. These officers took him to a private shower and put their fingers up his anus to check for contraband. Out of fear for his life, Mr. Gadson started screaming to get a nurse’s attention. Mr. Gadson refused to shower with the full body restraints on. As punishment, he was placed in a suicide watch cell for 11 days. During this time, staff refused to feed Mr. Gadson. Eventually, the food arrived. However, upon inspection, Mr. Gadson realized the food had human saliva all over it. As a result of this abuse, Gadson went on a hunger strike and lost 46 pounds in 4 months. This abuse came out of nowhere, and Mr. Gadson was consistently denied information on why he was forced into restraints.
Throughout the rest of July, Mr. Gadson was in and out of the SHU and suicide watch cells. On the morning of July 26, 2024, officers asked Mr. Gadson if he would submit to full body restraints for a medical exam. As he believed the staff had previously tried to kill him, he refused this exam. That afternoon, officers returned in full-body riot gear and dragged him out of his cell. Without resisting, Mr. Gadson was placed in full body restraints and forced to undergo a medical examination. Towards the end of the day, Mr. Gadson asked staff if they could remove the chains so he could use the bathroom. Rather than removing the chains, officers spat racial slurs at him and refused to give him toilet paper. Under the directions of the LT, officers employed a well-known torture technique: sleep deprivation. That evening, every 10 minutes, the officers banged on Mr. Gadson’s cell. When LT Thornsberry started his shift, he told officers to continue the torture.
The following day, officers put Mr. Gadson in more severe restraints. The restraints were so tight that they broke the cuffs. Mr. Gadson almost passed out from the pain. 3-foot bolt cutters had to be used to remove the restraints. Captain Stanley told Mr. Gadson that if he wanted the abuse and torture to end, he had to withdraw everything he had reported to the courts and BOP. The restraints remained on for 28 hours.
After reporting these incidents to the doctor at FCI Oxford, Mr. Gadson was given two tickets and told by the doctor that he should think about withdrawing all his reports. In a courageous effort to gain justice for himself and refuse the appalling silencing attempt, Mr. Gadson filed 20 more reports on all the officers involved in these incidents, with the help of The Remedy Project. This included the Warden, Mr. Emmerich. Several days later, Mr. Gadson was given an incident for attempted escape. Mr. Gadson had not attempted to escape. Officers claimed that he had altered paperwork.
According to the BOP Handbook, “when an agency learns that an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse, it shall take immediate action to protect the inmate.” Mr. Bernard Gadson submitted a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) complaint against DHO Lonnie Russel. Mr. Gadson received two disciplinary tickets for filing this complaint and DHO Lonnie Russel was assigned to his case: the very officer against whom he filed a sexual assault PREA.
In August 2024, the former Special Investigative Services Lieutenant (SIS LT), who Mr. Gadson has already filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against, spat on him and told Mr. Gadson that it was the SIS LT who had altered the paperwork. The SIS LT told Mr. Gadson that he was going to send him to Florence ADX, the highest security prison in the country, so he “can be killed for ratting out officers.” Florence ADX is also known as one of the most dangerous prisons in BOP.
During Mr. Gadson’s “attempted escape” hearing, seven staff members testified on his behalf. They stated that it was impossible for Mr. Gadson to alter paperwork– the law library is not equipped for this to occur. During the hearing, Mr. Gadson was given the opportunity to withdraw all his previous reports filed against staff. When he refused to do so, he was found guilty of 102a High Attempted Escape.
Mr. Gadson was moved to FCI Florence, Colorado. FCI Florence has permanently blocked The Remedy Project on Corrlinks as well as other contacts – Mr. Gadson has no outlet to report the abuse that is occurring. He has not been able to communicate with his son. When he sends mail, it is never received. Gadson reported that “my life is in danger with these people…they are not happy with my lawsuits and reports.”
The horrific abuse committed by staff at FCI Oxford and FCI Florence towards Mr. Gadson is inhumane and unacceptable. BOP staff are attempting to silence him through extreme levels of pain, intimidation, and torture. Despite the ongoing suffering that he faces, Mr. Gadson never stops standing up for himself – a testament to his courage. However, Mr. Gadson should not have to be courageous to use the administrative remedy process. He should be able to use the system without fear. The system designed to protect incarcerated individuals is instead being used by staff members to target and abuse them. BOP staff must be held accountable. These injustices, that occur so often, need to be exposed. The torture and abuse must end. Please support our efforts by demanding justice for Mr. Bernard Gadson, and the countless others who face similar abuse.
“They are trying to scare me into submission”: Bernard Gadson’s struggle for justice
TW: physical assault, sexual assault, suicide
Mr. Bernard Gadson is fearing for his life. He first contacted The Remedy Project from FCI Oxford, Wisconsin. Mr. Gadson has previously submitted reports against staff for their egregious behavior and actions that led him to be targeted by staff and suffer immensely. He has endured medical neglect, prolonged solitary confinement, death threats, sexual abuse, racial slurs and cruel and unusual punishment – all at the hands of FCI Oxford staff.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Handbook clearly states, “You have the right to expect that you will be treated in a respectful, impartial, and fair manner by all staff.” They are, without a doubt, not upholding that sentiment when it comes to Mr. Gadson. Rather, he has been treated like an animal.
Mr. Gadson’s suffering began on July 3, 2024, when he was called into the Lieutenant’s (LT) office. The LT informed Mr. Gadson that he was going on a medical trip. Instead, Mr. Gadson was transferred to the SHU (special housing unit) where all his privileges were revoked. When Mr. Gadson entered the cell, his cellmate rendered a knife, making clear attempts to fight him. Turns out, the staff had told his cellmate that Mr. Gadson was coming to hurt him, so the man was attempting to protect himself. Mr. Gadson, after being lied to, transferred, and abused, had to explain to his new cellmate that he was not there to cause any harm. The two men were able to resolve the situation.
Mr. Gadson’s struggles did not end there. On July 5, 2024, Mr. Gadson was found lying unconscious on his cell floor. Rather than helping him, staff sprayed him in the genitals and face with OC Bear Pepper Spray. When he woke up, he was in the hospital, still covered in pepper spray. Despite being in immense pain, staff denied him a shower. They also refused to address why Mr. Gadson was found unconscious and unresponsive. Instead of providing Mr. Gadson with medical care, they put him in a suicide watch cell for 26 hours. After 24 hours of being in physical agony, staff eventually permitted him a shower.
A few days later, Mr. Gadson was forced into full-body restraints by 10 officers for absolutely no reason. These officers took him to a private shower and put their fingers up his anus to check for contraband. Out of fear for his life, Mr. Gadson started screaming to get a nurse’s attention. Mr. Gadson refused to shower with the full body restraints on. As punishment, he was placed in a suicide watch cell for 11 days. During this time, staff refused to feed Mr. Gadson. Eventually, the food arrived. However, upon inspection, Mr. Gadson realized the food had human saliva all over it. As a result of this abuse, Gadson went on a hunger strike and lost 46 pounds in 4 months. This abuse came out of nowhere, and Mr. Gadson was consistently denied information on why he was forced into restraints.
Throughout the rest of July, Mr. Gadson was in and out of the SHU and suicide watch cells. On the morning of July 26, 2024, officers asked Mr. Gadson if he would submit to full body restraints for a medical exam. As he believed the staff had previously tried to kill him, he refused this exam. That afternoon, officers returned in full-body riot gear and dragged him out of his cell. Without resisting, Mr. Gadson was placed in full body restraints and forced to undergo a medical examination. Towards the end of the day, Mr. Gadson asked staff if they could remove the chains so he could use the bathroom. Rather than removing the chains, officers spat racial slurs at him and refused to give him toilet paper. Under the directions of the LT, officers employed a well-known torture technique: sleep deprivation. That evening, every 10 minutes, the officers banged on Mr. Gadson’s cell. When LT Thornsberry started his shift, he told officers to continue the torture.
The following day, officers put Mr. Gadson in more severe restraints. The restraints were so tight that they broke the cuffs. Mr. Gadson almost passed out from the pain. 3-foot bolt cutters had to be used to remove the restraints. Captain Stanley told Mr. Gadson that if he wanted the abuse and torture to end, he had to withdraw everything he had reported to the courts and BOP. The restraints remained on for 28 hours.
After reporting these incidents to the doctor at FCI Oxford, Mr. Gadson was given two tickets and told by the doctor that he should think about withdrawing all his reports. In a courageous effort to gain justice for himself and refuse the appalling silencing attempt, Mr. Gadson filed 20 more reports on all the officers involved in these incidents, with the help of The Remedy Project. This included the Warden, Mr. Emmerich. Several days later, Mr. Gadson was given an incident for attempted escape. Mr. Gadson had not attempted to escape. Officers claimed that he had altered paperwork.
According to the BOP Handbook, “when an agency learns that an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse, it shall take immediate action to protect the inmate.” Mr. Bernard Gadson submitted a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) complaint against DHO Lonnie Russel. Mr. Gadson received two disciplinary tickets for filing this complaint and DHO Lonnie Russel was assigned to his case: the very officer against whom he filed a sexual assault PREA.
In August 2024, the former Special Investigative Services Lieutenant (SIS LT), who Mr. Gadson has already filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against, spat on him and told Mr. Gadson that it was the SIS LT who had altered the paperwork. The SIS LT told Mr. Gadson that he was going to send him to Florence ADX, the highest security prison in the country, so he “can be killed for ratting out officers.” Florence ADX is also known as one of the most dangerous prisons in BOP.
During Mr. Gadson’s “attempted escape” hearing, seven staff members testified on his behalf. They stated that it was impossible for Mr. Gadson to alter paperwork– the law library is not equipped for this to occur. During the hearing, Mr. Gadson was given the opportunity to withdraw all his previous reports filed against staff. When he refused to do so, he was found guilty of 102a High Attempted Escape.
Mr. Gadson was moved to FCI Florence, Colorado. FCI Florence has permanently blocked The Remedy Project on Corrlinks as well as other contacts – Mr. Gadson has no outlet to report the abuse that is occurring. He has not been able to communicate with his son. When he sends mail, it is never received. Gadson reported that “my life is in danger with these people…they are not happy with my lawsuits and reports.”
The horrific abuse committed by staff at FCI Oxford and FCI Florence towards Mr. Gadson is inhumane and unacceptable. BOP staff are attempting to silence him through extreme levels of pain, intimidation, and torture. Despite the ongoing suffering that he faces, Mr. Gadson never stops standing up for himself – a testament to his courage. However, Mr. Gadson should not have to be courageous to use the administrative remedy process. He should be able to use the system without fear. The system designed to protect incarcerated individuals is instead being used by staff members to target and abuse them. BOP staff must be held accountable. These injustices, that occur so often, need to be exposed. The torture and abuse must end. Please support our efforts by demanding justice for Mr. Bernard Gadson, and the countless others who face similar abuse.
