WHAT EXACTLY IS PROTEST AS SPEECH IN VIRGINIA PRISON REFORM ADVOCACY By William Thorpe

Pictures are taken from the internet and are used for illustrative purposes only

Recently an ally in the work of Virginia Prison Reform and holding the Virginia Prison Official accountable, told me I was anti-protest. So after I permitted myself a bit of a chuckle. I responded with the simple, well, every single moment of my existence these past 46 years and counting of imprisonment under Virginia's jurisdiction has been one continuum of protest, considering the fact that I came to prison with a 13 year sentence and I've now done 46 years and not a single one of these accumulated years hasn't been protest related. So there has to be an extraordinary disconnect with and an outright confusion over, what exactly is protest as speech, then its purpose and utility, because if after, to use the colloquial running time up, to where I've done 46 years on a original 13 year sentence, I can be characterized as being protest averse or anti-protest, then something is drastically and dramatically wrong. Hell I'm currently exiled caged up in Texas from Virginia because of protest. But the fact of the matter is one idealistic characterization doesn't in no way form or manner take away from historical facts which my existence under the jurisdiction of Virginia imprisonment, details and instead what it does is provide that opportunity to present a bit of analysis which will be a bit of a motive force to this historic work of holding the Virginia Prison official and the system that births them accountable. I BEGIN: Of course, PROTEST as a function of American English, is defined, which considering my prison writings are within the parameters of prison official impunity, meaning violations of law, authorizing the professional behavior of the Virginia Prison official, I'll first state the legal definition of PROTEST, according to BLACK'S LAW, Protest: A formal statement or action expressing dissent or disapproval. Now I'll state it's more generic definition from, WEBSTER'S NEW WORLD COLLEGE DICTIONARY Fifth Edition, Protest:1.to state positively affirm solemnly assert, 2. to make objection to speak strongly against. And now here is WEBSTER'S American English Thesaurus NEW EDITION 2 cents on it, Protest syn ASSERT, avouch, avow, profess, affirm, aver, declare, predicate, warrant, OBJECT remonstrate, expostulate, kick, oppose, resist, combat, fight, demur. What these definitions show is, protest is primarily and basically, an act, action, with the intent giving it character. So as it matters to the work and question of Virginia Prison reform and its accountability-function, we have to characterize it through purpose and its practicality. Once we do this, then we see and realize that its mindless and idealistic for our free-world allies to do what we as prisoners do, for the simple fact, what we do as protest as prisoners is due to the circumscription of imprisonment, its condition and circumstance when the intent, what is needed is the realization of the accountability-function of prison reform and once we have clarity on this then those minds and hearts in the free world, who are allied with accountability-function and its work of reform will realize the vastness of the protest-tableau, that's available. So we recognize that the Virginia Prison officials' impunity, and to the accountability-function is a systemic symptom of fundamental antagonisms of Virginia's Social Contract, meaning to return the prison official as subordinate to law and the will of the people, all facets of Virginia society must be scrutinized and held to account.

By William Thorpe

I'm William Thorpe Virginia exiled me to the Texas prison system. I'm solitary confined at the Wainwright Unit and if you feel any kinda way about this work contact me by Securus email using the Texas prison number #2261982