An act of targeted violence, an insult to humanity, and an undeniable breach of civil rights: these are the features of Richard Cunningham’s story.
On May 11th, during a period of lockdown at Three Rivers FCI (a medium security federal prison in Three Rivers, Texas), Richard Cunningham joined the rest of incarcerated individuals in waiting for his turn to shower. While waiting, Cunningham spoke to Associate Warden Mr. Beardsley, politely asking if they would be permitted to go to the commissary to receive stamps. After Mr. Beardsley crudely denied his request, Cunningham reflected on the reality of the situation– seeing as the staff were denying them stamps or even soap– stating that the institution was treating him and the other individuals like “animals.”
From nearby, Correctional Officer Ms. Homes interrupted the conversation at hand, verbally abusing Cunningham and calling him “an animal.” Despite his calm response defending his humanity, Ms. Homes continued to taunt him, denying any similarities between them, stating, “Don’t you live here? I get to go home every day.” Cunningham responded calmly again in light defense, telling Homes that she could not stop his eventual release. Cunningham then continued into the shower, per his instructions.
Infuriated by the defense of Cunningham’s humanity, Ms. Homes called in Lieutenant Trammell, who waited outside for Cunningham following his shower. As Cunningham exited, he was met by the Lieutenant, who abruptly informed him he’d be placed in the “SHU” (solitary confinement) for “disrespecting an officer.”
As a result of this jarring decision, Cunningham began experiencing intense suicidal thoughts, reporting to the lieutenant a serious urge to harm himself and a request for suicide watch. Once again, despite his fervent pleading, Cunningham was coldly denied supervision and placed in the SHU regardless. True to his word, Cunningham, overwhelmed and struggling, attempted suicide the night of May 11th, 2023– hanging himself with a t-shirt from the sole window of the room. When the Lieutenant entered the room abruptly, he harshly cut the material above Cunningham’s head, causing him to fall to the floor from where he was hanging, gasping for air.
Instead of offering medical treatment or suicide watch protection, the Lieutenant raised a bottle of pepper spray, ignoring Cunningham’s pleas not to be sprayed, who revealed he had asthma. The Lieutenant sprayed him anyway. Unable to see and struggling to breathe, Cunningham was violently beaten by several officers who entered the room. In a moment of immense vulnerability–convulsing on the floor with an intense burning in his eyes— he was kicked incessantly (including on his leg that recently had surgery), slammed into the concrete wall, punched in the face, and handcuffed so tightly that his circulation was threatened.
Following the attack, Lieutenant Trammell sent Cunningham to the medical department in extreme pain. As he arrived, still fighting for air and unable to see, he was met with a vicious display of humiliation, with taunting from officers and the Lieutenant recording him. After his struggle towards recovery at his visit to the medical, Cunningham was put on suicide watch for four days and went on a hunger strike, evidence of his persisting mental health issues. He was released on May 15th. That same day, Cunningham was given two reports accusing him of insolence and disobedience.
When the committee reviewing his case unjustly found him guilty, they further denied Cunningham his rights, withholding the appeal documents. So, despite his position as an apparent victim of intentional and calculated brutality by the staff, Cunningham was punished for “disobeying staff orders and insolence towards a staff member.” The institution took away 60 visitation days and put him on encumbrance punishment indefinitely– entailing a limitation on his calls (to twice a month), and denied access to Trulincs (an emailing system) until 2050. Today, Cunningham suffers persisting brain fog and numbness in his hands from the violent act of abuse against him and remains unjustly on encumbrance for ungrounded charges.
Cases like Cunningham’s reveal the outrageous abuses of the FBOP system. Three Rivers FCI staff, including Associate Warden Beardsley, Lieutenant Trammel, Officer Homes, and staff, have demonstrated a gross disregard for Richard Cunningham’s humanity and rights, all under the premise of perceived superiority and a desire for power. Denied access to proper care, attacked, and framed, Cunningham is an obvious victim of the institution. Cunningham’s situation and subsequent charges are a clear example of violence motivated by an officer’s spite, a fabricated “justification” for an attack sponsored by Three Rivers FCI, and an egregious act of injustice.
So I ask you: how can we deny humanity in broad daylight? How can we tolerate cruelty and call it justice? Cunningham deserves what he is entitled to: personhood, dignity, safety, rights. His humanity is essential for our own. Thus, it is up to us– to you, to me– to stand for him. Take action at https://action.theremedyproj.org/.
An act of targeted violence, an insult to humanity, and an undeniable breach of civil rights: these are the features of Richard Cunningham’s story.
On May 11th, during a period of lockdown at Three Rivers FCI (a medium security federal prison in Three Rivers, Texas), Richard Cunningham joined the rest of incarcerated individuals in waiting for his turn to shower. While waiting, Cunningham spoke to Associate Warden Mr. Beardsley, politely asking if they would be permitted to go to the commissary to receive stamps. After Mr. Beardsley crudely denied his request, Cunningham reflected on the reality of the situation– seeing as the staff were denying them stamps or even soap– stating that the institution was treating him and the other individuals like “animals.”
From nearby, Correctional Officer Ms. Homes interrupted the conversation at hand, verbally abusing Cunningham and calling him “an animal.” Despite his calm response defending his humanity, Ms. Homes continued to taunt him, denying any similarities between them, stating, “Don’t you live here? I get to go home every day.” Cunningham responded calmly again in light defense, telling Homes that she could not stop his eventual release. Cunningham then continued into the shower, per his instructions.
Infuriated by the defense of Cunningham’s humanity, Ms. Homes called in Lieutenant Trammell, who waited outside for Cunningham following his shower. As Cunningham exited, he was met by the Lieutenant, who abruptly informed him he’d be placed in the “SHU” (solitary confinement) for “disrespecting an officer.”
As a result of this jarring decision, Cunningham began experiencing intense suicidal thoughts, reporting to the lieutenant a serious urge to harm himself and a request for suicide watch. Once again, despite his fervent pleading, Cunningham was coldly denied supervision and placed in the SHU regardless. True to his word, Cunningham, overwhelmed and struggling, attempted suicide the night of May 11th, 2023– hanging himself with a t-shirt from the sole window of the room. When the Lieutenant entered the room abruptly, he harshly cut the material above Cunningham’s head, causing him to fall to the floor from where he was hanging, gasping for air.
Instead of offering medical treatment or suicide watch protection, the Lieutenant raised a bottle of pepper spray, ignoring Cunningham’s pleas not to be sprayed, who revealed he had asthma. The Lieutenant sprayed him anyway. Unable to see and struggling to breathe, Cunningham was violently beaten by several officers who entered the room. In a moment of immense vulnerability–convulsing on the floor with an intense burning in his eyes— he was kicked incessantly (including on his leg that recently had surgery), slammed into the concrete wall, punched in the face, and handcuffed so tightly that his circulation was threatened.
Following the attack, Lieutenant Trammell sent Cunningham to the medical department in extreme pain. As he arrived, still fighting for air and unable to see, he was met with a vicious display of humiliation, with taunting from officers and the Lieutenant recording him. After his struggle towards recovery at his visit to the medical, Cunningham was put on suicide watch for four days and went on a hunger strike, evidence of his persisting mental health issues. He was released on May 15th. That same day, Cunningham was given two reports accusing him of insolence and disobedience.
When the committee reviewing his case unjustly found him guilty, they further denied Cunningham his rights, withholding the appeal documents. So, despite his position as an apparent victim of intentional and calculated brutality by the staff, Cunningham was punished for “disobeying staff orders and insolence towards a staff member.” The institution took away 60 visitation days and put him on encumbrance punishment indefinitely– entailing a limitation on his calls (to twice a month), and denied access to Trulincs (an emailing system) until 2050. Today, Cunningham suffers persisting brain fog and numbness in his hands from the violent act of abuse against him and remains unjustly on encumbrance for ungrounded charges.
Cases like Cunningham’s reveal the outrageous abuses of the FBOP system. Three Rivers FCI staff, including Associate Warden Beardsley, Lieutenant Trammel, Officer Homes, and staff, have demonstrated a gross disregard for Richard Cunningham’s humanity and rights, all under the premise of perceived superiority and a desire for power. Denied access to proper care, attacked, and framed, Cunningham is an obvious victim of the institution. Cunningham’s situation and subsequent charges are a clear example of violence motivated by an officer’s spite, a fabricated “justification” for an attack sponsored by Three Rivers FCI, and an egregious act of injustice.
So I ask you: how can we deny humanity in broad daylight? How can we tolerate cruelty and call it justice? Cunningham deserves what he is entitled to: personhood, dignity, safety, rights. His humanity is essential for our own. Thus, it is up to us– to you, to me– to stand for him. Take action at https://action.theremedyproj.org/.
