Over the past two months two people locked up at Western Virginia Regional Jail (WVRJ) in Salem have reached out to us about the conditions they’re being subjected to and asked for support and solidarity.

Norberto Ruiz is being denied his medicated eyedrops repeatedly, which is causing blindness.

5.9.20:

“I’ve been having an ongoing issue with the medical staff with them not giving me my medication on time and forgetting or not giving me my medication at all. I’ve been incarcerated over a year coming from Botetourt Regional Jail to WVRJ and since my incarceration I’ve had a retina detachment in my right eye and a partial retina detachment in my left eye. I’ve had 4 surgeries so far (3 on the right 1 on the left). I’ve lost almost all my vision in my right eye. My doctor has prescribed me eyedrops for my right eye to lower my eye pressure and due to the medical staff never giving me eyedrops my eye pressure was 43 almost completely blinding my right eye. This happened about a month ago and Vistar Eye Center on Peters Creek has this situation documented.

So after that situation I got my eyedrops, but now the situation is still going on til this very moment as of 30 minutes ago the medical staff did not have my eyedrops on the cart. She explained to me if she finds them she will give them to me. So for whatever reason if I don’t get them tonight I will contact you and let you know.”

5.13.20:

“Thanks for reaching out to me, since I last messaged you so far they have been giving me my eyedrops just barely they are remembering to do so. I did file a grievance on the matter, so far so good.”

6.29.20:

“Good evening, I wanted to bring my issue again to you which is a nonstop problem that I keep having with the medical staff. This is the third time the medical staff has failed to bring me my eyedrops. I’ve also filled 3 grievances on this matter so far. I’m currently writing the courts for a 1983 civil rights form for the first issue I had originally wrote to you about, my first issue with the medical staff has been documented with my eye doctors office. I’d like these issues to be on your website as well. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time. PEACE.”

 

Kevin Logan is being denied his religious diet.

6.12.20:

“Upon arriving here at this jail, I put in for a religious diet order (Islam). My diet order was approved by Major Trent on 6.4.20 for a common fare diet. Since receiving this diet order I’ve had nothing but problems on a daily basis. I was told that my common fare diet constitutes for a vegetarian diet by Chaplin Dalton and c/o J. Hubbart here at WVRJ. To my understanding, they are 2 different diet orders. So I wrote requesting a common fare diet menu, to no avail, they don’t provide this information to the inmates. So I asked for the name of the certified dietician here. This information also wasn’t provided to me, stating by c/o Hubbart that this information isn’t available to the inmates at this time. I then proceeded to the grievance process, which to date I still haven’t heard anything which has went over the grievance response process.

On a daily basis for breakfast since receiving this diet, I only receive a scoop of oatmeal, 2 pieces of bread, and milk, which doesn’t consist of 2,000 dietary calories. Today, I received macaroni noodles, 3 cheeses, bread and cake which contains no source of protein. On 6.11.20 I was fed in my cell after lockdown hours due to negligence of my tray. My tray was brought to me at 6:54pm, well after feeding hours. I then stressed the point of being fed in my cell constitutes sanitation issues due to urine being in my toilet at the time. I also wasn’t accommodated for this matter. On 6.10.20, for lunch & dinner I was served the exact same meals and received my dinner tray at 7:02pm after lockdown and feeding hours. Mind you I requested my religious diet on 5.19.20 and was granted a kosher diet tray first. I get the same thing as population without the meat, but I’m not being accommodated for the meat substitution, no peanut butter, tuna, mackerel, etc, to replace the protein. Also, I never stated that I don’t eat meat or was a vegetarian, this was applied on me with their assumptions. I do eat tuna, mackerel, fish, and nothing processed. This has been explained to the authorities mentioned in this letter since 5.20.20. I also explained that a diet order and a religious diet order are different. I’ve been fighting this biased, discriminatory jail since 5.20.20 and have gotten no relief, justice, nor accommodation for my religious diet.“

7.1.20:

“My religious diet hasn’t been rectified as of yet.”

 

Both Kevin & Norberto are facing these health hazards & injustices.

7.1.20:

“There are numerous other issues that we both would like for you to post on the website if possible:

1) We here at WVRJ aren’t allowed to obtain gloves to allow proper cleaning. So we use the chemicals and cleaning rags with bare hands.

2) They do give us hair clippers to cut our hair, but no barber cleaning material to sterilize the clippers afterwards.

3) Upon entering and exiting the showers, there are no kind of mats to stabilize slips and falls for protection. No mop/bucket to clean the water afterward nor any signs warning “caution wet floor”. A lawsuit and harm waiting to happen.

This is just to name a few of many issues here at this jail that I’ve observed in my one month time.”

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**CALL-IN DAY: 7.22.20**

Show solidarity and demand humanity for Norberto & Kevin!

FOR BOTH NORBERTO & KEVIN

Call WVRJ Platoon Commander: (540) 378-3769

Email WVRJ Deputy Superintendent (David Cox): david.cox@wvarj.org

Sample Script:
“Hello, my name is ________, and I’m calling (or contacting you) to voice concern over the treatment of two incarcerated people there: Norberto Ruiz and Kevin Logan. It has come to my attention that Norberto is not being given his medicated eye drops consistently which is causing blindness, and that Kevin is being denied his religious (Halal) diet. I strongly urge you to immediately end the medical neglect of Norberto and regularly provide his medicated eye drops as prescribed, and immediately end the violation of Kevin’s religious freedom by providing him his religious (Halal) diet. These are basic human rights. I want you to know that the people of Salem and Roanoke are watching in hopes that you will do the right thing.”

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FOR NORBERTO
(If they transfer you to the Nurse’s Office, or if they don’t answer)

Call WVRJ Nurse’s Office: (540) 378-3841

Sample Script:
“Hello, my name is ________, and I’m calling (or contacting you) to voice concern over the treatment of Norberto Ruiz. It has come to my attention that Norberto is not being given his medicated eye drops consistently which is causing blindness. I strongly urge you to immediately end the medical neglect of Norberto and regularly provide his medicated eye drops as prescribed. This is a basic human right. I want you to know that the people of Salem and Roanoke are watching in hopes that you will do the right thing.”

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FOR KEVIN
(If they transfer you to the Kitchen, or if they don’t answer)

Call WVRJ Kitchen: (540) 378-3856

“Hello, my name is ________, and I’m calling (or contacting you) to voice concern over the treatment of Kevin Logan. It has come to my attention that Kevin is being denied his religious (Halal) diet. I strongly urge you to immediately end the violation of Kevin’s religious freedom by providing him his religious (Halal) diet. This is a basic human right. I want you to know that the people of Salem and Roanoke are watching in hopes that you will do the right thing.”