Little Rock Reed (a.k.a.
Timothy Reed) is known as a Native American activist and the author of the 1993 book "The
American Indian in the
White Man's Prisons: A Story of
Genocide". He has also written articles for such publications as the
Prison Legal News, the
Journal of Prisoners on Prisons and the
Vindicator as published by the
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
While incarcerated he violated parole, citing that he was a
political prisoner. The
Center for Advocacy for Human Rights backed his stance by calling him a "
fugitive of conscience"
1, which was further upheld by the 1995 ruling of Judge
Peggy Nelson in
New Mexico that "recognized Little Rock Reed, a
Native American writer and activist, as a political prisoner and ordered his release from jail".
2
Following Judge Nelson's ruling, Little Rock Reed was quoted as saying: "I feel like break-dancing, but I don't know how. Ohio officials conspired to have me imprisoned for speaking out about
civil and criminal violations against
prisoners and parolees by
prison officials. Peggy Nelson was fair and had courage. I'm surprised. It's the first time I've seen a judge do that."
3
Little Rock Reed died in a car accident on January 15, 2000. His articles can be found in various prison activist and critical legal publications throughout North America.
1. Cynthia Kasee, Ph.D., Dept. of Anthropology, University of South Florida Oct. 17 1994 email press release
2. Prison Legal News Sept. - Oct. 1995
3. Prison News Service Feb. 1995