Biography
Eddie L. Phillips was a Black prisoner in Virginia who described political retaliation and prolonged segregation in a letter published in January 1975. He wrote that on December 7, 1974, officials removed him and nine other prisoners from the Virginia State Farm general population for questioning about the stabbing death of Robert Mason. According to Phillips, another man was indicted for murder while Phillips and eight others remained on maximum-security row without charges arising from that incident. He attributed their segregation to their race and political beliefs. Phillips reported being transferred from the State Farm maximum-security building to the Virginia State Penitentiary maximum-security building on December 24, 1974. His letter also alleged isolation, denial of visits and coercive treatment at a parole-board appearance. These are his contemporary allegations; the letter does not establish his underlying conviction, initial admission date, release date or subsequent outcome. Source: The Black Panther, January 18, 1975, printed p. 22 (PDF p. 21).
