(11/16/2021) Today was particularly difficult, I am a hospice volunteer here at SCI Phoenix. And we are (the volunteers) responsible for everything that you can imagine regarding the care of patients. Today I began a new vigil helping to keep comfortable a man that I have nothing but the utmost respect for. This man (Mr. Arthur Wyche), truly is class personified. He is empathetic, honest, caring, respectful and a host of other positive attributes. Mr. Wyche has stage four cancer and because of his condition it would not surprise me if he was not with us for much longer. Mr. Wyche, likely dying in prison is compounded by the fact that he has absolutely been unjustly incarcerated for thirty-two years. Concisely put, Mr. Wyche intervened when a knife wielding man was attacking his sister and shot the attacker. Now, Mr. Wyche was not legally allowed to carry his weapon and as a result was charged with felony murder and sentenced to die in prison (DBI). Without doubt, I recognize that carrying a firearm illegally can't be tolerated and therefore there had to be some level of accountability for Mr. Wyche. But being sentenced to die in prison (Life without the possibility of parole or DBI) for intervening and saving quite possibly the life of his sister, is that just or Justice? The fact that this man has unjustly spent thirty-two years incarcerated, is now likely going to die here and to now see him suffering in this weakened state, is impacting me viscerally. Add to that the reprehensible treatment that he received from a staff member today, has me frustrated for him, angry about the systemic lack of checks and balances for the incarcerated and emotionally drained from battling this injustice all day. I must acknowledge that not every staff member would treat someone or anyone in this manner, especially not Mr. Wyche. However, this event did take place, and NO ONE is willing to do anything serious to reprimand the Nurse or prevent this from happening again. While I was in the room a nurse came in and gave Mr. Wyche somewhere around ten different pills. (back drop) Earlier in the day I was assisting Mr. Wyche to make a phone call. He could not remember his six-digit pin code. This was a man who just months earlier, was physically and mentally impressive, he now was rapidly deteriorating... Mr. Wyche in his soft spoken and humbled demeanor asked the nurse, "Excuse me miss I don't recognize two of these pills, would you please tell me what they are? The nurse responded sharply, " don't you know what meds you take?" Arthur responded there too many and I don't remember. The nurse snatched the pills and said, "this is why we're always late!" "You guys are always", I interrupted and said that he has the right to make sure he's taking the correct medication. The nurse responded, " yes but would he ask any other nurse this?" I looked confused because I was. She then said, " he's only asking me because I'm white!" This statement was so absurd and shocking that my immediate action was to step back from this nurse for my own safety. In prison any accusation concerning a prisoner is normally believed. Now there is no excuse for how this nurse treated Mr. Wyche, yet I do recognize that a person can have a minute or bad instance, that may not truly represent who they are as a person. This nurse however, would not stop, she could not calm down and she actually stated, "I stand on that, he only said because I am white!" Arthur was visibly shaken from this encounter. Physically weak, mentally drained, his demeanor remained calm in the midst of what I can only describe as lunacy. This was SO much to handle! I have spoken to anyone who will listen about this abusive encounter, and I am normally optimistic in general, however I know that this abuse will go unchallenged, this system will remain unchanged, and it is unlikely that she won't visit these issues upon others. I have made an enemy for speaking out. However it is my duty to speak out against injustices such as these there needs to be a voice for the voiceless and I take that responsibility seriously. wearethesrc! ... Update: Mr. Wyche did pass away while awaiting approval for compassionate release. This was only one of countless men and women who died while suffering in America's prisons. For me personally this cruel death stands out because of the incontrovertible character of the man who was denied dignity in his last days. RIP Mr. Arthur Wyche.. We must demand more, and my organization is currently putting together a movement to demand more of the DOC. We need your support to do so. Please go to wearethesrc.org and sign up as an SRC supporter.