AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA PRISON OFFICIALS DENY ME DENTAL CARE, PEOPLE POWER PREVAILS (2025) by Kevin “Rashid” Johnson

After suffering over 3 months with an abscessed tooth, the infection from which could have spread and proven fatal at any moment, I was finally seen by a private dentist on Oct 17, 2025, where the first step of a root canal was performed. This after South Carolina Department of Corruptions (SCDC) officials refused me dental treatment, and forced me to endure the danger and prolonged torture of this condition. The abscess developed in early July, while I was held in solitary confinement in SCDC’s Perry Correctional (sic!) Institution (PCI). Initially, I was prescribed antibiotics and pain meds, then seen by the prison’s dentist a week later. The dentist, Dr. Baldwin, however allowed two guards to sign a refusal of treatment form (over my objections), saying I refused care, after they took offense to me telling them to stay out of my discussions with dental staff about my dental issues.

This happened because the guards kept butting in as dental staff were explaining my condition and I was exploring my treatment options. The guards, accustomed to inmates joking and small-talking with them, which I don’t do, kept interjecting comments about abscessed teeth and telling me that my only option was to have the tooth extracted, because, “You can’t put a band aid on a broken bone.” I told them to mind their business, which incensed them.

The guards then responded angrily that I should hurry and let the dentist pull the tooth because they had other things to do. Suddenly they wanted to hurry the treatment along. I responded again for them to mind their own business. This is when they falsified the refusal of treatment form. Despite me pressing complaints on the matter with the PCI warden, his assistants, and others up and down the SCDC chain of command and medical administrators, I was refused all future care for the abscessed tooth. When outside supporters made complaints on my behalf, the dentist and medical and administrative staff became vindictive. The antibiotics and pain meds were discontinued by Dr. Baldwin in stated retaliation for the outside complaints.

I was compelled, with the help of outside supporters, to seek treatment from a private dentist at my expense. I also had to pay the costs of transport to the dental clinic.

I endured 3 months without care and over two months without antibiotics or pain meds. But for the support of Comrades, friends, supporters and the public, this treatment would not have happened, payment would not have been possible, and I would still be enduring the torture and likely fatal end of suffering an untreated abscess.

This abuse was reminiscent of the year and a half that Virginia prison officials deliberately caused me to endure with the complications of untreated cancer, until public pressure forced them to finally provide me care in 2023.

My thanks go out to everyone who lent their support to the effort of getting me this emergency dental treatment; in particular attorneys Elizabeth and Sheryl, without whom I would not have been able to communicate my situation to anyone nor coordinate the help I received (as SCDC officials held me incommunicado); to the Comrades of UPROAR and the Revolutionary Intercommunal Black Panther Party, including April, Sojourner, Dawn, Evi, Kevin Jeanes, and Mel; to Victor Wallis and my fearless publisher Karl Kersplebedeb; to Noel Hanrahan and Prison Radio; to my Comrade and baby big sis Jay Rene and Prison Riot Radio; to Phil Wilayto and the Virginia Defenders; to Griffin and the entire DSA support network; to the people at large, and all the unnamed, whose support is no less honored and appreciated.

Thank you all and Panther love!

Dare to Struggle Dare to Win!

All Power to the People!