Protect Lawrence La’Stylez – Demand Job Reinstatement & Anti-Retaliation Protections

By: UPROAR Admin · June 29, 2025

📷 Alt Text
Flyer: Protect Lawrence La'Stylez – Black queer activist fired after assault in NC prison. Demand job reinstatement and anti-retaliation protections.

Protect Lawrence La’Stylez – Reinstate His Job & End Retaliation

Protect Lawrence La’Stylez – Demand Job Reinstatement & Anti-Retaliation Protections

Updated June 29, 2025 – Targeted Retaliation & Assault Ignored
Lawrence La’Stylez (#1756261), a Black, queer political prisoner from Virginia now held at Harnett CI in NC, was burned in a hate-motivated kitchen assault and then fired from his job for defending himself.

🔍 Background: Who is Lawrence La’Stylez?

Lawrence La’Stylez is a Black, queer political prisoner from Norfolk, VA. After engaging in documentary work and advocacy around LGBT prisoner rights, he was transferred out of Virginia through the Interstate Corrections Compact (ICC) and placed at Harnett Correctional Institution in North Carolina.

Lawrence has reported discrimination in both Virginia and North Carolina. He was active in media and organizing efforts that exposed abuse inside VADOC facilities, and he believes his transfer was retaliatory—punishing him for being a vocal, openly gay prisoner engaged in outside advocacy.

He remains connected to a strong organizing network that includes other prisoners, loved ones, and public advocates. He has helped connect other families to advocacy efforts and continues to support the struggle from behind bars.

🔥 What Happened: Lawrence La’Stylez Retaliation After Kitchen Assault

On Monday, June 23 between 4:40 and 5:00 a.m., Lawrence La’Stylez (#1756261) was working the diet line in the kitchen at Harnett Correctional Institution. While passing trays through the open slot, a white inmate violently threw a tray of very hot grits back at him. The grits burned Lawrence’s left arm, and the prisoner shouted a homophobic death threat: “You dying faggot, I’ll make you suck my dick for that!”

In reaction to the burning, Lawrence pushed the tray away from his body. Instead of being protected or assisted, he was told by Food Service Supervisor Mr. Talley that “he was done.” When Lawrence asked what that meant, he was told he was fired. No disciplinary charge was issued, and no action was taken against the inmate who assaulted him.

Lawrence requested to speak with a shift commander and was told to return to the kitchen building. Captain Powell, who served as shift commander that morning, did speak with him and acknowledged he would speak with Mr. Talley—but no corrective action followed.

Lawrence reported to the medical department, where staff confirmed visible red burn markings on his arm. He was given Medi-First Burn Spray (Lidocaine HCI 2.0%) and told to apply it three times daily. He filed a PREA complaint and spoke with several staff members about the incident and firing, but as of now, no investigation or accountability has taken place.

“To Whom This May Concern: On Monday June 23 between 4:40 and 5:00am Mr. Lawrence T La’Stylez #1756261 who is housed at Harnett Correctional In NC worked in the kitchen as the Diet Cook. He was at the time in question working on the diet line passing trays thru the open slot when an white inmate threw the tray with had very hot grits back thru the slot at him burning his left arm, Then yelled ‘You dying faggot I’ll make you suck my dick for that!’ Mr. Lawrence T La’Stylez pushed the tray back away from his body as a reaction from the burning. The food service superior Mr. Talley informed Mr. La’Stylez that ‘he was done!’ Mr. La’Stylez asked him was did he mean by that and he was told that he was fired. Mr. La’Stylez asked to speak to the Shift commander. And was told to return back to the kitchen building. Capt Powell would end up being the Shift commander spoke with Mr. La’Stylez telling him to stay claim that he would speak to Mr. Talley. Mr. La’Stylez reported to the medical dept and was told that his arm in fact shows red markings up his arm as result of a burn and was given Medi-First Burn Spray (Pump Spray) Lidocaine HCI 2.0% and told to use three times a day. Mr. La’Stylez was not written a charge nor was the inmate ever changed or taken to the confinement for the assault at any point. Mr. La’Stylez reported a PREA report spoke with several staff out why he was fired and nothing done about the incident.”

On top of being physically assaulted and denied protection, Lawrence is now also losing the chance to earn good time credit toward release and the wages he depends on for hygiene, stamps, and food—all due to being fired for reflexively responding to a hate-based attack.

UPROAR is demanding his job be reinstated, that accountability be pursued for the assault, and that both VADOC and NCDAC stop enabling retaliation against LGBTQ prisoners through the ICC system.

✊ Demands

Reinstate Lawrence’s kitchen job immediately.
Full investigation into the assault, hate-based threat, and staff response.
No retaliation for filing grievances or PREA report.
Safety review of kitchen operations for ICC and LGBTQ prisoners.

📄 Step 1: File the DPS Hotline Complaint

Copy the text below, then click the button to open the North Carolina DPS Hotline form in a new tab. Paste the text in the “Details” box and choose:

Section involved: Prisons – Operations
County: Harnett
Relationship: Citizen (or Other → Advocate)
General Nature: Other… (workplace retaliation / staff misconduct)
How aware: Communication from incarcerated individual

I am reporting a retaliatory workplace firing and failure to protect Lawrence La’Stylez (#1756261) at Harnett Correctional Institution.

On June 23, 2025, between 4:40 and 5:00 AM, while serving as the Diet Cook, Mr. La’Stylez was passing trays through the kitchen slot when a white inmate violently threw a tray of hot grits at him, burning his arm. The attacker then yelled, “You dying faggot, I’ll make you suck my dick for that!” Mr. La’Stylez reacted by pushing the tray away from his body to protect himself.

Instead of receiving protection or investigation, Mr. La’Stylez was told by Food Service Supervisor Mr. Talley that he was “done” and fired from his job. He was not written up or charged with any offense. The attacking inmate was never placed in segregation or held accountable.

Mr. La’Stylez reported the assault and retaliation to the Shift Commander (Capt. Powell), to medical (who confirmed burn marks and prescribed Lidocaine), and filed both a PREA report and grievances. However, no corrective action has been taken.

This is part of a documented pattern of anti-LGBTQ retaliation and racial discrimination. Mr. La’Stylez is a known advocate transferred from Virginia under the Interstate Corrections Compact. Losing his job means he also loses good time credit and wages—critical to his safety, self-sufficiency, and early release.

I urge DPS to reinstate Mr. La’Stylez to his position, investigate the hate-based assault and workplace firing, and implement protective measures to prevent further retaliation.

➡️ Open DPS Hotline Form

📧 Step 2: Send One Email to NC + VA Officials

This message goes to North Carolina prison leaders and Virginia ICC officials responsible for Lawrence’s safety. The email opens pre-filled—just add your name and city if you like.

Dear Officials,

I am writing in urgent support of Lawrence La’Stylez (#1756261), a Virginia ICC transferee currently held at Harnett Correctional Institution in North Carolina.

On June 23 2025, while working as the Diet Cook, Mr. La’Stylez was burned by a tray of hot grits thrown at him by another inmate, who shouted a violent homophobic threat. Despite being the victim, Mr. La’Stylez was fired on the spot by Food Service Supervisor Mr. Talley. The attacker faced no discipline.

Mr. La’Stylez reported the incident to Capt. Powell, received medical care for burns, and filed PREA and grievance reports—yet no corrective action has been taken. He is now losing job wages and good-time credit for surviving a hate assault.

We demand:
• Immediate reinstatement to his kitchen job
• Formal investigation into the assault and staff retaliation
• Protection from further discrimination and retaliation

This is a serious civil-rights issue. Please respond.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, State]

📤 Send Email Now

Your mail app will open with this text already filled in. Feel free to edit before sending.

Step 3: Mass-Email 140+ Officials (ActionNetwork)

Use our ActionNetwork tool to blast Lawrence’s story—plus other urgent cases—to Virginia lawmakers, DOC leadership, and oversight agencies in one click.

📞 Step 4: Make Calls

VADOC ICC Coordinator – Alexander Gerdes: (804) 887‑8123
NC DAC Secretary – Todd Ishee: (919) 716‑3087
DAC Office of Special Investigations – Stephen Jacobs: (984) 204‑8462
NC DPS Communications Director – John Bull: (919) 814‑3190
VADOC Main Office: (804) 674‑3000

Hello, I’m calling about Lawrence La’Stylez, #1756261, a Black LGBT person incarcerated at Harnett Correctional Institution under Virginia’s Interstate Corrections Compact.

On June 23, while working as the Diet Cook, another inmate threw a tray of hot grits at him through the food slot—burning his arm—and shouted a violent homophobic slur and sexual threat. Mr. La’Stylez reacted to protect himself and was fired on the spot by his kitchen supervisor. The attacker faced no consequences. Mr. La’Stylez received medical care for visible burns and filed grievances and a PREA report, but the job loss stands.

He is now losing job pay and good time credit, despite committing no rule infraction. We are demanding:
– Immediate reinstatement of his kitchen job
– Investigation into the incident and staff retaliation
– Protection from further discrimination or targeting

Please confirm this is being escalated and that Mr. La’Stylez will not face further punishment for surviving this assault. Thank you.

✅ Step 5: Report Your Action

🔗 More Ongoing Campaigns

Thank you for taking action and standing with us. This case of Lawrence La’Stylez retaliation highlights the systemic targeting of Black queer ICC prisoners who speak out. By coming together as a united network of loved ones, you become the source of power that officials fear most. Keep sharing information, organizing your communities, and demanding accountability—your collective voice can expose abuses and force change. Together, we will build UPROAR into a strong, relentless pressure group that protects those behind bars and ensures their well-being.

Campaign Toolkits