September 23, 2009, regarding his fast in prison.

Wayne Bent: Since the facts weren’t there for the conviction, my trial was essentially a religious trial. This is my point of view. And it seemed like a religious trial from the kinds of questions that were asked me in the trial that had nothing to do with the charge and so I saw in it that.. uhh...something very wrong happened there. And it wasn’t just a matter of me not getting what I wanted. And so I’m fasting. It’s a matter of deep conviction. I was actually accused and sentenced for life. The way the sentence read, it’s a life sentence for following my religious convictions and this became a great big issue in my mind. And so… is it appropriate to talk about Daniel right now? 

Attorney: I think we can get to that in a moment. 

Wayne Bent: Ok. And I have carried out methodically and communicated with the prison. I’ve gone public about the exact issues that are involved. And it relates to the story of Daniel where the three friends of Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego were asked to bow to an image. Well, that image on the plains of Dura was saying, “I am the true religion. Worship me.” And only three... There were a lot of his brethren that bowed the knee. But they said, “We can’t do that, Nebakanezer, the king. We cannot do that. God will deliver us and if he doesn’t we still can’t bow the knee to that."

And in my trial I felt there was so many religious implications that we agreed upon would not be brought up. And… but they were brought up and I was not permitted to answer to them. And so there was, it was loaded with religion. 

Attorney: If you could explain, “not permitted to answer.”

Wayne Bent: An offering to the image that convicted me on the grounds that it did and in the spirit that it did, I don’t want to bow to the knee of that. So I stated, I could no longer take food from the State, because it represents to me that I’m compromising myself to save myself. I’m going to… A lot of my inmate friends told me to do this, "Just go along and save yourself." And the same with Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. "Go along, just bow on the knee a little bit and you’re off the hook. You go back to work." I couldn’t do it, like they couldn’t do it. 

No, I don’t have a death wish. I don’t have a suicide wish. But I cannot bow the knee to this image that demands religious respect above the God that I serve. And I think every man has a conscience that he must follow. And no other man has a right to dominate that conscience. Yes, it could mean death to me, just as it was for Daniel’s three friends. 

But all I asked was… I don’t have anything in prison, no friends. I don’t have anything. And my loved ones have been separated from me. That’s all I’ve really lived for is the people I love. So I’ve been sentenced to life in prison for that. And all I asked was, "Give me a little time with meals with my family, where they can bring me some food and I’ll eat." Since Aramark wasn’t able to keep their commitment to me and provide me with a diet that they said they would, I agreed I'd eat from my family. And I wouldn’t have even started a fast and I could have fellowshipped with them and have a little bit of my life back. 

Attorney: What...? Can you describe a little bit about what happened with the Aramark food and guided you? 

Wayne Bent: In an institution.... I don’t think it was intentional, but they just can’t do it. They have mass production meals and they forget things on the trays. New people come in. There was one person in Aramark for a… who I think came from the farm. For a couple of months, that person fixed my meals and they were pretty good. I got love from the tray. But when the administration at the prison changed, everything fell apart. I got meat trays. I got half trays. I got trays with hardly any food on the at all. I got… But most of the time, it was just missing protein, like beans would be left off. 

If God didn’t miraculously intervene in some way, I would die, yes. 

Attorney: All right. You mentioned an earlier time when your sentence started, where you talked about Airmark bringing you food and you said, “Aramark's got it right.” 

Wayne Bent: Yes. 

Attorney: What did Aramark do to get it right? 

Wayne Bent: Well it was that two month period when one particular individual would fix my tray. And they got the tray right, until the administration changed, and then it didn’t. And the beans were cooked, not half cooked. And I got the amount of beans that the menu said. And that’s the only protein I would get is the beans and if the beans didn’t come, I didn’t get any. 

Attorney: Get it right again, to get you a vegan vegetarian meal in accordance with the menu, would you cease your fast? 

Wayne Bent: No, because I have gone through all the channels numerous times, even met with the warden about my diet. I was assured what was promised me by the warden would be supplied. And it comes for two days and then it’s just like you never said anything. It’s all back to the same scenario. 

Attorney: Now, if they provided you on a daily consistent basis with a vegan vegetarian diet, you would continue your fast? 

Wayne Bent: Yes sir. 

Attorney: Did you ever file any written grievances? 

- No answer -

Judge: Call your next witness. 

Jeff Bent is then called to the stand as the last witness.