I'm getting stabbed here,

I'm getting stabbed here.

I got stabbed over seven times.

(dramatic music)

My name is Mario, and this is how I survived

getting stabbed seven times in prison.

It's a normal day, coming back from the chow hall,

eating good, relaxed, about to watch

our programs in the dorm, and I wanted to use the restroom.

I'm on the toilet, and I get approached

by one of my fellow inmates that's the same race as me.

I represented the blacks.

All blacks, whether you was Blood, Crip.

They're called Macros, these are the people

that represent their race.

It's tension between him

and another guy from a different race.

Unfortunately, in prison, we're separated

by different races, and it's tension,

because their gang killed somebody

in they gang on the street.

He came to approach me to let me know.

As he walks away, less than a minute later,

a riot erupts, and before I know it, it's three guys

running up the aisle towards me with weapons,

and I still haven't had a chance to wipe my butt.

I was targeted because I was somebody that was powerful,

I was somebody that had say-so.

I'm the one that kept the glue together.

So by eliminating me, in their mind,

they're cutting off the head of the snake.

One guy had a sock with batteries, D batteries,

two D batteries in it,

and the other two guys had knives.

One moment I'm taking a dump, then the next moment,

the next instant, I'm getting stabbed up.

The guy with the sock tried to come first,

and I dropped him.

Then there was only two of them left,

but both of them had knives.

I tried to disarm one of the knives.

As I'm doing that, the other guy jumped on my back,

and I'm getting stabbed this whole time,

but I don't know that.

I'm getting stabbed here,

I'm getting stabbed here,

I'm getting stabbed here.

I got stabbed over seven times.

I thrust him over my shoulder,

that's when I realize all my blood is draining down,

and that just enraged me.

Threw the weapon away, my adrenaline pumping,

fighting, guns blazing, tear gas going off.

Now all the correctional officers are coming

from all of the yards,

they already got the word on the radio

that it's a riot happening.

Guns, and pepper spray, and making sure everybody down.

If you're not down, you'll get shot or you'll get subdued.

If you're caught with a weapon,

they will shoot you with a Mini-14, no questions asked.

The warning in jail is no warning shots,

and it says that on the wall,

"Warning: no warning shots."

I thought that that was gonna be it for me.

Not coming home to see nobody I know, love,

and me getting stabbed was gonna end in my death,

buried, forgot about.

And that's one of the biggest fears that I had in prison,

that I would never make it home.

So all my scars healed, but I also healed as well.

With the time, the pain, and the experience,

I became a better man.

Becoming a husband and being in love,

being happy, and being a father.

I came a long way.

And I hope my story can reach or help anyone

that's in any type of similar situation

or surviving any situation

and knowing there's hope,

and there's always light at the end of the tunnel.

(gentle music)