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Any movement that does not support its political internees is a movement destined to fail. Nov 20 '08 update: Portland Indymedia has created a new Green Scare Topic Page. Other sites with current info on victims of Jeff "Free" Luers was transferred on April 12, 2008 to a minimum security prison in Portland - the Columbia River Correctional Institution. His 22+ year sentence has been reduced to 10 years and he expects to be released in December 2009. Donations are needed to help Jeff now as well as to start an education fund for him. freefreenow.org. Write him at: Jeffrey Luers # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave,Portland, OR 97211-1708. Josh Harper has been incarcerated since Dec 2006 in Sheridan federal prison for his part, along with 6 others in the SHAC 7 campaign to shut down Huntington Life Sciences animal testing and vivisection activities. Write Josh at: JOSHUA HARPER, #29429-086, FCI SHERIDAN,P.O. BOX 5000, SHERIDAN, OR 97378. Latest update from Josh Jeff Luers has had his sentence reduced to 10 years and is expected to be released in December 2009. Donations are needed to help Jeff now as well as to start an education fund for him. freefreenow.org. Write him at: Jeffrey Luers # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave,Portland, OR 97211-1708. Tre Arrow pled guilty in June 2008 to 2 counts of arson, and 12 other counts were dropped. He was sentenced in August 2008 to serve to serve 78 months in U.S. prison, & can be written at: Tre Arrow #70936065, FCI HERLONG, P.O. BOX 800, HERLONG, CA 96113. For updates, visit: www.trearrow.org Rod Coronado is awaiting release to a halfway house, November 2008, although his release date is still unclear because he is being told he is "a special case". Updates at supportrod.org Mumia's case will be tried again! Dec 7, 2005: "In a startling new development, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has agreed to hear arguments on three claims by Pennsylvania death-row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal that his 1982 trial and state appeal were tainted by constitutional violations." [Full Story] Updated Weblinks | Dec 9th 2008 Teach in at the PSU Multicultural Center - Smith Hall - in Portland, OR, in solidarity with the Dec 6th. [KBOO Nov 10 '08 coverage & updates] ONGOING SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS: Support has been withdrawn from Chris McIntosh, convicted of setting fire to a McDonalds in Seattle, who has since joined the ranks of white supremacist groups inside prison. Portland-based Prisoner Support Groups Internationally there are support campaigns to call for the freeing of Leonard Peltier, an AIM activist who was framed and convicted after a firefight on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975. The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee sent out a press release Dec 6 2004 calling for the public to put pressure on authorities who claim to be "investigating" the 1976 murder of Anna MaeAquash on the Pine Ridge Reservation, who was one of many AIM leaders who were who were at that time resisting unwanted uranium development on sacred lands. 2005: Oct 1-12 Leonard Peltier supporters engaged in a fast for justice for Leonard. Since July 1 of 2005, Peltier has been moved from three different correctional facilities. It seems they are trying to break Peltier's spirit On May 3, Peltier called on the public to lobby congress on his behalf, after his April FOIA request for the release of 30 year-old secret documents wasn't granted. There is also an international call for a fair trial for Mumia Abu Jamal. On May 18th, 2004 Mumia's latest appeal was denied. It is widely believed that Mumia was framed because of his earlier connections with the Black Panther Party and for his support of MOVE. On June 29, 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit lifted its stay in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, and ordered briefing. At issue is whether the death judgment should stand. Also pending is the prosecution's unconstitutional use of racism in jury selection. For more info, see the article, Death Penalty Again Looms Over Mumia's Head, and keep checking the weblinks on that article. Freedom Archives helps prisoners by archiving music, art and videos about and by folks to make this work available to the public, and as a way to fundraise for prisoners. California Prison Focus is very active and has a good website to help folks understand issues facing prisoners, especially in California. Other websites with info that give a meaningful perspective from and about our brothers and sisters behind bars, and some of the fallacies surrounding the perception of the U.S.prison industrial complex:
From the open publishing newswire:
The Red and Black cafe that has been so generous to donate us a space is closed :-( and Books to Prisoners is in need of a new space. We would need about 200 or so square feet, in a dry basement, garage, or extra room in the house---also open to office space or space in a church, community room etc. Because we are a non-profit, the space could be considered an "in kind" donation for a tax write off.
We would need about 200 or so square feet, in a dry basement, garage, or extra room in the house---also open to office space or space in a church, community room etc. Because we are a non-profit, the space could be considered an "in kind" donation for a tax write-off. Please CALL (503) 249-6343 if you might know of an available space. We would need the space twice a month for our mailing nights (first and third Weds of every month) and occasional access to drop books off. Close-in east side would be ideal but we are open to (most!)anything. Thanks!!
From the open publishing newswire:
Books to Prisoners is needing a few more volunteers! Help inspire and educate our brothers and sisters behind bars!
Portland Books to Prisoners is an all volunteer group meeting twice a month for "mailing nights". We could use some volunteers to help with answering letters, filling orders, wrapping packages and sending them out (U.S. postal service). Any kind of fund-raising ideas are also appreciated, as are tax-deductible donations, and book donations--mostly paperbacks as hardback are expensive to mail out. Paperback dictionaries are always a big request. We are also open to being in a new space if anyone knows of a space we could use that is close-in east side (dry basement or garage, church basement, etc.) The next mailing night is this Wednesday, March 18th from 5:30-8:00! WHAT: B2P mailing nights WHERE: in the basement of the Red and Black Cafe (400 S.E. 12th, and Oak) come through the gate around back--look for the sign... WHEN: First and third Wednesdays of every month Contact: (503) 249-6343 for more info.
From the open publishing newswire:
September 6, 12:00pm
Portland State University Smith Memorial Student Union Room 296/8 The AETA labels animal activists as terrorists and is one of the most unconstitutional laws since COINTELPRO. In response to new indictments under the AETA, The National Weekend of Action Against the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) has been called as a show of solidarity, to increase the visibility of ongoing counter-intelligence, and to encourage activists to organize and resist in the face of repression.
From the open publishing newswire:
In the Face of Repression // Organizing in Spite of the Surveillance State
September 6, 12:00pm Portland State University Smith Memorial Student Union Room 296/8 The AETA labels animal activists as terrorists and is one of the most unconstitutional laws since COINTELPRO. In response to new indictments under the AETA, The National Weekend of Action Against the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) has been called as a show of solidarity, to increase the visibility of ongoing counter-intelligence, and to encourage activists to organize and resist in the face of repression. In Portland, a coalition of groups are coordinating an afternoon of presenters and panels to discuss the AETA, and to use it as a platform to connect the more expansive processes and histories of repression that are incurred by systematically marginalized, colonized, frontlines, and resistance communities. We want animal and earth liberation activists to understand that all captivity must be ended. It is important to underscore the reality that many communities are always under state repression, not just so-called "activists" communities. It is imperative to stress the need for communities to show solidarity with each other to increase capacity and resilience against surveillance, state violence, and the prison industry. We must reject the misconception that prison or surveillance serve any sort of positive function and instead recognize repression for what it really is: a process engrained into colonial-capitalist society. [...] Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/890626027634210/
From the open publishing newswire:
Please call the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) on Monday, Oct 21 and write a letter on Friday, October 25 to ask that Marie Mason be moved out of the restricted unit of Carswell prison and that it be shut down. [...]
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 WRITE THE BOP DIRECTOR Please help get Marie Mason moved out of FMC Carswell by writing a letter to the Bureau of Prisons Director. We are asking as many people as possible to write letters and organize letter writing events so that we can show the BOP just how many people recognize her position as unjust, and support the idea of her being moved into a general population unit closer to her family. Below is the address to send all letters to, and a sample letter. Please remain firm but polite in your communications with the BOP. Charles E. Samuels, Jr. , Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534 USA Dear Director Samuels: I write on behalf of Marie Mason #04672-061, who is currently incarcerated in a special isolation unit at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. [...] Marie has never violated any prison rules and is obviously being targeted for her political beliefs. We demand that she be removed from this restrictive unit and transferred to a federal prison near her family and friends. homepage: http://www.movemarie.com
From the open publishing newswire:
Posted on August 29, 2013 by prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein 50 days into a hunger strike which was announced last December, the Department of Corrections has just now issued a highly deceptive and problematic response to the prisoners' demands. The gist of the response was that the CDCR has done all that it plans to do and that the rest is non-negotiable. The reply was not directed at the prisoners themselves or the prisoners' mediation team; instead, it was issued as a press release on the CDCR's website late Monday afternoon. It is not clear if the CDCR has shared the response to the demands with the prisoners. The CDCR's statement assures the public that it has addressed the prisoners' demands while continuing to assert that solitary confinement does not exist in California. The state's repeated denial of the problem and lack of willingness to implement necessary changes is dangerous and irresponsible. Prisoners have used every means available to them to change the policies that result in them being confined in extreme isolation for decades including the CDCR's internal grievance system, meetings with Wardens, litigation and multiple hunger strikes. [...] California cannot just ignore this problem, hoping that it will go away. The way to make the hunger strikes go away is to deal with the issues responsibly - meet with the reps and come to an agreement. Otherwise, the CDCR will only be repeating this cycle over and over again in an insane attempt to subdue any efforts to create necessary changes with extreme violence and repression. This cannot be tolerated any longer. It is time to break the cycle and to deal with this strike and the issue of solitary confinement responsibly and reasonably. http://www.freedomarchives.org | Day 44 PIMC feature: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/08/424682.shtml
From the open publishing newswire:
Statement by Brutha Sitawa: "I would like to reiterate that the Agreement to End All Hostilities, August 12, 2012, is significant for all prisoners because CDCR has encouraged prisoners in their 33 prisons to not only engage in self-destructive behavior but have also helped heighten racial hostilities - the catalyst for internal warfare, racial warfare and gang warfare. all of which all has been magnified inside the prisons and throughout our communities." "We decided to address these contradictions head on by engaging in a dialogue that was meaningful, sincere and honest with each respected entity. We realized that our responsibility was to end actions that were contrary to the growth and development of each and every prisoner..." Sitawa Jaama has been held in the "Security Housing Unit" (SHU) of California's Pelican Bay State Prison for 29 years. Along with hundreds of other prisoners throughout the California prison system Sitawa has been on hunger strike for 43 days. Sitawa is a member of the Short Corridor Collective, an interracial group of prisoners based in the Pelican Bay SHU. The Short Corridor Collective has been influential in calling for 3 hunger strikes in the past 2 years, as well as authoring the 'Agreement to End Hostilities' document (Full PDF), a political call for prisoner unity, and an end to all violence between different groups of prisoners throughout the state, from maximum security prisons to county jails. Prisoner Hunger Strike: Day 44 - Outrage Over CDCR Force Feeding Plans "CDCR justifies asking for the order to force feed by claiming that the widespread hunger strike is 'orchestrated' by gangs, that the massive participation and support for the demands is coerced and that prisoners have signed 'do not resuscitate' directives under duress," according to Claude Marks of the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition. "This order violates all international laws and standards and gives the medical director of each prison authority to violate human rights laws instead of reasonably negotiating with prisoners." Thousand of prisoners have united to challenge the torture of prolonged isolation, demanding an accountable process to challenge the gang validations that have kept them in security housing for decades. Related Articles: Action Alert: We need a Emergency Hearing to address the Hunger Strike | My Friend Todd Ashker, Hunger Striker at Pelican Bay Previous Features: Latest on California Prisoners' Hunger Strike | Largest Prisoner Rights Protest in California History Ongoing
From the open publishing newswire:
Mediators working on behalf of California prison hunger strikers just concluded their meeting with CDCR Secretary Jeffrey Beard. Today's meeting comes on the heels of nearly 100 family members of hunger strikers visiting the Capitol Tuesday, where they presented a petition signed by over 60,000 people demanding negotiations with hunger strikers to Governor Brown's office. The hunger strike mediators' statement included, "We gave [Secretary Beard] ideas that would help bring the prisoners' hunger strike to a just end in short order. We provided input for revisions to CDCR's Security Threat Group Policy and Step Down pilot program. Our revisions are intended to create more humane conditions and circumstances. We urged him to follow the lead from other states, such as Illinois, Colorado and Mississippi, to end harsh and long term isolation practices." Previous Feature: Largest Prisoner Rights Protest in California History Ongoing
From the open publishing newswire:
Earlier this month, a group of prisoners in the Pelican Bay Supermax facility just south of the Oregon border organized the largest prison protest in California history. At the time, it was reported that an estimated 30,000 inmates in two-thirds of California's 33 prisons had opted to refuse meals in a mass hunger strike. And it's still going on. On June 20, 2013, prisoners held in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay State Prison Security Housing Unit in Oakland, CA announced their plan to embark upon nonviolent peaceful protest on July 8. According to the Prison Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition (PHSSC), a group committed to amplifying the voices of prisoners on strike, prisoners had maintained since January that they would be willing to starve themselves unless the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) agreed to negotiate honestly about prisoners' demands, "the heart of which mandates an end to long-term solitary confinement." Prisoners' demands have been represented in five core points:
From the open publishing newswire:
The fourth Annual Law and Disorder Conference will take place May 10th-12th, at Portland State University and will feature a panel discussion on the recent grand jury raids in the northwest.
We are excited to announce the Fourth Annual Law and Disorder Conference, May 10-12th 2013, at Portland State University. This year's conference features a special panel about grand jury resistance with members of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression and the Committee Against Political Repression. A special keynote will be given by former political prisoner Jihad Abdulmumit, co-chair for the Jericho Movement, as well as his highly acclaimed theatrical performance "Political Incarcerations". Other special presentations will be given by Sacramento Prisoner Support, David Hill (American Indian Movement), Portland Rising Tide, Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, Right 2 Survive and Portland Industrial Workers of the World, as well as many other local organizations. L&D was founded in 2010 by members of the NW Student Coalition, a consortium of radical student groups in the Pacific Northwest from PSU, Mt. Hood Community College, Reed College and Washington State University-Vancouver in the aftermath of the police murders of Aaron Campbell and Keaton Otis in Portland and Oscar Grant in the Bay Area. The general theme of the conference has been to bridge the gap between different traditions of radical politics. The first and foremost goal has been to raise the issues of U.S.-held political prisoners, their existence contrary to denial on the part of the state, and practical discussions regarding their support and amnesty. Secondly, we engage in a critical dialogue about political repression, from the historical targeting and incarceration of activists in the FBI's counterintelligence program (COINTELPRO) in the second half of the 20th century to the most recent manifestations such as the PATRIOT ACT and Homeland Security. The third theme is the abolition of the Prison- Industrial Complex and finding community alternatives to the police. This conference calls for people, movements, organizations and collectives to present alternative accounts to the political dimensions of civic engagement, mutual aid and revolution as they relate to economics, politics, invention, technology, work, artistic and cultural production, the body, pedagogy and social change. [...] Website: http://lawandisorder.wordpress.com
Facebook: Law and Disorder Conference
From the open publishing newswire:
After four decades of solitary confinement in the nation's most populated maximum-security prison -- and one of its most historically brutal -- a member of the internationally known "Angola 3" has reasonable cause to expect that he will soon be released, his attorneys and supporters say. The request to set free Albert Woodfox, 65, is being heard by the same federal judge who in 2008 ordered that Woodfox be released, a ruling that Louisiana prosecutors successfully appealed and blocked.
View the embedded links and more accompanying photos here: http://angola3news.blogspot.com/2013/02/albert-woodfox-freedom-after-40-years.html
Albert Woodfox: Freedom After 40 Years in Solitary? --Supporters of one of the Angola 3 tell The Root why he might be released this time. (The first of two parts) by Katti Gray [...] After four decades of solitary confinement in the nation's most populated maximum-security prison -- and one of its most historically brutal -- a member of the internationally known "Angola 3" has reasonable cause to expect that he will soon be released, his attorneys and supporters say. The request to set free Albert Woodfox, 65, is being heard by the same federal judge who in 2008 ordered that Woodfox be released, a ruling that Louisiana prosecutors successfully appealed and blocked
From the open publishing newswire:
View the embedded links and video here:
http://angola3news.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-black-panther-partys-living-legacy.html
The Black Panther Party's Living Legacy --Touring Oakland and Berkeley with Billy X Jennings (Part One) By Angola 3 News This month, over twenty students enrolled in the "Dismantling Racism" class offered by St. Catherine University in Minnesota traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area. The class focused primarily on California's prisons and what anti-prison activists are doing to challenge the human rights violations and racism endemic to California's infamous prison system. Last week, the class was taken around on a Black Panther History Tour in Oakland and Berkeley, led by Billy X Jennings from It's AboutTime BPP Alumni & Legacy. Along with ongoing BPP history exhibits at the Alameda County Law Library in downtown Oakland and the window of Rasputin Music on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley is a new photo exhibit running until February 28, entitled Louder Than Words, at La Peńa Cultural Center (3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley). An important friend and ally of the International Coalition to Free the Angola 3, Billy X Jennings' work was previously spotlighted in an interview with Angola 3 News, entitled We Called Ourselves the Childrenof Malcolm. [...] The BPP's early critique of capitalism, of police brutality, of racism/exclusion in the criminal injustice system is foundational for all those of us who continue to challenge what we now call the "prison industrial complex". They were true visionaries whose call for a rainbow coalition, intersectionality and community empowerment continues to guide our work. What We Want/What We Believe - including "land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace" - has not changed at all. (Stay tuned for part two, touring Berkeley and downtown Oakland!) http://www.angola3news.com
From the open publishing newswire:
On 12.31.12 a Noise Demonstration to show solidarity all prisoners was held globally. In Portland Oregon at 8:15 PM a group of around 40 people met in front of the downtown central Police Station {JAIL} to make noize for all those locked inside to hear. To let them know they are not forgotten.
The rally was organized by folks in the PDX ABC. The rally is to call out for a noise demo intended to show love and solidarity with incarcerated peoples. To show solidarity with the Grand Jury Resisters, and all Political Prisoners. The rally was to call out for noize against the state, and its prison system. The police did stop by, and asked a few questions and then mysteriously they all left? This is the 17 minute video file posted on YouTube from the Portland rally: http://youtu.be/p1mgu_GysJo
Also this same video file was posted where it can be viewed and downloaded on Archive dot org here: link to archive.org
The video opens with a short out-take from Submedia TV which is about the Noize Demo's in Greece on New Years Eve. An announcement post for this noise event was on Portland Indymedia here: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2012/12/421148.shtml |
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