BK/NY – Tuesday, February 2nd – Letter Writing Dinner for Jay Chase
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
Jay Chase needs the love and support of our community now more than ever. Next week, the NATO 3 prisoner has a court date for a trial that may lead to him dying in prison. Jay is one of a group of activists who were entrapped by two undercover Chicago cops in 2012 leading up to protests of the NATO summit and found guilty of possession of an incendiary device with the intent to commit arson, possession of an incendiary device with the knowledge that another intended to commit arson and mob action. Jay received the longest sentence of the NATO 3 (8 years) and is the only one still locked up. He is currently facing charges for the alleged battery of a prison guard.
During the 2 years that he was imprisoned before his conviction, Jay was met with the awful diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects cognition, muscle coordination, and behavior. Although the disease is incurable, its symptoms are usually treatable to a certain extent through different therapies and medications. Jay has not received any of the proper treatments for this disease. Those who knew Jay before his imprisonment began have already seen the physical decline that is typical with an untreated Huntington’s diagnosis. Severely impaired judgement and impulse control from the disease has compounded the already hostile environment created by the State and its prison system. Jay has written to folks describing brutal beatings that have occurred at the hands of prison guards since the diagnosis of his disease and subsequent filing of new charges. He has also faced punishment in the form of a one year bid in solitary confinement and the loss/restriction of several other privileges. At his last court date in December, Jay arrived to his hearing bruised and swollen. The charges he is facing have a minimum of 3 years if convicted. If he remains in these conditions, he may not have even that long to live.
Jay’s support crew is asking that folks pack the courtroom out for his next pretrial hearing on February 3rd at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse. If you live in Chicago, you should be there. If you know people in Chicago, you should tell them to go. If you will be here in NY on Tuesday night, you should join us in writing letters to Jay.In the event that you are unable to join us, you can send letters of support to Jay at:
Jared Chase M44710
Pontiac Correctional Center
Post Office Box 99
Pontiac, Illinois 61764
Illustrated Guide Version 11 Now Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoner.
NYC – Sunday, January 31st – International Day of Solidarity with Trans Prisoners
WHAT: Letter-writing
WHEN: 2:00-4:00pm, Sunday, January 31st
WHERE: Bluestockings – 172 Allen Street, New York, New York 10002
COST: FREE
NYC Black & Pink, Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, and NYC Anarchist Black Cross invite you to a special letter writing event. More about the International Day of Solidarity with Trans Prisoners below!
There will be drinks and snacks available for sale through Bluestockings. We’ll also have more info on ways that you can start find an LGBTQ prisoner pen-pal if you want.
What can you bring?
Writing materials! Stamps if you want! We can always use more postage!
Looking forward to seeing you there! Read more…
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 19th – Letter Writing Dinner for Herman Bell
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
As the campaign to parole Herman Bell is nearing its climax in February, now is as good a time as ever to send some love and well wishes Herman’s way before he goes to the board. If you are new to our website and letter writing events and may not know much about Herman, he is a mentor, a father, a scholar, a coach, and a former Black Panther who was very active in the movement for Black Liberation. He has been in prison for 42 years for the murder of a NYC cop. He has been denied parole 6 times despite his productive time behind bars that has resulted in him receiving two Bachelors of Science degrees and a Masters degree, becoming known throughout the New York state prison system as a mentor, a football coach, and an educator.
In addition to writing Herman on Tuesday in the company of comrades and a home cooked vegan meal, we also urge folks to see what else they can do to support Herman during his parole push on this website: http://www.freehermanbell.org/ParoleEfforts.html
If for some reason you can’t make it on Tuesday, you can write to Herman at:
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 5th – Letter Writing Dinner for Joshua Williams
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
While it comes at no surprise, the fact is that in modern times Black people are not only being regularly gunned down by the State, but are also being kidnapped and caged for standing up for and defending their communities. 19 year old Joshua Williams is a victim of the latter. Joshua became a vocal regular participant in the anti-police demonstrations following the murder of 18 year old Mike Brown in 2014. Later that year, Joshua was arrested for the arson of a convenience store that was located across the street from the fatal police shooting of Antonio Martin just days before. In December 2015 Joshua pleaded guilty to arson and burglary and has been sentenced to 8 years in state prison.
While we believe that all political prisoners are in desperate need of support from our communities, Josh is in particular need right now. His age and high profile status as a Ferguson protester has made him an easy target for right wing media and blogging blowhards. They have been giggling to their empty selves at the idea of a young man who has been outspoken for peace being locked up for arson. They lack the understanding that peace sometimes comes at a cost. They lack the context that we are in a world where a young Black person is living in the reality that any violence to him by the State and other white supremacists would go virtually unchecked and probably publicly applauded. The damage to a building that was empty of all others at the time is not even close to equivalent.
We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Joshua:
Joshua Williams #1292002
Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center
2727 Highway K
Bonne Terre, Missouri 63628
Illustrated Guide Version 10.9 Now Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners as well as removes Stanley Cohen (time served!).