Denver Anarchist Black Cross

Political Prisoner Hanif Shabazz Bey’s Statement on Running Down the Walls 2016

Much respect to the organizers of this annual run, and the participants. I have been a runner since 1970, but now as I am turning 66, and the only place I have access to run is around a concrete basketball court, my running is limited, in an effort to preserve my knees.

I would run much more if I could run on a dirt surface, but for now, I do “Jumping Jacks”, “Burpees”, and work the “Universal Machine.” However, on September 4th and 11th, I will run for a half hour on each of those days, because running is a very spiritual act. So on those days, I will run with you in the spirit of Geronimo, Nat Turner, and Joe Hill in fervent resistance!

Regardless of who goes into the White House, Hillary or Donald, 2017 promises to be a year where the downtrodden masses will have to circle the wagons in order to withstand the walls of oppression. So let us all have a strong run, with resistance to oppression on our minds!

STRONG RUN!
Hanif S. Bey

Write:
Hanif Shabazz Bey (Beaumont Gereau)
#5161331
Seguro Correctional Center
1252 E. Arica Rd.
Eloy, AZ 85131

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Chicano Political Prisoner Alvaro Xinachtli Hernandez’s solidarity statement on Running Down the Walls 2016

As salaam aliakum! Alhamdulillah!
In the true spirit of internationalism and solidarity with all resistance movements of the oppressed against global capitalism and imperialism worldwide, especially amongst the domestic internal colonies enslaved by yankee colonialism and imperialism in the occupied territories of the U.S. southwest. I salute all of you with a firm revolutionary embrace and a clenched fist in the air from within the belly of the beast, and thank you for the many years of persistent support, financial and otherwise that the ABCF Warchest has given me. From the bottom of my heart, I say GRACIAS! Thank you! Much success in the upcoming Running Down The Walls event for 2016!

The forces of fascism, outside and inside the prison walls, are on the rise, fanned and fueled by the cycle of “presidential electoral politics,” where the established elitist parties fight over who is to be slave-master extraordinaire who holds the capitalist cat-o-nine-tails whip over the working class. They intensify their traditional racist, reactionary, fear and hate mongering, their xenophobia, Islamophobia, misogyny, sexism, classism, the stereotyping of immigrants as “criminals,” the militarization of police in communities of color, the police terror of unarmed, innocent civilians, their nurturing of a culture of “government snitches,” to create mistrust and dived the people, as their war against the poor, immigrants, people of color and the working class. There is no way out of these capitalist conditions and tyranny but through class struggle. Workers must unite internationally, seize control of their own communities, seize political power, take control of their own destiny and dismantle the current capitalist system and be a truly free people. The Republican and Democrat political parties are one and the same animal that feeds from the same pig trough. They do not respect the interests of the workers, but are parties of the rich and elite one percent in perversion of their “capitalist democracy” and their lavish corporations and their extravagant lifestyle and their insane “values” they represent as masters and rulers of society and the world. Which includes their system of genocidal mass incarceration of people of color as “surplus accumulation” for their prison industrial corporations sustain by brute prisoner slave labor. Only a political economic system in the total control of workers’ collectives, of the ownership and distribution of the means of production and distribution to meet social and human needs, not make the rich richer, can we all be free of these capitalist barbarians!!!

Keep pounding the ground! We are in here for you!! YOU MUST continue to be out there for us freedom fighters!!!

Hasta la Victoria, siempre! Venceremos! All power to the people!

August 1st 2016 – in memory of all Black August Martyrs!!!

In solidarity,
Xinachtli

Write:
(Nahuatl for “Germinating seed”)
Alvaro Luna Hernandez #255735
James V. Allred Supermax Control Unit
2101 FM 369 North
Iowa Park, TX 76367

(outside contact: freealvaronow@gmail.com or twitchon@hotmail.com)
please circulate worldwide!!!

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Political Prisoner Jaan Laaman’s Statement on Running Down the Walls 2016

Listen to audio

Hello, this is Jaan Laaman and I want to send a positive, powerful revolutionary salute to all you freedom runners, runners for justice, for human rights, for dignity, for political prisoners and all prisoners, held in cages across the United States.

Here in 2016, America remains the biggest prison house in the world, over 2 ¼ million men, women and children are locked up in state, federal, local and private prisons from see to shining sea.
But being in prison, does not mean that we cannot and should not continue to struggle for human rights, justice and freedom. Running Down the Walls is one good way for all of us, in prison yards, segregation rec pens, in city parks and streets, to call for justice and freedom for America’s political prisoners and all prisoners.

Yes, here in the federal pen in Tucson, a multinational group of young and old runners will be joining with all of you across the country in Running Down the Walls. We will be running on September 4th and we will be joining you in spirit, will all of you September 11th runners too.

So, enough talking, let’s get to running, running down these walls.

Jaan Laaman

Write:
Jaan Laaman
#10372-016
USP Tuscon
Post Office Box 24550
Tuscon, Arizona 85734

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Political Prisoner Bill Dunne’s Statement on Running Down the Walls 2016

Salutations and Felicitation to All My Running Down the Walls Comrades,

We share today activity to build solidarity and community between the diverse parts of our body politic. We sweat and strain to develop and demonstrate our commonality. We carry for our vision of the most equitable social reality. We include our present and potential comrades in this work, this effort, this labor of love and struggle – and especially include those who circumstances let only their spirits run with us. We all run toward the same goal: the social revolution in which all of us will have the greatest possible freedom to develop our full human potential. We else would we go?

The Future Holds Promise
Bill Dunne
FCC Lompoc-Medium

Write:
Bill Dunne #10916-086
USP Lompoc
3901 Klein Boulevard
Lompoc, California 93436

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Political Prisoner Kojo Bomani Sababu’s Statement on Running Down the Walls 2016

Comrades:

Although I’m, unable to contribute with the funding due to my immursement, my words of encouragement should fill the void.

Your energy, synergistic as it is, ensures that our struggle has a human face, one that exhibits concern regardless of the condition.

Everyone feels the upliftment you provide.
Kojo Bomani Sababu POW

Write:
Kojo Bomani Sababu (Grailing Brown)
#39384-066
USP Canaan
Post Office Box 300
Waymart, Pennsylania 18472

Kojo Bomani Sababu is a New Afrikan Prisoner of War, currently serving a 55 year sentence for actions with the Black Liberation Army and attempted prison escape with Puerto Rican Independista Oscar López Rivera. Sababu was convicted of one count of conspiracy for an alleged escape plan that included the use of rockets, hand grenades, and a helicopter.

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Submitted to It’s Going Down:

Since 1999, the Anarchist Black Cross Federation, political prisoners and support organizations across the country have held a 5K non-competitive run/jog/walk/bike event to raise awareness and funds for the numerous political prisoners currently held in North American prisons.

Runs will be held on September 4th or September 11th at various cities and prison yards around the continent.

In past years, we’ve had runs in Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA), Denver (CO), Elmore (AL), FCI Sandstone (MN), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA), Marion (IL), USP Navosta (TX), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto, Ontario. Our comrades on the inside also engage in solidarity runs at the same time as ours on the outside.

This year the big runs will be held in:

• New York City – September 4th. Prospect Park.
  https://nycabc.wordpress.com/2016/08/10/RDTW2016/
  Donate to NYC run: https://gumroad.com/nycabc
• Denver, Colorado – September 11th. Sunken Gardens Park.
  https://www.facebook.com/events/1593519017612113/
  Donate to Denver run: https://fundly.com/running-down-the-walls-2016#donate
• Los Angeles, California – September 11th. MacArthur Park.
  https://www.facebook.com/events/252423718473970/
  Donate to LA run: https://fundly.com/running-down-the-walls-los-angeles

Smaller solidarity runs will be held in:

• Twin Cities, Minnesota – September 11th
  https://www.facebook.com/events/322496764753741/
• Chico, California – September 11th
  https://www.facebook.com/events/598770490303195/
  
• Seattle, Washington – September 11th.
  https://www.facebook.com/events/740121216128555/

Funds raised are typically split between the ABCF Warchest and a community group chosen by the host organization.

The ABCF Warchest is a program designed to send monthly checks to those Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War who have been receiving insufficient, little, or no financial support during their imprisonment. The Warchest program was initiated in November 1994 and sends money to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War (PP/POW) via monthly checks.

For more information, see
http://www.abcf.net/warchest-program/

If you want to organize a solidarity run, please be in touch with LA ABCF at la@abcf.net

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From Support Eric King:

Eric was picked up from Grady County Jail in Oklahoma at midnight last night and taken on a plane to the prison he was designated. We just received a phone call and he has been placed at FCI Englewood! Over the past two years pre-trial, all of the fights and horrible experiences, seeing the Rocky Mountains was a moment in which he knew he could finally breathe. Tonight he looked out his window and watched the sunset over those mountains just 30 minutes away from his partner and many friends. In all of this shittiness this is one thing that we can be thankful that for tonight. While there is a long road ahead, tonight we know that Eric can find some peace as he closes his eyes.

Send Eric some love!!

Eric King  27090045
FCI ENGLEWOOD
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
9595 WEST QUINCY AVENUE
LITTLETON, CO  80123

We will update all of the page info and re-activate his book list soon!

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From Free Russell Maroon Shoatz!

Greetings Fighting Maroons!

Welcome to our July newsletter. In these ever-turbulent times, where tragic news seems a constant, we hope this message finds you and your loved ones in both good health and resilient spirits. After a momentous last month, we’re pleased to bring you the latest info on Maroon’s lawsuit settlement with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and brief report backs from both the Campaign to Restore Meaningful Commutation’s recent meeting with Pennsylvania state officials and the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons’ recent convergence in Washington D.C.

Maroon Sues The D.O.C. and Wins!!!

In case you missed our special bulletin two weeks ago, a settlement has been reached in the case of Shoatz v. Wetzel, which challenged Maroon’s 22 straight years of solitary confinement. The settlement brings an end to litigation begun in 2013, which resulted in Maroon’s initial release from solitary in February, 2014. To say that we’re thrilled with this news would certainly be an understatement.

Ahead of this latest victory, Maroon was visited for Father’s Day by his daughter, Theresa, and grandson, Hakeem. (pictured above) In Theresa’s words, “I spent Father’s Day with Maroon and my son. Maroon was so upbeat and proud of the moment. Several prisoners nodded and others sent warm greetings. One even came over to where we were seated, wanting a hug from me. Maroon jumped between us and said, ‘Time out! This is my Father’s Day visit, with mydaughter. Give me some space!” The prisoner got the message, and I took it to mean that we need more visits like this one.”

As mentioned in our July 11 press release, “In exchange for Shoatz ending the lawsuit the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) has agreed that it will not place Shoatz back in solitary confinement based on his prior disciplinary record or activities; Shoatz will have a single-cell status for life, meaning he will not have to experience the extreme hardship of being forced to share a cell following decades of enforced isolation; a full mental health evaluation will be provided; and the DOC has paid a monetary settlement.

Russell Maroon Shoatz had the following to say about the settlement: ‘I have nothing but praise for all of those who supported me and my family for all of the years I was in Solitary Confinement, as well as helped to effect my release. Since joining the struggle for Human Rights in the mid 1960s, I have always chosen to fight! Frederick Douglass was right when he said “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” So have no doubt that I see this Settlement as anything but the latest blow struck, and you rest assured that I will continue in the struggle for Human Rights. Straight Ahead!’ ”

We invite you to read our full press release, including the supportive comments of United Nation’s Special Rapporteur, Juan Mendez, whose expertise helped ensure this victory.

In addition, we share with you this article from The Guardianregarding the settlement and its potential positive impact on the cases of other Pennsylvania inmates who have suffered through similarly unrestricted use of solitary confinement, as well as the following video clip from the July 12 episode of Democracy Now!, a program that’s vocally supported our efforts over the years.
 

Campaign to Restore Meaningful Commutation Goes to Harrisburg

On Thursday, June 23, the Campaign to Restore Meaningful Commutation hit the Capitol pushing a 12 point platform that would change regulations and practices of the barely functional commutation process.  About 25 people traveled to Harrisburg from Pittsburgh and 10 more from Philly.  Upon arrival from Pittsburgh a devoted crew raced up to the office of Jason Dawkins, co-author of HB 2135, where he met them with open arms. House Bill 2135 was introduced on June 9, and has the ambition to Expand Parole Eligibility for Life Sentences. This bill would make people eligible for parole after 15 years served, and as Jason said in our press conference, “This bill would abolish life without parole.” Can you believe a State Rep said those words?!
 

Rep Ed Gainey from Pittsburgh gave a rousing speech at our rally in support of the bill. This is extra powerful because, tragically, his sister was murdered just a month ago. Additional surprise speakers included: Rep Joanna E. McClinton from Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, who was extremely encouraging and really applauded our efforts, and Rep Patty Kim of Dauphin County, who also stepped to the mic, talking about an impactful meeting she had with women at Muncy.

To read the full reportback about the campaign’s visit to the Pennsylvania capitol, and how you can plug into ongoing organizing,please visit here.

Members of Let’s Get Free with Rep Dawkins and Rep Gainey

Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons Goes to D.C.

For over a decade, June 11 has been a day of action in solidarity with eco-anarchists imprisoned for their actions in defense of the Earth. Since its inception in 2004, the June 11 day of action and other acts of solidarity have been instrumental in winning shorter sentences or early release for eco-prisoners, including Jeff Luers and Eric McDavid. Yet committed earth defenders such as Marius Mason, targeted in the FBI’s “Greenscare,” are still serving harsh sentences in maximum security prisons for their actions in defense of the Earth.

Meanwhile in Appalachia, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) plans to build a massive maximum security prison on top of a former mountaintop removal coal mine in Letcher County, Kentucky, surrounded by sludge ponds and coal processing operations. This amounts to an environmental justice nightmare, where prisoners who are disproportionately low-income and people of color face toxic conditions behind bars.

photo: Kilaika Anayejali kwa Baruti, Eka Asase Yaa, Theresa Shoatz & Shandre Delaney attendees at Toxic Prison Conference in DC

From June 11 to June 13, people from around the country converged on Washington, D.C. to network, strategize, and take direct action against toxic prisons and continue to fight for the freedom of political prisoners.

Stopping one prison is not a magic bullet to ending the U.S. police state, the one that gave way to the world’s largest prison nation and in turn serves as the apparatus of repression that keeps the planet shackled to industrial capitalism… But it’s a pretty good place to build from.

To read about the campaign’s convergence in D.C., and how you can get involved, please visit here.

We remain deeply indebted to all of you who continue to offer your support and solidarity to the struggle for Maroon’s freedom, and against prisons and policing more broadly. And while we say it every month, we really do want to hear from you! Please feel free tocontact us directly with your thoughts, questions, and ideas to strengthen our work on behalf of Maroon and all u.s.-held political prisoners.

We also invite you to consider contributing to our ongoing fundraising for Maroon. While Maroon’s recent settlement obviously includes a financial component, much of that money will be redirected, per Maroon’s wishes, to efforts that support other long-held prisoners and their families. Accordingly, your direct contributions for Maroon’s well-being at SCI Graterford remain important.

Please also consider contacting Maroon directly. He wants to hear from his supporters! Write to Russell Shoats #AF-3855, SCI-Graterford, P.O. Box 246 Route 29, Graterford, PA 19426 – 0246

In Maroon’s own words,
Straight Ahead!
The Shoatz Family and Friends

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From PrisonEcology.org:

The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) submitted a public comment to the Environmental Protection Agency today that provides input on the agency’s final draft of theEJ 2020 Action Agenda,highlighting the lack of consideration for environmental justice among the millions of prisoners in the United States. The comment was co-signed by 138 social justice, environmental and prisoners’ rights organizations from across the country.

Last year, HRDC submitted a 10-page comment signed by 93 organizations during the comment period for outlining the initial “framework” for EJ 2020, and later joined with the Sierra Club to generate over 12,000 emails of support for their position. Despite this advocacy, the EPA failed to include any mention of prisoners in the EJ 2020 final draft.

As a result, HRDC has further built on its efforts to make this a priority for the EPA by adding new heavy-hitting national organizations such as Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council, as well as prominent individuals including Sylvia Hood Washington, editor-in-chief of the Environmental Justice Journal, and Dr. Robert Bullard, considered to be the “Father of Environmental Justice.”

HRDC’s updated comment elaborates on problems nationwide which illustrate a clear need to protect prisoners as a population that faces extreme environmental justice impacts. For example, prisons and jails built on or near landfills, toxic waste dumps, Superfund cleanup sites and coal mining sites, or that are vulnerable to natural disasters such as flooding and environmental hazards like contaminated water. Additions made in the updated comment include references to the recent Flint water crisis, a federal judge’s ruling condemning arsenic in Texas prison water, and impacts of Valley Fever on Hawaiian prisoners in Arizona, indicating that this is an ongoing issue.

The updated comment filed with the EPA can be found online here.

“It’s encouraging to see the EPA attempting to increase the effectiveness of protecting vulnerable communities that have been overburdened by industrial pollution, but a significant component is missing when impacts on millions of prisoners and their families are ignored,” said Panagioti Tsolkas, coordinator of HRDC’s Prison Ecology Project.

According to the comment submitted by HRDC, there is overwhelming evidence that the population of people in prison represents one of the most vulnerable and uniquely-overburdened demographics in our nation. The comment notes that prison populations are almost entirely low-income and that black, Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans are consistently overrepresented in all 50 states.

Environmental permits that fail to meet the environmental justice standards set in place 20 years ago under Executive Order 12898 may violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI of the Act explicitly prohibits discrimination by government agencies that receive federal funds; if an agency is found in violation of Title VI, it may lose its federal funding. The prison sector should not be an exception.

“Those unfamiliar with the conditions in America’s prisons may balk at our allegations but the EPA cannot claim to be among the uninformed,” Tsolkas stated.

On February 5, 2015, Tsolkas conducted an interview with an EPA representative from Region III who explicitly stated that environmental justice guidelines have not been applied to prisoners for the purpose of reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act, because the EPA uses data that fails to take prisoner populations into account.

EPA Region III, which encompasses the Mid-Atlantic, conducted an initiative in which numerous prison inspections by the agency resulted in enforcement actions between 1999 and 2011, ranging from issues involving the disposal of hazardous waste to violations of air and water standards, primarily due to prison overcrowding. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General has also cited various violations of health, safety and environmental laws, regulations and Bureau of Prisons policies related to industrial operations within federal prisons.

Yet the EPA has never cited the health and safety of prisoners exposed to such environmental conditions as a factor in prison inspections or in the permitting of new facilities. It has also failed to note the blatant discrimination that is inherent in toxic prison conditions, despite the fact that Title VI provides a mandate for addressing such discrimination which other agencies have recognized.

As Dr. Robert Bullard, a signatory to HRDC’s comment, stated in a recent listening session directed at the EPA, “It is incredible that in 45 years, EPA never met a case of environmental discrimination—not even in the southern region of the country … in a region that was notorious for practicing discrimination under ’Jim Crow’ segregation[.]”

HRDC executive director Paul Wright observed, “Ironically, prisoners are frequently counted for the purpose of gerrymandering voting districts. So why are we missing the mark in terms of environmental protections for those forced to live inside toxic prisons, such as facilities built on coal mining sites or waste dumps?”

A map showing various examples of prison-related environmental issues, created through collaboration between the Prison Ecology Project and Humboldt State University, can be found online here.

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About HRDC:  The Human Rights Defense Center, founded in 1990, is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human rights in U.S. detention facilities. HRDC publishes Prison Legal News (PLN), a monthly magazine that includes reports, reviews and analysis of court rulings and news related to prisoners’ rights and criminal justice issues, and operates the website www.prisonlegalnews.org

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