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BK/NY – Tuesday, January 31st – Letter-Writing Dinner for Nicole Kissane
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 31st, 2017
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
unquestionably dark. However, it hasn’t all been awful. In addition to the inspiring work that is coming from our comrades across the country in preparation of the days to come, we have also been given moments of joyous relief. 2017 saw the retiring of the “dumpster fire” meme and has raised it to the way better limo fire; white supremacist Richard Spencer’s face met a fist to your favorite tunes; and you get to continue joining NYC ABC for dinner as we support political prisoners. This week we are writing to the newly imprisoned Nicole Kissane.
In July, 2015, Nicole was indicted under the federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). The indictment cites specific vandalism of fur stores and the liberation of thousands of mink and other fur-bearing animals, claiming that Nicole, along with her co-defendant Joseph Buddenberg, released mink and vandalized businesses that used animal products throughout the summer and fall of 2013; drove over 40,000 miles to free almost 7,000 mink from farms in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota; and did more than $400,000 worth of damage. In early 2016, both signed non-cooperating plea agreements and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. Just recently, Nicole was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
Nicole Kissane #20651-111
MCC San Diego
808 Union Street
San Diego, California 92101
Illustrated Guide Version 12 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 Justin Solondz (halfway house!). Unfortunately, it also includes the addition of recently-imprisoned animal liberation comrade Nicole Kissane and the removal of Christopher Monfort (deceased, REST IN POWER!).
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 17th – Letter-Writing Dinner In Solidarity with the Trans Prisoner Day of Action
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 17th, 2017
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
In honor of the second annual January 22nd Trans Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity, NYC ABC will be writing letters to anarchist & environmental activist Marius Mason and whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Marius Mason, who initiated the Trans Prisoner Day of Action last year, had this to say about supporting trans prisoners:
Thank you for coming together today, to hold up those members of our community who struggle so hard behind walls to keep their sense of self intact. Sovereignty over our selves, our bodies is essential for any other kind of liberty to be possible. By reaching out to trans prisoners, you affirm their right to define themselves for themselves – and defend them against the overwhelming voices who claim that they do not exist, that they must allow others to define them. In the isolating environment of prison, this is toxic and intimidating, and amounts to the cruelest form of psychological torture. By offering your help and solidarity, you may just save a life. I know that for the last year and a half, as I have struggled to assert myself as a transman, as I have advocated for the relief of appropriate medical care for my gender dysphoria – it has been the gentle and loving reminders of my extended family of supporters who have given me strength and courage to continue. Please join me in offering this help to so many others who need it to keep going. Never underestimate the healing power of a letter, those letters have kept me going…and I want to pass that gift on, if you will help me.
Thank you again for coming together on this day, for connecting to those on the inside who truly need you, who need you to see them as they really are and striving to be. Until the prisons are gone, we need to work hard to support those of us inside – especially those of us who are not always as visible to the rest of the world. We are always stronger together.
Marius Mason
2016
Marius Mason is a revolutionary anarchist, avid community gardener, musician, parent of two, writer, Earth First! Organizer, IWW member, and former volunteer for a free herbal healthcare collective. He was an extended care assistant at a small Cincinnati school when arrested on March 10, 2008 by federal agents. Marius was convicted of involvement with a December, 1999 arson at a Michigan State University office in which GMO research was being conducted and a January, 2000 arson of logging equipment in Mesick, Michigan. Both arsons were claimed by the Earth Liberation Front.
Chelsea Manning is a whistleblower who played an integral role in a massive WikiLeaks release of military documents and files in 2010. This release included video of journalists being murdered, documentation of abuses and torture, and files exposing some of the spying done by the US. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison. This past year has been particularly difficult for Chelsea and she needs all of the love and support she can get.
If you are unable to attend the letter writing dinner, you can write to Marius and Chelsea at:
Marie (Marius) Mason #04672-061
FMC Carswell
Post Office Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127
*Address card/letter to Marius Mason
Chelsea E. Manning 89289
1300 North Warehouse Road
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027-2304
Illustrated Guide Version 11.10 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 Maliki Shakur Latine (time served!).
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 3rd – Letter-Writing Dinner For New York State Political Prisoners
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017
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
Ah yes, 2017. Doesn’t the new year imbue such feelings of revitalization and a renewed sense of optimism? Yeah, right. We know better than that. Not only does 2017 mean looking down the barrel of an orange fascist presidency but it marks another calendar year that comrades who have fought for the revolution are stuck behind bars. This week NYC ABC will be writing to those closest to us, those held captive in New York State prisons: Jalil Muntaqim, Robert Seth Hayes, Herman Bell, David Gilbert, and Reverend Joy Powell.
Jalil Muntaqim and Robert Seth Hayes, both former Black Panthers, have been frequenting prison support news wires for the past few months; unfortunately for nothing positive. Jalil has been in the SHU (Special Housing Unit) since December 6th as a result of him teaching a Black history course. Although this course was approved by the prison administration, they have decided they didn’t like the accuracy of what he was teaching and threw him in the SHU as an ongoing effort to censor him. To read his explanation of the situation, read here.
Robert Seth Hayes continues to experience life threatening medical problems with (unsurprisingly) no help from the state. He was told on October 12th that he needs an insulin pump to help monitor his diabetes but the prison has still failed to deliver this life saving mechanism to him. Read more information and how you can support him fight for the medical care he requires here.
Herman Bell is also a former Black Panther who has been locked up for four decades. Like Jalil and Seth, he was yet again denied parole in 2016. Each time, the board – always made of up former law enforcement personnel and former prosecutors — reviews his very impressive record, the Bachelor’s and Master’s college degrees he has attained since being locked up, his job offers, his numerous letters of support from family, friends, and community members from many walks of life. They have before them evidence of all the ways Herman has helped so many people throughout the course of his confinement and is still leading a positive and progressive life despite being locked up now over four decades. See the petition for his latest parole request and hear from Herman his thoughts on his latest parole board appearance here.
David Gilbert was moved in 2016 to Wende Correctional Facility, luckily closer to some close comrades and unfortunately farther from others. David is a long time anti-racist and anti-imperialist who is serving a life sentence for his involvement as a white comrade to the Black Liberation Army during an attempted expropriation, better known as the Brinks Robbery. He has continued the struggle while held captive. For more information, see here.
Reverend Joy Powell was warned by the Rochester Police department that she was a target because of her speaking out against corruption. On many occasions, Rev. Joy held rallies and spoke out against the police brutality and “police justifications” in Rochester, New York. As a result, she was accused and convicted of 1st Degree Burglary and Assault. Rev. Joy has filed multiple grievances for sexual assault and religious discrimination among other things, as well as been repeatedly denied medical attention for her diabetes and asthma. For more information on how you can help support, read here.
We hope you’ll join us Tuesday to send these lifetime revolutionaries some love and solidarity. If for some reason you have something more “important” to do, then you can write to them from the comfort of your home office:
Jalil Muntaqim* (Anthony Jalil Bottom) #77-A-4283
Attica Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 149
Attica, New York 14011-0149
*Address the envelope to Anthony Bottom and the letter to Jalil.
Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116
Herman Bell #79-C-0262
Great Meadow Correctional Facility
11739 State Route 22
Post Office Box 51
Comstock, New York 12821-0051
David Gilbert #83-A-6158
Wende Correctional Facility
3040 Wende Road
Alden, New York 14004
Reverend Joy Powell 07G0632
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 1000
Bedford Hills, New York 10507-2499
Read more…
BK/NY – Tuesday, December 20th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Indigenous Water Protector Red Fawn Fallis
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, December 20th, 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 year is coming to an end we are left with much to reflect on. The ongoing battle at Standing Rock from indigenous folks and their allies against those who would take away their land and water has been an intense continuing inspiration of resistance. These defenders of water have faced serious repression from the State and private security forces since the beginning of this struggle with mass arrests, continuing harrasment, and physical attacks, including the recent assault on local #NoDAPL supporter Sophia Wilansky who nearly lost her greatly injured arm to an explosive deployed by local cops while she was assisting those on the front lines. This week we will be writing to Red Fawn Fallis, an Oglala Lakota Sioux water protector who is currently facing federal firearms charges.
On October 27th, Red Fawn and over 140 other water protectors were arrested on the front lines of Standing Rock during a massive police raid on a camp of resisters. Red Fawn was initially accused of firing on local cops while being arrested and charged with attempted murder but those charges have since been dropped and Red Fawn was then transferred into federal custody to face federal charges of possessing a firearm while being a felon. Red Fawn has been steadfast in her dedication to the struggle by putting her body on the line despite the endless attacks of the local cops and private security hired by the pipeline company and being arrested on two other occasions during her stay.
We encourage everyone who writes to Red Fawn to keep in mind that she is still facing trial and to be extra cautious in writing to her. As always, do not write anything sketchy or illegal as it will put Red Fawn in a worse situation as her mail is likely being monitored. For that reason, you should also not mention the charges she facing or the actions she is accused of, as any communication of that sort can only serve the State and their case and harm Red Fawn. Do not let this dissuade you from writing to Red Fawn as she can use all of the support that she can get right now. Her support crew also has a fundraiser setup for her legal expenses: https://www.generosity.com/fundraising/free-red-fawn
If you can’t make it to dinner, please write to Red Fawn at:
Red Fawn Fallis
Stutsman County Correctional Center
205 6th Street SE, Suite 201
Jamestown, North Dakota 58401
It is also with great heaviness in our hearts that we remember NYC resident and comrade Clark Fitzgerald who passed away while traveling to the front lines of Standing Rock in order to assist the resistance.
There is also a federal grand jury that is ongoing in relation to #NoDAPL. Always remember that if you are subpoenaed or approached by law enforcement in this and in any circumstance that you should not answer any of their questions and that you should immediately contact a lawyer. If you have been contacted by law enforcement or subpoenaed specifically in relation to the Standing Rock resistance, contact the Water Protector Legal Collective in order to protect yourself and your comrades.
Read more…
BK/NY – Tuesday, December 6th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Animal Liberationist Joseph Buddenberg
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, December 6th, 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
This week at the twice monthly NYCABC letter writing dinner for political prisoners we will be focusing on Joseph Buddenberg. Joseph pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) after being indicted, along with Nicole Kissane who is awaiting sentencing, for “travel in interstate and foreign commerce for the purpose of causing physical disruption to the functioning of animal enterprises, to intentionally damage and cause the loss of real and personal property, including, but not limited to, animals and records used by the animal enterprises, and caused economic damage in an amount exceeding $100, 000″ by allegedly releasing thousands of animals from fur farms and destroying breeding records in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. For this, under a non-cooperating plea agreement, he has been labeled a terrorist and is serving two years in federal prison.
Joseph was recently transferred to the medium security federal prison FCI Victorville where he is expected to be for the remainder of his sentence. Before he was transferred, Joseph was recently having trouble receiving his mail and gaining access to vegan food at USP Lompoc. There was a successful call in campaign to get him the dietary needs in accordance with his ethics.
If you can’t make it to dinner, please write to Joseph at:
Joseph Buddenberg #12746-111
FCI Victorville
Post Office Box 3725
Adelanto, California 92301
Read more…
