BK/NY – Tuesday, March 28th– International Women’s Day Political Prisoner Card Writing Dinner

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 (POSTPONED FROM MARCH 14th)
WHERE: The Base1302 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

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For only the third time in over a decade, NYC ABC is not hosting our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner. With public transportation shut down, we would rather folks stay safe and store up some energy to write more folks in the coming weeks. In the meantime, look through our Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War and use the snow day to reach out to imprisoned comrades.

Alright. It’s been 48 days, 10 hours and 34 minutes since the cheeto was inaugurated. Although many of us were working on the ground and in the streets long before that, no doubt efforts and numbers have increased since. The March 8th International Women’s Strike was no exception. Not only were there thousands of folks in attendance, but it seemed as though many of the groups doing the good work here in NYC had a contingent marching.  Of course that included us anarchists marching alongside NYC Antifa and it was incredible to feel as though the march successfully represented working class, militant, and POC women, queers, and trans people. Join us Tuesday as NYC ABC continues celebrating International Women’s Day in that vein and write the female identifying political prisoners held captive here in the United States.

We’ll be sharing the stories of and writing to Debbie Africa, Janet Africa, Janine Africa, Red Fawn FallisNicole Kissane, Chelsea Manning, and Rev. Joy Powell.

If for whatever crazy reason you cannot join us Tuesday, please take the time to write to them on your own time:

Debbie Sims Africa #OO6307
SCI Cambridge Springs
451 Fullerton Avenue
Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania 16403

Janet Holloway Africa #OO6308
SCI Cambridge Springs
451 Fullerton Avenue
Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania 16403

Janine Phillips Africa #OO6309
SCI Cambridge Springs
451 Fullerton Avenue
Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania 16403

Red Fawn Fallis
HACTC
110 Industrial Road
Rugby, North Dakota 58368

Nicole Kissane #20651-111
FCI Dublin
5701 8th Street – Camp Parks
Dublin, California 94568

Chelsea E. Manning 89289
1300 North Warehouse Road
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027-2304

Reverend Joy Powell #07-G-0632
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 1000
Bedford Hills, New York 10507-2499

Read more…

BK/NY – Friday, March 10th – The Frontlines Are Everywhere: Grand Jury Resistance Tour

WHAT: Grand Jury Resistance Workshop
WHEN: 7pm, Friday, March 10th, 2017
WHERE: The Base1302 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
posterHot on the heals of NYC ABC‘s recent letter-writing dinner for water protectors held captive by the state, we are excited to host an event to help not only water protectors but all folks engaged in revolutionary struggle.

NoDAPL water protectors and the Water Protector Anti-Repression Crew are facilitating trainings across Turtle Island sharing knowledge about resistance to the grand jury convened against water protectors at Standing Rock. They want to build capacity for strong movement defense against state repression.

Strong movements and interdependent relationships make attempts to shut down our struggle obsolete. Let’s build our capacity for defending our movements together!

This two-hour workshop is open to all who have participated in the movement at Standing Rock, those who have supported the efforts on the ground from their homes and territories elsewhere, as well as all those who wish to continue fighting on the many frontlines that continue to emerge across Turtle Island.

The fight isn’t over at Standing Rock, as nearly 800 Water Protectors continue their battles in the courtrooms with some facing federal felony indictments that carry a potential of 15 years in federal prison. The grand jury convened against water protectors continues as does the resistance to it. As extraction becomes the norm and the government ramps up its repression against those who stand in resistance, this workshop holds valuable information for those who struggle for Indigenous sovereignty, earth liberation and a future without oppression.

Read more…

Illustrated Guide Version 12.1 Uploaded!

We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABCIllustrated 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 Zolo Azania (time served!) and Oscar López Rivera (sentence commuted!).

BK/NY – Tuesday, February 28th – Letter-Writing Dinner For #NoDAPL Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 28th, 2017
WHERE: The Base1302 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

The images of the ceremonial burning of Oceti Sakowin that flooded the internet juxtaposed with those of violent arrests, bulldozers and humvees today are a stark reminder that this country runs on deeply rooted racist and imperialistic behavior that existed well before Agent Orange’s recent tyranny.  After nearly a year of putting their bodies on the line to fight the Dakota Access Pipeline and protect sacred land, water protectors endured yet another ugly confrontation with the state on February 22nd as the state began to enforce their eviction. As we wait with bated breath to see how the situation plays out and figure out how we can support from afar, join us Tuesday to write to four folks who continue to be locked up for protecting sacred land and water.

Rattler is a Water Protector who is currently being held pre-trial on federal felony charges rattler2.pngproduced through a grand jury indictment. Rattler’s home is at Pine Ridge and he comes from a long legacy of struggle that he continued at Standing Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline and it’s world. Please support Rattler as he fights these charges brought against him by the federal government. Rattler would love to receive your letters and cards of support.

Krow was assaulted and arrested on February 4, 2017, by a Bureau of Indian Affairs offkrow.pngicer while supporting the struggle against the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota. She is charged with violation of felony probation and is being held at Morton County Correctional Center. The probation is from previous charges stemming from an environmental protest in Wisconsin against mining in the Penokee Hills in 2013, for which she served nine months in jail. After a recent bail reduction hearing, Krow was assigned a cash-only bail of $100,000.

Charles Jordan has been held in Morton County Jail since November 17th, 2016 on three state felony charges. He was initially icharlesjordanneligible for bond and his current conditions of release set by the court are unable to be met at this time. His brutal arrest is not the only time Morton County Sheriffs enacted such violence on Water Protectors. We have received reports of continued mistreatment while in custody including lack of medical services and hygiene access for weeks at a time. Please send Charles a letter letting him know that he is not alone!

Red Fawn Fallis is still being held pre-trial on federal charges as well. An indictment filed Jan. 5 charges Red Fawn with felony counts of civil disorder and discharging a firearm in relation to a felony crime of violence — which, in this case, is civil disorder. These charges are in addition to an earlier credfawnharge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Fallis has pleaded not guilty to federal charges in connection to an incident at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest. Fallis remains in federal custody and her trial date is scheduled for March 7. If convicted of discharging the firearm, Fallis faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.

We hope to see you Tuesday.  If for some absurd reason you cannot make it, please take the time to write a letter to one (or ALL!) of these folks:

Rattler (address envelope to Michael Markus)
Post Office Box 1108
Washburn, North Dakota 58577

Krow (address envelope to Katie Kloth)
Morton County Correctional Center RELEASED ON BAIL!
205 1st Avenue NW
Mandan, North Dakota 58554

Charles Jordan
Burleigh County Jail
Post Office Box 1416
Bismarck, North Dakota 58502

Red Fawn Fallis
Burleigh County Detention Center
Post Office Box 1416
Bismarck, North Dakota 58502-1416

Read more…

BK/NY – Tuesday, February 14th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Mumia Abu-Jamal

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 14th, 2017
WHERE: The Base1302 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

mumiaThis week NYC ABC is happy to announce that we will be joined by a special guest speaker from the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home as we write to Mumia Abu Jamal. Mumia has recently filed a grievance to the officials at SCI Mahanoy regarding the cleanliness and quality of the water at the prison as well as their non-compliance in a court order to treat his hep-c and has asked that folks on the outside participate in a campaign to remedy those issues.

Mumia Abu-Jamal is an African-American writer and journalist, author of six books and hundreds of columns and articles, who has spent the last 30 years on Pennsylvania’s death row and now general population. Mumia was wrongfully convicted and sentenced for the murder of a Philadelphia cop. The demand for a new trial and freedom is supported by heads of state, Nobel laureates, distinguished human rights organizations, scholars, religious leaders, artists, scientists and, as important, millions of folks like you and us. For more information, be sure to visit bringmumiahome.com.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Mumia:
Mumia Abu-Jamal #AM 8335
SCI Mahanoy
301 Morea Road
Frackville, Pennsylvania 17932

As you prepare to join us on Tuesday in writing letters to Mumia, please take a moment and heed his request with this action alert from the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home Read more…

Action Alert Against Gov Cuomo’s Proposed NYS Visitation Restrictions

cuomovisitationWe have been made aware of an awful piece of the Governor’s budget proposal that that would affect thousands of folks in New York State (NYS) prisons, including all of the political prisoners in New York who we list in our guide. This call to action has been circulating and we hope that you will take part and pass it along as well:

Governor Cuomo has just proposed to limit visiting at New York State maximum security prisons to three days a week instead of the current seven. If passed, this measure will be awful for David Gilbert, Herman Bell, Seth Hayes, Jalil Muntaqim and thousands of other maximum security prisoners.

This proposal will seriously escalate suffering and family disruption. Under the current seven-day system, weekend visitors (many are women with young children) often wait two to three hours to see their loved ones. With reduced days, the wait will be longer, the visitor rooms more crowded, the visiting days and hours even more limited. This will be terrible for everyone and impossible for many.

Please email and write the people below and remind them how important visiting is and how this proposal is wrong on all levels.
 
Governor Cuomo
Call (weekdays) –> 518.474.8390
Write
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo 
Governor of New York State 
NYS State Capitol Building 
Albany, New York 12224
 
Email these people:
1) Marta Nelson, marta.nelson@exec.ny.gov – Executive Director of the Governor’s Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration
2) Acting DOCCS Commissioner Annucci, anthony.annucci@doccs.ny.gov
3) Senator Gallivan, gallivan@nysenate.gov – Senate Chair of Corrections Committee
4) Assemblymember Weprin, WeprinD@nyassembly.gov – Assembly Chair of Corrections Committee
5) Senator Avella, Avella@nysenate.gov – Senate Chair of Children & Families Committee
6) Assemblymember Jaffee, JaffeeE@nyassembly.gov – Chair Assembly Committee on Children & Families

BK/NY – Tuesday, January 31st – Letter-Writing Dinner for Nicole Kissane

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 31st, 2017
WHERE: The Base1302 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
The beginning of 2017 has been certainly and nicole-kissaneunquestionably 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.

While all people in prison need as much love from the outside as you can give them, we acknowledge that folks who are newly incarcerated can particularly use as much mail as possible to help them make the transition to being in prison. With that in mind, if you can’t join us this Tuesday, please write to Nicole from wherever you are that doesn’t include us and our delicious vegan food:
Nicole Kissane #20651-111
MCC San Diego
808 Union Street
San Diego, California
92101

Read more…

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