| News & Updates
December 2012: We're having our very last December 7th event! NYC area friends, join us Friday December 7th from 7-11pm for a Holiday and Homecoming Party!! More info here! September 2012: The OMFG Daniel McGowan is Coming Home Benefit Booksale!!! NYC, Sept 29. More info here. April 8, 2012: New stock of t-shirts in - all colors and sizes! Get some now here! April 5, 2012: Attention all friends and supporters! Please help Daniel find a job when he's out! Thanks! Go to his recent blog entry - http://supportdaniel.org/blog/?p=43 January 24, 2012: The documentary If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front about Daniel and his time leading up to prison was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature! While Daniel has yet to see the film, we are all excited that now more people probably will. See its page on the Oscar site here. October 23, 2011: Last week, Members of Congress wrote to the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) with questions and concerns about the policies and practices at the Communications Management Units (CMUs), and the circumstances under which they were established. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released the following statement in response: “We are pleased that Representative Scott and Members of the House of Representatives have issued this Letter of Inquiry to the Bureau of Prisons outlining their concerns regarding the extraordinary communications restrictions, the lack of due process, and the disproportionate number of Muslims in the CMUs. For a copy of the letter, go here. Then tell the Department of Justice to uphold due process and fair treatment at www.ccrjustice.org/cmu-action. September 11, 2011: If a Tree Falls will be on TV, has been released on DVD and is still in theaters.TV DVD July 10, 2011: Anyone either coming from or going to see If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front can download, read and distriute flyers on Daniel and the CMUs. Get them here: Daniel McGowan Info Sheet CMU Fact Sheet UPDATED DATES / LOCATIONS: 7/14 - Huntington, NY - Cinema Arts Centre (one night) 7/15 - Berkeley, CA - Landmark Shattuck 7/15 - Denver, CO - Landmark Mayan 7/15 - Los Angeles, CA -Landmark Nuart 7/15 - San Francisco, CA - Landmark Lumiere 7/15 - Santa Rosa, CA - Summerfield 7/22 - Corvalis, OR - Darkside Cinema 7/22 - Portland, OR - Cinema 21 7/22 - Minneapolis, MN - Lagoon Cinema 7/22 - San Diego, CA - Landmark Ken 7/22 - Seattle, WA - Landmark Varsity 8/05 - Asheville, NC - The Carolina Asheville 8/05 - Boca Raton, FL - Living Room Theater 8/12 - Washington, DC - Landmark E Street 8/24 - Norfolk, VA, - Naro Cinema 8/12 - Tacoma, WA - Grand Cinema June 2011: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front opens nationwide. Most of these are one week runs, but check with the theater for details. And new theaters are being booked every week, so check in here or here for updates. 06/22/2011 - New York, NY - IFC Center 06/23/2011 - Eugene, OR - Bijou July (date TBD) - Portland, OR - Cinema 21 07/9/2011 - Olympia, WA- Capitol Theater 07/15/2011 - Berkeley, CA - Landmark Shattuck 07/15/2011 - Denver, CO - Landmark Mayan 07/15/2011 - Los Angeles, CA -Landmark Nuart 07/15/2011 - San Francisco, CA - Landmark Lumiere 07/15/2011 - Santa Rosa, CA - Summerfield 07/22/2011 - Minneapolis, MN - TBA 07/22/2011 - San Diego, CA - Landmark Ken 07/22/2011 - Seattle, WA -Landmark Varsity 08/12/2011 - Washington, DC - Landmark E Street Febrary 26, 2011: We are writing with some bad news. Daniel was moved back into a CMU this week, this time at Terre Haute. We aren't really sure why at this time, but we are sure we will fight the move. Daniel's holding up as well as can be expected. He's stressed out, of course, and he would appreciate your letters, especially at this time. Please write him at: Daniel McGowan #63794-053 FCI Terre Haute - CMU P.O. Box 33 Terre Haute, IN 47808 We know people will have a lot of questions about this. We do, too. At this moment, we don't have any answers. We will update you again as soon as we do. January 21, 2011: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front premieres at Sundance Film Festival. All info on film and screenings can be found here. Find the film on Facebook here. December 7, 2010: Dinner and a movie benefit in Brooklyn October 19, 2010: Daniel was moved out of the CMU and into general population at USP Marion!!! Hooray! September, 2010: 5th Annual Benefit Book Sale for Daniel: Saturday, September 25th, 2010 [rain date: Sunday September 26th] More event info here. May 7, 2010: All colors and sizes of t-shirts are in stock again. Get yours here now! April 6, 2010: Over three years after opening secretive Communications Management Units, or CMUs, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) took one step toward correcting its illegal and discriminatory segregation of Muslims and political prisoners by opening its actions to public scrutiny. Now is the time to voice your opinion on the illegal creation of the CMUs. PLEASE GO HERE to learn how you can make a difference NOW. Info on our site here. March 20, 2010: The Center for Constitutional Rights files lawsuit fighting the CMUs. Aref, et al. v. Holder, et al. is a federal lawsuit filed against Attorney General Eric Holder, federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials, and the BOP itself, challenging policies and conditions at two experimental prison units that are being operated in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Marion, Illinois, as well as the circumstances under which they were established. Daniel and his wife Jenny are among the handful of plaintiffs in this suit. December 12, 2009: NYC Art Benefit Show and Auction, Saturday 12.12.09. Get all info here! November 1, 2009: It's been a while since we posted some updates. A lot has happened over the last few months, one of them being Daniel's guest blog on The Huffington Post, we're also looking for artists for our art auction and show in December. Send art now! May 24, 2009: Just uploaded an amazing article, "ECOTERRORISM"?: A Critical Analysis of the Vilification of Radical Environmental Activists as Terrorits by Rebecca K. Smith. Download and read now! March 29, 2009: There are a bunch of new updated pages! Check out Prison Life, Daniel's Blog, lots of new Related Links, and addresses to Write Letters to others. February 3, 2009: Daniel was just moved back to his designated facility in Marion, Illinois. He is in the Communication Management Unit, a unit created to heavily monitor communications of its prisoners, and will be serving the rest of his time here. We truly hope that his time passes as quickly as possible here. Please continue to write! DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 USP MARION U.S. PENITENTIARY P.O. BOX 1000 MARION, IL 62959 Be mindful of what you write. All mail is assumed to be read and copied. Do not use any initials or anything that can be construed as code. If you'd like to send pictures, he is allowed to receive up to 25 photos per envelope - no polaroids. If you are interested in sending Daniel a book, please contact us and we'll be able to give you a book title from his wish list. He can receive books from publisher and large online stores like Barnes & Noble and Amazon. As mentioned by a prison official, any materials sent to Daniel, whether books, photos or letters, should not promote violence of any kind in any way. More info on CMU here. January 15, 2009: Daniel was moved this morning, is now in transit and is currently in Indiana. Write to him at: DANIEL MCGOWAN 63794-053 FCI TERRE HAUTE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION P.O. BOX 33 TERRE HAUTE, IN 47808 November 17, 2008: Daniel has been moved again and is now in Columbia County Jail in Wisconsin. Please write him at: Daniel McGowan Columbia County Jail 403 Jackson Street Portage, WI 53901 We can't know for sure, but our best guess is that he will be in Columbia County for at least a couple of weeks. County Jail is difficult and lonely, especially during the holidays, and letters can really help. Please write Daniel as often as you can. November 2, 2008: Daniel has been moved to the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma. This is a temporary move and most likely he will be moving to another temporary location soon. Being moved is always a stressful and uncomfortable situation for Daniel and he always appreciates getting mail when moving. Please send letters to Oklahoma as soon as you can so that they will reach him before he moves again. He will eventually be going back to USP Marion, but that won't happen for a number of weeks or, possibly, months. We will pass more information along when it is available. Address below: DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 FTC OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL TRANSFER CENTER P.O. BOX 898801 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73189 August 24, 2008: Daniel was moved sometime this weekend to his designated facility in Marion, Illinois. Please write to him at: DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 USP MARION U.S. PENITENTIARY P.O. BOX 1000 MARION, IL 62959 Please be mindful of what you write. All mail is assumed to be read and copied. Do not use any initials or anything that can be construed as code. July 25, 2008: Daniel was moved yesterday morning and is now in transit. According the inmate locator on Bureau of Prisons website, he is currently in Indiana. Write to Daniel at: DANIEL MCGOWAN 63794-053 FCI TERRE HAUTE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION P.O. BOX 33 TERRE HAUTE, IN 47808 July 16, 2008: On Monday, July 14, Daniel appeared in federal court in the Western District of Wisconsin (Madison) before Judge Barbara Crabb and was found in civil contempt for his refusal to answer questions before a grand jury. Since he is already in custody for his existing prison sentence, this means that his clock of time being served has stopped. An appeal has been filed by his lawyer to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as a motion for bail (in his case since he wouldn't be released, to start his federal time moving forward again). Right now, until the grand jury is dismissed or other agreements are made within that case and things are resolved, his time will not count as time served. It is unknown whether he will remain in county jail for the full extension of this period. So, for now, please continue to write to Daniel with positive thoughts, funny stories, and well wishes, as this has been a particularly stressful and difficult time. Letters are key to time passing quickly inside. Write Daniel at: Daniel McGowan Columbia County Jail 403 Jackson Street Portage, Wisconsin 53901 His federal ID number is not needed for letters there. You may send a few pictures in your letters (no polaroids), but he can only receive magazines from subscriptions and books directly from the publisher. Thanks for your continued support. July 2, 2008: Daniel is back in Portage, WI. Please write him at: Daniel McGowan Columbia County Jail 403 Jackson Street Portage, Wisconsin 53901 June 26, 2008: Daniel has been moved to a county jail in Madison. Please write him at: Daniel McGowan Dane County Jail 115 West Doty Street Madison, WI 53703 June 11, 2008: It's 10 pm on the east coast and a few hours ago we finally heard from Daniel. He called from the Columbia County Jail in Portage, Wisconsin. Daniel was woken up at 4 am and on a plane en route from Oklahoma City to Chicago by 6 am. Daniel and his supporters presumed he was going to Marion, Illinois, but once he landed in Chicago, he was put in a van and driven to Madison, Wisconsin. From there he was driven to Portage. Along the way, Daniel asked if he was being transferred based on facing new charges, and the marshal flatly told him no. Daniel then asked if he was facing a Grand Jury subpoena. The marshal would not come right out and say yes, but he hinted at it and at one point said, "good guess." If Daniel is called before a grand jury, he will not testify and is concerned about being held in civil contempt and imprisoned at the Columbia County Jail, where the time he serves will not count against his 7 year sentence. At this point, neither Daniel nor his attorney have received a subpoena or any other paperwork to indicate that he will be appearing before a grand jury, but it's what he is preparing for and what folks would be best served to see as a possibility. Over the past month, Daniel has been in transfer. And while the time he has served thus far has been without incident and even though he received a good team review before being yanked from FCI Sandstone, he tells us that he has been put in Segregated Housing Units ("The Hole") and treated differently for the duration of this transfer, all due to the application of the "Terrorism Enhancement." For now, it is important to keep Daniel connected to the communities he is a part of. Please write to him and let him know we're out here for him*. For now, Daniel's address is: Daniel McGowan Columbia County Jail 403 Jackson Street Portage, Wisconsin 53901 Daniel wanted us to emphasize how important your support has been thus far and how truly appreciative he is. *For guidelines on writing to Daniel, go to here May 15, 2008: Daniel was moved from FCI Sandstone yesterday. We have no information as to why he was moved or where he is headed. Check back here for updates. April 15, 2008: Good news! The Second Chance Act was passed last week. Thanks to everyone who worked to get this through. Eventwise: NYC benefit show coming up this Friday - get all info here. January 6, 2008: Action Alert! Last Chance to Support the Second Chance Act! Right now, the US Senate is in session and deliberating on whether to vote for the The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Senate bill 1060, House bill 1593). The bill has many reform-based provisions dealing with increased half-way house time, more money for re-entry, education, career-training, and family drug treatment for offenders as well as provisions to allow some elderly prisoners to be released earlier. Its written to give prisoners a chance. If passed it will make the following specific reforms: -- Expands provisions to provide expanded services to offenders and their families for reentry into society. -- Authorizes grants for drug treatment programs that are alternatives to imprisonment. -- Requires implementation of a program to improve academic and vocational education for prisoners. -- Requires grants to provide technology career training to prisoners. -- Requires grants to nonprofit organizations for reintegrating offenders into the community. -- Requires a prisoner reentry program to prepare prisoners for release and successful reentry into the community. -- Requires a pilot program for the early release of nonviolent elderly offenders (age 60 or older) who have served prison terms of the greater of 10 years or 1/2 of the term of imprisonment. -- Allows the Bureau of Prisons to place a prisoner in home confinement or in a community correctional facility for up to 12 months prior to release. -- Requires the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that each prisoner in a community confinement facility has access to necessary medical care, mental health care, and medicine. CALL your senators and urge them to support the Second Chance Act, Senate bill 1060. We recommend that you do this by telephone if possible - it's an opportunity to immediately make a real difference in the lives of offenders, prisoners, and former prisoners by giving them a chance to live outside of prison walls. Go here for All State Senators and use the Choose a State drop-menu or click Sort by State link. January 3, 2008: Thank you to everyone who generously donated to the familes of Pine Ridge reservation and participated in the Leonard Peltier Holiday Gift Drive. Go here to read about the project's success and to take a look at photos of all the toys and clothing. December 30, 2007: If you haven't seen it already, take a look at Daniel's blog here. The blog is updated regularly, with some entries being added from earlier dates, so take some time to scroll through them all. November 4, 2007: Donate now to the Leonard Peltier Holiday Gift Drive! Also, just a few site updates: Download and read the May 15, 2007 Terrorism Enhancement hearing transcript, most recent half page flyer found on the More Ways to Help page, Indypendent article on Daniel on the Media page. October 31, 2007: From Jonathan Paul's supporters, October 31, 2007: Early this morning Jonathan was interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. You can read the transcript at: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/31/145201 At approximately 1:45 this afternoon, Jonathan reported to FCI Phoenix accompanied by his sisters, Caroline and Alexandra. He was informed that he would be in the Annex for awhile and would not be able to call out for a couple of weeks. They would not let him bring in important legal documents, nor commissary money which he had been told he could bring. They also told me the commissary money I sent in earlier would not be credited to his account because he wasn't in custody yet. Kind of a pain, but easily remedied, which I will take care of tomorrow. One guard actually told Jonathan and his sisters that FCI Phoenix seems like a camp compared to other medium security facilities in the country. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Jonathan walked in strong, with his head held high and in good spirits. As Jonathan told me just before he went in - "this is way bigger than us, this is for the animals and the planet, we will never suffer as much as they do." The first month is usually the toughest, so please write to Jonathan often. Feel free to post this far and wide. Jonathan has been a great warrior for the animals and the environment for over 20 years. Let's not forget him now! And please remember to keep writing Jonathan's co-defendant's and other political prisoners. As a photographer, Jonathan is very visual, so he would love to get photos. You don't have to print them on photo paper, you can just insert them in a letter (if you are typing it on your computer). Please feel free to contact Jonathan's support group at friendsofjonathanpaul@yahoo.com. If you are interested in organizing a fundraiser or a letter writing event, please let us know. We plan to get a support website up for Jonathan very soon. Jonathan Paul #07167-085 FCI Phoenix Federal Correctional Institution 37910 N 45th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85086 September 12, 2007: Daniel has finally reached his designated facility - FCI Sandstone in Sandstone, Minnesota. This is his final destination, as far as we have been told the last few months. Please send all your letters you've been holding onto and resend ones you've just sent! Note - Unit I has been added to his address. Letter writing info here. DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053, UNIT I FCI SANDSTONE P.O. BOX 1000 SANDSTONE, MN 55072 September 1, 2007: Daniel is already on the road again. He's at FCI Terre Haute in Indiana, but there's no way to know for how long. If you'd like to write, his new address is: DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 FCI TERRE HAUTE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION P.O. BOX 33 TERRE HAUTE, IN 47808 August 30, 2007: Daniel has moved to FTC Oklahoma City. His new address is: DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 FTC OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL TRANSFER CENTER P.O. BOX 898801 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73189 August 25, 2007: Daniel in 2008 Certain Days Calendar. Get it now! August 17, 2007: Daniel is still in at MDC Brooklyn, Sept. 1 we're having a benefit in NYC (info here). July 28, 2007: We're currently working on adding a new section to the site, but in the meantime go here to read Daniel's most recent letter from prison. July 26, 2007: Daniel is still at MDC Brooklyn. See below info on where and how to write. July 3, 2007: Daniel is now at MDC Brooklyn beginning his prison sentence and can begin to receive some kind, supportive letters. Please use the following address: DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 MDC BROOKLYN METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER P.O. BOX 329002 BROOKLYN, NY 11232 When sending a letter, it's best to keep it simple. Write or type on blank notebook or copy paper no bigger than 8.5x11 and don't use any special colored or gel pens or pencils, stamps, or stickers. Don't write anything on the outside or inside of the envelope except the prisoner's address and your full name and return address in the upper left hand corner of the addressed side of the envelope. Use plain white envelopes without a clear plastic address window, or any special decorations. Most prisons also REQUIRE a return address on the envelope. Please take a minute to read the following VERY IMPORTANT guidelines. - Write on both sides of the paper, since the number of pages he can have may be limited. It is also totally acceptable to type your letters. More will fit on a page. - Write your address inside your letter/card if you think he does not have it, but DO NOT put an address label anywhere inside or on the letter/card. Address labels are ONLY OK to go on your envelope. - Do NOT send him stamps, envelopes (self-addressed or otherwise), blank paper or notecards. He will not be able to receive them and he will be denied your letter. - Do NOT send him any form of currency, whether cash, check or money order. - Do NOT send photographs larger than 4x6. Do not send polaroids and make sure the content is appropriate. - Do NOT include any paperclips, staples or any extra things in your letter. - Do NOT send a card that has glitter or any 3-D objects in or on it. - Do NOT send cards with paper inserts glued in them. - Do NOT tape your envelope shut. - Do NOT ever write "legal mail" or anything implying that you are an attorney unless you are - Please use your common sense; don't write about anything that is likely to get a prisoner in trouble in any way. Daniel does not receive the envelope your letter is mailed in, so write your return address and full name in the letter as well. Also, number the pages like "1/5, 2/5,3/5..." so that a prisoner can tell if some pages are missing. If you send Daniel a letter and it gets returned to you, please let us know about it so we can add any other restrictions to the guideline list. Please do NOT send in any books to Daniel yet. We are in the process of getting a system going for him to receive books. If you would like him to receive books we would prefer you donate money and we will make sure to get him a book on his request list and let you know about it. June 12, 2007: You can now download the latest Green Scare tri-fold pamphlet here and read the text of the flyer here Daniel was on Democracy Now! yesterday. You can read the transcript here, download the audio here or watch the video here. June 12, 2007: If you would like to donate to Daniel's education or legal defense fund offline, you can send a check or money order made out to Lisa McGowan to: On May 15th, the Civil Liberties Defense Center will be holding a press conference and rally in support of the defendants opposing the application of the "terrorism enhancement". Please come out and support them. April 22, 2007: The 2nd Annual Support Daniel McGowan booksale is set for May 5th, 12-7PM at the Book Thug Nation, Astor Place between 3rd & 4th Avenues in Manhattan. Read more about book donations here. March 31, 2007: At a March 2nd court date, sentencing dates were set for all defendants. The sentencing dates for the non-cooperating defendants in the case are as follows: February 14, 2007: The deadline for letters to the Judge has been extended for the final time to March 2, 2007. January 14, 2007: The deadline for letters to the Judge for Daniel has been extended to February 15th. December 2, 2006: We just got shirts back from the printer. We now have all sizes in black, heather lake blue and olive green (and most sizes in pink). Check them out here. June 23, 2006: BOOK SALE POSTPONED - The book sale for Daniel's legal defense has been postponed due to rainy weather. It will be held on Sunday, July 2nd. More details here. |
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