Hiatus

Posted on June 25, 2016 by

The Toronto Anarchist Black Cross is going on hiatus. At this time the duration is unclear. As members are leaving to take on new projects, we have not been able to find anyone to take their places. The ABC has had ongoing struggles with lack of interest in prisoner support, although there is still much work to be done. We hope that new community members will step forward to revive TO ABC, but at this time, we can no longer sustain the group. There are no qualifications or strict criteria to form an ABC, anyone can do it! If this is something you want to do, we can share the boxes of literature and resources we have.

Thank you to everyone who has come out to our events, and supported those on the inside. Your support has meant so much to all of us, and even more to those on the inside. This doesn’t mean you have to stop writing! As the members go their separate ways, we certainly won’t be putting our pens down.

Keeping writing, keep fighting, until all are free,
TO ABC

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May 18th – Letter Writing for Luke o’Donovan

Posted on May 14, 2016 by

luke-odonovan

Our letter writing nights are changing! We will NOT be at Beit Zatoun any longer as they are closing down soon 😦

This month we’re writing out of the wonderful vegan cafe, D-Beatstro located at 1292 Bloor St West, at Lansdowne and Bloor St. Since we are meeting in a cafe, that means we will not be providing a meal. However we’re super happy to note that this space is completely wheelchair accessible. Kids are still welcome, and child-minders will be available. We will be hosting the letter writing during their normal operating hours, so please expect noise. For those who can afford to – we encourage you to support D-Beatstro as they are letting use the space for free, and are just an all around awesome cafe.

Wednesday May 18th
5:30pm-8:00pm
D-Beatstro Cafe 1292 Bloor St West (Lansdowne and Bloor)
Accessible for mobility assistive devices
Child minding
No food provided

We’re writing to Luke O’Donovan this month, whom is in the home stretch of his two year sentence. He is scheduled to be released in August of this year. Luke is a young, queer, vegan, man previously residing in metro Atlanta. He was attacked by a group of men who attempted to kill him for dancing and kissing other men at a NYE party in 2013. Luke was subsequently imprisoned and charged with five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as well as one count of attempted murder for his act of self defence against this group of men. He was imprisoned in August of 2014 with a two year sentence.

In this video (https://letlukego.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/a-message-from-luke/) Luke talks about some of his interests which you can discuss in your letters to him: veganism, rugby, classic literature/poetry, pop punk & hardcore music, fitness, comics/graphic novels, philosophy, and social movements.

Please check out his support site here: https://letlukego.wordpress.com/
If you’re not able to come please send Luke a letter on your free time. He can be reached at:

Luke Patrick o’Donovan #1001372271
Washington State Prison
Post Office Box 206
Davisboro, Georgia 31018

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Political Prisoner Gary Tyler Released! — Denver Anarchist Black Cross

Posted on May 7, 2016 by

On Friday 4/29/16, political prisoner Gary Tyler was release from Angola prison! ————————————————————————————————————— Posted on huffingtonpost.com: Louisiana Prisoner Freed After 41 Years Of Unconstitutional Life Sentence At 16, Tyler was the youngest person on Louisiana’s death row. A Louisiana man walked free from the state’s notorious Angola prison late on Friday after serving 41 years […]

via Political Prisoner Gary Tyler Released! — Denver Anarchist Black Cross

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Changing up our letter writing events

Posted on May 7, 2016 by

Perhaps some of you have noticed that we haven’t had a letter writing in a while. Well, we are looking for a new home! Beit Zatoun is closing down this summer due to the ‘renovations’ that are happening in the bloor/bathurst area.

We’re going to try and keep a regular schedule, but for now we are going to take what we can get! May’s event will be on Wednesday evening, May 18th, from 5:30-8:00pm – at the rad D-Beatstro cafe- 1292 Bloor St West (Lansdowne and Bloor). Bonus- D-Beats is totally wheelchair accessible (yeah that includes the bathroom!). Can’t guarantee when or where June’s event will be just yet.

We haven’t determined a topic/group of folks to write to, but it’ll be worked out shortly.

 

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punk rock bingo fundraiser!

Posted on April 3, 2016 by

Join us on wednesday april 7th at 7:00pm at d-beatstro cafe (1292 Bloor St West) for some  punk rock bingo, music, treats, and prizes!!

$2 per card / 3 cards for $5 – rad prizes including certain days calendars, blue heron t-shirts, patches, buttons, and prints of prisoner art from previous certain days calendars!

This is an all ages event, and we’d love people to bring their kiddos! Extra games for the little ones if bingo loses their attention. Snacks provided. Space is wheelchair accessible.

We regret that we cannot provide ASL for this event, but this is something that is important to us and we are working to budget for this in the future.

wednesday april 6th
7:00-9:30pm
d-beatstro cafe – 1292 bloor st west (bloor and lansdowne)
fundraiser event
childcare provided

 

 

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Eric King Accepts Non-Cooperating Plea Agreement for 10 Years

Posted on March 4, 2016 by

Eric King accepted a non-cooperating plea deal of 10 years today in court. The charge carries a 10 year sentence. Although in good spirits today, he is returning to solitary confinement. We urge you to send him some love! You can write to him, send him a card or donate to his support fund! See his support site for more info!

Eric King
#27090045
CCA Leavenworth
100 Highway Terrace
Leavenworth, KS 66048

Support Eric King has a new address!

Today in court, Eric King accepted a non-cooperating plea agreement to a federal felony charge that carries a sentence of 10 years in prison. The charge is 18 U.S.C. § 844(h), use of explosive materials to commit arson of property used in or affecting interstate commerce. Eric was arrested in September 2014 and has fought his charges since then, suffering through terrible conditions in the private prison he’s been held captive in since his arrest.

Throughout the last year and a half, he has been assessing his situation and figuring out how to handle his charges without putting other anarchists at greater risk through setting a dangerous precedent. He has continually held the best interests of other anarchists in the forefront of his decisions and has been clear that he would never resolve his case in a way that entailed cooperation with the state or putting others at risk. He…

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BREAKING! Albert Woodfox is Freed TODAY on his 69th Birthday!!

Posted on February 21, 2016 by

Last member of the Angola Three, Albert Woodfox, is free from prison!! He spent 43 three in solitary confinement. He now hopes to put all of his effort into ending the use of solitary confinement.

Denver Anarchist Black Cross

From Angola 3 News:

MEDIA COVERAGE:  UK Guardian  II  Washington Post  II  NBC  II  The Advocate (with new photo)  II Times-Picayune

Woodfox-Albert-out(PHOTO: Albert Woodfox following his release just moments ago!! Photo from Democracy Now!)

Take a deep breath everyone,

Just moments ago, Albert Woodfox, the last remaining member of the Angola 3 still behind bars, was released from prison 43 years and 10 months after he was first put in a 6×9 foot solitary cell for a crime he did not commit. After decades of costly litigation, Louisiana State officials have at last acted in the interest of justice and reached an agreement that brings a long overdue end to this nightmare. Albert has maintained his innocence at every step, and today, on his 69th birthday, he will finally begin a new phase of his life as a free…

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Jan 22nd – International Day of Trans Prisoner Action & Solidarity

Posted on January 16, 2016 by

Please join us, Prisoner Correspondence Project-Toronto, and OPIRG Toronto for an evening of films and discussion as we mark this important date, January 22nd, International Trans Prisoner Day of Action & Solidarity. We will also be writing cards and postcards to those on the inside.

Friday January 22nd at 7:00pm
OSIE Room # 5280
252 Bloor St W  (Just west of Bedford and Bloor – St. George Subway Station)
Free Food and Childcare
Accessible Washrooms and Elevators

Films:
Bustin’ Out: From Solitary To Re-Entry by Janetta Johnson

Transgender activist Janetta Johnson’s short film about solitary confinement and re-entry for transgender women in the prison system. This film was made for Black Girl Dangerous‘s MagniFLY! project for trans women of color visibility.

Transgender Activist On Being In A Men’s Prison
CeCe McDonald, a transgender activist who served time in prison after using deadly force to protect herself during a transphobic and racist attack, talks about her struggle and her activism

This grassroots project was initiated by Marius Mason. He is an imprisoned transgender anarchist, serving 22 years for acts of eco-sabotage. Marius is incarcerated at Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, a small, high–security facility; he receives few visits, his mail is monitored, and he is intensely socially isolated.

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The Final Straw: Support Nicole & Joseph and Mumia Abu-Jamal’s push for prisoner Hep C treatment

Posted on January 7, 2016 by

Listen to this great interview that covers both Mumia’s current health status, and his push for Hep C treatment, as well as updates on Nicole and Joseph’s case.

Orie Lumumba talks about Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mumia contracted Hep C in 1981 from a blood transfusion related to the shooting surrounding his arrest. Mumia & his supporters are now trying to get access for him and the other 10,000 prisoners in the state of PA who are known to have Hep C but which the government is denying due to the cost of treatment. For more info on Mumia’s incarceration, writings and activism, check out http://freemumia.com and for his and others radio commentaries, check out http://prisonradio.org

Petey, a supporter of Nicole Kissane & Joseph Buddenberg, talks about the two animal activists living in the Bay Area facing charges of conspiracy under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. Petey talks about the people,  the case so far and a bit about the potential of a chilling affect left by AETA terrorism charges on the animal rights and animal liberation movements in the U.S. More on the case can be found at http://supportnicoleandjoseph.com

The interview! (go the bottom of the page to download the episode)
http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/84552

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Holiday party and Certain Days 2016 Calendar Launch!

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

CertainDaysHolidayWriting

Come join us at Beit Zatoun on Sunday November 29th from 6pm-9pm for our annual holiday card writing party. December can be a difficult time for many people, especially those on the inside. We are making sure that dozens of political prisoners in North America and across the globe receive at least one card 🙂

We’re also helping launch the new 2016 Certain Days Calendar. The artwork is amazing – which you can see for yourself here. They will be sold for $10 at the event (reg. $12).

There will be music, vegan snacks, and childcare on site (please expect child noise). Beit Zatoun is located three steps above street level. There is a ramp that can be used (as well as people around for assistance) to enter the building. The bathroom is in the basement, down a steep flight of stairs – there is a handrail.

Date: Sunday November 29th 2015
Time: 6pm-9pm
Location: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St near Bathurst and Bloor

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