This year’s annual Running Down the Walls 5K run is scheduled to be held
on Sunday, September 7th. Several ABC chapters and political prisoners
are planning runs. Other groups and individuals are encouraged to
organize runs or other simultaneous events.
10AM (run starts at 11) in Curtis Park
WHAT: Running Down the Walls – 5k Run/Walk/Jog/Bike
WHEN: 2:00-7:00pm, Sunday, September 7th
WHERE: Prospect Park– Lincoln Road/East Lake Drive, east of the Terrace Bridge (see the below map for exact location)
COST: $10 registration (includes food and drinks afterwards)
10:00 AM Macarthur Park 5K walk/run
Background:
Running Down The Walls is an annual 5K run in solidarity with political prisoners and prisoners of war, held since 1999. Every year, prisoners and supporters organize runs. In sync with each other, we will collectively pound the pavement with our feet and bike tires as we exhibit our strength and stamina as examples of our tireless effort to free our imprisoned comrades. In past years we had runs in: Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland, (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA), Connecticut River, Dannemora (NY), Denver, (CO), Detroit (MI), Elmore (AL), Guelph (CAN), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA), Marion (IL), Mexico City (MEX), New York City (NY), USP. Navosta (TX), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Sandstone (MN), Tucson (AZ), USP Tucson (AZ), and Toronto (CAN).
ABCF Warchest:
The proceeds from this event are generally split between the ABCF Warchest (www.abcf.net/warchest-program/) and another organization. The ABCF Warchest program was created in November of 1994. Its purpose is to send monthly financial support to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War (PP/POWs). The Warchest funds are divided and distributed through
monthly stipends to political prisoners who receive little or no financial aid. Prisoners use this money to cover the basic necessities of everyday living. These funds have been used by prisoners to pay for stamps, shoes, clothes, as well as assisting their families with what little they can.
Support the Struggle:
We must remember that many of those arrested in the past or present are not far from us. Many of them were and are community and labor activists, queer, and environmental activists; people who decided to speak out against various forms of oppression and paid the price of their freedom for their actions. We must remember that anyone of these people could have
at one time stood beside us in a demonstration, at a speak-out, or even at an organizing meeting. At any given moment it could be us who finds ourselves in this situation, so it is imperative that we ensure that a strong enough community of support exists for these people as well as ourselves. The strength of our movement is determined by how much we
support our fallen comrades. So please help us, help them! Help us help you!
We encourage people to participate in helping us raise funds for the Warchest, which can be done in the following ways:
Be a runner:
We are asking people or groups who are running to collect as many sponsor
for the run as possible. Remember the money received is going to help
imprisoned comrades who need your support. The person who collects the
most amount of funds will be given a prize for their involvement and
dedication to helping our fallen comrades.
Sponsor a runner:
This can be done through a flat donation to the runner of your choice,
each flyer is a sponsor sheet. We ask from those who wish not to run to
actively support those who are running in hopes of collecting as much for
our comrades as possible.