Updates and Reports of Local Prisoners

  • October 21, 2015 11:16 pm

from It’s Going Down

Mumia Abu Jamal’s support folks held a press conference to further pressure the prison to provide appropriate HEP C treatment to Mumia. Hepatitis C has an incredibly high rate of infection in the U.S. prison system. Recently there have been significant improvements in treatment of the disease with 95% rate of fully eradicating the virus. Prison officials (otherwise known as horrendous pieces of shit) are denying not only Mumia the right to such medical care, but all prisoners. This is beyond bullshit. You can find out more about the call to action for Mumia as well as the full press release over here. You can also watch the stream of the press conference over here.

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If you haven’t already checked out NYC ABC’s dope bi-monthly Political Prisoner & Prisoner of War Update newsletter, do it already. These updates are sent out to pp/pow’s across the U.S. and are, for many of them, the only means they have of regular news with comrades. This last update from 10/13/15 has some great writing from Russell Maroon Shoates. Check out the description and then hop on over and read the full essay at NYC ABC’s site:

Maroon recently penned a brief essay reflection on some of the latest literature he’s had an opportunity to read. He explores the current political realities in the Rojava region of Syria, celebrating the civil and political organizations that have led to an anti-state and anti-capitalist experiment valuing feminism, direct democracy, ecological stewardship, and ethnic, linguistic, and religious pluralism in the midst of ongoing military threat, as explored in the book A Small Key Can Open A Large Door, published by the Strangers In A Tangled Wilderness collective. He then touches on the dystopia of Octavia Butler’s Parable Of The Sower, assessing the extent to which the current crises of climate change, late capitalism, and “sci-fi biotech” have made the landscape of Butler’s novel far more factual than fictitious.

You can learn more about Maroon at his site and send him a letter to:

Russell Shoats #AF-3855

SCI-Graterford

P.O. Box 246 Route 29

Graterford, PA 19426 – 0246

Updates on Mumia, Eddie Africa

  • September 21, 2015 8:05 pm

from Final Straw Radio

In more prisoner news:

Mumia Abu-Jamal is contuing to be denied the medical care that he needs to survive his stay in prison at SCI-Mahone in Frackville, PA.

Hepatitis C is a dangerous liver disease which is growing among poor people and especially rampant in prisons. Mumia found himself diagnosed with Hep-C, as well as type-II diabetes and other medical circumstances, in August of this year. Drugs released within the last 18 months show remarkable cure-rates of 90-95%, but based on costs of $60-85K for a 12 week course, jail and prison authorities here (and in jails and prisons across the U.S.) are denied the incarcerated access to them.

Anarchist Prisoner Posters Downtown

  • August 29, 2015 9:05 pm

from instagram


Nice use of free posters spotted downtown. #anarchistprisoners

Anarchist Prisoner Information and Letter Writing Event

  • August 20, 2015 11:53 am

from Wooden Shoe Books & Records
When: Sun, August 23, 7pm – 8pm
Description: As part of the international week of solidarity with anarchist prisoners, we will have a multimedia presentation, discussion, and letter writing night for anarchist prisoners the world over. Letter writing materials for domestic prisoners will be provided, handouts/posters concerning some international struggles will be available, and snacks will be shared.

This week of action was coordinated by several international Anarchist Black Cross groups beginning with the anniversary of the murder of Sacco and Vanzetti by the United States on August 23rd.

[Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Crashing the Party: Revisiting the RNC 2000 with activist and author Kris Hermes

  • August 13, 2015 5:16 pm

from facebook

This August marks the 15-year anniversary of direct action against the prison-industrial complex and arrest of hundreds of activists during the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. In response, dissidents confronted new forms of political repression by pushing legal boundaries and establishing new models of collective resistance.

Join activist and author Kris Hermes for a discussion on his new book, Crashing the Party: Legacies and Lessons from the RNC 2000, an engrossing combination of social history and courtroom drama that explains the origins of contemporary protest policing and the creative political resistance used to overcome it. Hermes will discuss his experiences on the ground in Philadelphia and how they relate to the movement today. Books will be available for purchase and signing following the discussion!
[August 20 at 7pm at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

New Pamphlet on Justice

  • August 11, 2015 3:46 pm

received via email

Political Prisoner Letter Writing Night/Potluck

  • July 22, 2015 3:00 pm

from facebook

Join at The Wooden Shoe for a night of solidarity with the people in our movements who have had their freedom taken from them. We’ll provide all the materials, a list of prisoners from various radical movements with short bios, and a quick “how to” for anyone who would like some guidance.

This event will be a vegan potluck, so please bring a drink or dish to share. Email me if you have any questions.
*please know what is in your dish to share and keep in mind of people with food allergies*


[July 29 7-10pm at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Letter Writing Day for Antifascist Prisoners

  • July 19, 2015 3:28 pm

from facebook

In observance of the July 25th International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners, Antifa Philadelphia will be hosting a letter writing event for several Antifascist POW’s currently incarcerated all over the world.

The full call (originally posted by NYC Antifa) with more information on the prisoners is below.

We will provide all the materials and, if you want, we will send the letter(s) for you as well. For more information on how to help or if your group would like to endorse the call or host an event, contact NYC Antifa at nycantifascistaction@gmail.com

Liberty, Solidarity, Equality,

Antifa Philadelphia (phillyantifa.org)

[July 26 from 7 to 8:30pm at A-Space 4722 Baltimore Ave]

Delbert Africa Denied Parole

  • June 28, 2015 9:33 pm
from MOVE 9 Parole

Earlier this Week we found out that our Brother Delbert Africa was denied parole by The Pa Parole Board and was given a two year hit . One of the reasons they cited for Delbert being  denied in their own words he is a risk to the safety of the community . This is unacceptable anyone who has ever met Delbert or has come in contact with him can tell you that Delbert Africa is nowhere near a threat to the safety of the community even The Superintendent Of SCI Dallas who along with Delbert’s Counselor recommended Delbert For Parole so The Parole Board has to come with something better than this . People in the community who The Parole Board are saying are at risk all wrote letters of support for Delbert’s Parole.

In Fact Their is a risk to the safety of people in the community but it’s not Delbert Africa or the rest of The Move 9.  It’s The Police known murderers of our children . The police that murdered Move Men, Women, And Move Children on May 13th 1985 walk the streets with immunity. The police who murdered Brandon Tate Brown in Philadelphia are still walking the streets with their identities protected. Akai Gurley,  Eric Garner, and so many others safety has been put at risk by these foul murderers who walk the street and continue to be a risk to the community as a whole’s safety . It’s obvious a person who has kept down gang  and racial violence in prison is far from a threat to the community at large .

It’s obvious that officials want our family to die in prison you can look no further than the examples of Merle and Phil Africa dying in Prison . We cannot allow another person to die in these dungeons . We are urging people to please take the time to sign this petition that we have aimed at The United States Justice Dept you can go to the website at https://www.causes.com/campaigns/92454-free-the-move-9. We are demanding now that the justice dept look into the unjust imprisonment of The Move 9 as a whole. Our goal is to reach 25,000 signatures as a whole so we have some serious work to do as a whole and your help is needed now more than ever.

Ona Move

The Justice And Accountability Campaign

+HIRS+, Boroughs, Empty Vessels, Dying

  • June 4, 2015 7:01 pm

from facebook

Thursday, June 11, 2015
Second Empire
_

Benefit show for Marius Mason and Political Prisoners
_

+HIRS+ – Kill Copz, Kill God, Kill Self (https://hirs.bandcamp.com/)

Boroughs – Fast, hardcore punk from Philadelphia, members of HIRS (http://weareboroughs.bandcamp.com/)

Dying – Nihilistic vegan straight edge hardcore from Philadelphia (http://dyingxvx.com/)

Empty Vessels – Hardcore / noise on tour from CT (https://emptyvesselsband.bandcamp.com/)

_

8pm / $5-10 donations at door
all ages

Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration Launch

  • May 31, 2015 9:42 am

from facebook

Food! * Poetry! * Education! * Discussion! * Action!

Pennsylvania prisons hold over 5000 people serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. In PA, a life sentence means your natural life–it is a sentence that condemns you to die in prison – which is why many choose to call it Death By Incarceration.

We believe that sentencing people to Death By Incarceration is a violation of their human rights and an affront to the humanity of us all. That’s why Decarcerate PA, Human Rights Coalition PA, Fight for Lifers, and Right To Redemption are launching a campaign to end Life Without Parole sentencing in PA. Join us Saturday, June 6th to launch this campaign.

Saturday June 6th
Vineyard Church, 123 S. 51st St.
(51st and Sansom, two blocks from the 52nd street stop on the Market Frankford Line)
3:30pm – 6:30

For more info see http://decarceratepa.info/CADBI

Mass Incarceration, Solitary Confinement and Torture: The Dallas 6

  • May 19, 2015 1:48 am

from facebook

Mass Incarceration, Solitary Confinement and Torture: The Case of the Dallas 6
Panel Discussion on the Dallas 6

Presenters:
Shandre Delaney: Coordinator of Justice of the Dallas 6 and mother to Carrington Keys, one of the Dallas 6
Derrick Stanley: One of the Dallas 6
Theresa Shoatz: Activist and Daughter of Russell Maroon Shoatz
LuQman M. Abdullah: Human Rights Activist

Moderated by Shesheena Bray

Where: The Rotunda, (4014 Walnut Street)
When: May 26th
Time: 6pm

SUPPORT THE DALLAS 6!
On April 29, 2010, six courageous African American prisoners in solitary confinement at SCI Dallas engaged in a peaceful protest against the widespread abuse, violence and torture by guards which they had witnessed, endured, and helped to publicly document. The abuse included food, starvation, urine and feces in their food, mail tampering and destruction, vicious beatings while electro-shock shields, taxers, fists, tear gas and pepper spray, medical neglect, use of torture chair, death threats and more. For being whistleblowers on this abuse, the state have charged these six men with rioting.

For more information on the case, please contact sd4hrc@gmail.com and/or visit @[NjQyMTgzOTU5MjA4MTA3Omh0dHBcYS8vd3d3LnNjaWRhbGxhczYuYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tLzo6:www.scidallas6.blogspot.com]

For more information on the event please contact Iresha.Picot@gmail.com or Natasha.Danielle86@gmail.com

Address This! Party

  • April 27, 2015 1:12 am

from facebook

Come party with us and help support Address This!, an all volunteer educational correspondence project created in collaboration with prison abolitionists on the inside as well as outside, for people who are incarcerated in PA. To learn more about Address This! please visit our website: http://booksthroughbars.org/programs/address-this/

$5 – $10 sliding scale

We will have:
A Bar !
Snacks !
Late night dancing !
&
Wonderful people !

Can’t wait to see you there!
[May 2 10pm to 2am at Fancyhouse 4951 Catharine St]

Some of the Prisoner Resistance from across the State last year

  • March 7, 2015 9:55 pm

from anarchadelphia

“A cage is an unnatural environment…You can’t put a man or animal in one and expect him to act natural. And it’s only instinct to want out.” – Edward R. Jones, a man who escaped from prison 14 times and authored Hacksaw about his experiences.

28 June 2014 – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States – a prisoner escaped the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

1 August 2014 – Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States – a prisoner hopped the fence of the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

8 August 2014 – Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, United States – The unit manager of SCI-Greene was repeatedly struck in the head with a sock tied to a lock by a prisoner yelling “I fucking told you I was going to get you.”

29 September 2014 –  Tyrone,  Pennsylvania, United States – A Loysville Youth Development Center staff member was “rendered unconscious” by a punch from a prisoner.

22 October 2014 – Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States – A person in custody at the Indiana  County  Jail  “became  angry  and destroyed a fire suppression/sprinkler system” and waved the sprinkler head around “in an attempt to taunt and injure the correctional officers.”

18 November 2014 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States – Three corrections officers were stabbed at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center

Prison Officials Denying Russell Maroon Shoatz Treatment for Prostate Cancer

  • February 10, 2015 1:25 am

from facebook

Action Alert –Prison Officials Denying Russell Maroon Shoatz Treatment for Prostate Cancer – Call Prison Today

Political prisoner and former Black Panther Russell Maroon Shoatz #AF3855 was informed that he had prostate cancer on December 9, 2014. Prison medical staff has not provided any treatment to date. Cancer does not wait for the prison bureaucracy. Maroon’s health, his life, and his rights are being violated every moment he is denied necessary cancer treatment.

Call SCI Graterford and PADOC Secretary Wetzel today and demand that Maroon be provided immediate, necessary medical care for his prostate cancer.