from It’s Going Down

[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]

In this column, we present our monthly roundup of political prisoner, prison rebel, and repression news, happenings, announcements, action and analysis. Packed in as always are updates, fundraisers, and birthdays.

There’s a lot happening, so let’s dive right in!

Political Prisoner News

Mumia Abu-Jamal continues to record new audio segments on a regular basis, and has recently broadcast commentary on Daniel Gwynn’s death penalty conviction being overturned and the life of recently-deceased Black Panther Party/Black Liberation Army member Ralph Poynter. Mumia also recently turned 70 and addressed folks at the encampment in Columbia, check it out here. People in Philadelphia also held a march demanding his release and to mark his birthday.

Prisoner Struggle at SCI Rockview

Two podcasts have broadcast new interviews on the struggle against racist guards at SCI Rockview in Pennsylvania. The Final Straw interviewed an outside supporter about the situation at Rockview, the reactions of administration, inside / outside relationships and solidarity that have flared up. In the Mix Prisoner Podcast interviewed the spouses of incarcerated organizers who exposed SCI Rockview’s attempts to cover up anti-Black racism in their prison.

General Prison News and Abolitionist Media

Prison Riot Radio have shared a reminder that the Vaughn 17 book is available now. V17 Speaks is an important collection of voices from the Vaughn prison uprising.

Uprising Defendants

See Uprising Support for more info, and check out the Antirepression PDX site for updates from Portland cases. To the best of our knowledge they currently include:

David Elmakayes 77782-066
FCI McKean
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 8000
Bradford, PA 16701

Anthony Smith
14813-509
FCI Fort Dix
Federal Correctional Institution
Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 2000
Joint Base MDL, NJ 08640

Upcoming Birthdays

Abednego Baynes

A former Vaughn 17 defendant. Baynes was found innocent of all charges in relation to the uprising, but he has still been punished with a move out of state, and deserves respect and support for staying in solidarity with his co-defendants throughout the process and refusing to cooperate with the prosecution. You can read more about Baynes in his own words here.

Pennsylvania uses Connect Network/GTL, so you can contact him online by going to connectnetwork.com, selecting “Add a facility”, choosing “State: Pennsylvania, Facility: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections”, going into the “messaging” service, and then adding him as a contact by searching his name or “NT0594”.

Birthday: May 20

Address:

Smart Communications/PADOC
Abednego Baynes, NT0594
SCI Mahanoy
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733