You will need proof of vaccination and ID to enter the People’s Forum for this event. Political Prisoner Letter Writing Event with NYC Jericho & Certain Days Saturday September 18th 2-4pm The People’s Forum, 320 West 37th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues) New York, NY. (Any train to Penn Station) Free
We have a page of printable political prisoner brochures you can download and print at https://www.abcf.net/abcf-downloads/ Download them and print to build support for political prisoners!
This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners. We are thankful to remove Kings Bay Plowshares 7 prisoners Patrick O’Neill and Mark Colville!
In order to ensure accountability to the larger community, the ABCF produces this Warchest report. To review, please click on the link below. The Warchest Fund sends monetary stipends to political prisoners who receive little or no financial aid. Currently, the ABCF supports 17 political prisoners through this program.
A petition has been filed with the US Department of Justice seeking clemency for Leonard Peltier, as required procedurally for the case to come to the attention of President Biden. In the meantime, a congressional “Dear Colleague” letter in support of Leonard’s release is circulating in the House of Representatives, generated by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), who co-signed the letter sent by then-Congresswoman and now Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland to the Trump administration in April 2020.
Now is the time to let your congressional representatives know the strength of public support for Leonard and urge them to sign on to the letter to the Biden administration.
Contact your U.S. Congress, House Representative by Phone, Online Form or Mail.
Simply request that they: — Support freedom for Leonard Peltier. — Stand with Rep. R. Grijalva and former Rep. Deb Haaland, and sign-on to Rep. Grijalva’s new letter and efforts to gain Leonard’s release.
Contact your U.S. Congress, House Representative by Phone, Online Form or Mail: “Dear Representative… , as your constituent I request that you support immediate Relief and Release for Leonard Peltier, and Sign-on to Representative Grijalva’s “Dear Colleague- Support Letter for Clemency for Leonard Peltier”
NYC ABC, along with several other individuals and prisoner support crews, now send hard copies to all political prisoners and prisoners of war we support.
If you consistently mail the latest updates to a specific prisoner, please let us know so we can insure there’s no overlap. The goal is to have copies sent to all of the prisoners we list.
We’ve also been told that some prisoners are not receiving the copies sent in, yet we aren’t getting rejection notices. If you are in steady contact with a prisoner, please ask them whether or not they are receiving the updates and let us know.
In this episode we interview Ray Luc Levasseur. During his time underground Levasseur was a purported member of the United Freedom Front, and the Sam Melville Jonathan Jackson Unit. Prior to that Levasseur organized in several above ground formations, including the Southern Student Organizing Committee (SSOC), Vietnam Veterans Against The War, and SCAR.
We talk to Ray about his early life, and the influence of his experience in Vietnam on the development of anti-imperialist politics and commitments. He also shares his first incarcerated organizing experiences in Tennessee. And we have brief discussions of his time in SSOC, Vietnam Veterans Against The War, and SCAR.
After that we discuss Ray’s time underground, and the claimed activities the Sam Melville Jonathan Jackson Unit and the United Freedom Front. Specifically he discusses IBM’s involvement in Apartheid, and the targeting of the military and prison industrial complexes by those underground groups.
We end with a discussion of Ray’s time in Marion and the refusal there by Levasseur and other political prisoners to build weapons for the federal government. Ray also shares thoughts on his experiences during 13 years of solitary confinement at Marion and later at ADX. And discusses why small acts of generosity and care on the outside can mean a great deal to people experiencing extreme repression.
He leaves the discussion with several ways folks can get involved in supporting political prisoners. We will include links in the show notes for folks who want to get involved in that necessary work.
Last week, on his final day in office, Gov. Andrew Cuomo commuted David Gilbert’s sentence, making him eligible for parole. Since then, a parole hearing for David has been scheduled for later this month. The Parole Board needs to hear that there is widespread support for his immediate release.
Once again David needs your help. Personal letters to the Parole Board are the best way to show your interest in this case. Time is short. We have only one week to collect letters for the Parole Board members to grant David parole at this hearing. Letters must be submitted by 6pm on September 8th.
If you wrote a letter supporting clemency for David, thank you! Please also consider reworking the letter to urge the Parole Board to grant him parole at this upcoming hearing. Every letter helps!
See below for guidelines for the letters. Note that a hard copy of the letter must be mailed to David’s counsellor and a digital copy should be submitted to https://friendsofdavidgilbert.org/parole/
NOTE: When making a purchase, click on the appropriate button and in the notes/comments (depending on PayPal or Venmo), make sure to include: • the item name • size (if applicable) • mailing address
Also, make sure to enter the correct purchase amount. PayPal does not require you to have an account and you can pay with a credit card through them.
ACAB T-shirt – $25
Looking for a smart shirt that let’s everyone know ACAB? Here’s the answer. We have a few of these left and won’t be printing this design again. Scoop one up before they’re gone. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this t-shirt (include size–extra small, medium, large, extra large, or double extra large, and your address in the notes for the sale).
I Am Anarchist T-shirt – $25
Negate ambiguity with this fetching garment. With every politician looking to scapegoat anarchists, here’s a practical way to show some love. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this shirt (include size, small through extra large, and your address in the notes for the sale).
Sugar Skull T-shirt – $25
“Solidarity is the heart of fighting the power.” This shirt was designed by comrades in CNA-DF (Cruz Negra Anarquista – Mexico City) and funds raised go to political prisoners they support. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this shirt (include size, small through extra large, and your address in the notes for the sale).
Palang Hitam T-shirt – $25
NYC ABC printed these shirts in solidarity with anarchists in Indonesia, facing continued, intense state repression. Prisons are for BURNING! Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this shirt (include size and your address in the notes for the sale). Only small and medium sizes remain.
Black Flag Enamel Pin – $8
Nothing tells the world “no nations, no borders, fuck the state, law, and order” like a black flag enamel pin. Wear it on your lapel at court support or anywhere else. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this pin (include your address in the notes for the sale).
Anarchist Black Cross Enamel Pin – $10
Show your solidarity with political prisoners with one of these enamel pins. Perfect for your cap, jacket, or…balaclava (no, not really–stay away from identifying details). Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this pin (include your address in the notes for the sale).
War On the Panthers Infographic Poster – $25
This poster is a marvel in screen-printing on paper—intricate, precise, and outstanding. This poster is a graphic reproduction from the book “Edible Secrets” by Mia Partlow and Michael Hoerger, measures 9 1/2″ by 21″ and is shipped in a poster tube. The history of state repression against the Black Panther Party in this infographic will have you revisiting it over and over. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this poster (include your address in the notes for the sale).
Abolition Not Reform Poster – $20
It’s no secret that we deplore prisons and the bootlicking that goes into trying to make reforms to them. These amazing posters are letter-pressed, in a print run limited to 131 (2 proofs were also printed), each numbered. The white variation is limited to 96 pieces and will not be reprinted. Due to the inherent nature of letter-press, the color of the text is uniform, though opacity varies from poster to poster. Thanks to Wasp Print for the layout and help with printing that made these possible, and to The Base and NYC Anarchist Action, with whom funds raised from these posters will be split. The poster measures 13″ by 20″ and will ship in a poster tube. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this poster (include your address in the notes for the sale).
Leave, Take Kill poster – $13
Leave, Take, Kill is a poster is from photographer Kelly Sena’s 2005 two-person exhibition “International Geographic.” The poster is printed on glossy poster stock, measures 7″ by 30 1/4,” and is mailed in a poster tube. Shipping within the continental United States is included in the price of this poster (include your address in the notes for the sale).
