On September 10th and 11th, the Chicago-based Midwest Books to Prisoners and Philly ABC held runs in their respective cities. Check out the photos and recaps of these two events at: twitter.com/MidwestBooks2P twitter.com/phillyabc
There will be 8 more runs next weekend. All the info is below:
Since 1999, prisoners and supporters throughout North America have participated in the annual event known as Running Down the Walls (RDTW) often running or walking simultaneously in many cities and prisons at once. This is a non-competitive 5K run/jog/walk/roll in order to raise awareness and funds for political prisoners. Over the years, we have raised thousands of dollars and lots of awareness around the struggle to free political prisoners. Many places will be hosting RDTW 2022 between September 11th or 18th – stay tuned to our blog for more details from all of the locations participating this year!
I’ve previously written about the need to recreate an Atlantic bridge, based on international revolutionary solidarity and reciprocal knowledge, that moves towards affinity and direct action in support of our imprisoned comrades. Since then, I was recently visited by a comrade from Anarchist Black Cross Philadelphia here at the G4S facility in which I’m held. G4S is originally an American company, Wackenhut, which has pioneered the private prison and security industry all over the world. As part of our discussion between the comrade from ABC Philadelphia and myself, we spoke of the need to prevent our groups and commons becoming inward-looking and closing in on themselves in microscopic scenes and myopia. The anglophone world is particularly susceptible to this trend, although it is not solely confined to English-speaking territories. How can we translate rhetoric into practical activity? Words and deeds must coincide, and that is what?
For too long, a kind of one-way discourse has been in effect, breached by too few valiant individuals and groups. We can speak of a loss of solidarity flowing across the Atlantic between north and south, east and west. Without wanting to advocate any kind of anarcho-tourism or the colonial approach of the wholesale export-import political programs of the activist left, I’m in favor of strengthening our international networks in the face of an increased technocratic authoritarianism. To remain locked up in our local areas without considering the struggles elsewhere is self-defeating, as repressive operations seek to confine us and stem our anarchic contagion specifically to promote sterility. Can we renew an Atlantic bridge that connects our tendencies, that connects the uprisings in the North American metropolises to those in Europe, Latin America and Asia? Can we join together the struggles of the long-term COINTELPRO prisoners with those elsewhere in the global prison industrial complex?
As a very basic contribution with the small means I have, I’ll join the Running Down The Walls 5K run event organized by the comrades of the American chapters of the ABC, called for September the 11th-18th this year, during the time I have out of my cell on the yard or the gym. This event aims to create a sense of togetherness through athletics. Keeping our fitness and health is important outside, and money raised by the event will supply funds to the ABC Warchest.
The real challenge is to enable an evolution in self-organization, osmosis, decentralization and cooperation; critical and practical action. As a first principle and minimum start, we can mention the exchange of letters and postcards that break the isolation of the prison walls and national borders that separate us. Since I am forbidden a large part my correspondence, and especially that of political content, it is fair to say that this constitutes meaningful solidarity of a certain type. Then there is the collation and publication of the letters and updates of our imprisoned comrades, and the incendiary dialogues which are always breaking out and multiplying as written about by comrades Alfredo,Gabriel, and Gustavo. This dialogue between inside and outside is very important. We need to cut through the bars which divide us all to support our hunger strikes, to identify structures of repression, to raise funds, to carry out campaigns, to hold events and give a helping hand to those next to our side even though an ocean may seem to separate us. I hope certain comrades can forgive me for laboring the topic as I’m positive everything I’ve written about already exists to varying degrees over several territories, but I’m aware of the need occasionally to reiterate key aspects of our practices to spread them and create new connections.
Let your voices be heard in protest from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Maine to Mexico. Serve notice upon the murderous capitalistic class that you will not again stand idly by and see your brothers made victims because they so will it, and they will dare not do it!
– Lucy Parsons, The Proposed Slaughter, 1905
Everyone to the streets, Toby Shone 19 August 2022
Healthwise, Dr. Shakur’s condition is changing on a weekly basis. He did gain a few pounds in early August and was able to go back on chemotherapy. However, shortly thereafter, he developed an infection in his knee and had to stop chemo in order to treat that infection. The legal team continues to monitor the care that he is receiving to advocate for him in the best possible way.
On the legal front, Judge Haight again denied the motion for compassionate release. However, unlike his 2021 denial claiming that Mutulu was not sick enough at that time to be granted compassionate release, this time he denied the motion on procedural grounds saying that the court does not have the authority to grant his compassionate release [see the Ruling]. This contention is because Dr. Shakur is an ‘Old Law’ prisoner, and, therefore, the Bureau of Prisons would need to grant compassionate release. This ‘Old Law’ status is somewhat of a legal grey area that unfortunately Dr. Shakur and other aging prisoners are caught in. The legal team submitted a new compassionate release request to the BOP on Friday, September 2nd based on Haight’s decision and updated medical information. Also this week, the legal team was notified that Dr. Shakur will be scheduled for another parole hearing the week of October 10th. We anxiously await news from the BOP as we prepare for this hearing.
Please continue to keep Mutulu in your thoughts and prayers. He is conserving his energy for the rest and healing he needs, so he is for the most part not reading mail or corresponding with people. He can feel the love y’all are sending through the walls though, and he is sending it right back!
Since 1999, prisoners and supporters throughout North America have participated in the annual event known as Running Down the Walls (RDTW) often running or walking simultaneously in many cities and prisons at once. This is a non-competitive 5K run/jog/walk/roll in order to raise awareness and funds for political prisoners. Over the years, we have raised thousands of dollars and lots of awareness around the struggle to free political prisoners. Many places will be hosting RDTW 2022 between September 11th or 18th – stay tuned to our blog for more details from all of the locations participating this year!
This week on TFSR, you’ll hear Watani Tyehimba of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and a supporter and comrade of New Afrikan political prisoner Dr Mutulu Shakur speaking about Dr. Shakur’s life, activism and the struggle for his release since he’s been diagnosed with serious bone cancer.
Chicano-Mexicano Political Prisoner “Xinãchtli,”(s/n Álvaro Luna Hernández), is a Texas State Captive serving a 50-Year sentence for Disarming a County Sheriff in S.W. Texas.
On Monday, November 21st 2022, 12 Noon, at the N.W. Corner of the University of Texas Campus, at 24th & Guadalupe, in Austin, we will hold a rally commemorating the 100 -Year Anniversary and death of Ricardo Flores Magón Mexican anarchist.
Part of the gathering will feature interactive materials for both Magón & “Xinachtli.”
Dozens of civil rights groups have joined an urgent push for the compassionate release of longtime political prisoner Mutulu Shakur from prison. The 72-year-old Black liberation activist is said by prison doctors to have less than six months to live, after being diagnosed with stage 3 bone marrow cancer. Shakur was part of the Black nationalist group Republic of New Afrika that worked with the Black Panther Party and others, and is the stepfather of the late rapper icon Tupac Shakur. He was convicted in 1988 of conspiracy in several armed robberies, one of which resulted in the deaths of a guard and two police officers, and also for aiding the 1979 prison escape of Assata Shakur.
We speak with Nkechi Taifa, a lawyer and longtime supporter of Shakur, as well as Brad Thomson, attorney with the People’s Law Office, which has filed urgent lawsuits to secure Shakur’s release. “He is in a desperate medical situation,” says Thomson, who calls any claims that Shakur would reoffend if released “patently false and absolutely outrageous.” “It is time for him to live out his remaining days in the comfort of his family and friends,” says Taifa.
A multi-modal 5K and BBQ to raise funds and support for political prisoners. Sunday, September 18 from 11:00am-3:00pm, under the Hawthorne Bridge.
This annual solidarity event takes place in cities and prisons around the world to raise funds for political prisoners. We will be giving out enticing prizes to teams and individuals who participate! #RDTW Please join us by participating in the loop and asking supporters for $$ pledges. If you can’t attend, please chip in to the fund or sponsor a participant.
Tomorrow, August 11th, marks the first year, or the 365th day, of Jessica’s incarceration after being labeled a terrorist for protecting the endangered water supply of over 40 million people.
After losing our appeal in the 8th circuit we want to use Thursday to spread the word about her case and build popular support as we prepare to continue the fight to free Jessica and reverse this dangerous precedent.
Take action tomorrow with these 2 simple steps to help us spread the word about her case!
1.) Take a selfie or group photo with a sign saying: “365 days in prison and counting #freejessicareznicek Water protectors. Not terrorists. supportjessicareznicek.com” or
“365 days in prison and counting #freejessicareznicek Climate action ≠ terrorism. supportjessicareznicek.com”
2.) Post this on your social media and most importantly tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @FreeJessRez and use the hashtag #FreeJessicaReznicek. If you do not have social media feel free to reply to this email with the picture and we will post it to ours.
Before you finish reading this email retweet and share this campaign on Facebook to spread the word about the day of action before tomorrow! Instagram is blocking us from posting about this because it “goes against community standards.” Even more of a reason to be sure to take a selfie tomorrow and tag us on that platform as well!
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.
