ABCF’s Annual Running Down The Walls 5K Run

Every year Political Prisoners look forward to the day that we all collectively Run Down The Walls together. These events link us forever in struggle, together in solidarity we all set out on our paths with the same intentions. We jog for justice, we walk for peace, and we run for our comrade’s freedom.  This event (while only metaphorically liberating) is insurmountably important to those behind the walls, they need to know that we are here and we not only stand with them but we will run with them. Continue reading →

ABCF’s Annual Running Down The Walls 5K Run

www.abcf.net

Every year Political Prisoners look forward to the day that we all collectively Run Down The Walls together. These events link us forever in struggle, together in solidarity we all set out on our paths with the same intentions. We jog for justice, we walk for peace, and we run for our comrade’s freedom.  This event (while only metaphorically liberating) is insurmountably important to those behind the walls, they need to know that we are here and we not only stand with them but we will run with them. Continue reading →

ABCF’s Annual Running Down The Walls 5K Run

WHAT: Running Down the Walls – 5k Run/Walk/Jog/Bike

WHEN: Sunday, September 6th, : 2:00-7:00pm EST (10am PST)

WHERE: Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, and New York, NY

Every year, prisoners and supporters of political prisoners organize solidarity events with Running Down the Walls. In the last few years, we’ve had runs in Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA), Denver (CO), Elmore (AL), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA), Marion (IL), New York (NY), USP Navosta (TX), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto, Ontario. This year we hope to expand the amount of runs in prisons and other cities, as well as increase the amount of funds raised for community projects.

YOU CAN DONATE AT:

https://www.paypal.com send your donation online to the email address “[email protected]” (Tim Fasnacht). Mark as RDTW2015. If you’d prefer to stay anonymous or are donating in the name of an organization, let us know.

You can also donate at: gumroad.com/nycabc

http://www.youcaring.com/u-s-political-prisoners-406831

This year’s run will take place on Sunday, September 6th in solidarity and conjunction with runs that will take place in cities and prison yards across the country at the same time.

REGISTER AS, OR SPONSOR, A PARTICIPANT

* Run/walk/bike/roll in the 5k – We need participants who can run/walk/bike/roll the 5k and are able to collect financial pledges to offer as donations to the run.

* Volunteer for the run – We need folks who are willing to staff a registration/literature table, hand out water, bike the route as street medics, and help chalk the route beforehand.

* Donate to the run/sponsor a participant – If you are not able to attend, but want to support this fundraising effort, please mail donations to:

Denver-ABC, P.O. Box 100277, Denver, CO 80250

LA-ABC, P.O. Box 1122, Whittier, CA 90603

NYC-ABC, P.O. Box 110034, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Continue reading →

Organize:
This year’s RDTW is coming up fast and we need you to organize a run of your own.  If you have sandals or better, than you can, at the very least walk down the walls with us on Sunday September 7th at 10A.M. To organize a Running Down The Walls, you should get as many comrades as you can, find a nice cool area, get people to sponsor you for a couple bucks, hydrate, then run!

We Want To Run With You!
On Sunday, September 7th, 2014 at 10 a.m., the Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross Federation and RAC-LA will host the 5K Run/Walk/Bike around MacArthur Park. This Run is designed to raise much-needed funds for the ABCF Warchest program and for RAC. We are attempting to reach the goal of $3,500 with the run. Funds will be divided between the two programs:

ABCF Warchest:
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.

Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC):
In the aftermath of the May Day 2007 police riot targeting migrant workers who dared stand up for our human rights, members of the MacArthur Park area and others joined together to support those with no papers and those with no means. RAC-LA came forward to aid the community in self-organizing such that with the help of each other we might make an inhuman way of living a bit more bearable while at same time acquiring the means to one day transform this system into an image of our own humanity.

If  you are able, we would love for you to organize a Running Down the Walls in your location.  We wish to expand the solidarity runs to more cities and prisons.  In past years we’ve 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).  Regardless of how you identify politically, your support for RDTW is an important statement of solidarity for all movements for social justice.  We recognize the contributions to the struggle given by a diversity of PP/POW’s imprisoned for their pursuit of liberation.

Let Us Know:
Every year we get runners who are unfamiliar with Political Prisoners and the movements they came from.  We read statements of solidarity from PP/POW’s before each run begins because we want people to run with PP/POW’s issues on their minds

•If you are able to run, please write us and let us know that you can run and your thoughts on the run.
•If you are not able to run, we still want your words, your thoughts, your knowledge and encouragement.
•Please mail us your statements of solidarity as soon as you can.
Stay up & Stay Strong!
LA-ABCF

Los Angeles Branch Group of the
Anarchist Black Cross Federation (LA-ABCF)
PO Box 11223
Whittier, CA 90603

[email protected]

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.

Denver Sept 6th

10AM (run starts at 11) in Curtis Park

New York

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)

Los Angeles Sun Sep 7th

Flyer in English, Spanish

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.