Financial Support For Political Prisoners And Prisoners Of War
New Jersey and Nightcrawlers Anarchist Black Cross have
initiated a program designed to send monthly cheques into those
Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War who have been receiving
insufficient, little or no support during their imprisonment.
Currently, with each member giving $5.00 per week, we are able to
support 2 P.O.W.'s by sending them a check of $60.00 each month.
With guidance from the prisoners, a list of other P.P.s' and
P.O.W.'s who are in great need of this type of support is being
made. Though it is new and still small, the program is having an
impact. As Sekou Odinga (a P.O.W. currently receiving a monthly
cheque) writes, "Thanks much for the support you've been
organizing, I really appreciate it. After not having any or very
little support for so long, it now seems like (people) have all
of a sudden realized that I'm alive". We already have more people
on the list than we have resources. We ask that you endorse this
program by giving $5.00 per week ($20.00 per month) or any other
amount to this effort to increase the number of prisoners being
supported monthly. A newsletter will soon be published that will
document all money received, and to which prisoners it went. The
prisoners addresses will published so that endorsers may write
and hold us accountable to our claims.
Name:_______________________________________________
Street Address:_____________________________________
City:_______________________________________________
State/Province:_____________________________________
Zip/Postal Code:____________________________________
Country:____________________________________________
Check One Of The Following:
One Time Donation:
Monthly Supporter:
If you are a monthly supporter, check one of the following:
Six Month Pledge:
One Year Pledge:
For More Info:
New Jersey Anarchist Black Cross
P.O. Box 8532
Paterson, NJ
07508-8532 USA
Tel: (201) 357 0994
Nightcrawlers Anarchist Black Cross
P.O. Box 1034
Bronx, NY
10454 USA
Send financial contributions to the New Jersey address and please
make out cheques to "CASH".
(Source: Anarchist Black Cross Network Update - April 1995,
Number One)
Letters From Political Prisoners Concerning Support And
Solidarity (And The Lack Of Same)
(The following letters were written to a member of the New Jersey
Anarchist Black Cross concerning the dire lack of practical
material support for P.P.'s and P.O.W.'s)
"Academic exercise in futility"
February 2, 1995
Neil (NJ-ABC)
Jaan (Laaman) showed me your letter and fliers regarding,
among other things, political prisoners financial support. I
commend you highly for your effort. Material support of political
prisoners (P.P.) is a practice that is long overdue. Aside from
the humanitarian concerns involved, P.P.'s are representatives of
the larger outside struggle. Their being left to languish in the
enemy's dark concrete corners without support does not look out
for the people that fight for it and reap injury and repression
in its service and can only conclude it must (unclear from letter
-ed.). A movement whose advocates have plenty of literature but
not a cup of coffee or a stamp to share will be seen as an
academic exercise in futility rather than one that can fulfil the
needs of those it must attract. No one joins anything to
deteriorate his or her lot. So it isn't only in the prisoners'
interest that mutual aid must be rendered.
As to who should get this money and/or whatever other
material support may be possible, I'd suggest you consider P.P.'s
in control units or other long term lock ups first. These joints
are poorer because there is no access to the jobs and hustles of
general populations and their victims tend to be further from the
streets and thus, support. Lockdown makes us cast lighter
shadows. Secondly, I'd suggest you develop some sort of criteria
for whom you support. There are, unfortunately, opportunists out
there who will sing you a silver song that is lies, all or in
part. There are also good people out there who don't need another
avoidable repetition from which a priority list or some such
could save them...
As for me, I thank you for your consideration, but I'm
financially O.K. presently. I have some comrades who look out for
me and am forced to fuck off as a prison slave for which I am
paid.
The future holds promise!
Bill Dunne #10916-086/BL-223
U.S.P. Leavenworth
P.O. Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS
66048 USA
"Changing our day to day reality"
January 26, 1995
Dear Neil (NJ-ABC)
...Concerning the money and fund-raising for P.P./P.O.W.'s,
let me say a few things. Probably you are aware of some of this,
but what the hell. Pretty much across the board, that is
different states and the BOP (Bureau of Prisons), are similar in
that the kamps (prisons) do not supply the necessities to
prisoners. You get some kind of cell, mess hall meals and some
prisons issue clothing and one pair of work boots or shoes. Some
kamps provide a limited supply of very cheap soap and razors
tooth powder. What that means is that soap, tooth paste, razors,
deodorant, shampoo, real tooth brushes, pens, coffee, snacks,
food, running shoes, sweat clothes, real towels, socks, combs,
cups, fruit, etc., etc... - as well as envelopes, *stamps*, and
in some kamps like here, *all* phone calls have to be bought/paid
for by the prisoners. Some places have phones where collect calls
can be placed; some kamps have both collect and prisoner paid for
calls. There are actually many things that one needs or would
like to buy. So it's not just a little extras, but basic life
needs that must be bought by prisoners.
So, it's very good to hear of your project to materially
support captured revolutionaries. 20 or 40 dollars a month
literally qualitatively, changes your life in the kamps. Needless
to say, P.P.'s don't involve themselves in prison house hustles
that many other convicts resort to, to get a little $. Also most
of us can't or don't work in the UNICOR or the state equivalent
prison industries. So few P.P.'s have any money. Also, since most
of us come from poor, blue-collar families, our families can't
help us much. Most outside $ P.P.'s do get come from family
though.
For example, during the 4 years of our trials in captivity
(speaking of my Ohio 7 folks) we were supported materially by our
lawyers and some other outside supporters. It wasn't much, but
things like a pair of sneakers, some bucks in the commissary
account *and* phone calls.
Since we've all landed in the prisons, pretty much, if not
totally, this has stopped. For me i know it has. So material
support is not only heartening for us behind the wall, in a
spirit wise sense, but it improves our day-to-day reality.
i would venture to guess the majority of P.P.'s could
greatly use material support. Probably comrades in the lockdowns,
control unit kamps need it the most. They do not work anywhere
and so don't even get $5, $15, $25 a month type "wages" that the
typical prison jobs pays (prison industry jobs pay $100-$200 a
month, often).
Yea, i'm strapped for money - ha, ha -but actually in the
past year some socialists (P.D.C.) have been sending me a small
bi-monthly stipend, so there are others out there who probably
need it more than i do. A couple of people i know are my partner
Tom Manning, now in the control unit at Florence. As far as i
know, he gets no organized support. Also my comrade Richard
Williams in Lompoc in California is in the same situation. My
brother Ray (Luc Levasseur) does get support from the same
socialists i do.
Just a few thoughts based on your descriptions and hopes of
your program. Consistency obviously is a big point. Also, until
you build up a steady supply (soon I hope!) maybe sending twice
as many people a stipend every other month instead of only a few
every month makes more sense. In any case good luck, i hope you
are successful and it's a good program to work on!
Keep struggling, we will too.
Jaan Laaman #10372-016
U.S.P. Leavenworth
P.O. Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS
66048 USA
"Feeling the pinch"
December 27, 1994
Greetings Neil (NJ-ABC)
I recently received your November 21 letter. Perhaps the
name Anarchist Black Cross is what urged my keepers here to
return your letter. Who can determine the reason for that?
Racism, paranoia? Fortunately, your letter got in this time.
Good to hear from you; trust that you are well. Tell bro.
Ojore I said good looking out. The truth of the matter Neil is
that I can use the bread. You may have heard the state took our
(5) five free letters per week, now everybody's beginning to feel
the pinch; our commissary are always going up and the state is
not increasing the pay we get for the menial work we do around
here. So, yes, I could use the bread. And when my situation
improves, I'll let you know so that you can send the bread to
someone else.
I often wondered how Sundiata (Acoli - BLA P.O.W.) arranged
to have those "Free Sundiata" shirts made. Sounds good to me -
tell me about it in your next letter.
Since you're in touch with the brothers, tell them all I
said greetings. And you take care; looking forward to hearing
from you.
Yours in struggle.
Herman Bell #79-C-262
Eastern Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 338
Napanoch, NY
12458-0338 USA
(Source: Anarchist Black Cross Network Update - April 1995,
Number One)
