News from outside supporters Friends and Comrades! We have finished the first issue of a project Stevie and his supporters have been working on for a while, and thinking about for longer. In The Belly is a new abolitionist journal for incarcerated people and their communities. Our editorial collective is anchored by imprisoned intellectuals and … Continue reading In The Belly, Volume 1
The Importance of Staying Connected
Across this country, there has been a tremendous outpouring of solidarity and love for imprisoned persons. We are thankful. As an organizer, I often talk about the need for connections across the walls. Our success is relative to the strength of relationships. In this time of crisis, the deepening and forging of relationships between imprisoned … Continue reading The Importance of Staying Connected
Demands from Stevie
Currently our demands center on two things: 1. Releasing prisoners, especially those with compromised immune systems and the elderly (over 50). Also, we hold that all pretrial detainees who have been entered into bail should be released. They are being held due to poverty. Lastly, those with clemency and parole petitions should have their decisions … Continue reading Demands from Stevie
Solidarity with Striking Prisoners!
Right now, prisoners on Rikers Island and in Essex County, NJ jail are hunger striking for basic protection from and preventive measures against contracting COVID19. They should not have to go on hunger strike for these things to occur, but as usual, jail administrators refuse to prioritize prisoners' health and well being. I fully support … Continue reading Solidarity with Striking Prisoners!
Reflections on Audre Lorde and Difference
So much is going on with this COVID19, but I wanted to get a comment to you about Sister, Outsider. There are excerpts I want to highlight because they speak to the situation inside. Audre Lorde said: "As women, we have been taught either to ignore our differences, or to view them as causes for … Continue reading Reflections on Audre Lorde and Difference
COVID19 AND THE PA DOC
From: Wilson, Stephen Date Received: 03/12/2020 06:22 PM Subject: COVID19 AND THE PA DOC For the past two days, the PA DOC has finally thinking about the coronavirus and how to protect prisoners from it. Only over the past two days! Announcements have been played over the prison television station reminding prisoners to wash our … Continue reading COVID19 AND THE PA DOC
An excerpt from “Are Prisons Obsolete?” By Angela Davis
anti-capitalist, anti-copyright excerpt shared for educational purposes Many people are familiar with the campaign to abolish the death penalty. In fact, it has already been abolished in most countries. Even the staunchest advocates of capital punishment acknowledge the fact that the death penalty faces serious challenges. Few people find life without the death penalty difficult … Continue reading An excerpt from “Are Prisons Obsolete?” By Angela Davis
Centering the Most Vulnerable Means Challenging the “Movement-for-Prisoners’-Human-Rights” with Queer Analysis and Action
A few years ago, the Lifers' Association at Smithfield sponsored a forum with CADBI (Coalition Against Death By Incarceration). It was to be an info session, an introduction to the group's work and how we could become involved. This was the first time something like this took place at Smithfield. As expected, lots of prisoners … Continue reading Centering the Most Vulnerable Means Challenging the “Movement-for-Prisoners’-Human-Rights” with Queer Analysis and Action
Stevie’s Reflections on bell hooks’ Feminism is for Everybody
bell hooks writes, in the introduction of "Feminism is for Everybody,": "More than ever before, I work to share the liberating joy feminist struggle brings to our lives as females and males who continue to work for change, who continue to hope for an end to sexism, to sexist exploitation and oppression." As I read … Continue reading Stevie’s Reflections on bell hooks’ Feminism is for Everybody
“Ain’t I a Prisoner, Too?” zine, available for download (printable)
To download Stevie's zine, published last spring and circulated this past year in prisons around the country, follow the below url: https://osab995883282.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/image-40.pdf Please feel free to print this and mail to your incarcerated friends and comrades. It is anti-copyright, so also take it upon yourselves to print stacks and leave them in your organization's common … Continue reading “Ain’t I a Prisoner, Too?” zine, available for download (printable)
