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From Georgia Hunger Strike,

Noise Demo in solidarity with Georgia and North Carolina hunger striking prisoners!

Meet in Woodruff Park at 5pm! Monday, July 30th Bring Noise-Makers For More info visit: Georgia Hunger Strike and Chapel Hill Prison Books Collective

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from Georgia Hunger Strike

THIS EVENT IS BEING ORGANIZED BY ONE OF THE WIVES OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS; SHE WILL BE PRESENT AT THE DEMONSTRATION.

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Rally, speak-out, and march against police violence! Friday, July 27th! 8pm Meet at the corner of 14th and Piedmont in Midtown (in Piedmont Park).

Wear black!

Facebook event

Breakdown of police violence in May of this year.

Luther Lewis, the officer who killed 19 year-old Ariston Waiters in the back while he was handcuffed, is not being charged. DeKalb police have beaten handcuffed, teenage, inmates. DeKalb police also kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach. Police in Clayton County murdered a 13 year-old boy. Cherokee County police sniped a teenager.

The list goes on, and on, and on. This is a painfully short and incomplete list.

More complete lists can be found elsewhere but everyone already knows the problem. We have to stand up against this police violence!

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NOISE DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGER STRIKING PRISONERS IN JACKSON COUNTY!!

Facebook Event

June 27th 6pm Meet @ Woodruff Park & March to Atlanta City Detention Center Bring Noise-makers, Signs, and Banners!

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from Freedom for Chris

Send Chris Books

Chris is an avid reader and will read anything you send to him. However, there are some books in particular that wants to be sent, if possible.

If you have the chance, check out Christopher’s Amazon Wish List for specific books he is anxious to dig into. If you do get him something off of the wishlist, try to check it off so that others don’t get him the same one. If you can’t get something off of the wishlist but would still like to send him soft-cover books, perhaps browse some of the titles authors and see recommended books related to those topics.

Help Out in Other Ways

We have updated the website to include a longer list of ways you can help Chris. He has been in for some time and could really use some support.

Update Coming Soon

Christopher has another hearing very soon and you will all be updated as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for all of the support so far.

P.S. Whoever you are from Austin that sent Chris a copy of “The Coming Community”, you rule! Chris was overjoyed to receive the book because friends from Atlanta have been hyping it up to him for months ;p

***All books must be softcover and sent directly from a publisher (i.e. Amazon etc.)***

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One of the leaders of the hunger strike has been transferred to Colorado, and we need your help in being in touch with him. Before he was transferred, he was isolated in a pod by himself and blocked from communicating with other prisoners. Take the time to write a letter and send it along. Please don't mention the hunger strike, but use phrases like "folks are still having food issues", etc. Pierre Watkins #158014 Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center 10900 Smith Road Denver, CO 80239

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From Freedom For Chris

Saturday June 16 5pm-10pm 119 Wyman

Bring Donations for coffee!!

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Letter-Writing Party for Chris French

from Freedom for Chris

Posted on June 4, 2012

The first Sunday of every month, some folks in Atlanta meet up to write letters to prisoners with the intention of building up a network of people who are prepared to offer material support to those on the inside.

Aside from writing to political prisoners for their birthdays, the group all wrote Chris French this month to tell him how much they miss him, or how they heard about his case and wish him luck etc.

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From: http://freedomforchris.wordpress.com/

Like thousands of others from around the country, Chris traveled to Chicago this May and attended the anti-NATO protests.

In a demonstration on Sunday evening, Chris was arrested along with several others in a barrage of police violence. In keeping with the precedent set leading up to and throughout the summit, the City of Chicago is using Chris’ political beliefs as an excuse to set his bail at $250,000.

He is being charged with “aggravated battery on a police officer” and “resisting police.” In light of all of this, we need to raise $25,000 simply to get Chris free. Friends and loved ones from Atlanta are doing our best to coordinate the much-needed support for Chris.

More information will be coming soon, but for the time being we know very little. In the meantime, all donations can be directed here. Initial costs will be used to provide Chris with stamps and other commissary funds.

Please send Chris supportive letters or postcards at:

Christopher French 2012-0522081 P.O. Box 089002 Chicago, Illinois 60608

For total freedom!

Christopher without his much-needed eye glasses

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Red Onion Prisoners Unite in a Hunger Strike Protesting Abuse

Red Onion Prisoners Unite in a Hunger Strike Protesting Abuse FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—MAY 21, 2012 Press Contacts:  Solidarity with Virginia Prison Hunger Strikers John Tuzcu /216.533.9925 / vasolidarity@gmail.com Adwoa Masozi / 973.494.4266 / vasolidarity@gmail.com RICHMOND – On Tuesday May 22 as many as 45 prisoners at Red Onion State Prison, comprising at least 2 segregation pods, will enter the first day of a hunger strike protesting deplorable conditions in the prison and ongoing abuses by prison staff. For the men participating in the strike this is their only recourse to get Red Onion warden Randy Mathena to officially recognize their grievances and make immediate changes to food, sanitation and basic living conditions at the prison. Supporters from DC and Virginia along with prisoner family members will hold a press conference at 11 AM in front of the VA Department of Corrections, in Richmond at 6900 Atmore Dr., to urge Warden Mathena, the Virginia Department of Corrections under Harold Clarke, Governor Bob McDonell, state Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb and other state and congressional legislators to act on behalf of justice and human rights. ­­ A statement released by one of the hunger strike representatives said, "We’re tired of being treated like animals. There are only two classes at this prison: the oppressor and the oppressed. We, the oppressed, despite divisions of sexual preference, gang affiliation, race and religion, are coming together. We are rival gang members but now are united as revolutionaries.” Some of the prisoner’s demands include the right to have fully cooked meals, the right to clean cells, the right to be notified of the purpose and duration of their detention in segregation, and a call for the end to indefinite segregation. Red Onion has been repeatedly criticized since it opened in 1998.  A 1999 Human Rights Watch report on Red Onion concluded that the "Virginia Department of Corrections has failed to embrace basic tenets of sound correctional practice and laws protecting inmates from abusive, degrading or cruel treatment." After exhausting legal and administrative channels, prisoners are holding this hunger strike to bring these abusive prison conditions to light. This action comes at a time when many are speaking out against the expanding prison system in the United States in an effort to uphold their human dignity and basic human rights. Letters signed by residents in Congressional District 9 will be delivered to the Senators office later in the week and concerned citizens from across Virginia and the nation will be pressuring the Virginia DOC to meet the prisoner’s demands.

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Ten Demands of ROSP Hunger Strikers We (Prisoners at Red Onion State Prison) demand the right to an adequate standard of living while in the custody of the state! 1. We demand fully cooked food, and access to a better quality of fresh fruit and vegetables.  In addition, we demand increased portions on our trays, which allows us to meet our basic nutritional needs as defined by VDOC regulations. 2. We demand that every prisoner at ROSP have unrestricted access to complaint and grievance forms and other paperwork we may request. 3. We demand better communication between prisoners and higher- ranking guards. Presently higher-ranking guards invariably take the lower-ranking guards’ side in disputes between guards and prisoners, forcing the prisoner to act out in order to be heard. We demand that higher- ranking guards take prisoner complaints and grievances into consideration without prejudice. 4. We demand an end to torture in the form of indefinite segregation through the implementation of a fair and transparent process whereby prisoners can earn the right to be released from segregation. We demand that prison officials completely adhere to the security point system, insuring that prisoners are transferred to institutions that correspond with their particular security level. 5. We demand the right to an adequate standard of living, including access to quality materials that we may use to clean our own cells.  Presently, we are forced to clean our entire cell, including the inside of our toilets, with a single sponge and our bare hands.  This is unsanitary and promotes the spread of disease-carrying bacteria. 6. We demand the right to have 3rd party neutral observers visit and document the condition of the prisons to ensure an end to the corruption amongst prison officials and widespread human rights abuses of prisoners. Internal Affairs and Prison Administrator's monitoring of prison conditions have not alleviated the dangerous circumstances we are living under while in custody of the state which include, but are not limited to: the threat of undue physical aggression by guards, sexual abuse and retaliatory measures, which violate prison policies and our human rights. 7. We demand to be informed of any and all changes to VDOC/IOP policies as soon as these changes are made. 8.  We demand the right to adequate medical care. Our right to medical care is guaranteed under the eight amendment of the constitution, and thus the deliberate indifference of prison officials to our medical needs constitutes a violation of our constitutional rights.  In particular, the toothpaste we are forced to purchase in the prison is a danger to our dental health and causes widespread gum disease and associated illnesses. 9.  We demand our right as enumerated through VDOC policy, to a monthly haircut. Presently, we have been denied haircuts for nearly three months.  We also demand to have our razors changed out on a weekly basis. The current practice of changing out the razors every three weeks leaves prisoners exposed to the risk of dangerous infections and injury. 10. We demand that there be no reprisals for any of the participants in the Hunger Strike. We are simply organizing in the interest of more humane living conditions.

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One prison guard killed, five injured in riot — Brandon, MS

A prison guard was killed Sunday during a riot that also injured five other correctional officers and hurt three inmates at a privately run facility in Mississippi that holds illegal immigrants, authorities said.

The riot began about 2:40 p.m. CDT and involved dozens of inmates before it was brought under control late Sunday night. Adams County Coroner James Lee confirmed that a guard died, but said he could not provide any other details until the correctional officer’s family was notified.

Emilee Beach, a spokeswoman at the Adams County Correctional Center in southwest Mississippi, said the uprising involved multiple inmates but she wasn’t sure exactly how many because the investigation was still ongoing.

She said that after the disturbance was brought under control Sunday night, inmates were being searched and sent back to their cells.

Beach said the prison, owned and operated by Corrections Corp. of America, holds illegal immigrants, most for charges of re-entering the United States after being deported.

The five injured guards were taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening.

The 2,567-bed prison in Natchez houses adult male illegal immigrants for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

CCA spokesman Steve Owen confirmed in an email “there has been one employee death” but he said he could not provide more details immediately.

He said in an email early Monday “it is my understanding that all staff are accounted for.” He said the company was investigating what prompted the uprising.

Adams County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Emily Ham said no inmates had escaped the facility.

After the uprising began, CCA’s Special Response Team and the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s SWAT team sought to quell activities within the prison while state and local law-enforcement officers secured the perimeter of the complex, Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said in a statement.

Mayfield told the Natchez Democrat that 15 employees were freed at one time during the uprising by opening a fence and protecting the route with guns.

The sheriff said in a statement early Monday that there were at least two dozen hostages being held at one time.

Mayfield added that prison personnel had “gained total control” of the complex.

“Right now, we have three inmate injuries that were probably sustained from other inmates - one being a stab wound, concussion and rib injuries,” Mayfield added. “There were no escapes.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g6xiYdE6uh3Z2Wp4nBBULe8AtDDA?docId=3e8e2a5be16142c2bcbaae2e9e689130

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Ohio: Prisoners end hunger strike, declare results

May 10, 2012

From Red Bird Abolition

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, Youngstown OH- OSP Hunger Strike Ends. After long negotiations with Warden David Bobby on Monday, May 7th, the hunger-striking prisoners at Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) began eating again. Two of the men held out through Tuesday, unsatisfied with the agreement. The warden met with them separately, and they agreed to come off the strike. Warden Bobby reported that “by lunch time today, everyone was eating.” This was confirmed by two prisoner sources.

At this point, details on agreements are unclear, but sources inside say that the hunger strikers are satisfied and feel they achieved results. One source described the demands and the Warden’s response as “reasonable”. Without going into detail, the main concerns were in regards to commissary costs, state pay rates, phone costs, length of stay, and harsh penalties for petty conduct reports. The Warden said that he discussed “many things” at Monday’s meeting with strike representatives, “many things beyond the main demands” but he would not share any of the details.

The strikers are resting and recovering, but have mailed detailed information to outside supporters at RedBird Prison Abolition, which will be released to the public as soon as possible. The Warden admitted that one of the hunger-strikers was transferred to disciplinary segregation for an unrelated rule infraction, but stated that there were no reprisals or punishments for participating. One prisoner source agreed with this statement.

The hunger strike began on April 30th and was timed to align with May Day protests outside. Prisoners have stated an interest in “joining hands in struggle toward common goals” with protest and resistance movements like Occupy Wall Street.

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Ohio Super Max Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Update!!: Prisoners on their 2nd week!!

Thursday, May 3: Ohio Super Max Hunger Strike Continues and Expands  According to a level 5 prisoner participating in the hunger strike at Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) there are forty-eight (48) prisoners who have refused nine meals and should be officially recognized as on hunger strike. Warden Bobby has not returned calls requesting information about the hunger strike. The prisoner's demands include the following: 1. Lower commissary prices. One striker writes: "Commissary items are permitted to be marked up.to 35% above retail, while many of us receive only $8 a month." 2. No more indefinite terms. Prisoners on the highest security level at OSP (level 5) currently have little prospects for reducing their security level and increasing privileges. "We are taken in front of a privilege review board every 90 days, yet can expect no [increase in] privilege for a year or longer" the hunger striker says of prisoners on Level 5B. Men on Level 5A have a privilege level review every six months, but there has been no increase in their privileges in recognition of good conduct for some time. 3. Healthy and nutritious food. According to the hunger striker, "austerity cuts have allowed our food portions to be shortened." 4. Access to educational and enrichment materials. "There has recently been a major ban on books and music" the hunger striker said. The hunger strike started on April 30th and was timed to coordinate in solidarity with May Day demonstrations and celebrations happening outside of prison. May Day is an international worker's day, commemorating the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. The hunger strikers are asking supporters to call Warden David Bobby (330 743-0700) and ODRC director Gary Mohr (614-752-1164). They say they intend to continue on their hunger strike until their demands are met. This is the second hunger strike at OSP this year. The first occurred on Feb 20th-23rd in solidarity with the Occupy movement's call for an "Occupy for Prisoners" day of action. That hunger strike ended with Warden Bobby, as well as officials from Central Office in Columbus, promising to increase recreation time to the court-mandated minimum as well as improve enrichment programming, food quality and commissary practices. Until recently Ohio State Penitentiary housed death row as well as the highest security level prisoners. When all but 6 death row prisoners were moved to Chillicothe, the number of Level 4 and 5 prisoners at OSP increased from 270 to over 400, and rec time was reduced to 3 or 4 hours per week. The court required minimum is 5 hours per week. Yesterday, OSP officials confirmed that rec time has been increased. According to a unit manager and Warden Bobby's secretary, after recent changes, Level 4A prisoners receive 5 hours a day congregating with up to 8 other prisoners at a time. Most level 4B prisoners are allowed to rec in pairs, for 5 one hour and forty-five minute periods a week. All level 5 prisoners rec alone, most receive 5 one hour and fifteen minute periods per week. The four exceptions to this rule are Level 5 prisoners sentenced to death for alleged involvement in the Lucasville Uprising. These men are allowed 7 hours a week due to an agreement following a twelve day hunger strike they staged in January 2011. Recreation is the only time when any of the prisoners are allowed out of their 7' x 11' isolation cells. Updated information about the hunger strike can be found at RedBirdPrisonAbolition.org and LucasvilleAmnesty.org. #### Monday April 30th: 25 Ohio Super Max Prisoners Start a Hunger Strike

. Today at least twenty five prisoners at Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) began a hunger strike. They are demanding that the Warden meet and negotiate with them for improved conditions in Ohio's super-max prison. These hunger strikers say they intend to continue to refuse food until their demands are met. Another, larger group of prisoners will show symbolic solidarity with the hunger strikers, and workers outside of prison by also refusing food on a one-day fast tomorrow, for May Day, the international day of worker solidarity and resistance. Information about the hunger strike is limited at this time, because super-max prisoners have very constrained access to communication with the outside world. The hunger strikers are asking supporters of their cause to participate by calling Warden David Bobby (330 743-0700) and ODRC director Gary Mohr (614-752-1164). The hunger strikers are asking people to encourage Warden Bobby to meet with the prisoners and take their demands seriously. This is the second hunger strike at OSP this year. The first occurred on Feb 20th-23rd in solidarity with the Occupy movement's call for an "Occupy for Prisoners" day of action. That hunger strike ended with Warden Bobby, as well as officials from Central Office in Columbus, promising to increase recreation time to the court-mandated minimum as well as improve enrichment programming, food quality and commissary practices. At this time, it is unclear if that promise was kept and what relationship, if any, the current hunger strike has with February's Occupy for Prisoners hunger strike. Ohio State Penitentiary opened in 1998. It houses over 270 level 4 and 5 maximum security prisoners, and until recently also housed 116 of Ohio's death row prisoners. OSP was built in response to the 1993 uprising at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. ####

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Dead Prez benefit show for political prisoners!

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Made by our friends from North Carolina. Write letters to prisoners for their birthdays!