BK/NY– Saturday August 19th, 2023 – Black August Letter Writing Event

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: Saturday, August 19th, 3-5pm EST
WHERE: Our House Infoshop (for address please write: ourhouseinfoshop@protonmail.com)
COST: Free

This coming Saturday, August 19th, in the spirit of Black August, NYC ABC will be writing letters to Black revolutionary political prisoners. Please join us!

Black August honors fallen Black Freedom Fighters, calls for the release of all political prisoners, and condemns the oppressive and life-stealing prison system in this country. Black August was first observed in the 1970s to commemorate George and Jonathan Jackson’s assassinations and honor the centuries of Black resistance that preceded those events.

In recent months, the landscape of our political prisoners has changed tremendously: On July 7, 2023, Dr. Mutulu Shakur sadly passed away. We were heartened that he was able to enjoy at least a brief period outside prison walls after having been robbed of 37 years of freedom. His life and legacy will be an inspiration for generations. More recently, and more happily, Ruchell Cinque Magee was finally released just weeks ago, after being held for 67 years. He was one of the longest held political prisoners in the world, and we are delighted to know that he is home at long last. We wish him and his loved ones all the best. Just last year we were writing to both of these men for our Black August letter writing. We continue to hold them in our hearts, along with every other political prisoner of the Black Liberation movements, past and present.

Please join us in person this Saturday if you can to write to the remaining Black Freedom Fighters held behind the walls. All you need to bring is yourself, we will provide everything else. If you can’t be there, please take the time to send a letter or two from wherever you are, to share your love and solidarity with those who have given so much for all of us.

In love and struggle,
NYC ABC

Illustrated Guide Version 16.6 Uploaded!

We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners. This update includes the release of Ruchell Magee. Welcome home, comrade!

Illustrated Guide Version 16.5 Uploaded!

We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners. This update includes the release of Dan Baker. Welcome home, comrade!

Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 – Letter-writing to Xinachtli

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: Tuesday, May 30th, 2023
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

This week, as state and federal politicians vie to be the foulest and furthest right, attacking the queer and trans folx for existing, denying the humanity of our un-housed or precariously housed neighbors, and restricting ‘migrant’ workers from working–though more often than not these ‘migrants’ are more indigenous to this continent than the wanna-be fascist yt’s seeking to exclude them–we are asking you to write to a long serving political prisoner Xinachtli.

Xinachtli (Nahuatl, meaning “seed”) is an anarchist communist community organizer and Chicano movement revolutionary, currently imprisoned in Texas. Also known as Alvaro Luna Hernández, he worked diligently in the barrio on civil and human rights issues, known widely for his legal skills. Gaining international recognition as the national coordinator of the Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense Committee, Xinachtli was instrumental in helping to free Mexican national Aldape Guerra from Texas’ death row, where he had been framed for the murder of a police officer.

In July 1996 Xinachtli was arrested after disarming a County Sheriff who was attempting to shoot him. After defending himself at trial, Xinachtli was sentenced to 50 years in prison for aggravated assault, a charge he vehemently denies. While imprisoned, Xinachtli continues to write frequently, create beautiful visual art, has helped to organize multiple prison strikes, and has been held in solitary confinement for the last 19 years and counting. Xinachtli is a prolific jailhouse lawyer, as referenced by Mumia Abu Jamal in his book Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v the USA. Xinachtli assists many prisoners in seeking new trials, and filing suits against the repressive, inhumane Texas prison system. In September 2021 his parole review was denied. More information at freealvaro.net.

Please join NYC ABC from wherever you are as we write letters to Xinachtli:
Alvaro Luna Hernández* #255735
W.G. McConnell Unit
3001 Emily Drive
Beeville, Texas 78102
*Address envelopes to Alvaro Luna Hernández, cards/letters to Xinachtli.

May 1st – May Day letter-writing for Anarchist Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: May 1st, 2023
WHERE: your home (or wherever you happen to be)
COST: Free

“Give flowers to the rebels who failed,
Their sight fixed upon the break of dawn,
To the bold rebel who fights and works
To the far-seeing poet who sings and dies”
from Primo Maggio (The First of May),
by Pietro Gori, 1890

May Day is historically an anarchist holiday, which honors the date called for a nation-wide general strike for the 8 hour day work day in 1886. The tumultuous days that followed in the mid-western states resulted in multiple skirmishes and several casualties on both sides, and ultimately led to the railroaded conviction of 8 known anarchists from the Chicago scene. On November 11th, 1887, four anarchists were hanged—Albert Parsons, August Spies, George Engel, Adolph Fischer; Louis Lingg took his own life the night before to deny the state the satisfaction. Their sacrifice became symbolic of the sacrifices, struggles, and victories of anarchists the world over who have given their time, energy, and risked their lived and freedom for the Beautiful Ideal.

So this May Day NYC ABC is asking you to write letters to some anarchists and comrades currently held in U.S. prisons. Please drop them a line or send a card to let them know you are thinking of them. (Note: the addresses below are correct to the best of our knowledge as of the time of this posting, though in some cases links to info about their cases does not reflect this; ie, Casey’s address has changed due to new digitized mail protocols.)

Gage Halupowski #21894460
South Fork Forest Camp
48300 Wilson River Highway
Tillamook, Oregon 97141-9799

Alexander Contompasis 22-B-5028
Upstate Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 2001
Malone, New York 12953

Benjamin Varela #434577
Stafford Creek Corrections Center
191 Constantine Way
Aberdeen, Washington 98520

Eric King #27090-045
USP Florence ADMAX
Post Office Box 8500
Florence, Colorado 81226

Daniel Baker #25765-509
FCI Memphis
Post Office Box 34550
Memphis, Tennessee 38184

Marius Mason* #04672-061
FCI Danbury
Route 37
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
*Address envelope to Marie (Marius) Mason.

Xinachtli* #255735
W.G. McConnell Unit
3001 Emily Drive
Beeville, Texas 78102
*Address envelope to Alvaro Hernández

Casey Brezik #1154765
c/o Digital Mail Center- Missouri DOC
Post Office Box 25678
Tampa, Florida 33622-5678

Bill Dunne #10916-086
FCI Victorville Medium I
Post Office Box 3725
Adelanto, California 92301

May Day card signing party!

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter Writing
WHEN: 2:00-5:00pm, Saturday, April 29th
WHERE: Woodbine (585 Woodward Avenue, Queens)
COST: FREE (Donations to cover the cost of stamps greatly appreciated)

Join NYC Anarchist Black Cross for a May Day card signing party for U.S. held political prisoners!

May Day is an anarchist holiday, for over 150 years it has been a day to celebrate the struggle against capitalism–which logically extends to active resistance against all forms of oppression–and to honor those who struggle. We want to both honor our political prisoners and to help them celebrate by sending our love through the walls.

Tuesday, April 4 – Letter Writing to Joe-Joe Bowen

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, April 4, 2023
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

“I ain’t no angel, I’ll do my time. All we want is to be recognized as what we are, human beings.”
These are words of long-term U.S.-held political prisoner Joe-Joe Bowen. What the carceral system consistently seeks to do to political prisoners is deny their humanity. This applies to veterans of Black Liberation movements such as Joe-Joe, as well as to more recently incarcerated Forest Defenders or defenders against right-wing violence, or anyone else caught up for their part in struggles in defense of our communities and our planet. As always, NYC ABC continues our dedication to supporting and asserting the humanity of those imprisoned for their active association with anti-oppression movements in a country that claims to have no political prisoners. This week we ask you to write Black Liberation prisoner Joe-Joe Bowen.

A native of Philadelphia, Joe-Joe was a young member of the “30th and Norris” street gang before his incarceration politicized him. Released in 1971, his outside activism was cut short a week following his release when Joe-Joe was confronted by an officer of the notoriously brutal Philadelphia police department. The police officer was killed in the confrontation, and Bowen fled. After his capture and incarceration, Bowen became a Black Liberation Army combatant, defiant to authorities at every turn. In 1973, Joe-Joe assassinated Holmesberg prison’s warden and deputy warden as well as wounded the guard commander in retaliation for intense repression against Muslim prisoners in the facility.  In 1981, Bowen led a six-day standoff with authorities when he and six other captives took 39 hostages at Graterford Prison as a freedom attempt and protest of the prison conditions. More information here.

Please take the time to write a letter to Joe-Joe!
Smart Communications/PA DOC
Joseph Bowen AM4272
SCI Fayette
Post Office Box 33028
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33733
*Address cards/letters to Joe-Joe.

Illustrated Guide Version 16.2 Uploaded!

We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners.

Tuesday, March 21st– Letter Writing for Bill Dunne

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, March 21st, 2023
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

The situation remains dire in Atlanta as at least 25 people remain incarcerated for opposing Cop City and Defending the Atlanta Forest. For a list of folks who have given their permission to publicize their names and addresses, check out this new zine by our friends at Page One Collective. Use this guide to support these folks during their time behind bars. Print it out, hand it to your friends, leave a stack at the grocery store. A simple note of solidarity is all that’s needed to let people know they are not alone and to show the state that this is unacceptable.

Speaking of supporting people behind the walls, this week we turn our attention to one of the longest held anarchist prisoners in the so called united states, Bill Dunne.

Bill Dunne is an anti-authoritarian sentenced to 90 years for the attempted liberation of comrades from Seattle’s King County Jail in 1979 and for attempting to break himself out of Leavenworth Penitentiary in 1983. Dunne was charged with possession of an automatic weapon, auto theft, and with aiding & abetting the escape. Charges further alleged the operation was financed by bank expropriations and facilitated by illegal acquisition of weapons and explosives. Bill went before the parole board in the winter of 2014, was rejected and given a 15 year “hit” (meaning he cannot go back to the board for that time period).

Please take the time to write a letter to Bill:
Bill Dunne #10916-086
FCI Victorville Medium I
Post Office Box 3725
Adelanto, California 92301

Tuesday, March 7th – Letter Writing To Ronald Reed

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, March 7th, 2023
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

Trust us when we say our take on what’s happening in Atlanta right now isn’t the hot one or breaking new intellectual ground, but PAY ATTENTION to how folks engaged in what the state would otherwise consider “legitimate” protest are RIGHT NOW being charged with domestic terrorism. It’s not a stretch to think that if you’re reading this, you are either part or a movement or share affinity with one that opposes the police (or at bare minimum the expansion of police power); one that is environmentalist in one form or another; one that agitates for liberation; or one that seeks to limit the ability of government to run roughshod over all in its path. Hell, maybe you’re on board with all of it. Wherever you find yourself, understand that if the state is successful in convicting folks in Atlanta of domestic terrorism, they will eventually come for the movement to which you belong. You are needed now to make sure what’s being pushed there is not allowed to pass. As urgent as this is, with all of the arrests and folks held without bail, there are also still folks who’ve served decades for political activity and they, too, need your attention. Bridging the gap between movements is crucial for pushing toward a revolutionary future.

One great way to build those bridges is to write letters to political prisoners! Engage with them, have a respectful dialogue; we all have things to learn from and teach each other. lf they don’t have the capacity to respond, be understanding, stay in the loop, offer your help to their public support crews, learn about the context of their cases, and spread the word. You can start this week, by joining NYC ABC and Page One Collective in writing to Black liberation struggle political prisoner Ronald Reed.

Ronald Reed is a former 60s civil rights activist. In 1969, Reed was also among the students at St. Paul Central High School who demanded black history courses and organized actions against racist teachers. He was also instrumental in helping to integrate college campuses in Minnesota. During this period, Reed began to look toward revolutionary theory and began to engage in political street theater with other young black revolutionaries in the city of St. Paul.

Reed went on to join the Black United Front. In 1970 he was convicted of shooting a St. Paul police officer. Twenty-five years after the killing, Reed was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree-murder. He is serving life in prison.

Please take the time to write a letter to Ronald:
Ronald Reed #219531
Minnesota Correctional Facility-Lino Lakes
7525 Fourth Avenue
Lino Lakes, Minnesota 55014