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Over 100 in the streets for NYC ABC NYE Noise Demo
2019 started strong as we welcomed home water protector Dion Ortiz. Throughout the year, we saw more comrades released (Janet, Janine, and Eddie Africa; Little Feather, Connor Stevens, and Nina Droz Franco). And yet, as more elders age behind the wall, we lost a true warrior, Tom Manning. To close the year, NYC ABC organized a noise demo outside of Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in order to protest, celebrate, and let folks on the inside know they are not forgotten.
We got there a little after 8:30 and others were there waiting. We greeted old comrades and folks we’d yet to meet and by 9:00pm, a decent crowd had formed. The night was relatively warm by winter standards, but comrades from the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council (MACC) showed up with tea and hot chocolate to make sure everyone’s vocal cords stayed nice and toasty as we yelled and sang upward, into the steel and cement monolith that is MCC.
There were all manner of noise makers, most folks brought their own. Hell, we even had a makeshift drum corps to keep this noise demo moving.
Photo by NYC RAM
And while folks were there to celebrate and reach through the walls, signs and banners also expressed the brimming rage of the crowd. A crew from The Base showed up with black flags and banners to make sure all inside knew there were anarchists organizing in solidarity with them.
The demo lasted a couple of hours, but not before folks broke out sparklers and fireworks. And not before a fair amount of cops came to observe. They didn’t have riot gear or visible plasitcuffs, so the threat was more in what a bunch of preposterous goons they are than in any potential for arrest.
We’ve been told before, by comrades who were once held in MCC, that the noise demos light up the whole place and get through to the prisoners. If you’re thinking about organizing a noise demo in your town, do it.
Shortly before the crowd started to break up and head out, the following statement was read as a call and response, ensuring that our comrades inside could hear it:
“To many it feels like we live in a time like no other with surveillance and repression at every turn but also resistance, rebellion, and open revolt. This is neither the new golden nor dark age, it is simply another moment in time where we can collectively force conflict with a fucked up system.
Every day there are revolts of varying scale, most of which you never hear about. For those captured in revolt we come together in protest and celebration. Through the din of revelry and rage we tie ourselves to those who suffer systematized white supremacy and war against the working class
Prison is a means of social control to be absolutely destroyed.
Here’s to the total destruction of a prison-based society!
Tonight we bring with us the courage of Bill Dunne, the ferocity of Joe-Joe Bowen, the wisdom of Mutulu Shakur.
We remember in every act of rebellion against the state, our deceased comrades Tom Manning and Robert Seth Hayes your legacies will never be forgotten.
We hold in our hearts comrades soon to be or recently imprisoned—David Campbell, Joseph Dibee, Gage Halupowski, Chelsea Manning.
Illustrated Guide Version 14.1 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.
Illustrated Guide Version 14 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.
Illustrated Guide Version 13.9 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. Unfortunately, we are adding two prisoners to the guide this month–Green Scare target Joseph Dibee and whistleblower Reality Winner. We are thankful to remove water protector Ellen Sue Gerhart (completion of sentence!) and Mike Africa (Parole!).
Illustrated Guide Version 13.8 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. We are thankful to remove anti-war prisoner Norman Lowry (completion of sentence!).
Illustrated Guide Version 13.3 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.
Illustrated Guide Version 12.5 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, as well as the removal of Krow (released to house arrest).
A Letter From Connor Stevens (Cleveland 4)
I very much appreciate the letters. Despite my slacking on keeping up with correspondence, these letters, whether from groups or individuals, help me to maintain my focus and sense of perception. It is all-too-easy to go through life with blinders on, cutting ourselves off from our greatest sources of strength and purpose.
I am interested in learning how I can, in however small the contributions, offer more to our ongoing struggle.
I am currently engaged in the perpetual challenge of keeping up with the letter writing, as well as continuing my studies.
There is much I would like to mention, but for now I will limit this letter to an expression of my interest in being recognized as a political prisoner.
I hope my tardiness may be forgiven, as extenuating circumstances have until now caused me to be hesitant in pursuing both identification as a political prisoner specifically, and political engagement more broadly. But such silence must be broken.
With a gentle strength in a hard place, in living solidarity,
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 6th – Letter-Writing Dinner For the Cleveland 4
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 6th, 2015
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
First: Happy New Year! If you didn’t get a chance to come to the New Year’s Eve noise demonstration we organized, expect a reportback soon. To hear nearly so many people calling out the names of comrades locked behind walls as we stood outside of the Metropolitan Correctional Center was motivating. Much of that energy still lingers, pushing us to continue the work of supporting our comrades who are still in prison. By now, you probably know that one way we do that is through every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinners. We’ve lost count, but this week’s dinner will be about the 195th we’ve hosted. This week we are focusing on the Cleveland 4.
The Cleveland 4 are four Occupy Cleveland activists— Brandon, Skelly, Connor, and Doug. They were arrested on April 30th, 2012, days before national May Day protests. They were accused of plotting a series of bombings, including that of an area bridge. However, the real story is that FBI informants and undercover agents had a heavy hand in creating the alleged plot, produced the explosives, and coerced the four into participating. For more information, be sure to visit cleveland4solidarity.org
We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter (or send a book) to the Four:
Brandon Baxter #57972-060
FDC Oakdale
Post Office Box 5010
Oakdale, Louisiana 71463
Skelly* #57976-060
USP Tucson
Post Office Box 24550
Tucson, Arizona 85734
*Address envelope to Joshua Stafford.
Connor Stevens #57978-060
FCI McKean
Post Office Box 8000
Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701
Douglas L. Wright #57973-060
USP Coleman 1
Post Office Box 1033
Coleman, Florida 33521
NYC Anarchist Black Cross 