BK/NY – Tuesday, September 11th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Water Protectors

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, September 11th, 2018
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

As much of the media, corporate or otherwise, ignores or distorts the realities of the nationwide #PrisonStrike, we see the way the state preemptively punishes any resistance, real or perceived. As imprisoned comrades throughout Pennsylvania’s draconian prison system endure an open-ended lockdown, we have seen equally brutal responses to those who resist on this side of the wall. In Louisiana, water protector activists are being violently arrested and charged under new state legislation by off-duty cops hired goons. So it is with the bravery of those resisting on both sides of the walls in mind that NYC ABC hosts our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner. This week we are focusing on water protectors, including those imprisoned as part of the Standing Rock 6 as well as Ellen Sue Gerhart.

The Standing Rock 6 are arrestees facing felony charges stemming from arrests on October 27, 2016 at ceremonial resistance camps at Standing Rock. These camps were convened in North Dakota by Native peoples and their allies who gathered there to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. Collectively, they are referred to as water protectors. These seven arrestees are out of the 800-some water protectors arrested, many the result of widespread police sweeps at demonstrations like October 22 with scant or no evidence to link most individuals to any crime. Currently three of the Standing Rock 6–Red Fawn Fallis, Little Feather, and Dion Ortiz, are in prison. More information at waterprotectorlegal.org

Ellen Gerhart is an outspoken advocate, not only to protect her own land but also to protect the hundreds of waterways impacted across Pennsylvania by ETP’s Mariner East 2 pipeline project. Ellen and her family’s ongoing opposition to the project has led to significant intimidation and harassment on the part of ETP, their private security contractor TigerSwan, and local authorities. On Friday, August 3, Huntingdon County Judge George Zanic sentenced the 63-year-old grandmother, retired teacher, and landowner to two to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine for indirect criminal contempt of court.

If for whatever reason you are not able to join us, please write to these water protectors:
Dion Ortiz
Heart of America Correction Center
110 Industrial Road
Rugby, North Dakota 58368

Ellen Gerhart #18-0983
700 Rishel Hill Road
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823

Little Feather* #25201-075
USP Hazelton
Post Office Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, West Virginia 26525
*Address envelope to Michael Giron

Red Fawn Fallis #16358-059
FMC Carswell
Post Office Box 27137
Fort Worth, Texas 76127