BK/NY – Tuesday, November 8th – Letter-writing for Ramsey Orta

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, November 8th, 2016
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 the laziest form of “politics” is finally drawing near its end for another four years and your racist aunts and uncles stop pretending to think about the world outside their tiny bubble and go back to filling up your social media feed with cat memes and candy crush invites, you are invited to come support political prisoners and prisoners of war against the white supremacist State with us this Tuesday.

This week we are writing to local newly incarcerated Copwatcher and anti-police activist Ramsey Orta.  Cops targeting and murdering people in an effort to decimate communities of color is a practice as old as the institution of police itself.  It is not new.  However, now that technology has progressed and more people have video recording devices in their pockets ready to film in an instant, some cops are being caught in the act and documented.

In July 2014 Ramsey was in front of a corner store on Staten Island when vicious murdering pig David Pantaleo wrapped his arm around Eric Garner’s neck and squeezed until his final breath.  Having dealt with police before Ramsey had the forethought to grab his camera phone and start recording. He captured the final moments of Eric Garner’s life, in which he uttered the now infamous phrase and rallying cry,  “I can’t breathe.”  Ramsey released the video, which instantly went viral and inspired folks to hit the streets across the country against the police. Given the State’s goals of maintaining white supremacy it should come as no surprise that the only person who both walked away from the scene of Eric Garner’s death alive and faced any real consequences handed down by the State is Ramsey.  Since the uploading of the video, Ramsey has been harassed non-stop by the NYPD and was arrested numerous times.  On one occasion when the police were targeting and arresting him, they even pulled out their phones and said “You filmed us, now we are filming you.”  One of these charges stuck and Ramsey surrendered himself to begin a four year sentence on October 3rd.

For more information, visit ramseyorta.info

If you are unable to attend, please take the time to write Ramsey a card or letter:
Ramsey Orta #16-A-4200
Downstate Correctional Facility
121 Red Schoolhouse Road
Fishkill, New York 10309

BK/NY – Tuesday, June 21st – Letter Writing Dinner for Janye Waller

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 21st, 2016
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

In this time of immense and unbelievable sorrow it is important that we not lose sight of our goals to create a better world that strives to dismantle the kind of hatred that comes from authority, whether systemic or societal. One of the many ways to continue this process is to strengthen our communities despite those oppressive forces. With that in mind, we hope you will join us as we write to Janye Waller, a recently incarcerated comrade who fought against the State’s war to maintain white supremacy.

After the police murders of Mike Brown and Eric Garner in 2014, thousands of people took to the streets in protest. Janye was one of those folks and was recently sentenced to two years for incidents related to those actions. From Janye’s support crew: “He lives and works in Oakland, providing financial support to his mother, his two younger brothers, and his cousin. He attended Berkeley Community College where he planned to major in Accounting, but had to take leave in order to help support his family, and he hopes to return to college soon. Janye also volunteers at a social center in West Oakland that works to empower Black and indigenous people living in the Bay Area through education and mutual aid. Within this space Janye works tirelessly, helping coordinate and administer programs focusing on skills like urban farming, which foster both community and individual autonomy.” There is an ongoing campaign to raise funds for Janye’s commissary and legal fees: https://rally.org/supportjanye

Janye can use a constant flow of solidarity going his way. If you will not be joining us for dinner on Tuesday, please write to him at:

Janye Waller BA2719
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, California 94974

ACAB FTP

BK/NY – Tuesday, September 1st– Letter-Writing for Christopher Monfort

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, September 1st, 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

With the seemingly never-ending rise of police murdering and brutalizing people of color with unrepentant disregard, it should be a shock to none that some will defend themselves and their communities with whatever means they see fit.  This week we will be writing Christopher Monfort.

In 2009, Christopher Monfort waged a one man war against the Seattle Police Department.

On October 22, 2009, police vehicles parked in a vehicle maintenance yard in Seattle were firebombed. Several vehicles were destroyed and many damaged in the action. A communique was issued days later tying the incident to the beating of a young girl held in custody by Seattle Police.

Less that two weeks later, on October 31, 2009, Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton was killed and his partner, Britt Sweeney, was wounded. According to the Seattle police, Brenton was sitting in the passenger seat of a patrol car with Sweeney discussing a just completed traffic stop when a vehicle pulled alongside the patrol car and an occupant opened fire. Officer Brenton was instantly killed . Sweeney was grazed in the back by one shot, but able to get out of the patrol car, return fire at the fleeing vehicle, and call for additional units.

During the investigation, detectives and officers linked Monfort’s car to the crime, and attempted to arrest him at his apartment. When officers arrived, Monfort is said to have pulled a gun and opened fire. Monfort was shot by police and is now paralyzed as a result of the confrontation.

Since the start of court proceedings, Monfort has been doggedly outspoken about the role of police in society, specific instances of police violence, and has consistently called on other people in the United States to confront police terror in their communities and use armed tactics to do so if necessary.

Monfort was convicted of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of arson.  The state asked the jury to sentence him to be murdered by the state, but they instead sentenced him to life in prison.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Christopher at:

Christopher John Monfort #209040021
500 Fifth Avenue
Seattle , Washington 98104

BK/NY – Tuesday, April 14 – Letter-writing to Seth Hayes and Abdul Majid

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, April 14th, 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
In the announcements for our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinners, NYC ABC typically tries to draw attention to something not directly tied to our work in supporting political prisoners. Maybe it’s a commentary on something trending in corporate media or the ridiculousness of pop culture. However, with the consistent attack on Black folks by cops, direct or indirect, we are unable to focus on much else. Whether it is a murder and attempted cover up by cops in South Carolina or the attempted murder by medical negligence of our comrade Mumia Abu-Jamal, the system and institutions of white supremacy are as strong now as they were seven years ago, seventy years ago, and since the inception of this country. With that in mind, we are writing to prisoners who resisted white supremacy as it bore down upon them– Robert “Seth” Hayes and Abdul Majid.

You won’t want to miss this letter-writing– we have the Jericho Movement‘s Mogadishu as a guest speaker.

In 1973, following a shootout with police, Seth Hayes was arrested and convicted of the murder of a New York City police officer, and, while maintaining his innocence to this day, sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Imprisoned for nearly forty years, Seth has long since served his sentence. Seth has ongoing health issues, including diabetes, that continue to be poorly managed by the Department of Corrections.

On April 16th, 1981 a van was pulled over by NYPD. Two occupants exited the van and fired upon the cops—one was killed, the other injured. Despite claims by the police that the van was pulled over for connections to burglaries, the folder of “suspects” circulated by the cops exclusively consisted of former Panthers, not burglary suspects. Abdul Majid and his co-defendant, Bashir Hameed were arrested and tried three times. The first trial ended in a hung jury. The second trial was declared a mistrial by the judge immediately after the jury rendered a decision that acquitted Bashir on the murder charge. At a third trial, the state finally got its way—Abdul was convicted of murder and sentenced to 33 years to life. Abdul is expected to go before the parole board for the first time later this month.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write letters (and send books) to the prisoners:
Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116

Abdul Majid #83-A-0483
Five Points Correctional Facility
6600 State Route 96
Caller Box 119
Romulus, New York 14541

NYC – Tuesday, August 19th – Solidarity With International Anarchist Political Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, August 19, 2014
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free

Rebels are getting wild in the streets, fed up with the abuse and brutality regularly meted out by cops. We in NYC ABC say up the rebels, including those comrades behind bars. And how do we support those imprisoned revolutionaries? One way is through our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinners. This week we are a little early in answering the call for solidarity with international anarchist political prisoners.

Many imprisoned anarchists will never be acknowledged as ‘political prisoners’ by formal human-rights organizations, because their sense of social justice is strictly limited to the capitalist laws which are designed to defend the State and prevent any real social change. At the same time, even within our individual communities, we know so little about the repression that exists in other countries.

Here in the states, folks are being persecuted for possibly even associating with anarchists or animal liberationists. Around the globe, the state and capital collude in much the same way, and as a result rebels are imprisoned for acting on their desire for a free world. Please join us in sending cards to these imprisoned comrades. We’ll see you at supper!

NYC – Tuesday, February 19th – Letter-writing for the Nebraska 2

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
If there is one known shared value in our overlapping communities, it’s that folks do not like cops. These days, even cops don’t like cops. And while they are snooping on us, comrades return the favor in kind. Meanwhile, we in NYC ABC continue apace, supporting prisoners with our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner. This week we are writing to the Nebraska 2– former Black Panthers framed for the bombing death of a cop in 1970.

The Two were charged and convicted of the murder of an Omaha cop who died when a suitcase containing dynamite exploded in a North Omaha home on August 17, 1970. A second cop was also injured in the explosion.

Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa (formerly David Rice) were members of the Black Panther Party, and their case was, and continues to be, controversial. The Omaha Police withheld exculpatory evidence at trial. The two men had been targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program), that operated against and infiltrated anti-war and Civil Rights groups, including the Omaha Black Panthers. The US section of Amnesty International recognizes we Langa and Poindexter as political prisoners. The state’s parole board have recommended the men for release, but political leaders have not acted on these recommendations. For more information, visit n2pp.info

If, for whatever reason, you can’t make it to dinner, please take the time to write the Two a letter:
David Rice* #27768
Nebraska State Penitentiary
Post Office Box 2500
Lincoln, Nebraska 68542-2500
*Address card to Mondo Eyen we Langa

Ed Poindexter #27767
Nebraska State Penitentiary
Post Office Box 2500
Lincoln, Nebraska 68542

BK/NY – Tuesday, July 5th – Come Support Anti-Police Violence Prisoner Christopher Monfort

What: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
When: 7pm (sharp), Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
Where: 885 Park Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (see below for directions)
Cost: Free

Well, we’re not too surprised if you aren’t out eating barbecue and celebrating the supposed independence of the country we’re living in. It shouldn’t be long before there’s a holiday a month that can be reduced down to waving the flag and shedding a single tear for the sentimental myth of how great this nation is. The state and capital still keep the yoke tightly around our necks, making sure we nurse from the teat of misinformation that is corporate media. Many of us remain placated or worse, rabidly defending the lies with which we’re consistently bombarded. Others, however, see through the bullshit, resolute in our determination to upend  the whole rotten system. With that in mind, NYC ABC is hosting another of our every-other-week Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinners. This week we’ll be writing to anti-police violence soldier Christopher Monfort.

In 2009, Christopher Monfort allegedly waged a one man war against the Seattle Police Department.

On October 22, 2009, police vehicles parked in a vehicle maintenance yard in Seattle were firebombed. Several vehicles were destroyed and many damaged in the action. A communique was issued days later tying the incident to the beating of a young girl held in custody by Seattle Police.

Less that two weeks later, on October 31, 2009, Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton was killed and his partner, Britt Sweeney, was wounded. According to the Seattle police, Brenton was sitting in the passenger seat of a patrol car with Sweeney discussing a just completed traffic stop when a vehicle pulled alongside the patrol car and an occupant opened fire. Officer Brenton was instantly killed . Sweeney was grazed in the back by one shot, but able to get out of the patrol car, return fire at the fleeing vehicle, and call for additional units.

During the investigation, detectives and officers linked Monfort’s car to the crime, and attempted to arrest him at his apartment. When officers arrived, Monfort is alleged to have pulled a gun and opened fire. Monfort was shot by police and is now paralyzed as a result of the alleged confrontation.

Since the start of court proceedings, Monfort has been doggedly outspoken about the role of police in society, specific instances of police violence, and has consistently called on other people in the United States to confront police terror in their communities and use armed tactics to do so if necessary.

Monfort’s court proceedings are ongoing and his fate is unclear. He can use any and all support available. He is now facing the death penalty in Washington state for his alleged actions.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Christopher at:

Christopher John Monfort #209040021
500 Fifth Avenue
Seattle , Washington 98104

The deal, as always, is that you come bringing only yourself (and your friends and comrades), and we provide you with a delicious vegan meal, information about the prisoners as well as all of the letter-writing materials and prisoner-letter-writing info you could ever want to use in one evening. In return, you write a thoughtful letter to a political prisoner or prisoner of war of your choosing or, better yet, keep up a long-term correspondence. We’ll also provide some brief updates and pass around birthday cards for the PP/POWs whose birthdays fall in the next two weeks thanks to the Anarchist Birthday Brigade.

DIRECTIONS:
Getting to 885 Park Avenue is simple:
From the J/M/Z:
Flushing Stop: Walk southeast on Broadway (toward Sumner Place, away from Thornton Street) and make a right on Park Avenue. We’re halfway down the block, on your right.
Myrtle Stop: Walk northwest on Broadway (toward Melrose Street, away from Troutman Street) and make a left on Park Avenue. We’re halfway down the block on the right.

From the G Train:
Flushing Avenue Stop: Walk south on Marcy Avenue (toward Hopkins Street, away from Wallabout Street) and turn left on Park Avenue. We’re three and a half blocks down on the left.
Myrtle-Willoughby Avenues Stop: Walk north on Marcy Avenue (toward Stockton Street, away from Vernon Avenue) and turn right on Park Avenue. We’re three and a half blocks down on your left.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. Otherwise, we’ll see you at supper.

This event is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Anarchist Black Cross.–

NYC ABC
Post Office Box 110034
Brooklyn, New York 11211

nycabc[at]riseup[dot]net
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Free all Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War!
For the Abolition of State Repression and Domination!