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NYC – Sunday, September 18th – 2011 Benefit Book Sale for Daniel McGowan
WHAT: 6th Annual Benefit Book Sale for Daniel McGowan
WHEN: 11am to 7pm, Sunday, September 18th, 2011 [rain date: TBA]
WHERE: Bedford Avenue at North 6th Street in Brooklyn
COST: There will be books priced for any budget
It’s that time of year again. With so many folks going back to school, books are on our minds. And what better way to get some great books than to also financially aid a political prisoner? We’ve had great success and good times with these book sales in the past and this year will be no different.
Why a fundraiser now? While you may not realize it, life in prison can actually be really expensive. From making overpriced phone calls and e-mail access, to having to buy basic necessities from the commissary at prices many times that of retail, Daniel’s living costs have add up. For that reason, even if you can’t make it to the book sale, please consider donating to Daniel today. Without donations from friends and supporters, Daniel would be unable to buy the minimal goods that provide a small amount of comfort while he is imprisoned. Not to mention the staggering amount of money he still owes for the legal representation during his trial.
On Sunday, September 18th, Book Thug Nation and Family & Friends of Daniel McGowan will be having an all-day book sale to raise money for Daniel’s legal defense and commissary fund. The sale will be held at the Book Thug Nation book tables on Bedford Avenue and North 6th Street in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Along with great books at inexpensive prices, there will be music, a table with Daniel t-shirts, merchandise and literature and maybe even some free food!
To make the sale happen we NEED your book donations– preferably ahead of time. Please see the list of guidelines below for what to donate. The best way to donate is to bring your books to the Book Thug Nation storefront at 100 North 3rd Street (between Berry and Wythe Streets) from 12-9pm any day before the sale. Please be sure to tell whoever is working that the books are specifically for the Daniel McGowan Benefit Sale. You can also bring books to North 6th Street and Bedford Avenue the morning of September18th or contact krazdale@gmail.com to make specific arrangements for donating.
DONATION GUIDELINES
BOOKS WE WANT:
-Contemporary and Classic Literary Fiction (e.g. Murakami, Nabokov, Plath, Safran Foer, Hemingway, Didion, Poe, Bolano, et cetera)
-Non Fiction on topics such as:
History
Sociology
Women’s Studies
African American
Latino/a
Art
Eastern Religion
Alternative Health/Nutrition
-Dictionaries and Thesauruses (these books will be donated directly to NYC Books Through Bars)
Books we DON’T want:
-Pulp fiction (a.k.a drug store paperbacks, best-sellers, e.g. Danielle Steele, Michael Crichton, Anne Rice, Tom Clancy, et cetera)
-Cook Books
-Self Help
Books that aren’t sold on the day of the sale will be held for future benefits or donated to NYC Books Through Bars.
Brought to you by Book Thug Nation
Thanks for your continued support of Daniel!
NYC Running Down the Walls 2011 – A Reportback
Running Down the Walls 2011 in NYC went amazingly well. The bird of good omen flew overhead as we arrived at Prospect Park and found parking in the slot closest to the entrance. Those who have tried to park in any of the five boroughs know what that means. We took to transferring everything from the car to the start/finish/picnic spot, while one of us walked and marked the run’s route. The route is commonly known as “The Inner Loop” by local runners and two laps around equals almost exactly 3.1 miles, or 5 kilometers.
Given that this was also a picnic– outdoors, breezy, and mildly unpredictable, we set up a scaled down version of our literature table. This meant selling only buttons and water-bottles and copies of “Fire to the Prisons” magazine, which were donated to us as a fundraiser. Free literature included tri-folds about the New York State political prisoners and prisoners of war; a palm card that addresses the existence of political prisoners and prisoners of war in the United States on one side and information about NYC ABC as well as a list of our Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner dates for the remainder of the year on the other side; and sign-up/sponsor sheets for the event.
We also had printed number plates for the participants. The flipside of the plates had information about NYC ABC and guidelines for writing to prisoners, making it both a memento and a useful reminder to write to folks.
RDTW 2011 was an inside job. Not really, you fucking wingnuts!
Participants started arriving about 1:50 and it was clear that they were excited about Running Down the Walls and serious about their sponsorships and running.
We planned on having registration from 2:00-2:30, with a race start at 2:30. However, after a few comrades called to let us know they were on their way, we decided to wait. And while some showed up as much as an hour later and ran or walked the course, folks were stretched, warmed up, and ready to run down some damned walls! That those who showed up really late didn’t just kick down money, but also wanted to do the damned thing is a testament to the power of the event.
One NYC ABC collective member had been talking all this shit about winning last year and to expect the same for 2011. Unfortunately for that comrade, some folks brought serious running to the table. One of the participants actually got their college paid for on a track scholarship! So as a note to those looking to run down the walls in New York City– you better start training, because you WILL have real competition. A lot of folks had specialized road running shoes and a few had running shorts. And that gear was worn in and not for show.
By about 2:40, late-comers showed up and the run was on. Having the run consist of two laps gave folks an idea of the course, so they could strategize their second lap after finishing the first. The person who first crossed the finish line did so in under twenty minutes. It was the person who went to college on a track scholarship and hadn’t trained in years. The next person, maybe a minute or less off the lead, was from NYC ABC. For someone who hasn’t trained for a run since last year’s Running Down the Walls, that’s pretty impressive. Second place is FIRST runner-up, right? We’re all winners, it’s just for fun, this wasn’t a competition, et cetera– whatever it takes to make a comrade feel better, right?
The turnout was strong, with between twenty-five and thirty folks participating throughout the day and plenty of others who came to show their support. A fair number of park guests stopped at the table to get information about the prisoners, Running Down the Walls, and NYC ABC. A few runners garnered over $100 each in sponsors, and several others raised almost as much. All told, between the event and what was sold through our table, we raised a respectable amount of loot. Half of the funds will go the the ABCF Warchest Program, the remainder to the Safe OUTside the System Collective (SOS is an anti-violence program led by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, and Gender Non Conforming people of color. They are devoted to challenging hate and police violence by using community based strategies rather than relying on the police.)
After folks cooled down and had group photos taken by Dequi (recently married to Sekou Odinga), we ate. It’s a good thing Rolling Down the Walls 2011 wasn’t a competition in regards to either the run (though the first five or eight runners certainly treated it as such) or the food. Hurt feelings are certain if anyone tried to compete with one collective member’s vegan pulled pork sandwiches. With thinly-sliced white onion and tomato on a bun…holy shit. We had sweet tea, lemonade, root beer, and ice cold water to keep us hydrated.
Folks sitting around, talking, having just shared the run, felt good. The group consisted of folks from diverse backgrounds, many of whom were new faces to our collective. Facebook friends brought IRL friends and comrades & allies turned up as well. South Brooklyn ABCF, Family and Friends of Daniel McGowan, NYC Jericho Movement, Leonard Peltier Defense/Offense Committee, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and the Sekou Odinga Defense Committee were among the represented organizations that explicitly work on political prisoner support.
Most folks had left by 6:30 and those who stayed did so to help clean up and transfer everything to the car. So the event went as scheduled, almost to the minute.
Knowing the history of the run and the imprisoned comrades with whom we ran in solidarity elevated Running Down the Walls 2011 to an even more inspiring level.
And that’s how we get down (the walls).
NYC ABC
NYC – Sunday, July 31st – Running Down the Walls 2011!
WHAT: Running Down the Walls – 5k Run/Walk/Jog/Bike
WHEN: 2:00-7:00pm, Sunday, July 31th
WHERE: Prospect Park– Lincoln Road/East Lake Drive, east of the Terrace Bridge (see the below map for exact location)
COST: $10 registration (includes food and drinks afterwards)
Every year, prisoners and supporters of political prisoners organize solidarity events with Running Down the Walls. Last year, we had runs in Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA), Denver (CO), Elmore (AL), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA), Marion (IL), New York (NY), USP Navosta (TX), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto, Ontario. This year we hope to expand the amount of runs in prisons and other cities, as well as increase the amount of funds raised for community projects.
This year’s run will take place on Sunday, July 31st at 2:00pm in solidarity and conjunction with runs that will take place in cities and prison yards across the country at the same time.
REGISTER AS, OR SPONSOR, A PARTICIPANT
For this to be a success, we need your support.
* Run/walk/bike/roll in the 5k – We need participants who can run/walk/bike/roll the 5k and are able to collect financial pledges to offer as donations to the run. Download the brochure, complete with registration and sponsor form right here.
* Volunteer for the run – We need folks who are willing to staff a registration/literature table, hand out water, bike the route as street medics, and help chalk the route beforehand.
* Donate to the run/sponsor a participant – If you are not able to attend, but want to support this fundraising effort, please mail donations to:
NYC ABC
Post Office Box 110034
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Your donation of $10 or more entitles you to the celebratory picnic after the event.
Each year, we split proceeds between the Anarchist Black Cross Federation’s Warchest Program and a local organization. This year’s partner group will be the Safe OUTside the System Collective.
The Warchest Program:
The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) has initiated a program designed to send monthly checks to those Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War who have been receiving insufficient, little, or no financial support during their imprisonment. The Warchest program was initiated in November 1994. It’s purpose is to collect monthly funds from groups and individual supporters, and send that money to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War (PP/POW) via monthly checks. For more information, visit: http://www.abcf.net/abcf.asp?page=warchest
Safe OUTside the System:
The Safe OUTside the System (SOS) Collective is an anti-violence program led by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, and Gender Non Conforming people of color. We are devoted to challenging hate and police violence by using community based strategies rather than relying on the police. For more information, visit: http://alp.org/community/sos
We’ll be starting here:
Directions:
From the B or Q train, get off at the Prospect Park stop. Walk to Lincoln Road and turn right into the park. We’ll be about 700 feet away.
The event will be two laps around what is known as the Inner Loop, and will total five kilometers. For the curious, here’s what it looks like:
Of course, if you have any questions, e-mail us at nycabc at riseup dot net
NYC Supporters– Solidarity Raffle for Marie Mason & Eric McDavid Has Been Extended!
Raffle tickets are ON SALE NOW!
Available for purchase online at supportmariemason.org via Paypal. Raffle ticket confirmation numbers will be sent to your e-mail address upon payment. Online tickets will only be sold in threes.
Also available for sale in person at events throughout the city! Check supportmariemason.org for a list of events and locations TBA!
Watch the raffle drawing LIVE with host Annie Nonymous on Monday, July 11th, at 8pm Eastern. http://www.ustream.tv/user/nycjune11
Win prizes from:
Spectacle Theater
Book Thug Nation
Champs Family Bakery
Autonomedia
Black and Red Books
Mooshoes
Lula’s Sweet Apothecary
Acupuncture by Famous
Sparrow Media
Prints by Molly Fair
Arissa Media
Kingsland Sandwich Shop
Green is the New Red
Bluestockings
Amie’s Vegan Truffles
Local Artists
& many more!!
For more information, visit:
june11.org
SupportMarieMason.org
SupportEric.org
or e-mail:
supportmariemason [at] gmail [dot] com
nycabc [at] riseup [dot] net
REMINDER: June 11th International Day of Solidarity with Marie Mason and Eric McDavid
It’s hot outside! Join us on a Lower East Side rooftop for drinks, food, and music, all in support of two long-term greenscare anarchist political prisoners! Events in support of Marie Mason and Eric McDavid are happening on four continents– come and be a part of this worldwide day of international solidarity!
Support Marie Mason NYC and NYC Anarchist Black Cross are hosting a barbecue and raffle to provide material support for the two Earth and animal liberation prisoners serving the longest sentences. Disproportionately long sentences are one characteristic of the government’s campaign against Earth and animal liberationists known as the Green Scare.
Raffle tickets are ON SALE NOW!
Available for purchase at the BBQ and ahead of time at Book Thug Nation (100 North 3rd Street) in Williamsburg.
Win prizes from:
Spectacle Theater
Book Thug Nation
Champs Family Bakery
Autonomedia
Black and Red Books
Mooshoes
Lula’s Sweet Apothecary
Acupuncture by Famous
Sparrow Media
Arissa Media
Kingsland Sandwich Shop
Green is the New Red
Bluestockings
Amie’s Vegan Truffles
Local Artists
& many more!!
For more information, visit:
june11.org
SupportMarieMason.org
SupportEric.org
BK/NY – May 29th – Anarchist Memorial Day Comes A Day Early
WHAT: Anarchist Memorial Day BBQ and Flag-Burning
WHEN: 4:00pm-Midnight, Sunday, May 29th
WHERE: 60 Vernon Avenue (between Nostrand and Marcy Avenues), Brooklyn (G to Myrtle/Willoughby or J/M to Myrtle)
COST: No cover, cheap food and drinks!
Look, we’re rarely on time for anything. On the upside, we’re usually early. And while we’re happy to get an extra day off from work, we’re celebrating our memorial day a day early. Fuck your heroes, fuck your flags.
Want to escape the plaguing patriotism? Sunday May 29th, NYC Anarchist Black Cross will be having a barbecue to support our troops, raising funds for anarchists in trouble. Cheap drinks, cheap food and no cover! Bring you friends, burn some flags and party with us.
All Proceeds go to the Anarchist Defense Fund- to bail out comrades who step up the game.
No BYOB, but by all means, BYOF (bring your own flag…to burn)!
NYC: SAVE THE DATE – June 11th – International Day of Solidarity with Marie Mason and Eric McDavid
*********SAVE THE DATE*********
With the recent indictment of Jesse Waters on charges dating back to over a decade ago, it’s clear the specter of the Green Scare has yet to recede. In response to this and the call for an International Day of Solidarity with MarieMason and Eric McDavid, Support Marie Mason NYC and NYC Anarchist Black Cross are hosting a barbecue and raffle to provide material support for the two Earth and animal liberation prisoners serving the longest sentences. Disproportionately long sentences are one characteristic of the government’s campaign against Earth and animal liberationists known as the Green Scare.
Be on the lookout for more details about this event, as well as where to buy raffle tickets, in the next couple of weeks. Please tell your friends and comrades and we’ll see you on June 11th.
For more information, visit:
june11.org
SupportMarieMason.org
SupportEric.org
NYC Anarchist Black Cross 