Archive
Illustrated Guide Version 13.7 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 Jalil Muntaqim (parole) and David Campbell (completion of sentence)!
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 14th – Letter-Writing Dinner For David Gilbert and Jalil Muntaqim
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 14th, 2020
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
While the majority of Americans use New Years Eve as an excuse to drink as much alcohol as they can consume only to ‘turn over a new leaf’ the following day by joining a gym, we at NYC ABC are doing the work we always do. We were excited to see your smiling faces at our annual New Year’s Eve Noise Demo at MCC in Manhattan. And as per usual, we will be kicking off yet another calendar year of bi-weekly letter writing nights and hope to see y’all there, too.
NYC ABC is starting the first month of the year by focusing on comrades near to us, both in affinity and proximity–David Gilbert and Jalil Muntaqim, two of our New York state political prisoners.
David Gilbert was moved in 2019 to Shawangunk Correctional Facility, luckily closer to some comrades and unfortunately farther from others. David is a long time anti-racist and anti-imperialist who is serving a life sentence for his involvement as a white comrade to the Black Liberation Army during an attempted expropriation, better known as the Brinks Robbery. He has continued the struggle while held captive. For more information, see here.
Jalil Muntaqim has been rejected by the New York state parole board a total of thirteen times. September 2019 was the last time Jalil appeared before the Board, and the thirteenth time he has been denied, despite having an excellent record and meeting all requirements to be released on parole. Jalil has submitted a request to Governor Cuomo requesting commutation of sentence to time served, as the parole board is obviously biased. A fair and just parole hearing is impossible for Jalil and our other New York State political prisoners. More information at freejalil.com
We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to David and Jalil:
David Gilbert #83-A-6158
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 700
Wallkill, New York 12589-0700
Jalil Muntaqim* #77-A-4283
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116
*Address envelope to Anthony Bottom.
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 8th – Letter-Writing Dinner For David, Jalil, and Joy
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
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
While the majority of Americans use New Years Eve as an excuse to drink as much alcohol as they can consume only to ‘turn over a new leaf’ the following day by joining a gym, we at NYC ABC are doing the work we always do. We were excited to see your smiling (albeit it rain-drenched) faces at our annual New Year’s Eve Noise Demo at MCC in Manhattan. And as per usual, we will be kicking off yet another calendar year of bi-weekly letter writing nights and hope to see y’all there, too.
NYC ABC is starting the first month of the year by focusing on comrades near to us, both in affinity and proximity–David Gilbert, Jalil Muntaqim, and Joy Powell, three of our New York state political prisoners.
David Gilbert was moved in 2016 to Wende Correctional Facility, luckily closer to some comrades and unfortunately farther from others. David is a long time anti-racist and anti-imperialist who is serving a life sentence for his involvement as a white comrade to the Black Liberation Army during an attempted expropriation, better known as the Brinks Robbery. He has continued the struggle while held captive. For more information, see here.
Jalil Muntaqim has been rejected by the New York state parole board a total of ten times. December 2018 was the last time Jalil appeared before the Board, and the tenth time he has been denied, despite having an excellent record and meeting all requirements to be released on parole. Jalil has submitted a request to Governor Cuomo requesting commutation of sentence to time served, as the parole board is obviously biased. A fair and just parole hearing is impossible for Jalil and our other New York State political prisoners. More information at freejalil.com
Reverend Joy Powell was warned by the Rochester Police department that she was a target because of her speaking out against corruption. On many occasions, Rev. Joy held rallies and spoke out against the police brutality and “police justifications” in Rochester, New York. As a result, she was accused and convicted of 1st Degree Burglary and Assault. Rev. Joy has filed multiple grievances for sexual assault and religious discrimination among other things, and has been repeatedly denied medical attention for her diabetes and asthma. For more information on how you can help support, read here.
We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to David, Jalil, and Joy:
David Gilbert #83-A-6158
Wende Correctional Facility
3040 Wende Road
Alden, New York 14004
Jalil Muntaqim* #77-A-4283
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116
*Address envelope to Anthony Bottom.
Reverend Joy Powell #07-G-0632
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 1000
Bedford Hills, New York 10507-2499
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 2nd – Letter-Writing Dinner For Herman, Seth, and Jalil
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 2nd, 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
While the majority of Americans use New Years Eve as an excuse to drink as much alcohol as they can consume only to ‘turn over a new leaf’ the following day by joining a gym, we at NYC ABC will be doing the work that we always do. We hope to see your smiling (albeit it freezing) faces this Sunday at our annual New Year’s Eve Noise Demo at MCC in Manhattan. And as per usual, we will be kicking off yet another calendar year of bi-weekly letter writing nights and hope to see y’all there, too.
This week join NYC ABC as we write to three of our New York state political prisoners: Herman Bell, Robert Seth Hayes, and Jalil Muntaqim. All three of these elders are up for parole this year for what feels like the millionth time. Parole preparation years can be particularly taxing; prisoners and their support team, legal crew, family, friends, and communities all pour a lot of time and energy into the preparations for getting them to the parole hearing in hopes of getting our comrades out from behind the walls. Come by on Tuesday for a hot vegan meal and to send them all a nice message of support during this time.
Herman Bell has been to the New York state parole board 7 times and been denied 7 times. His next parole board appearance will be in February 2018, when he will be 70 years old. At this next appearance, we hope that Herman will have a better chance of being seriously considered and therefore released. New regulations governing parole hearings mandate that an applicant’s risk of recidivism be considered as a “guiding principle” of the hearing. Herman has the very lowest risk score, based on the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s measures. In addition, six new parole commissioners were added to the Board and several, though not all, of the older, law-enforcement connected ones have been retired. More information at freehermanbell.org
Robert Seth Hayes has been to the New York state parole board 10 times and has been denied each time. Each time, the board—always made of up former law enforcement personnel and former prosecutors—reviews his very impressive record, all the institutional programs participated in and completed, college attended while inside, his job offers, his numerous letters of support from family, friends, and community members from many walks of life. Seth had a petition that received over 1000 signatures at his last trip to the board. Seth is one of the longest held political prisoners and suffers immense health problems, most notably his diabetes. It is imperative that he get out now before it is too late. More information at kersplebedeb.com/posts/robert-seth-hayes
Jalil Muntaqim has been rejected by the New York state parole board a total of 9 times. June 2016 was the last time Jalil had been to the Board, and the ninth time he had been denied, despite having an excellent record and meeting all requirements to be released on parole. Jalil has submitted a request to Gov. Cuomo requesting commutation of sentence to time served, as the parole board is obviously biased. A fair and just parole hearing is impossible for Jalil and our other NY State political prisoners. More information at freejalil.com
We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Herman, Seth, and Jalil:
Herman Bell #79-C-0262
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 700
Wallkill, New York 12589
Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116
Jalil Muntaqim* #77-A-4283
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116
*Address envelope to Anthony Bottom.
Illustrated Guide Version 12.9 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.
Illustrated Guide Version 12.8 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.
Illustrated Guide Version 12.2 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.
Action Alert Against Gov Cuomo’s Proposed NYS Visitation Restrictions
We have been made aware of an awful piece of the Governor’s budget proposal that that would affect thousands of folks in New York State (NYS) prisons, including all of the political prisoners in New York who we list in our guide. This call to action has been circulating and we hope that you will take part and pass it along as well:
Governor Cuomo has just proposed to limit visiting at New York State maximum security prisons to three days a week instead of the current seven. If passed, this measure will be awful for David Gilbert, Herman Bell, Seth Hayes, Jalil Muntaqim and thousands of other maximum security prisoners.
This proposal will seriously escalate suffering and family disruption. Under the current seven-day system, weekend visitors (many are women with young children) often wait two to three hours to see their loved ones. With reduced days, the wait will be longer, the visitor rooms more crowded, the visiting days and hours even more limited. This will be terrible for everyone and impossible for many.
Illustrated Guide Version 12 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 removes Justin Solondz (halfway house!). Unfortunately, it also includes the addition of recently-imprisoned animal liberation comrade Nicole Kissane and the removal of Christopher Monfort (deceased, REST IN POWER!).