Letter Writing in the Park for George Floyd Uprising Defendants

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter Writing in the Park
WHEN: 2:00-4:00pm Saturday, June 11th 2022
WHERE: Prospect Park – Lincoln Road/East Lake Drive, east of the Terrace Bridge (see the below map for exact location)
COST: Free

Join NYC ABC and Page One Collective on Saturday, June 11th for a letter writing in the park! We will be highlighting some defendants and prisoners of the George Floyd uprisings. We also encourage folx to write to those included in the June 11th International Day of Solidarity.

We will be meeting at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the same location we host Running Down the Walls each year.

From the 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.

We will have surfaces to write on, pens, paper, postage, and information on the people we’re writing. Just bring yourself! And a friend!

Tuesday, June 2nd – Letter Writing for Marius Mason

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

Are there things worth dying for? For going out into the world, mid-pandemic, and risking infection for? Of course there are! But going back to work early to please a boss or pushing folks into work to salvage a crumbling capitalism aren’t two of them. Standing up to systems of oppression in the face of murderous cops is worth it and over the last week, we’ve seen brave folks get together to say cops won’t murder Black folks with no response. The state’s reaction will likely be harsh, the punishments draconian, and still folks rise up. In NYC ABC, we focus work on those living under repression in prison for actions taken in the ongoing quest for justice. Although we remain quarantined from our in-person communities, the work continues. Therefore, instead of coming together at The Base in Brooklyn, we ask that folks participate in keeping prisoners from being more alienated than they already are, by writing from home. Please post a photo of your addressed envelope on social media and tag us (with your return address blurred out) and we will share it, building digital community while our analog community stays indoors and washes its hands. This week, collaborating with comrades from Page One Collective, in an early reply to the call for June 11 actions, we focus our every-other-week letter-writing on eco-anarchist political prisoner Marius Mason.

Marius Mason is an anarchist, environmental, and animal rights prisoner. In March 2008, he was arrested by federal authorities for charges related to two acts of property destruction that occurred in 1999 and 2000 – damaging an office connected to GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) research, and destroying a piece of logging equipment. No one was injured in either act. He faced a life sentence before accepting a plea bargain in September 2008.

Mason was sentenced on February 5, 2009 in federal court in Lansing, Michigan. He received almost 22 years – the longest sentence of any Green Scare prisoner. An appeal for a reduction in his sentence was denied in 2010.

Marius was quarantined starting April 25, when he tested positive for the corona virus. Marius has underlying factors that make him vulnerable to COVID 19, and legal options are being pursued, thanks to his attorney. More information at supportmariusmason.org

Please take the time to write a letter to Marius (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Marie (Marius) Mason #04672-061
FCI Danbury
Route 37
Danbury, Connecticut 06811

BK/NY – Tuesday, June 11th – Letter Writing Dinner for Eco and Anarchist Prisoners + Prison Abolition Discussion

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 11th, 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
NYC ABC isn’t big on screaming that the sky is falling. That said, THE SKY IS FUCKING FALLING. More and more folks are standing up and resisting impending ecological collapse, protesting unpopular and devastating petro-pipelines, and putting their bodies on the line for their communities and the environment. They are typically confronted by cops, known enemies of working folks and property defenders of the ruling class, and arrested. As a collective, we support those arrested and imprisoned for taking action to protect and defend the planet and part of that support comes in the form of our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinners. This week we respond to the June 11th call for solidarity with long term anarchist political prisoners, while recognizing the history of this day by including earth and animal liberation prisoners. We will also join a discussion with other revolutionaries about prison abolition, as theory and practice.

BK/NY – Tuesday, June 6 – Letter Writing Dinner for June 11th Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 6, 2017
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

Each year, June 11th serves as an international day of solidarity with Marius Mason and long term anarchist prisoners.  The June 11th collective has spent the past couple of weeks interviewing various folks doing direct support work for some of the prisoners featured on this day, including Eric King, Jeremy Hammond, the Cleveland 4, Nicole Kissane & Joseph Buddenberg, among others.  You can check those out and give them a listen here!

Join NYC ABC this Tuesday to write cards to these folks to let them know we’re thinking about them.

If for some insane reason you can’t join us Tuesday, be sure to check out more information about June 11th, including how it started and how it has evolved, here.

BK/NY – Saturday, June 11th – Sacco and Vanzetti Film Screening in Solidarity with Anarchist and Eco Prisoners

WHAT: International Day of Solidarity with Anarchist and Eco Prisoners
WHEN: 8pm, Saturday, June 11th, 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, but we will pass the hat as a fundraiser for prisoners.

Join The Base and NYC ABC here in New York as a part of the celebration of resistance. We will be hearkening back to the history of anarchism and repression in the US, by screening an excellent documentary about anarchist revolutionaries Sacco and Vanzetti who were notoriously railroaded by the US state. The Italian heritage and anarchist political leanings of these two men spurred on the witch hunt against them, so that even though no evidence could be found, newspapers ran headlines such as ‘Hang Them Anyway!’

Sacco and Vanzetti, just like Luigi Galliani, were all anarchist victims of the first Red Scare, which set the stage for the continual anti-communist rhetoric and policy that still influences the US state to this day. From the Palmer Raids to the Green Scare, anarchists have fought against the repressive appendages of the state; and on this day of solidarity we want to celebrate the thrust towards liberation and the rebellious actions of anarchist prison rebels internationally.

We’d like to celebrate the anarchist revolutionaries in the past who we draw inspiration from, and who’s traditions we are carrying to the present. From the insurgent heart of Kuwasi Balagoon or Nestor Makhno, or the oratory of Emma Goldman, or the zeal of Johann Most, we recognize the tradition we are espousing and understand the necessity of struggle.

Today we see the same passion from comrades in Revolutionary Struggle in Greece, the anarchist prisoners in Chile and Spain, the daily war going on in Alabama prisons with Michael Kimble, or the growth of a new International Brigades with anarchist fighters on the frontline in Rojava. In these struggles our traditions continue and we will struggle until the trappings of capitalist society and world of states crumbles.

In this struggle prison is always potentially around the corner. As Alfredo Bonanno warned us, you’re not doing your actions right if you don’t go to prison occasionally. Prison is not to be taken lightly. It is the threat of ultimate oppression and a reality that is all too real for revolutionaries. The anarchists serving prison sentences for their contributions deserve our complete engagement in the struggle.

As the call for this day has stated, “In the weeks since we put out our text for this year, anarchists in Chile, the Czech Republic, Spain, Poland, Azerbaijan, and elsewhere have faced repression by the state for their refusal to submit to this world of exploitation and hierarchy. For us, this only makes more clear the importance of solidarity. If we hope for our comrades to not fall into the oblivion of prison, we must manifest daily, and in every way, our complicity with their struggles.”

More at june11.org

BK/NY – Tuesday, June 7th – Card Signing Dinner for the J11 International Day of Solidarity with Anarchist and Eco Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 7th, 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

This year for the June 11th, International Day of Solidarity with Anarchist and Eco Prisoners we will be signing cards for….you guessed it anarchist and eco prisoners.

In honor of this year’s June 11th folks of The Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP) have organized a massive #PrisonEcology convergence down in DC.  If you can get down there, you absolutely should.  There are great panels and actions planned throughout the span of the weekend.

If you somehow haven’t heard, former political prisoner and social media aficionado Daniel McGowan is getting off probation!  He will be hosting a celebration and benefit for eco-prisoners called “I’m Off Probation!” on June 18th at the Silent Barn.  He just gave word that he will be taking attendance.

Jarrod Shanahan reported for his sentence of one month for the Brooklyn Bridge case that he was arrested for last year following a demo in solidarity with Eric Garner.  He is currently at Rikers Island and you can write to him at this address:
Jarrod Shanahan 3101600544
Eric M. Taylor Center
10-10 Hazen Street
East Elmhurst, New York 11370

NYC – Tuesday, June 9th – Letter-writing to Marius Mason and Eco-prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 9th, 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

What’s less surprising, that a cop stole a dead man’s credit card to buy a diamond ring or that chimpanzees can cook? You’re right, it’s a draw. Also not surprising is that it’s again time for NYC ABC’s every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner (the acronym, PPLWD, just rolls off the tongue). This week, in honor of the call for a June 11th International Day of Solidarity with Marius Mason, Eric McDavid, and long-term eco and anarchist prisoners, we will be sending letters to several imprisoned comrades. Thankfully this year, we won’t be sending a letter to Eric, who has been released.

Three days later, join us, with members of Marius Mason’s local support crew, for a rousing night of Punk Rock Karaoke.

We’ll be joined by a member of Marius’ local support crew and will have information about the other prisoners. If you don’t already know about the folks to whom we are writing, make sure to check out our Illustrated Guide To Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War.

NYC – 7:00pm, Friday, June 12th – Punk Rock Karaoke for Marius Mason and Longterm Anarchist Political Prisoners!

WHAT: Punk Rock Karaoke
WHEN: 7:00pm, Friday, June 12th
WHERE: ABC No Rio – 156 Rivington Street New York, New York 10002
COST: $5-20, sliding scale (it’s a benefit y’all).

Every year in New York City, founding members of Marius Mason‘s support group and NYC Anarchist Black Cross have hosted an event for the Day of Solidarity with Marius Mason, Eric McDavid, and All Longterm Anarchist Prisoners, and this year Punk Rock Karaoke NORTHEAST is getting in on the action!

We once again will storm the venerable punk halls of ABC No Rio for a night of punk rock sing-a-longs! All money raised will benefit Marius Mason and Eric McDavid.

This event is BYOB. We will be selling set-ups (cups, ice, and mixers) so all you have to do is bring a bottle — we’ll handle the rest. We will also be selling incredible vegan baked goods — sweet and savory.

Tell your friends and come ready to have an awesome time!

More info on the benefit:
Marius Mason is serving a 22-year sentence for acts of environmentally motivated property destruction and is fighting to gain access to gender-affirming health care after announcing his transition last year.

Eric McDavid was originally sentenced to almost 20 years in prison after being entrapped by an agent provocateur, and after a surprise ruling by the federal courts, was released this year after almost a decade of incarceration. Building a new life for himself is the next phase of struggle for Eric, and we are committed to continuing our solidarity with him post-release.

Short talks from:
Lawyers who represent Marius Mason
Members of his support group
Former political prisoners on what support means to people on the inside

For more information on June 11: June11.org
For more information on Marius Mason: supportmariusmason.org
For more information on Eric McDavid: supporteric.org

Punk Rock Karaoke is a DIY, fund-raising event that benefits a different community group each time.

Featuring songs from:
Against Me!, Bikini Kill, Black Flag, Bratmobile, Buzzcocks, Choking Victim, The Clash, Circle Jerks, Crass, Dead Kennedys, Descendents, Devo, Flogging Molly, Fugazi, Gogol Bordello, Gorilla Biscuits, Jawbreaker, Joy Division, Minor Threat, The Misfits, NOFX, Operation Ivy, Pixies, The Pogues, Ramones, Rancid, Screeching Weasel, Sex Pistols, Sham 69, Sleater-Kinney, The Smiths, The Specials, Stiff Little Fingers, Wire, X, X-Ray Spex + More!!!

NYC – Tuesday, June 10th – Letter-writing to Marie Mason and Eric McDavid

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 1oth, 2014
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
With wild asses getting wild against the state in Brazil and Spain, it looks like we will be heading into a very hot summer. It’s only through working together to pull this motherfucker down that we’re getting anywhere, and it’s time again to support the folks who have tried to do just that. The simple way NYC ABC does that is through every-other-week letter-writing dinners.

This week, in honor of the call for a June 11th International Day of Solidarity with Marie Mason and Eric McDavid, we will be sending letters to them. And the next night, join us as we co-host a multimedia extravaganza with members of Marie Mason’s local support crew. If you don’t already know about either Eric or Marie, they are the two folks targeted under the Green Scare who face the longest sentences, around twenty years each.

If, for some crazy reason, you can’t join us, please write to Eric and Marie (or send her a book) from home:
Marie Mason #04672-061

FMC Carswell

Post Office Box 27137

Fort Worth, Texas 76127

Eric McDavid #16209-097
FCI Terminal Island
Post Office Box 3007
San Pedro, California 90731

For more information about Eric, visit supporteric.org
For more information about Marie, visit supportmariemason.org

BK/NY – June 11th – International Day of Solidarity With Marie Mason, Eric McDavid and All Eco-Prisoners

WHAT: JUNE 11th
WHEN: 8:00PM, Wednesday, June 11th
WHERE: The Ho_se – 28 Lawton Street Brooklyn, New York 11221 (Directions below)
COST: $5-20, sliding scale

Every year in New York City, founding members of Marie Mason‘s support group and NYC ABC have hosted a June 11 event, and this year is no exception! We have an amazing multi-media presentation of words, images, music, and dancing. All proceeds will go to Marie Mason and Eric McDavid, who are both doing 20+ year sentences for their environmental activism.

Short talks from:

• lawyers who represent Marie Mason
• members of her support group
• former political prisoners on what support means to people on the inside

Slideshow:
Elektra KB (guest contemporary artist)

Music:
What A Fiasco! (cult singer-songwriter)
Known Universe (xVx hip-hop)
Remember When We Trashed the Golf Course (radical folk-punk)
Vulture Shit (stunning punk rock!)

For more information on June 11, see earthfirstjournal.org/june11
For more information on Marie Mason, see supportmariemason.org
For more information on Eric McDavid, see supporteric.org
For the Never Alone exhibit, see neveraloneart.org