Support Tom Manning’s Parole Bid

Political Prisoner from the United Freedom Front, Tom Manning comes up for parole in November and has asked people to submit letters supporting his release on parole. According to Tom, “if folks can just write their own letters expressing each ones ideas rather than all of them sounding like they read a form letter – so that they put their own voice down on paper,” that would be best.

NYC ABC supports Tom’s bid for freedom using whatever means he chooses and are hoping you can take a minute to write a letter on his behalf. Please be polite––expressing your disdain for Tom’s incarceration or your political beliefs is not appropriate for these letters. Tom has been down since 1985 and we need him home.

Your letter should reference Thomas Manning #10373-016 and be sent to:

United States Parole Commission
90 K Street NE, Third Floor
Washington, District of Columbia 20530

Please make a copy and send it to:
Tom Manning 10373-016
FMC Butner
Post Office Box 1600
Butner, North Carolina 27509

Biography
Thomas Manning is a revolutionary who was active in the United Freedom Front, a clandestine anti-imperialist organization that carried out targeted bombings of corporate buildings, courthouses and military facilities and also carried out bank robberies to fund revolutionary projects.   He was unjustly sentenced to 80 years in prison for killing a New Jersey state trooper in self-defense.

Life in Prison
Tom, like many political prisoners, has been designated a “high max” prisoner, which lead him to be on continual lockdown for the first 12 years in prison. Tom has also been subject to physical abuse and denied medical attention while in prison. In 2006, his artwork was taken down from a show entitled “Can’t Jail the Spirit” at the University of Southern Maine following pressure right-wing activists.

Click here to get Tom’s new books of paintings, For Love and Liberty.

Click here for more information on Tom and here to read some of his poetry and other writing.

Illustrated Guide Version 9.3 Now 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 revised mini-bios for several prisoners; the change of Chelsea Manning‘s legal name to, well, Chelsea; and address changes for a few prisoners. Unfortunately, this version also includes the addition of new folks– Cecily McMillan, still awaiting sentencing having been found guilty of assaulting a cop and the Transform Now Plowshares, serving between 3 and 5 years each for a disarmament action at the Oak Ridge Y-12 nuclear facility.

Illustrated Guide Version 9.2 Now 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 revised mini-bios for several prisoners, the addition of birthdays for the vast majority of the prisoners, and address changes for a few prisoners. Additionally,  we removed the MI-CATS 3 (TIME SERVED!), Marshall Eddie Conway (TIME SERVED!), and Fernando González (TIME SERVED!).

NYC – Saturday, November 2nd – 5th Annual Freedom Dance

WHAT: Party With A Purpose – The 5th Annual FREEDOM DANCE
WHEN: 7:30 pm to 1:00 am, Saturday, November 2nd
WHERE: National Black Theater – 2031 5th Avenue (at 125th Street) Harlem
COST: $20 (proceeds support U.S.-held political prisoners)

Celebrate 34 years of liberation of Assata Shakur―and fight to keep her free! There will be food, drink, and dancing with music provided by DJ Revolution. And we’ll introducing the new cocktail, the ¡ASSATA LIBRE!

For more information: FreedomDancing5@gmail.com

NYC – Tuesday, October 1st – Birthday Cards for Imprisoned Comrades

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, October 1st, 2013
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free

It’s no secret that winter is the baby-making season and that leaves October as the month with the most birthdays. As we know, our imprisoned comrades are folks coming from the same movements as us, not some rare breed of super-human. As a result a disproportionate number of them also share October births. In fact, there are so many upcoming political prisoner birthdays that NYC ABC is focusing our entire upcoming political prisoner letter-writing dinner on sending cards to them. So come join us for some good food and sign a whole gang of cards. We’ll see you for supper.

Illustrated Guide Version 8.7 Now 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 address changes for a few prisoners as well as removing Jason Hammond (OUT ON BAIL!) and Eric Marquez (TIME SERVED!). Unfortunately, this version also includes the addition of two new folks– Tyler Lang and Kevin Olliff, recently arrested in Illinois for “possession of burglary tools.”

NYC – Tuesday, September 17th – Letter-Writing for Tyler Lang and Kevin Olliff

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, September 17th, 2013
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free

It’s been a busy couple of weeks since our last political prisoner letter-writing dinner. We hosted Running Down the Walls 2013 and folks from our collective attended a North American Anarchist Black Cross conference in Colorado. Meanwhile, Raytheon the United States government continues to try and convince the world that plans to bomb Syria are justified and desirable. In this same period of time, two Los Angeles animal rights activists were arrested in rural Illinois for “possession of burglary tools.” And it is on these two NYC ABC focuses our next dinner.

After a traffic stop in which they refused consent to a police search, Tyler Lang and Kevin Olliff‘s car was searched anyway. Inside, police allege they found bolt cutters, wire cutters, muriatic acid, ski masks, and camouflage clothing.

Police believed these items were “burglary tools” intended to be used in a crime, and arrested Kevin and Tyler. The two are held on felony charges which carry up to 3 years in prison. They have remained in jail since their arrest on August 14th.

There is no evidence linking them to any crime or intended crime, nor were they arrested on anyone’s property, and their history as animal advocates is the only basis for these serious felony charges. A recent call-in campaign on their behalf resulted in threats of further punishments.

If for some nutty reason you can’t make it out, but still want to support Tyler and Kevin, you can write to them at:
Tyler Lang #4564
Woodford County Jail
111 East Court Street
Eureka, Illinois 61530

Kevin Johnson* #4565
Woodford County Jail
111 East Court Street
Eureka, Illinois 61530
*Kevin Olliff. Address envelope to Kevin Johnson

For more information, check out http://supportkevinandtyler.com

Jaan Laaman’s Message to Running Down The Walls 2013

Long-term anti-imperialist prisoner Jaan Laaman has always been a great promoter and participant in Running Down the Walls. This year is no different and he’s given us an audio address for the event. Via prisonradio.org:

Jaan Laaman’s Message to Running Down The Walls 2013

UPDATE: We’ve also received, via Los Angeles ABCF, a report from Jaan on Running Down the Walls that happened in the prison that currently holds him captive:

Hello everybody – hope this has been/is being a good running day for all of you.  About 30 of us in here – young and old, Black, white and Latino, did a real nice RDTW this morning.  We got together before taking off, had some words about the meaning of Running Down the Walls and it’s origin and ongoing reality.  Then we took off and got a real decent 5k – some walked some laps, but most ran all the miles.  Afterwards we all drank a cold soda and talked about people running in other cities and towns, in other kamps too, some at that very moment.  So it was a positive morning and a good run and we hope and expect that all of you and many many others, even in Switzerland! I hope they had a good run today too.  Now let’s hope Obama does NOT launch a new war in the mid-east, in Syria and, of course, I know we will all do what we can — Freedom Is A Constant Struggle !  jaan

Jaan Laaman’s Organizing Announcement for Running Down the Walls 2013

It’s time to lace up those running shoes for Running Down The Walls 2013. Political Prisoner Jaan Laaman explains the history of the event and implores listeners to get organized for 2013’s run. Thanks go out to Prison Radio for recording this.

Jaan Laaman Organizing Announcement

Runners, walkers, Human Rights supporters and people of positive consciousness, it’s time to lace up your running shoes and get ready to participate in the 2013 Running Down The Walls.   Hello, this is Jaan Laaman, your political prisoner voice coming to you from the u.s. prison in Tucson, Arizona.  Let me tell you about this annual 5k run, that takes place in dozens of cities  and  towns, and behind   state and federal prison walls across the usa and in some Canadian cities too.

Running Down The Walls was started 14 years ago in Los Angeles by the ABC Federation, to support and bring attention to the reality of political prisoners in the United States.  More broadly this run helps to publicize the denial of Human Rights and abusive conditions, that so many men, women, and children locked up in american prisons, face daily.

In addition to the runs held in cities around the country, prisoners organize solidarity runs in prison yards, also across the country.  These solidarity runs allow us to join with and show our support for the folks running outside.  Also, this shows unity among ourselves, old, young, Black, white, Latino, Native and all prisoners, running together for a positive goal of justice and freedom.

This year Running Down The Walls will take place on Sunday, September 1st.

If there is no run in your area yet, why not pull one together yourself? Join in, with the thousands of runners — inside and out on September 1st.  We might be separated by miles and bars,  but we are united in our goals of Justice, Human Rights, and Freedom!

Until next time, remember, Freedom Is A Constant Struggle.

Queens – Tuesday, March 5th – Joint Letter-writing with Occupy Astoria-LIC

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
WHERE: Redeemer Episcopal Church – 30-14 Crescent Street Astoria, New York 11106 (directions below)
COST: Free

Normally we open the announcement for our every-other-week letter-writing dinners with something scathing or silly or pop-culture referential. However, this week we’re facing good and bad news very near to us. Comrades in the northwest, refusing to cooperate with a federal grand jury, have been released. One of the Angola 3 had his conviction overturned for a third time in 40 years and might finally get free. In worse news, the Canadian government is on a witch hunt to capture and extradite U.S. citizens they hope to scapegoat for property destruction during the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto.

So, while many in this country are distracted by the latest celebrity gossip, we continue to have friends and comrades getting locked up and subpoenaed. There is still an active, international fight against the state and capital and an equally active campaign to quell it. While the wealthy and their lapdog media attempt to ignore or downplay these realities, we’re still here supporting our comrades. Part of that support includes being there for those who have been locked up. And with that comes another Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner!

This week, NYC ABC is hitting the road, linking up with comrades from Occupy Astoria-LIC. In the six years that we’ve been hosting our every-other-week events, we’ve held them in four of the five boroughs. You’re next, Staten Island!

On the suggestion of Occupy Astoria-LIC, this week we’ll be sending cards to Occupy-related folks who are currently locked up. You can learn about the cases of the following Occupy movement-related prisoners and write letters to them:

NATO 5
Cleveland 4
Eric Marquez
Jack Rusk
Pacific Northwest Grand Jury Resistor