Archive
Running Down the Walls 2019: A Reportback
Running Down the Walls 2019 in NYC started in the same way many things start out here, with arriving at the crack of dawn to squat choice real estate in a public park and yelling at some yuppie asshole because he doesn’t know the basics of parallel parking. As we set up for the day, passersby stopped to check out the goings on, peruse our display of free literature, and inquire about the 5k. We have noticed year in and year out that setting up in public, with a lot of foot traffic, draws attention and helps begin great conversations with folks who, until that moment, might have never considered that there are political prisoners and prisoners of war in the United States.
By about 1:30 pm, folks started arriving to register for the 5k, as we blasted old episodes of Burning Cop Car to get the people hyped. There were plenty of participants showing up, including many comrades we see once a year, at this event, and a bunch of folks we hadn’t met before. If you want to know what makes a day like this amazing, imagine seeing Sekou Odinga riding up on his bicycle as a comrade’s toddler wanders after a dog, and a black banner of a clenched anarchist black cross fist blows in the background.

Have you ever seen so much Sun in your life?
Operating on anarchist time, the 5k started closer to 2:30 than the publicized 2:00 pm, but only after taking a photo around the Running Down the Walls banner, giving folks the rundown on the route, and reading a statement by anarchist political prisoner Jeremy Hammond. With that, folks were off. Thanks to comrades from NYC Action Medical for being at the ready in case anyone needed medical attention during the event.
After around 23 minutes, the first participant had made the slightly over 5k circuit and was ready for water. After cooling down and catching their breath, they told us that partway through the run, the thing that pushed them to run harder was the knowledge of what folks on the inside go through every day and how participating in this event renewed their strength in supporting imprisoned comrades.
After all of the folks participating in the 5k made there way around the circuit, we enjoyed a huge spread of unspeakable vegan delights. When Sekou Odinga came up to the table, one of his comrades pointed at one of the dishes and implored him to quickly try it, saying, “that one, there…that one’s special.” But where did he get his protein?!?
In the end, NYC ABC came close to reaching our goal of $4,000. If you’d like to help push us over the hump, you can still donate at paypal.me/nycabc or check the original event listing for other ways to donate.
The remainder of the day was spent socializing and enjoying a great day in the park, surrounded by comrades old and new. Later that same night, NYC ABC tabled a music night and fund raiser for the anarchist book fair. While there, we talked to a couple of folks who told us that the reason they love Running Down the Walls so much is that it’s a reminder that there is revolutionary community in NYC and that it is one of the few times in the year they know they will see a wide-ranging group of folks coming together to have fun, see each other, all while staying focused on those who are still inside. That’s what’s up and that’s how we get down (the walls).
Illustrated Guide Version 9.8 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 updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners as well as removing Brian Church (TIME SERVED!) and Sekou Odinga (PAROLED!).
NYC – Tuesday, April 15th – The Assata Shakur Story, Letter-Writing Dinner for Sundiata Acoli, Sekou Odinga, and Mutulu Shakur
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, April 15th, 2014
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
We made it. After a week that’s included hosting a rousing talk at The Base and a punk show to benefit NYC ABC, we’ve been taking information about political prisoners to folks.
Now, the NYC Anarchist Black Cross collective is back at it, serving up amazing food and knowledge about our comrades behind bars. This week, we’ll be presenting the Assata Shakur story. We’ll talk about, celebrate, and write to Sundiata Acoli, Sekou Odinga, and Dr. Mutulu Shakur, who are all serving time for charges connected to Assata Shakur and/or her successful 1979 prison break and escape.
This week we are happy to have Joan Gibbs as a guest speaker. Joan Gibbs consistently fights for political prisoners through her work with The Jericho Movement and other groups and is currently general counsel for the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College.
All you need to bring is an appetite, but friends are welcome.
In the unlikely event that there is a better use of your Tuesday night, but you still want to support the prisoners, you can write to them at:
Clark Squire* #39794-066
FCI Cumberland
Post Office Box 1000
Cumberland, Maryland 21501
*Address card to Sundiata (Acoli).
Sekou Odinga #09-A-3775
Clinton Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 2001
Dannemora, New York 12929
Dr. Mutulu Shakur #83205-012
USP Victorville
Post Office Box 3900
Adelanto, California 92301
For more information, visit:
http://sundiataacoli.org
http://sekouodinga.com
http://mutulushakur.com
NYC – Tuesday, December 10th – Letter-Writing Dinner For NYS PPs (Part One)
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
Well, here we are. We’ve reached the end of another year. We’re skipping our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner scheduled for December 24th, so this will be our last dinner of the year. Hot on the heels of Send Love Through the Walls 2013, we in NYC Anarchist Black Cross want the end of this year and the beginning of 2014 to show our commitment to the political prisoners and prisoners of war closest to us. These are comrades who deserve, short of the full freedom we all desire, a minimum of strong solidarity. So we will spend our next two dinners focusing on those folks held behind New York State walls.
This week we will be writing Herman Bell, David Gilbert, Jalil Muntaqim, and Sekou Odinga. We’ll be watching a couple of short interviews and are fortunate to have a guest speaker– an amazing comrade named Dequi Kioni-Sadiki.
If for some insane reason you can’t make it out, but still want to support the prisoners, you can write to them at:
Herman Bell #79-C-0262
Great Meadow Correctional Facility
11739 State Route 22
Post Office Box 51
Comstock, New York 12821-0051
David Gilbert #83-A-6158
Auburn Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 618
Auburn, New York 13021
Jalil Muntaqim* #77-A-4283
Attica Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 149
Attica, New York 14011-0149
*Address envelope to Anthony Bottom.
Sekou Odinga #09-A-3775
Clinton Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 2001
Dannemora, New York 12929
For more information on these comrades, please visit:
freehermanbell.org
kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/profiles/gilbert.html
freejalil.com
sekouodinga.com
NYC – Tuesday, August 20th – Letter-Writing for Black August
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, August 20th, 2013
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
Hopefully you’ve been training in preparation for Running Down the Walls 2013. The competition will be fierce, the food at the after party will be delicious, and the solidarity with our imprisoned comrades will be infinite. Please take this opportunity to get more folks to sponsor you as a participant and help build the ABCF warchest and sustain the local radical space, The Base. As a lead in to this year’s run, we are hosting another of our every other week Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinners. This week, NYC ABC will be hosting a Black August card signing.
Maybe you’ve been working too many hours a week to even notice the full-blown war being waged against you by cops and the ruling class. It is real and it is continuing. And of course there is another war– the war against folks imprisoned for their political beliefs and actions. And here’s where we bridge the two. We will be sending greeting cards to Black revolutionary political prisoners and there’s an easy (too easy? POSSIBLY!) way for you to help. Just come by, eat some food, sign some cards, maybe meet folks you don’t already know, and show some base level solidarity with those behind bars.
Read more…