Illustrated Guide Version 12.1 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 Zolo Azania (time served!) and Oscar López Rivera (sentence commuted!).

Support Zolo Azania and Barbara Curzi

It’s not uncommon for those of us in NYC ABC to write or talk about the importance of post-release support of political prisoners. We’ve seen comrades come home and know all too well that appropriate support can not end when they leave prison. What post-release support looks like is not a singular thing. Some folks need immediate support that might be financial, emotional, medical, or entirely something else. Others have communities of support to which they return and it is only years later that needs arise. We are at a point in time when two folks, at different stages of imprisonment, need your direct support. Both Zolo Azania—still imprisoned, but expecting to be released in early 2017 after 35 years inside, and Barbara Curzi—a former political prisoner released in 1991 who now faces a medical crisis, need those of us in radical and revolutionary communities to pitch in and help them out.

Excerpted from gofundme.com/HelpZoloRebuild:
Zolo will exit prison practically penniless and will face enormous financial challenges. He will need to pay for housing, food, clothing, transportation, furniture, a cell phone, utilities, and the many other expenses we all encounter.

Let’s ease Zolo’s path and make sure he does not confront his financial challenges—and all the challenges he will face, alone. Please generously donate .

Zolo is alive today due to his efforts and the work of his supporters and a strong legal team.

In spite of his difficult circumstances, Zolo is a positive person with a quick smile and a vibrant laugh. Let’s answer his positivity with support.

All funds will go directly to Zolo and will be deposited into a fund managed by a team that has supported him for 13 years. For more information contact zoloazania.org or the Chicago Committee to Free Black Political Prisoners.

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Excerpted from Sacramento Prisoner Support:
Barbara is a former political prisoner, one of the Ohio 7, who, after their arrests in Ohio in 1984, went on trial for actions by the United Freedom Front against corporations who upheld apartheid in South Africa and contributed to the wars in Central America.

Unfortunately, Barbara was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She is beginning an intensive six-month chemo regimen and then is expected to undergo surgery, possibly followed by radiation.

She was about to get a part-time job just before her diagnosis,to supplement her disability check but now instead finds herself way behind not only on her mortgage and utilities, but can’t get Internet and phones services back until she pays them off completely.

She returned to Massachusetts after her release from the federal prison system to rebuild her life with her children. As many former prisoners, and especially political prisoners, Barbara has struggled to find work and survive, but she is still deeply committed to the struggle for justice.

If you would like to contribute to the effort to minimize the stress to survive for Barbara, and help her make it through this battle, please see the linked “Go Fund Me” page at: https://www.gofundme.com/barbaras-loving-circle-2w49vnqs

Illustrated Guide Version 11.5 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 removes Kevin Olliff (released!).

Illustrated Guide Version 10.5 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 removes Hugo “Yogi Bear” Pinell (deceased).

Update Letter From Zolo Azania

After a recent letter-writing dinner by NYC ABC for Zolo Azania, we received the following update.
“A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.” –Kahlil Gibran

Dear Good Brothers & Sisters,

A firm clenched fist salute to you! Greetings to you and all the good people there. i hope and trust when these few lines come to hand they will find you, and all the hard-working people, in the best of purposeful energetic health and positive, progressive spirits. For many of you, it is been quite sometime since you have heard from me directly but well-wishing thoughts of you have been with me constantly.

On March 6, 2012, i was transferred to the Miami Correctional Facility because prison officials said that my security level had dropped. That is their way of saying that i am less dangerous. Nevertheless, i hated being at that camp. It was a highly petty place, far away from my home base of support. i was not allowed to do any painting while there. In fact the administration officials took all of my canvases and paints, but they gave my brushes to me. So what sense did that make?

On October 17, 2013, i was transferred from the Miami County prison to this minimum security unit called Indiana State Prison Outside Facility (I.S.O.). It is located outside the walls of the state prison in Michigan City. i had not received prior notice that my transfer from Miami to I.S.O. was approved at Indianapolis D.O.C. [Department of Corrections] central office before it happened. In theory I.S.O. is supposed to be a minimum security unit, but it is actually a type of work-release facility. i have not obtained a time-cut since 2011. Had college not been taken out of the prison system i would have been getting out of prison on February 8, 2014. Nevertheless, the fact of my presence here is a clear indication that i am closer to walking out the door to physical freedom to continue to struggle for total liberation and a higher meaning of justice. It is about time that i should be freed after more than three decades in these death chambers called ‘prisons’ and confinement.

My federal habeas petition is still pending. i have been waiting for a ruling for three years. Judge Mooty is taking his time and in the meantime i am still doing time– serving out this illegal sentence. i am serving the 14 year term now.

Recently, last year, an electrified, barbed wire chain link fence, topped with coils of razor wire was erected around the building where i am held. I.S.O. not only has a fence around it, but the back of the outer perimeter is marked by a 30 foot wall and gun towers! This brick building is a two-story dormitory with a prisoner population of nearly 400. i think that something is illegal about the fence, because, according to statutory law Ind. Code § 35-38-3-6(d), “a minimum-security assignment constitutes an assignment of a convicted person to a work-release center or program, to intermittent service of a sentence, or to a program requiring weekly reporting to a designated official. Assignment to minimum-security need not involve a penal facility.”

Take good care.
Zolo Azania #4969
State Prison Minimum Unit
1 Park Row
Michigan City, Indiana 46360

NYC – Tuesday, February 4th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Bill Dunne and Zolo Azania

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 4th, 2014
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free
TAKE TWO (having been polar vortexed into postponing this event):

If NYC ABC were a factory (obviously in which we’ve seized the means of production and offed every goddamned boss in sight), we would be upping our productivity. Between co-hosting an amazing workshop, roadshow and traveling protest by the Bunny Alliance; a talk on the No More Deaths project in Arizona; the fundraising drive for antiracist prisoner John Tucker; and and our upcoming solidarity demo with imprisoned comrades in Mexico, we are busy. Thrown into the mix is our cornerstone– the Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner. This week we will be writing Zolo Azania and Bill Dunne.

For decades, the State of Indiana was trying to kill Zolo, a former Black Panther and community organizer, for allegedly killing a cop during a 1981 armed robbery. However, Zolo’s innocence quickly became clear, on the basis on false evidence and two trials which excluded Black jurors. While in 2009, he finally won his battle to drop the death penalty, he still currently faces the prospect of life in prison for actions that he never committed.

Bill Dunne is an anti-authoritarian sentenced to 90 years for the attempted liberation of an anarchist prisoner in 1979. Dunne and his former co-defendant, Larry Giddings, were accused by police of being “members of a small, heavily armed group of revolutionaries,” associated with the Wellspring Communion. The two successfully freed Artie Ray Dufur, but were arrested after an exchange of fire with police as they were fleeing the scene.

Come find out more about Zolo and Bill, and other political prisoner news, and enjoy a meal with friends (new or old).

In the unthinkable event that you are not able to attend, but still want to support the prisoners, you can write to them at:
Zolo Azania #4969
State Prison Minimum Unit
1 Park Row
Michigan City, Indiana 46360

Bill Dunne #10916-086
USP Pollock
Post Office Box 2099
Pollock, Louisiana 71467

BK/NY – Tuesday, March 29th – Letter-Writing For Zolo Azania

What: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
When: 7pm (sharp), Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
Where: 885 Park Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (see below for directions)
Cost: Free

Spring is upon us! Meanwhile, we will contain the urge to indulge a pun involving springing prisoners from behind bars. What we will we *not* contain, however, is the urge to cook delicious vegan food, and drum up correspondence for political prisoners.

This week we’ll be focusing on one of the longest held political prisoners in the United States, Zolo Azania. For decades, the State of Indiana was trying to kill Zolo for allegedly killing a cop during an armed robbery. However, Zolo’s innocence quickly became clear, on the basis on false evidence and two trials which excluded Black jurors. While in 2009, he finally won his battle to drop the death penalty, he still currently faces the prospect of life in prison for actions that he never committed. Come find out more about Zolo and other political prisoner news, and enjoy a meal with friends(new or old).

In the unthinkable event that you are not able to attend, below is Zolo’s address:

Zolo Azania #4969
Indiana State Prison
1 Park Row
Michigan City, Indiana 46360

The deal, as always, is that you come bringing only yourself (and your friends and comrades), and we provide you with a delicious vegan meal, information about the prisoners as well as all of the letter-writing materials and prisoner-letter-writing info you could ever want to use in one evening. In return, you write a thoughtful letter to a political prisoner or prisoner of war of your choosing or, better yet, keep up a long-term correspondence. We’ll also provide some brief updates and pass around birthday cards for the PP/POWs whose birthdays fall in the next two weeks thanks to the Anarchist Birthday Brigade.

DIRECTIONS:
Getting to 885 Park Avenue is simple:
From the J/M/Z:
Flushing Stop: Walk southeast on Broadway (toward Sumner Place, away from Thornton Street) and make a right on Park Avenue. We’re halfway down the block, on your right.
Myrtle Stop: Walk northwest on Broadway (toward Melrose Street, away from Troutman Street) and make a left on Park Avenue. We’re halfway down the block on the right.

From the G Train:
Flushing Avenue Stop: Walk south on Marcy Avenue (toward Hopkins Street, away from Wallabout Street) and turn left on Park Avenue. We’re three and a half blocks down on the left.
Myrtle-Willoughby Avenues Stop: Walk north on Marcy Avenue (toward Stockton Street, away from Vernon Avenue) and turn right on Park Avenue. We’re three and a half blocks down on your left.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. Otherwise, we’ll see you at supper.

This event is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Anarchist Black Cross.–

ABCF-NYC
Post Office Box 110034
Brooklyn, New York 11211

nycabc[at]riseup[dot]net
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Free all Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War!
For the Abolition of State Repression and Domination!