POLITICS OF PRISONS EXPLAINS ITSELF:
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{ Brought to you by POLITICS OF PRISONS in collaboration with FAMILIES OF PRISONERS CIVIL RIGHTS FOUNDATION, and DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS EMPLOYEES FOR SAFE AND HUMANE PRISONS }
MISSION STATEMENT of The Politics of Prisons web site.
We are prisoners, prisoner advocates, and Departments of Corrections employees, whose goal is to be a dependable and effective force for prison transformation and related progressive political change. A special goal toward this end will be FACILITATING THE EXPOSURE AND LEGAL PROSECUTION OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AND ADMINISTRATORS OF THE US CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PRISON SYSTEMS WHOSE ACTIONS ARE NOT ONLY BRINGING CALUMNY AND SHAME UPON THEIR FELLOW WORKERS AND WE CITIZENS WHO PAY THEIR SALARIES ...
BUT ARE ALSO PUTTING US ALL IN MORTAL DANGER OF RETALIATION BY THE VICTIMS OF THEIR (THE CRIMINAL CLIQUES OF ROGUE GUARDS AND ADMINISTRATORS)FASCISTIC, BRUTAL AND MURDEROUS ACTIONS.
Listed below are the four main tools we are using to promote progressive political and social transformation. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE IS NOT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGREEMENT AMONG ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THESE PROJECTS. We have no "party line"; we are all free to agree or disagree with anything or anybody at any time, just as our readers are likewise free to do. A free and open society, it seems obvious to us, can be created only by free and open minds.
TOOL #1: PRISONER PERSON TO PERSONALS
It is one thing for the public to hear about the conditions in a prison from the media --- whether exceptionally good, or murderously abusive; rehabilitative, or post graduate schools for revenge on society; healthy and humane, or breeding grounds for physically and mentally communicable diseases.
IT IS QUITE ANOTHER THING FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR ABOUT PRISON CONDITIONS FROM ONE WITH WHOM THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP through letters, and perhaps phone conversations and visits.
We have been witnesses to the formation of so many friendships over the years, and the development of many of these into lifetime commitments, that we believe that encouraging and fostering such relationships should be a high priority for both politically progressive and spiritual reasons.
In this era wherein totally corrupt government of, by and for transnational corporations and the attendant soulless religionism, are celebrated by the media as the splendid culmination of human potential; and this cesspool of rank reductionist materialism in which we swim is proclaimed the glorious End of History --- we the citizens and victims of this empire will do well to look exactly where its "leaders" fear that we will: INSIDE.
TOOL #2: LETTERS FROM THE TWO MILLION
Open letters from prisoners: to society; to a friend or loved one; to a public official; to the media; etc.
TOOL #3: LIGHT ON PRISONS
Articles and art by prisoners, former prisoners and advocates.
TOOL #4: "NONE OF THE ABOVE!" (NOTA!)
This is the online incarnation of the San Francisco based newsletter devoted to exploring the political causes of corrupt, costly, counterproductive institutions such as our present prison and criminal justice systems, most federal, state and local governments, and so on. (So long as virtually all candidates for public office are controlled by BIG MONEY as they are now, the only logical choice is NONE OF THE ABOVE!)
E-mail us at Justice12@hotmail.com with your questions, comments, exposes, and articles.
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UPDATE March 2001: }}}}}
Dear Friends,
I'm writing on behalf of a few people who are gathering information for the Washington American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)in hopes of their eventually being able to bring a clas action lawsuit against conditions in some IMUs [solitary confinement units] which amount to torture; such as: long-term solitary confinement, certain restraints, beating, punitive use of gas or other chemicals, "stunguns," shock belts, etc. The sooner such information from many different torture victims can be gathered and presented to the ACLU, the sooner they would be able to initiate a class action lawsuit.
Another excellent organization is also asking for verifiable allegations of torture. Here is the text of an ad in the current "Prison Legal News" magazine:
"Torture Information Wanted. The American Friends Service Committee [Quakers] is seeking personal testimonies of people in isolation units or facilities who have endured use of electronic, chemical, or physical devices of restraint. We understand that we are, once again, asking prisoners for something while we offer nothing in exchange besides our thanks. Some testimonies will be used in a pamphlet we are readying called "Testimonies of Torture in US Prisons." We will also use the testimony in speeches, articles, etc. We humbly thank those of you who are able to help. Please send statements to Bonnie Kerness, AFSC, 972 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102."
Please pass this letter along to anyone who might be interested, and where possible publish it in newsletters, newspapers, websites, etc.
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