Monterey Anarchist Black Cross
The Direct Action Monterey Network runs a prisoner letter writing group as part of the Anarchist Black Cross.
WHAT: Anarchist Black Cross Prisoner Support Letter Writing Group
WHERE: Old Capitol Books
WHEN: CLICK HERE FOR NEXT MEETING DATE/TIME
To get involved: Just stop by during our letter writing!
Or, if you’d liked to write at home, find someone to write to on these lists and write a short letter of support.
Anarchist Black Cross Federation:
http://www.abcf.net/prisoner-contact-list/
Anarchist Birthday Brigade:
http://www.abcf.net/anarchist-birthday-brigade/
International Anarchist Prisoners:
http://www.abcf.net/international-anarchist-prisoners/
Black and Pink: Queer abolition pen-pal list:
http://www.blackandpink.org/pen-pals/
Denver Anarchist Black Cross multiple lists:
https://denverabc.wordpress.com/prisoners-dabc-supports/
New York Anarchist Black Cross:
https://nycabc.wordpress.com/write-a-letter/
Book Wish List:
Each month, we try to find a book on one of these prisoners’ wish lists and send it to them. If you have a book on this list, or can help purchase one, let us know!
https://nycabc.wordpress.com/book-wish-lists/
About the ABC: Since the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the Anarchist Black Cross (ABC), has been on the front line in supporting those imprisoned for struggling for freedom and liberty.
In the 80’s, the ABC began to grow and new ABC groups began to emerge in North America. In the United States, the ABC name had been kept alive by a number of completely autonomous groups scattered throughout the country and had grown to support a wide variety of prison issues.
The 1990’s and 2000’s brought several ABC formations in North America (ABCC, ABCN, ABCF). The relationship between these formations has always been considered strenuous. The Break the Chains conference in August 2003, along with side bar discussions between collectives, brought about a better working relationship between the ABCF and ABCN formations.
How does the ABCF (Anarchist Black Cross Federation) support Political Prisoners? Making sure PP/POWs (Political Prisoners & Prisoners of War) are a part of their own support is crucial and one of the greatest strengths of the Federation. We directly communicate with as many PP/POWs as we can. A large part of this communication is working together with them to find out what they need and how then we can practically provide this support.
The ABCF also works to build alliances with the communities and the movements the prisoners participated in prior to their incarceration. Through these alliances, we work toward increasing the awareness about various liberation movements and the political prisoners associated with the movements. It is through these coalitions that we continue to ensure that imprisoned comrades are not forgotten by their movements or our own.
We also produce information about PP/POWs, the struggles they came from, and the movements they represent. Booklets, fliers, video/audio tapes, T/sweat shirts and calendars are produced featuring these prisoners. This not only informs people about their existence and daily struggles behind bars (where the struggle continues), it heightens their visibility in our communities and funds from this merchandise are sent to them.
That’s another important responsibility of supporting PP/POWs. Raising material support is crucial. It is not uncommon to find that PP/POWs are left with no financial support to pay for phone calls or postage stamps to communicate with their families, friends and supporters; not enough money to pay for a news subscription or buy books; no funds to get proper footwear or summer/winter clothing. If we call these prisoners our comrades, we can not allow this to continue. And we don’t.
How will Monterey be involved? The Direct Action Monterey Network organizes a monthly letter writing session for political prisoners, with an emphasis on political prisoners in California’s jails and prisons. We are not a member of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation, but we use their principles and model of organizing as a general guide.
Contact the Direct Action Monterey Network: centralcoastdirectaction [at] gmail.com Or visit us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DirectActionMontereyNetwork
Direct Action Monterey Network 