Solidarity for Non-Cooperating Political Prisoners
author: CatWoman
|
As the "anti-terror" furor claimed its predictable victims this year, we watched almost helplessly as scores of our comrades were dragged off the streets, out of their houses, and away from their families. All for the crime of caring enough about the planet to get up off their asses and DO something to slow the spinning destruction. Now, it's time to shake off the helplessness and do what we do best: Stand by each other in solidarity and reawaken the passions that will save this earth from our own kind, if anything will.
|
It bears repeating: Not one of the so-branded "terrorists" rounded up in the greenscare has ever done anything to hurt anyone. All of them went to great lengths to carefully, consciously, intentionally avoid any harm to any living beings with any of their actions. It's more than most people can claim. It's certainly more than can be claimed by their accusors, who make a living by plundering the earth to such an extent that it is rapidly becoming uninhabitable by many life forms that used to call this world home.
Yet these eco-saviors were rounded up and branded with the T word, were threatened with life behind bars, were told they might never see their families or the light of day again for what they had done. (And what, really, had they done? They did what the rest of us should have been doing all along. They stood up and they ACTED. They did what their hearts demanded. They did what was right. They fought against overwhelming odds to stop the destruction that is looming all around us, and they acheived a victory that cannot be overstated. They turned the eyes of the world onto what is being done to this planet in the name of private profit, and the impact has changed the course of public debate, as well as private choices for many of us, for a decade.) So I am grateful to ALL of the greenscare prisoners for what they have done. Not to mention all of the eco-warriors who have never been caught, whomever and wherever they may be.
It has shaken us, to watch our friends and comrades go through this. It has been hard. But I am overjoyed to see that it has not stopped us, nor even slowed us down. Last weekend, I met people who were willing to put their bodies on the line to save the Columbia River from the predations of Northern Star, a corporate demon that would kill every salmon in the river for a few more dollar signs. Earlier this week, warriors locked down at PacifiCorp, to save the Klamath. Forest activists are taking to the woods again, animal rights activists are fighting to free animals from laboratories and fur farms, and none of us is giving up. We do not have the luxury of burning out, we do not have the time to cringe in fear, we do not have the callous disregard for life that would allow us to turn our backs on what must be done.
While we re-engage with the world in this struggle for life, it is necessary to also keep our imprisoned comrades in our hearts. The solidarity and mutual aid that we provide to our political prisoners who have done what is right will inspire others to do what is right also. There are good people in jail right now who deserve our letters and our thoughts.
There is a growing and necessary debate in our community right now, around what to do about cooperating defendants. Should they be ostracized? Cast out? After all, none of the greenscare prisoners would be in jail right now at all if none of them had cooperated. Talking, snitching, puts everyone in danger. So, in my opinion, it is necessary for there to be a tremendous social sanction for the crime of snitching. On the other hand, as some have pointed out, there is a tremendous power imbalance between the individual and the state, and some horrifically coercive things were done to the greenscare defendants. Can we really just turn our backs on people who did good work, but who could not hold out against the intimidation, coercion, and the threat of never seeing the people they love again? I do not pretend to know the answer to that question. For my part, I will choose to support only the non-cooperating defendants, and will let others decide for themselves what to do about the rest.
Regarding the non-cooperating defendants, though, I believe it would be shameful to do anything other than pour out our love to them. Daniel McGowan, Joyanna Zacher, Jonathan Paul, and Nathan Block, for example, faced the same threats, the same intimidation as their cooperating co-defendants. But Daniel, Joyanna, Jonathan, and Nathan had the courage and the character to stand true to their hearts. In spite of all the machinations of the state, they steadfastly refused to cooperate. That, my friends, deserves some accolades. And they deserve our support and love. As do other non-cooperating political prisoners -- Josh Harper and Tre Arrow spring immediately to mind.
It doesn't take a lot of effort to pick up a pen and some paper, and write a letter to check in with comrades, to see how they're doing in there, and to remind them that we're still out here for them. Ask them what they need, see if there's anything you can do. If you haven't done it yet, or if you haven't done it in awhile, it's worth doing it now. Please post the names and contact information of all the non-cooperating political prisoners you can think of here, and please take the time to write to them all.
Here are a few to get us started.
DANIEL McGOWAN
#63794-053
MDC BROOKLYN
METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER
P.O. BOX 329002
BROOKLYN, NY 11232
Joyanna Zacher I.D. #703794
(MCIC) Multnomah County Inverness Jail
11540 NE Inverness Drive
Portland, OR. 97220
USA
Nathan Block #36359-086
Sheridan Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 6000
Sheridan, OR 97378-6000
USA
Andrew Stepanian
26399-050
FCI Butner Medium II
Federal Correctional Institution
Post Office Box 1500
Butner, North Carolina 27509
JOSHUA HARPER # 29429-086
FCI SHERIDAN
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 5000
SHERIDAN, OR 97378
LAUREN GAZZOLA # 93497-011
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
FCI DANBURY
ROUTE #37
DANBURY, CT 06811
KEVIN KJONAAS # 93502-011
UNIT I
FCI SANDSTONE
P.O. BOX 1000
SANDSTONE, MN 55072
DARIUS FULLMER # 26397-050
FCI FORT DIX
P.O. BOX 2000
FORT DIX, NJ 08640
JACOB CONROY, # 93501-011
FCI VICTORVILLE MEDIUM I
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 5300
ADELANTO, CA 92301
Tre Arrow
CS# 05850722
Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center
4216 Wilkinson Rd.
Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2
Canada
Please add to this list and make changes as necessary.
|
contribute to this article
contribute to this article
add comment to discussion
view discussion from this article
|
