tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48845820940222228532024-02-07T14:12:59.195-07:00Free Marcia Powell!In memory of Marcia J. Powell and all those prisoners who have suffered or died in the custody of the state.Friends of Marcia Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03050331318735618722noreply@blogger.comBlogger456125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-3097986057913843182012-01-28T23:11:00.000-07:002012-02-11T16:13:45.553-07:00Criminal Damage and Deaths in Custody: Letter to my Sentencing Judge.<h2 class="date-header">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Resistance Alley, Phoenix, AZ</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(June 4, 2011)</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">January 26, 2012<br /><br />Honorable Gloria G. Ybarra<br />Phoenix Municipal Court<br />300 W. Washington St.<br />Phoenix, AZ 85003<br /><br />Dear Judge Ybarra,<br /><br />I sure hope you’re having a good day. This is kind of long.<br /><br />I
appeared in your court this morning prepared for trial, but the charge I
contested was dropped so I ended up entering a plea unexpectedly. When
you asked if I had anything to say before you entered your sentencing
orders, I was kind of at a loss for words. I’m not very experienced at
being prosecuted and don’t know what the proper procedure is, but since
my thoughts have caught up with me now, in the still of the night, I
hope it isn’t too late to enter them into my official court record. My
crime was one of civil disobedience, so this action just isn’t finished
until my statement for sentencing is in your hands. This is it.<br /><br />I
first began investigating and blogging about Arizona’s state prisons 2 ½
years ago when Marcia Powell died at Perryville Prison. Marcia was a 48
year-old mentally ill sex worker with a long history of drug and
prostitution convictions and no family willing to claim her body once
she was gone. She got 27 months for offering a cop a $20 blow job, doing
much of it on the maximum security yard at Perryville. Marcia was
supposed to be on a 10-minute suicide watch when she was left in an
uncovered cage, largely ignored, for nearly four hours in the mid-day
sun. It was at least 107 degrees that day. By the time someone noticed
her unconscious on the ground, Marcia had defecated on herself, her
organs were overheated and failing, and she had second degree burns all
over her body. She went into a coma and passed away that night after the
director of the Arizona Department of Corrections removed her from life
support. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Free Marcia Powell"</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Remembering women who have died </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">from suicide and the violence of neglect </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">at Perryville state prison in Goodyear, AZ.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(November 18, 2011</b></span>)</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
the wake of Marcia’s death, 16 ADC employees were disciplined, 7 of
whom were referred for criminal prosecution. No one ended up being
charged, unfortunately; they all got their jobs back, in fact - except
for the deputy warden, who was allowed to retire. Conflicting testimony
was one reason no one was prosecuted - all the prisoners said the guards
ignored Marcia’s pleas for water and relief from the sun; the guards
had another story, of course. 10,000 pages of ADC investigative
material, and the county attorney couldn’t make a single case out of it
to hold anyone responsible - not even on a misdemeanor.<br /><br />What happened to Marcia affected me deeply; there, but for the grace of God, went I. <br /><br />I
had been a teenage alcoholic and addict, and traded my sex a few times
in my life to get high and get by. What I did as a teen to support my
habit could have landed me in prison for 20 years - not rightfully so,
mind you, but there nonetheless. I’m manic-depressive, as well - I’m
just lucky I sobered up young, had good health insurance, and was never
criminalized. The places I landed when I got into trouble all had heated
bedrooms, not icy cold cells; we were traumatized and ill, not
fundamentally bad; we were watched by psychiatric aides, not guards -
and they didn’t lock us in cages to “wait us out” through the hours or
days when we most wanted to die. I was blessed where Marcia wasn’t - I
wasn’t that far from where she ended up though.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>CRIPA AZ STATE PRISONS</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>E. Roosevelt St. Artwalk </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(April 2, 2011</b></span>)</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since
then I’ve done extensive research on the violence and neglect in the
Arizona Department of Corrections. When I discovered from an analysis of
state records that the suicide and homicide rates doubled almost
immediately under the current administration - which wasn’t interested
in any dialogue about my research or conclusions - I began pushing the
ACLU and the Department of Justice hard to intervene. For a long time,
my appeals for help were met by silence or answered with form letters.
The body count kept growing. I began to draw the names of the dead in
murals on the sidewalks of justice - the legislature, courthouses, the
police department and jail, and the ADC itself. I put down memorials in
chalk all over town, then made postcards out of them and sent them
across the country, calling media, lawmakers, activists - anyone I could
think of for help. I even engaged the Phoenix police in my quest for
assistance - quite often, in fact. None of the prisons I have issue with
are in their jurisdiction, but I didn’t think that should stop them.
They still could have helped open doors.<br /><br />By last spring, when I
finally painted the names of the dead across my alley, this was all
deeply personal to me. Because I write about prison deaths, trying to
humanize the prisoners as much as possible, I hear from their families a
lot. Daily I’m exposed to the secondary trauma of working with
survivors of prison violence; I live with the mother of a prisoner who
was murdered by the West Side Crips at ASPC-Lewis two summers ago. Her
son, Dana Seawright, was caught by the gang in a relationship with a
Mexican prisoner, and by refusing to hurt someone to prove his loyalty
to his own race, he died from a double hate crime for being true to
himself. So the names I lay down on the earth in my murals are more than
just criminals: I have spoken with many of their parents, lovers,
teachers, siblings and kids. I know too many of their stories. Each time
I add a new name to my list, I am acutely aware that - whatever their
crime - it is still someone’s father or son, mother or sister, loved one
or friend - someone I will be hearing from soon. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> "Please Send Help"</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Phoenix Police Parking Lot</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(October 1, 2011</b></span>)</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On
May 10, a meeting was held of the Maricopa County Commission of Justice
System Intervention for the Seriously Mentally Ill. My analysis of
suicides and homicides in the state prisons as of that date revealed
that not only had they doubled under the current administration, but
that prisoners with serious mental illness were at particularly high
risk of being victims of both. I went to the meeting to tell them this,
first stopping outside to chalk a memorial for them. The meeting was
being held at the Old County Courthouse on W. Washington St.<br /><br />I
should note here that I’ve been exercising my free speech rights all
over the sidewalks of Phoenix for a little over 2 years now; it rinses
right off with the occasional desert rain. It took the Phoenix Police
and County Attorney’s Office awhile to decide that my chalk alone didn’t
warrant arrest or prosecution for criminal damage; bank security guards
around town took a little longer to catch on. So I wasn’t too surprised
when - not long into my project that morning - a deputy came running
out of the courthouse waving his radio in the air and yelling “you can’t
do that here!” </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> Old County Courthouse, Phoenix.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(May 10, 2011</b></span>)</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before
I knew it, he took his foot and rubbed out the name of a young mentally
impaired boy who had killed himself just a week after arriving in adult
prison. Within minutes I was surrounded by deputies and daring them to
take me to jail for trespassing, furious about what I considered to be
desecration. Honestly, it was at that moment that I decided the next
time I put that kid’s name down on the ground, no one was going to be
able to smudge it out. The deputies backed down after the presiding
judge for the day told them to leave me be. They washed all the names
away as soon as I went inside.<br /><br />And so, a week or two later, I
began to paint my back alley - first with a memorial spanning about 20
feet. Then, inspired by the graffiti of resistance around me (we have
enlightened vandals in our neighborhood), I figured that if I was going
to go to jail for criminal damage, I might as well do it right. I spent
that next week decorating my alley and getting it ready for a small
demo at June Artwalk, when I invited the Graffiti Detectives to arrest
me. I even decked it out with anarchy symbols. I figured if I did enough
damage I’d be charged with a felony, and could then take my case to
Maricopa County’s Superior Court. There I planned to use my prosecution
to confront the judiciary about packing all these people into prisons
without taking any responsibility for assuring that there’s ample
mechanisms for protecting their rights and lives behind bars. I wanted
them to call for a judicial investigation into the homicides, suicides,
and medical neglect in the state prisons. Seriously. </span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> "Resistance Alley: SOS"</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Phoenix, AZ</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Artwalk</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(June 4, 2011)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
don’t know why I thought my plan might work, or why I was willing to
risk felony charges and state custody to try to get the courts more
involved; it was kind of extreme. I think it had something to do with
finding out at the time that my mother’s brain cancer was terminal, and
feeling powerless to fight it - one friend observed that I picked fights
with as many cops as I could around then. My mom’s illness aside,
though, I felt like I was rushing another gunshot victim to the ER, day
after day, and instead of escorting me there or summoning an ambulance,
every time the police stopped me they just chided me for property damage
- I wasn‘t finding that very helpful, and often told them so. Anyway, I
actually wrote to the Superior Court - and chalked their walk a few
times - and I don’t think they’re doing a thing. <br /><br />I clearly
wasn’t thinking things out too well when I planned to turn to criminal
mischief in order to enlist their assistance - I was kind of manic last
spring from not sleeping enough after Mom got sick. By mid-May I wasn’t
all that organized or realistic about my strategies for instigating
social change. I was just simmering with rage at the Department of
Corrections, arguably the most heavily-fortified institution in Arizona,
and easily the most well-funded. Director Chuck Ryan has a billion
dollars at his disposal to fight me with - not to mention all the
courts, cops, guns, laws and lawmakers in the state on his side - and I
was out of ideas for soliciting help. I was utterly powerless to do
anything myself, yet felt completely responsible for each new life lost
that didn‘t have to be. For the death rates from suicide and homicide
alone to normalize again, at least one in every two would have to be
prevented. Among many in the mental health field, suicide is 100%
preventable - that, at least, should be our goal.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Artwalk, Phoenix</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(June 4, 2011</span></b>)</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
didn’t really care at the time about the possible consequences to my
life of committing a felony or two; I also didn’t think my neighbors
would mind much what I was doing. When I wasn’t grieving, I was just
plain mad. “The City” could go to hell as far as I was concerned. The
potential that my outdoor décor would cause anyone harm - beyond,
perhaps, a little consternation - seemed pretty minimal next to the
crimes of the evil empire I was deploying my artistry against. It still
does, I have to say…though I guess that sounds a lot like I’m simply
minimizing and justifying my own criminal conduct. That much I stand
guilty of as well, then. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />This
may not be the wisest thing for me to say, since I still have to answer
to you on this matter, but I’d still paint the town tomorrow if the
circumstances seemed to call for it. I am, for the most part, an
anarchist at heart, and want to see the art of resistance flourish all
over the place. Phoenix is feeding a good number of people to the
prisons and jails every day, and nothing about how the city has
responded to this crisis has changed since I started. Not that I plan to
repeat this action - I just don’t want to end up in Chuck’s custody
myself. That would make what I do a whole lot harder.<br /><br />Anyway,
following my Artwalk demonstration, the Graffiti Detectives tried to
accommodate my desire to get into Superior Court by folding all my
charges into a single felony. I really appreciated that at the time, and
told them as much. I think Bill Montgomery either didn’t want to be
part of my theater, though, or he just knew I was a little compromised
by certain stressors (I was actually sending him postcards of my
graffiti trying to provoke him into prosecuting me sooner rather than
later…). Or maybe I’m giving him too much credit for caring one way or
the other, and his people just thought I’d be a nuisance to deal with so
they dumped me on your court instead. I’ve picked on him and his
prosecutors in my blogs before, though - I would have thought they’d
love to get their hands on me. That speaks well of their
professionalism, I suppose.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Anarchy: No Justice/ No Peace</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Resistance Alley Artwalk</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>just to be provocative</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(June 4, 2011) </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
any case, I’m grateful not to be facing prison for even a day or the
brand of “felon” for the rest of my life. Sgt. Kaddatz and Detective
Rowe could have actually lodged more complaints against me than they did
because I vandalized my alley again later that month, impatient for
them to file the first set of charges so I could take my fight to court.
I’ve chilled out since then, by the way. I still chalk sidewalks - I
just stay away from painting them. The Graffiti Detectives showed a lot
of restraint, I thought - especially considering how hard a time I gave
them when they didn’t arrest me. I didn’t think my intersecting
privileges should exempt me from what any young Latino male might go
through in my shoes, so I got a little provocative and baited them a few
times. I’m kind of grateful to be a well-educated middle-class white
woman today, though, because if I was anyone else I would have probably
been tasered or shot by now.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> "Prisoners Dying: SOS"</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>The Phoenix Center</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(April 23, 2011)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’ve
come down a lot since then, of course - otherwise you would have been
seeing me in court in pink socks and stripes. I got really depressed
after my Mom died this summer, and my financial situation deteriorated
so my energy has gone increasingly into basic survival. My court
proceedings this fall and winter have been tedious and anti-climactic,
to say the least - I haven’t had the kind of manic drive to orchestrate
what I initially envisioned I‘d be doing with all this. One of the
problems with my bi-polar disorder is that the fallout from my
grandiosity and expansiveness usually catches up to me just as I’m
crashing the hardest and am the least able to explain myself - I get way
in over my head, and can‘t account for how I got there. I actually
haven’t had much to say of late, believe it or not.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdT8r8UNMQF5WCKqLk9LzFDvd9j5b2kzad_zFzj_Fh4L2h3PAOKt2dIuQBML74gG7yI_TCoIF33cFcckYYRdv17aZBUs-8HpBN1atG22Dx-x1DQoQb4GMlH-WyEvn0kU7C2ihlRZz2Nu1/s1600/ACLUdemolishprisonsRAIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdT8r8UNMQF5WCKqLk9LzFDvd9j5b2kzad_zFzj_Fh4L2h3PAOKt2dIuQBML74gG7yI_TCoIF33cFcckYYRdv17aZBUs-8HpBN1atG22Dx-x1DQoQb4GMlH-WyEvn0kU7C2ihlRZz2Nu1/s320/ACLUdemolishprisonsRAIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> "Demolish the Prisons"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ACLU-AZ, Phoenix</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(April 26, 2011)</span></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since
my protest in June, the ACLU and the Prison Law Office have at least
decided to file suit against the AZ Department of Corrections over the
medical and psychiatric neglect of their prisoners, the abuse of
solitary confinement, and the skyrocketing suicide rates under Chuck
Ryan. I think my research and imprisoned correspondents were more
influential in helping them take that step than all my protests and
postcards were - but the fact that there’s an emerging and impassioned
prisoner rights movement here must have helped convince them that
Arizona isn’t a lost cause. That’s part of what I do with my blogs: I
bear witness, and try to make this struggle - and the people we’ve
relegated to the darkness - more visible. </span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vYmV5pFt9CKyIchfPdEqLoKcaO6NesqMTJC3UiGrUzDOA87_kgcSo9PPJ1qTHoF-x1KvYgrW5W8yFL3dD-QFhX1sVT-1ulfR-P5PkimNdBNYNOvQAkpZmc9BDOkUIZDjbFqVecoGRb8C/s1600/MLKDayMemorialPHXlibrary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vYmV5pFt9CKyIchfPdEqLoKcaO6NesqMTJC3UiGrUzDOA87_kgcSo9PPJ1qTHoF-x1KvYgrW5W8yFL3dD-QFhX1sVT-1ulfR-P5PkimNdBNYNOvQAkpZmc9BDOkUIZDjbFqVecoGRb8C/s320/MLKDayMemorialPHXlibrary.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> MLK Day Memorial</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(January 16, 2011)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Both
before and after my June Artwalk action, I tried to get the Phoenix
Police to prompt my guy at the DOJ more about investigating the prison
homicides, to no avail. The Capitol Police aren’t any help, either. I
have to hand off the high assault and homicide rates to someone before I
can let myself retire from all this, and I just don’t know yet if the
DOJ is going to agree to CRIPA Arizona over the rampant prison violence.
The state prosecutor association’s recent attempt to blame it all on an
inherently more violent inmate population is a distortion of data, at
best - it’s more propaganda crafted to justify locking increasing
numbers of people away. ADC statistics actually show a decrease, not an
increase, in the number of violent offenders committed to their custody
in the past two years. <br /><br />I’m afraid the problem behind the
escalating violence in Arizona’s prisons lies in the institutional
culture that‘s been cultivated there, and how the ADC does business
these days - not in who their customers are. Their policies and programs
(or lack thereof), and their fees and penalties all reflect more than
indifference - there’s a deep and pervasive contempt for prisoners and
their families under this regime. Chuck Ryan himself is a bully,
encouraging subordinates to behave the same way towards their staff and
prisoners alike. He actually had a mentally ill Supermax prisoner
prosecuted for arson who tried to kill himself by setting himself on
fire after begging for a year to get out of solitary. The court added a
year and a half onto his existing 10-year sentence, and even ordered
that the guy pay the state restitution for his medical care in the
amount of $1.8 million. He was prosecuted while chained to a bed and
recovering from burns over 80% of his body. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnwuoBIAibNSEOlED7uOH8_A6YFk3ifKufLWvwCshVBycHaeVCt9LS-nIRJKuU2RseUVDm6O3u297pG7NfZ5I3KuDihK_YVpZnsiEQG6stbVQwawdo_XoVYSsGTVUFaP-rTrfHrPGTSzr/s1600/whowillrepresent.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnwuoBIAibNSEOlED7uOH8_A6YFk3ifKufLWvwCshVBycHaeVCt9LS-nIRJKuU2RseUVDm6O3u297pG7NfZ5I3KuDihK_YVpZnsiEQG6stbVQwawdo_XoVYSsGTVUFaP-rTrfHrPGTSzr/s320/whowillrepresent.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Who will represent the dead?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Arizona State Legislature, Phoenix</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;">(February 22, 2011)</span></b><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anyway,
I still have some work to do on the prisons, but will refrain from
engaging in acts of civil disobedience that may have a negative impact
on my neighbors or community. As for the taxpayer dollars involved in
policing and prosecuting me - really, I think the money would have been
much better spent by the city getting someone to investigate the state
prisons like I asked them to in the first place. The Phoenix Police
could have at least contacted DPS or the DOJ to express their concern
about the homeless mentally ill people they’re helping send off to
prison - where they’re being assaulted, castrated and killed - so it’s
not just my voice falling on deaf ears about all this (there are a lot
of us clamoring out here these days, actually). A phone call requesting
that the proper law enforcement agency conduct an investigation is all
I’ve asked them to make. Instead, today there’s a few more lawsuits
against the ADC, a few more names for my murals, and a few more families
grieving their dead than there were when I demonstrated in June. I’m
just a civilian needing law enforcement assistance or the persuasive
power of an informed judiciary - why is that so hard to get here?<br /><br />I’m
not too happy with either the courts or the cops in this state,
frankly. A whole squad of detectives turned out to protect the pavement
and dumpsters from my paintbrush at Artwalk in June, yet none of them
will try to help me stop this death toll from climbing. If I presented
evidence identifying suspects in an unsolved homicide in Buckeye or
Tucson proper - or non-law enforcement corruption at the state level -
they would have facilitated interagency communication about it without
hesitation. Prisoners draw silence and blank stares, though. A
well-placed phone call six months ago could have saved lives - still
can, really. Here we are, though, half a year later, and instead of
nailing the folks with the guns and badges and power who are doing real
criminal damage to people‘s lives, the city is still prosecuting me
and ignoring the evidence that I‘ve compiled against far more guilty
parties. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What is wrong with this place? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbABazyoJRGnqVH4Pl33lyQ7yUmQDsDvv67o12WAFZt3kvq_WOWtRE1WretQgUbV_-NygS5dmSh5LnCjG5QXcpcVGOBXALJ_ISScd1uitz6QBjhYr6reyAhFqELkLdFwWf0lr2WqUhSNe/s1600/ALLEYourstreetsINSPIRE.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbABazyoJRGnqVH4Pl33lyQ7yUmQDsDvv67o12WAFZt3kvq_WOWtRE1WretQgUbV_-NygS5dmSh5LnCjG5QXcpcVGOBXALJ_ISScd1uitz6QBjhYr6reyAhFqELkLdFwWf0lr2WqUhSNe/s320/ALLEYourstreetsINSPIRE.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Criminal Damage"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Resistance Alley, Phoenix</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(June 10, 2011)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
answer to that, I think, has to do with the fundamental disregard we
have for human life in Arizona - except to the extent to which a living,
breathing being means somebody’s profit. That’s a bigger issue, of
course, requiring an organic solution like revolution. There’s nothing
the DOJ or ACLU combined can do about a terrified, self-interested,
ignorant electorate like ours. Look at how our laws reinforce
dehumanization of certain populations, too - it’s pervasive. It’s
“criminal damage” to impede access to water for livestock in Arizona,
and yet you can be prosecuted for littering if you try to assure access
to water in the desert for human beings…specifically, for migrants.
Brown-skinned ones. That’s pretty twisted. <br /><br />So is the state
constitution. We need to amend the Victim’s Bill of Rights to include
prisoners in the definition of “victim,” or we’ll never get justice for
victims of police and prison violence, neglect and abuse. Persons “in
custody for an offense” are exquisitely vulnerable to trauma and
victimization, and will continue to be so as long as we diminish their
rights that way. They and their survivors (in cases resulting in death)
are the only class of people excluded from the rights afforded all other
crime victims. That’s only because the perpetrators in those cases are
most likely cops, not because one becomes suddenly less deserving of
life or safety once taken into state custody. I can’t believe that most
Arizonans - if they knew about Shannon Palmer, Tony Lester, Marcia
Powell, Brenda Todd, Susan Lopez, Duron Cunningham, and Dana Seawright,
to name a few - would continue to deny prisoners and their loved ones
the same rights they would preserve for themselves and their children.
Maybe that’s the next place I’ll go with my murals - a public education
campaign of a slightly different kind.<br /><br />Well, I guess that’s my
statement, for better or worse - the one I would have read at sentencing
if I saw it coming today. Sorry it’s so long. I hope it’s not too late
to enter it into my court record. It’s also going up on my blogs. It’s
just intended to be explanatory, not to excuse me in any way. I was
ready to take full responsibility for everything I did - I really was
prepared to go to prison if I needed to, in order to advance my cause.
Thank God (and the County Attorney‘s Office, of course) that I didn’t. <br /><br />In
any case, I didn’t mean to wait until after you sentenced me to
articulate why I did what I did, and what I am and am not remorseful for
(yes, my neighbor's wall, no, the alley and dumpster - I made great
improvements to the scene). Maybe that’s not very fair of me; I think
you’re supposed to get the last word in. Hopefully it wouldn‘t have made
you any less inclined to cut me loose with only restitution and
community service. You can always take it out of me the next time,
though - I’ll be back again with the Occupiers soon. I was arrested
filming the police at their Hance Park protest this fall…</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNGdTc3xLXk7EYfAtlfQnViZkyniOifb8Gx9v-uEDxevp3GwK5sl0-Sk-2jtYWnTYks6jlFRSvJiPqM0R_b6X6q5GrboKtBTdl6tP34wV48KCnoTJlaI1ozDQLIrZALjEqCaGaOJvYF1i/s1600/HanceNOTfutile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNGdTc3xLXk7EYfAtlfQnViZkyniOifb8Gx9v-uEDxevp3GwK5sl0-Sk-2jtYWnTYks6jlFRSvJiPqM0R_b6X6q5GrboKtBTdl6tP34wV48KCnoTJlaI1ozDQLIrZALjEqCaGaOJvYF1i/s320/HanceNOTfutile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Abolish the Phoenix Camping Ordinance!</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix<br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>(October 15, 2011)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
guess there’s one more thing I need to say, actually - whether or not
it gets me into trouble. Please try not to send any more mentally ill
people like me and my brother to Joe’s jail. He’s killing us in there,
too, you know - some violently, like Marty Atencio, and some quietly -
like those who cycle in and out of there for years dying inside,
unnoticed. We aren’t “safer” or getting “cared for” in there as opposed
to being on the streets, for the most part. Rather, behind bars we are
in constant danger of violence, trauma and despair. <br /><br />I don’t know
why there isn’t anything the judiciary can do about guys like Arpaio
and Ryan, since you entrust us so confidently to their custody. Once you
get our fingerprint and designate us as property of the state, it seems
you’re pretty much done with us, too. Surely if you can order cops into
our private homes to enforce drug laws, you can send them into our
public jails and prisons to enforce important laws that protect
vulnerable persons from neglect and abuse, and promote the civil rights
of all. It would seem to be your legal duty, in fact, to make sure that
the places you lock us away in for our punishment - or our protection -
aren’t routinely violating our rights to health, safety, sanity, and
life, and that when you do learn of such things, you have them
investigated further, or you dig into it yourself. We deserve to be
treated with some humanity, whatever our crime. <br /><br />Sadly, I heard a
Municipal Court judge this week say she couldn‘t order or otherwise
compel the jail to give a mentally ill prisoner his meds, even though
his attorney said he was decompensating rapidly without them. That’s
deeply troubling. She can’t convince or coerce the jail to give him
essential medical care, but she’s empowered to imprison him for the next
nine months on a Rule 11 getting restored to the level of competency
that the MCSO destroyed. He would be punished if he was non-compliant
with treatment in there, but the jail staff get off hurting him scott
free. That’s stealing a piece of a man’s life from him because he’s ill,
not because he’s a criminal. He hadn’t even been sentenced. How does
that resemble justice? If that judge can’t have a clerk call Magellan or
Correctional Health Services and get that guy his injection before he
gets sicker, then she should at least have ordered someone to make a
civil rights complaint on his behalf - not just leave him to unravel in
jail between hearings like that. That’s real criminal damage.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIQTLQ5tm7b1Nkux40SVLi20OgVTbub8iUMR1T89sCb9NxXjnp0JtWV2OYCMgy8hfy8WYiYktllAKBNmbIYONSUX1DVb27XQdi-NyHbKJErmjilp0KK0Zyxa9VFZLABVO_fUXn3-9oeMg/s1600/endmcsobrutality2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIQTLQ5tm7b1Nkux40SVLi20OgVTbub8iUMR1T89sCb9NxXjnp0JtWV2OYCMgy8hfy8WYiYktllAKBNmbIYONSUX1DVb27XQdi-NyHbKJErmjilp0KK0Zyxa9VFZLABVO_fUXn3-9oeMg/s320/endmcsobrutality2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"The Trial of Officer Kevin Gerster"<br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Maricopa County Central Courthouse, Phoenix</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(March 11, 2011)<br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Having
one’s “hands tied” by the politics of dealing with an incompetent but
popular elected sheriff - or the governor’s appointed chief
disciplinarian, for that matter - doesn’t keep them free of the blood of
prisoners when one knows specifically who is suffering, how, where, and
what could be done to alleviate it. Even I accept that responsibility
when a plea for help arrives in my post office box, and I have no power
to exert but that which I create myself - in fact, I‘m just another
convicted criminal now. I’m not the one putting all these people in jail
and prison, either. I think the feigned helplessness of people who
could intervene meaningfully if they tried is an excuse for laziness or
cowardice. It also explains why we have to beg the feds to investigate
every law enforcement agency, detention center, and penal institution in
this state in the first place - our own people won't do the job when
it's clearly called for. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So,
that’s basically what my crime - this particular crime of expression,
anyway - was all about. While I take responsibility for making amends
where I offended and restitution where I harmed, I don’t think I’m the
one who needs to be rehabilitated here. Please share my concerns with
your colleagues and ask them to be more pro-active in the future when it
comes to the well-being of the vulnerable people they order confined in
the custody of those who have already shown they will neglect, torment
and kill us with startling frequency. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9-f8G5EQitgbk5bVt0KmYnrnemqc5Qx0QeLwB6oUuFSo4znDj7jMJJ0YqXZW4l2TntJ-SK0EZf4TXWDTDgkC55If_EsQAU3dEXYHkBw1lUovvpjV-rzY3kaZJnMqqMMtqhYbkKnrwX0f/s1600/LargeCreation05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9-f8G5EQitgbk5bVt0KmYnrnemqc5Qx0QeLwB6oUuFSo4znDj7jMJJ0YqXZW4l2TntJ-SK0EZf4TXWDTDgkC55If_EsQAU3dEXYHkBw1lUovvpjV-rzY3kaZJnMqqMMtqhYbkKnrwX0f/s400/LargeCreation05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>"Please stop killing your prisoners" <br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Arizona Department of Corrections: </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Central Office, Phoenix</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>(November 22, 2011)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank
you for your time and patience with me. I wouldn’t have been so candid
with most judges, I don’t think, so I sure hope you’re as cool as you
seem to be; I mean no disrespect. If anything, take it as a sign that I
trust you to be able to handle it, which is saying a lot for someone
with your kind of power.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Take care,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Peggy Plews</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Prison Abolitionist</span><i><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUUQXxtmtjXgxCXnGMX282l-ULgJWPK1_yHuZMOqehOm08_xDFcxCYnbq2CV3P7ntDIp84VTVMzQ0uqljf-Cb6YTK62uoRULKENOH_Tp1bkq6yZTz_27EPdQG8OM6Iz76fZcS6i-9j4mS/s1600/TENTSlookoutsky1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUUQXxtmtjXgxCXnGMX282l-ULgJWPK1_yHuZMOqehOm08_xDFcxCYnbq2CV3P7ntDIp84VTVMzQ0uqljf-Cb6YTK62uoRULKENOH_Tp1bkq6yZTz_27EPdQG8OM6Iz76fZcS6i-9j4mS/s320/TENTSlookoutsky1.JPG" width="220" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Abandoned Tent City Guard Tower</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Maricopa County Jail, Phoenix</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;"> (April 4, 2011)</span></b></div>
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</div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-20551236130187293212011-10-17T16:09:00.002-07:002013-11-23T18:44:10.049-07:00Occupy Phoenix Arrests: Resistance is Not Futile<span style="font-style: italic;">Spent about 18 hours in custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Sunday, after being <a href="http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/police-arrest-dozens-at-phoenix-wall-street-protest" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">grabbed in the Phoenix Police Department's sweep of Margaret T. Hance Park Saturday night</a> - the first night of our People's Occupation of the city. Things got a little intense once we settled. I walked home and got my tent and other camping gear - passing through about a hundred riot police on the outskirts of the park on my way back. It was dark by then, and no one had put up any tents. As far as I knew we didn't have permission to do so - so I did, hoping it would create space for others to do so as well. It made a perfect backdrop for the sign I had carried around all day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLRrmktfqq3FFAZJaMEryeI4Y2rU4MmV4hcROxFM716scYMp8qk45XkKnJaXAM6NUGo8FTe9XpU2ATJW9zl_bLzeIWtNAOjV8GxlIgkoo3SkGKxwsfOGZ0YUQ5nv2FWg9fUjSewQ4-tQp/s1600/HanceNOTfutile.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664478893945119858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLRrmktfqq3FFAZJaMEryeI4Y2rU4MmV4hcROxFM716scYMp8qk45XkKnJaXAM6NUGo8FTe9XpU2ATJW9zl_bLzeIWtNAOjV8GxlIgkoo3SkGKxwsfOGZ0YUQ5nv2FWg9fUjSewQ4-tQp/s400/HanceNOTfutile.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 297px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 445px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/occupyphoenix" style="color: #3366ff;">Occupy Phoenix</a>:</span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"Resistance is not Futile"<br />Margaret T. Hance Park<br />(October 15, 2011)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">original photo by <a href="http://www.desertfreepress.com/" style="color: #3366ff;">robert haasch </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">sign and post-production rendition by margaret j plews</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Neither the City of Phoenix nor the negotiators appointed by the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/occupyphoenix" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Occupy Phoenix</a> General Assembly to interface with them seemed pleased with my decision. Nor did the police - three of whom in succession approached me to warn me that I was violating the Phoenix Camping ordinance and could be arrested. The third cop was most emphatic - at which point I began yelling to the crowd for help:</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">"Mic Check!" "Mic Check!" (that's how you signal you need the floor and the group lets you know when you have it). I hollered that my tent was in protest against the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002492652705" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">camping ordinance and the criminalization of homelessness</a>, and asked them to protect me from being arrested. I pointed out that if I was a tired, 47-year old woman with no place to sleep and no energy to walk any further, I could be arrested for laying down there to sleep - and that's anywhere in Phoenix. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">The crowd converged and the cops backed down. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">I began talking more about the city's homeless but was cut off by a couple of apparent organizers or representatives of the larger collective trying to de-escalate the potential for a conflict with the cops. Even as one officer was threatening me with arrest, my comrades were reassuring the gathering crowd that an agreement had just been reached with the city that no one would face arrest for putting up a tent (only later did we learn that was only for so long as the park would be open - after closing we were arrested for just being there).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wCJEFBcqNr-GhRGQs7mjfr3WflZEgsycVv1yl57ZaAl-ewuicfyluXTX350gfw6u5jLIK-8r9FhGXM1-ME11QsgWSetkn6bLy274FKZRuZpNR3Xgy9GOHI2wlvrzwdcs8PyR_JOrFf51/s1600/HanceTENT2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664554848856241634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wCJEFBcqNr-GhRGQs7mjfr3WflZEgsycVv1yl57ZaAl-ewuicfyluXTX350gfw6u5jLIK-8r9FhGXM1-ME11QsgWSetkn6bLy274FKZRuZpNR3Xgy9GOHI2wlvrzwdcs8PyR_JOrFf51/s400/HanceTENT2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 267px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Away from the circle, after erecting my tent, I asked members of the negotiating team (I think that's who they were, anyway) to please seek amnesty for all the campers in Phoenix that night, not just us. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that part was heard. I'm hoping we can get the abolition of the camping ordinance on the larger group's agenda - more likely, now, I think, that more people have experienced first hand a small taste of the police harassment that our homeless brothers and sisters get on a regular basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-weight: bold;"><br />photo by robert haasch (who saved my ass by being there)</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">I went on to provoke the police a little more that night just before the mass arrests. Unlike most of my fellow occupiers, I was not seated and linking arms with the group - I was out filming the columns of riot police sweeping the park. Another protester, Cody (our flag handler) and I strayed too far from the collective and into the path of the police, and got nabbed early on. They yelled a warning right at us that if we didn't leave the park we'd be arrested (that was pretty clear), but before I managed to take two steps back I was apprehended by Officer Chad Shiply (at least, that's who got the credit on my booking papers) - in fact, I think he was yelling at me ("you in the red hat") even as our warning was being issued.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Cody got pretty roughed up when they tackled him - I think he was hit in the head and they kept yelling at him to let go of his flagpole, all the while pinning it between his body and his arms. A cop stepped so hard on his neck that he was wheezing all the way to jail, and his flex cuffs were on so tight he lost feeling in his hands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Whoever it was who arrested me wasn't very gentle, either, by any means - my left arm is pretty bruised up from where he twisted it behind and under some piece of equipment (it felt like the rim of a riot shield, but I don't think he was carrying one), and the skin around my wrist is broken from where he put the flex cuffs on too tight. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">I told him it was cutting me, but his answer was simply "It's supposed to be tight", and put me in the wagon. I got another cop's attention, though, and he and a couple of other officers tried to cut it off, only to find that it was so digging deep into my skin that they couldn't remove it until we got to the station where they had a special tool. They loosened the pressure by cutting the other piece off my right hand and pulling out my bracelet from under the remaining plastic band, putting me in regular cuffs for the ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">From there on out, any mistreatment I was subjected to was the same that all the other prisoners I was with was subjected to: extremely cold cement slabs and floors to discourage sleep or even simple comfort, over-crowded and filthy holding cells, and two meals of barely-edible food (an oatmeal creme cookie, a small container of peanut butter, two small loaves of funky bread, two moldy decorative oranges, and a "blue hug" - the syrupy concoction that's also known as "bug juice", to those of you who went to summer camp). Being moved from one cell to another repeatedly and never finding ourselves in the view of a clock or window, we were constantly disoriented as to time and space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Only a couple of our guards seemed to enjoy abusing their power and being mean; most were just matter-of-fact or indifferent to prisoner complaints and questions, and in the course of giving us orders - although some were curious about our protest and increasingly bemused at the crowd growing outside the jail awaiting our release. I felt blessed that we were kept together; I so needed the company of the other women who chose this same path. They kept my spirits up, and my heart warm.<br /><br /><br />That's saying a lot, given my condition. I reported upon intake what medications I needed every day, but didn't get any of them. With my thyroid level falling Sunday morning, I spent most of the time shivering in a deep freeze. I don't know if denying me two doses of my mood stabilizers made much of a difference, but I sure had moments of pretty deep demoralization and despair. At the very least it threw me off my schedule; I skipped a few beats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">I didn't even bother asking for aspirin or motrin for my headache - that seemed to be the least of my worries. I was exhausted, stressed, and my body temperature and mood were crashing hard. I was acutely aware that it would not look good to my judge, if informed, that I already have a case in municipal court for <a href="http://azprisonsurvivors.blogspot.com/2011/06/criminal-damage-surviving-death-in.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">another act of civil disobedience involving 3 charges of criminal damage</a>. I felt incredibly vulnerable to being trapped there, and <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/08/peace-mom.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">missed my Mom</a><span style="color: #3366ff;"> </span>so much that I silently cried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Some of you who know me well are aware that while I was a delinquent and trouble-maker from a young age, I was never criminalized. Instead, for using drugs, running away, and trying to kill myself so often I spent my adolescence locked up in psychiatric institutions, being rehabilitated instead of just punished. Relapse part of the recovery process from alcoholism and addiction (I started drinking at 13), so while I was a traumatized, deeply depressed youth, I could have also easily gone through the juvenile justice system (like my big brother) and landed in prison at 18 for all my drug-related crimes. Instead I pretty much sobered up and became a responsible citizen at 20. With my history of institutionalization, my mood disorder, my addictions, and lack of any resources by which to survive, I could have so easily lived and died like <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/03/prison-abolitionist-and-light-in-marcia.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Marcia Powell</a> - there but for the grace of God go I.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Now, at 47 years old, I'm more radical than I was as a teen. I think that's because I see what's at stake for the people so much more clearly now - not just what's at stake for me. This was my first arrest and booking into the county jail. It was a disturbing experience, even though endured with friends and comrades - I don't look forward to this again. I'm afraid that given the persistence of my disobedience I'm likely to end up doing more than a few hours next time, if there is one.<br /><br />Though I haven't been arrested before, I have been confined as a patient. No matter how good the conditions or how kind my keepers are, I never much liked being treated like a prisoner, which is what being a psychiatric patient entails as well - only our sentences and subjugation to a higher authority on the appropriateness of our conduct are indeterminate and not subject to effective appeals - nor does our imprisonment garner much public sympathy.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Think about it: it's just not the same trying to rally people to "free Peggy" if I'm in the nut house than if I'm in jail for taking on the riot police - few people are willing to second-guess the good judgement of anyone who calls themselves a mental health professional and declares one of us to be a danger to ourselves or others.<br /><br /><br />With limited rights as subjects in mental health court, we can be placed under surveillance of the psychiatric system indefinitely, be forcibly injected with mind-altering drugs that stay in our system for weeks at a time, be deprived of some of our civil rights (like convicted felons), and be violently seized by police and put back into state custody without even being suspected of a crime. It's chilling to know how easily they can still do that to me - especially since I walk a fine line some days between outraged artistic expression and just plain madness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">That does not mean I really aspire or prefer to take a stroll through the criminal justice system as a defendant, though. I just felt that in both cases an act of civil disobedience was essential to bring attention to serious problems that the law enforcement community, for one, needs to take some responsibility for. That means everyone from the beat cop on the street to the head of the Maricopa County Superior Court should be part of the conversation about the escalating violence and despair in the state prisons, and the tragic deaths of so many people who never should have even gone there - like people who are criminalized for their mental illness or housing status. </span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Prisoners like <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/09/highly-preventable-homicide-of-shannon.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Shannon Palmer</a> and <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/03/prison-abolitionist-and-light-in-marcia.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Marcia Powell </a>could have been helped long before heading to prison with outreach and supported housing programs, like we developed in the 1990's. If prosecutors like Bill Montgomery want to reduce both victimization and criminalization, they'll support more resources going into our mental health system than into building new prisons, and cops should</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> support <a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/10/sentencing-reform-arizonas-time-has.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">legislative changes</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> that take them out of the role of social workers by insuring social workers are around to prevent crisis from escalating to police attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway, I'm now in rather deep trouble, I think, over too many minor infractions, and must behave myself - so next time you hear me taking on the Phoenix police, remind me to chill myself out. I've been booked, printed and detained once already - I even have a mug shot now (I'm a serious criminal here). I'm really kind of a wimp, and don't want to go through that all again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">So, I'll be trying to behave myself these next few weeks, as my <a href="http://azprisonsurvivors.blogspot.com/2011/06/criminal-damage-surviving-death-in.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">pre-trial for my graffiti activity</a> is also approaching (November 14, 1:30pm, PHX Municipal Courthouse, room 508).<br /><br /><br />I'll still be out there, though - just not fighting with the police. Look for me </span><a href="http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/bestof/2011/award/best-street-chalker-with-a-social-conscience-2728647/" style="color: #3366ff; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">chalking Power downtown</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> or handing out </span><a href="http://realcostofprisons.org/" style="color: #3366ff; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Real Cost of Prison</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> comic books, promoting the November 30 </span><a href="http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3366ff; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ALEC Resistance</a><a href="http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3366ff; font-style: italic;">.</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">The people need to tune into that one quick if they really want to make a difference in our current social state.</span><br />
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For those of you doing any kind of jail support for Occupy Phoenix, by the way - I think we all have our arraignments on October 26, 2011 at 10am (phoenix Municipal Court 300 W. Washington St). At that time some may both plead guilty and be sentenced, hopefully to time served (or have a sentencing date set). Some will no doubt plead not guilty and ask for a bench trial (no jury for misdemeanors like this). We have to be facing probable jail time or probation in order to be appointed an attorney if we can't afford one. Since there could be up to six months of jail time and a huge fee involved, I'm asking for an attorney, myself. In any case, a little support for us defendants that day (I believe there were 46 arrested) would be appreciated.<br />
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In the meantime, there are stipulations to our freedom (these are mine, anyway). The first one is the only one that worries me, since that can be subject to interpretation at the discretion of a cop...but at least she didn't order us to stay away from the scene of the crime:</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">1. Obey all laws.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">2. Appear at all court hearings and follow all court orders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">3. Notify the court if you move from the address listed on the complaint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">4. Do not harass or threaten alleged victims, witnesses, and/or arresting officers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Remind us to stay out of trouble please, folks. We won't be released on PR again if we don't. There's a whole lot of damage we can do without being criminal anyway</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">and we need to be employing a diversity of tactics, as the anarchists often say - and not everyone can afford to be arrested.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">To those of you who think you can - please be careful not to get hurt out there. The cops can be brutal, and it's really no fun going to jail. Here are some tips if you expect to be arrested, though:<br /><br /><br />- Don't let any of what I just said scare you from taking action: we really need more arrestable citizens willing to step up when others get taken out. Just go in with your eyes wide open.<br /><br />- Give all your stuff to a friend ahead of time who can greet you as you come out - they'll probably need to take you to the impound of the police department that arrested you. Just keep your license handy - everything else, including your shoelaces, will have to go.<br /><br />- Have your jail support team planned out, including some clue about the possible legal consequences you may face, and where, other than the PD's office, you can get legal assistance.<br /><br />- Writ</span>e<span style="font-style: italic;"> the phone numbers you may need with a Sharpie on your arm - including the person you need to drive you. You may want to include the number of a bailbonds-person, too. I'll post a link to one when I hear of a good one to refer you to. The jail staff are NOT likely to let you pull any numbers off your cell phone, so be prepared.<br /><br />- be well-layered for your action, erring on the side of being too warm. Everyone is freezing in jail, and there's nothing soft on which to sit or put your head. Extra, warm clothes are priceless.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />- save all food you are given, even the moldy oranges. You may get hungry enough to eat it before they feed you again, or another prisoner may come in without having had food in days.</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />- bond with your comrades and fellow prisoners, to the extent they are comfortable doing so. It makes the time pass and can pull you out of your own misery. Almost everyone was in a worse predicament there - with more to lose - than me.<br /><br />- let supporters know it could be up to 24 hours before you even see a judge, so they aren't hanging from the get-go. Tell them when your initial appearance is scheduled for, and that they probably won't be able to get you until 2 hours after that - if you get released. Again, my little stay was about 18 hours from pulling into the jail to my release.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">- once free, getting your property will probably take time - it may take your entire workday. Be careful what you promise your employer - you may not have your car keys in the am following your release (if at night or on a weekend), and need to deal with all that.</span><br />
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-<span style="font-style: italic;"> and, this should go without saying: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">don't talk to or trust the police</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, before or after an action, be it solitary or a collective one. <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/06/phoenix-police-red-squad-detectives.html" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Their job is to shut us down - period</a>. They'll do it with their gas and clubs or simply with their smiles - the latter is most insidious. Don't let them in your head either way.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">-------mainstream media coverage by the Arizona Republic-------</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/10/16/20111016phoenix-occupy-protesters-arrested.html"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Arrests made after Phoenix occupy protests</span></a></h1>
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<a href="http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/10/16/20111016phoenix-occupy-protesters-arrested.html#comments"><span class="bylinecomments" id="commentcount"></span></a><b>Laurie Merrill, Luci Scott, Ed Tribble</b> -</div>
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<b>Oct. 16, 2011 09:51 PM<br /> <span class="org">Arizona Republic</span></b> </div>
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About 50 Occupy Phoenix protesters descended on the Fourth Avenue Jail in Phoenix to support the 45 demonstrators arrested early Sunday. "Bankers get a bailout and we get jail," they chanted before marching back to Cesar Chavez Plaza on Sunday afternoon.<br />
Later that evening, about 150 demonstrators crowded the sidewalks at the plaza under the watch of police officers. Three demonstrators were arrested when they refused to get off the street after the plaza's closing hour.<br />
In the early hours of Sunday, Phoenix police arrested 45 Occupy Phoenix protesters who refused to leave downtown's Margaret T. Hance Park at its 10:30 p.m. closing time, according to Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump.<br />
Marking the first time the group staged a demonstration in Phoenix, more than 1,000 members of a movement that decries corporate greed among other issues demonstrated at Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown Phoenix before moving to the park.<br />
But unlike in cities such as New York, where Occupy Wall Street protesters have been given the okay since last month to camp out on a privately owned parcel, Phoenix riot police forced protestors out of the park and arrested those who wouldn't go, Crump said.<br />
"Most of those arrested were passive in nature and no injuries were reported to either officers or demonstrators," Crump said.<br />
The arrests capped a day that saw more than 1,000 people packed Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown Phoenix to protest what they view as abuses by banks and other major corporations.<br />
The protest was an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement that spread Saturday to cities such as Raleigh, Denver, Seattle, Chicago and Tucson, where several hundred people rallied at Military Plaza Park.<br />
Like the New York crowds, Occupy Phoenix protesters championed diverse causes, united by grievances against corporate greed and political influence.<br />
The targets of protesters' anger ranged from Washington, D.C.'s partisan politics to the abuse of children by Catholic priests.<br />
Protesters blame these problems on wealthy corporate CEOs and what they termed big businesses' lack of compassion for the "lower 99 percent" of the population.<br />
Earlier Saturday, the protest went smoothly, Crump said.<br />
"There were large crowds with no known injuries or arrest. The plaza had cleared out late in the afternoon, prior to its 6 p.m. closing time," Crump said of the earlier gathering. Protestors Saturday afternoon marched to Hance park, in part because of its later hours of operation, which are posted as 10:30 p.m.<br />
"As the park closing hour passed many of the demonstrators refused to leave," Crump said.<br />
Detectives from the Phoenix Police Community Response Squad personally urged group members to leave quickly. More requests made by ground and by air.<br />
"However, a large group remained and refused to leave the park," Crump said.<br />
Before midnight, Field Force Team moved in to clear the protesters, whose chants and other loud noises prompted police reports, Crump said.<br />
The team formed a line and moved across the park, arrested and pushing the protesters ahead of the line, Trump said. Sprinklers came on and many demonstrators moved north, Crump said.<br />
As of this morning, 45 arrests had taken place for criminal trespass, a Class 3 misdemeanor, Crump said.<br />
"Most of those arrested were passive in nature and no injuries were reported to either officers or demonstrators," Crump said.<br />
Despite the arrests protesters vowed to return today in force, but by early Sunday just a few clustered near the Cesar Chavez Plaza.<br />
The gathering was primarily organized through social media, and the movement has no official spokesman.<br />
"Non-violence is really good practically," said Carolyn Vesecky, a trainer with the Phoenix Nonviolence TruthForce. "We have a lot of passion, but we need to direct it in the most constructive means."<br />
About a dozen musicians played instruments, sang and rapped revolutionary lyrics at various times.<br />
When they closed the park, the police flew their chopper past midnight, and by 1:30 had pushed everybody out of the park. Protesters said that Phoenix Assistant Manager Cavazos made the problem worse by pushing the protesters out of the park into neighborhoods in the middle of the night.<br />
By Sunday afternoon, the crowd at Cesar Chavez Plaza had swelled to a couple hundred people, some of them yelling, "We love you," to motorists driving on Washington Avenue and waving signs that read, "We are the 99 percent," "End the Corpocracy," and, "Money is not speech. Corporations are not people," a reference to the controversial Supreme Court decision known as <i>Citizens United</i>.<br />
Several wore T-shirts with the epigram, "Think: It's not illegal yet."<br />
Among the demonstrators was Dave Reilly, 47, of Chicago, who had been in Occupy protests in New York and Chicago before he came to Phoenix.<br />
Reilly had been a training coordinator for an electronics corporation but lost his job in 2007 because the company switched to less-expensive online training.<br />
"I've been looking for work; it's a black hole," said Reilly, who has worked part-time jobs including pedaling a rickshaw, cleaning toilets and working as a lifeguard.<br />
He worked construction in Phoenix for two months but quit after he didn't get a paycheck.<br />
"They shrugged and said, 'When we get paid, you get paid.' People are so desperate, employers are taking huge advantage of the situation. They can replace you; somebody else will come along and do the job for free."<br />
Still, he carried a sign saying "I (heart) USA" explaining his sign by saying, "It's the greatest country in the world; it's just a little bit mismanaged."<br />
Among the protesters was Ondi Scibilia. She said she had been living in Santan Valley, but her home is being short-saled, so she's staying with a friend in Goodyear.<br />
Her green-cleaning/concierege company was doing well until the economy tanked. It folded in December 2008.<br />
Scibilia grew vegetables and goats for cheese on her land, but her husband lost his job with a cement company in December 2009, and in 2010, their marriage ended.<br />
She has turned in hundreds of job applications, which have prompted only two phone calls and one interview.<br />
"I still have hope," she said. "Without hope, I wouldn't be breathing."<br />
Sylvia Trainor of Peoria is two weeks away from losing her house to auction. Until she lost her well-paid engineer husband to cancer, the couple paid still paid the mortgage from their savings.<br />
She's in deep debt because of his cancer treatments but says she can't get coverage under AHCCCS, the state's Medicaid system, not even for her son who has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.<br />
"All I have is Social Security," she said. "If I pay the mortgage, I don't have enough money for food. I get food boxes, but that's not enough with four children at home."<br />
When she loses her home, she wants to keep her family together, so she expects to pitch a tent in a park.<br />
"The only thing holding me together is my faith," she said. <br />
Also at the protest Sunday night was Peter Szayer of Mesa, who had just spent 18 hours in the Fourth Avenue Jail after being arrested for being in Hance Park after it closed.<br />
"It put things in perspective how things are run here in Arizona in the jail system," said Szayer, who was a college student but had to quit because he couldn't afford school.<br />
He now works as a caregiver to physically and mentally challenged people at Tungland Corp. in Phoenix.<br />
He said he was put in pink handcuffs, had the option of sleeping on the floor or a concrete bench, and was fed once - bread, peanut butter and two small oranges.<br />
"I could totally tell they did not care about us," he said. "They didn't care how big or small our crime was. I was sitting next to a guy (not one of the protesters) who was bleeding all over the place."<br />
He said detention officers made fun of him and his fellow protesters, taunting them by saying, "Are you having fun occupying this jail?"<br />
Szayer said he faced the prospect of being homeless Sunday night because his backpack containing his car keys, cellphones and ID had been impounded and he couldn't retrieve them until Monday.<br />
He was concerned because he said he needed an ID to get them.<br />
"It's something I'll have to deal with tomorrow," he said Sunday night.</div>
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Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-19278306423898449532011-10-12T20:15:00.000-07:002011-10-12T20:15:13.610-07:00We will not be Ignored: Occupy Phoenix, October 15.<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">But First: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This land is already occupied.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/276971_271619922859021_280809944_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/276971_271619922859021_280809944_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
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</b></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271619922859021">PRE-OCCUPATION / </a></b></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271619922859021"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>DECOLONIZATION MARCH</b></span></a></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Friday, October 14, 3pm </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Downtown Phoenix </b></span></div><div style="color: #e69138; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Civic Space Park</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>424 N. Central Avenue</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Support Indigenous Resistance</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657062532886366162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt5POqhtX6cyhKDslAOsrrkDbK0xQtxnq8XqiOeFIsUIL9Q23AStvcP7Fb9mOPwNBAuo6a5YnuBxZVP4Q_P3y4ebiQ-A2OH4_OhNojcqgCLX8k2g1CSJcdauMDbmSan5XI8hlRoVeKrza/s320/occupyphoenix.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="247" /></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErMydvtIh4tcLxR2poAE926tKBH19UYlF5m-stZQTbskz7RQgV_A_ya4jT8ASTPlvX-psxLHl2p4AFIOyzX8wSdlxlPAb_zUpwlWn6opp8ImQl7wkBBWei0hCGYm0qpDqyi9Gqj8yQb-S/s1600/occupyphoenix.jpg"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/occupyphoenix" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">OCCUPY PHOENIX.</span></a></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">pass it on.</span></div><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/26/occupy-wall-street-protest-slowly-spreads-across-the-united-states/">‘Occupy Wall Street’ protest slowly spreads across the United States</a><br />
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<b>the Raw Story<br />
<span class="author">By <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/author/edolan/" title="Posts by Eric W. Dolan">Eric W. Dolan</a></span><br />
<span class="date">Monday, September 26th, 2011 -- 6:17 pm</span></b><br />
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Small groups of demonstrators in major American cities have started their own "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations and organizers are planning further actions in more cities across the United States.<br />
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A diverse coalition of people have pledged to occupy Wall Street until something is done about corporate greed and the financial system's undemocratic influence on the U.S. government.<br />
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The protesters have been camped out in New York’s old Liberty Plaza, one block from the Federal Reserve, since Saturday.<br />
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"The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99 Percent that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the one percent," said a statement on the <a href="https://occupywallst.org/">Occupy Wall Street</a> website.<br />
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At least 80 to 100 people were arrested over the weekend in the first big crackdown since the demonstration began. Police accused the protesters of blocking traffic and resisting arrest.<br />
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Video recordings showed female protesters being rounded up in an orange-colored mesh <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/police-pen-up-and-mace-female-occupy-wall-street-protesters/">pen by police and subsequently sprayed with mace</a>, seemingly without any provocation, and other protesters being <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/shocking-video-nypd-clears-protesters-making-numerous-arrests/">dragged across the street</a> by police. Another protester said she was <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/protester-allegedly-arrested-for-filming-occupy-wall-street/">arrested for trying to film</a> the demonstration and locked in a police van for over two hours.<br />
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The protest spread to other cities over the weekend.<br />
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A small group of "Occupy Los Angeles" demonstrators marched through the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to show their support for the protesters in New York City.<br />
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"Corporate interests seem to be controlling both parties,” one protester told <a href="http://www.laactivist.com/2011/09/24/campaign-to-%E2%80%98occupy%E2%80%99-la-is-growing/">LAActivist.com</a>. “The ‘little man,’ the ‘American every man,’ just isn’t getting their voice heard. When you need $35,000 to donate to a campaign to get your voice heard, to have a meeting, that’s not democracy.”<br />
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"Occupy Los Angeles" protesters plan to begin a demonstration at City Hall on October 1. The "Occupy Los Angeles" <a href="http://www.facebook.com/occupyLA">Facebook page</a> had nearly 2,000 likes as of Tuesday afternoon.<br />
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Another demonstration <a href="http://chicagoist.com/2011/09/23/occupy_chi_activists_bring_wall_st.php#photo-1">popped up in Chicago</a> over the weekend. Around 20 "Occupy Chicago" protesters gathered at Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, on Friday and then marched to the Federal Reserve Bank. Some protesters have remained camped out in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5d-hHa1nKKY">organizers said</a> the "occupation" had grown from 4 people to about 50.<br />
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Other "occupation" protests are being planned for <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/09/occupy_michigan_would_you_part.html">Detroit</a>, Denver, Cleveland, <a href="http://www.metro.us/boston/Local/article/979309--protesters-plan-occupy-boston">Boston</a>, Phoenix, Seattle, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The site <a href="http://occupytogether.org/">occupytogether.org</a> has been set up in hopes of coordinating the protests.<br />
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Although the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/nyregion/protesters-are-gunning-for-wall-street-with-faulty-aim.html"><i>New York Times</i> described</a> the protest as a "noble but fractured and airy movement of rightly frustrated young people" whose purpose was "virtually impossible to decipher," the demonstration has attracted some prominent voices in the progressive and liberal community.<br />
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Journalist Chris Hedges <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/chris-hedges-occupy-wall-street-is-where-the-hope-of-america-lies/">described the protest</a> as “really where the hope of America lies.”<br />
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“The real radicals have seized power,” he asserted, “and they are decimating all impediments to the creation of a neo-feudalistic corporate state, one in which there is a rapacious oligarchic class, a thin managerial elite, and two-thirds of this country live in conditions that increasingly push families to subsistence level.”<br />
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MIT professor Noam Chomsky <a href="http://www.fugginsuggin.com/2011/09/chomsky-supports-occupy-wall-street.html">also said he supports the protest</a>.<br />
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"Anyone with eyes open knows that the gangsterism of Wall Street -- financial institutions generally -- has caused severe damage to the people of the United States (and the world)," he said. "And should also know that it has been doing so increasingly for over 30 years, as their power in the economy has radically increased, and with it their political power."<br />
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<a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/michael-moore-the-media-ignores-wall-street-occupation/">Filmmaker Michael Moore</a> and <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/olbermann-calls-out-media-hypocrisy-on-occupy-wall-street-protest/">Current TV host Keith Olbermann</a> both separately lamented the lack of substantial news coverage of the event, questioning why same-sized or smaller tea party protests garnered more attention than "Occupy Wall Street."<br />
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Even <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/colbert-has-trouble-finding-hippie-argle-bargle-in-occupy-wall-st/">Stephen Colbert chimed in</a>, wondering why his reporters couldn't find the stereotypical "mindless hippie argle-bargle" in the protest. </div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17604426254894186183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-7639220872520481282011-10-06T18:02:00.001-07:002011-10-06T18:13:04.223-07:00The Love Police AZ: Chalking the Police 2011<span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes you need just need to step back and listen when the people have something to say - especially the youth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This awesome video was composed and put up on YouTube by </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/thelovepolicearizona">thelovepolicearizona</a>.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /> Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us...<br /><br /> <br /></span><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/cj4e5iFWWhs?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" width="640" frameborder="0" height="360"></iframe>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-56827531137175776062011-09-15T08:40:00.002-07:002011-10-10T03:32:04.795-07:00The work of a true revolutionary...begins at home.<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThnTqRMjMem_2I__JT_Q-u7LPRItkJ9LOOSyS4NFoc-6lD_gQ6IUsp3g7c8KM8w9y6K9HQ6-1yz7G9xyc23j41G1Zv_uhg5gVOA77aNa7NnW9JPAbRuHe4ShbqVjJiDc3qHKkwEkpX5zj/s1600/ALLeySOS.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThnTqRMjMem_2I__JT_Q-u7LPRItkJ9LOOSyS4NFoc-6lD_gQ6IUsp3g7c8KM8w9y6K9HQ6-1yz7G9xyc23j41G1Zv_uhg5gVOA77aNa7NnW9JPAbRuHe4ShbqVjJiDc3qHKkwEkpX5zj/s200/ALLeySOS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652014484010427170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic">I just came home from court this morning, and finally had a chance to get my police report, detailing what I'm being charged with and what evidence is against me. I already gave them most of it in letters, blogs, and postcards about my protest. I was relieved I didn't have to actually enter a "not guilty" plea this morning, because after all that, it would seem pretty dishonest. I may have a defense against some of this, though, so I'm going to speak to the attorney they gave me at the public defender's office before digging a much deeper hole. But I still have amends to make to my neighbors, since I made such a thoughtless public display of vandalizing them. I even seemed to make light of it in the process.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">See, this is all about me throwing that red paint down in an alley already covered in paint during the <b><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/06/resistance-alley-phx-graffiti-police.html">First Friday June Artwalk</a></b>. I openly admitted doing that, and committed my act of resistance in front of the graffiti detectives themselves. In the process, though, my paint splattered a few inches up the wall of the building next door, an art studio/ collective that it turns out does work with people involved in mental health programs. I'm so clueless about some of my neighbors that I had no idea they were doing that kind of work, or I would have talked to them about this all in advance, even though I had no intention of hitting the alley side</span><span style="font-style:italic"> of their studio wall.<i> </i></span><i>Instead, I learned about my neighbors from my own criminal report, listing them as my victim. I feel pretty crummy about that.<br /><br /><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC33HudYJdG97Avc1t0V_NsPtlr2B7eY8pAVGCQ9qSePN4Ykczbt9TJ5myX7ycdeGRiQSxlmkPmt34Lbu7i4A6m5-WdzyX1gVHwkROrgdJeQ8kpjQKdgm0PthU-awiGc3Z_n-NtOQzXGl0/s1600/sorry.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC33HudYJdG97Avc1t0V_NsPtlr2B7eY8pAVGCQ9qSePN4Ykczbt9TJ5myX7ycdeGRiQSxlmkPmt34Lbu7i4A6m5-WdzyX1gVHwkROrgdJeQ8kpjQKdgm0PthU-awiGc3Z_n-NtOQzXGl0/s400/sorry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652610671444166258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic">In my police report, the manager of the place said she wanted to prosecute because what I'd done would have been so upsetting for some folks participating in the programs - which I inferred was of particular concern for those folks with pre-existing psychiatric conditions. I get that - and can see it upsetting others as well. That explains to me why it was important to clean it up, without messing around with my offer to re-paint it myself - even I would have called Graffiti Busters to clean up after myself if I thought it through. It really was unintended - that doesn't mean I'm not responsible, though. I acted out without much thought for the neighbors over there, or their members and guests.<i> </i></span><i>That's not very excusable, given what I could have brought out for some folks with images of bloodshed across the alley, as well as the names of the dead. That's me</i><i> acting out my own unresolved trauma, in part - they don't need my help with theirs.<br /><br /><br /></i> <span style="font-style: italic;">So, this blog post will no doubt be added to the evidence they use against me in the end, but I'm truly deeply sorry for having dragged you all into the middle of my protest. You're already doing your part to protect our people from ending up in prison in the first place. I hope that if my activities ever trouble you that way - criminal or not - you feel okay contacting me.<br /><br /><br />Most people with mental illness, by the time we're my age, have already been through too much. </span><span style="font-style:italic">I'm dually-recovering myself, survived a horrible, violent suicide of a loved one, and the last thing I would want to do is traumatize someone else further. </span><span style="font-style:italic">We all need to feel safe in order to grow, and I undermined that for some folks, I suspect, by all my agitation and graffiti - which invited others to contribute more. I was also wrong to define the terms of resistance by my own standards without talking to others living and working around there that night, outside of what I call my own community. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic">I thought this protest would be all about getting my message out about the state's violence, not mine. It still is, in a way, but not how I thought it would be. It's been said that the work of a true revolutionary begins in the our own communities, taking care of others. Despite all I preach about the importance of doing so if we're to really hold each other accountable and not rely on the criminal justice system for amends to be made in cases like this, when it came down to it I didn't practice that. I think this is the bigger lesson in all this - it's for me, not for the cops. I understand why people get upset about graffiti, now. My total lack of concern for the effect of my actions that Artwalk on the people right next door is my real crime, though - even if I hadn't even touched their property.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>But an apology alone is not an amends. I'm inclined to think that only those folks - and perhaps the participants they were concerned about - can say what they feel justice would be, having been harmed in some way by me - and I respect it if they feel the criminal justice system is the way to get that, and to restore their own sense of safety and order in their community. I'd have a pretty hard time pleading not guilty to that charge, after all this. The charges filed about city property, though, I'll probably fight. </i><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic">I think I just threw myself at the mercy of the court - or my victims, I'm not sure which. I guess now I should wait until I talk to an attorney before commenting much further on all this. Thanks to my friends for showing their support today.</span><i> </i><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>Peg</i><br /><br />--<br /><div style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:left"><b><i>Margaret J. Plews, Editor<br />Arizona Prison Watch<br />P.O. Box 20494<br />Phoenix, AZ 85036<br /><a href="tel:480-580-6807" value="+14805806807" target="_blank">480-580-6807</a></i></b><b><i><br /><br />"Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness, and our ability to tell our own stories..."<br /><br />- Arundhati Roy</i></b><br /></div><br /><b>Prison Abolitionist</b><br /><a href="http://prisonabolitionist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://prisonabolitionist.<wbr>blogspot.com</a><br /><b>Arizona Prison Watch</b><br /><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://arizonaprisonwatch.<wbr>blogspot.com</a><br /><b>Arizona Juvenile Prison Watch</b><br /><a href="http://azjuvenileprisonwatch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://azjuvenileprisonwatch.<wbr>blogspot.com</a><br /><b>Hard Time Alliance - AZ</b><br /><a href="http://hardtimehepc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://hardtimehepc.blogspot.<wbr>com</a><br /><b>Survivors of Prison Violence</b></div><div style="text-align:center"><a href="http://azprisonsurvivors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://azprisonsurvivors.<wbr>blogspot.com</a></div></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-78866320071728035732011-09-01T10:56:00.001-07:002011-09-01T10:58:10.813-07:00Prison abolitionist charged with criminal damage.
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<br /><h3 style="text-align: center;" class="post-title entry-title"> State violence is criminal damage, too...</h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4969987344011985815"> <h2 class="date-header"><span></span></h2> <div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry"> <a name="1392530079011339457"></a> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqcH-MSxxtCNb6r0_L7Sz1kuU0x8OkjEC-g0TLDDI3L9FHmec9QM8Ji9DsnYcvd7Dzh5ObqsnQMJnceDhDfV6EokFcjDy3zEdXUot13DK8gqFasjRhckaoQQHGqqj9jzEZywe7pu-geYe/s1600/criminaldamagePEG.jpg">
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Look what finally arrived - all that <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/criminal-damage-surviving-death-in.html">stuff from June's Artwalk night</a> got kicked down to misdemeanors. There's <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/06/graffiti-busted-by-phx-pd-finally.html">more to come</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">,</span> though, I think. I've been trying to get the attention of the <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/08/at-mercy-of-court-deaths-in-custody.html">Superior Court justices</a>, not these folks handling the misdemeanors. It hasn't been easy. Hopefully I won't have to commit more felonious acts of resistance to do so...</span><span style="font-style: italic;">
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnDhyphenhyphentVANOu0wCrdtWt9z_L4eY6EEt7FLplgADMH7U2boGrjk33hbmDtW3NhkxQfkC_vcpCL6RHRVQyWG1gcyYo-AcLm3-qE3XCFwU5zS5925XlHfxT9GJtQACr-RUdAwDJ1wwydFKy0a/s1600/summons4401149.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnDhyphenhyphentVANOu0wCrdtWt9z_L4eY6EEt7FLplgADMH7U2boGrjk33hbmDtW3NhkxQfkC_vcpCL6RHRVQyWG1gcyYo-AcLm3-qE3XCFwU5zS5925XlHfxT9GJtQACr-RUdAwDJ1wwydFKy0a/s400/summons4401149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645312684589721186" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJF4g9FKYO3BJI66k3eycqkCEQdIi7Eq2C-Pszn6N4pdBWNqB6rYCwDdru1s2Hl8Ago-i_s3aTe6hLdeq6wBpMqBBdowFdtNZQTMMyQm2IeXwRhBO6NHZedjxtohCHKLITSFiKSGYxOLg/s1600/criminaldamagePEG.jpg">
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<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">So, I guess my arraignment for this round of graffiti ("criminal damage") is September 13 at 8:45am. Come early if you want to help me chalk the walk - I'm working on a memorial to Arpaio's victims for the Municipal Court judges...
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<br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://azprisonsurvivors.blogspot.com/2011/06/resistance-alley-prison-violence-phx.html">This is what it was all about, by the way</a>...</span></span>
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<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEf3-m7YBuk5Eyuy-hqnixQBsAd5hEBJg0LASf1U9P0-Set4nmkl1nAJ86d8zgdpK8lih5az_5LOqwsE9bUtjkHwQcdIb8U3QQ5FT56yQGdrOwQpPUMqB7POi0rCbc63IENhiVCFso_-r/s1600/ALLeySOS.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEf3-m7YBuk5Eyuy-hqnixQBsAd5hEBJg0LASf1U9P0-Set4nmkl1nAJ86d8zgdpK8lih5az_5LOqwsE9bUtjkHwQcdIb8U3QQ5FT56yQGdrOwQpPUMqB7POi0rCbc63IENhiVCFso_-r/s400/ALLeySOS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644963310322633746" border="0" /></a></span><b style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Arizona Department of Corrections' Deaths in Custody</b>:
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Victims of prison violence/neglect</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">January 2009-June 2011</span></span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(suicide & homicide rates doubled under Director Ryan</b>)
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<br /></span><span style="font-weight:bold">HOMICIDES:</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2009/08/to-family-of-pete-calleros.html">Pete Calleros</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/father-son-brother-friend-losing-mando.html">Mando Lugo</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/07/execution-of-dana-seawright.html">Dana Seawright</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/shannon-palmer-criminalization.html">Shannon Palmer</a>, James Jennings, Alex Usurelu, William Gray, Ulises Rodriguez, Albert Tsosie, Sean Pierce, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://azprisonsurvivors.blogspot.com/2011/06/eyman-homicide-jeremy-pompeneo.html">Jeremy Pompeneo</a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold"> SUICIDES:</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/deaths-in-custody-susan-lopez-adc.html">Susan Lopez</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/highly-preventable-suicide-of-tony.html">Tony Lester</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/prison-suicide-and-gangs-at-florence.html">Duron Cunningham</a>, <a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/for-lasasha-cherry-and-her-heroes.html">Lasasha Cherry</a>, <a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/perryville-prisoner-suicides.html">Geshell Fernandez</a>, Patricia Velez, Angela Soto, Hernan Cuevas, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/restoration-of-jerry-kulp.html">Jerry Kulp</a>, Robert Medina, Eric Bybee, Erick Cervantes, Rosario Bojorquez-Rodriguez, Douglas Nunn, Monte McCarty, James Adams, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/prisoner-patrick-lee-ross-tragic-death.html">Patrick Lee Ross</a>, Caesar Bojorquez, Angel Torres, Harvey Rymer, Dung Ung, <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/deaths-in-custody-smoke-fire-and-ronald.html">Ronald Richie</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://azprisonsurvivors.blogspot.com/2011/04/deaths-in-custody-michael-tovar-20-aspc.html">Michael Tovar</a>, Carey Wheatley, Michael Pellicer, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/grieving-jessie-cota.html">Jessie Cota
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold">Institutional INDIFFERENCE:</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/death-of-brenda-todd.html">Brenda Todd</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/prison-abolitionist-and-light-in-marcia.html">Marcia Powell,</a> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/aspc-tucson-death-of-tom-reed.html">Tom Reed</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://azjuvenileprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/crime-of-being-young-latino-male.html">Edgar Vega</a>, Huberta Parlee
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold">ACCIDENTAL DRUG OVERDOSES:</span>
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<br />Pete Childs, William Engelbert, Santana Aqualais, Carl Cresong, Christopher Francis
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold">STILL INVESTIGATING, at last word:</span>
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<br />David Moreno, Gilberto Lopez, Luis Moscoso Hernandez </div></div></div></div></div>
<br />Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-89841695228371928442011-07-03T08:03:00.000-07:002011-07-03T08:05:06.621-07:00To Be Free: Nina, Marilyn, and Perryville Women's Resistance.<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/JeXtfmAwvvY?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/JeXtfmAwvvY?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="560"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the best professors I've ever had, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1538867/">documentary producer</a> HLT Quan, turned me on to Nina Simone during my course with her on Social Movements at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://webapp4.asu.edu/directory/person/826291">Arizona State University</a> a few years ago. Dr. Quan probably doesn't realize it, but she has a lot to do with me embracing prison abolition. I ended up dropping out of school to take all this on, in fact...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway, this tune is to honor the women of Arizona's Perryville prison in Goodyear who have been <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/wal-mart-womens-resistance-and-martori.html">resisting coercion and abuse of late, and fighting back by speaking out</a>. That not only goes for those prisoners assigned to the Martori Farms work crew, but those who are contesting the poor medical care, writing letters to legislators about conditions, helping other women file grievances, and resisting in a host of other ways - some much more subtle, like teaching another woman to read.<br /><br />Now, the prisoners can't watch this video, but imagine that just for a few minutes you can commandeer a guard station and the prison communications system. Lock yourselves in, pop open all the cells, crank out a soulful tune, and dance...that would almost be worth the price one would undoubtedly have to pay, once they broke in and took you down for it.<br /><br />That's just a fantasy to enjoy, women, not advice.<br /><br />I often play Nina in remembrance of poet and former political prisoner <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://marilynbuck.com/index.html">Marilyn Buck</a> - known as "the only white member of the Black Revolutionary Army".</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">She was sentenced to 80 years for armed car robberies she carried out to fund liberation movements, as well as for the 1979 escape of Assata Shakur from a New Jersey prison. Marilyn and her comrades (see the Resistance Conspiracy) were also prosecuted for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Senate building.<br /><br />During her incarceration, Marilyn was known for her continued outspoken criticism of the US government and the prison industrial complex and her advocacy on behalf of other prisoners in addition to her art and poetry. Branded as one of the most infamous women "ter</span><span style="font-style: italic;">rorists" of the 20th century, even after 15 years in federal custody Marilyn was considered such a threat that she was thrown into the hole and forbidden to even contact her attorney for two weeks after the attacks of 911, while they investigated any possible connection she had to them.<br /><br />Because of that - and the officer and guards killed in the Brinks robberies - I never would have expected the feds to release her on parole. Never. What a blessing that they did. Marilyn developed an extremely aggressive cancer and was paroled on compassionate grounds last summer, two weeks before she died. She was always more free, however - even in prison - than most Americans who go through their lives as sheep.<br /><br />Take some time to check out Marilyn's work</span><span style="font-style: italic;">...</span><span style="font-style: italic;">start with the <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/wildpoppies/poems.html">Wild Poppies CD at Freedom Archives</a>.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Here's the title piece...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://albq-jericho.org/store/artwork/Tom-MarilynBuck.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="http://albq-jericho.org/store/artwork/Tom-MarilynBuck.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><h1 style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/wildpoppies/wild_poppies_poem.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wild Poppies</span></a></h1><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><h5 style="text-align: center;">Marilyn Buck</h5><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="center">[This poem is read on the CD by <a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/wildpoppies/Marilyn_Buck.html">Marilyn Buck</a>. <a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/wildpoppies/mp3/wild_poppies_MB.mp3"><img src="http://www.freedomarchives.org/wildpoppies/images_wp/spkr.jpg" alt="MP3 of this poem" border="0" height="17" /></a>]</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="center"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;">I remember red poppies, wild behind the school house<br />I didn’t want to be there, but I loved to watch the poppies</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> I used to sit in the window of my room, sketching charcoal trees<br />what happened to those magnolia trees, to that girl?</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> I went off to college, escaped my father’s thunderstorms<br />Berkeley. Rebellion. Exhilaration!</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> the Vietnam war, Black Power, Che took me to Chicago<br />midnight lights under Wacker Dr. Uptown. South Side. Slapped<br />by self-determination for taking Freedom Wall photos<br /> without asking</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> on to California, driving at 3:00 in the morning in the mountains,<br />I got it: what self-determination means<br />A daunting task for a young white woman, I was humbled</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em> practice is concrete … harder than crystal-dream concepts</em></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> San Francisco, on the front steps at Fulton St.<br />smoking reefer, drinking “bitterdog” with Black Panthers and white<br />hippie radicals, talking about when the revolution comes</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> the revolution did not come. Fred Bennett was missing<br />we learned he’d been found: ashes, bones, a wedding ring<br />but later there was Assata’s freedom smile </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> then I was captured, locked into a cell of sewer water<br />spirit deflated. I survived, carried on, glad to be<br />like a weed, a wild red poppy,<br />rooted in life</p><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And this was one of Marilyn's last published essays, printed by Critical Resistance's paper, "<a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://abolitionistpaper.wordpress.com/">The Abolitionist</a>" (<a href="http://abolitionistpaper.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/issue-11-winter-2010-2/">W2010</a>):</span><br /><br /><br /><p><b>Alternatives While Waiting: Self-Reliance</b><br />by Marilyn Buck</p> <p><br /></p> <p>A community’s people, with their creative energy and labour, are the greatest resource it has, but an increasing number, mostly young, are MIA, in graves or prisons, into which so many rush obliviously when they act out Hollywood-constructed desires, images, and stereotypes to “make it” in the midst of still-white supremacist and hierarchical America. Far too many have embraced the 30 years of culturally-contrived amnesia that has mis-educated them to believe in the very system that exiles them to the cages. Valuable human beings – community residents, who could have and should have been the teachers, nurses, doctors, mechanics, public servants, and builders of their communities are disappeared. </p> <p>Among the disappeared and exiled, many haven’t been formally educated or taught to read well, having dropped out or been driven out of the faltering California school systems, weakened both by funding and a general disregard for and animosity towards the children of the working and underemployed classes, particularly when Black, Latino, or Asian. There are a few, if any, educational or rehabilitation-geared programs within prisons. On a recent KPFA radio program, a freed elder pointed out that many of California’s prisons are on lock-down at any given time, meaning that the few programs that do exist, however reluctantly and apathetically, do not function much of the time.</p> <p>In the prison charnel houses, forgetfulness or oblivion settles like quicklime on the spirit, intelligence and bodies of exiled and illegalized young people. A sense of responsibility to the community is replaced with rage, and beneath any posturing, despair, self-mutilation, and suicide. </p> <p>Alternatives? To re-imagine communities with the resources to educate children, to provide work with sufficient income, to get drugs and the weapons of collective suicide out, to make the streets safe again for children, elders and the young women and men. This is similar to the 10-point program the old Black Panther Party called for, a program that in slightly different manifestations is still understood world-wide as necessary for community and nations’ health and well-being for peace and justice.</p> <p>It’s never too later to learn, to get educated or develop the social or political conscience necessary to challenge the systematic social genocide of our communities. No one has to stay lost; no one is not subject to change. The question is: will you change yourself, have a hand in your destiny and development, or will you accept the changes forced at you by the prison systems’ dog-eat-dog programming that wants you to become a gladiator and a puppet? </p> <p>There are many who are looking for ways to break such a decimating cycle. Meanwhile, what? The prisoner’s alternative is not to wait for alternatives and social change from the outside, but to begin a process of reconstruction on the inside.</p> <p>To be a builder, or to be a demolisher, those are the choices. It’s easy to demolish, to destroy. You can be a one-man or a 100-man wrecking crew, but to build you have to become a bricklayer, willing to dig foundations, willing to take care of your neighbourhood and work with others. It means being humble and giving back because when you left you took a whole lot of human and community potential with you. It means learning what you need to know. Find a teacher, no matter whether they wear your colours, are your colour, or are low on the ladder of that peculiar prison concept of “respect.” (Prison culture doesn’t really give any prisoner true respect, or better-said, dignity; the man is still pulling the strings.) If you can’t earn a skill you want where you are (like being a doctor or an environmental engineer), learn all you can about the world. Learn about other societies; learn about communities’ fight for self-reliance and self-determination. Learn Spanish, or English, or Chinese. Or history. The more you study about the world, the better able you will be to see where you are and can go in the world. Choose to be on the side of the people who are not the greedy rulers and bosses.</p> <p>Of course it’s easier to succumb to the haters who want to decimate your community, and to hang with those who participate in the suicide of their own communities through ignorance and individualism. Reignite your creativity and imagination that you may have put aside when you were 14 or that was discouraged in school. There is enough war from without, end the wars from within. Nothing can be build during a civil war, and certainly nothing can be defended from the war from without, without skills, knowledge and dignity of connection to and love for your community. Become a warrior for reconstruction. </p> <p>Set a premium on education. No one can ever take it from you. Ultimately, knowledge and skills are more valuable than gold and SUVs, or anything you may have possessed for a few brief moments in life, before prison became your home with its prolonged lesson in absence. </p>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-67599564847987061732011-06-29T04:26:00.000-07:002011-06-29T06:30:45.998-07:00Wal Mart, Women's Resistance, and Martori Farms<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><span style="font-size:-1;"> </span><br /></td></tr><tr> <td colspan="2"> <table border="0" cellpadding="12" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEEe5BVB_X6NKsVPnFdA4i1F8NB27PBnAnvTa5du98koq7aEI6pI25kgrT24KMXBwKPoDZgyiqdfN2BXi8-4UBGxua_alNU6Yffw08QGE5nIydEzpSIwC3JdX-xOZcAfm22mt0PAiRpcV/s1600/tenacious_20_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right;margin:0 0 10px 10px;width:206px;min-height:320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEEe5BVB_X6NKsVPnFdA4i1F8NB27PBnAnvTa5du98koq7aEI6pI25kgrT24KMXBwKPoDZgyiqdfN2BXi8-4UBGxua_alNU6Yffw08QGE5nIydEzpSIwC3JdX-xOZcAfm22mt0PAiRpcV/s320/tenacious_20_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic">I've posted here and there already about Martori Farms and the news I was receiving from Perryville prisoners regarding the work conditions, but Vikki Law managed to unpack it, put it all into the larger context of women's resistance, and make sense of the women's complaints in a way I hadn't quite been able to. So, for those of you interested in the Martori Farms prison labor situation here in Aguila, Arizona, this is the best summary we have of it.<br /><br />If you're interested in doing some organizing around these issues, please contact Vikki Law, as she's picking up the slack on this while I'm out with family matters. Vikki compiles the zine <a style="font-weight:bold;color:rgb(51, 51, 255)" href="http://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/3284/" target="_blank">Tenacious</a> for women prisoners, and can be reached at:</span> <span style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(204, 0, 0);font-weight:bold"><br /><br />Victoria Law </span> <p style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(204, 0, 0);font-weight:bold">PO Box 20388<br />Tompkins Square Station<br />New York, NY 10009</p><p style="font-style:italic"> or e-mail: <a style="font-weight:bold" href="vikkimL@yahoo.com" target="_blank">vikkimL@yahoo.com</a></p> <span style="font-style:italic">She's on-line at her blog: </span><a style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic" href="http://resistancebehindbars.org/blog/3" target="_blank">Resistance Behind Bars</a><span style="font-style:italic">, and you can order her book about women's resistance to the prison industrial complex through </span><a style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic" href="http://www.pmpress.org/content/article.php?story=vikkilaw" target="_blank">PM Press</a><span style="font-style:italic">.</span> <span style="font-style:italic"> </span> <span style="font-style:italic">Thanks again for this, Vikki...and to Truth-out for putting it up there.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align:center">------------------------<br /></div><br /><h2 style="font-size:35px"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%">Martori Farms: Abusive Conditions at a Key Wal-Mart Supplier</span></a></span> </h2> <div> <b><span>Friday 24 June 2011</span></b> </div><b> </b><div><b> by: Victoria Law<br />Truthout | News Analysis </b></div> <div style="padding-bottom:1em;padding-left:10px;float:right;width:250px;display:inline"> <img src="http://www.truth-out.org/sites/default/files/062411-1.jpg" height="160" width="141" /><br /><div style="width:238px;font-size:11px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:bold;line-height:12px"> <p> (Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/walmartcorporate/5263930380/" target="_blank">Walmart / Flickr</a>)</p> </div> </div> <div> <p> In 1954, an 18-year-old black woman named Eleanor Rush was incarcerated at the state women's prison. She was placed in solitary confinement for six days.</p> <p> On the seventh day, Rush was not fed for over 16 hours. After 16 hours, she began yelling that she was hungry and wanted food. In response, the guards bound and gagged her, dislocating her neck in the process.</p> <p> Half an hour later, Rush was dead.</p> <p> The next morning, when the other women in the prison gathered in the yard, another woman in the solitary confinement unit yelled the news about Rush's death from her window. The women in the yard surrounded the staff members supervising their activities and demanded answers about Rush's death. When they didn't get them, the women - both the black and the white women - rioted.</p> <p> The riot lasted three and a half hours, not stopping until Raleigh, North Carolina, police and guards from the men's Central Prison arrived.</p> <p> The women's riot brought outside attention to Rush's death. As a result:</p> <ul><li> The State Bureau of Investigation ordered a probe into Rush's death rather than believing the prison's explanation that Rush had dislocated her own neck and committed suicide.<br /></li><li> Until that point, nothing in the prison rules explicitly prohibited the use of improvised gags. After the riot and probe, the State Prisons director explicitly banned the use of gags and iron claws (metal handcuffs that can squeeze tightly).<br /></li><li> The prison administration was required to pay $3,000 to Rush's mother. At that time, $3,000 was more than half the yearly salary of the prison warden.<br /></li><li> The prison warden, who had allowed Rush to be bound and gagged, was replaced by Elizabeth McCubbin, the executive director of the Family and Children's Service Agency. Her hiring indicated a shift from a punitive model toward a more social service/social work orientation.</li></ul> <p> The women themselves testified that they had rioted to ensure that Rush's death was not dismissed and that the circumstances would not be repeated.</p> <p> Fifty-five years after Rush was killed in solitary confinement, Marcia Powell, a mentally ill 48-year-old woman incarcerated at the Perryville Unit in Arizona, died. The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) has more than 600 of these outdoor cages where prisoners are placed to confine or restrict their movement or to hold them while awaiting medical appointments, work, education, or treatment programs. On May 20, 2009, the temperature was 107 degrees. Powell was placed in an unshaded cage in the prison yard. Although prison policy states that "water shall be continuously available" to caged prisoners and that they should be in the cage for "no more than two consecutive hours," guards continually denied her water and kept her in the cage for four hours. Powell collapsed of heat stroke, was sent to West Valley Hospital where ADC Director Charles Ryan took her off life support hours later.</p> <p> The ensuing media attention over Powell's death caused the ADC to temporarily suspend using these cages. Once the media attention faded, the ADC lifted the suspension.<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#1." target="_blank">(1)</a></p> <p><br /></p><p> Abuses at Perryville have continued. The ADC has sent its prisoners to work for private agricultural businesses for almost 20 years.<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#2." target="_blank">(2)</a> The farm pays its imprisoned laborers two dollars per hour, not including the travel time to and from the farm. Women on the Perryville Unit are assigned to Martori Farms, an Arizona farm corporation that supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to vendors across the United States (Martori is the exclusive supplier to Wal-Mart's 2,470 Supercenter and Neighborhood Market stores).<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#3." target="_blank">(3)</a> According to one woman who worked on the farm crews:</p> <blockquote><p> They wake us up between 2:30 and three AM and KICK US OUT of our housing unit by 3:30AM. We get fed at four AM. Our work supervisors show up between 5AM and 8AM. Then it's an hour to a one and a half hour drive to the job site. Then we work eight hours regardless of conditions .... We work in the fields hoeing weeds and thinning plants ... Currently we are forced to work in the blazing sun for eight hours. We run out of water several times a day. We ran out of sunscreen several times a week. They don't check medical backgrounds or ages before they pull women for these jobs. Many of us cannot do it! If we stop working and sit on the bus or even just take an unauthorized break we get a MAJOR ticket which takes away our "good time"!!!</p> <p> We are told we get "two" 15 min breaks and a half hour lunch like a normal job but it's more like 10 minutes and 20 minutes. They constantly yell at us we are too slow and to speed up because we are costing $150 an acre in labor and that's not acceptable.</p> <p> The place is infested with spiders of all types, scorpions, snakes and blood suckers. And bees because they harvest them. On my crew alone, there are four women with bee allergies, but they don't care!! There are NO epinephrine pens on site to SAVE them if stung.</p> <p> There's no anti venom available for snake bites and they want us to use Windex (yes glass cleaner) for scorpion stings!! INSANITY!!! They are denying us medical care here.<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#4." target="_blank">(4)</a></p> </blockquote> <p> Although Martori Farms contracts with the local fire departments to provide medical attention for injuries on the farm, farm supervisors do not always allow women to stop work when they need medical care. When "N" complained of chest pains, the farm representative refused to allow her to stop working. The next day, an hour after returning to work, she began experiencing chest pains. The farm representative told her, "Come on, the big bosses are here. You'll be in trouble if you stop. It's not break time. Work, work, work." "N" complied, working while in pain, until the break. She resumed working for another half hour before she experienced even more severe pains: "I have a steady deep dull pain with sharp stabbing pains periodically ... Then all of a sudden, I can't even lift the hoe in the air. My arms are no longer strong enough. By now, the chest pains are so bad it's knocking the wind out of me. I'm straight seeing stars. I tell our substitute boss officer Sanders I can't do it no more. I'm having really bad chest pains. I can't even lift the hoe anymore." The man accused her of faking these pains, but allowed her to stop working. While the woman was receiving medical attention, another farm representative stated, "Oh, so now they're gonna start faking fucking heart attacks to not work. Great."<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#5." target="_blank">(5)</a></p> <p> In addition, the prison has sent women to work on the farms regardless of their medical conditions. "N" was sent to West Valley Hospital where an emergency room doctor ordered that she be exempt from the farm work crew and any other physical exertion for three to four days. However, when "N" was returned to the prison, the nurse told her that they could not honor the doctor's order and ordered her back to work.</p> <p> Another woman concurs. "There was one woman that is on oxygen, in a wheelchair, has an IV line and cancer that they sent to the gate to work on the farm ... The captain asked if she could stand. She said yes. His reply was if you can stand, you can farm. She told him no and was issued a disciplinary ticket."<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#6." target="_blank">(6)</a></p> <p> The women have not accepted these abuses quietly. They have launched complaints to prison administrators:</p> <blockquote><p> "Women have made their complaints on inmate letters and verbally to the lieutenant, sergeant, captains, deputy warden, counselors, supervisors and the major. Their solution was to give us an extra sack lunch and agree to feed us breakfast Saturday mornings. UGH!! Really ... food is not what we were asking for. Though being fed on Saturdays is nice. Yah! They were not feeding us Saturdays because that's a day Kitchen opens late because they give brunch on weekends. No lunch, so we were getting screwed! But as of this past Saturday they said they would feed us before work! Let's see how long it lasts."</p> </blockquote> <p> Women have also stood up to unfair demands from the bosses at the farm. One woman recounted:</p> <blockquote><p> On Wednesday I go to work ... it's the second day in a row we are doing weeds. [I'm] up to my chest trying to weed to save a minimal amount of watermelon plants. Needless to say, the work was excessively hard - to put it mildly. So I must confess the day before I was "on one," so to speak. My haunted mind was lost in the past and so I was just trucking through the weeds, plowing them down, not even connecting with my physical exertion and pain. So the next day I was completely exhausted and physically broke down!! I was in so much pain because the day before I did like double the work everyone else did. So anyways, the M Farm representative was pushing me so hard trying to get me to produce the same results as the day before ... [He] has everyone at minimum teamed up helping each other plow through these weeds. Well everyone but me that is. I repeatedly asked him to give me a partner. I kept telling him that I was in pain. I also went as far as to tell him that I don't think I can do this anymore, to PLEASE give me a partner also. His response was "No. You're strong. You can do it by yourself." I told him not true; I over-exerted myself yesterday because I was going through some things. Now I'm hurt and need help.... He thought my pleas were funny. I hated to degrade myself and plea so I stopped and continued.</p> </blockquote> <p> After "N" had finished her assigned row, the farm representative demanded that she finish weeding two other rows that had been abandoned. When she again requested a weeding partner, stating that she was in pain, the representative replied, "When you get to the end, I'll think about it."</p> <blockquote><p> By this time, all the girls are finishing their rows because they're all teamed up with 2 or three girls per row. Except me. So there are only two whole rows left on the field by now and he already placed six girls per row. That's twelve women on two rows. And I can't even get one helper. That's RIDICULOUS ... I tell him "Mariano all joking aside, all the others are finishing. Can I please get a helper?" He tells me "Seriously, no joking. When you get to the end, I'll think about it." At that point I'm pretty upset and broke down. I looked at him and said "Is that right?" I paused staring at him waiting for him to stop his male chauvinist domination games or whatever he's playing. When he didn't say anything, but just stared. I told him, "Fine Mariano I'm done. I can't do this anymore. I'm hurt and struggling through this. After what happened to me before I would think you would provide me help when I need it. Since you won't look out for my health and well-being, I will. Someone has to. I'm done for today. I'm going to sit on the bus."</p> </blockquote> <p> The supervisor demanded that she return to work, threatening to call the prison to have disciplinary tickets written up. She refused.</p> <blockquote><p> At this point I'm so angry that this jerk would make me lose everything because I'm not submissive and I don't obey him like the women back in Mexico do that I admit I blew up and acted unprofessional. I told him "Mariano, Fuck you and your tickets. Go write them if you want. In fact I'll write them for you to make sure you get the facts straight."...</p> </blockquote> <p> At this point the two women who were on the bus got all riled up and were yelling, "That's not fair. She's your best worker and you're going to punish her with tickets!!!" "She's hurt I heard her asking for help all day!" "We've been sitting on the bus for over an hour and we're not getting tickets, why is she the only one getting a ticket?"<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/abusive-conditions-martori-farms/1308844017#7." target="_blank">(7)</a></p> <p> Not only did "N" stand up for herself, but the other women defended her actions at the risk of being ticketed as well. Their combined efforts ensured that "N" was not issued a ticket in retaliation for standing up for herself.</p> <p> Women have also alerted outside advocates and activists about these inhumane conditions, again at great risk to themselves. If not for their courage in speaking out, the outside world would remain unaware of the exploitation and abuse on the farm.</p> <p> While the women both endure and challenge these abuses, those outside prison gates remain largely unaware of their struggles. Those involved in social justice organizing need to recognize that prisons and prison injustices are exacerbations of the same social issues in the outside world and recognize that these struggles intersect. Safe from the retaliation of prison authorities, outside organizers and activists can and should raise their voices and take action to help the women inside challenge and ultimately stop these abuses.</p> <p> Footnotes:</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_1."></a>1. As of April 15, 2010, these cages (or "temporary holding enclosures") remain in use. Arizona Department of Corrections, Department Order Manual, Department Order 704: <a href="http://www.azcorrections.gov/hlthsvc_rfp/general_reporting_req_1.pdf" target="_blank">Inmate Regulations</a>.</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_2."></a>2. Nicole Hill, "With Fewer Migrant Workers, Farmers Turn to Prison Labor," Christian Science Monitor, August 22, 2007. Reprinted <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/60497/with_fewer_migrant_workers%2C_farmers_turn_to_prison_labor" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_3."></a>3. Press release, "16-Year Relationship Between Wal-Mart and Arizona Business Grows, Thrives," <a href="http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/6702.aspx" target="_blank">September 7, 2007</a>. The 2470 figure is as of August 1, 2007.</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_4."></a>4. Letter from "N," dated April 24, 2011.</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_5."></a>5. Letter from "N," dated April 24, 2011</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_6."></a>6. Letter from "H," dated May 22, 2011.</p> <p> <a name="130d9f608a4afb5b_130c30cffda31cfe_7."></a>7. Letter from "N," dated May 7, 2011.</p> </div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-82160297741626838122011-06-23T23:01:00.008-07:002011-06-23T23:52:33.729-07:00"No one has a First Amendment right to deface government property..."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15lA-4G2k9kk0loCtRDbUwya38mMqV5yLWjk3piHQGrchRRkt2vOIzzi6Eez9jml_Bm80esdyBfHWbbn3Uni7iOiExc40s_Y-Gi4w7amEQcaPKL-SsE5heY-395fXPcmIVgH3idG0oVA/s1600/boycottarpaioSB1070.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15lA-4G2k9kk0loCtRDbUwya38mMqV5yLWjk3piHQGrchRRkt2vOIzzi6Eez9jml_Bm80esdyBfHWbbn3Uni7iOiExc40s_Y-Gi4w7amEQcaPKL-SsE5heY-395fXPcmIVgH3idG0oVA/s200/boycottarpaioSB1070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621673736710439426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Uh oh. This ruling does not bode well for me or the Friends of Marcia Powell - I hope it goes further. I just found out today that <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/06/graffiti-busted-by-phx-pd-finally.html">I'll be charged</a> with felony criminal damage for my <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/06/resistance-alley-phx-graffiti-police.html">June Artwalk</a> protest (during which I painted the alley without the city's permission)...this looks like it could quash my less obnoxious free speech activity</span>,<span style="font-style: italic;"> too.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />-----------------------<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: left;" class="entry-header"><a href="http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2011/06/chalking-prohibited-outside-white-house-appeals-court-rules.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chalking Prohibited Outside White House, Appeals Court Rules</span></a></h3><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Blog of Legal Times</b></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;" class="date-header"><span style="font-size:85%;">June 21, 2011</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Just a few weeks ago the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said dancing is prohibited inside the Jefferson Memorial. Critics protested. Through dance.</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Today, the appeals court turned its attention to a different form of expression—chalk art. The court unanimously said in a <span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a00d83451d94869e201543328cce6970c"><a href="http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/circuit_mahoney.pdf">panel ruling (PDF)</a></span> that D.C. law prohibits chalk scribbling on the street in front of the White House.</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">“No one has a First Amendment right to deface government property,” Judge Brett Kavanaugh declared. “No one has a First Amendment right, for example, to spray-paint the Washington Monument or smash the windows of a police car.”</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Kavanaugh said the law prohibiting defacement of public and private property in a content-neutral manner provides “no serious First Amendment objection.”</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Rev. Patrick Mahoney, the plaintiff in the suit in Washington federal district court, sought permission for a chalk demonstration in late 2008 to protest against abortion. City police said Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, could show up with thousands of supporters. He was allowed to bring signs and banners. But he was prohibited from marking 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest.</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Mahoney sued the city and the Metropolitan Police Department in January 2009 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He wanted an injunction to block the city from preventing him from writing with chalk on the street. A trial judge rejected the request.</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;" class="entry-more"> <p>Two days later, the appeals court said, Mahoney took his chalk to the street in front of the White House. Police confronted Mahoney, confiscated the chalk and told him to stop. Mahoney obliged. He was not arrested. Mahoney amended his complaint to add the officer who stopped the chalking.</p> <p>Judge Janice Rogers Brown wrote the opinion for the appeals panel, which included Kavanaugh and Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson.</p> <p>The appeals court said the District’s defacement statute is content neutral, banning certain activity—including cutting, chipping, writing and marking—without reference to control of the speaker's message.</p> <p>Also, the court said the “special nature” of the street in front of the White House—closed to vehicular traffic but open to pedestrians—“serves to heighten esthetic concerns” of the government. “[T]he District’s interest in controlling the esthetic appearance of the street in front of the White House is substantial,” the appeals court said.</p> <p>The court noted that the District's defacement statute still provided Mahoney other avenues for communication, including signs and banners.</p> <p>"The District’s threatened use of the defacement statute did not curtail Mahoney’s plans," Brown wrote. "Mahoney was free to announce any “verbal” message he chose. And, Mahoney could depict visual messages on signs, banners, and leaflets. Thus, ample alternative channels of communication existed."</p> <p>Lawyers for Mahoney were not immediately reached for comment this morning on the appellate court ruling. Carly Gammill of the American Center for Law and Justice argued for Mahoney in the D.C. Circuit in September.</p> <p>Gammill and James Henderson Sr. of the ACLJ said in court papers that the chalk art demonstration was the only speech activity for which Mahoney sought permission. The city's restriction, then, "prohibited the demonstration in its entirety."</p> <p>"[W]hatever the storied history and traditions may be that pertain to the street in dispute, Pennsylvania Avenue is nothing other than an archetypical public forum," Mahoney's attorneys said in a brief.</p> <p>Mahoney's lawyers called the chalk art ban a "peculiar, targeted denial of expression." The attorneys said the District regularly "conducts contests and promotions to entice the public into the public space for the purpose of creating chalk art."</p> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;" class="entry-footer"> <p class="entry-footer-info"> <span class="post-footers">Posted by Mike Scarcella on June 21, 2011 at 11:45 AM</span></p></div><br /></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-88631704993654763222011-06-23T07:19:00.001-07:002011-06-23T07:28:01.635-07:00Solidarity with Snowbowl Resisters: ADEQ Protest.<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If you knew how many Indigenous people we were imprisoning these days - many far from their homes - you'd know why it's so important to the fight for prison abolition to respect sacred places...their struggle for Indigenous rights, free exercise of religion, and to defend Mother Earth - without being marginalized or branded as eco-terrorists in the process - is also ours. We must stand in solidarity with them before they are imprisoned...</span></span></span></h3><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpmJVm-7nK3sO4WNX_yY9NWhQk9A_66lFb3Xk6du4ZH0A3qUQYifQj4osvLAT5pjOLo2RsRHHAfwn09IdyC8HYwXdDEu9WKlqs8-P-O7h7XnaMUike1D6Qn33W8u9Yq9cHAD1ITHZ4jno/s1600/protectsacred.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpmJVm-7nK3sO4WNX_yY9NWhQk9A_66lFb3Xk6du4ZH0A3qUQYifQj4osvLAT5pjOLo2RsRHHAfwn09IdyC8HYwXdDEu9WKlqs8-P-O7h7XnaMUike1D6Qn33W8u9Yq9cHAD1ITHZ4jno/s400/protectsacred.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621400708914179186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">As asked by one defender of the San Francisco Peaks last week: How can the Dine' and other Indigenous peoples be trespassers on their own Holy Land?</span><br /><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Join us in Phoenix on Friday, June 24 at 7:30am to stand in solidarity with Indigenous resistance to the destruction and desecration of the Sacred: Demand that Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Change its Permission Allowing Wastewater to be Used for Snowmaking.</span></i></span></span><br /><br /></span> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">------------------</span></span></span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><b><span style="font-size:6;"><br /> </span></b></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><br />PROTECT SACRED SITES!</span></span><br /><br /><br /> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">DEFEND THE PEAKS!</span></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /> <b><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Friday, June 24th 7:30-9AM<br /><br /><br /></span><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia,serif; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Arizona Department of Environmental Quality<br /><br />1110 West Washington Street<br /><br />Phoenix, Arizona 85007</span></b></span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">On Thursday, June 16th six people were arrested for halting the construction of a water line, which would pump Flagstaff waste-water up to Snowbowl on the sacred San Francisco Peaks.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">We’ll be showing up in front of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) office to stand in solidarity with those arrested, demand that ADEQ change its permission for allowing wastewater to be used on the San Francisco Peaks, and with all indigenous people who hold the Peaks holy.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">ADEQ has never held any meaningful public process when it initially decided to allow wastewater to be used for snowmaking. Whose interests are they serving?<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">One of the protesters who locked themselves to the excavator on Thursday said “Snowbowl plans to spray millions of gallons of waste water snow, which is filled with cancer causing and other harmful contaminants, as well as clear-cut over 30,000 trees. The Peaks are a pristine and beautiful place, a fragile ecosystem, and home to rare and endangered species of plants and animals.”</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Another person who locked down said <b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">the “action is not isolated, but part of a continued resistance to human rights violations, to colonialism, to corporate greed, and destruction of Mother Earth.”</span></b></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Please bring signs, noise makers, water and/or your voice!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sponsored by Phoenix Anarchist Coalition (PAC) -</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.phoenixanarchist.org/" target="_blank">http://www.phoenixanarchist.<wbr>org/</a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">For more info check out <a href="http://truesnow.org/" target="_blank">http://truesnow.org/</a> and <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/</a></p>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-60165510134221074882011-06-22T15:59:00.003-07:002011-06-23T17:00:24.148-07:00Sad Solstice: Remembering Brenda Todd<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/sad-solstice-remembering-brenda-todd.html"><br /></a> </h3> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvDBfLxJ6HTiGYgexfza32PsE6vDxpdofEAzF8m2X_bBQWvnHQEvWxhgoRI6sIakcVbHURNeGu83GE8jKbOR7BwvxXX5GtqzY2bB0BcTgOVWrXfYZljVFcx1gnZjN67jzJoCY-zNXPFs/s1600/brendatodd.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvDBfLxJ6HTiGYgexfza32PsE6vDxpdofEAzF8m2X_bBQWvnHQEvWxhgoRI6sIakcVbHURNeGu83GE8jKbOR7BwvxXX5GtqzY2bB0BcTgOVWrXfYZljVFcx1gnZjN67jzJoCY-zNXPFs/s400/brendatodd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621178337003826482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Six months ago this week, on January 21, 2011, Brenda Todd died in Perryville state prison <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/death-of-brenda-todd.html">begging for medical attention that never came</a>. That's part of a twisted<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://freemarciapowell.blogspot.com/2011/03/prison-abolitionist-and-light-in-marcia.html"> pattern of neglect</a> and <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/04/wrongful-deaths-in-custody-susan-lopez.html">gross indifference to human life</a> at the AZ Department of Corrections - <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://resistancebehindbars.org/node/206">particularly</a> at the AZ state <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2010/09/perryville-sos-critical-conditions-for.html">women's prison</a>.<br /><br />Urged on by prisoners who were there when she died, we tracked down Brenda's father to make sure that her family members know to file suit because of the circumstances, though I don't know if he's in time to file a Notice of Claim against the state - there's generally a six-month deadline for grieving families to be on top of (and no one ever tells them that). I referred him to a good attorney who will find out, no doubt.<br /><br />Brenda's dad isn't on-line and the family never saw the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2011/01/marcia_powell_revisited_will_b.php">Phoenix New Times</a> story or my blog posts about how she died - or all the letters we received from the other women about what happened - and the State only notified him last week that the death certificate is ready, so I think the courts should grant him an extens</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ion to file. He had no way of knowing that her death was wrongful until now. It goes beyond simple negligence.<br /><br />The family can still file suit in federal court, however, I believe under civil rights law. There's a two-year deadline for prisoners to file <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/1983-prisoner-civil-rights-complaints.html">Section 1983 CR suits</a>, at least, so survivors of prison violence who have missed filing deadlines for the state should still speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Do NOT wait for or trust the AZ Department of Corrections or the AZ Attorney General's office to give you timely, accurate information about your loved one's death - they're just trying to avoid your lawsuits. Unfortunately, it seems the only way they change is when someone wins in court - and we need to stop them from killing these women now, so please exercise all your rights to fight back.<br /><br />Our condolences go out to all of Brenda's loved ones. Feel free to contact me (Peggy at 480-580-6807) if there's anything I might be able to do. If nothing else, I can put you in touch with other families who share your struggle - just let me know.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ewT-vH8arJDDnLOANzsztf7jfIH0QdbBia9W3of93wWWRrc4WPLbCDkEN_fyYx2JfmtTGmzH9cST0LeFmWocxSB5aHNp2UYG1AD9Q-g3LVHgEO3JNO-Rz_4Vsm-FIkYkqR4PDd1jKys/s1600/TODDobituary.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 536px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ewT-vH8arJDDnLOANzsztf7jfIH0QdbBia9W3of93wWWRrc4WPLbCDkEN_fyYx2JfmtTGmzH9cST0LeFmWocxSB5aHNp2UYG1AD9Q-g3LVHgEO3JNO-Rz_4Vsm-FIkYkqR4PDd1jKys/s400/TODDobituary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621178722462550226" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">June 23, 2011: CORRECTION:<br /><br />It's only been five months since Brenda died. That means that - thanks to my friend Matt's work - we're in time to help her family with a claim against the state. Unfortunately, litigation seems to be the only thing that makes them clean up the prisons, and Brenda's family has one hell of a suit...she could end up sparing a lot of other women from the hell she went through. From what I've been told, she'd probably give her blessings to that struggle</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">...</span>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-86056565641561976602011-06-21T14:37:00.002-07:002011-06-29T09:30:30.005-07:00Whose Streets? Inspire Phoenix...<h2 class="date-header"><span></span></h2><div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4884582094022222853&postID=8605656564156197660&from=pencil" name="8086303707485503477"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/06/whose-streets-inspire-phoenix.html"></a> </h3><div class="post-body entry-content"> <div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>From <a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/graffiti-busted-by-phx-pd-finally.html" style="color: blue;">Resistance Alley</a>, Phoenix</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Late Afternoon, June 19, 2011</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>FYI: Follow the link above for the background on the activism behind the art. The dumpsters were easily cleaned off with a towel and a squirt of water - foot powder sprays on like paint but is made of chalk. I wasn't sure how many charges they had against me already and didn't want to have to pay for my chalk to be power-sprayed, so I wiped it all off before the Graffiti Buster finished the ground. It was kind of weird, doing that in front of an audience of cops...</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >"Our Streets" was created mostly with Crayola's new sidewalk paint (which seems to consist of chalk and water paint), along with a dose of their finger paint - rough surfaces that don't usually take chalk so well respond nicely to a treatment of this stuff, and it's just as benign as watercolors or chalk. Apparently, however, the use of washable materials still constitutes criminal damage if the city has to come power spray it...so go with acrylics and give it all time to dry before Graffiti Busters can arrive, if you can get away with it. </span></i><br /><br /><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wonder if that's illegal for me to advocate?</i><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" > Probably, in this fascist state.</span></i><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCBILtKA7l7O1FHzAML55kRlmbM5MVk96DNj7EiQpf3qGG0auROeTan6NQabqFtphZ9temr4Yp3TzhZ38gw11ORUhsajpuEwVuLJgBMOVLpzKmInM6vgg2l7PQzAa1WYexmPkrmNHrHWs/s1600/ALLEYourstreetsINSPIRE1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCBILtKA7l7O1FHzAML55kRlmbM5MVk96DNj7EiQpf3qGG0auROeTan6NQabqFtphZ9temr4Yp3TzhZ38gw11ORUhsajpuEwVuLJgBMOVLpzKmInM6vgg2l7PQzAa1WYexmPkrmNHrHWs/s400/ALLEYourstreetsINSPIRE1.JPG" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOHUgPMnYQA1rtNbf_-kF6DbU_u50O3OCfUAzs2opj9oXhCHEJ3EHVhpA_q_CCKwAUD-kzGnilBgtZje_wf0gbW4IOk5NoLHzgDdbK8l044FYaMrQGmXilD9eDl4SO6O32eZXY5XUib_j/s1600/ALLEYourstreetsSILblue.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOHUgPMnYQA1rtNbf_-kF6DbU_u50O3OCfUAzs2opj9oXhCHEJ3EHVhpA_q_CCKwAUD-kzGnilBgtZje_wf0gbW4IOk5NoLHzgDdbK8l044FYaMrQGmXilD9eDl4SO6O32eZXY5XUib_j/s400/ALLEYourstreetsSILblue.JPG" border="0" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >Just an observation that our alley is now the cleanest in the entire Roosevelt/Hance Park neighborhood - there's graffiti everywhere except here! See what they chose to leave up, while wiping my art out? Talk about provocative...</span></i><br /><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" ><br /></span></i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zLDG5co0B0y1JzGb4eor9Uhyphenhyphen1J5UNgDHqFWSQRwxM6TGs0_pIBw88Ui3ES9iQfOjdIgZkXseY0EqHw4uVL5SC5gsWnbdNjeIvI0cWMfDGK9vRwSLZgbKxn2moLKWB0KFpSUMQQJupxSs/s1600/SEAMSgrandoldparties.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zLDG5co0B0y1JzGb4eor9Uhyphenhyphen1J5UNgDHqFWSQRwxM6TGs0_pIBw88Ui3ES9iQfOjdIgZkXseY0EqHw4uVL5SC5gsWnbdNjeIvI0cWMfDGK9vRwSLZgbKxn2moLKWB0KFpSUMQQJupxSs/s400/SEAMSgrandoldparties.JPG" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zLDG5co0B0y1JzGb4eor9Uhyphenhyphen1J5UNgDHqFWSQRwxM6TGs0_pIBw88Ui3ES9iQfOjdIgZkXseY0EqHw4uVL5SC5gsWnbdNjeIvI0cWMfDGK9vRwSLZgbKxn2moLKWB0KFpSUMQQJupxSs/s1600/SEAMSgrandoldparties.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></b></i></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;"><i><b>SEAMS' Mural : "Grand Old Parties " </b></i></span><br /> <span style="font-size:x-small;"><i><b>E. Portland St. between N. 2nd & 3rd Streets (appx.), Phoenix</b></i></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;"><b><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >This is huge - and pretty funny, actually...</span><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >go see it while you can.</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-23250231771343431862011-06-21T08:46:00.001-07:002011-06-29T09:59:43.791-07:00Graffiti Busted by the PHX PD, finally.<h2 class="date-header"><span></span></h2><div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4884582094022222853&postID=2325023177134343186&from=pencil" name="4468966755312910551"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/graffiti-busted-by-phx-pd-finally.html"></a> </h3><div class="post-body entry-content"> <i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >The guy from Graffiti Busters came by yesterday morning to clean up <a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/resistance-alley-phx-graffiti-police.html"><b>Resistance Alley</b></a> for a second time since June Artwalk -it was a busy weekend</span><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >. Here's the follow-up to that original action - my <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/criminal-damage-surviving-death-in.html">challenge to the Phoenix Police</a></b> to take action other than the ones they have to take against me.</span></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >Apparently, this is their only response. </span></i></div><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" ><br /></span></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdb21VwBOAurl8j6JmPzaey6nFaliWPPYLFiraCZUekGKsf-rZZ9M-bXXbj5EE0s69OSaNyRvjLhdJkP986f5oK6knGIeRu_J-otNTeV98r9wDWdM4FQ4mqXrzBx1ZdbBoXe_zIuTW9Mc/s1600/ALLEYgbuster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdb21VwBOAurl8j6JmPzaey6nFaliWPPYLFiraCZUekGKsf-rZZ9M-bXXbj5EE0s69OSaNyRvjLhdJkP986f5oK6knGIeRu_J-otNTeV98r9wDWdM4FQ4mqXrzBx1ZdbBoXe_zIuTW9Mc/s400/ALLEYgbuster.jpg" border="0" height="225" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" > </span></i><br /><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >The Graffiti Buster must not have to face the vandals whose art he demolishes very often - when I caught him checking things out and asked if he was planning to clean up my work, he muttered "maybe", then hurridly took off. I think I scared him: he was back less than 30 minutes later with four Phoenix Graffiti Detectives, one of whom finally read me my rights. </span></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoQaph4Sk_I4sDRiG56_q1Z9_r8rsooVFF-9BlkpDLzb7LSBDId6kKXr-R84TVrALzNnTtv-6XaIc_nh6GiC-GqGxoqD27cAohrG7PbEUuT61fxBXtNvuZInFE0nyl4_zzoNk2py1flA/s1600/ALLEYbusted.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoQaph4Sk_I4sDRiG56_q1Z9_r8rsooVFF-9BlkpDLzb7LSBDId6kKXr-R84TVrALzNnTtv-6XaIc_nh6GiC-GqGxoqD27cAohrG7PbEUuT61fxBXtNvuZInFE0nyl4_zzoNk2py1flA/s320/ALLEYbusted.jpg" border="0" height="180" width="320" /></a></i></div><div face="Georgia,"" style="Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The Graffiti Sgt. (Mike Kaddatz, I think) advised me that I can knock all this off now - he wasn't sure if I was facing felony charges yet or just a handful of misdemeanors, but he assured me that complaints about my activity have been referred for prosecution. I guess they've got a stack of evidence (including my blogs and postcards, I'd imagine) on someone's desk in the city attorney's office.</i></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DhyH6QvByy0SWCQddSpIiZxadmOSWHIqfMcyZAcAqX2KrJZFKBa3FOx-1bKs0N1ghdpcRGc5eM1-t74_BOYaYBeKIM8Rq_a7Fup4BZP579ECOWDI_ab_6MAsYz2XUTwV_NT6hJ3x8ww/s1600/ALLEYgbuster1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DhyH6QvByy0SWCQddSpIiZxadmOSWHIqfMcyZAcAqX2KrJZFKBa3FOx-1bKs0N1ghdpcRGc5eM1-t74_BOYaYBeKIM8Rq_a7Fup4BZP579ECOWDI_ab_6MAsYz2XUTwV_NT6hJ3x8ww/s320/ALLEYgbuster1.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="180" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I'm not sure what exactly happened this AM with my rights being read to me - I automatically clammed up, though, which is kind of funny given how much I've already incriminated myself.</i><i> I wasn't arrested - just warned that I will probably be getting notice of something about my other crimes in the mail. Funny how I still feel privileged - why can't I get arrested? </i><br /><br /><i>Maybe I was Mirandized instead of arrested because I'm just a suspect in this new crime they all came to investigate (the art that was being removed right then, that I just confessed to creating). Maybe it's because I've been so cooperative, sending them my postcards from the edge as evidence. But why four cops? I think it was in case I got out of hand over my art being defaced.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Isn't that silly that the Graffiti Buster needed so many cops to protect and defend him - from ME, of all people? Granted, I was pretty upset to see my good work ruined - it wasn't bothering anyone but "The City" down there...of course, that's who I'm trying to annoy. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Unfortunately, while they have plenty troops to deploy against me (and the city's taggers), they don't have a minute to spare of anyone who will even look into all these deaths in the prisons - not even one. I just get told to gather more evidence for them, and they'll think about it. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Seriously, what would it take for the new PHX Police Chief to just pick up the phone and say "Hey, Chuck Ryan - WTF??? How come all your prisoners are dying? We aren't sending any more criminals your way until you clean it up." Simple as that.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><u>Real</u> courage - that's what it would take. There isn't much of that among law enforcement out here in the Deep Southwest these days. They don't want to challenge power here - they know who pays their way. And really, to do what I do in this place, apparently you must be a little mad. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Resistance sure isn't coming from those most invested in maintaining this whole illusion that our justice system fundamentally works, that prison is a necessary part of it, and that they're all the good guys in this simplistic paradigm (that means those who oppose the state's police apparatus can only be "bad").<span style="font-size:small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size:small;"><i><span style=";font-family:Georgia,";" >In fact, after he read me my rights I asked Sgt. </span></i></span><i>Kaddatz </i><span style="font-size:small;"><i><span style="Times New Roman",serif;font-family:Georgia,";" >who was going to do something about the prisons. He smiled and shook his head a little, then said " that's on you!"</span> </i></span><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>Great - no help at all. They'll sure show me, for trying harass and guilt trip the city into taking their share of responsibility for the prison crisis with my criminal activity. Not only will they clean up after me within hours of finding my work, they won't lift a finger to stop the rising death toll in the prisons.</i> </div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5_cWr_8JVIT9I-ZWFG3zzaEFhhKTRjmCb1975guP39tfJLDSmr539ZwKLL8WY1KJYHUbXX2z9DxLDfwW0OvcPaRH-prkSl_6RhQ2oOqeLFp0XT-xz6UJ-TvOUt4j-TJhpQLXZWGq5ls/s1600/ALLEYgbuster2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5_cWr_8JVIT9I-ZWFG3zzaEFhhKTRjmCb1975guP39tfJLDSmr539ZwKLL8WY1KJYHUbXX2z9DxLDfwW0OvcPaRH-prkSl_6RhQ2oOqeLFp0XT-xz6UJ-TvOUt4j-TJhpQLXZWGq5ls/s400/ALLEYgbuster2.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="225" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>So, I've said it before - fuck the DOJ, the ACLU, and the Phoenix Police if they won't help. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Fuck the Arizona Governor and State Legislature, too.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>And if <u>you're</u> reading this and not doing or saying anything </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>about all these <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/shannon-palmer-criminalization.html">vulnerable people</a> </b>dying inside,</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>then fuck you, too.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>If you want to make a difference, though, </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>then help me do our own in-depth investigation and report, </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>and we'll make them change without anyone else's intervention. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>We'll be meeting weekly beginning July, probably at the new </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b><i>Ironwood Infoshop, soon to be in the back of </i></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="http://tempestarvingartist.comeseemyart.com/">The Fixx</a> / 11 E. 7th St. / Tempe, AZ 85281</b></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b>in the meantime to volunteer or donate to our efforts, contact me at: </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b>Peggy Plews</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b>PO Box 20494 </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b>Phoenix, Az 85036 </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:prisonabolitionist@gmail.com"><b>prisonabolitionist@gmail.com</b></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b>480-580-6807</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>I'm only at my 1009 N. 1st St. office until July 1 - then I'm going to be mobile.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL12XfH5krwJ3kRPXrLktDp4Y6hMVpucL3l0GZoBL98eiSWMERv9i3bewEMsoZDMo_2Wn-K9APRUcsSuLmc3EvJNopDYYizc_I2wZnzMcjOB16ZMg_qq3heBbIcP_-qudcqxhvgMGtw8/s1600/ALLEYwashedup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL12XfH5krwJ3kRPXrLktDp4Y6hMVpucL3l0GZoBL98eiSWMERv9i3bewEMsoZDMo_2Wn-K9APRUcsSuLmc3EvJNopDYYizc_I2wZnzMcjOB16ZMg_qq3heBbIcP_-qudcqxhvgMGtw8/s640/ALLEYwashedup.jpg" border="0" height="640" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>So sad and so lovely...</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-49220457640335508012011-06-19T18:10:00.002-07:002011-07-05T17:55:38.626-07:00Criminal Damage: Surviving a Death in Custody.<h2 class="date-header"></h2><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4884582094022222853&postID=4922045764033550801&from=pencil" name="4240076479043293837"></a><br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3><div class="post-body entry-content"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcxW19PxB9fhxzVSaCcKb6h-YqJYJqkqJIa8o2Z2_cNlCdF001g1xPZ2oXliOBZw77KoLGmt4bSglkgNcxA3quuo-VpJGFlrXe_i6l0gLSkqNmXBrvcIbRE9TR86HMgNCILi63dU1qr4/s1600/ourstreets1.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620087454202563026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcxW19PxB9fhxzVSaCcKb6h-YqJYJqkqJIa8o2Z2_cNlCdF001g1xPZ2oXliOBZw77KoLGmt4bSglkgNcxA3quuo-VpJGFlrXe_i6l0gLSkqNmXBrvcIbRE9TR86HMgNCILi63dU1qr4/s400/ourstreets1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >To: Sgt. Mark Schweikert; Detective Diane Rowe<br />Phoenix Police Department</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Attached is <a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/resistance-alley-phx-graffiti-police.html" style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">more evidence of my crimes</a>, with a witness list for this confession</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >. I'm going to make the most of that tool in the coming weeks and months. You all get to preview what just became my next blog post... I must really have an ego in order to be such an exhibitionist. If I didn't have such a healthy shot of grandiosity, so many people with the power to really hurt me may not be subjected to my constant irritation, but then no one would know there's a problem in the prisons but the families of the dead and the dying.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />In any case, I won't wait for the next dead prisoner to come along for me to paint on the sidewalk before I escalate again; I feel like I've failed now with each one. I have to touch base with two mothers and a sister today alone - survivor</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >s of a suicide, a homicide, and an apparent overdose on psych meds...they call the latter an "accident" at this point. It's probably the most important yet most painful thing I do, talking to those families...I would guess you can relate, if you've been cops for long. I hate it, but I have to keep letting them know what's going on - they more than anyone want to see change.<br /><br /></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The homicide was in Buckeye - Lewis prison. Stiner. It was <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/04/alan-keesee-charged-with-assault-thank.html">Dana Seawright</a></b> - early last July. It was a gang hit, and hate crime (bet the state never called it that, though). "Unsolved" (they know full well who did it, I believe. The gangs run that prison in particular). The killers are probably on the streets again, like one of <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/deaths-in-custody-who-serves-survivors.html" target="_blank">Pete Calleros</a></b>' murderers already is. I think I told you about Dana - he was only 26. He was reportedly a self-admitted member of the W</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >est Side City Crips, and got caught being friends with a Mexican. They told him in the aftermath of this relationship becoming known that he had to hit a member of a Mexican gang to pr</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ove his loyalty - he didn't do a good enough job, though. Dana didn't really want to hurt anyone - he basica</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >lly faked it, according to both the investigative records and the guards who narrated his days to his mom as he lay dying. For his defiance, Dana was bludgeoned into unconsciousness; his mother took him off life support five days later...</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbxI7AGIphIg8bTz27S65ZSbf1c0Mzu4yukT5NRQOJzeFVXT121NKVbAmOlGCwS2tm-fPxJ5EUMEZkZpu94bwlRlYjiSb1yS7I0BmzWF8Y_1GVDZoKL9IPE3gHDfYMyU_dzujt0mlY-w/s1600/ALLEYhomicide.JPG" style="font-style: italic;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620091191613182706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbxI7AGIphIg8bTz27S65ZSbf1c0Mzu4yukT5NRQOJzeFVXT121NKVbAmOlGCwS2tm-fPxJ5EUMEZkZpu94bwlRlYjiSb1yS7I0BmzWF8Y_1GVDZoKL9IPE3gHDfYMyU_dzujt0mlY-w/s400/ALLEYhomicide.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The state couldn't find a single guard to watch that kid's back even from a distance in there, but they had two on him all the time while he was chained to a bed in a coma. What brave public servants we have. Glad they have their priorities straight.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-kini-seawright-women-gather-crying.html" target="_blank">Kini Seawright</a></b>'s life slowly f</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ell apart after her only child's murder. Her health and mental status deteriorated, her attendance and performance at work suffered, and she got laid off from the job she'd been progressing steadily at for years. She made good after prison years earlier herself, but was forced this year to turn to unemployment and AHCCCS, both of which are now compromised by budget cuts. She could be waiting months yet to hear back on her Social Security disability claim - I don't believe she told them about her mood disorde</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >r being exacerbated by the trauma of the murder, because her back and legs are such a source of trouble as it is, so she may face more denials and appeals.<br /><br />In the meantime, Kini just received a notice from her landlord that she has to pay up b</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ack rent or move out in five days - which I think arrives on Wednesday. Kini says the guy's been gracious and understanding for a long time, but I guess a few people owe him and the bank is coming after his properties - or is threaten</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ing to.<br /><br />I'm honestly in the middle of trying to vacate my own apartment in the next week or so, and have no idea what to do for either of us. If I had the money, then the answer for now would be easy. But instead I have to ask for help - or rather, she does - which is just inviting more abuse from the state, frankly. When her son died, the Department of Corrections gave her 24 hours to get his body under threat of burying him on prison grounds. They couldn't even help her find the $300 she needed to bring him home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1zVjIB-4-k6gsIXKZmw3L7kiy_T1PJSNhkTbE2zZMazueiNPQ6RA0VhOmYBJ8Y3eoFC_cKxC6jPfLc5xN-ICLfH7v5mTpIbf1trVF4kLkNLYaHTFjjCbEu8cnxXOptdGacjS4hhHpHo/s1600/ALLEYneglect.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620090884111434626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1zVjIB-4-k6gsIXKZmw3L7kiy_T1PJSNhkTbE2zZMazueiNPQ6RA0VhOmYBJ8Y3eoFC_cKxC6jPfLc5xN-ICLfH7v5mTpIbf1trVF4kLkNLYaHTFjjCbEu8cnxXOptdGacjS4hhHpHo/s320/ALLEYneglect.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Crime victims and their survivors have <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/az-victims-of-state-crimes.html" target="_blank">certain rights under the Arizona State Constitution</a></b> - and privileges under <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/deaths-in-custody-who-serves-survivors.html" target="_blank">a number of programs we've set up</a></b> - except for those victimized while "in custody for an offense". I think that was a loophole to let cops and governments off for abusing and neglecting the rest of us, when we're supposed to be the most under their control. So when Kini called the Arizona Attorney General's Office Victims Services people for referrals on Friday, she was ultimately told that she didn't qualify for any assistance as a crime victim or survivor because her son was in </span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >custody at the time of his death - he doesn't count as human under the victim's rights' amendment, you see, while entities such as "the state" </span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >and WalMart do.<br /><br />Now, doesn't that just mess with your head, when you think about it? Really. Whatever happened to "the People?" As cops in Arizona, you have more constitutional duty to serve a corporate "person" who has been stolen from - or vandalized - than you do the very real mother of a young man who was brutally beaten down by the West Side City Crips.<br /><br />That must hurt to think about, if you really care about protecting and serving us.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBTqDFFBXz2wt0DkP-8x-ojU0kJbKGCmbUT6kklXofQ4IRQK0Vt8puHGgId9CW9Ld9xl1eDOOyf2g7czIwJ4ZpUCfzAUIDdfp89ZpsS6EYvrqjqSf85u0PlbUZvjkDC-jx3YJ-C_jydE/s1600/ALLEYsuicide.JPG" style="font-style: italic;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620090646679756530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBTqDFFBXz2wt0DkP-8x-ojU0kJbKGCmbUT6kklXofQ4IRQK0Vt8puHGgId9CW9Ld9xl1eDOOyf2g7czIwJ4ZpUCfzAUIDdfp89ZpsS6EYvrqjqSf85u0PlbUZvjkDC-jx3YJ-C_jydE/s400/ALLEYsuicide.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 300px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Dana's homicide was actually a double hate crime, you know. We set him up for that kind of death long before he even went to prison, simply by cultivating that kind of garbage in th</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >is fine state - then we buried him by decimating his rights in custody. Anyone who truly hates racism, homophobia, gangs, and violence - not to mention prisons - should be on this "unsolved" homicide, our screwed up constitution, and the way Dana's mom is being treated if you're getting any of what I'm saying at all.<br /><br />We diminished Dana's humanity - along with <b><a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/03/prison-abolitionist-and-light-in-marcia.html">Marcia Powell</a></b>'s, <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/09/shannon-palmer-criminalization.html">Shannon Palmer</a></b>'s, <b><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/death-of-brenda-todd.html">Brenda Todd</a></b>'s, <b><a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/04/wrongful-deaths-in-custody-susan-lopez.html">Susan Lopez</a></b>', and every other victim in custody - by withholding from him and his loved ones the same constitutional rights we grant everyone else whose lives are so shattered by violence perpetrated by not only convicted criminals but also the state officers in charge of their punishment and safety.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Of all places in society - especially a nation which so prides itself on the nobility of its law enforcement personnel and the primacy of order - can we not keep our vulnerable prisoners safe within the confines of the most fortified institutions we erect? We can't even protect the tough young guys like Dana. We owe it to him and his mom to do everything we can to direct the resources we've allocated to assist violent crime survivors in times of need to her now.<br /><br />That's my SOS to all of you today - beginning with those of you "In Blue", so to speak. It'll be up by the end of the day.<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >As for the alley - the vandals all running for office have claimed the fences for</span><span style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > their ugly signs - the streets I still claim as ours. I'll be here to prosecute tomorrow - help a real crime victim instead today. It can be as simple as making a phone call to a community service agency to make a contact for Kini (she's a Chandler resident, for what's it's worth), or even passing a hat around your office, dropping a Safeway gift card anonymously in the mail, or letting me know if you can lend some other kind of hand <a href="tel:%28480-580-6807" target="_blank" value="+14805806807">(480-580-6807</a>) - of those (hands), I need many.</span></div><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >And please don't take too long to think about it; time ran out for Dana's mom already.<br /><br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Peg</span><br /><br />--<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Margaret J. Plews, Editor</i></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RplgvYiJHDhIhdg3IKg_QlwCe8oQayflHY97SErsRCl5DSjpanulGjijCXQZubYV-C_tQSqcxILKhwlMweJbhfb_LJRk_VmIEWydd4KYcXmKbx-g1Af939u-JJr2J09CGOlXY7OJ4iE/s1600/danaseawright1.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620203351357609106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RplgvYiJHDhIhdg3IKg_QlwCe8oQayflHY97SErsRCl5DSjpanulGjijCXQZubYV-C_tQSqcxILKhwlMweJbhfb_LJRk_VmIEWydd4KYcXmKbx-g1Af939u-JJr2J09CGOlXY7OJ4iE/s320/danaseawright1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 251px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 201px;" border="0" /></a><br /><b><i>Arizona Prison Watch<br />P.O. Box 20494<br />Phoenix, AZ 85036<br /><a href="tel:480-580-6807" target="_blank" value="+14805806807">480-580-6807</a></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><b><i><br />"Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness, and our ability to tell our own stories..."<br /><br />- Arundhati Roy</i></b></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Arizona Prison Watch</b><br /><a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://arizonaprisonwatch.<wbr>blogspot.com</a><br /><b>Prison Abolitionist</b><br /><a href="http://prisonabolitionist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://prisonabolitionist.<wbr>blogspot.com</a><br /><b>Hard Time Alliance - AZ</b><br /><a href="http://hardtimehepc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://hardtimehepc.blogspot.<wbr>com</a><br /><b>Arizona Juvenile Prison Watch</b><br /><a href="http://azjuvenileprisonwatch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://azjuvenileprisonwatch.<wbr>blogspot.com</a><a href="http://freemarciapowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-62297868356512938132011-06-15T14:31:00.001-07:002011-06-15T14:36:32.485-07:00ACLU-AZ: tasers, prisoner abuse, and juvenile diversion.<div class="post-body entry-content"> <span style="font-style: italic;">This is really exciting folks. Go to all if you can if for no other reason than to show them how many people out here care....</span><br /><br /><br /><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>From:</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> ACLU of Arizona [mailto:<a href="mailto:grassroots@acluaz.org" target="_blank">grassroots@acluaz.org</a>]<br /><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:53 PM<br /><b>Subject:</b> Location update: You bring your lunch. We'll bring the experts.</span></p></div></div><p> </p><p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=a%2FAcOidyuZ1aiuaIvoxsx8i8wia9U3n9" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none"><img src="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1890/images/2c_alcu_az.bmp" border="0" height="91" width="200" /></span></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center"><hr style="height: 3px;" align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:red;">All lectures will be held at 3707 N. 7th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85014</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">You are invited to the <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://acluaz.org/">ACLU of Arizona</a>'s Summer 2011 Brown Bag Lecture Series</span><span style="font-size:100%;">!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Who says there is nothing to do during the summer in the Valley of the Sun?<br /><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Wednesday, June 29, 2011</b></span><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><i>In Their Own Words: Enduring Abuse in Arizona Immigration Detention Centers</i></b><i><span style="color:navy;"> </span></i><br /><b><br /></b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Wednesday, July 13, 2011</b></span><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><b><i>Protecting What Works: Juvenile Diversion in Maricopa County </i></b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Wednesday, August 17, 2011</b></span><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><i>A Force to Be Reckoned With: Taser Use in Arizona Police Departments </i></b><br /><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">All brown bag lectures will be from noon to 1 p.m</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Free and open to the public. Drinks and desserts served.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Seating is limited, so please make reservations by calling Mary Hope Lee at <a href="tel:602-650-1854%20ext.%20100" value="+16026501854" target="_blank">602-650-1854 ext. 100</a> or by emailing <a href="mailto:info@acluaz.org" target="_blank">info@acluaz.org</a>.</span></span></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-6348771003291404052011-06-05T07:53:00.002-07:002011-06-06T02:29:36.468-07:00Resistance Alley & the PHX Graffiti Police<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIA4eCQ1A62eVe7lWiBB_HTry8g2pRYVrfDiL5Wwc6pJrt32QRZUoSazFPb9NhbsNn-etTiRkVw3AoWHekMjBqyjpWH4IOpCCtEvwALWsrM-R4xhBL9QUHscqbxeyxGJdXmV0AAafMVN8/s1600/Graffittipolice.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIA4eCQ1A62eVe7lWiBB_HTry8g2pRYVrfDiL5Wwc6pJrt32QRZUoSazFPb9NhbsNn-etTiRkVw3AoWHekMjBqyjpWH4IOpCCtEvwALWsrM-R4xhBL9QUHscqbxeyxGJdXmV0AAafMVN8/s400/Graffittipolice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614739020818289858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I met the Graffiti Detectives Friday evening in my back alley, which is along the main drag for the Phoenix Artwalk on the First Friday of every month. A few friends and comrades showed to cop-watch from the sidelines; most of my friends are on probation or parole, however, and couldn't afford the risk involved in being as criminally disobedient as I have been in recent days, so they were excused from showing for the action.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kstQY3TOEgSO_2Lep_Bs2jjwExkygcuUw320Ln4oVxuHc5T0-3y8enlNPhhBa87RdZo3EtGShR2Wppikx6_mOqCajNOypqCaaZpwKcCytG7yal8j6OxrMbKx6LzexXj6Xzf1aLLecI2s/s1600/resistancealleyTRASH.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kstQY3TOEgSO_2Lep_Bs2jjwExkygcuUw320Ln4oVxuHc5T0-3y8enlNPhhBa87RdZo3EtGShR2Wppikx6_mOqCajNOypqCaaZpwKcCytG7yal8j6OxrMbKx6LzexXj6Xzf1aLLecI2s/s400/resistancealleyTRASH.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614739595887348706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A few folks have rightfully asked me to explain what I'm doing and why a little better. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Among other things, I've been trying to force a more animated and engaging public dialogue about the prison deaths, free expression and resistance, a</span><span style="font-style: italic;">nd Arizona's tendency to prioritize property rights over human rights in our legislative practices. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">There are a host of intersecting issues affecting human rights in this state, beginning with a flawed value system. He</span><span style="font-style: italic;">re it's "criminal damage" to block access for livestoc</span><span style="font-style: italic;">k to water supplies - a felony - and yet guaranteeing access to water in the desert for people is prosecuted criminally as littering.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As a manifestation of our collective social values in Phoenix, the city's response to my solicitation to resist the status quo through possible criminal activity turned out a whole squad of cops to protect an alley from art, but no one in this state will initiate an investigation into all the suicides and homicides at the AZ Department of Corrections. What gives? I can't even count how many cops I've reported the state's crimes too, but no one seems to feel responsible for intervening themselves, o</span><span style="font-style: italic;">r even calling in the feds.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An argument can be made that my chalk - and now paint - on the ground invites graffiti on the walls and "blight"; there was some new artwork done the night before they arrived Friday, specifically a message to them:<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UHL4w3qa370iD8kfsHqs_XS3QW3ZIy2yIgBle-guaCu3b-RLupqqNf3Ty4Fscz2JXEOGtfPi7oJd1VXlhD19lD3yCNeyO3X-4ERaqAVgtdlOcaM7Vz8tXh6bAdJ4iQNjGSWkZEj1fiES/s1600/problemofficer.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UHL4w3qa370iD8kfsHqs_XS3QW3ZIy2yIgBle-guaCu3b-RLupqqNf3Ty4Fscz2JXEOGtfPi7oJd1VXlhD19lD3yCNeyO3X-4ERaqAVgtdlOcaM7Vz8tXh6bAdJ4iQNjGSWkZEj1fiES/s400/problemofficer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614738830748639746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The images that bug <span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span> the most, frankly, are not graffiti per se, but from the advertising I can't avoid looking at everywhere I go - especially those faded, aging political signs like the ones outside of Tom Horne's old campaign office on 7th Ave and McDow</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ell - boy </span><span style="font-style:italic">that place is looking trashy. Bottom line is that if you have money you can ram your politics down everyone's throat with fear, racism, sexism, homophobia - the list of ugly manipulative strategies we're subjected to each political season goes on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then we must respect the "rights" of people who just want to </span><span style="font-style: italic;">make a buck from us to</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> advertise their garbage - from fast food joints to casinos to strip clubs and the state's lottery system, as long as they have the money to buy or rent space they can push their products and messaging all over our everyday landscape. But if an impoverished citizen objects to the way our </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">government is being run and puts up their own highway signage to express objection to the wars, for example, it's considered a crime.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdiax6PNhek_P6QVfIH-5lS5Bhb5v3-YGq8vBq5HjaGN0490_aILczkB04HNBDOL3_eS0BHVTHbE1pcgOtVIzsDxf0Rko_USkgrGT-S-DPQe0ctJ_3HoLadIOfpnwoZWZXlzcgvZQU0L5/s1600/ALLEYcookieFULL.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdiax6PNhek_P6QVfIH-5lS5Bhb5v3-YGq8vBq5HjaGN0490_aILczkB04HNBDOL3_eS0BHVTHbE1pcgOtVIzsDxf0Rko_USkgrGT-S-DPQe0ctJ_3HoLadIOfpnwoZWZXlzcgvZQU0L5/s400/ALLEYcookieFULL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614735374883327234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Only property-holders and lawmakers can color and abuse our public horizon that way, it appears. All public space should be safe for free (unpaid) political expression, but none is really protected by our laws in meaningful places, quantities, or ways - if anything</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, it's discouraged by the privatization of so much community space (done to give police departments and businesses the leverage to criminalize homelessness and hassle the poor riff raff busking on "their" sidewalks).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I can only guess who made those kinds of laws, an</span><span style="font-style: italic;">d </span> <span style="font-style:italic">who they serve most today - I'm fairly sure they weren't designed to empower The People, though.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Law is mainly made to maintain the social order, after all - which is inherently heirarchical, capitalist, racist, miso</span><span style="font-style:italic">gynistic, and anti-democratic in America - especially Arizona.</span>..<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway, as I said, I met the Graffiti Detectives (Diane Rowe and her partner, whose name I keep forgetting) in my back alley Friday in time for my planned protest. It quickly became clear that they wouldn't be arresting me - I think they mainly just didn't want to become players in my street theater any more than they already had to be.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-tcvzKxStsTntdpgvaM-0x2y2qMlIwrysdv4p6D-SP7wdeQbyEm0atjReTKKhlzTDwJZlaKl6XY3-OfGsFCKOx18M8pRwEUMt2c7pB3_XovQVgCMk3N8QWsC7GGLkLKSrpReCYD7g7xj/s1600/ALLEYstateviolence.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-tcvzKxStsTntdpgvaM-0x2y2qMlIwrysdv4p6D-SP7wdeQbyEm0atjReTKKhlzTDwJZlaKl6XY3-OfGsFCKOx18M8pRwEUMt2c7pB3_XovQVgCMk3N8QWsC7GGLkLKSrpReCYD7g7xj/s400/ALLEYstateviolence.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614735097665572274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Detective Rowe took issue with my characterization of cops picking on teenage taggers - they feel as if they try to help the kids they arrest, in pa</span><span style="font-style:italic">rticular. They also argued that there really aren't that many youth being charged as adults or even sent off to child prison for graffiti alone. They see writing as being like a "gateway" drug, so the youth getting into real trouble may face burglary and other charges by the time they get busted for tagging...</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />So, the Graffiti Detectives are really here to help wayward youth, not control and punish budding revolutionaries. Right. Regardless, we never would have had the conversation we did if I was a teenage Latino male chalking the public walks in the middle of the</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> night instead of a middle class white woman calling my vandalism "politics" and "art"...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">which is what this protest was really about - my o</span><span style="font-style:italic">wn privilege. In a year and a half of chalking the walks of Power, how is it that I've never been arrested, assaulted, or shot by a cop in this town? Not that I WANT any of those things to happen, mind you - but I see them happening to people of color and those in poverty all around me, and can't help but wonder why I get a pass, if not for the intersections of my gender, age, race and class...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That I am particularly privileged by the status quo in Arizona today is fairly disturbing - and the cost of accommodating my comfort, and that of my class, compels me to resist with everything I have. I may not be the most brilliant organizer or political strategist - some folks really doubt my sanity given</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> my engagement of the police in confrontations - but I have yet to hear one good reason why not to tackle this head-on, at every level of law enforcement.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXTBUdWG_IX2ZLN0d6y-2X7-phStzC6jSTfS_4NyJ9-seu9DWuVMzrUGwPUargeYN7z0FSqO5FLgmLY-YNyrinVDNpRyXtlvtFbYYkUF1AniSUtqi5yx5JWFeQHBtvmlh4KRuKVu6MHtX/s1600/ALLEYsunnyphoenixBLUE.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXTBUdWG_IX2ZLN0d6y-2X7-phStzC6jSTfS_4NyJ9-seu9DWuVMzrUGwPUargeYN7z0FSqO5FLgmLY-YNyrinVDNpRyXtlvtFbYYkUF1AniSUtqi5yx5JWFeQHBtvmlh4KRuKVu6MHtX/s400/ALLEYsunnyphoenixBLUE.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614731184533169826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway, I talk to cops more than real anarchists </span><span style="font-style: italic;">do because I want them engaged in the struggle of prisoners - they're the ones doing them the "favor" of arrest and confinement to get them of</span><span style="font-style: italic;">f the streets, give them "3 hots an</span><span style="font-style: italic;">d a cot" (which are really two ba</span><span style="font-style: italic;">g lunches and a "boat" on the floor) - like everyone did to help Marcia Powell and Shannon Palmer, lucky them. That's a reminder that even the best intentions can still hurt a lot of people, especially if the police are brought into the mix as partners or "helpers". Their primary job is to maintain the order of the state, not promote the liberties and rights of the people - no matter how friendly they may seem.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />But the cops didn't come to chat about my politics. Detective Rowe and I talked about all those issues for half an hour or so before I finally threw my red paint down and slapped my palm print up on the side of one of the dumpsters in our alley, irritated by the show of police force to discourage such activity. In the end I was yelling, I think, about how property rights trump human rights in this town as they all showed up to fight "vandalism" but I can't get <span style="font-weight:bold">anyone</span> to follow up on serious abuse complaints against cops.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bk1jAvGx_RBYbJMMHDucE0OvdFviaRIzvQOKMZtwOuYlwFuqvs0ttwfRT2IJcdxJS2q2G9RL34gQYe7yxbqjWilIGNwIKnTk1IUsP1bmC4x7E_kWJ8QJEWdkV6ZVpFMW-BySP_IiRfmo/s1600/ALLEYanarchyNOjustice.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bk1jAvGx_RBYbJMMHDucE0OvdFviaRIzvQOKMZtwOuYlwFuqvs0ttwfRT2IJcdxJS2q2G9RL34gQYe7yxbqjWilIGNwIKnTk1IUsP1bmC4x7E_kWJ8QJEWdkV6ZVpFMW-BySP_IiRfmo/s400/ALLEYanarchyNOjustice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614729226015524290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">That's bullshit, frankly. So I've asked the Phoenix Graffiti Detectiv</span><span style="font-style: italic;">e</span><span style="font-style: italic;">s to help me get the DOJ out here - we'll see if they bother to do that much. That might be too much like ratting out their own to internal affairs - that's how creeps like Gerster, Keese</span><span style="font-style: italic;">e and Chrisman stay in positions of pow</span><span style="font-style: italic;">er, though.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As for my criminal damage - I was the only one to handle the paint Friday night, since my friends don't need to be harassed any more than they already are - I can expect them to catch up to me with criminal charges and a bill for restitution and clean-up, on their own schedule. They aren't about to accommodate mine. I'll keep you all posted on how tha</span><span style="font-style: italic;">t unfolds; I expect it will give me plenty to write about, if nothing else of value.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks for all your support, by the way, folks. You all rock!<br /><br /><br /></span><h1 style="display:block"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXjbG9tEw6j7k_kg7ZfTvliAUe37TUIxSEKTlqeoqUjL3SMOAhzrbDuqt981eYMjN34pjfHsaK7-_H0Rl3NKIWva96tANfo72qUAe7jspa3FWi5kZdUAGmYrxOnfhKcPq8N3UZchEBoou/s1600/ALLEYiheartyourfight.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXjbG9tEw6j7k_kg7ZfTvliAUe37TUIxSEKTlqeoqUjL3SMOAhzrbDuqt981eYMjN34pjfHsaK7-_H0Rl3NKIWva96tANfo72qUAe7jspa3FWi5kZdUAGmYrxOnfhKcPq8N3UZchEBoou/s400/ALLEYiheartyourfight.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614731565588979282" border="0" /></a></h1></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-40399683491070514242011-05-19T09:05:00.000-07:002011-05-19T09:07:59.939-07:00POLICE BRUTALITY: This is also what resistance looks like.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYd2mEDudtwXtPFE5MLiDVEQA6m8gLAKISFQuqTeQ4n8kZHVg0vHBaVxwLGDX5BwqpIF0C_RGEL1A4jp91OVsnY5aXlZ08IDCyWCnDgsQB4R1cvnLRjmLXQPcHdIDUEJ4ui8orM2WoF8xV/s1600/VerdinP1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYd2mEDudtwXtPFE5MLiDVEQA6m8gLAKISFQuqTeQ4n8kZHVg0vHBaVxwLGDX5BwqpIF0C_RGEL1A4jp91OVsnY5aXlZ08IDCyWCnDgsQB4R1cvnLRjmLXQPcHdIDUEJ4ui8orM2WoF8xV/s400/VerdinP1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608457315575598914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALo5ILLbWugLHAibob9EsusgQJe7hYnZS2NJGm4v32d5BreG587RYekPaGLOoKGKknDnMxJti4IWFYTN4G28YPPFg_EEng1ux7_u0Z8_iTjLU8JMRYu4FW1Bn1W-tq6AlBfPZGHtJ5r9-/s1600/VerdinP2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALo5ILLbWugLHAibob9EsusgQJe7hYnZS2NJGm4v32d5BreG587RYekPaGLOoKGKknDnMxJti4IWFYTN4G28YPPFg_EEng1ux7_u0Z8_iTjLU8JMRYu4FW1Bn1W-tq6AlBfPZGHtJ5r9-/s400/VerdinP2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608457100872488642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ-7hD_Np8irwNbNuaoBKjxctbRdRJMZ9_CNgRAihoH7mBuoVkwAf-WAjS7Je0SLNCb0DkPhRN8XfQOuboZfcelesE3px0DNIhf43AmWxLLWZ_FukSadWDWxKNtkxLzhzU1AT5j8I26Ib/s1600/VerdinP3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ-7hD_Np8irwNbNuaoBKjxctbRdRJMZ9_CNgRAihoH7mBuoVkwAf-WAjS7Je0SLNCb0DkPhRN8XfQOuboZfcelesE3px0DNIhf43AmWxLLWZ_FukSadWDWxKNtkxLzhzU1AT5j8I26Ib/s400/VerdinP3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608456881458358802" border="0" /></a>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-41606712412747362402011-05-19T05:18:00.001-07:002011-05-19T05:21:09.324-07:00FBI WATCH: documents reveal attack on democratic rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/05/fbi-watch-documents-reveal-attack-on.html"><br /></a> </h3> <span style="font-style: italic;">Just a reminder, my cross-organizing and international solidarity comrades, that they really are out to get us...here's a good resource to look at before they come for you:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(click link below image)</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1vN1_FW55MCP9yhLyOxI4cZYVIUR7GBk51qYwcNs531Zh6OT24eZzL522fmTOlap3rRrLsiPZckNip-5CFMAiX9UCJ241_BXSaBErNamWY9MCjNvvvuAT0CoUbG19w_Pn-_CzvvWdCg6/s1600/agentknocks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 183px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1vN1_FW55MCP9yhLyOxI4cZYVIUR7GBk51qYwcNs531Zh6OT24eZzL522fmTOlap3rRrLsiPZckNip-5CFMAiX9UCJ241_BXSaBErNamWY9MCjNvvvuAT0CoUbG19w_Pn-_CzvvWdCg6/s320/agentknocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608400042313872818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">"<a href="http://ccrjustice.org/ifanagentknocks">If An Agent Knocks</a>"</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br />Center for Constitutional Rights</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">------from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (stopfbi.net)------</span><br /></div><br /><h1 class="title"><a href="http://www.stopfbi.net/2011/5/18/secret-fbi-documents-reveal-attack-democratic-rights-anti-war-and-international-solidarity"><span style="font-size:100%;">Secret FBI documents reveal attack on democratic rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists</span></a></h1> <div class="meta"> <span class="submitted"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Published on Wed, 2011-05-18 11:56 </span></span> <div class="terms terms-inline"><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy_term_10 first"><a href="http://www.stopfbi.net/category/media-type/document" rel="tag" title="">Document</a></li><li class="taxonomy_term_4 last"><a href="http://www.stopfbi.net/category/wordpress-category/statements" rel="tag" title="">Statements</a></li></ul></div> </div> <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-author"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <a href="http://www.stopfbi.net/organization/committee-stop-fbi-repression">Committee to Stop FBI Repression</a> </div> </div> </div> <h3>Documents Released on May 18th (PDF format):</h3> <ul><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/1-CSFR%20statement.pdf">CSFR Statement</a><br /></li><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/2-Operation%20Order.pdf">Operation Order</a><br /></li><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/3-Interrogation%20Questions.pdf">Interrogation Questions</a><br /></li><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/4-Surveillance%20photos.pdf">Surveillance Photos</a><br /></li><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/5-Seizure%20and%20Subpoena.pdf">Seizure and Subpoena</a><br /></li><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/6-Blank%20forms.pdf">Blank Forms</a><br /></li><li><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/CSFR%20May%2018%20documents%20ALL.pdf">Single PDF file that includes all six of the above documents</a><br /></li></ul> <p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Committee to Stop FBI Repression Statement (May 18, 2011)</span></p> <p>FBI agents, who raided the home of Mick Kelly and Linden Gawboy, took with them thousands of pages of documents and books, along with computers, cell phones and a passport. By mistake, they also left something behind; the operation plans for the raid, “Interview questions” for anti-war and international solidarity activists, duplicate evidence collection forms, etc. The file of secret FBI documents was accidently mixed in with Gawboy’s files, and was found in a filing cabinet on April 30. We are now releasing them to the public.</p> <p>The raid at the Kelly/Gawboy home was one of the many coordinated raids at Minneapolis homes and the offices of the Anti-War Committee on September 24, 2010. Two additional homes were raided in Chicago. To date, 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists have received subpoenas to appear in front of a Chicago Grand Jury headed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.</p> <p>Taken as a whole, the secret FBI file shows the willful disregard for the rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists – particularly the first amendment rights to freedom of speech and association. The documents make it clear that legal activity in solidarity with the peoples of Colombia and Palestine is being targeted. The documents use McCarthy-era language, which gives one the feel that the 1950s red scare has returned. And finally, the documents show the chilling plans for the armed raid that took place at the home of Kelly and Gawboy on September 24, 2010.</p> <p>The documents show that public advocacy for the people of Colombia was the genesis of the FBI investigation. The ‘Operations Order’ for the FBI SWAT Team states “The captioned case was initially predicated on the activities of Meredith Aby and Jessica Rae Sundin in support of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a U.S. State Department designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), to include their travel to FARC controlled territory.”</p> <p>While we have no way of knowing if it was speaking tours or educational events on Colombia that got them so riled up, there is something we can state with certainty: There is nothing illegal about traveling to Colombia, or visiting the areas where the FARC is in charge. This is something that journalists, including U.S. journalists, do, and we have yet to hear of their doors being broken down. Upon returning from Colombia, Aby and Sundin spoke at many public events about their experiences.</p> <p>The FBI interview questions for Meredith Aby ask “1) Have you ever met Lilia [sic] Obando? 2) Where? 3) When? 4) Why?” Liliana Obando is a well-known Colombian trade unionist who spoke in the Twin Cities at an event organized by the Anti-War Committee. She received a visa to travel in the U.S. from the U.S. government.</p> <p>She spoke about the sickening human rights violations that were being carried out by the Colombian government and its paramilitary allies. While we understand that the Colombian government is the third largest recipient of U.S military aid, and that government officials would prefer that that people here in the U.S. don’t get a chance to hear about human rights abuses committed with their tax dollars, the fact remains: there is nothing criminal in trying to learn the truth. The FBI is attacking the right of anti-war activists to speak out against U.S. foreign policy.</p> <p>Likewise, the “interview questions” make a big deal about delegations that visited Palestine. The Israeli authorities try to disrupt these trips because people return from them and expose the gross human rights violations that are carried out in the context of the military occupation. But once again – this is a legal activity that activists have every right to engage in.</p> <p>The documents show how the FBI investigation expanded outwards, starting with Colombia and soon focusing on Palestine. How did the FBI get involved? The most likely explanation is that a undercover police officer going by the name “Karen Sullivan” infiltrated the Anti-War Committee shortly before the 2008 Republican National Convention. Among the first people she met were Meredith Aby and Jess Sundin, who often spoke at public events about what they saw in Colombia.</p> <p>Karen Sullivan - the professional liar - then gave her reports to the FBI, paving the road to the September 24 raids.</p> <h3><strong>The New McCarthyism</strong></h3> <p>When Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy went on a red-baiting witch hunt in the 1950s, communists, socialists and progressives of all stripes were hounded out of jobs, housing, the entertainment industry and institutions of higher education. More than a few people were jailed for their ideas. The secret FBI documents indicate an investigation is underway that takes its cues from this shameful past.</p> <p>The FBI documents include 57 interview questions about Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the organization that some of those who were raided or subpoenaed to the Grand Jury are members of. The questions include; “Are you a member?” “How many members are there?’’ “Who are the leaders?” And on and on and on. It is like pages of the calendar have been turned back 60 years.</p> <p>In the United States there is a constitutional right to association. Like-minded people are allowed to form groups and political parties that promote their views. FRSO members, along with others, were very active in organizing the massive anti-war protests at the Republican National Convention. They participate in the labor movement, community organizing, and the anti-war movement too. And they advocate that capitalism should be abolished and replaced with socialism. Given the bank bailout, continuous wars and the economic crisis it is not unreasonable to see these activities and views as a breath of fresh air.</p> <h3><strong>“Dangerous” raid</strong></h3> <p>In the documents, the “Operations order” for FBI SWAT for “Operation Principal Parts” the raid on the Kelly/Gawboy home has the word “DANGEROUS” in underlined bold type at the top of the page. FBI agents were told to bring assault rifles, machine guns and two extra clips of ammunition for each of their side arms. Two paramedics were to stand by in the event of causalities. Other documents include photos of Kelly and Gawboy, as well as pictures of stairs leading to their front door and the front door itself.</p> <p>What transpired on September 24 was this. Gawboy was awoken by the FBI pounding on the door. When she stated she wanted to see the search warrant, agents used a battering ram on the door, breaking the hardware and shattering a fish tank in the process. Gawboy was taken down the front steps in her nightgown while the FBI swat team entered her home.</p> <p>The justification for this armed home invasion is given in the “Operations plan” - “Kelly is believed to be the owner of an unknown number of firearms which may be at his residence...”</p> <p>Kelly, who learned to shoot while in Boy Scouts, owns guns – just like a lot of Minnesotans. The “Operation Plan” also claims that Kelly “offered to provide weapons training” - an outright lie that originated with the police infiltrator “Karen Sullivan” or a fiction writer at the FBI office.</p> <p>The bottom line is this: there can be no justification for the raid in the first place, and still less for it to be done by agents smashing doors and wielding machine guns. This is a recipe for people getting hurt or killed. The events of September 24 and the ongoing grand jury are not about “material support of terrorism,” as any normal person would understand it. What is happening is this: anti-war and international solidarity activists are being targeted for practicing our rights to speak out and organize. We have done nothing wrong. Our activism is making this world a better place.<br /></p> <table style="position: fixed; top: 0px; width: 278px; left: 351px; visibility: hidden;" class="sticky-header"><thead><tr><th style="width: 216px;"><br /></th><th style="width: 62px;"><br /></th> </tr></thead></table> <table id="attachments" class="sticky-enabled sticky-table"><thead class="tableHeader-processed"><tr><th>Attachment</th><th>Size</th> </tr></thead> <tbody> <tr class="odd"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/1-CSFR%20statement.pdf">1-CSFR statement.pdf</a></td><td>74.42 KB</td> </tr> <tr class="even"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/2-Operation%20Order.pdf">2-Operation Order.pdf</a></td><td>1.6 MB</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/3-Interrogation%20Questions.pdf">3-Interrogation Questions.pdf</a></td><td>2.2 MB</td> </tr> <tr class="even"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/4-Surveillance%20photos.pdf">4-Surveillance photos.pdf</a></td><td>3.66 MB</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/5-Seizure%20and%20Subpoena.pdf">5-Seizure and Subpoena.pdf</a></td><td>2.45 MB</td> </tr> <tr class="even"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/6-Blank%20forms.pdf">6-Blank forms.pdf</a></td><td>2.56 MB</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"><td><a class="pdf-file" href="http://www.stopfbi.net/sites/default/files/CSFR%20May%2018%20documents%20ALL.pdf">CSFR May 18 documents ALL.pdf</a></td><td>12.54 MB</td></tr></tbody></table>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-28658589666807706512011-05-18T11:45:00.002-07:002011-10-21T21:03:53.339-07:00MCSO Brutality update: Kevin Gerster and William Hughes<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/10/prosecuting-police-violence-mcao-falls.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE (10/21/11): </span></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/10/prosecuting-police-violence-mcao-falls.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gerster's Sentencing</span></a></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />----------------------<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLLmJE9_O55XGMlAy41s8ZjG6zdeyNoQo-MZ9dZHG38R5FgV7YxssA_G8i0pm4TQFn539YE_H3VLiCjb4iH7v9noBJYSN_WjNFQy76ou0iJ5aSipv2PREqbqTMlLY8X9lM_MPEG1vN4E/s1600/MCSOcowards.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLLmJE9_O55XGMlAy41s8ZjG6zdeyNoQo-MZ9dZHG38R5FgV7YxssA_G8i0pm4TQFn539YE_H3VLiCjb4iH7v9noBJYSN_WjNFQy76ou0iJ5aSipv2PREqbqTMlLY8X9lM_MPEG1vN4E/s320/MCSOcowards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608127615980266146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">NEXT HEARING:<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />Comprehensive Trial Management Conference<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">June 9, 2011 - 8:45am</span><br />Maricopa County Central Court Building<br />(W. Jefferson St.)<br />Judge Verdin.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Maricopa County Courthouse<br />May 18, 2011</span><br /><br />The Comprehensive Trial Management Conference was to be held today (May 18, 2011), but it was pushed back and everything that occurred was done up at the bench, where the public couldn't witness it or determine what was said in the transcripts.</span>..<span style="font-style: italic;">I suspect because I had been protesting loudly outside before the hearing, confronting Gerster when he arrived (my taxes paid his salary, after all - and he hurt people in violation of my trust). All I was able to catch Judge Verdin saying to his attorney, who requested that they approach to discuss the case, was that "this is a delicate situation."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Damn straight it is. There are a lot of us mad as hell about <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/12/mcso-abuse-of-vulnerable-adults-and.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">what Gerster and fellow officer Alan Keesee</span></a> did. Gerster and Keesee have more rights as perpetrators of assault than William Hughes has as their </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-style: italic;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/12/mcso-abuse-of-vulnerable-adults-and.html">victims</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> do now. As some of you may recall, if we, as citizens, are victimized while in custody, we're excluded from the constitutional protections and rights we have when crimes are perpetrated against us in the community, effectively silencing our voice in court proceedings, rights to restitution, etc. if a cop is the perpetrator.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">I believe they are buying time for people to forget what Gerster did to us, the rest of his "victims"; chances seem very good that the Maricopa County Attorney is about to offer him a deal. The upcoming trial was cancelled in anticipation of a deal being reached beforehand.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Please contact Bill Montgomery's office and urge that this officer's entire prosecution be made visible and transparent to the public, as he violated us all with the abuse of his office and the assaults on his prisoners.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Remind him that Gerster assaulted at least two "<a href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/12/mcso-thug-prosecution-let-sunshine-in.html">VULNERABLE adults</a>" in custody (making him a repeat, violent offender), and could have been charged with class 2 (not the lower class 6) felonies for that, and must not be allowed to walk with anything less than felony charges and prison time if they give him a deal.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Put your concerns in writing ASAP to:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Mr. Bill Montgomery</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Maricopa County Attorney</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">301 W. Jefferson St. PHX 85003</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'd appreciate copies of your letters to post publicly. Send them to:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Peggy Plews / PO Box 20494 /PHX, AZ 85036</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Please also express your continued outrage over the conduct of MCSO officers, and your desire to see justice served, to:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Editor, Arizona Republic / P.O. Box 1950 /Phoenix, AZ 85001</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, I looked up the status of William Franklin Hughes III's case. The MCAO still appears to be prosecuting him for the petty offenses (like criminal damage and indecent exposure - most likely secondary to the symptoms of his mental illness) that landed him in Gerster's and Keesee's pre-trial "care" in the psychiatric wing of the county jail in the first place...he was even ordered to undergo competency exams by the judge before they would proceed any further. I don't understand why he's going on trial, given what Montgomery had to say recently about the need to divert these folks from prosecution in the first place. I just discovered that his <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/022011/m4579885.pdf">trial was supposed to begin this am</a>, which I missed.<br /><br />You would think the MCAO would recognize the beatings he received in jail as punishment enough - and poor William was out of his mind when he got pounded on by those guys. So, folks, please also ask Mr. Montgomery what the deal is with William's prosecution. Those are our tax dollars he's eating up in this unnecessary and cruel endeavor to punish a young man who was already terribly traumatized in custody over "crimes" that really hurt no one else...<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAx2fX7hANS6yBIxw9c3rJbyEoj8ELN4VI8qTMA6YxQjHipi4747bKUaWfW1U4IrjlxtD_FA3lFfk7Bq9Ae0rfqlpx4GuhLU_dLKTQum1WlmL7egoKZP4FPyzJkdh60rqjDiTQII-ujA/s1600/endmcsobrutality2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAx2fX7hANS6yBIxw9c3rJbyEoj8ELN4VI8qTMA6YxQjHipi4747bKUaWfW1U4IrjlxtD_FA3lFfk7Bq9Ae0rfqlpx4GuhLU_dLKTQum1WlmL7egoKZP4FPyzJkdh60rqjDiTQII-ujA/s320/endmcsobrutality2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608122378960700850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Maricopa County Courthouse </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3rd St/W. Jefferson, PHX)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">March 11, 2011</span></span></span>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-72435930236180786802011-05-17T07:28:00.000-07:002011-05-17T07:28:16.460-07:00Tucson: Art of Resistance!<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Check out this awesome video (<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/05/16/video-a-year-of-resistance-in-tucson/">found at the Tucson Citizen's Three Sonorans' blog</a></span></i>)<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,",serif;">. Photos by Chris Summitt; words by Raul Alcaraz...</span></i><br />
<br />
<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/7aIV_JHrJCI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/7aIV_JHrJCI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17604426254894186183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-1582209727467227172011-05-05T23:40:00.001-07:002011-05-06T06:52:16.354-07:00The People, United: Resisting Arizona's prison industrial complex.<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://www.prisonabolitionist.org/2011/05/people-united-resisting-arizonas-prison.html"><br /></a> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_ZncFI6JEW1klFBieVqABsrR9rM1fXhPptgKDb8qNdT1Eaj5io7lY1qKEImxUdMeoERql_Dv7Xxhe_xlz_GPmtjAsWVugOIW3hE4aE6j-l8slLfvCvjepcZdFT1IZEKPTZ1pxKrFSdAe/s1600/DAVISfightrealpower.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_ZncFI6JEW1klFBieVqABsrR9rM1fXhPptgKDb8qNdT1Eaj5io7lY1qKEImxUdMeoERql_Dv7Xxhe_xlz_GPmtjAsWVugOIW3hE4aE6j-l8slLfvCvjepcZdFT1IZEKPTZ1pxKrFSdAe/s400/DAVISfightrealpower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603583727349096818" border="0" /></a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">For those of you who only have a cursory awareness of Black Panther Party history and the story of George Jackson (if any at all), Angela Davis is more than a legendary-black-militant-turned-</span></span><wbr style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">professor from that era. She's the contemporary visionary whose scholarly work - dating all the way back to her incarceration and study of women's resistance to slavery - has been the foundation of much of my own decision to embrace the politics of prison abolition.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><br /><br />I'd encourage anyone interested in the issue of</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"> criminal justice to read Davis' work and catch a lecture or two on Youtube. Her message this evening was consistent with her written words and strong on principles of abolitionism; Google it if you want more, though. Something more awesome happened in Tempe, AZ tonight than Angela Davis' talk that I need to write about. It's been unfolding all along, really....</span> <span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><br /><br /><br />I showed up at NEEB Hall early today - somewhere around noon, I think, to scope it out and chalk the walk. There's a great canvas out in front of the place - it was a great spread, though my camcorder photos are all grainy and I didn't pull out my 35mm...in that respect my work was lost. There was hardly any traffic until the event, too, so I didn't have much chance to interact with curious on-lookers, as I usually do. I killed a lot of time in the heat, and started to get bummed.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">But as the hour approached and more </span></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO2DLgpiKxeuKQwPzIbPdPixmJ6jQi7YkP4qs9KnxlkDCKYhcUe_uNdkKLG2lNhxESA2Pjz-6weKGSMSxwspp-enN6oQUAt4uKJJ2x5T1AnR3tJy4JybuDPR98nHgCDM86dZUiN7ysgnY/s1600/DAVIShomes.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO2DLgpiKxeuKQwPzIbPdPixmJ6jQi7YkP4qs9KnxlkDCKYhcUe_uNdkKLG2lNhxESA2Pjz-6weKGSMSxwspp-enN6oQUAt4uKJJ2x5T1AnR3tJy4JybuDPR98nHgCDM86dZUiN7ysgnY/s400/DAVIShomes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603583928458927682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">people began to arrive, I found myself surrounded by friends, old and new. Anarchists, former prisoners, loved ones of those passed, ASU students, members of the immigrant rights' community, and even </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">a few Wobblies (yep - the IWW folks) have all bee</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">n showing support for prisoner rights' actions of late, organizing and standing in solidarity where our paths overlap - I seem to be in the middle of many of those intersections right now.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6_roLxEDd76t-mImoQLOokXQjExIZ8w78rbqLByA91eXzP2DlUWa5L9A9r_NMPixHlSNzuBYXNoEyX6uPR8JDQVd6O6ZAsFreQjVBRroqnp9rUfpOLEybuUsk9CrvQnTmaN2-YaBIAWV/s1600/DAVIScactus.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6_roLxEDd76t-mImoQLOokXQjExIZ8w78rbqLByA91eXzP2DlUWa5L9A9r_NMPixHlSNzuBYXNoEyX6uPR8JDQVd6O6ZAsFreQjVBRroqnp9rUfpOLEybuUsk9CrvQnTmaN2-YaBIAWV/s400/DAVIScactus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603582795610803570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">Anyway, as a result of all my comrades' assistance, I had a ton of t-shirts with prisoner mug shots floating among the standing-room-only crowd this evening: at least 15 victims of prison suicide, neglect or violence were represented. Again, I was slow on the draw with my camera, but at one point after the lecture everyone was milling around the AZ Prison Watch banner out front: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">God, I hope someone out there had the presence of mind to take pictures of them.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"> I was just kind of stunned, really - seeing these folks gather from a distance in all those shirts, I realized how much power we actually have among us, within us, and behind us...<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><br /><br />So, I have no doubt that what we have together far exceeds the power against which we fight. I'm not just talking about pushing through some feel-good legislation or coercing the ADC to make a few reforms. Prison abolition is not a losing battle, not even in this forsaken place.</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"> That's going to help me sle</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">ep a little better tonight.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia,serif;">Thanks all.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><br />And thanks, Professor Davis, for coming to town today.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIm-Y9QCowufuWKQ4A5jfpWaQC4sHU8Ya8WN7lRfMsl5KZsPkpG6XFMDMJr7S_NIYj1eW34odWSLtNBa9mm6t83aNT1-EOl9tydSLsL1YmEIn0oIU8R4JK768wSQbHSxSLqfG-XwxXEGb/s1600/DAVISnoborders.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIm-Y9QCowufuWKQ4A5jfpWaQC4sHU8Ya8WN7lRfMsl5KZsPkpG6XFMDMJr7S_NIYj1eW34odWSLtNBa9mm6t83aNT1-EOl9tydSLsL1YmEIn0oIU8R4JK768wSQbHSxSLqfG-XwxXEGb/s400/DAVISnoborders.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603584267960249794" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-21565701235826476942011-05-03T08:36:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:38:45.478-07:00Signs of Resistance: SAVE ETHNIC STUDIES Today!<div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ABOLISH EUROCENTRICSM!!! </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB7LNn0REI1dC2PVMrdpnn98szzq1Z6tWojAzKS_4Tn4_q5YTxGJ4wfFWcvOfF4ozE5_j88Kfp9J6rmDRK5OSLFutRwYy4gKqQjEDFUU_X23imRQBVJHviX-JIk08IU6NiPvHayI5C2DX/s1600/banracisthorne1.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB7LNn0REI1dC2PVMrdpnn98szzq1Z6tWojAzKS_4Tn4_q5YTxGJ4wfFWcvOfF4ozE5_j88Kfp9J6rmDRK5OSLFutRwYy4gKqQjEDFUU_X23imRQBVJHviX-JIk08IU6NiPvHayI5C2DX/s400/banracisthorne1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602512402573748674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />"BAN RACIST HORNE."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I-10/202 at 18th St.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PHOENIX</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h1 class="title-blog"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/arizonas-manufactured-cri_b_856684.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">Arizona's Choice Today: Students Lead New Civil Rights Movement </span></a></h1> <span class="arial_11 color_696969"><br />Jeff Biggers<br />Huffington Post<br />05/ 3/11 10:50 AM ET</span><br /><p><br /></p><p>Stumbling further into the quagmire of a national public relations disaster, drastic new measures by the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) officials have turned the "manufactured crisis" over the Ethnic Studies/Mexican American Studies Program into a troubling moral crisis for the city --and the country.</p> <p><br /></p><p>As Tucson school officials appear to unravel daily with increasing controversy, Mexican American Studies (MAS) students and UNIDOS activists are now emerging as the calmest standard-bearers of civil discourse for the community. </p> <p><br /></p><p>In an <a href="http://azstarnet.com/article_8072a72b-ec44-5417-bb2d-2876bcf8b3ac.html" target="_hplink">op-ed </a>today, two MAS students made a simple request: If the TUSD officials are truly interested in dialogue, they should table a controversial resolution that has divided the community.</p> <p><br /></p><p>Instead, in an alarming crackdown on the <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/160232/arizona-uprising-chained-ethnic-studies-students-take-over-school-board-tucson" target="_hplink">non-violent UNIDOS</a> student campaign last week that attracted national praise for its celebratory actions and demands for basic democratic involvement in education, the backpedaling TUSD superintendent John Pedicone has <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/05/01/why-is-john-pedicone-is-bringing-more-guns-into-tusd-to-scare-unarmed-student-protesters/" target="_hplink">shocked </a>the community by hiring costly armed guards to monitor this Tuesday's rescheduled governing school board vote over a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/arizona-witch-hunt_b_853546.html" target="_hplink">controversial school board resolution</a> to strip the accreditation of the Ethnic Studies Program. </p> <p><br /></p><p>Only months ago, the Chicago-transplanted Pedicone <a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/local/education/article_d8b77bfc-eb66-50af-9c92-92ac00337b4a.html" target="_hplink">declared</a> the draconian state ban on Ethnic Studies was unconstitutional and a challenge to the law would be "the first hurdle." In a candidate's forum last fall, Pedicone even admitted: "If you look at the data, it is hard to argue with the success this program has with a historically under served population." In fact, a recent <a href="http://www.saveethnicstudies.org/proven_results.shtml" target="_hplink">TUSD analysis</a> demonstrated the achievements of the MAS program.</p> <p><br /></p><p>In a disturbing provocation this Sunday, Pedicone, who reportedly lives out of the district in the affluent suburb of Oro Valley, published an <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/in-the-aggregate/2011/05/01/is-pedicone-being-exploited-used-as-pawn-by-pr-hacks/" target="_hplink">incendiary op-ed</a> in the <a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/article_26542dfa-7d79-5682-85d5-7aaed9947ac8.html" target="_hplink">Arizona Daily Star </a>newspaper that offensively denigrated student efforts "as pawns," blamed adults for "abhorrent" behavior, and falsely categorized last week's widely denounced resolution vote as only a "discussion."</p> <p><br /></p><p>As Tucson attorney Richard Martinez noted last week in a debate with TUSD board president Mark Stegement, the divisive resolution prematurely subverts an unfinished state audit in disarray, as well as a federal suit challenging the constitutionality of the new state law banning Ethnic Studies. In a quiet but stunning <a href="http://www.azpm.org/news/story/2011/4/28/1851-ethnic-studies-vote-postponed/" target="_hplink">smackdown</a> of Stegemen's misguided efforts, Martinez framed the TUSD effort as part of a "manufactured crisis."</p> <p><br /></p><p>This is the simple truth: Compounding the shameless Ethnic Studies <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/arizonas-witch-hunt-of-me_b_839159.html" target="_hplink">witch hunt</a> by <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/arizonas-death-row-wiscon_b_826743.html" target="_hplink">extremist state officials</a>, the Democraty Party-led TUSD school administrators have triggered a "moral crisis" over their seeming disconnection to the actual city of Tucson, by rebuffing MAS student and UNIDOS participation, and blatantly disregarding the reality of the district's majority of Mexican American students and the city's fervent and deeply rooted <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2006/07/28/20538-my-tucson-chicano-movement-improved-tucson/" target="_hplink">Chicano movement heritage</a>. </p> <p><br /></p><p>On the anniversary today of the "<a href="http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_childrens_crusade/" target="_hplink">Children's Crusade</a>" in the Civil Right Movements, when students took the forefront of Martin Luther King's Birmingham campaign in 1963, Mexican American Studies student group UNIDOS is not only ramping up its efforts to keep the district's acclaimed program alive but teach the faltering school administrators a lesson in civility and democracy. </p> <p><br /></p><p>As the Tucson students reminded their community, Martin Luther King, Jr wrote his historic "Letter from the Birmingham Jail," on "Why We Can't Wait," as he faced similar criticism of his protests as "unruly." King wrote: "For years now, I have heard the word 'Wait! ... This 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never.'" Nearly a half century ago, Alabama students recognized King's call "to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation." </p> <p><br /></p><p>"When youth transparently vocalize that they are unsatisfied with decisions made on their education," said 20-year-old MAS alumni, UA journalism student and UNIDOS activist <a href="http://wildcat.arizona.edu/perspectives/protests-should-inspire-students-1.2213312" target="_hplink">Elisa Meza,</a> "that should motivate the elected school board officials to initiate the civil discourse they believe we haven't already requested. Since February, TUSD have been pressured by the youth to initiate just that. To blame the youth that direct dialogue should have been the first step is a tactic to switch the narrative to imply immaturity on our actions. When, in reality, they've been incredibly immature to have ignored our voices in the first place."</p> <p><br /></p><p>As graduating and college-bound MAS high school Lisette Cota <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/collegebound-students-def_b_848020.html" target="_hplink">spelled out</a> last month, UNIDOS has been asking for dialogue with the school officials for months. </p> <p><br /></p><p>For many long-time community members, the student uprising last week in Tucson recalled the Chicano student walkouts in the community in 1969, and marks the beginning of a<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/04/27/there-are-no-two-ways-about-it-we-are-in-the-midst-of-a-new-civil-rights-movement/" target="_hplink"> new civil rights movement. </a></p> <p><br /></p><p>Consider this time line provided by UNIDOS over the last four months: </p> <blockquote> <p>Jan 3- Two hours before Tom Horne's position changes from State Superintendent to Attorney General he serves a letter to TUSD calling them out of compliance with 2281 and has 60 days to eliminate the program before the states begins withholding funds. He presents "evidence" of the classes' non-compliance such as testimony from anonymous teachers, out of context quotes from books like Rudolfo Acuna's <em>Occupied America</em> and Paulo Freire's <em>Pedagogy of the Oppressed</em>, and lyrics from Chicano hip hop groups "El Vuh" and "Aztlan Underground."</p> <p>The 11 teachers along with their attorney Richard Martinez and Save Ethnic Studies.org, the non-profit organization providing the legal defense for the teachers, counter his press conference with their own a few hours later in Tucson.</p> <p>Jan 8- John Roll, Chief Arizona U.S. District Judge who was assigned to see the case against HB 2281, is killed along with five others at a "Congress on your Corner" event with Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords. Congresswoman Giffords is shot and 19 others are injured. A 45-day extension is added to TUSD's 60 day deadline to become in compliance in HB 2281. </p> <p>Jan 11- The 11 plaintiffs announce to TUSD school board members that if the district does not join their lawsuit or create their own battling the state of AZ on the constitutionality of the bill, they will be added onto the lawsuit as defendants. They give TUSD 48 hrs to reply.</p> <p>Jan 14- TUSD announces to the "Arizona Daily Star" that the district is going to be in compliance with the bill, making whatever compromises to the program to do so. TUSD is now going to be added on to the lawsuit Acosta v. The State of AZ.</p> <p>Jan 24- The five who were found guilty are sentenced to 10 hours of community service and fines.</p> <p>Feb 5- Mexican American Studies Community Advisory Committee hosts first Community Forum in Support of TUSD's Ethnic Studies Program to educate about the success of the program and rally support on combating HB 2281. Students of the program, parents of the students, teachers and staff of the department, and elected officials speak on behalf of Ethnic Studies.</p> <p>Feb 8- At TUSD school board meeting U.N.I.D.O.S. (United Non-discriminatory Individuals Demanding Our Studies); a new Tucson youth coalition of students from local high schools, alumni and community members who formed in response of the growing attacks on education and culture by Arizona legislature, make their grand debut to the community and TUSD board members with a press conference.</p> <p>Representatives of the group demand a sit-down meeting with all TUSD school board members and that the district, the State Board of Education and the state of Arizona must act in accordance to international human rights laws, which HB 2281 violates.</p> <p>A musical, cultural and artistic celebration continues outside of TUSD 1010 building after the demands are read to school board members during the 'call to the audience.'</p> <p>Feb. 28- UNIDOS has a sit down discussion with only two of the five TUSD board members Adelita Grijalva and Judy Burns and present the positive impacts that Raza Studies does for the Latino community and what negative results will occur to the district's students if TUSD doesn't do everything in its power to protect the classes.<br /><br />Mar. 8- UNIDOS representatives make a public statement in response to their meeting with the two school board members during Call to the Audience at TUSD school board meeting. UNIDOS demands for an announcement by the board members in the next 24 hours that they will keep the classes as they are no matter what the state may do. UNIDOS urges the district to act in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, "One has not only a legal, but moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."</p> <p>That very same morning of the school board meeting, unbeknownst to the community, the district made its first move to dismantle the program from the inside. Superintendent John Pedicone gave his position as supervisor over Director of Student Equity, Augustine Romero and Mexican-American Studies Director, Sean Arce to Asst. Superintendent Lupita Garcia -- who has openly made statements in the past that she would like to see the department abolished.</p> <p>Mar 11- Mexican American Studies Community Advisory Committee holds press conference outside TUSD 1010 building denouncing the move of positions.</p> <p>Mar 16- The Arizona Department of Education and State Superintendent John Huppental hire the Cambium Learning Group of Dallas, TX to conduct a four to six week curriculum audit of the Mexican American Studies Department to evaluate whether the program is in compliance with HB 2281 and meets up to state standards. The audit group will make unannounced classroom visits, interview students and staff, and evaluate teaching materials. </p> <p>Mar 17- Save Ethnic Studies sends a letter to the TUSD governing board bringing to light the criminal history of Steve Gallon, who is appointed as head consultant of the audit for Mexican American Studies. Steve Gallon is the former superintendent of Plainfield School District in New Jersey and was arrested in 2010 with 11 criminal charges including conspiring to commit theft of more than $10,000 of educational services. </p> <p>Mar 18- Steve Gallon resigns from the position following Save Ethnic Studies' coverage of his criminal past and is replaced by Luanne Nelson. </p> <p>Mar 21- State audit for Mexican American Studies begins and Save Ethnic Studies with attorney Richard Martinez issue a press release calling the audit unlawful and a waste of tax payer money which will cost us $170,000. Martinez brings into question how the audit could possibly remain unbiased when the state of Arizona is hiring this group to investigate the teachers who are suing the state over the constitutionality of HB 2281. He also points out additional violations such as Federal Family, Educational, and Privacy Rights Act of 1974. </p> <p>Mark Stegeman, president of the Tucson Unified School District governing board, submits an opinion piece to the <em>Arizona Daily Star</em> calling for Mexican American Studies to transition to Hispanic Student Services, which would only focus on extracurricular activities, and for the classes, who currently count as accredited core English and Social Studies classes, to be reduced down to elective classes. </p> <p>April 6- The 11 teachers suing the state refuse to meet with the auditors in a "focus group discussion." Save Ethnic Studies sends a letter on their behalf to Superintendent Pedicone, declining the invitation because the audit lacks any legal authority, defined terms and remains unknown if the persons conducting the audits have any expertise in Mexican American critical race theory. </p> <p>April 11- Sally Rusk and Maria Federico-Brummer, 2 of the 11 teachers express in an op-ed how any sort of compromise to the program is unacceptable. They explain why transition the classes from accredited core classes to electives would kill the program. They further defend the program which meets and excels far beyond the achievement gap for the Latino population, which is the second largest failing in TUSD as well as its majority population. In fact most of schools where these classes are taught have a 90 percent minority population -- mainly Latino.</p> <p>April 12- UNIDOS boycotts TUSD school board meeting due to silenced youth voice. Students in press release recount the lack of response to their demands for the district, superintendent and board members to show true support for the program. Instead, all the district has done is refuse to join the teacher lawsuit or initiate one of their own, released a resolution declaring compliance with an unjust HB 2281, are currently cooperating with a biased State audit of the classes, and the board president Mark Stegeman is publicly advocated for killing our Ethnic Studies program by turning our classes into electives.<br /></p></blockquote> <p><br /></p><p>As the nation watches today's historic meeting in Tucson, Pedicone and the TUSD officials will have the choice of reaffirming the process of democratic involvement with UNIDOS and all students and community members, as Martin Luther King wrote, "to heal" the legacies of the past and move the district forward, or retreat deeper into the quagmire of the state's embarrassing witch hunt. </p>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-29387466896141392432011-05-03T07:31:00.000-07:002011-05-03T07:32:44.490-07:00When education is under attack: FIGHT BACK!!!<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WhatABCs">These youth</a> so ROCK!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's go support them today, folks!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuscon Unified School District's Board is meeting today at 5:30pm</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1010+E.+Tenth+St.,+tucson,+az&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.490703,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1010+E+10th+St,+Tucson,+Arizona+85719&z=17">at TUSD HQ</a>!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tPZxCDMbZec?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" width="480"></iframe></div><br /><br /><br /><h3 class=""><a href="http://www.kgun9.com/story/14543740/tusds-ethnic-studies-meeting-changed-again">TUSD's ethnic studies meeting changed again</a></h3><em class="wnDate"></em><noscript style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, April 29, 2011 6:35 PM EST</noscript><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Reporter: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="mailto:snunez@kgun9.com">Steve Nunez</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Web Producer: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="mailto:drush@kgun9.com">David Rush</a><br /><em class="wnDate"><br /></em>TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - KGUN9 News has learned TUSD will hold a special meeting to consider a controversial ethnic studies proposal on Tuesday. And it will be held 5:30pm at district headquarters.<br /><br />9 On Your Side reporter Steve Nunez was at the board's agenda committee meeting today where the decision was made to change the meeting for the second time.<br /><br />The meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday this week. But moments before the start, protestors stormed the board room. Some chained themselves to board members' chairs and refused to leave. TUSD Superintendent Dr. John Pedicone then canceled the meeting.<br /><br />Board members re-scheduled the meeting for Thursday May 5 at the Catalina High School auditorium. But the agenda committee changed its mind and moved it two days earlier and back to district headquarters.<br /><br />Board members said they were concerned over security at Catalina High. They said security will be beefed up inside the board room, in the hallway and outside the building. In addition, when the board room fills up, authorities will lock the doors and won't allow anybody else in.<br /><br />Doctor Pedicone told KGUN9 News he was upset at the student's actions Tuesday night and vowed to keep them from holding back the democratic process.<br /><br />Ethnic studies supporters were demonstrating over a proposal by Dr. Mark Stegeman that would make most ethnic studies courses electives. Currently students have a choice of taking U.S. history or Mexican American studies to graduate.Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-82195892202862117942011-05-02T11:11:00.003-07:002011-07-05T17:48:03.083-07:00Prisoner Rights: PHX May Day Rally, 2011.<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Calling all Angels: Appeal to the Phoenix Labor Movement to intercede in AZ state prison crises.<br /><br />1. Blogger/Human Rights Activist Peggy Plews reading a Perryville prisoner's letter re: work conditions at Martori Farms.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">2. Disabled worker, prisoner's mom Kini Seawright confronts prison segregation. Son, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/adc-murder-of-dana-seawright.html">Dana</a>, was murdered in ASPC-Lewis/Stiner (July 2010) for being friends with a Mexican and refusing to carry out a satisfactory hit on another Latino prisoner.</span>..<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EaVytnAYAk8?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">from </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SandAngelMedia">Sandangelmedia</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Please ask </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=31&Legislature=50&Session_ID=102">Representative Cecil Ash</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> to open legislative hearings on conditions in the AZ state prisons through the AZ House Health and Human Services Committee: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">AZ State Legislature<br />1700 W. Washington St. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">PHX, Arizona 85007</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SandAngelMedia">Robert Haasch</a> for this video!</span><br /></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884582094022222853.post-52251628282841080032011-05-02T07:33:00.003-07:002011-05-02T07:36:21.265-07:00Abolish the PHX Camping Ordinance: May City Council Demo<div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry"> <a name="183595595042977896"></a> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry"> <a name="2090089048550239841"></a> <h3 style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" class="post-title entry-title"> <span style="font-size:100%;">Calling all Friends of Marcia Powell:</span></h3><a href="http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php?fcode=38647dfb3&f=100000100312416#%21/pages/Arizona-Organizing-Project/157558380956481"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Support the Arizona Organizing Project</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br />Committee of Homeless Campers<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4VFRg98cq8s0mwjctfZhL75c2FO9uR90_7nqrFobg_UE7OE0FS2CVKg4oc0qNzznyvUl9oU4at1_cIMLOL3Y3sT66CzIY5uGavNox3qsrpawUdByh6dsXQfRqWmSigbsbgEOt1LPSnE/s1600/may4homelesscouncil.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4VFRg98cq8s0mwjctfZhL75c2FO9uR90_7nqrFobg_UE7OE0FS2CVKg4oc0qNzznyvUl9oU4at1_cIMLOL3Y3sT66CzIY5uGavNox3qsrpawUdByh6dsXQfRqWmSigbsbgEOt1LPSnE/s400/may4homelesscouncil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602127102424017138" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="post-body entry-content"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Printable flyer!!!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">make many!!!</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margaret Jean Plewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964635402252204185noreply@blogger.com0