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If we look at what’s been said we seem to be making promising progress with several campaigns but it is change that is needed and vigilance is key.
On the eve of the #30Days2FreeMaroon campaign for Russell Maroon Shoatz, Maroon was transferred to SCI Mahanoy, presumably to facilitate a transfer out of the horrible thirty years of solitary confinement and into general population. Prisons often isolate prisoners upon arrival so it’s possible that they are getting around to it. However, the other thing that prisons often do when people protest on a prisoner’s behalf is transfer them, forget the demands, and make it some other warden’s problem. Hold the captors to their word! Have you been calling? Have you written your letter yet?
Obama seemed to have conveniently forgotten all about his campaign promises to close the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention center but the ongoing hunger strike jogged his memory and he has renewed his talk. That said he is waffling in political quagmires but time is ticking as many of his indefinite prisoners are still refusing food. Sign the petition!
President Obama: Close Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay
Similarly, “Lynne Stewart said in a statement released by her husband this week that Texas prison medical authorities recommended she be released from her 10-year sentence, an application that would need approval by the courts and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.” Good, promising words from the warden but Lynne has stage four cancer and desperately needs to be released as soon as possible.
CPRMetro.org‘s recording of 2-minute audio statement by Ralph Poynter on Lynne’s new situation as of April 26:
30 Days to Free Russell Maroon Shoatz from solitary confinement
Former Black Panther Russell Maroon Shoatz (AF-3855) has been held in torturous conditions of solitary confinement in Pennsylvania prisons for the past thirty years. He has not had a serious rule violation for more than two decades. Maroon’s role as an educator, human rights defender, writer, and critical intellectual of liberation movements is widely renowned.
Russell Maroon Shoatz. SOURCE: youtube
April 8—May 9: Flood the office of PA Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary John Wetzel with phone calls, letters, and faxes.
PA DOC Secretary John Wetzel 1920 Technology Parkway Mechanicsburg, PA, 17050
Phone number: 717-728-4109 Fax number: 717-728-4109
Maroon the Implacable: The Collected Writings of Russell Maroon Shoatz
For more information visit:
#30Days2FreeMaroon
#FreeMaroon
#EndSolitary
My letter to Wetzel:
Secretary Wetzel
1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Dear Mr. Wetzel:
I am writing out of concern for Mr. Russell Shoatz, inmate #AF-3855 recently transferred to SCI Mahanoy. I’ve been reading about the controversial nature of solitary confinement in the news and it came to my attention that this older man has been in solitary confinement here in the United States for thirty years!
My reaction is that surely this is a violation of Mr. Shoatz’ human rights that must be remedied immediately. I would certainly hope that this has not persisted because of his political affiliations, as that would make this even worse. I do understand that he has an escape in his past— but surely that can’t justify sensory deprivation into his old age.
I will be hoping every day for news that Russell Shoatz has been transferred into general population. Thank you for the action you will take. Please be in touch as time permits.
Sincerely,
UPDATE: This saga continues to unfold, with more chapters than this blog can handle. To keep up with this and other news, follow @support_daniel and/or me (@throughwallsny) on twitter.
UPDATE: RELEASED BACK TO HALFWAY HOUSE– SEE UPDATE TO NYC ABC LINK BELOW.
Daniel McGowan used to be a political prisoner who did most of his bid in communications management units because of his political speech. He was in halfway house, halfway in prison, halfway in outside life and putting his halfway outside life together and enjoying halfway freedom. Just after publishing an article on Huffington Post (Court Documents Prove I Was Sent to Communications Management Units (CMU) for my Political Speech), when we thought we were almost done with this ordeal, Daniel was yanked back into federal prison today, April 4, 2013— which only proves his fucking point.
BREAKING: Daniel McGowan Back in Prison (NYC ABC)
Under the united states, whether you are all the way in prison, halfway in prison, supervised by prisoncrats, or even like me and privileged enough to be in minimum custody out here in the world, you are under a system that warehouses people for social control and for political repression and it seeks to maintain its power. Until this system is overturned, it will always devise special units and inane rules to fuck with the lives of those who dare to speak out. Do not let them struggle alone.
“Daniel McGowan Back in Jail Days After Writing About His Secretive Prison Unit for Huffington Post” by Will Potter on April 4, 2013 (Green is the New Red)
Write Daniel. Support political prisoners.
“It’s hard enough to transition from life in prison to a “normal” life back home in New York. It’s especially traumatic to then be ripped from that, and put back behind bars. Please consider writing him a letter:” (Will Potter)
Meant to post this earlier but an Oso Blanco supporter actually received a letter back from the Pardon Attorney, who’s apparently named Ronald L Rodgers:
We have received your letter of [date] regarding the petition for commutation (reduction) of sentence of Mr. Byron Shane Chubbuck. We have made it part of his clemency file.
We have received Mr. Chubbuck’s petition and his application is under consideration. While we cannot predict when a decision will be reached, he will be notified promptly once final action has been taken on his application.
Sincerely,
Ronald L. Rodgers
Pardon Attorney
So this is very good. We are on the right track. Keep those letters coming and you are encouraged to send copies to Through the Walls.
I’ll go back and edit previous posts with the new information.
NOTE- Post edited from yesterday to use change.org petition, rather than what was posted yesterday
SIGN THE PETITION TO FREE LYNNE STEWART: SAVE HER LIFE – Call for COMPASSIONATE RELEASE Now!
Politically imprisoned human rights attorney (http://lynnestewart.org/)
Appeal from Lynne Stewart’s spouse Ralph Poynter and family:
Lynne Stewart has devoted her life to the oppressed – a constant advocate for the countless many deprived in the United States of their freedom and their rights.
Unjustly charged and convicted for the “crime” of providing her client with a fearless defense, the prosecution of Lynne Stewart is an assault upon the basic freedoms of us all.
After many years of post-conviction freedom, her bail was revoked arbitrarily and her imprisonment ordered, precluding surgery she had scheduled in a major New York hospital.
The sinister meaning of the relentless persecution of Lynne Stewart is unmistakably clear. Given her age and precarious health, the ten- year sentence she is now serving is a virtual death sentence.
Read the rest and sign the change.org petition here:
My letter:
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing you out of concern for Ms. Lynne Stewart, an inmate at Carswell Federal Medical Center, #53504-054.
Unfortunately Ms. Stewart suffers from breast cancer, which has spread to her lymph nodes, shoulders, bones, and lungs. It has reached “stage four.” At seventy-four years and suffering from cancer, it is extremely unlikely that Stewart poses any danger to society.
I urge you to review Lynne Stewart’s situation and consider her as a candidate for Compassionate Release. I am aware that she is a controversial figure but political associations cannot be a basis for discrimination, as I’m sure you agree. I trust that you will take her case seriously and hold true to your highest ideals of fairness, as I’m sure you do in all of your cases.
Sincerely,
Now is the time.
From Oso:
“Tell them my clemency papers are There in Wash DC. We must send letters to Obama Fast”
Oso Blanco. NOTE: New Address as of January 2013.
In a previous post I recommended that people send letters to the TTW PO Box and that I would go through and send. I think it’s too late for that now and I haven’t received them. Will check again soon but — scratch that. Please send letters directly to Parole Attorney and Obama and send a copy to me at Through the Walls.
Email me or message me letters (throughwalls [at] rise up [dot] net) or send yourself. If you are outside of u.s.-occupied north america definitely email or message me.
UPDATE: Letters should be sent to two addresses: Office of the Pardon Attorney and Office of the President.
1) Correspondence to the Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, may be sent to:
Office of the Pardon Attorney
1425 New York Avenue, N.W.
Suite 11000
Washington, D.C. 20530
And/or Email the Office of the Pardon Attorney
- “Please note: An attachment to an e-mail will be considered only if it has been requested by the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Attachments should be in PDF format and not exceed file size limits. Unsolicited e-mail attachments will not be opened.”
- Also, the Pardon Attorney is Ronald L. Rodgers so address letters to him if you’d like.
2) Obama . . .
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Got it?
See my previous post on this subject for a sample executive clemency letter on behalf of Oso Blanco.
Send electronically to me or send physically and/or electronically to Pardon Attorney AND Obama.
I’m sending mine off tomorrow so get at me soon!
Oso Blanco will appreciate your vigilance!
Maliki Shakur Latine
Maliki Shakur Latine, a community-minded person who is an inmate at Clinton Correctional, is looking for an attorney who could represent him, pro bono, in filing an Article 78 Petition to appeal an unfair parole denial. This is somewhat pressing because of the statute of limitations regarding the parole hearing.
If you can help or know someone who can, please contact me through the contact form, email (throughwalls [at] rise up [dot] net), or direct message.
Send him a note!
New address (according to BOP.gov as of 1/12/13):
BYRON SHANE CHUBBUCK #07909-051
USP FLORENCE – HIGH
U.S. PENITENTIARY
P.O. BOX 7000
FLORENCE, CO 81226
Byron Shane of the Chubbuck Clan, aka Oso Blanco
While asking for things from Obama and the state is not at the heart of the strategies I believe in, when a captive freedom fighter chooses to pursue liberation through this avenue and asks for help from supporters, I believe it’s appropriate to follow through.
Below is an open letter. Use it as a reference in writing your own letter and/or learn more about Oso Blanco at osoblanco.org . . .
Learn more about “Robin the Hood” at OsoBlanco.org Photo Source: nickpickflicks.com
*NOTE: Address letters to Barack
But send them to Through the Walls so they can be sent together in connection with the petition:
Through the Walls
PO Box 132
Brooklyn, NY 11218
[date]
[address]
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing on behalf of Mr. Byron Shane Chubbuck, Federal Bureau of Prisons #07909-051, who is petitioning you for Executive Clemency. I am aware that Mr. Chubbuck pled guilty to multiple counts of bank robbery, assault, and other charges. Through research and correspondence with Mr. Chubbuck, I am also aware that, strange as it may sound, even then, Chubbuck was motivated by a desire to financially aid hungry children.
Today, Chubbuck’s need to help others manifests itself closer to home and within the law. He very much, and very truly, wants to be a father to his son and to help his sister and his mother who struggle with health issues. For a person driven by humanitarianism, the Federal Bureau of Prisons can only provide so much corrective and rehabilitative influence. After nearly thirteen years, it is time for his rehabilitation to continue to the next chapter—a return to his family and community so that he can begin to contribute to their and his health and well-being.
I am aware that granting a pardon to Chubbuck would involve risk to your own reputation and political career. However that is often the case in a matter of doing the right thing and I believe that you will make every effort to be just in your decision. Thank you for the action you will take.
Sincerely,
[name]
Source: static2.businessinsider.com
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Definition of PPs and POWs![Guide to Political Prisoners & Prisoners of War Support for download from ABCF [Note that addresses for ABCF chapters are out of date]](http://www.abcf.net/abc/images/abcf.jpg "for download from ABCF [Note that addresses for ABCF chapters are out of date]")
Guide to Political Prisoners & Prisoners of War Support
How to Write Your First Letter to Someone in Prison
Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War
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LGBTQ Prisoner Pen-Pal List
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