Monthly Archives: January 2011

Help Rhode Island “Ban the Box” Sign This Petition!

It is well established that the path to stability for the formerly incarcerated is through employment, yet studies show that simply asking “Have You Been Convicted of a Felony?” is a major barrier on two levels.  First, it sends a … Continue reading

Posted in Actions, Drug Policy, prison economics, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SUSAN ROSENBERG’S 16 YEARS AS A POLITICAL PRISONER COME TO LIGHT IN NEW MEMOIR

An AMERICAN RADICAL: Political Prisoner in My Own Country to be published March 1, 2011 It didn’t take me long to get to know Susan.  We could do the convict’s shorthand considering we both spent our most formative years in … Continue reading

Posted in Commentary, Political Prisoners | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Touchdowns and Lockdowns: Transcending Racial Politics in Prison Through Sports

(Ed.  This article first appeared in AlterNet, and is being re-posted upon request, inspired by the NFL playoffs.) Jesse Owens and Joe Louis dared to disprove the Master Race theory. Jackie Robinson took the spikes at second base because he … Continue reading

Posted in Commentary, Prison Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Prison Labor Unions in America: What North Carolina Taught Us.

With the development of the Georgia prisoners’ labor strike, there is renewed interest in the labor movement behind the walls of prison and the rights of the incarcerated to organize.  A jailhouse lawyer like me always wants to know the … Continue reading

Posted in Commentary, Courts, Prison Conditions, prison economics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Formerly Incarcerated Convene to Establish First National Agenda

On February 28th to March 2nd, 2011, a group of activists who have first-hand experience regarding inhumanities of the American prison industrial complex will convene in Alabama to lay the groundwork for a national civil rights movement.  This conference of … Continue reading

Posted in Drug Policy, Prison Conditions, Uncategorized, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Death Threats On Jailhouse Lawyer in PA. Take Action!

The Human Rights Coalition-Fed Up! has received reports that Andre Jacobs, a Pennsylvania state prisoner in solitary confinement, has been physically abused, issued death threats, denied medical treatment, called racial slurs, and had his legal property illegally withheld and confiscated … Continue reading

Posted in Actions, Prison Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Any FBI Employees in YOUR Activist Organization??

The struggle continues for the Minneapolis activists working in solidarity with Palestinians, who are now accused of aiding “terrorists” and whatnot, but what we now know is that an FBI agent infiltrated their circle of social justice activism.  With the … Continue reading

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Political Prisoners | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Victory! Lucasville Hunger Strikers Demands Are Conceded.

From various reports on the ground in Ohio, particularly Solidarity With The Lucasville Prisoners on Hunger Strike: The prison authorities have provided, in writing, a set of conditions that virtually meets the demands set out by Bomani Shakur in his … Continue reading

Posted in Actions, Political Prisoners, Prison Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Private Prison Soon to be Bankrupt

My last post on the Wyatt (responding to a potential state takeover) generated a number of inquiries about this privately-owned prison in Central Falls, RI.  I realize it is time for another installment of information.   What is Wyatt? From … Continue reading

Posted in prison economics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Conservatives Launch The “Right On Crime” Initiative To Save Money and Lives Across the PIC

I feel like that crazy scientist in the disaster movies, who has been running around for years saying that the conservatives will get out front on prison reform, because (1) it will cost too much to continue and (2) the … Continue reading

Posted in Drug Policy, prison economics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments