January 22nd: International Day of Solidarity with Trans Prisoners

Since 2016, people have gathered across so-called North America and the world to hold events to support trans prisoners. The international day of solidarity was originally called by long-term anarchist prisoner, Marius Mason. Here is a statement from organizers last year:

Jan 22, 2017 marks the second annual international Trans Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity. If you are on the front lines, doing this work every day, then Jan 22 is a day to celebrate and honor your actions. For everyone else, this is a day to collaborate, be an accomplice not an ally, to prioritize, act, protest, resist, raise awareness, and reach out to trans prisoners, forging new relationships and dismantling the isolation of prison. We encourage you to host a letter writing night reaching out to trans prisoners, hold vigils for those in our communities who have been taken by State violence, to plan an event, organize speakers, screen films, invite presentations, and give workshops to spread the word on the experience of trans prisoners, share knowledge, and build strategies of resistance. Have dance parties and raise funds for people and groups already doing amazing work. Take action. Let’s join together and show our conviction in supporting each other and ending prisons once and for all.

Download the Jan 22nd Zine featuring writing and art from trans prisoners. (Print layout & online viewing layout).

Download our Introduction to Prison Abolition Zine (Print layout & online viewing layout).

The following events are all set for Monday, January 22nd. Some events for January 22nd have already taken place, and many of these events are part of a week of outreach and solidarity as part of #BuildtheBase, taking place across the country.

Seattle, WA:

Q-Patrol and Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club presents: A Night of Solidarity with Trans Prisoners -a benefit show for Trans self defense. All proceeds will build a fund for Trans and marginalized people in our communities who wish to get trained in self defense as well as support Trans Prisoners. Transgender Day of Remembrance reminds us of how important the issue of personal safety is for the LGBTQ+ movement and our allies. The evening will include three fabulous bands: Mud On My Bra, Depressica, and Rat Queen.  There will be speakers from both Q-Patrol and PSJBGC in between sets. We will have information about the Trans Prisoners who started J22, info tables and a VEGAN BAKE SALE.

Facebook event here.

Philadelphia, PA: 

Our January event will highlight trans political prisoners in honor of J22: Trans Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity.  This annual event was initiated by Marius Mason, a trans prisoner in Texas, and is now being led by trans prisoners and their supporters from around the world. It is a chance for those on the outside to remember those behind bars, give real solidarity and support, and raise awareness about issues facing trans prisoners. It is a chance for those on the inside to have a voice and organize together.

Join us for dinner at LAVA on January 22nd at 6:30pm as we write to Marius Mason and Jay Chase!  A representative from Marius’ support crew will be there to provide the most updated info on him and his case. We will also send birthday cards to prisoners with January birthdays: Fran Thompson (4th), Abdul Azeez (9th), Sundiata Acoli & Herman Bell (14th), Joe-Joe Bowen (15th) and Marius Mason (26th).

Facebook event here.

Austin, TX: 

This marks the third annual International Day of Solidarity w/ Trans Prisoners – a day imagined by anarchist prisoner Marius Mason. In his words, “If you are on the front lines, doing this work every day, then Jan 22 is a day to celebrate and honor your actions. For everyone else, this is a day to collaborate, be an accomplice not an ally, to prioritize, act, protest, resist, raise awareness, and reach out to trans prisoners, forging new relationships and dismantling the isolation of prison.”

The Austin Anarchist Black Cross will be putting together the third annual J22 zine, a publication compiled of essays, artworks, poems, and expressions by incarcerated trans folks. We are behind on this project this year, but pre-orders will be available, and folks can help us transcribe if we have late submissions!

We will showcase some of the art we received and read some excerpts out loud, to bring the voices of our comrades into the space.

Lots of pizza and soda provided – folks are encouraged to bring snacks or dessert items if they’d like.

Folks are encouraged to make cards to trans prisoners, all supplies provided by us.

We’ll leave the event semi-open ended for the possibility of games, showing a short film on the projector, or just getting wrapped up in good convos!

Facebook event here.

Asheville, NC: 

View this post on Instagram

January 22 is the third annual International Day of Solidarity with Trans Prisoners. Initiated by Marius Manson, this is a call to stand in solidarity with incarcerated trans-identified and non-binary folks across the globe. Join @tranzmissionprisonproject for a card-signing event next Monday // 7pm at @firestormcoop . We will provide the cards — you bring love, rage, and words of support (and vegan snacks if ya got em)! Hope to see you there ???? . . . This event is one of many happening in Asheville as a week of resistance on the anniversary of mass arrests occurring at last year’s inauguration. See @acab.2018 for more details on other exciting things going down around town. And if you’re in the triangle, head out to Durham’s J22 event— check out @ncresists for more info.

A post shared by Tranzmission Prison Project (@tranzmissionprisonproject) on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:08pm PST

Charlotte, NC: 

Mass incarceration is the connective tissue across many social justice movements.

Join Charlotte Uprising for an abolition 101 training to understand:

-history of prison and police abolition in the U.S.
-how prisons and police threaten trans liberation
-alternatives to policing 
-opportunity to write letters to trans people who are incarcerated

Snacks will be provided
We will be accepting donations for Rayquan Borum’s legal defense.

Facebook event here.

Durham, NC: 

Please Join Us in Honor of the Second Annual International Trans Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity…

“As queer and supporters we know the terror of scrutiny, disgust, and isolation; for trans people in prison, those problems are doubled by the physical and emotional restraints of a literal cage. For decades, early queer activists showed active solidarity and support for their imprisoned brothers and sisters–they wrote letters, had marches, and demanded not just that they be treated with respect and dignity, but their total and unconditional release. Gay and trans prisoners organized with each other and the outside world.”

IT’S TIME to revive that tradition. Join with us on January 22 in shining a light on the plight of trans and queer prisoners. On this day, and every day, get involved in projects that support other gay and trans prisoners, and look into the other struggles in which Marius participates–it’s one fight against the society that is killing us, one way or the other. Live your life with pride, joy, and freedom, and extend those feelings to others; don’t let the walls of prison or society act as a limit…Let’s join together and show our conviction in supporting each other and ending prisons once and for all.” –https://transprisoners.net/ “

This is a call out/call in to action from Marius Mason. For more information please visit the link above.

More info here.