Kite Line Radio Episodes #47-49

Kite Line #47: Toxic in Texas

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This week takes us to Texas, where we hear from Candice Bernd, speaking at the 2nd Fight Toxic Prisons Conference, which took place earlier this month in Denton, Texas. Candice talks about the intersection between environmental activism and the carceral system. In Texas, prisoners are subjected to extreme conditions, and some prisoners have filed a class action lawsuit claiming that excessive heat exposure is leading to health problems and, in some cases, death. Candice talks about these terrible conditions, and takes a call from Keith Cole, one of the prisoners currently involved in the suit. Cole speaks first hand about his experiences, as an aging prisoner in the Wallace Pack Unit, north of Houston.

Kite Line #48: Recalling Past Struggles

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This week is the first part of our interview with Mark Cook. Mark served 24 years in prison for his participation in a bank robbery and jail break associated with the George Jackson Brigade in Seattle. He co-founded the Walla Walla chapter of the Black Panther Party, and Mark continued his activism throughout his captivity.

In this segment, Mark talks about organizing in prison, and shares inspiring stories of struggle and ingenuity from behind the prison walls. His account also describes a time when prisoners were much stronger and enjoyed better conditions. If conditions have gotten worse since the 1970s, it’s not because the prison administrators have become more brutal or profit-hungry (these are constants), it’s because the prisoners’ movement was temporarily defeated. Mark reminds of us of what’s possible when prisoners organize and fight back strategically.

Kite Line #49: More Stories from Mark Cook

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This week, we return to our interview with Mark Cook. You can hear more about his history in last’s week episode. Now, Mark leads us through several very interesting and entertaining stories from his own release, to his project providing jobs for people as they get released from prison, and other ambitious plans launched with other prisoners, the Black Panther Party, and the George Jackson Brigade. A link to part one of his story can be found here.