Political Prisoner and Prison Rebel Birthdays for September

List of political prisoners and prison rebel birthdays for September 2020.

Inspired by the spirit of the Political Prisoners Birthday crew, here’s a short listing of some rebel prisoners who have upcoming birthdays in September. For an an introduction on how to write to prisoners and some things to do and not to do, go here. If you have the time, please also check IWOC’s listing of prisoners facing retaliation for prison strike-related organizing.

Also, wishing a very happy birthday to former Ferguson prisoner Steven Martin, who will be celebrating in relative freedom having just made parole and copwatcher Ramsey Orta, who will be celebrating in freedom for the first time having been released this year!

Jailhouse Lawyers Speak have put out a call for outside supporters to organize events from August 21-September 9, and as one contribution to that the Twitch streamer 1frog9 will be running the “Global Abolition Station” daily from 3-9pm EST until September 9. You may also want to check out some of the materials produced for the week of solidarity with anarchist prisoners, including this interview with anarchist ex-prisoners from Belarus and the UK, and this short video about the importance of prisoner letter-writing.

Everyone should support the defendants facing charges related to their alleged participation in the George Floyd uprising – this list of our imprisoned comrades needs to be getting shorter, not longer. The status of pre-trial defendants changes frequently, but to the best of my knowledge they currently include:

Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal #70002-066
FDC Philadelphia
P.O. Box 562
Philadelphia, PA 19105

David Elmakayes #77782-066
FDC Philadelphia,
PO Box 562,
Philadelphia, PA 19105

Shawn Collins #69989-066
FDC Philadelphia,
PO Box 562,
Philadelphia, PA 19105

Steven Pennycooke #69988-066
FDC Philadelphia,
PO Box 562,
Philadelphia, PA 19105

And the Grand Jury resister Jesse Shackelford:

Jesse Shackelford 688871
Dane County Jail
115 West Doty Street
Madison, WI 53703

Please do not write anything to pre-trial defendants that could in any way have a negative impact on their trial, and keep an eye out for changes in their status.

If you have any money to spare, consider checking out Eric King’s defence fund, Greg Curry’s fundraiser masks, and the fundraiser for the Bay View, a vital piece of prison movement infrastructure that also serves as Comrade Malik’s welcome home fund.

Much as I hate to see even more of our lives and communications being enclosed by tech companies, it seems inescapable at the moment, so for anyone who doesn’t want to leave their house to buy stamps/cards/envelopes or to send mail, a reminder that many prisoners can be contacted electronically, via Jpay or similar services.

John Bramble

A former Vaughn 17 defendant and contributor to the Vaughn zine, “Live from the Trenches”. While the state has now dropped its attempts to criminalize John in relation to the uprising, he is facing continued retaliation, as he has been moved to Pennsylvania, where he is being held on lockdown indefinitely (via placement on PA’s Restricted Release List) on vague and questionable grounds, and recently went through a hunger strike against his treatment. More than three years later, these prisoners are still being abused for staying in solidarity with one another against the state.

Pennsylvania uses Connect Network/GTL, so you can contact him online by going to connectnetwork.com, selecting “Add a facility”, choosing “State: Pennsylvania, Facility: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections”, going into the “messaging” service, and then adding him as a contact by searching his name or “NT0282.”

Birthday: September 1

Address:

Smart Communications / PA DOC
John Bramble – NT0282
SCI Rockview
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL, 33733

Brian Vaillancourt

Animal Liberation prisoner serving 9 years for attempting to burn down a McDonald’s.

Illinois uses Connect Network/GTL, so you should hopefully be able to contact him online by going to connectnetwork.com, selecting “Add a facility”, choosing “State: Illinois, Facility: Illinois Department of Corrections”, going into the “messaging” service, and then adding him as a contact by searching his name or “M42889.”

Birthday: September 5

Address:

Brian Vaillancourt #M42889
Robinson Correctional Institution
13423 East 1150th Ave
Robinson, IL 62454, United States

Leonard Peltier

American Indian Movement activist jailed since 1977 after being framed for shooting two FBI agents. Prosecutors and federal agents manufactured evidence against him (including the so-called “murder weapon”); hid proof of his innocence; presented false testimony obtained through torturous interrogation techniques; ignored court orders; and lied to the jury.

The Federal system uses Corrlinks, a system where a prisoner must send a request to connect to someone on the outside before they can exchange emails, so if you’re not already connected to Leonard then you’re best off just sending him a card or a letter.

Birthday: September 12

Address:

Leonard Peltier
#89637-132
USP Coleman I
P.O. Box 1033
Coleman, FL 33521

Sean Swain

Long-term anarchist prisoner and contributor to projects such as the Final Straw Radio and Fire Ant zine. Sean was recently transferred to Virginia after 27 years in the Ohio prison system.

Virginia uses Jpay, so you can send him a message by going to jpay.com, clicking “inmate search”, then selecting “State: Virginia, Inmate ID: 2015638.”

Birthday: September 12

Address:

Sean Swain #2015638
Buckingham Correctional
PO Box 430
Dillwyn, VA 23936

Abdul Maumin Khabir

Black/New Afrikan liberation prisoner suffering serious medical issues and receiving inadequate treatment.

As with Leonard, Maumin is held in the Federal system, so you can only contact him via Corrlinks if he’s added you as a contact.

Address:

Abdul Maumin Khabir (aka Melvin Mayes) #09891-000
Federal Medical Center Rochester
P.O. Box 4000
Rochester, MN 5590

Robert Hernandez

A former Vaughn 17 defendant and contributor to the Vaughn zine, “Live from the Trenches”. While the state has now dropped its attempts to criminalize Robert in relation to the uprising, all Vaughn-related prisoners continue to be targets for retaliation. More than three years later, these prisoners are still being abused for staying in solidarity with one another against the state. You can read a recent update from him here.

Robert is held in New Mexico, and facility guidelines say “Inmates are not allowed to receive phone calls or any electronic correspondence.”

Birthday: September 25

Address:

Robert Hernandez, #55368
Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 639
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88004

Greg Curry

Falsely convicted in the aftermath of the historic Lucasville prison uprising. You can learn more about Greg by reading his writings or listening to his interview with the Final Straw. And check out his fundraiser masks here. Greg is currently working on an appeal against his wrongful conviction, so if you know a good attorney then please hit him up!

Ohio uses Jpay, so you can send him a message by going to jpay.com, clicking “inmate search”, then selecting “State: Ohio, Inmate ID: 213-159.”

Birthday: September 26

Address:

Greg Curry #213-159
Toledo C.I.
2001 East Central Ave.
Toledo, OH 43608

Brian McCarvill

Anarchist prisoner who successfully sued the Oregon prison system for their censorship of anarchist publications.

Oregon also uses Corrlinks, a system where a prisoner must send a request to connect to someone on the outside before they can exchange emails, so if you’re not already connected to Brian then you’re best off just sending him a card or a letter.

Birthday: September 27

Address:

Brian McCarvill #11037967
Snake River CI
777 Stanton Blvd
Ontario, OR 97914–8335

Jorge P. Cornell (King Jay)

Inca of the North Carolina Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, community organizer who worked to broker truces and end gang violence and was given 28 years on a racketeering charge. You can learn more about King Jay by reading this profile of him. The Final Straw also broadcast two interviews with supporters, Sara Lee and Savannah, involved in solidarity efforts at the time of his trial.

Again, King Jay is held in the Federal system, so you can only contact him via Corrlinks if he’s added you as a contact.

Birthday: September 29

Address:

Jorge P. Cornell #28152-057
FCI Petersburg Medium
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 1000
Petersburg, VA 23804