Prison Break: Fire to Warm Our Hearts

You’ve probably noticed that you’re on your last month of your 2019 Certain Days calendar. Don’t fret, the 2020 Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners calendar is available now. With art and artwork by Annie Banks, Aric McBay, Bitty, Christi Belcourt, Cindy Milstein, Ethan X. Parker, Fernando Marti, Mary Tremonte, Molly Fair, No New Jails, Stephen Wilson, teev, Termite Collective, Victoria Law, and so many more, you won’t want to miss out. Get one or ten now. They make great holiday gifts! And your funds will support important grassroots projects.

As you turn to the December pages of your calendar, we hope you have felt inspired by the artwork, essays and radical history that is the Certain Days project. The moving and affirming artwork for December is by Frizz Kid, a Toronto-based illustrator and writer. The December essay, written by The Abolitionist Law Center, focuses on the necessity of resistance and the meaning of abolition. The Abolitionist Law Center was a recipient of funds from the 2019 Certain Days calendar, which raises funds to support abolitionist causes and political prisoners.

Here’s a look back at what went down in November, and a look ahead at December.

Political Prisoner Birthdays in December

With only four political prisoner birthdays in December, you can easily send a card or letter in solidarity for the holidays. Remember that prisoners at Federal prisons (USPs and FCIs) cannot receive cards, colored paper, or colored ink.

December 4th:
Reality Winner, #22056-021
FMC Carswell
PO Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127

December 15th:
Muhammad Burton, #AF3896
Smart Communications / PA DOC
SCI Somerset
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
*Address envelope to Fred Burton

December 17th:
Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, #AO181426
William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center
2001 Mill Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314

December 30th:
Casey Brezik, #1154765
WRDCC
3401 Faraon
St. Joseph, MO 64506

Parole

After being denied at least a dozen times at parole hearings, political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim has filed an Application to commute the sentence to time served with New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has the authority to immediately release Muntaqim. Learn how you can help here.

Ongoing Cases

On November 20, an Arizona jury found No More Deaths activist Dr. Scott Warren not guilty of harboring two undocumented migrants in the Sonoran desert. Facing up to a decade in prison for his actions, this is the second trial in which the government failed to gain a conviction. A juror was reported stating, “I think we all agreed that what he and these people do is fantastic.”

On August 14, also in Arizona, activists were arrested after an anti-carceral noise demonstration at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex. The Tucson 12, as they are now known, face the charge of felony riot, a rarely used statute which carries a sentence of two years if found guilty.

Fundraising

With the holiday season soon approaching, now is a great time to donate to some of the dedicated political prisoners who have recently been released, or who are hopefully soon to be released. Making that transition from prison to the outside can be a very trying and at times difficult switch. Any and all support that we can provide goes a long way towards showing solidarity with those who gave up so much fighting for our freedoms. Here’s a list of places to donate that directly support recently released political prisoners as well as those still inside.

Project FANG, in particular, is a fundraiser that ends on Tuesday, December 3rd. Established to fill a gap in the ongoing support work for the growing number of eco and animal rights prisoners, project FANG helps to cover prison visitation costs for family and friends, which are often times prohibitively expensive. With your support they are aiming to double the fund’s annual budget for 2019 and 2020 by raising $10,000.

* Project FANG
* Nina Droz Franco (released from prison to halfway house 11.27.2019)
* Eddie Africa
* Janine and Janet Africa
* Debbie and Mike Africa
* Connor Stevens
* Ramsey Orta

Transfers

David Gilbert, #83-A-6158
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
PO Box 700
Wallkill, NY 12589

Charles Sims, #AM4975
Smart Communications / PA DOC
SCI Fayette
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733

Muhammad Burton, #AF3896
Smart Communications / PA DOC
SCI Somerset
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733

Gage Halupowski, #21894460
Snake River Correctional Institution
777 Stanton Blvd.
Ontario, OR 97914-83305

Upcoming Events

Certain Days Calendar launches: With the new 2020 calendar now available, there will be calendar launches and events, including upcoming launches in NYC, Baltimore, and Kitchener and Toronto, Ontario. By sure to stop by and pick up a calendar and learn about those inside. Find those closest to you by visiting certaindays.org or on social media at the following:

Facebook: facebook.com/certaindays
Twitter: @certaindays
Instagram: @certaindayscalendar

Certain Days to Keep in Mind

There is a lot of radical history to celebrate and remember in the month of December. We remember the execution of abolitionist John Brown, the state-orchestrated murder of Black Panther Party leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark fifty years ago, and the tragic deaths of environmental activist Bill Rodgers and Black Liberation soldier Kuwasi Balagoon, both of whom died in prison. Also in December was the 1981 arrest of Mumia Abu-Jamal in Philadelphia, as well as the 2005 arrest and 2012 release of former political prisoner and fellow collective member, Daniel McGowan.