Prison Break: Message In a Bottle

There’s only two months left in the year, and that means only two more images in your 2019 Certain Days calendar. November’s stunningly poignant artwork is by recently-deceased political prisoner Tom Manning. The painting is a replica of an image that appeared in the New York Times of Margareth Guerrier, one of several hundred Haitian villagers that worked with the Boston-based group Partners in Health to deliver medications to underprivileged Haitians suffering with AIDS and tuberculosis. The essay for November, entitled “To Respect Our Elders, We Must Free Them,” is written by Laura Whitehorn and Dave George, members of the New York-based Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) campaign.

If you haven’t already ordered your 2020 Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners calendar then it’s time to step up your game. With art and artwork by Xinachtli, David Gilbert, Eric King, Jaan Laaman, Marius Mason, Oso Blanco, Richard Rivera, Garen Zakarian, and so many more, you won’t want to miss out on having this on your wall. They sell out quickly so order soon, and remember that these calendars serve as fundraisers, so you can make money for your group or organization simply by selling these rad calendars! Buy 10 or more for $10 each and sell them for $15 each, keeping that extra for your organization.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead in November, as well as a recap of what went down in October.

Political Prisoner Birthdays in November

There are only three political prisoner birthdays in November, so send them a card or letter and show solidarity. Remember that prisoners at Federal prisons (USPs and FCIs) cannot receive cards, colored paper, or colored ink.

November 1st:
Ed Poindexter, #27767
Nebraska State Penitentiary
PO Box 22500
Lincoln, NB 68542

November 10th:
Joseph Dibee, #20190001363
Columbia County Jail
901 Port Avenue
St. Helens, OR 97051

November 25th:
Joshua Williams, #1292002
Missouri Eastern Correctional Center
18701 Old Highway 66
Pacific, MO 63069
Parole

Longtime political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim was recently denied parole in a unanimous decision by the Parole Board. Imprisoned since August of 1971, Jalil was given a 12-month hit, meaning he cannot go back to the parole board for another year.

Medical

Political prisoner Xinachtli, who has been receiving Hepatitis C anti-viral treatment since July, has relayed positive updates on his recovery. According to Xinachtli, he “saw the Hepatitis C specialist on 09/23/19 and she told me my last blood tests showed the Hep C virus is completely gone, and the medicines worked, and restored my liver […]” Xinachtli received his final Hepatitic C treatment on October 6. Xinachtli has been transferred post-surgery, and his current address is below.

Xinachtli*, #255735
James V. Allred Unit
2101 FM 369 North
Iowa Park, TX 76367
*Address envelope to Alvaro Luna Hernandez

Ongoing Cases

Anti-fascist activist David Campbell entered Rikers Island on October 23rd, to begin an 18 month sentence for an altercation that happened at an alt-right event in New York City on January 20, 2018. Campbell took a non-cooperating plea to avoid a longer sentence at an upstate New York prison. Write David and show your solidarity.

David Campbell, #3101900657
Eric M. Taylor Center
10-10 Hazen Street
East Elmhurst, NY 11370

On October 10th, political prisoner and hacktivist Jeremy Hammond was found in contempt for refusing to cooperate with a Federal Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Virginia. Jeremy has released a statement explaining his decision, and he is still being held indefinitely. You can write to Jeremy at the address below.

Jeremy Hammond, #A0182888
William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center
2001 Mill Road
Alexandria, VA 22314

On October 24th, seven Catholic Workers, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, were found guilty on all four counts. The activists were arrested after attempting to nonviolently disarm nuclear weapons at the Naval Base Kings Bay on April 4th, 2018. Sentencing is expected in late December, and one of the defendants,  Steve Kelly, remains in prison today.

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.

There are ongoing fundraisers for released MOVE 9 members, Eddie Africa, Janine and Janet Africa, as well as Debbie and Mike Africa. Recently released Cleveland 4 member Connor Stevens also has ongoing fundraising efforts. NATO 3 political prisoner Jay Chase is scheduled to be released from prison on November 6th (only days away), and there is a fundraiser to welcome him home. Additionally, Ramsey Orta, who filmed the murder of Eric Garner by the NYPD in July 2014, is expected to be released in December 2019. There is a welcome home fundraiser if you would like to provide support for after his release. There is also an ongoing  fundraiser for Nina Droz Franco, arrested in 2017 for blocking a riot police line in Puerto Rico. Franco is scheduled to be released in February 2020.

Transfers

If you write to political prisoner Muhammad Burton, he has been transferred. You can now write to him at:

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

Douglas Wright, #57973-060
FCI Victorville Medium II
PO Box 3850
Adelanto, CA 92301

Also in the News

October 14th marked the 40th year of imprisonment for anarchist political prisoner Bill Dunne. Captured after trying to liberate his comrades in 1979, Dunne was sentenced to 90 years. Learn more about Bill and his case here.
Longtime Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier recently announced his vice-presidential candidacy with the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Upcoming Events

Certain Days Calendar launches: With the new 2020 calendar out now, there will be calendar launches and events. Find those closest to you by visiting certaindays.org or on social media at the following:

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

RAPP, Save the Date: Join the RAPP campaign in Albany on January 14th, 2020, for a BRING THEM HOME! day of advocacy to end death by incarceration and promote parole justice.

Certain Days to Keep in Mind

November is a busy month in liberation history. We start the month celebrating 40 years since the prison break of BLA member Assata Shakur. November 11th is the duel anniversary of the hanging of slave rebel Nat Turner as well as the hanging of the Haymarket martyrs in Chicago, in 1831 and 1887, respectively. In November we also recognize 36 years since the founding of the Zapatista National Liberation Army, as well as 20 years since the Battle of Seattle, as the World Trade Organization protests in 1999 have come to be known.