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Help the National Prison Strike

https://fundly.com/2018-prisoner-strike

From KC IWOC

This is the only official fundraiser approved by inside strike leadership to support the 2018 National Prisoner Strike. For more info on support, actions, resources or endorsements – go to http://prisonstrike.com for links and more information on this aspect.

More Info

There is a prisoner movement rising in this country since approx 2010, independent and self-organizing, not just an adjunct or extension of outside movements but their own thing. First natl level action called in 2016 and this call to strike is the latest in this line of development.

The prisoner networks are a coalition with differences – the demands represent a range of opinions – they are organizing across differences and setting a good example for the outside on how to do so.

The bloody atrocity at Lee compelled them to act now – in response to 1) how lateral hostilities are stoked and exploited by the system and take their blood and lives and 2) how their voices and the realities of their situation were completely excluded from the mass media in the aftermath…

…So there are essentially 3 goals to the strike (They do not expect wardens or systems to be setting up negotiations with them, they are realists and know their enemy) – but goal 1) punch the realities of their situation and bondage onto the mainstream agenda and public eye 2) galvanize themselves as a class, to call ceasefires among rival sets and focus on the prison system itself so the carnage of LEE never happens again and 3) Push to take their rightful place at the table of the outside liberation movements and speak for themselves.

Every demand at it’s core is a bid for their own humanity, a challenge to brutal dehumanization. And dehumanization is central to the purpose and function of the PIC and so these demands although very straightforward and minimal are essentially a challenge to the system itself.

Prisoner groups across 17 states have committed to action so far. That is already more than the 11 states that were confirmed to have seen strike action in 2016.

Strike support begins NOW. Not only because raising awareness and pushing consciousness of the strike is important now but repression began months ago and has been intense with shakedowns, solitary, surveillance and transfers. There has been unheard of cooperation between states in the South with transfers and the loaning of CERT teams to aid neighboring states with shakedowns and repression. This is a sign of federal involvement with repression. Beyond that even, repression is still ongoing from the 2016 strikes.

What you can do: endorse (not just a gesture but visible support helps against retaliation), make media/share media (we face a mainstream media blackout, it’s up to us), join or organize a demo before or during the strike and that can even just be a banner drop over a highway, fight retaliation and repression by participating in phone actions and answering mail from prisoners.

To view the strike demands and sign up to endorse the strike – go to http://sawarimi.org/national-prison-strike For more info on support, actions, resources or endorsements – go to prisonstrike.com for links on all these aspects.

Checks or money orders can be mailed to:

KC IWOCPO Box 414304Kansas City, MO 64141

This is the only official online fundraiser approved by inside strike leadership to support the 2018 National Prisoner Strike. That they wish for there to be no independent fundraising or grant writing to be done off strike support work because people inside do not have the capacity or position to review and verify the legitimacy of other efforts.

All donations will be evenly distributed among the following prisoner organizing and support groups: Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, San Francisco Bay View, North American Anarchist Black Cross, and Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee. These groups that are trusted with the funds raised during the 2018 National Prisoner Strike will use the funding to continue their longstanding grassroots efforts to send news and literature in, amplify prisoners’ voices, fight repression against strikers, send money to prisoners for stamps / phone time / morale boosters, raise awareness, unionize, support political / politicized prisoners, and more. JLS, SF Bay View, ABC, and IWOC will each use their own processes to determine how best to support prisoners with donated funds.

Help the National Prison Strike was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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National Prison Strike

(Statement, demands and request for support via press release by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, April 23, 2018)

National Prison Strike

Men and women incarcerated in prisons across the nation declare a nationwide strike in response to the riot in Lee Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in South Carolina. Seven comrades lost their lives during a senseless uprising that could have been avoided had the prison not been so overcrowded from the greed wrought by mass incarceration, and a lack of respect for human life that is embedded in our nation’s penal ideology. These men and women are demanding humane living conditions, access to rehabilitation, sentencing reform and the end of modern day slavery.

These are the NATIONAL DEMANDS of the men and women in federal, immigration, and state prisons:

Immediate improvements to the conditions of prisons and prison policies that recognize the humanity of imprisoned men and women.

An immediate end to prison slavery. All persons imprisoned in any place of detention under United States jurisdiction must be paid the prevailing wage in their state or territory for their labor.

The Prison Litigation Reform Act must be rescinded, allowing imprisoned humans a proper channel to address grievances and violations of their rights.

The Truth in Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform Act must be rescinded so that imprisoned humans have a possibility of rehabilitation and parole. No human shall be sentenced to Death by Incarceration or serve any sentence without the possibility of parole.

An immediate end to the racial overcharging, over-sentencing, and parole denials of Black and brown humans. Black humans shall no longer be denied parole because the victim of the crime was white, which is a particular problem in southern states.

An immediate end to racist gang enhancement laws targeting Black and brown humans.

No imprisoned human shall be denied access to rehabilitation programs at their place of detention because of their label as a violent offender.

State prisons must be funded specifically to offer more rehabilitation services.

Pell grants must be reinstated in all US states and territories.

The voting rights of all confined citizens serving prison sentences, pretrial detainees, and so-called “ex-felons” must be counted. Representation is demanded. All voices count.

We all agree to spread this strike throughout the prisons of Ameri$$$a! From August 21st to September 9th, 2018, men and women in prisons across the nation will strike in the following manner:

Work Strikes: Prisoners will not report to assigned jobs. Each place of detention will determine how long its strike will last. Some of these strikes may translate into a local list of demands designed to improve conditions and reduce harm within the prison.

Sit-ins : In certain prisons, men and women will engage in peaceful sit – in protests.

Boycotts: All spending should be halted. We ask those outside the walls not to make financial judgments for those inside. Men and women on the in side will inform you if they are participating in this boycott.

Hunger Strikes: Men and women shall refuse to eat.

We support the call of Free Alabama Movement Campaign to “Redistribute the Pain” 2018 as Bennu Hannibal Ra – Sun, formerly known as Melvin Ray has laid out (with the exception of refusing visitation). See these principles described here: https://redistributethepain.wordpress.com/

How You Can Help

Make the nation take a look at our demands. Demand action on our demands by contacting your local, state, and federal political representatives with these demands. Ask them where they stand.

Spread the strike and word of the strike in every place of detention.

Contact a supporting local organization to see how you can be supportive. If you are unsure of who to connect with, email [email protected]

Be prepared by making contact with people in prison, family members of prisoners, and prisoner support organizations in your state to assist in notifying the public and media on strike conditions.

Assist in our announced initiatives to have the votes of people in jail and prison counted in elections.

For the Media: Inquiries should be directed to

[email protected]

National Prison Strike was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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free meal & film screening: The Spook Who Sat By The Door

Free Movie Screening of The Spook Who Sat By The Door & free meal Saturday, July 28th 2-4pm Westport Library – 118 Westport Rd

A meal will be provided courtesy of Kansas City Food Not Bombs. This event is free and we will be raising funds for a reliable car for two former Black Panthers. (suggested donation is $5. Donate online @ http://goo.gl/63DoD8)

free meal & film screening: The Spook Who Sat By The Door was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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gkciww-blog · 7 years ago

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Black Father's Day Bail Out 2018

The Kansas City Black Mamas Bail Out was a great success! Kansas City IWOC is helping build toward making it where people do not go to jail for misdemeanors. Help us with the Kansas City Black Father’s Day Bail Out as we keep building momentum toward bigger change that will improve so many people’s lives!

Please donate here…

https://fundly.com/2018-kc-black-fathers-day-bail-out

Also, for those who are in Kansas City, come to the Black Father’s Matter Open Mic & Silent Auction on Friday June 15th at Uzazi Village…

https://www.facebook.com/events/203525370294666/

And the direct action training for this effort Monday June 18th at 7pm at the Uptown Arts Bar…

https://www.facebook.com/events/176623046307908/

Black Father’s Day Bail Out 2018 was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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gkciww-blog · 7 years ago

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IWW Gender Equity Committee

Industrial Workers of the World Gender Equity Committee Statement / Call to Action August 1, 2014

Events of harassment, sexual violence, abuse and misogyny have transpired in many branches and projects of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). A recent job survey showed that 1 in 6 people experience sexual harassment in the workplace. This survey goes on to say (1) (2) that 51% of those harassed say it was from a peer, not their boss. However grassroots and radical our union’s purpose, as a union made up entirely of peers, without bosses, we are not exempt from societal norms—such as the subjugation of people based on sex, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation and class. Women and gendered minorities within this union are intensely and disproportionately affected and victimized by these incidents which are without a doubt the rotten fruit of patriarchy.The result is often the resignation and continued disenfranchisement of valuable and capable fellow workers. These fellow workers are lost to our cause because of our union’s frequent inability to enact compassionate healing and judicial processes. The IWW Gender Equity Committee (GEC) strongly recommends that EVERY branch of the Industrial Workers of the World make the active resistance of patriarchy, sexual violence and other forms of oppression a priority for their branch and the members within. We encourage our fellow workers to diligently develop and effectively implement official practices and policies that address incidents of injury where terms of immediate relief, punitive action, and transformative justice prioritize the needs of the survivor(s). We also encourage branches and members to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the existing complaints procedure and conflict resolution policies outlined in Article III of the IWW Constitution’s General Bylaws(3) as well as any additional relevant policies that may already exist within your branch.

If we are really going to work in solidarity with each other then we can not stand idly by while the safety and wellbeing of gendered minorities and female members are cast aside. Patriarchy, misogyny, sexual violence, harassment, gaslighting, domination, condescension and privilege are tools of our oppressors and they have no place in this union. And while we have all internalized aspects of systemic oppression, to spur true revolution we need to address these internalizations in ourselves and enter into a dialogue with each other.

1 http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/28/sexualharassmentintheworkplace/ 2 http://brandongaille.com/23statisticsonsexualharassmenttheworkplace/ 3 http://www.iww.org/PDF/Constitutions/CurrentIWWConstitution.pdf

In order to do this we must be present and mindful of our thoughts and actions that perpetuate and enable systems of oppression into the new world we wish to create. If we do not learn to effectively confront patriarchy we are merely perpetuating the agenda of the capitalist class and furthering a divided workingclass.

When we are unable to successfully address these injuries it becomes fodder for our critics and oppressors to use against us.

It is a historic motto of our union that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” This is never more true than when we are confronted with patriarchal abuse.When our branches have to redirect time, energy, and resources to rectify abuse it is time, energy, and resources taken away from organizing campaigns, projects, direct actions, and the morale of this organization. It is important to recognize that when an issue arises it deserves a branch’s full attention and needs to be taken seriously.

Let us agree here and now that the safety, wellbeing, respect, and trust of our fellow workers needs to always be paramount in our organizing.

Let us agree here and now that the tools of our oppressors are NOT welcome in our organizing.

Let us vow to be careful with each other so that we can be strong together.

Let us work diligently to respect and support survivors and encourage their participation within our union.

Let us work together to support and encourage women and gender nonconforming individuals in our organization.

Let us work to prevent incidents of abuse and continue to educate each other and ourselves how.

Let us always work in true solidarity with all of our fellow workers.

Some things branches can do to prevent further instances of injury or when an instance of injury or patriarchy is revealed, in no particular order, are:

1. Take all concerns about and instances of patriarchy/injury seriously and start addressing them immediately with care and respect for survivors. This will help deter similar behavior. It sets a precedent and can prevent the patriarchal behavior from escalating.

2. Respect the privacy and vulnerability of survivors and do not share their name(s) or details about their situation(s) without their permission.

3. Form an antipatriarchy / antioppression committee run by women and gender nonconforming fellow workers. Consult “A brief guide to creating a group that can work to dismantle patriarchy in your branch,” written by the Portland Patriarchy Resistance Committee which can be obtained through the Gender Equity Committee Listserv . Report on the work of your 4 committee to the GEC Listserv(http://lists.iww.org/listinfo/genderequity) and share what you learn with fellow workers in other branches.

4. Create a ‘Safer Spaces Policy’ for your branch.

5. Host workshops, discussions and events that allow members time to grapple with and learn about patriarchy and the way it intersects with capitalism and other forms of oppression.

6. Learn to embrace conflict, think towards solutions and develop processes for dealing with problems before matters escalate. Having a process, a procedure, or an outline previously agreed upon for approaching these conflicts and seeking solid, fellow worker affirming, solutions can fast track our branches / organizing committees towards resolutions. These resolutions, when found with the survivor(s) wishes being of highest priority, may lead to gender nonconforming and women FWs staying participatory members of our union. How these conflicts are handled won’t solely affect whether a member stays an active member, or a member at all, but will and does affect how survivor(s) remain engaged in any social justice movements, or society in general. A spurned survivor often goes into complete isolation when not heard or supported. This is clearly furthering patriarchy’s agenda.

7. Learn to be “called out.” In other words, resist the urge to become angry or defensive and instead learn to listen to our fellow workers when they have the courage to tell us that we or others have violated their boundaries or contributed to their oppression, especially when we do not understand.

8. Do not leave the vigilance, surveillance or correction of patriarchal behavior to those most oftenvictimized by it. If we see something bogus happening, we need to say something or check in with our fellow worker(s).

9. Be mindful of the subtle manifestations of patriarchy in language. Remember that we live in a society that has created norms and preconceived notions within us. We must be mindful to the language we use that acts to advance capitalism, patriarchy and other forms of oppression. Slurs,jokes, condescending tones, “trolling,” and rationalizations are all a part of an agenda to divide. We must work to wipe these elements of communication from our organizational efforts in order to create stronger solidarity between all members.

10. Be mindful of our immediate biased relationships with the accused (family, romantic or sexual partners, friendships, etc) and recuse ourselves from participation in rectification processes whennecessary or requested by a survivor/complainant.

11. Hire trained conflict resolution facilitators (from outside the branch) with expertise in patriarchal oppression / sexual violence / transformative justice to assist with restoration. Utilize what we learn to continue this work, when possible, within the union. We may also call on another branch for assistance with conflict resolution

12. Be honest and transparent while working through problematic situations within our branches. Communicate processes and results clearly to the union at large whenever possible to avoid misunderstanding and gossip. This may mean electing a point of contact or preparing a statement for other curious fellow workers outside of your branch.

13. Try to assume that our fellow workers are working towards the same goal of antioppression.Note that not all survivors will agree about strategy. Survivors and allies can and should work together by listening to and respecting each other in order to help create a safer union.

14. Reach out to the members of the Gender Equity Committee for resources, guidance, support or help with anything on this list. Join our listserv: [email protected] and http://lists.iww.org/listinfo/genderequity

Always in Solidarity,

The Industrial Workers of the World Gender Equity Committee and Contributors Voting members: Nicki M, Dakota D, Sarah M, Lauren V, Ryan G Additional Contributors: Amity D, Kaleigh H. Liberte L, Monika V

Related resources and similar statements: “How We Struggle: A Response to Ongoing Patriarchal Violence in the IWW.” Industrial Workers of the World. N.p., 9 Oct. 2013. <http://www.iww.org/content/howwestruggleresponseongoingpatriarchalviolenceiww>. “Statement from the Patriarchy Resistance Committee of the Portland branch of the IWW.” Patriarchy and the Movement. Patriarchy Resistance Committee of the Portland branch of the IWW, 29 Apr. 2013. <http://patriarchyandthemovement.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/statementfromthepatriarchyre sistancecommitteeoftheportlandbranchoftheiww/>. Meier, Nicki , and Amity DePeuple. “Embodied Wobbly Solidarity .” The Industrial Worker 1 Aug. 2014: 4. Print. <http://www.scribd.com/doc/232141433/IndustrialWorkerIssue1767JulyAugust2014>. “Trans 101 for Wobblies, part 1: Understanding basic terminology.” Industrial Workers of the World Boston GMB. N.p., 15 May 2013. <http://iwwboston.org/2012/05/15/trans101forwobbliespart1understandingbasicterminolog y/>. Walia, Harsha. “Challenging patriarchy in political organizing.” Colours of Resistance Archive. N.p., 2006. <http://www.coloursofresistance.org/731/challengingpatriarchyinpoliticalorganizing/>.

[via https://www.iww.org/projects/gec]

IWW Gender Equity Committee was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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Fred Whitehead May Day 2018 Kansas City Missouri

Fred Whitehead May Day 2018 Kansas City Missouri was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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gkciww-blog · 7 years ago

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Evil Pillows At Revolution Records May Day Kansas City 2018

Evil Pillows Rock May Day 18 Kansas City

Evil Pillows At Revolution Records May Day Kansas City 2018 was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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gkciww-blog · 7 years ago

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2018 Kansas City Black Mama's Bailout

https://fundly.com/2018-kc-mothers-day-bail-out

This year Reale Justice Network & Social Justice Doulas International is teaming up with National Bail Out to bring a Black Mama’s Bail Out to Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City Kansas.

We are working with community groups, organizations, grassroots orgs, non-profits and businesses to raise money to bail mama’s out for mothers day. Our allies, friends and co-conspirators will work hand in hand with us to BRING KC MAMA’S HOME. Some upcoming planned events that will benefit KC’S Mama’s Bail Out are as follows.

https://www.facebook.com/events/576457746053638/?ti=cl

https://www.facebook.com/events/591922374518732/?ti=as

We are also looking to plan a home coming celebration for mama’s coming home…..please send us a private message if you are interested in helping us organize that. We plan to bail moms out from Jackson County jail first and then Wyandotte County and then other surrounding counties until funds are depleted. Your donation will cover bail and other support services.Please use this donation link to contribute to this cause. https://fundly.com/2018-kansas-city-black-mamas-bailout

Everyday tens of thousands of people languish in jail simply because they cannot afford bail. In addition to the over $9 billion wasted to incarcerate people who have been convicted of no crime, pre-trial incarceration has catastrophic impacts on families and communities. Even a few days in jail can ruin a person’s life. They may lose their job, their family may lose housing and some even lose their children.Since 1980, the number of incarcerated people has grown by 500%. Fed by a racist War on Drugs, that our current Attorney General Jeff Sessions is trying to resurrect, millions of people have been taken from their families.

Pre-trial incarceration has catastrophic impacts on our communities in particular. Black people are over two times more likely to be arrested and once arrested are twice as likely to be caged before trial. Our LBGTQ and gender nonconforming family are targeted and caged at even more alarming rates, and once in jail are significantly more likely to be sexually and physically abused. For instance, one in five transgender women have spent time in prison or jail and one in three of them reported being sexually assaulted while there.We can buy their freedom and push against mass criminalization and modern bondage.

https://fundly.com/2018-kc-mothers-day-bail-out

2018 Kansas City Black Mama’s Bailout was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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KC May Day 2018

KC MO MAY DAY 2018

Dia Internacional de los Trabajadores

Concert – música en vivo Comida de Food Not Bombs / Comida no Bombas K.C. Crowdfund – Reale Justice Network Mama’s Day Bail Out Fund

Musical Performances:

Tyler Gosnell

Ani Mal

Evil Pillows

Cara de Bebe

Speakers:

Reale Justice (doula & community organizer)

Keith Brown-El (advocate for the imprisoned)

Fred Whitehead (radical historian & poet)

KC May Day 2018 was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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May Day Mama's Day Bailout Benefit Concert

The Kansas City Grassroots Network will be hosting a concert on International Worker’s Day at Revolution Records from 6pm to 11pm. All proceeds will go to The KC Mother’s Day Bailout Fund. There will be food, music, and speakers on various topics from prison abolition to worker’s rights and the history of May Day.

Musical Performances by:

Tyler Gosnell

Ani Mal

Evil Pillows

Cara De Bebe

May Day Mama’s Day Bailout Benefit Concert was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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gkciww-blog · 7 years ago

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#J 20 Defense Solidarity Kansas City 04102018

Poem read for J 20 Defendants

#J 20 Defense Solidarity Kansas City 04102018 was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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gkciww-blog · 7 years ago

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Call a friend, not the cops

According to USA Today, people with mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by police. According to statistics compiled by The Washington Post since Jan 2015, 744 of the 3011 *reported* victims of police killings showed signs of mental illness. And according to an NBC report from 2014, nearly half of all people who die at the hands of police have a disability.

Police departments have only limited, informal training on how to de-escalate sensitive situations and they typically have a very small number of registered social workers or medical professionals (called “co-responders”) on staff, if there are any at all. And despite recent extreme funding increases for KCPD, the number of officers has decreased by at least 8% since 2013. As a result, response times have increased in some cases to between 1 hour and 1 1I2 hours, even in cases of violent crimes. With 149 homicides, 2017 was the deadliest year in KC since 1992.

But cops aren’t just a threat to disabled people and the mentally ill people. They’re a threat to everyone in our communities. There is a simple explanation for this: COPS ARE TRAINED KILLERS. Every time you think of dialing 9-1-1, ask yourself “is this worth someone’s life?” If your friend ODs or your partner has a heart attack, will an EMT arrive at your door with a medkit and a will to help? Or will it be a cop with a license to kill or lock humans in cages? If your neighbor shoots off fireworks in the middle of the night, or their dog is barking, talk to them, ask them to stop. Your neighbors are people, just like you. Get to know them. Be a good neighbor. Learn the needs and conditions of the people in your community because it’s their community too.

In order to make a life for ourselves without having to rely on the cops, we need to start relying on each other. But one of the biggest problems with the way society is constructed is that we feel we have to put ourselves and our families above everyone else. Work, school, and the daily grind isolates us. But we can fight it in some very simple ways. Here are some ideas for how to get to know your neighbors.

— If you live in an apartment, find common areas such as dog parks or smoking areas, and be there even if you don’t have a dog or smoke.

— Help them carry groceries or do yard work.

— Potluck. Food is the great unifier

— Start a text chain, email chain, or social media group and add your neighbors to it. Call it something like “Neighborhood Rapid Response”. Signal is a good messaging app if you have a smartphone. GroupMe works with non-smartphones as well.

— Add these numbers to your phone (even if you may not encounter these problems personally, they could help someone you know): -National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 -Love Is Respect (Dating Abuse Hotline): Call: 866-331-9474 txt: loveis to 22522 -National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) -Compassionate Ear: 913-281-2251 -National Drug Abuse Helpline: 1-877-899-9321 -If you have a companion animal that you need to keep safe, but can’t take with you, please call KC Pet Project: call: 816-513-9821 email: [email protected]

call a friend not the cops (PDF)

Call a friend, not the cops was originally published on Greater Kansas City IWW

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