A little history of the International Prisoner Justice Day from Infoshop.org –
“This is a call out for solidarity on August 10th, International Prisoner Justice Day.

This date has become a marking point for prison struggle across the world. Often times with anarchists specifically it is seen a point of recuperation within the North American context due to it’s focus on setting demands and requesting reforms. However, some anarchist living within Southern Ontario have taken some time to reassess the origins of this date and are calling out all prisoners, anarchists and disposed persyns to act in tandem with our desires and further our struggles in solidarity.

August 10th became a memorable date for prisoners across the world beginning in 1974 when inmate Edward Nolan bled to death at Millhaven* Maximum Security Prison in Bath, Ontario. He allegedly slit his veins from elbow to wrist after not being transferred from isolation into general population despite his approval for transfer. The following year inmates at Millhaven organized a day-long work strike in memory of Edward which ended with almost all of them facing solitary, some of which were still in the hole a year after the strike.

(*Millhaven Maximum was originally built in 1971 to replace the Kingston Penitentiary, both of which are in full operation to this day. It was built with high tech security systems, surveillance cameras in every cell and electronic consoles capable of opening one or all of it’s doors from a control room. It was rumors of the construction of this prison and it’s increased security that incited a four-day prison riot at the Kingston Pen in 1971. Because of this riot, prisoners were prematurely moved into the Millhaven Facility, which had yet to have been completed. Here prisoners were on lockdown for the majority of the time until the prison was completed.)

On May 21st, 1976, in the same facility, Robert Lander died in his cell from a heart attack. Robert had just been transferred from another prison in attempt to preemptively suppress the outcomes of a prisoner’s strike which Lander had been involved in organizing. He had spent the evening calling for medical attention and in the morning he was found dead in his cell with a note demanding attention from a doctor.

On the 10th of August of that year, the prisoners of Millhaven staged a one-day hunger strike in remembrance of their fallen comrades. Here is a reprint of the statement, which was released by the prisoners:
‘On August 10th, 1976, the Prisoners of Millhaven Maximum Security Prison will stage a one day hunger strike in remembrance of our two fallen comrades, EDWARD NALON and ROBERT LANDERS, who died in Millhaven segregation (solitary confinement) on August 10th, 1974 and May 21st, 1976, respectively; and in remembrance of all our fellow comrades and brothers and sisters from prisons across the country who died in the hands of an apathetic prison system and its people.

Furthermore, it is a protest against the Millhaven Administration, the Canadian Penitentiary Service, and the Members of Parliament for their continued indifference to the recommendation of the Inquest Jury made at the inquest into Edward Nalon´s death. The recommendations concerned Emergency First Aid Procedure; medical and psychiatric treatment for solitary confinement prisoners and that the emergency signal systems in the cells and the time clock which assures regularity in range patrols be made functional and that steps be taken to provide that they remain functional. None of these recommendations were enacted by the above mentioned authorities.
We protest against the continuous inhumane use of solitary confinement (segregation) and the repeated whitewashing by spineless individuals in the Government who are forever having inquiries into the use of solitary and its effects on a person´s mental and physical state and then hide the real facts of its use from the people.
We call upon our Brothers and Sisters from all prisons across the country, and upon all concerned peoples of Canada, to give their support to our one day hunger strike in remembrance of our comrades and to UNITE AS ONE VOICE IN OUR STRUGGLE for better understanding…compassion and EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Signed,

Jack McNeil & Howard Brown
For the Prisoners of Millhaven’”

Black and Pink Newsletter August 2010

*** This video was sparked by an article in The Nation written by Daniel Redman, “I Was Scared to Sleep: LGBT Youth Face Violence Behind Bars” available HERE

More GRITtv

*** Wes Ware, a friend and brilliant organizer at the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, released a report about LGBT young people in the Louisiana Juvenile System. You can read the entire report below or a summary of the report HERE

Locked Up Out

*** It is also important to learn some of the history about movements to fight the violence of these systems. There are multiple books and resources available for further education. I have been particularly struck by Jerome Miller’s, Last One Over the Wall: Massachusetts Experiment in Closing Reform Schools According to the book jacket, “Last One over the Wall is an analytical and autobiographical account of Jerome G. Miller’s tenure as head of the Massachusetts juvenile justice system, during which he undertook one of the most daring and drastic steps in recent juvenile justice history – he closed reformatories and returned juvenile offenders to community supervision and treatment by private schools and youth agencies. Filled with insights into juvenile and adult behavior in prison and outside, Miller’s account provides a rare opportunity to view our juvenile justice system as a whole, including all the politics, economics, and social biases that come with it.” You can find the book at Powells HERE

July Black and Pink Newsletter

The above image is a “Notice of Unauthorized Mail” that Black and Pink received from the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex. It states that our newsletter was denied, considered contraband, because it is a “Book/Magazine [that] promotes Homosexuality”

This is absolutely outrageous! Please take a moment to express your outrage about this by calling the institution at (606) 743-2800! If they wish to keep out all things that “promote Homosexuality” then they should start releasing all queer prisoners IMMEDIATELY!

Many thanks to the incredible volunteers who made it possible for Black and Pink to have a booth at Boston Pride this year! Special thanks to, Milo, Katherine, Julia, Monica, Libby, Sean, Jeff, Reed, and Erik!!! We got over 60 new people to volunteer or take on new pen pals. We got nearly 100 post cards designed and mailed off to prisoners around the United States. We stuck out through the rain and handed out hundreds of pens and stickers directing people to check out this website and our sister site, Black and Pink Art!

While there are many who say that we should just abandon Pride parades as they are taken over by corporations and assimilation focused queers, we joined in and built some great relationships and successfully reached out to hundreds of people. It was inspiring to speak with people who are formerly incarcerated themselves. I had the blessing of speaking with one woman who is now out and living her life after doing 11 years in prison. I spoke with another person whose mother is currently locked up. We were asked why prisons were an issue for queers and after even brief conversations people were getting on board.

To build a movement we must continuously be organizing! Queers of all kinds need to be reached out to. We have the potential to bring more radical ideas to people every day and Boston Pride was one of our steps forward! A giant WELCOME to all those folks new to Black and Pink and all those just getting new Pen Pals and joining in the ongoing struggle. It is a blessing to have you all!!! Enjoy the images below!

Art from prisoners displayed for sale in the booth

Our very cute volunteers and reasons to abolish prisons

Prisoner poetry and information about the prison industrial complex

I am incredibly impressed by General Hospitals ability to tackle this complicated issue. While 60% of reported sexual assaults involve guards assaulting prisoners, I think this story line shows the deep complications of how sexual violence works within the prison system. I hope as the story line goes on they are able to go deeper. I also know that when I was locked up there were lots of guys who sat around and watched soaps all day, so hopefully they are getting a chance to see this and have their own experiences validated while also raising awareness that sexual violence in prison is a real issue worthy of discussion in mainstream media.

June 2010 Newsletter for Black and Pink

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