This episode of The Final Straw is served in three portions, all concerning prisons and prisoners.
Before the segments begin, a couple of announcements concerning upcoming events in Asheville, North Carolina for the days surrounding June 11th and the International Day of Solidarity with Long Term Anarchist and Eco Prisoners. These events include a Books to Prisoners open house at Downtown Books & News on Thursday the 11th at 3:30, a showing of a documentary about Mumia Abu-Jamal at 7:30pm at Firestorm that night and a dance party and pie auction on the night of the 13th at the Odditorium. Facebook pages exist for these events, with details listed.
Also in there is mention of the call-out for Monday the 8th & every Friday to protest the Durham County Jail’s refusal to allow prisoners there the chance to get out of their cells for more than 2 hours a week. For more info on this struggle against the so-called Lockback, check out http://amplifyvoices.com
First among the segments, following commentary by Sean Swain, we’ll hear an up date on his situation from his friend and supporter, Ben Turk. Sean’s outgoing communication has been blocked, so his segment has had to go underground. This is in repsonse to Sean speaking up for another prisoner and using his outside support network to press the prisons after a racist attack by guards on a fellow prisoner at Lucasville. More at http://seanswain.org
Following that, we hear from Jenny of Sacramento Prisoner Support about the call-out for the upcoming June 11th International Day of Solidarity with Eric McDavid, Marius Mason & Long Term Anarchist and Eco Prisoners. Jenny tells us about the history of June 11th, talks about differences in the circumstance of June 11th for this year, and other aspects of prisoner support. More info on June 11th can be found at http://june11.org
Finally, we talk to Brianna Peril & Tommy Powell from the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee & the Missouri Innocence Project (respectively) about prisons in Missouri and what appears to be the psychiatrization and forced drugging of inmates at the SouthEast Correctional Center (SECC) outside of Charleston, Missouri, and this week’s call-in-campaign to pressure the jailers to stop the process and bring more transparency to the situation. More about the call-in can be found on the fakebook page for the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/405416019661232/ Linked from there is the fakebook page for IWOC. The page for Midwest Innocence Project, affiliated with the MO Innocence Project can be found here: http://themip.org/
The episode is capped by a sludge metal track by General Grievous. More info in the playlist.
This being the first episode of The Final Straw Radio to broadcast on WSFM-LP 103.3 in Asheville, North Carolina: here’s a little intro, plus new Swain segment on his silencing and then an hour of neo-goth rock, post punk, punk & metal from aaaaalllll over the world.
Over the hour, Hilary talks about her 7 years of living in Chiapas and recording the stories and experiences of women there, collecting stories on their behalf. The book covers the Zapatistas experiences before the EZLN uprising of 1994, during that period and after. Discussion address what gender, indigeneity and class looked like and how that’s changed in the Zapatista communities, the state of Chiapas and in Mexico. William and Hilary also explore the effects that the EZLN & La Otra Compaña have had on radicals and anarchists abroad, the origins of the EZLN, some parallels and distinctions between anarchism and Zapatismo and much more.
This week, we’re excited to present a conversation with Saralee Stafford and Neal Shirley, editors and authors of a new book out from AK Press entitled “Dixie Be Damned: 300 years of Insurrection in the American South”. The book is a study of Maroon, Indigenous, White, Black, worker, farmer, slave, indentured, women and men wrestling against institutions of power for autonomy and self-determination. All of this in a region stereotyped to be backwards, slow, lazy, victimized and brutal. The editors do a smash-bang job of re-framing narratives of revolt by drawing on complex and erased examples of cross-subjectivity struggles and what they can teach us today about current uprisings in which we participate.
Throughout the hour we explore some of the examples that became chapters in the book, critiques of narrative histories and academia and what new ways forward might be towards an anarchist historiography. Keep an ear out for Saralee and Neal’s book tour, coming to a bookspace near you.
Not really, but all of the content is related to that topic: Operation Fenix in Czech Republic; announcements on the 30th anniversary remembrances of the bombing of the MOVE house in Philly; updates on Mumia’s health status; Dave Strano out on bail, injured by police in Denver; support for Baltimore arrestees; the silencing of Sean Swain.
I forgot to say Happy May Day to y’all out there. Happy May Day, celebration of the corruption of the American Legal System as encapsulated in the indictment of the Haymarket 8, anarchist labor leaders and rebels accused of responsibility for throwing a bomb at cops during a rally in Chicago in 1886. Funny thing is, many of those 8 weren’t present and those who were were busy giving speaches when the bomb was thrown by an unknown figure. Of the 8, 4 were executed after a show trial, 1 committed suicide in prison to defy the authorities, and the 3 were later exonherated. Since all of their names have been cleared.
It’s also notably a European pagan holiday celebrating fertility, or new beginnings as spring rolls into full steam.
Since this event it’s been celebrated worldwide by marches and parades, by uprisings and riots, by picnics and gatherings. Tip of the hat to the folks of Seattle, Montreal, Milan, Istanbul, Oakland, Seoul, Moscow, Barcelona and sooo many other places where folks rose up in revolt. A great segment talking about this year’s May Day can be found at http://www.submedia.tv/stimulator/2015/05/09/may-day-gray-day/
OpFenixThe main content of the episode is a conversation with Lucy and Michael, two Czech anarchists speaking about the raids, arrests and charges of terrorism in the Czech Republic known as Operation Fenix/Phoenix. From the support site:
With ‘Operation Fenix’ came the biggest wave of police repressions against the anarchist and radical left movement in the recent czech history.
Taking people early in the morning hours, accusations of preparation of terrorist acts and confiscation of a server, which held several activists’ sites, all came with ‘Operation Fenix’ which started on Tuesday, 28th of April. Anti-extremist police is actively trying to frighten the left scene and collecting information in a fishing expedition.
Through the hour, Lucy and Michael talk about the far right in Czech Republic, the far left and anarchists, squatting in Prague, sabotage & animal liberation movements attached the Network of Revolutionary Cells in that country and also about the upcoming Prague Anarchist Bookfaire.
Other notes:
Sean Swain can’t do his youaretheresistance segment this week. He’s been silenced by his jailers at SOCF Lucasville in Ohio, cut off from email, phone calls, video visits and apparently mail. Rather than read his posts and letters that are available at seanswain.org, I’ll give a synopsis.
Basically the situation is this: Sean (and many other on his cellblock) witnessed a guard pepper spray 2 prisoners in neighboring cells for nothing. On April 20th, after a series of escalations by guards, prisoners were pepper sprayed, threatened with beatings, taken to the hole and Sean witnessed the and wrote about the event. Because of the unfairness of the way that the guards and courts have dealt with the 9, Black prisoners taken to the hole on the claims of organizing, and in particular the treatment of Rob Mahone (Sean’s neighbor), Sean decided to allow his record of the events to be posted at seanswain.org
May 13th, this Wednesday is the 30th anniversary of the Philly PD’s bombing of an already persecuted but defiant MOVE organization in that city. MOVE is a group focused on a worship of life and with a critique of racism, cruelty to animals, civilization and capitalism. On MAY 13th, 1985, the Philly pigs, ostensibly in an attempt to end a standoff with members of the MOVE organization where they’d barricaded themselves in a house, took a C4 bomb from the National Guard armory and dropped it by a helicoptor onto a house, killing 11 people, 5 of them children and levelling a city block. 7 move prisoners remain imprisoned on BS charges. You can find out more about the case at onamove.com including info on events in Philly, Oakland, West Hollywood & Minneapolis. http://onamove.org;
In a related note, the life of longterm prisoner, journalist, MOVE supporter and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal is still in danger and there’s a request for immediate pressing of his jailers in Pennsylvania to give him the medical attention that he needs. Mumia recently fell ill, going into Diabetic shock and suffering from untreated skin legions while incarcerated at SCI Manci. Though officials had conducted 3 blood tests on him in prior time no one informed him he’d developed Diabetes. He’s been denied medical treatment at various stages, an adequite diet and also access to his family, lawyers and supporters. You can call the following officials to express concern: John Wetzel – Secretary, PA Department of Corrections – (717) 728-4109 Thomas Wolf – Governor of Pennsylvania – (717) 787 2500 and more info on the case can be found at http://freemumia.com ;
There’s a continued request for solidarity for folks arrested in Baltimore in the wake of rioting that resulted from the murder of a 25 year old Black man named Freddie Grey at the hands of the police and their subsequent denial of guilt despite his arrest being videotaped. Legal and bail funds for the rebels can be donated at http://www.crowdrise.com/legalbailsupportforbaltimore ;
This week’s episode is a reading from a request for solidarity with hunger striking anarchist prisoners in Chile ( Juan Flores, Nataly Casanova, Guillermo Durán and Enrique Guzmán). More info (and a the communique that was read from) at AnarchistNews.Org
There are two announcements at the start of this episode concerning health developments and request for public action on behalf of longstanding prisoners and former Black Panthers. Following those, we feature new death rock by BÖRN from Iceland (playing at Static Age in AVL on May 9th), doom by Thou and more.
First, Mumia Abu-Jamal is an imprisoned journalist, former Panther and supporter of MOVE members while they faced repression in Philly in the 70’s and early 80’s. He was accused of killing a cop while driving his cab in 1981. He is not getting enough medical treatment for his recently diagnosed diabetes (including a specific diet to help him cope and medication) and related skin disorder. More information and a call to action on his behalf can be found at http://www.freemumia.org
Robert Seth Hayes is a former Panther and BLA member who is accused of killing a cop in NYC in 1973. He suffers from many, worrying and chronic health problems including poorly controlled diabetes and weight loss, much like Mumia. Supporters are requesting that people call in on April 27-28th to a number of officials in NY to get him medical treatment and stop this punishment. There’s also a fax-in day on April 29th and 30th on his behalf. More info at http://powmedicaljustice.com/call-fax-in-for-seth
This week, we speak with Jesse Cohn, author of the recent book, Underground Passages: Anarchist Resistance Culture 1848-2011, published by AK Press. In the book, Jesse explores trajectories in literature, cartoons, comics, music, poetry, drama produced at times by and or for or just conspicuously consumed by anarchists in europe, north and south america and asia during that time period. We talk about what Mr Cohn sees us as seeking to communicate, how we do that, and who we’re speaking to and how those questions change over time. More info on the book can be found at akpress.org
Jesse also puts out an invitation to listeners to share their stories of growing up in an anarchist household (what some might term “Black Diaper Babies”) or as the child of anarchists. The hope is to create a work that’d speak about what multi-generationality looks like or could look like. You can reach him at jcohn(aaat)pnc(d0t)edu with questions or stories.
As a quick update to last week’s episode about the hunger strike at OSP Youngstown by 6 prisoners: Hasan announced on April 15th, 2015 that he and 4 other prisoners stopped their hunger strike. Sedrick Tucker was continuing his hunger strike as of Friday, April 17th, 2015 due to private medical malpractice issues which he did not feel were being addressed by the demands that were met by the prison administrators. The support website, lucasvilleamnesty.org, stated in a recent post that the strike was a mixed victory, with some demands won and others not with the Warden conceding as little as possible. Hasan suggests that concerned people should contact that Ohio Medical Board and ask them to look into Sedrick Tucker’s treatment at the hands of Dr. James Kline. Hasan also suggests contacting ODRC Medical Service Administrator and ask to send another doctor to review Mr Tucker’s situation. It should be noted that Sean Swain also had issues with Dr. Kline during his last hunger strike. Have a pencil read to write this down if you want to contact ODRC’s Medical Admin.
Stuart Hudson Medical Service Administrator 770 W Broad St Columbus OH 43222
To reach out to Sedrick Tucker, here’s an address: Sedrick Tucker #117-137 OSP 878 Coitsville Hubbard Rd Youngstown, OH 44505
Writing to Sedrick or in concern for him has real effects in how the guards and doctors will treat him.
This week we’re joined by Imam Siddique Abdullah Hasan, one of 6 prisoners who are almost a month into a solidarity hunger strike at Ohio State Prison in Youngstown to press the Warden about current conditions at the prison. Among the issues the hunger strike is protesting include the inability of all new/incoming prisoners to OSP and those currently on the highest level of security (5B) to attend congregational religious activities, also poor quality of food presented by Aramark (the company contracted to provide meals at OSP, and who’s food services sparked the hunger strike in January of 2014 at Westville Correctional Facility in Indiana) a lack of access to outside recreation for the prisoners and more. You may recall Hasan from a prior interview we did with him on the anniversary of the 1993 Lucasville Prisoner uprising which began because of some of the same issues and for which Hasan is facing the death penalty as an organizer of the beginning of the protest sparking the uprising as well as helping to organize the end of that uprising. The 1993 uprising resulted in the deaths of 9 prisoners (accused of being snitches) and one prison guard. To hear our interview with Hasan from October of 2013, click here.
Also, Sean Swain speaks about the hunger strike at OSP, where he was formerly incarcerated, and the harsh realities of lack of access to human interaction, direct sunlight and the out doors.
There is a rally in solidarity with the hunger strikers in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday the 14th of April at 3pm at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corruption, 770 West Broad St. The point of the rally is to deliver a list of demands to the officials of the ODRC and pressure them to change the conditions at OSP Youngstown, ending the hunger strike. The rally coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the Lucasville Uprising which started because of a denial of religious rights of muslim prisoners including Abdulla Siddique Hasan. More info at LucasvilleAmnesty.org
From that site: “If you can’t make it to Columbus, please be creative and find a way to support the hunger strike on Tuesday. Organize a solidarity fast like students at the University of Toledo did on Friday, with an evening “break the fast” get together. Or a call-in lunch, gather with friends mid-day and call the prison, Central Office, and The CIIC (numbers and scripts below). Or a letter writing party, write letters to officials, your local newspapers, and/or to the hunger striking prisoners.
Whatever you do, let us know by emailing Ben at Insurgent.Ben@gmail.com so he can share the stories with the hunger strikers and the world. Tuesday will be the 30th day of this hunger strike, if everyone can find a way to express solidarity on that day it will make a huge difference for these men’s morale and resolve, as well as sending a strong message to the prison authorities that the hunger strikers are not alone in their protest.
There is also a rally in the works for at or near OSP on Saturday. Details will be posted at lucasvilleamnesty.org as they are confirmed.”
If you’d like to write to Hasan, he can be reached at: Siddique Abdullah Hasan R130-559 OSP 878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd Youngstown, OH 44505
To get ahold of ODRC director Gary Mohr you can call 614-752-1150. Or direct your mail to Gary Mohr, ODRC Director, 770 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43222 or Email him via drc.publicinfo@odrc.state.oh.us
and you can express your concern for the safety of the prisoners hunger striking at OSP.
A chat with Eric McDavid on prison, post-incarceration, hope, ice cream and more
This week we’re speaking with Eric McDavid, a recently released eco-anarchist and vegan. Eric and his two co-defendants (Lauren Weiner and Zachary Jenson) were entrapped by an FBI agent provocateur who went by the name of “Anna” and arrested for allegedly planning to blow up cell-phone towers, small dams & a lab researeching genetically modifying trees. Eric was arrested in January of 2006 during an FBI raid on the cabin that “Anna” was providing for the four.
During the court case, the government prosecutors were able to turn Zachary and Lauren against their slightly older co-defendant, Eric, with threats of spending decades of their life behind bars. So, Zachary and Lauren posed Eric as their “leader” and threw him under the bus. As a result, Eric was given a 20 year sentence for what was effectively the charge of being guilty of Thought Crime.
After years of the appeal process, Eric’s support team finally recieved documents within a FOIA that pointed to evidence they should have had during trial; evidence that could have led to a not guilty verdict at trial. Finally on January 8th 2015, Eric was released into the arms of supporters, family and loved ones in Sacramento, CA. More on his case can be found at http://supporteric.org We spend the hour chatting about his incarceration, experiences of support as one of the two names central to the June 11th Day of Solidarity with longterm Anarchist Prisoners alongside Marius Mason, decarceration, hope, ice cream and more.
More about this year’s June 11th at http://june11.org, including their recent call-up
A quick note. Brent Betterly of the NATO3 is slated for release from prison on April 16th of 2015, just 3 days before his birthday on the 19th. You can send him a birthday present to support his post-release life while he gets on his feet by visiting youcaring.com and searching his name.
