Heart-to-Heart Letters to Our Loved Ones – Ocober 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 at 6:00pm

CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH

500 PLANT STREET

ONEIDA SQUARE – UTICA

This Wednesday, October 22 the local prisoner justice organization Incarcerated Flavors is having its second letter writing to prisoners event, with many more in the works. October 22 was chosen as a date for this event as this is the very same day that two young men, Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, in 1966 formed the Black Panther Party in Oakland, CA. Because of the Black Panthers’ political activism, their vision for a more just world, and their community survival programs such as the Free Breakfast for Children Program, Free Busing to Prisons Program, and Free Medical Clinics to name just a few, the organization was virtually destroyed by the FBI and multiple police forces in a covert program later reveled to the public as COINTELPRO. Multiple Panthers were targeted for their beliefs and sent to prison. Many still sit in prison cells today for crimes they did not commit. Although the US government consistently denies having political prisoners, these Panthers are included in a list of hundreds of political prisoners in the US.

Although the prison system affects political dissidents like the Panthers, mass incarceration affects all of us. Let us create a caring community to stand up for justice and heal. Join us as we share stories, share food and write letters to friends, family members and political prisoners.

FREE DINNER & A SOLID EDUCATION WILL BE SERVED!

I have been locked by the lawless.

Handcuffed by the haters.

Gagged by the greedy.

And, if i know anything at all,

it’s that a wall is just a wall

and nothing more at all.

It can be broken down.

-Assata Shakur

Brought to you by Incarcerated Flavors.

Contact: ifclub.utica@gmail.com, 240-1888

 

Running Down the Walls! – Fundraiser for Political Prisoners & Local Community Group Incarcerated Flavors – October 19

WHAT: Running Down the Walls – 5k Run/Walk/Jog/Bike/Skate
WHEN: 1:00pm, Sunday, October 19th
WHERE: Proctor Park– Culver Ave/Rutger St. in Utica, NY.
COST: $10 donation (people will not be turned away for lack of funds)

Countless political prisoners languish in prison cells around the world. The US is no exception – 100s of political prisoners, many of them who were targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO program during the Civil Rights and New Left movements of the 1960s-70s, are locked up in prisons across the US. Thankfully, organizations exist to raise awareness of these political prisoners and support them. One such group is the Anarchist Black Cross (ABC).

Every year, prisoners and supporters of political prisoners organize solidarity events with a 5km road race called Running Down the Walls. Last year, runs were held in in Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA), Denver (CO), Elmore (AL), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA), Marion (IL), New York (NY), USP Navosta (TX), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto, Ontario. This year we hope to expand the amount of runs in prisons and other cities, as well as increase the amount of funds raised for community projects. This is the very first time that Utica will have this event.

This year’s run in Utica is taking place later than other runs but it is still in the spirit of solidarity and conjunction with runs that took place in cities and prison yards across the country.

Over $70,000 has been raised over the years by ABC, both through Running Down the Walls and other events. Local activists will split the raised funds from this event with the local prisoner justice organization Incarcerated Flavors which is organizing the event.

REGISTER AS, OR SPONSOR, A PARTICIPANT

* Run/walk/bike/roll in the 5k – We need participants who can run/walk/bike/roll the 5k and are able to collect financial pledges to offer as donations to the run.

* Volunteer for the run – We need people who are willing to staff a registration/literature table, hand out water, and help chalk the route beforehand.

* Donate to the run/sponsor a participant – If you are not able to attend, but want to support this fundraising effort, please email maslauskas84@gmail.com and someone will meet you to pick up your donation.

If you have any questions, please contact maslauskas84@gmail.com or 315 732 2382. See you at the race!

For more information on ABC, Jericho Movement (another political prisoner support group) or Incarcerated Flavors, please check out:

http://www.abcf.net/

http://thejerichomovement.com/

https://www.facebook.com/incarcerated.flavors?fref=ts