"/ advocate revolutionary changes...an end to capitalist exploitation, the abolition of racist policies, the eradication of sexism and the elimination of political repression. If that is a crime, then lam totally guilty." - Assata Shakur ANARCHIST BLACK CROSS NETWORK BULLETIN OF THE ANARCHIST BLACK CROSS NETWORK/#2, SUMMER 2003 BREAK THE CHAINS NEWSLETTER OF THE BREAK THE CHAINS COLLECTIVE/#16, SUMMER 2003 Opening Comments This publication is issue #2 of the Anarchist Black Cross Network publication, and Editorial issue #16 of the Break The Chains collective news letter. Break the Chains has been busy. What more can I say? The Anarchist Black Cross Network Our primary focus in the last six months has been to publication has thus far been produced on a organize for the Break the Chains/Anarchist Black Cross yearly basis, though hopefully it will be published Conference, but we've continued to take action on many fronts, more consistently in the near future. The Break building upon past projects and taking steps to build a movement The Chains newsletter is typically produced on a to support radical & progressive prisoners and defend the quarterly basis, and it will resume its regular movement from state repression. Our collective has been growing pattern after the conference. stronger each day, and we are very excited about the involvement We produced this issue just in time of our wonderful new members. for the Break The Chains Conference, held in Our involvement with women at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility is developing positively, as we attempt to conjunction with the second annual Anarchist connect women on the inside with women on the outside. Black Cross Network convergence. By the time Additionally, we are fighting medical neglect at this women's you read this publication, the conference will be penitentiary and organizing with other folks in the Oregon area and going on, or it will have passed. Future issues of beyond around this issue. the Anarchist Black Cross & Break The Chains Break The Chains has taken action in solidarity with publications will feature reports and analysis revolutionary social prisoner Brian McCarvill, whose lawsuit against about the conference. the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) recently ended We have tried to make this with a contractual agreement with the Oregon Dept of Corrections publication as comprehensive as possible, but it (ODOC), forcing them to concede to several of the demands made is likely that we have failed to address important by McCarvill in his suit. Unfortunately, the ODOC retaliated by issues related to prisons, repression, and social immediately transferring him to the notoriously corrupt Two Rivers control. This reflects our ow:i biases and CorrecScr.c! Institute [TRCI], where he is unable to have his shortcomings as an organization, as well as the medical needs met. In response to Brian's lawsuit, ODOC has inability of any single group to address the made minor changes to the way ft handles anarchist publications. totality of the truly horrific situation we're in. There have been some post-settlement reports of radical Feedback and constructive criticism is greatly publications being censored; however, whether these publications appreciated from our readers and your will be now censored less, or simply differently, has yet to be commentary is greatly appreciated. determined. The incompetence and corruption of ODOC officials We also apologize for the fact that will only flan the flames of our resistance against prison tyranny in this issue is so completely USA-centric. We Oregon and abroad. Speaking of TRCI, after many months of applying found ourselves dealing with a wealth of pressure on the ODOC demanding that they transfer the Children pertinent information regarding prisons & of the River (a group of three activist prisoners who have been the repression here at home, and it was simply not target of harassment by the prison authority for their effective practical or feasible to have an internationalist resistance) out of TRCI and to a safer facility, we were finally focus. Inter-nationalism is essential. But we need successful in forcing the TRCI administration to transfer two to learn to effectively deal with issues here at members of the Children of the River to "less" oppressive home before we attempt to broaden our focus. institutions in Oregon. However, one of the Children of the River Submissions to future issues of the remains confined in TRCI, and his situation worsens everyday as Anarchist Black Cross Network should be sent to prison guards and boneheaded prisoners alike collaborate in an the ABCN group nearest you (see the directory attempt to break his rebellious spirit. He will not be broken - not if of active ABCN groups in the column the next we can help it! page over). Submissions to the Break The Chains In March, we hosted longtime militant activist, and newsletter should be sent to the Break The former Earth Liberation Front spokesperson, Craig Rosebraugh for Chains collective. The criteria for submissions to a lecture "On the Legitimacy of Revolutionary Violence," which both publications, is minimal: your submission attracted approximately 125 people. Craig effectively made his should deal with issues related to prisons, case for building a revolutionary movement in the US, and the repression, and resistance. We do not accept any lecture was followed by a meaningful discussion of the role of fascist, racist, sexist, homophobic, pro- violent and non-violent activism in the struggle against oppression. imperialist, pro-capitalist, or completely bizarre This event was a benefit for prisoners and we raised approximately $150 for political prisoners in Oregon. article submissions. The Break The Chains In April, we hosted Chrystos, a queer American Indian collective is presently only accepting submissions author & activist, for speaking engagements in Eugene & from political prisoners and prisoners of war, as Springfield. Chrystos is a popular poet in anarchist and feminist recognized by our PP/POW directory, women communities, and it was truly wonderful to have the chance to prisoners, and prisoners in California, Idaho, spend time with her and collaborate with her on these events. Oregon, and Washington. Chrystos' poems depict the harsh realities faced by poor women, Thank you, and enjoy. prisoners, and indigenous peoples. Her words are powerful and Editor, Break The Chains collective. impacting. In Eugene, Chrystos was joined by Lora Wetzel of Women Embracing Freedom Together [WEFT], a highly effective mutual aid program for women leaving prison; and former Eugene resident & Native activist/poet, Queksta took part in both events. Laura spoke of life in prison and on the streets, and the need for WEFT-style programs to support struggling women and pose real alternatives to ANARCHIST BLACK imprisonment. Queksta read poetry and spoke about the repression against the Native Youth Movement [NYM] in Canada, which has CROSS NETWORK become far more severe since the Native struggle has been gaining http://www.anarchistblackcross.org ground, and as the Canadian and US governments become more heavy- handed in their response to dissent. Both of the events with Chrystos were benefits for prisoner-support groups such as Break The Chains and Austin ABC WEFT, and for the Native Youth Movement. P.O. Box 684261 In early May, we planned a concert/forum with Tucson, AZ's Austin, TX 78768 fabulous Native punk band Black Fire, and former political prisoner & [email protected] seasoned Native activist John Hill, AKA Splitting the Sky. After a beautiful opening performance by Portland's intertribal drum group, Northwest Connection, Splitting the Sky gave a fiery presentation. After Boston ABC discussing his participation in the legendary rebellion's at Attica state PMB 258 prison in 1970, and his role in the recent First Nations standoff at 198 Tremont Street Gustafsen Lake, British Columbia, Splitting the Sky pumped up the Boston, MA 02116 crowd with an urgent plea for all-out, non-stop resistance to all forms of [email protected] oppression in these dark days. Black Fire rocked the crowd with their brand of "After-Native," which was so impressive to some that another group in Eugene will be hosting them for a gig this August. Unfortunately, Chicago ABC we were not able to raise money from this event beyond paying our P.O. Box 721 speakers and performers for their time & energy, but the event was Homewood, IL 60430 successful nonetheless. The Black Fire/Splitting the Sky event marked the first day of Houston ABC the second Break The Chains-sponsored Splitting the Sky west coast tour. Our readers will remember that we arranged a Splitting the Sky P.O. Box667614 speaking tour back in January, in which we covered Seattle, Portland, Houston, TX 77266-7614 Eugene, Ashland, and Berkeley. This time around we covered Eugene, [email protected] Santa Cruz, San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Berkeley. During this round of talks we made a special priority of promoting the Break The Lawrence ABC Chains Conference, before giving Splitting the Sky the floor to educate & PO Box 1483 inspire. In San Diego, Splitting the Sky spoke with another survivor of the Attica rebellion, which was very powerful. In Oakland, he shared his Lawrence, KS 66044 lecture with former political prisoner and longtime resister Linda Evans. http://www.kansasanarchist.net/ABC We met many great activists & organizers on this trip, raised a few bucks [email protected] to sustain our efforts, and overall this tour was a success. Also in May, Break The Chains hosted in Eugene a forum for the "Beyond Sex Work" tour; a tour which featured films and discussion FRIENDS OF ABCN around the issues of sex work, class, race and gender. While it may seem that the event was a little off subject, we see sex work as Anarchist Prisoner's intrinsically connected to the prison industrial complex and to the subject of patriarchy and power.