A-Infos (en) Activists in Southern US sought for ABCF groups

[Ernesto <may19@pdq.net>]

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Looking to see if there are others in the Southern United States interested 
in forming Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) groups in their areas. 
Several smaller ABCF groups in the Northeast have formed a larger regional 
Northeast Branch of the group, and I'd like to see some of you who might be 
1-4-person collectives looking to get connected to organizing to hook up 
for a Southern Branch. Drop me an email if you need more info or have 
comments/questions. Here's a synopsis of the Federation.

Ernesto
ernesto@houstonabc.org

==========================

Introduction to ABCF

The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) began in 1995 when several 
unaffiliated Anarchist Black Cross groups federated for the purpose of 
supporting and defending Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War.

Though members of the ABCF believe in and in most cases are involved in 
other prison issues, our collective focus has remained PP/POW support and 
defense. This was for two primary reasons.

1.      In the spirit of highlighting our similarities as opposed to our 
differences, we felt that though the overall Anarchist Black Cross 
community should work on a variety of prison related issues, Political 
Prisoner and Prisoner of War support was one issue that we all agreed on.
2.      At the time there were several explicitly Anarchist organizations 
whose primary function was to develop work in the general anti-prison and 
prisoners rights field. There was NO Anarchist organization working to 
support or defend PP/POW's.

Those groups who were and continue to be a part of the ABCF have always 
viewed ourselves as only a PART of the Anarchist Black Cross community, and 
feel that the overall ABC needs to grow and continue to do work in all 
areas of prisoner support. We felt the ABCF should simply be the arm of the 
overall ABC whose responsibility it was to support and defend PP/POW's.

Crucial to doing this responsibly was coming to agreement on what a PP/POW 
is. A political prisoner or a prisoner of war is one who has participated 
in political and or revolutionary   activity before their incarceration. 
And as a result of that activity, were sent to prison. The actual 
definitions we use are as follows:

1.      Political Prisoner: A person incarcerated for actions carried out 
in support of legitimate struggles for self determination or for opposing 
the illegal policies of the government and/or its political subdivisions.
2.      Prisoner of War: Those combatants struggling against alien 
domination and racist regimes captured as prisoners are to be accorded the 
status of prisoner of war and their treatment should be in accordance with 
the provisions of the Geneva Conventions Relative to the Treatment of 
Prisoners of War of 12, August 1949.

Because these definitions are technical rather than explicitly political, 
we further define those PP/POWs that we will support as "those prisoners 
incarcerated as a result of political beliefs or actions consciously 
undertaken and intended to resist exploitation and oppression, and or 
hasten the implementation of an egalitarian, sustainable, ethical, 
classless society, predicated on self determination and maximization of all 
people's freedom." [POW Bill Dunne]

Since May 1995 when the ABCF began, much has changed and still more has 
not. Most, if not all of the above mentioned anarchist groups whose primary 
function was to support and develop work in the overall prisoner struggle 
have collapsed. Alongside their collapse was the collapse of much work in 
that area.

While the ABCF has continued to grow and consolidate our efforts on behalf 
of PP/POWs, the need for such work far outweighs what we are providing.

Over these past 5 years, the ABCF has developed a number of programs that 
are examples of our PP/POW support. We will use the rest of this page as an 
introduction to these programs and provide readers with an outlet to become 
involved in this support.
In future issues of ONWARD, look to  the ABCF page for news and events 
about Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War, the ABCF, and all of our 
efforts.


Other Things to Know

There are many more things to become involved in with the ABCF to support 
PP/POW's. The movements they came from, and building a strong movement to 
support and defend them. The following are other activities of the ABCF and 
who to contact to find out more.

The Anarchist Subsistence Fund is similar to the Warchest except it is 
designed to support those PP/POWs who come from our own anarchist and 
antiauthoritarian community. Currently, this program is supporting one 
prisoner, Ojore Lutalo by way of a check and 40 stamps per month. For more 
information on this, contact Lancaster ABCF.

The ABCF Update is the bimonthly public magazine of the ABCF. It prints 
chapter reports, progress on programs, news and notes, letters from PP/POWs 
and much more. For subscription rates and other information contact Kent ABCF.

Running Down the Walls is a yearly marathon to raise funds for PP/POWs. The 
first annual run held in 1999 was supported and enjoyed the participation 
of PP/POWs and other prisoners in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. This 
years run is being planned now. Contact LA ABCF for more information.

The Men Against Sexism Caucus is a formation within the ABCF. Within a 
newsletter we discussing and presenting ideas about sexism within 
ourselves, our political communities and how to combat them. For more info 
contact Winnipeg ABCF.

The Tactical Defense Caucus is a formation within the ABCF which publicly 
advocates anarchists and other leftists learn to defend themselves. The TDC 
has produced two armed self defense videos, has plans to publish a book, 
and start its own newsletter. Contact Jax ABCF.

Support the Warchest Program

Having started in 1994 only slightly before the formation of the ABCF, the 
Warchest program has been a reliable and consistent source of material aid 
for Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War for 6 years.

Operating on a support base of small regular and one-time donations, this 
program has grown into the largest of its kind. Currently sending regular 
checks of $60 per month to 7 Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War, and 
having sent assistance to more than a dozen more through the Warchest's 
Emergency Fund, the warchest is in many cases the only financial support 
some PP/POWs receive on a regular basis.

Funds coming in to the Warchest generally take on two different forms: 
Those individuals or groups supporting the Warchest by sending in donations 
on a regular basis, and those who send in one-time donations. Funds that 
are sent out reflect these two different kinds of donations.

The Warchest serves two different and separate functions for PP/POWs, 
Regular Support and the Emergency Fund.

Regular Support is for those PP/POW's who have little to no other financial 
support. The funds collected on a regular basis are disseminated on the 
basis of who is in the most need to our knowledge. When we receive enough 
additional regular funds to consistently sustain an additional outgoing 
check, those PP/POWs who have the least financial assistance will take 
priority over those with more.

An example of a PP/POW who receives regular support for the Warchest is 
Sekou Odinga, a BLA POW currently imprisoned in Marion, IL. Prior to and up 
until today, Sekou has received NO regular financial support from any one 
or group. Financial support he did receive was very inconsistent and 
unreliable. Sekou has been receiving a $60 check each and every single 
month since November 1994. To date he has received more than $4,000 of 
support from the Warchest.

The Emergency Fund consists of those one time donations and contributions 
received by the Warchest. The Emergency Fund is available to PP/POWs who 
may not need a regular check, but are in need of quick, and immediate 
assistance on a case by case basis.
An example of Emergency Fund support is when BLA POW Jalil Muntaqim was 
transferred two separate times to two different NY State prisons in the 
middle of winter. Each time prison employees 'lost' Jalil's winter coat and 
gloves. The Emergency fund was able to purchase these items for him 
immediately.

Another example of Emergency Fund support was when United Freedom Front PP 
Jaan Laaman needed funds to help him continue his college classes. After 
another cut in spending on prisoners, grants usually available for 
prisoners to continue classes became unavailable and without support, Jaan 
would not have been able to receive his degree. Or when former FALN POW 
Carmen Valentin needed to purchase a radio after hers was broken. Or 
anarchist POW Ojore Lutalo was needed to re-subscribe to the New York 
Times, or when BLA POW Sekou Odinga or United Freedom Front PP Richard 
Williams were in need of further assistance to have their children travel 
great distances to visit them. The Emergency Fund was able to help in each 
of these and many more cases.
However the Warchest does not exist magically, and there is no ever ending 
bountiful money tree we have discovered. It exists on donations only. 
Though ABCF groups are required to support the Warchest on some level, the 
majority of its support is from people such as yourself. Groups like the 
one you may be in.

We need regular support to increase the number of prisoners supported 
regularly. If you are in even a small collective, consider collecting $2 or 
$3 a month from each of its members to support the Warchest's ongoing 
efforts to provide regular financial aid to those PP/POW's who have no 
other support. If you are a member of a radical bookstore or info shop, 
consider donating a small portion of sales (1% or 2%). If you do a distro, 
think about contributing a part of the proceeds from items you sell related 
to PP/POWs to the Warchest.

If you don't feel you can contribute regularly, or even if you can and want 
to help more, organize a benefit show, raffle or fundraiser of some sort 
and make a one time donation to assist the Emergency Fund. Donations of $5, 
$50, $100 or more has made it possible for the Emergency Fund to help as 
many PP/POWs as it has for so long. We need to keep this going and can only 
do so with your help.

The Warchest has survived for 6 years on small donations between $5 and $15 
a month from groups and individuals such as yourself. One time donations 
have ranged from under $4 to in the hundreds from bands like Winnipeg's 
Propghandi and Tree from Boston. Concealed cash is best, but checks and 
money orders made out to NEIL BATELLI can be sent to Jacksonville ABCF. A 
complete financial report is prepared by Jacksonville ABCF which includes 
all monies received and all monies sent out. All prisoners address are 
printed so supporters or anyone can write them and hold us accountable to 
our claims. Get in touch for more...

ABCF Contacts:
Jacksonville ABCF
4204 Herschel #20
Jacksonville, FL 32210

NJ ABCF
P.O. Box 8532
Paterson, NJ 07508

Kent ABCF
P.O. Box 942
Kent, OH 44240

Winnipeg ABCF
Box 64028,
RPO Morse Pl
Winnipeg, MB
R2K 4K2 Canada

Lancaster ABCF
P.O. Box 891
Lancaster, PA 17608

Binghamton ABC
Bing. U, Hnm. Col.
#09501/Box6009
Binghamton, NY 13902-6009

Philly ABCF
4722 Baltimore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19143

LA ABCF
P.O. Box 3671
Anaheim, CA 92803

Montreal ABCF
2035 St Laurent 2 etage
Montreal, QB
H2X 2T3, Canada

Orlando ABCF
P.O. Box 677572
Orlando, FL 32876-7572

Houston ABC-SG
P.O. Box 667233
Houston, TX 77266-7233
(713) 595-2103, ext. 7585
Toll-free: 1-877-875-2600, extension 807
info@houstonabc.org
www.houstonabc.org


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