Prisoner Support Programs

This page lists programs/projects currently engaged in by various ABC/prisoner support collectives. Please get in touch to lend your support. If you have a suggestion or know of a program, contact us, please.

Ali Khalid Abdullah Freedom Campaign

New York City Anarchist Black Cross is currently working on the campaign to free Ali Khalid Abdullah. Ali is up for parole again in Feburary. There has been a letter writing campaign initiated to various state officials regarding his unjust incarceration.We are asking for people to try and host letter writing events. For information about the letter writing campaign, please contact NYC ABC and we can mail you the information. We have a pamphlet explaining in detail, the case, what the letter should say, and who to send it to. This pamphlet is free.

WARNING: The State Officials are responding to these letters with grossly false allegations, Ali has written a statement regarding this. We can also send this to you for records.

Ali Khalid Abdullah #148130
3225 John Conley Drive
Lapeer, MI 48446

New York City Anarchist Black Cross
PO Box 20449 Tompkins Square Station
New York, NY 10009-9991
nycblackcross@hotmail.com
347-742-5403

Items Available For Sale:

2 Pamphlets of Ali's writings "Revolutionary Logic" and "Fighting For a Better World" - $4
"In The Trenches" (Ali's Zine)- $3

Free and Critter Legal Defense Fund

This Fund is now the long-term support fund for Free, Critter and Rob Los Ricos, mostly directed toward their commissary 'books'. Rob was recently added to the fund (after getting Free and Critter's approval), and supporters have sent support money to the mother of his daughter. This has resulted in Rob having his daughter visit him for the first time in a long while. These funds are collected solely to assist Free, Critter and Rob, and monies are used as they want/need. Send donations to:

FCLDF
PO Box 50263,
Eugene, OR 97405

Publishing/Distribution

Houston ABC and Austin ABC jointly publish and distribute two zines from Texas prisoners' Kevin Glover's Chain Reaction and Carl Horne's Captive Voices are publications wholly done by Texas prisoners. For copies of those publications, please send $2.

Correspondence/Support

Houston ABC is active in correspondence and material support for various prisoners across the country. This support varies from funds to supplies to books and legal materials. Donations are appreciated.

ABC Houston
PO Box 667614
Houston TX, 77266-7614

ABC Austin
PO Box 19733
Austin TX, 78760-9733

Rosenberg Fund for Children

The Rosenberg Fund for Children was established to provide for the educational and emotional needs of children whose parents have suffered because of their progressive activities and who, therefore, are no longer able to provide fully for their children. The RFC also provides grants for the educational and emotional needs of targeted activist youth. Professionals and institutions will be awarded grants to provide services at no or reduced cost.

What the Rosenberg Fund for Children Funds
"The RFC funds institutions and individual providers who support the values listed above. Subject to our financial ability, we will fund school tuition, camp tuition, counseling, cultural lessons, outdoor programs, and after-school programs. While we primarily provide such funds for the benefit of those under 19 years old, we do make "Carry it Forward" awards to young adults to help pay for college or a similar program designed to prepare them for adult life. We also make one-time "Special Travel" awards to young adults between the ages of 19 and 24. We also have a "Prison Visit Program" for children who have been separated from their activist parents (see separate application form)."

What the Rosenberg Fund for Children Does Not Fund
"The RFC is unable to consider grants for general living expenses, like housing, or for the benefit of those who have sufficient alternative sources of support. The RFC usually does not make grants directly to activists, custodians or guardians.

"We are currently unable to make regular grants in excess of $3,000 per child per year but no more than $2000 in any granting cycle. Carry It Forward grants are limited to $600 per year."

To contribute to the RFC, please send your check or money order to:

Rosenberg Fund for Children
1145 Main Street, Suite 408
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: 413-739-9020
Fax: 413-750-5998

Women Political Prisoners' Commissary Fund

Out of Control and Lesbian and Gay Insurrection (LAGAI) started the Women Political Prisoners Commissary Fund in the early 90s. Without this money, many of the women would be unable to meet their basic needs, including toiletries, fresh food and phone calls to their families and friends. Every month three women receive $60 from the fund. If you know of women political prisoners who might need our support, please contact us.

Please Contribute what you can. Monthly, semi-annual, and yearly contributions of $50, $25, even $10 are vital to these women's lives. These women belong to us--support them!

Please make checks payable to Women's Commissary Fund, mail to
3543 18th Street, Box 30
San Francisco, CA 94110

Please indicate whether you would like to contribute monthly, semi-annually, or yearly.

INS Visitation Project

DRUM- Desis Rising Up & Moving ­ is looking for People of Color volunteers to visit with immigrant prisoners through our INS Visitation project.

Who we are: DRUM is a community-based social justice organization of low-income South Asian immigrants in NYC. Our two main programs include the INS De- Detention Campaign and the YouthPower! organizing project. The INS De- Detention campaign fights for justice for immigrants incarcerated in INS detention centers in the NYC/ NJ area. The YouthPower! program build grassroots leadership of low-income South Asian youth in immigrants rights organizing.

Why INS volunteers are needed NOW:

After the passage of the Anti-Terrorist Laws and the Illegal Immigrant Responsibility & Control Act in 1996, the number of immigrants in INS detention increased from 3,000 to nearly 30,000. Since the signing of the Patriot Act on Oct. 25, 2001, we cannot even begin to imagine the devastating effects for immigrants, particularly South Asians, Arabs, and Muslims, for years to come. Thousands of immigrants are being "kidnapped" and detained by the INS and conditions for those in detention centers is worsening. Just recently, a Pakistani man died in INS custody at Hudson County Jail in NJ.

For these reasons, DRUM is strengthening our INS Visitation project to local detention centers. It is critical NOW MORE THAN EVER that we support and advocate for immigrants locked up and facing abuse in INS jails in our area & nationally.

Visitation Project:

DRUM started visitation to Elizabeth Detention Center in NJ in January and is now expanding to Wackenhut Detention Center in Queens. We are seeking a team of approximately 20-25 volunteers to begin BI-WEEKLY visitation in December. Volunteers interested must make a commitment for at least six months of continued visitation with at least one detainee.

Although all volunteers are welcome, we have particular needs for people who can speak Arabic, Urdu, Tamil, Punjabi, Bengali, and Spanish.

If you are interested in the Visitation project, you must first RSVP and attend our upcoming INS Visitation Orientation Session. Please RSVP to Fahd Ahmed at (212) 305-2572 or by email at fahd@drumnation.org with the following info about yourself:

Name
Email
Tel. No.
Languages spoken
Any background in working with immigrant communities/ prison issues or social justice in general?

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