December 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

To read the letter right away, scroll down a bit.

On December 19,2019, RAPP, #haltsolitary, and Vocal-NY will hold a Town Hall at the Howe Library in Albany 

from  5-8pm.

105 Schuyler Street Albany NY 12202 518-472-9485.

Food and entertainment will be provided. 

Come out and join the discussion on how Mass Incarceration is affecting the communities in the Capitol Region. 

November 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

To read the letter right away, scroll down a bit.

Get On The Bus on January 14

One year ago, RAPP Co-Founder and Former Director Mujahid Farid died at 69 years old. In the final days of his life, Mujahid Farid (translated to mean “Unique Warrior”) asked our RAPP family to gather in his living room.

After a few minutes he tried to raise his head, rested his chin on his arms, raised his eyebrows and with the last bit of strength he said, in a slow whisper, “I want you all to know that this has been a labor of love.” 

This dying man was a unique warrior; he was a legend, freedom fighter, leader, pioneer, and visionary. He did every day of 33 years of incarceration with integrity, not once compromising his dignity or principles.  He could have walked out of prison and not given a second thought to those he left behind.He was a brilliant jailhouse lawyer, and could have pursued a legal career, as some of us have done. Instead, he decided to dedicate the remainder of his life, a short seven years, to help create the RAPP Campaign with the vision of ending mass incarceration. This Unique Warrior used his last living hours to remind us that this movement is founded on the original theme of love.

Mujahid Farid gave us all he had, and transitioned with dignity and honor. To all those who knew him, all those who read about him, and all those he inspired, we ask that you give him a moment of silence at some point today to reflect upon his life and our collective struggle to end mass incarceration.

Take Action in Support of Farid’s Legacy

Help RAPP dismantle mass incarceration, end death by incarceration, and fulfill Farid’s vision of transforming the criminal justice system. Get involved in our work by taking action in the following ways:

 Attend our upcoming Day of Action in Albany on January 14th to rehabiitate the Parole Board 
 RSVP here.

 Show your love

Posted 11/13 RAPP     Get On The Bus on January 14

Please join us in Albany on Tuesday, January 14th at the start of the legislative session as we demand immediate action for parole justice from our legislators. We will march, rally, and meet with legislators in support of the Fair and Timely Parole Act (S497A) and the Elder Parole Act (S2144). Free transportation will be provided across the state, and food will be provided throughout the day. Please RSVP here

Posted: Nov 11 by CAIC:  A friendly reminder to New Yorkers to please sign up for the Jan. 21 #HALTsolitary Advocacy Day. We currently have ~200 sign-ups, and we really need to get 1,000 people to the state capitol in Albany. Help us get there. Sign-up today. Transportation will be provided from several locations across the state. Lunch will be provided as needed.  Sign-up: http://bit.ly/HALTsolitaryJan21  

Questions?  jchausow@bds.org

November 2019

October 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.



JANUARY 14   SAVE THE DATE  Really!  It's important that you be there.

Posted Oct 25 -from RAPP 

The next New York State legislative session is just around the corner.

Beginning on January 8, 2020. RAPP wants to be Albany right as it starts, demanding our representatives pass legislation so there are no more needless deaths by incarceration in New York State prisons.

Please join us on Tuesday, January 14 for an all-day advocacy day at the State Capitol. We will march, rally, and meet with legislators in support of our work to end death-by-incarceration and promote parole justice.. Please RSVP here and invite your friends !

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September 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

August 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2019, 5:00 pm • Rally, march, and memorial to remember Valerie Gaiter and voice our outrage that she died in NYS DOCCS custody •

 Rally and speak-out: 250 Broadway (NYS legislative offices),

 5:00-6:00 pm; march to 168 Canal St.: 

6:00 pm; memorial, 6:30 pm • more info: 347-620-59  

JULY 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

JUNE 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

POSTS: Scroll down to immediately read Building Bridges June 2019

Posted June 23

Prisoners Are People Too! Celebrates 14 Years of Service,

by Karima Amin

At the next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, the organization will celebrate 14years of education and advocacy. When the organization was just an idea…and then a program…before it was an organization, I believed that my family and community would help me to establish something that would help the incarcerated, returning citizens, and their families to improve their lives. Initially, in 2005, I hoped that I could help my community to see and to learn what I was beginning to understand about a criminal injustice system and a prison system that failed to recognize the humanity in every person. As a career teacher, I hoped to share everything that I learned. Despite frustrations, challenges and disappointments, we have experienced a phenomenal 14 years of service.

Meeting BaBa Eng in 2002 was a godsend. After 36 years in prison, he was able to connect me with individuals and organizations that had been prisoner justice advocates for many years. BaBa is now the the Program Director for PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. Recently, we hosted a Regional Conference (May 3-4), that attracted local attendees and others from across the State. A review of the conference evaluation form, evidenced the need for such a conference as well as the success of our conference which highlighted “Changing Criminal Injustice” and “The Impact of Mass Incarceration on Families and Communities.”

At the next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO tomorrow on Monday, June 24, from 7:00 -9:00 at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue@ Glenwood, we will celebrate our success. There will be more pictures and a video from our Regional Conference and we will host three formerly incarcerated men who are now published authors.

Karima, karimatells@yahoo.com; BaBa, g.babaeng@yahoo.com

Posted June 16:
Recent press coverage of the hunger strike to pass Halt, the Solitary Confinement Bill : 

• https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/448519-new-york-activists-go-on-hunger-strike-advocating-to-end-solitary
• https://gothamist.com/2019/06/13/hunger_strike_solitary_reform.php
• https://solitarywatch.org/2019/06/14/new-york-activists-on-hunger-strike-for-passage-of-solitary-confinement-bill/
• https://www.univision.com/temas/huelgas-de-hambre

Survivors of solitary and their allies began a hunger strike on June 13 through the end of the state legislative session (June 19) in order to bring attention to the urgent need to eliminate the torture of solitary confinement in New York. 

The #HALTsolitary Campaign has been pushing the #HALTsolitary bill to end solitary confinement in New York State prisons and jails for many years. 

Read about the strike here.

May 7 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

scroll down to read May 2019 Building Bridges

May 2019

 Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

scroll down to read May 2019 Building Bridges

April 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

scroll down to read April 2019 Building Bridges

Posted 4/28 by PRP2!

Posted 4/29, by Prison Action Network

PAROLE  JUSTICE

Join advocates from across NYState in Albany for an all-day

parole  justice advocacy day

Tuesday, May 14 New York State Capitol

We’ll march, rally, and meet with legislators in

 support of our parole  justice demands

Free transportation from NYC and other part of NYS as needed

RSVP here:  bit.ly/May14AdvocacyDay

Questions?  Email  ddgeorge23@gmail.com

March 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

scroll down to read March 2019 Building Bridges

RALLY FOR PAROLE JUSTICE 

THURSDAY, APRIL 4TH at 10AM

GOV. CUOMO’S NYC OFFICE

633 3rd Ave (between 40th and 41st)

We’ll demand the Governor fully staff the Board by appointing seven new Commissioners who believe in principles of mercy, redemption and transformation.

We’ll demand an increase in release rates and the release of our elders and loved ones from prison. 

Email Mark Shervington with questions: markshervington1@gmail.com.

February 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

We will send it to your email address each month

if you tell us why you're interested.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT POSTING THE MARCH 2019 NEWSLETTER.
 WE WILL KEEP TRYING.
 UNTIL THEN YOU MAY EMAIL PRISONACTIONNETWORK-AT-GMAIL.COM
TO REQUEST A COPY SENT TO YOU.  

January 2019

Welcome to Building Bridges

the newsletter of Prison Action Network

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Sometimes we post time late-breaking news so you may want to stop by now and then.

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scroll down to read January 2019 Building Bridge

Posted 12/28. by Citizens Against Recidivism

SAVE THE DATE!