Make It Move

We’ve heard a lot about the recession in the past year or two. We’ve heard about bankers and real estate agents losing it all. We’ve heard about investors, pyramid schemes and people who are becoming poorer. But we haven’t heard about the people who are too poor to make the news. The people who were already poor before the recession. Us, we haven’t heard about us. The usual unemployment numbers don’t count people who having given up looking for work. It’s estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of people in America are struggling during the best of times. It seems like yesterday when we were “lazy and stupid”, when saying you were unemployed almost guaranteed you wouldn’t get another job. Now a days everyone’s saying “it’s hard out there”. But the truth is, not that much has changed for the bottom 30% in the US. There have never been enough jobs for us, and we’ve stayed strong and kept going. The recession seems to have a lot to do with banking, which doesn’t have much to do with us. Those of us that have bank accounts never have more than a month’s rent in it, anyway. The banks have been crashing, but what’s really been hurting us is something much deeper. In America, jobs have been disappearing for longer than we’ve been alive. Today’s tycoons & businessmen are selling dreams. They will go somewhere that’s been economically depressed for a long time, like the ghetto, the coal region, or the country where the small farmers are all out of business. Full of promises to a desperate population, ready to say everything that anyone wants to hear. Take Wal-mart, for example. When they build in a new area, they will promise 300 new jobs. And hey, we need those. But our attention seems to be kept away from how many jobs Wal-mart is destroying. Years later, we might think, where did we used to get the stuff that we buy at Wal-mart? Does Wal-mart employ more people than all those other places they put out of business? Prisons are another one of these schemes. They say they build prisons for jobs. The truth is, prison is an industry and they are getting built for the politicians, executives and contracting companies. If they could run prisons with computers and no employees, they would do it in a heart beat. Who owns the company that builds the prisons? They are getting rich, not the CO’s. Who owns the company that installs the locks? They are getting rich, not the people who install the locks. In the ghetto, they offer even less. Where poor people

live, they offer to develop the neighborhood. They say they will put in new houses, which will bring in new life and new jobs. They normally don’t even promise jobs, just the idea that jobs will come one day. When they are built, the new houses and condos might cost $400,000. Over time, poor people’s rent goes up and they are pushed away, pushed into the background again. Either to other parts of the ghetto, or to the new ghetto- what used to be the suburbs, far away from the city center and public transit. When you think about all of this, the old saying seems too true- the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The statistics prove it. Industries- like prison, walmart and condo development- have always done anything in their power to make more profit. It makes sense for industries to have less workers, because it means they have to pay less workers. It makes sense for them not to give employees health insurance, because it saves the company money. And all industries benefit from there being a lot of unemployed people in the US, because it means more potential workers will fight over smaller and smaller paychecks.

summer 09issue two *

Distribution of Wealthin the U.S. - 2001

Top 10%69.8%

Next 40%27.4%

Bottom 50%2.8%

Continued on Page 6...

The Recession & The Already Poor

by Mitch Troutman

• make it MOVE • SUMMER 2009 •

Think of this news-letter as a “how to” manu-al. Not about complaining, “speaking out” or learning more facts, but about how to do something about a situation. The thing is that you’ve gotta be the ones to write it. It’s not a surprise that you don’t have all the answers- if you did, you wouldn’t need to read this. But so many of us have dif-ferent pieces of knowledge, and we can learn from each other. So send an article to get printed in Make It Move. Send you’re experience try-ing to organize other pris-oners. Send you’re ideas & thoughts. Send your re-sponses to what you see printed here. Sent artwork and give us your feedback!

EDITORIAL POLICY We’re not going to print anything that’s about giving up. We’ve all heard enough of that and it’s not what we’re about. We’re not going to print anything that says everyone inside but you is full of shit. If everybody ain’t following your lead, then maybe you need to be a better leader instead of blaming them. If you submit some-thing, it’s not guaranteed to print.

What’s in This Issue:“Never Give Up” ........................................................ Page 3“Dear Black Ice” ........................................................ Page 3Exercise ................................................................... Page 3J-Dub ...................................................................... Page 4“Snitch Thing” .......................................................... Page 4“We Got Smokes” ...................................................... Page 4 “Public Service Announcement” ................................... Page 5Surviving Solitary Excerpt .......................................... Page 6

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress”

Welcome to the second issue of Make It Move, from Black Ice Print. I’m excited about the newsletter, by it’s second issue, it’s going in a good direction. Remember that this is a challege for you- if you organize on the inside, we can better support you on the outside. Just finishing putting this thing together, printing it in an hour and then sending it out a few hours after that. Deadlines are what helped me put this together, a little structure. You’re not the only one reading this newsletter right now. This is going out to people locked up all over the PA DOC. And the biggest differ-ence between the first and second issue is that this one is mostly written by people like you. What’s written here by prisoners are the opions of the people who wrote them, not nessecarily BIP. We do supoort them sharing their opions, though. Shout outs to the BRS. Shouts to Houtzdale, Greene & everywhere that submitted. Keep it up and stay strong in there! If this thing is going to build, and if we are going to be able to learn form each other, we need you to write your own submissions. Shouts to the women, too. We didn’t get feedback from you. We don’t know your story. Please tell us. What’s going on in there? What’s it like in there? What do you want to see in other issues? Let us know. We’re get-ting some interviews with organizers lined up- I think we’d really like to interview someorganizers inside, especially organizers from street organi-zations. Get BIP in touch with them! And finally, as I close out this intro, it’s been said recently that we’re entering the second phase of the prison struggle. Are you ready? Are we ready? Solidarity, -Mitch, Editor

Make It MovePO Box 13074 * Philadelphia, PA 19101We’re no non-profit, we pay for this out of our own pockets.

So please, send us some $$ if you got it!Know anyone on the streets that would be into doing a BIP newsletter? Get

them in touch with us!

spread this newsletter

• make it move • SUMMER 2009 •

PAGE 3

then seek truth, after them two seek to destroy all propaganda filtered to society & educate the people. @ Gonze SCI Houtzdale Scranton, PA

“There is a paradox at the core of penology, and from it derives the thousand ills and afflicitons of the prison system. It is that not only the worst of the young are sent to prison, but the best- that is, the proudest, the bravest, the most daring, the most enterprising and the most undefeated of the poor. There starts the horror.” -Jack Henry Abbot In the Belly of the Beast

With that said, now we know some of the best people and smartest people are imprisoned. Whiel we spend out time in concrete walls and razor wire covered fence, we need to start to learn and to also teach, how to better ourselves, and how to better not only our lives, but our friends, family and the youth. By doing so we slowly chip away at the governments multibillion $ scam. It all starts with one. Never give up. Fight this war in America.

SCI HoutzdaleW. Scranton

I just finished reading your “Spring 2009” issue from front to back & will surely pick it up again! I loved it to say the least. It’s great to know that there are liked minded individuals out there, who are openly speaking for us inmates in the DOC (Department of Corrections).

I myself am a twenty-one year old Puerto Rican, who is currently serving (4 ½) for and a half years for (2.3) two point three grams of cocaine.

Just recently have I started to hear of some inmates banding together here at SCI Houtzdale. Most recently a body of inmates attacked a body of C/O’s, over a reason I’m not 100% sure of, due to my stay in the hole. I just hope other’s continue to band together.

With that being said: we as the largest minority (convicted felons) in the USA, need to organize now & show a united front. Our “central government” is just as corrupt as is our local police department. If they go unchecked, the redundent cycle of us getting our ass’es locked up will only continue, but it will (the corrupt system) gradually start locking up our children as well. Only to support more oppressed generations through it’s laws & doctrine of injustice. First seek relief,

“Never Give Up”

“Dear Black Ice”

Exercise Last issue, we asked you to work together with the people around you to come up with a list of DOC strnegths & weaknesses.

What does it mean that we only got one response? It could mean a lot of things, but Gonze and the boys in SCI Houtzdale have given us something to think about.

Weaknesses in the DOC

1.Dependant Upon Inmates for the daily operation of the instituion. (Gonze)

2.Staff’s lack of physical form. (Rock)

3.DOC’s willingness to believe rumors! (Gonze)

4.Underestimating the inmate population. (Gonze)

5.Constant miscommunication between staff. (Gonze)

6.Over populated (Gonze)

7.Lack of insentives for inmates to behave! Example: family day, picnic areas for family, higher paying jobs 42¢ Really!? , & outside food (McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc)

Q: Does anyone know how to get their lawyers name? I do not have any of my paper work! I mean nothing! I’ve wrote to Lackwanna County’s clerk of courts 8 times in the past 18 months & nothing! I would like to file a “PCRA” & get my origonally plea agreement (1-2) instead of my current (16 months – 48 months followed by 2 years special probation) for my 2.3 grams of cocaine. Anyone help?

Gonze. 5/2009SCI Houtzadale

• make it move • SUMMER 2009 •

PAGE 4

B.I.P.

thank you for sending the “Make It Happen” newsletter. It inspired me to get the word out. I have been coming to the hole a lot lately I be on my “George Jackson” stuff to so to speak. However when I get out I will share this letter with others out in population. The prison did not let me send money. I sent some art work in hopefully it’s not to controversial. If not you can put it in a news letter. I’ll try to stay out the hole next time. I can’t win a war with one person. Keep in Touch.

Thank you.J-DUBSCI Albion

“We Got Smokes”

I want to talk about this “Snitch Thing”; our young black brothers are believing that to do the right thing is snitching. So IF they see a brother get killed or a sister get raped there going to keep their mouth shut.

How do we deal with negative thinking? Even in jail IF somebody robs your cell, nobody wants to tell because of the snitch code.

This is a bad situation that we face together and it’s worse on the streets I’m sure.

How do we get our communities back, and the drugs off the corners? We know that bad thing does happens when the police is involved, but unless were going to police our own neighborhoods then we have to let those whose job it is do their job and help them help us.

People get mad at me when I talk like this and I understand what they understand not, because IF we do nothing then our hoods begin to crumble.

I know this is dangerous because by us not having love for one another people can get killed talking to the police but some of us must die so that others can live.

We Have to Make It Move. SCI Huntingdon

“The Snitch Thing”

This is in response to Mitch’s article “Strategy of Solidarity” in SPRING ‘09 issue of “Make It Move”.

I have been inside now for almost a decade. And the state and mental condition of life on the inside is found wanting when it comes to togetherness and solidarity. I know because a long time ago – I was a white supremist. Oh the ignorance of my youth! I do not CONDONE nor do I wish to glorify gang life on the inside- but it does work. Unfortunately- it works more for the poker tables, sports betting, and many other negative things than the positive.

Again, let me say that I was in the “white thing” for too long. Today- I have a very good relationship with one fellow, and here is what I think every inmate or convict should do and practice. I don’t lie to my homie- when he is short- I got him and when I am short he helps me. He know institutional personel- I know instituion policy. By the way, my “homie” is black/Rican and his english sucks as does my spanish. But you have to invest YOURSELF into a cause.

• make it move • SUMMER 2009 •

PAGE 5

Whether its making sure all get a fair shake- or push the system to ensure fairness. And relationships are built over years not hours.

When I made my parole – I did not forget my friend. I had little- but he got some and he got mail. Now I am back as a violator, and when I came through the door – he was there.

Maybe one night – you should turn off the T.V. - help yer celly learn to read. One third of the prison population can’t read – over half have an either or ninth grade schooling level. Requests and grievances must be ledgable!

When SCI Fayette opened, there was no smoking. So everybody sat down in the yard – and hey – we got smokes! And then all that togetherness faded. We got tobacco – just think! We could get about 19¢ per hour! We could get Keefe booted back out of the system – Hell we can change Parole – and this is infinite! But it won’t happen. To be honest- when most of these people were taken from the street, - they had their courage taken from them! Prisoners run prisons! We unclog shit in sewers – we cook – we mow – we dig – we paint – If the prisons can’t adjust our pays to their increases – let them contract outside help. Don’t like commissary products/prices – don’t buy it!

But it comes down to the individual – and greed is a nasty character flaw. Security teams – staff – man! They love this individuality! One man can manage a whole herd of cows for years. He does it with ease. Then one day the herd stampedes! Man has lost control. Sacrifice is a hard thing to learn. Turn of your electronic viewing baby-sisters (Televisions) and make my temporary house a little nicer. Hell- your living here too! I don’t like it- but I can change it. And so can everyone else.

I speak from experience on this alone as I close. Many of us like to think of ourselves as “leaders” - examples of the “no fear” 100% manhood! But too many come here as followers. Despite what one thinks- you are not born a leader. It is a skill – it is an education. When I got to prison – I ran a squad- all little haters. Now I run me – and I got more respect than I ever had. Real respect – not fear! And those two are ALL TOO OFTEN CONFUSED WITH EACH OTHER! The “buddy system” works if ya work it!

SCI – FAYETTE

tired of being pushed around (not in a physical sense) and there’s a lot of brothers in struggle feel as I do, but do not have the inside support amongst prisoners to show that resistance. In regards to numbers, if it isn’t majority it all would seem like an isolated incident!

We have men like Mitch who are supporting prisoners in struggle. Dedicating his life, sacraficing his time for the men & women incarcerated. When in reality, there’s 100 other things he could be investing his time in. He need to use him (not abuse) in & as our voice. A lot of people don’t have this outside support, but we do. Its time we take full advantage of this support as opposed to taking it forgranted! Mitch amoungst others has been victimized by the hunger & greed provided by the belly of the beast, they know this shit isn’t right, and choose in his ability to do what’s right, but there’s only so much it is he can do for us, but so much more in what we can do for ourselves!

I don’t want to seem or come across as if I know it all or have the answers because I don’t. I’m looking for answers myself; and being curious, I also have questions. I need to know,w hat is it we can do as a people to bring strangth to these numbers? I have a small but big suggestions. I believe the first step is to build our communication. In any movement, communication is vital. We have M.I.M. Which gives us absolute communication, so when we are in fact ready to move as a unit, everyone can turn the page together! There’s many of us out there with the taste of disgust on our tongue for the oppressor, but don’t really know what to do other than use our brute strength. We must find a way to match this with brawn. I’ve been in the hole on and off for 7 years for not knowing how to mix formulas of wit & brawn. But with growth comes development & I’ve learned through trial and error how to mix & match, but look at the cost?

In any event, we need to find out what it is that is stopping us from unifying? We have the heart, we have the brains, we have the wit, we have the strength, and most definitely, we have the numbers. Why is it that we can’t bring these pieces together? What’s stopping us yall? There’s so much we have to fight for, and I’m willing & ready to resist, but it can’t be done aone. We need numbers in majority to be in our favor to be relevant. Prisons are nothing without prisoners. We have the power y’all. We gotta build this power and create change. And things won’t change overnight, but we must remain optimistic & persistant, & consistant in our push forward, because once we stop or slow down, we will again be pushed over. These fools must be stopped!

United We StandDivided We Fall

SCI-Greene

“Public Service Announcement”

I’m a 27 y.o. Prisoner checking in...

Since being incarcerated in the state of PA, I’ve noticed an enormous lack of unity. I constantly and continuously see things being taken from us, but no resistance is being shown as a collective unit. I’m sick and

• make it move • SUMMER 2009 •

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Building a Basic Solidarity with Prisoners in Your Environment

Prisons have always been places where hostilities can be created by those who run them. Solely for the purpose of keeping a perpetual wedge between white and black prisoners. Why? This question is easily answered by acknowledging their agenda. To perpetuate racial violence inside prison, prison administrators prevent us from seeing who the real source behind the problems are, which is them. This is classic divide/conquer tactics and in most cases it works.

These tactics not only prevent us from seeing the real picture, it also prevents us from development/sound relationships of solidarity. When we don't work together, we become real vulnerable to be attacked without their fearing retaliation. When we are trying to come together for the better of our conditions none of this can be done without mutual respect being established. This is not always a easy job, due to prisoners having different ideologies, religions, political beliefs, and these differences sometime get in the way. This has been a stumbling block when we try to build collective unity on control units in very reactionary environments.

But due to the growing levels of consciousness, and development, in all U.S. prisons, collective unity and understanding amongst targeted prisoners is growing day by day. We must move with this momentum when it exists, and build unshakable foundations of solidarity. All prison organizers must know and come to terms with not being able to galvanize 100% support from prisoners. Even when it is those who don't participate in struggle related efforts who benefit most sometimes.

Prisoners who work to expose violations are those who sometimes suffer the most. This is why we must have respectable communications with at least a majority of the prisoners in our environment. No matter where we are, on a administrative segregation unit, Disciplinary Segregation unit, Security Housing Unit, or a Supermax control unit. Those prison administrators who despise being sued, exposed, written about will display reactionary tendencies. They will approve staff to beat yon up, set you up, or even kill you. This is a fact, and you don't ever want to isolate yourself from your fellow prisoners. Because when yon need to have someone call or contact your family to inform them of your abuse. No one will care to assist you.

So it is very crucial to be established as a principled person who would help them if they needed you. This way

Exceprt from “Handbook on Surviving Solitary

Confinement” by Khalfani Malik Khaldun

Without a higher vision, we will not be able to fight what is happening. We will fall into the traps set up for us- “well we need development, so if not the prisons/condos/walmart, then what?”. We aren’t tycoons ourselves, so we can’t recommend other industries, all of which have the same interests anyway- pofit. We need a higher vision to be able to tell a different story, or else we will be isolated from the people around us, who badly need those jobs. Many people don’t like to talk about deep problems that they can’t change. Water always travels down hill, pulled by gravity. It will always fill every crack, every hole that it can. When something is in it’s way, the water will slowly erode it over time. Industry flows like water, pulled by profit instead of gravity. It flows anywhere profit can be made, and leaves any area where there is not enough of it. It will abandoned a town after it’s sucked it dry. If law is holding it back from profit, it will attempt to control governments and remove the laws. If profit can be made by putting you in a prison.... well, where are you now? Who makes more money- the hustler or the industry that locks up hustlers? Businessmen guide industry to where it can make profit. As long as everything is done “for profit”, people’s dignity always comes in last. “Capitalism” is another way to say “everything is done for profit”. Until we fight this and build a new way of doing things, the rich will get richer, and we will stay poor. If we can’t see the higher vision- that we need to fight the “for profit” system, we will always fall in the traps that are set up for us. This fight isn’t a gun fight, not in 2009. Poor people are divided, seperated over a million different things. The people need organized- that is how we fight in 2009- organizing. It’s time to Make It Move.

Continued from front page...The Already Poor

• make it move • SUMMER 2009 •

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even if your envied or prisoners bate you out of misguided jealousies they still will feel compelled to honor/aid you, this is KEY and must be established by all. We must be more observant of our current situation, and become masters in whatever we know our gifts to be. We all have a purpose some of us through trial and error, have grown to know what our purpose is. While many of us remain trapped in a whirl-wind of misguided emotions and utter blind confusion. This is not to say the latter person(s) will not discover what your life's purpose is. Everyone has a purpose, and through the host of your countless experiences, this purpose is discovered. Without ever discovering our purpose in life, our souls will drift as a ship at sea tossing and turning.

Points to Ponder

• Don't play into the games of the administrators when they promote the divide and conquer tactics.• When trying to create unity among prisoners, always show them what they all have in common with each other as prisoners similarly situated in the same oppressive conditions.• All prisoners have a voice, and should be heard when discussing the challenges they must prepare for in confronting the host of violations inside these units.• Encourage collective work and responsibility among the prisoners you may have some influence with. Everyone has a role to play in prison activism.• Create a basic political library and do your best to make such materials legal or educational available to all who desire to learn more. We are supposed to be creators. So this is our job.• Develop a policy among yourselves that if one prisoner comes under attack, then it symbolically means all of you are under attack. This way you will build a solidarity that extends beyond the racial expectations of prison life.

These points are not complex, in fact it's rather simplistic and should be incorporated into active prisoners daily programs. Especially when it will mean your survival or your certain death if your don't. Brothers and Sisters, it's imperative that our struggles for balance, justice, freedom, rise to he next level.

To Organize an Educational Program

Solitary confinement in our current stale of incarceration still breeds insanity and body deterioration. One of the key components for countering mental instability is a solid study program, It's been said that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. So when we fail to create various forms of release we can leave ourselves vulnerable for a host of psychological disorders. These units are creating psycho-active psychosis and the results end in men slowly falling apart. In most of these units prisoners are allowed to order radios or televisions. These avenues of release helps to serve as social distractions and avenues of escape. But too much of both can serve to keep one too content with reality T.V. shows and one loses focus on legal work and your freedom. Prison administrators use many social distractions as pacifiers to maintain control of the prison

populations/units as a whole.

Too much humility can become cowardice, so we must slay strong body, mind, and spirit. Prisoners must acquire a host of reading materials on subjects that helps to empower them with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We all have a purpose to our overall existence. If you're not willing to surrender your soul or become a victim of (23) or (24) isolation status, build yourself an educational awareness program to stimulate individual or collective growth and development. Group dialogue is really helpful in closed up units like SHU units, super maxes, or administrative segregation units.

The sensory deprivation that overwhelms and impacts the minds of prisoners in these places makes the effects of isolation that much more critical. A constant reading, writing, and communicating with family and friends are the weapons we used to combat the intentions of this form of isolation. We must maintain a healthy balance of mental stimulating information. Reading helps us develop new ideas as well as keep the mind active. A body and mind in motion stays in motion. A mind and body at rest stays at rest.

Solitary confinement has the potential to rob a person day by day of some of their ability to rationalize and think critically. So I can't stress the importance of developing a sound system of basic and advanced education programs. I have spent many years in (23) hour isolation units to know exactly what works and what will ultimately fail in the end. I suggest prisoners inside these units make their isolation work for them. Make it a companion, instead of falling apart, pull yourselves together and do all the necessary things you can to preserve your life. My earlier years of isolation allowed me time to discover that I had a creative writing spirit. Those were times when some of my best essays were created. It was then I learned how to use isolation as a tool toward my own growth and development. We must steadily and consistently feed our brain the necessary stimuli with quality materials. A healthy study habit helps tremendously in combating the ills of insanity. So many prisoners have succumbed to the conditions of these types of reactionary environments many prisoners are being made subject to spending decades and entire prison terms on these units. You will be their next victim if you don't prepare yourself right now.

Points to Ponder

• Prisoners who like to read and do their own research and share their political or non-political materials should organize a people's library for the unit.• Prisoners could make use of any idle time by developing "spelling bee" contest on your unit as a way to upgrade and better one's spelling. • Prisoners can build a strong vocabulary by studying the dictionary. This helps to also better our ability to communicate with everyone we write or come into contact with. The use of properly used language can be very persuasive.

• make it move • SUMMER 2009 •

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• Prisoners who believe that there is a higher being or higher power should do what is necessary to get in-tuned with their spiritual side. This helps to balance out the stress one endures on these units. • Prisoners should find one or two people we have things in common with in the free world and maintain a connection to the streets. This is very crucial to your continued stable mental health.

These points are not complex, in fact its rather simplistic and should be incorporated into an active prisoner's daily programs. Especially when it will mean your survival or your certain death if you don't. Brothers, it's imperative that our struggle for balance, justice, freedom, rise to the next level. We all struggle together as one brotherhood with the objective of our freedom as our common reality.

Building a Strong Base Around Yourself

Prisoners who are being housed in solitary confinement and units like (security housing units) or supermax control units must come to terms with their need to build a strong outside base. Many of us still have close relationships with our families. While on the other hand, some of us don't have anyone out in society who cares enough to help us. This is why it's extremely important for us to build extended family ties with people who care for the survival of prisoners across the country. Personally, prison administrators' mission in most cases are to destroy the ties and relationships we have developed with freedom loving people who's on our team. These ties are crucial in limes of support and assistance. We all need people who are not overly judgmental and who will embrace us as we are and stand by us in our tight for freedom. So we must bring all of our supporters together with our loved ones and build a movement. When you don't have anyone to make a call to the warden, governor, or commissioner's office, who will expose what is occurring on your unit, or to you by prison guards these people are more likely to violate your rights.

When harassment goes unchallenged, prison administrators tend to get out of control. So we as prisoners must educate and inform people on the things they can do from the free world to keep prison administrators at bay. Over the years this has been an effective process because when the people on the outside have all the informational tools to assist us they will almost always respond correctly. Sometimes this can be a not so easy process, because all people don't work well together. Personality conflicts, ego flare tips, insecurities, and a variety of other factors prevent such collective efforts.

Prisoners' families and those who care and support them share a common connection that must be revealed to them when we begin the process of encouraging them to work together for our freedom. Our families and friends want the same thing, and that is to see us return home through the gates we entered. This is a common relationship they share on the outside.Building or organizing yourself a freedom defense committee of people loyal to you is a must. This committee on your

behalf would serve as your voice. The job of your outside committee would be to keep the courts, attorney on your case, prosecutor, on notice of your supporters having your back. They would help you solicit funds to build a strong financial base to pay your attorney or securing one if you don't have reliable legal representation. They would help to publicize and inform society about your current prison reality and legal battles as you push for freedom from America's prisons.

A strong base of support is very important for many reasons. No one in prison should be in prison without some kind of support. But prisoners who are the constant targets of prison administrators deserve it more so then others, for it is these men or women who are trying to change their oppressive environments. They are not targeted due to reactionary behavior in prison. They are constant victims of manufactured set ups, harassment, slander, and even attempts made on their lives because they are revolutionary and politically conscious. Also these men and women work to expose violations of policy and law.

Points to Ponder

• Build yourself a support freedom committee to help you maintain, survive, promote your freedom, and expose the conditions of the prison or control unit you're in.• Try to establish a consistent relationship with friends who will visit you regularly. It helps to keep one focused and uncontrolled by the conditions of your environment.• Always send a card or a warm respectful letter of appreciation to those outside who support and show their love and concern for your well being. Never abuse these relationships or you may live to regret it when you're alone and depressed.• If you are in need of money for legal representation build a creative fundraiser. They can sell some T-shirts, buttons, hats, that reflect consciousness that say support those innocent inside.• Prisoners can write booklets of poetry, history, prison life, their lives, and once formatted correctly, they can be sold on E-Bay or some other venue to raise money.

These points are not complex, in fact they are basic and rather simple and could be incorporated into an active prisoner's daily programs. Especially when it will mean your survival and freedom from these prison plantations. Brothers and Sisters it is imperative that our struggle for balance, justice, freedom, equality rise to the next level. We all share the same reality we're in prison which gives us a common relationships. This struggle is real.