WALTER EDMUND BOND (37096013)
8/15/2012 2:04:44 PM
Prisoner Support Defined
In this technological era of instant communication its easy for the internet activist (oxymoron intended) to lose line of sight with what is, and what is not, support for imprisoned activists. Here is a brief explanation of good prisoner support and why it’s important to the convict and the movement of Total Liberation.
-THE BIG FOUR-
As a prisoner there are four things that make all the difference in our lives. These are: money, letters, pictures and books/magazines and print media.
1. MONEY- While we are given the bare minimum in prison and jail to survive, funds make all the difference. Just as in the world outside of the walls and razor wire personal clothing like shorts, sweatshirts and even quality underwear cost money. decent hygiene costs money. Food (other than that given to you at meal time, which is not adequate, no matter what your diet, but especially on a Vegan one) costs money. As do stamps, sending and receiving emails, downloading music, phone calls etc. But unlike the outside world prisoners have no way to make money. Even with a prison job which if you have a good one might pay 50 dollars a month (maximum) the prison system gets to take up to 100% of that if we owe any restitution or fines. Therefore a few bucks is always appreciated by prisoners.
2. LETTERS- Prisoners have no way to stay in the loop, keep current on events, or know that anyone cares at all unless we get a letter. In this day and age thousands of people may visit a support sight or face book page. But in places like the CMU (communications Management Unit) for political prisoners we are not even allowed to receive printouts of those nice blurbs of support in our snail mail. Ask yourself, am I posting this to be part of an online community or because I support this person in reality? If so then send it in a letter. Remember while federal inmates have limited accesses to email we have NO accesses to the internet.
3. PICTURES- As a prisoner our world is visually depressing. Gray paint, concrete, doors, walls, bars, cages and razor wire. We see the same people everyday, no changes. Pictures of Animals, Nature, cities, yourself definitely are appreciated. I have a photo album and two cork boards in my cell. I pin pictures of nature to them to have some makeshift scenery on my walls and from time to time I flip through my photo album to remember what Vegans and Animals look like.
BOOKS/MAGAZINES AND PRINT MEDIA- prisoners have more time to focus on books than anyone else on the planet! But if they don’t get sent in there is nothing of interest to read. most jails and prison libraries stock used romance and fiction novels nothing of substance. A book or magazine will not only get read by the person you send it to but every prisoner that can get their hands on it! Books have a captive audience in prison. I remember when I was going to court in Salt Lake City books that I read and placed on the book cart quickly made the rounds and were read by hundreds of inmates. Most of these books are still circulating in that jail long after I have left.
This ‘Big 4’ is what you can do to support those of us that have lost our freedom, fighting for the freedom of the Earth and Animals. Prisoner support is vital for the P.O.W. that receives it but more importantly for the future of resistance. The reality is that jail and prison is simply the occupational hazard of Earth and Animal warriors. It’s important that would be and future liberators know that if, or when they face government oppression they will be supported and remembered as long as they spoke or fought for Mother earth and the Animal Nations and NEVER INFORMED ON OTHER ACTIVISTS. This is the circle that keeps Liberation a living struggle and not merely an idea or ideal. we’re in here for the Earth and Animals, you’re out there for us!
Animal Liberation, Whatever It May Take!
Walter Bond behind bars at Jefferson County Jail, Golden Colorado, Aug 2010
ALF POW
Walter Bond
