Prison Activism and Resistance Organization Links
From digmovements
Prison Activist Resource Center
[edit] Web Research- Prison Activism Website Critiques
[edit] Large Website: Prison Activist Resource Center
1. Describe Group: “Prison abolition group committed to exposing and challenging the institutionalized racism of the prison industrial complex.” -Anti-oppression -Believe in building safety in oppressed communities with out a reliance on police. -Work in solidarity with prisoners, friends, family and the formerly incarcerated. - Build action networks and supply materials that expose human rights violations. - “Expose prison system as an engine of race war and genocide” -Prisons Kill- exposure to toxins, environmental hazards, and medical neglect. -Expose institutionalization as torture. -Build Awareness. -Inspire and motivate people to take action against mass incarceration and for prisoners human rights. - Provide Support for activists in action.
Collective of volunteers, equipped with a community as well as prisoner advisory board funded by donation.
2. Describe Website: The site is organized well but many links malfunction and forums turn up blank. The PARC site offers extensive information and is somewhat overwhelming because there is so much on a page! The main layout is simple and serves its duties. It seems to be the style of a Wiki or a Blog because there is an opportunity for collaboration and the contents unfurl as you scroll, this feels a bit unorganized and once again overwhelming.
I also noticed that a good portion of the information was out of date. There is potential for pictures to make their message more effective. My favorite part of this website is the feeling of community and the need for me as an individual. There was an opportunity to become a member of the site and I signed up immediately! There was also a page of several of their current projects and ways to directly contact them to get involved, packed with descriptions and words like ‘you’ and ‘we’.
3. Describe the groups online activism: I really enjoyed the connection PARC provided to prisoners and activists and the outreach the site provided to broken families. The site serves as a network to link other organizations and resources to one another and offers a great hub of information. Not only are the voices of activists heard but excerpts from prisoners letters are posted and a forum consisting of people needing support is active. Browsing the site I found volunteer opportunities with PARC as well as things I could do the help in my community as well as support prisoners that are being mistreated.
4. Critique The Website: I feel I have already done this while answering previous questions. I feel the organization is successful in supplying resources and considering each individual as a necessary body in their fight to educate. They stated they support a ‘moratorium on prison construction and fight against the war on drugs, the war on immigrants, war on crime, and the use of prison slave labor.’ I believe this to be apparent in the context of the site and believe that they support all efforts and engage the viewer. They ask that you email them with your website to add to their hub of resources if you are an active prison activist.
5. Draw Conclusions: I felt the website to successfully compile resources for those involved and interested in the activism of the penitentiary creating a friendly welcoming information center in the process.
[edit] Small Website: California Prison Manitorium Project
1. Describe Group: Calipmp is a small organization that runs on donation. -Seek to stop public and private prison construction in California. - Believe money save from the construction budget should be spent to fund alternatives to punishment. - Believe than communities will be able to examine why people break the law. Information provided: “If you build em’, they’ll fill em’”
Most people admitted into prison are for non-violent charges--- economic and drug related- these people do not need to be removed from society but rather given resources- education, affordable child care, job training etc.
2. Describe Website: There is extensive information on each page, there is a lot to read but it is relevant. The site format is static webpage. The format and front page is appealing, easy to follow, clear links and has page after page comprised of wonderful appropriate graphics.
3. Describe the groups online activism: The group wants the website to educate and advocate (seek support). They list real-life workshops and opportunities to volunteer but do not offer any direct contact or intellectual exchange. The purpose is to provide information on their organizations efforts and seek approval through educating. There is a scholarly tone and it is done well.
4./5. Critique website and draw conclusions: California Prison Manitorium Project succeeds at selling their goals and informing readers but they do not give an opportunity to get involved. Looking at the site, I feel passionately for their efforts but do not feel I can do anything to get involved. Nor do I feel as though they’d like me to, with the exception of a paypal link for donation and the purchase of a t-shirt. The website is organized and designed tremendously well, is aesthetically pleasing and if their goal as an organization is not to recruit members but to inform of their activities and goals, than they site serves them perfectly.
Article contributed by: Alexa Carson
