Prison Activism and Resistance

From digmovements

"LOCKING MORE PEOPLE IN MORE CAGES DOES NOT REDUCE CRIME...PRISONS DO NOT STOP PROBLEMS LIKE RACISM, POVERTY AND DRUG ADDICTION THEREFORE WE CANNOT EXPECT THEM TO STOP CRIME" -Critical Resistance Website

1 The "Campaign" of Prison Activism and Resistance groups

[edit] The "Campaign" of Prison Activism and Resistance groups

According to Charles Tilly Social Movements are different interest groups coming together over a common claim usually involving the government in some form and consist of a combination of interest groups, public campaigns, performances and WUNC displays (worthiness, unity, numbers and commitment). Tilly believes that all factors must coexist to be considered a Social Movement and that by defining this it will become clear what groups must do to produce a successful campaign.

[edit] Overall Goal Prison Activists Wish to Achieve:

Prison activists are compiled of several groups striving for a community that does not rely on the prison system to be the only means of administering punishment. They believe that instead of the method of incarceration treatment, community service, child care, education and fines provide more humane forms of rehabilitation. Prison activists and reform groups wish to terminate mass incarceration, racial profiling and the prison industrial complex. The Critical Resistance website states in their mission statement that this can become possible by "challenging the belief that caging and controlling people makes us safe. We believe that basic necessities such as food, shelter, and freedom are what really make our communities secure." There has been a shift in the incarceration system, it appears to be no longer about rehabilitation but purely a form of punishment. This has a lot to say about our society and the lack of community involvement.

[edit] Campaign Plans to Accomplish Goal:

Groups go about approaching their goals differently. A main technique is through education, outreach, and advocacy both in a real life community and online. By creating a general awareness and passion against the injustices that occur in the prison system people are apt to join the cause and rally their senators etc., in addition they fulfill the WUNC displays Charles Tilly feels necessary for a successful movement to occur- Worthiness, Unity, Numbers and Commitment. In addition to this, organizations are petitioning, and rallying. There are several groups that hold conferences as well as marches. Most groups meet in real life to communicate and advocate, but provide education and resources online.

[edit] Claims-Making Performances Prison Activism Employs:

Prison resistance organizations celebrate communication as a means to productive and effective activism. Through list serves, visits, calls, national and regional retreats, national work groups, conference calls, e-mail, workshops and notes, activists remain in contact without that limitations and bias of a hierarchical structure. Communication between organizations, chapters, the individual activist, community members and prisoners is essential in keeping everyone educated and involved in efforts for prison activism and support.

In addition to these communication performances organizations have news letters as well as publications. The Critical Resistance's 'The Abolitionist News Paper' supplies free copies to prisoners and offers a low income option for those who can not afford the normal costs. In addition to this North American Prisoners and Friends Magazine advocates for justice, freedom, equality, environment efforts, human rights, socialism, and peace. The online magazine offers free hard copies to prisoners and encourages discussion, dialogue and critic.

Other organizations use art of both prisoners and activists to raise community awareness and gain funds via auctions. An example of this is Art Against Prisons held at the Interurban Gallery. In addition many activists employ the use of petitions to lobby their legislator and governors.

[edit] Prison Activism WUNC Displays (Established Legitimacy of Cause):

Worthiness:

Prisons are overcrowded with drug offenders, immigrants, sex workers and people of color. These individuals will not profit from being caged, rather become dehumanized further by the system. Prison activists hope to increase economic and political participation as well as make available affordable housing to those in need and develop an understanding that drug abuse is a medical condition. They believe that by addressing the root causes of these re-occurring crimes (such as poverty, racial profiling, drug abuse, prostitution and illegal immigration) we are able as a community to work towards a reduction in criminal activity. It is believed by prison activists that the prison system is unjust and harmful to the community.

Unity:

There are several large interactive websites dedicated to connecting organizations and offering resources both in the flesh and on the internet. These websites not only connect activists and organizers but prisoners to activists and organizers as well. This communication is essential to the anti-prison movement, breaking down the wall that divides prisoners from society and creating a community for all involved. In addition to these resource based websites there are several community chapters of organizations that meet regularly (in the flesh) to discuss issues of pertinence, organize, work on community outreach, discuss prison industrial complex, reach out to prisoners etc. I feel there is an immense degree of unity, with two million people imprisoned many are affected directly by the prison industry and therefore the injustices of civil liberties hit close to home.

Numbers:

I am not aware of how many followers there are supporting the resistance of the prison industry, my guess is that there are not as many as there should be. The prison industry capitalizes on fear, (fear of the thief, poor, drug addicted, y.b.m. etc) with this prolonged and provoked fear comes a dehumanization of the 'enemy'. Because the feared individual (in need of community help, love and rehabilitation) is depicted as the enemy the idea of them roaming free threatens the community (it does not help that the detained individual is 'monsterized' in prison and shunned from and forgot by the society in which they need the most support).
I am certain that there is a large number of active individuals both practicing online activism as well as in the flesh. Primarily the internet serves as a communication network for in the flesh organizations to gain information as well as to share and collect donations. Followers and allies of the prison movement work with prisoners, work in the political sphere lobbying against the building of new prisons and privatization. They create and share prison art, hold conferences, give workshops, and organize community rallies. Activists participate in street theater amd benefit shows, as well as give speeches and hold protests.

Commitment:
The struggle against the prison system requires full dedication because it is not recognized by all parties to be a danger to society or a breach to our civil liberties, many find the idea of incarceration to be positive, a safe haven. There is a continual need for education, outreach, advocacy and action amongst peers. I have not heard nor have I read about many victories towards prison liberation [ that is not to say there has not been any, I have heard of and read of some]. In addition to this many websites I have logged on to for resources and research were outdated and did not function to there full ability. This is not to say that those involved are not committed, I believe that they are highly passionate about ending the prison industrial complex. It is a huge subject and injustice to tackle, there are so many underlying aspects, causes, constituencies and alternative precursors to consider and work for that a success may get lost in the folds of the industry as a whole.

[edit] Who are the participants in the movement?

Organizers
There are several organizers involved in prison activism efforts, many are based in Oakland California such as PARC and Critical Resistance. These two organizations appear to be the biggest of the movement, serving not only their individual communities but maintaining chapters around the U.S. and connecting to other national prison activist websites. There appears to be several organizations serving individual communities that do not connect on a national level. I feel that if an effort to link the organizations/ groups and their efforts together was made, solidarity within the movement would persist as well as the possibility for a larger action to ensue and be effective in their movement.

Activists
The activists consist of prisoners, family members and friends of incarcerated, those against police brutality, those in support of alternatives to the prison industry, individuals, students, anarchists, teachers, and a number of other sub categories. Many activists are involved in organizations and special interest groups but a number of others operate on an individual level receiving information from books, articles and the internet. I feel any one who reaches out to a prisoner either through volunteer work, phone calls or letters is helping to build communication within the community and prison system and that is direct action for the movement as far as I can tell.

Authorities
The authority figures consist of police, the legislative office, judicial system, capitalism (privatized prisons, construction, economic gains-jobs in prison industry), the media, and in some way the voter, who approves such laws as the three strikes your out and approves the construction of new penitentiaries.

Third Parties
Those who live and work in communities housing prisons, the general populace who fear those that are incarcerated and feels society to be better without their involvement. Those who are involved in the court system and all prisoners active or not. I feel like because this movements goals are all encompassing they effect everyone and therefore I believe everyone could be considered a third party to this movement.

[edit] Are Web Technologies Creating/Transforming Prison Movement?

Yes, I believe the internet has a huge impact on prison resistance efforts, the internet enables communication both internationally and nationally as well as educates about the injustices occurring in the prison industry. In addition to being a communication tool the web alerts other activists and individuals of calls to action which strengthens the actions numbers. The internet helps organizers connect and discover new allies as well as share information and encourage through the sharing of successes. Web technologies have heightened community awareness regarding the incarceration system, connects, and offers support. I especially appreciate that in addition to becoming more aware via the internet I was able to find ways in which I could help the cause, locally, nationally and on both a group and individual level on almost all of the websites I viewed.