Prisoner Art Show in Columbus !!

Join us in celebrating the creativity of Ohio prisoners at the lovely It-Looks-Like-It's-Open gallery on March 20th.

There will be:
+ A Silent auction

+ Art Prints and Zines! 

+ Food, drinks and good company!

Date: Friday, March 20th
Venue: It Looks Like It's Open
Address: 13 E Tulane
Time: 6pm-10pm

Cost: $5 sliding scale donation

What have we been doing instead of the internet?!

Hey everyone

Red Bird is still alive and well, we just haven't been internet-ing much lately.

What have been doing instead of the internet?!
Focusing on building relationships people organizing inside!
Getting ready for Bomani Shakur's book release!
Keeping Books to Prisoners funded and functioning!
Collecting art work for a show this Spring!
Doing workshops at schools and community spaces!


And always, we are thinking about and talking about ways to deal with harm without the prison system.  Here's some thoughts from a prisoner we work with called BlackJack:

'On dealing with harm, I was thinking about having a meeting between the victims, the accused, and an outside neutral party come together to agree on what course of action to take.  I don't know if it would work, but neither does putting people in a cage for long amounts of time.  I always liked the idea of community service.  What does the victim want?  Will the accused accept it?  After some dialogue between them, can an agreement be made?  It definitely isn't perfect.  Plus, every instance will be different.  But, how do you dela with those who will not come to an agreement - or will not do what was agreed upon? Banishment?  Ostracization?  Death?  Garnishment/re-possession?  I don't know.  What do you think?'

What do you think?

If you're interested or curious about Red Bird, shoot us an email at Redbirdprisonabolition@gmail.com

or

help us send out books to prisoners on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month.  The next book packing will be:
Sunday March 16th
5 PM to 7 PM
172 E. 5th Ave, come to the door around back!

Statement From Hunger Striking Prisoner Soja [UPDATE]

(thanks to ohioprisonwatch.org)


UPDATE: Just got word that Soja has ended his hunger strike.

I ended my hunger strike Nov 1, 2013, after a long discussion about my property and the harassment, I agreed to come off strike if my property was brought to me, which was given to me a short while later. However, my issues with the harassment wasn't taken too serious in my opinion. I was only told that he would keep his attention on the issue and be fair if something was to happen. At that point  his attention won't stop something happening to me if that's what is planned.

Soja on Hunger Strike Against Continued Torture and Retaliation

Cornelius "Soja" Harris, the supermax prisoner who endured multiple extended hunger strikes early in 2013 is again refusing food. Harris requested a transfer to a safer facility, where he wouldn't be targeted for retaliation by staff, as he had been at OSP for years. The prison administration refused to transfer him in-state, but approved a transfer to a prison in Maryland. Harris initially accepted the transfer, but requested more information about the prison he'd be going to, what conditions were like and whether or not he'd be on 23 hour a day solitary confinement as is the case for prisoners at OSP. 

Sean Swain v ManCI Administrators, Round ???

Excerpt from recent letter by Sean Swain:

"Good news: Jesse Williams, North Regional Director of the ODRC, who authorized the illegal monitoring of my mail, has been fired. Warden Terry Tibbals was relieved as ManCI Warden yesterday (the guy who requested the illegal monitoring).
News break: in post escape investigation, it was found that $130,000 is missing from the ManCI budget. The OSHP sought maintenance supervisor Jim Miracle for questioning. At his house they found the trailer for a missing gator (golfcart vehicle) from ManCI. Miracle is M.I.A.
A few days later, Major Ralph Harr was arrested, scapegoated by Warden Tibbals. To save his own ass, Harr turned over on Tibbals. I'm certain that Harr will be an awesome witness when this goes to trial.
Lt Dahlby is gone from R.I.B. Re- assigned.
See that in the rearview mirror? That's a pile of corpses, the careers of fascists.
We did that."

More about Sean Swain...

* Two Nights, Two Events, Both Examining the Role of
Police & Prison in America *
Join Insurgent Theatre for one night of theatre and another for film.

Night #1, THEATRE: KNOW YOUR ENEMY
Insurgent Theatre's newest play examines the role of police using stripped down interactive
 theater, critical understanding of history and the power of silent refusal.
Know your history, 

Know your rights, 

Know your enemy.
Where: The Garden Theatre, 1187 N High St
When: Wed, August 28th, 7pm, $8
Web: http://insurgenttheatre.org/acab/acab.html
* * *

Night #2, FILM: THE SHADDOW OF LUCASVILLE
This new documentary revisits the 1993 prisoner uprising that took place right here in Ohio-- one of the longest uprisings in US history.
 Want to know what the deal is with mass incarceration? 

Or what happens on Death Row.

Well, we'll be discussing it here.
Where: Sporeprint Infoshop, 979 E 5th Ave.
When: Aug 29th // 7pm // Sliding Scale Donation

Web Trailer: http://youtu.be/WJHOU2st_mk
+ People will also have a chance to hear death-sentenced survivors of the uprising call in from Ohio's super-max prison to answer questions.
* * *

 Hope to see you there!

-RedBird

###

Prisoner Art Show in Columbus !!

Join us in celebrating the creativity of Ohio prisoners at the lovely It-Looks-Like-It's-Open gallery on September 20th. 

 

+ Art is up for bids in a silent auction.

+ Looking is free and prints are cheap! 

+ There will be music!
+ You'll have a chance to hear from an artist over the phone! 

+ Come take a look and enjoy some food, water, wine, coffee and good company.

Date: Friday, September 20th
Venue: It Looks Like It's Open
Address: 13 E Tulane
Time: 6pm-10pm

Cost: $5 sliding scale donation
Website: http://www.redbirdprisonabolition.org/

MORE ABOUT REDBIRD PRISON ABOLITION:
We are a group of people in Columbus Ohio who want to see the prison system come to an end. RedBird supports prisoners through publishing their writing, setting up pen pals, hosting events and raising awareness. Our activities are guided by correspondence with incarcerated people because prison abolition ought to begin with the needs of those most directly affected by the system.
Visit our website at redbirdprisonabolition.org // Got questions? Call Wes at 513.687.4747