Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Those Who Have No Blood On Their Hands

Words fail me… i spent much of yesterday and the night before trying to write, but nothing measured up to the horror of the Quebec City massacre, where a young far-rightist shot up a mosque, killing six and wounding many more

i will come back to this, but as things are right now, all i could do was the following; these images can be downloaded from facebook, or here. The text on each image translated as “It wasn’t me who fired — My hands are clean.”

These are politicians and journalists, most but not all from Quebec, who have worked hard to spread Islamophobia here over the past decade or so. This was not an “organic” development, it was nurtured and encouraged, part of several people’s personal agenda, something they did for votes, for money, and occasionally of course out of plain old racist principle.

More will be added, i am sure

 

drainville

Bernard Drainville


 

marois

Pauline Marois


 

martineau

Richard Martineau


 

brassard

Jacques Brassard


 

arthur

André Arthur


 

peladeau

Pierre-Karl Péladeau


 

leitch

Kellie Leitch


 

levant

Ezra Levant


 

lisee

Jean-François Lisée


 

drouin

André Drouin


 

harper

Stephen Harper


 

duhaime

Eric Duhaime


 

bock-cote

Mathieu Bock-Côté


 

 


 

dumont

Mario Dumont


 

bertrand

Janette Bertrand


 

payette

Lise Payette


 

fillion

Jeff Fillion


 

tremblay

Jean Tremblay



on the main Kersplebedeb website: http://ift.tt/2jsTOTC



Sunday, January 29, 2017

Fermeture du consulat américain à Montréal / Shut down US consulate in Montreal

16266187_10154193128361643_1319837389896293663_n

(le française suivra)

SHUT DOWN THE U.S. CONSULATE

WHEN: Monday January 30 at 12 PM noon
WHERE: 1155 Rue St-Alexandre, Montréal (metro Place-des-arts) in Montreal
FACEBOOK: http://ift.tt/2jH1xMH

Remember sitting in school learning about history, thinking “If I was alive then, I would have…”
You are alive now. What you do now is what you would have done then.

-Now Is the Time-

We live in horrific times. The United States, the most powerful country in the world, has embarked on a path of naked racism, celebrating cruelty and contempt for the world’s poor and oppressed.

With his Muslim ban, his renewed aggression against the sovereign Indigenous nations resisting ecocide at Standing Rock, the global abortion gag order signed on his first day in office which condemns women and others to death throughout the Global South, and his proposed Great Wall of Hate, Donald Trump has made himself the champion of everything that is wrong in this world.

To many, it’s a brand new nightmare. And that’s a big part of why we are here today, outside the U.S. consulate, to make it clear that around the world, we’re watching and we don’t intend to accept these atrocities.

-Not Just Trump, Not Just Now-

Justin Trudeau is using the Trump horror-show to make a lot of nice sounding statements. Around the world, Canada is positioning itself as the “good guy” yet again. But being “better than Trump” is a pathetically low goal to aim for, and all the noise about Canadian generosity is really just that: empty noise.

As people who live within Canada’s borders, we are here to denounce Trudeau’s sugar-coated lies, just as we are here to denounce Trump’s shameless white supremacism.

We need to remember that:

– Under the Safe Third Country agreement, asylum seekers travelling through or within the USA are denied claims in Canada. At one point, estimates were that over 40% of refugees trying to come to Canada were unable to make a claim as a result of the Safe Third Country Agreement.
– On the same day as Trump’s executive order, Trudeau issued a notice ending the policy to sponsor Syrian and Iraqi refugees by Groups of Five and Community Sponsors, stating that the “quota” was full —a more “polite Canadian” way of spewing a similar racist exclusionary agenda.

– The Designated Countries of Origin (DCO) list means that those seeking refuge from the US and 40+ other countries are deemed to be “safe” – making it essentially impossible to seek asylum in Canada regardless of one’s individual circumstances.

– Canadian immigration policies are themselves racist, sexist, ableist, and anti-poor. Hundreds of people languish in Canada’s immigration detention centers. Every day dozens of people are deported from here. People with disabilities or illnesses, without money, or with criminal records are all routinely turned away at Canada’s borders.

We demand:

– An immediate opening of the Canadian-USA border to everyone seeking to flee the catastrophe unfolding;

– An immediate cancellation of the Safe 3rd Country Agreement with the USA and the Designated Countries of Origin list;

– The implementation of an ongoing, comprehensive and inclusive regularization program for the more than 500,000 undocumented people already living in Canada;

– Establishing Montreal as a Solidarity/Sanctuary City, open to all migrants, with funding for access to services including health care, housing and education.

War, super-exploitation, climate chaos, and genocide are forcing millions to leave their homes, to flee for their lives. Countries like Canada and the United States are responsible for this global misery. This is where the drones are sent from. This is where the mining companies bring their stolen profits back to. This is where the bombs get made. This is where the warlords get their orders from and store their cash.

That’s why we’re going to be organizing to shut them down wherever we can, including here in Canada. We will support those fleeing and those who stay. We will do what we can against the nightmares of racism, xenophobia, and jingoism.

 

*****************************************

FERMETURE DU CONSULAT AMÉRICAIN

Lundi le 30 janvier, 2017 à 12h
1155 Rue St-Alexandre, Montréal (métro Place-des-arts)
FACEBOOK: http://ift.tt/2jH1xMH

Quand tu étais à l’école dans tes cours d’histoires, tu te rappelles t’être dit : « Si j’avais vécu à cette époque, j’aurais fait…. ». Tu vis aujourd’hui et ce que tu fais maintenant, c’est ce que tu aurais fait avant.

-Maintenant, c’est le temps!-

Nous vivons à une époque horrible. Les États-Unis, le pays le plus puissant au monde, a pris le chemin du racisme mis à nu, en célébrant la cruauté et le mépris envers les pauvres et les opprimé.es de ce monde.

Avec le décret contre les musulman.es, l’agression renouvelée contre les peuples autochtones souverains qui résistent l’écocide à Standing Rock, la mesure anti-avortement condamnant à mort les femmes des pays du Sud adoptée dans les premiers jours de son mandat ainsi que son Mur de la haine, Donald Trump est devenu l’emblème de tout ce qui va mal sur la planète.

-Pas juste Trump, et pas seulement maintenant!-

Justin Trudeau utilise le film d’horreur joué par Trump pour faire des déclarations empathiques. À travers le monde, le Canada est en train de se positionner comme « le bon gars » encore une autre fois. Mais être « mieux que Trump » est un objectif pathétiquement bas à viser et les discours vides de Trudeau sur la générosité canadienne ne sont que du bruit à nos oreilles.

En tant que personnes vivant à l’intérieur des frontières canadiennes, nous sommes ici pour dénoncer les mensonges déguisés de Trudeau, tout comme nous sommes ici pour dénoncer l’utilisation éhontée de l’idéologie suprématiste blanche de Trump.

Rappelons que :

– D’après l’Entente sur les tiers pays sûrs, les demandeurs d’asile voyageant par ou à l’intérieur des États-Unis se voient refuser leurs demandes au Canada. Des estimations évaluent que plus de 40% des refugié.es cherchant à venir au Canada ont été incapables de faire leur demande à cause de l’Entente sur les pays tiers.

– La même journée que le décret de Trump, Trudeau émettait un avis sur la fin de la politique de parrainage des réfugié.es de Syrie et d’Iraq par groupes de 5 ou des répondants communautaires, arguant que les quotas avaient été remplis – une façon plus polie à la Canadienne pour justifier un agenda d’exclusion raciale similaire à celui de Trump.

– La Liste des pays d’origine désignés, qui sous-entend que les personnes demandant refuge qui proviennent des États-Unis ou d’un de la quarantaine de pays identifiés comme « sûrs », signifie dans les faits qu’il est pratiquement impossible de demander l’asile au Canada peu importe les circonstances individuelles de la personne.

– Les politiques d’immigration canadiennes sont en elles-mêmes racistes, sexistes, capacitistes et anti-pauvres. Des centaines de personnes languissent dans les centres de détention pour immigrant.es du Canada. Chaque jour, des douzaines de personnes sont déportées d’ici. Des gens avec des handicaps ou des maladies, sans argent ou encore avec un dossier criminel sont régulièrement reflués aux frontières canadiennes.

Nous demandons :

– L’ouverture immédiate de la frontière Canada-États-Unis à toute personne cherchant à fuir la catastrophe qui voit le jour en ce moment;

– L’annulation immédiate de l’Entente sur les tiers pays sûrs et la Liste des pays d’origine désignés;

– L’établissement d’un programme de régularisation continu, complet et inclusif pour les 500 000 et + de personnes sans documents vivant déjà au Canada;

– La déclaration de Montréal comme une ville solidaire et sanctuaire, ouverte à toutes les personnes migrantes et fournissant un financement pour accéder aux services tels que les soins de santé, le logement et l’éducation.

La guerre, la surexploitation, le chaos climatique, l’écocide et le génocide forcent des millions de personnes à quitter leur maison et à fuir pour sauver leur vie. Des pays comme le Canada et les États-Unis sont responsables de cette misère globale. C’est d’ici que les drones partent. C’est ici que les compagnies minières rapatrient leurs profits volés des ressources du Sud. C’est ici que les bombes sont faites. C’est ici que les seigneurs de guerre reçoivent leurs directives et entreposent leurs richesses.

C’est pourquoi nous allons nous organiser pour les perturber et les faire fermer partout où nous pouvons, incluant ici au Canada. En appui à ceux et celles qui fuient et qui restent. Pour faire ce que nous pouvons contre ces cauchemars racistes, xénophobes et chauvinistes.

——————

 



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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Does Trump Represent Fascism or White Supremacy? (repost)

A guest column by PG How should we understand the impending presidency of Donald Trump? What should we be prepared for? While some have framed Trump’s victory as a sign of resurgent fascism, our guest contributor argues that we should see it as the latest development in a much older phenomenon, w

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Does Trump Represent Fascism or White Supremacy?



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Does Trump Represent Fascism or White Supremacy?



A guest column by PG How should we understand the impending presidency of Donald Trump? What should we be prepared for? While some have framed Trump’s victory as a sign of resurgent fascism, our guest contributor argues that we should see it as the latest development in a much older phenomenon, w

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Does Trump Represent Fascism or White Supremacy?



Monday, January 16, 2017

MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR 2017 / SALON DU LIVRE ANARCHISTE DE MONTRÉAL 2017

salonanarchiste2017Mark your calendars …
MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR 2017

Préparez vos calendriers…
LE SALON DU LIVRE ANARCHISTE DE MONTRÉAL 2017

[français suivra)
Mark your calendars …
MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR 2017

Two days: Saturday, May 27 & Sunday, May 28
From 10am to 5pm on both days

The Anarchist Bookfair will take place in two buildings across from each other in Parc Vinet:
– Centre d’éducation populaire de la Petite-Bourgogne et de St-Henri (CEDA), 2515 rue Delisle
– Centre Culturel Georges-Vanier (CCGV), 2450 rue Workman
A short walk from Lionel-Groulx metro.

No gods, no masters, no bosses, no borders.
FREE. Welcome to all!
For anarchists, and people curious about anarchism.

-> Participants from all over Quebec and North America, booksellers and vendors, workshops, films, discussions, kids’ activities, art exhibits and more!
-> Part of the month-long Festival of Anarchy held throughout May 2017 at venues and locations all over the island of Montreal.
-> During this year’s Bookfair, tabling will take place over two days: May 27-28, between 10am and 5pm.

– Callout: Seeking Bookfair poster designs (deadline: February 10, 2017):http://ift.tt/2jhejzE
– The callout for vendors, workshops & presentations, film, art and Festival of Anarchy events will be posted shortly.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
-> e-mail: info@anarchistbookfair.ca
-> mail: Salon du livre Anarchiste de Montréal
1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Suite 204
Montréal, Québec H3G 1N1

FOR UPDATES:
-> web: http://ift.tt/1iSm5pV
-> announcements list: http://ift.tt/1iSm3yl

SOCIAL MEDIA:
-> facebook: http://ift.tt/1N608q4
-> twitter: @BookfairAnarMTL

:::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::

Deux journées : samedi le 27 mai et dimanche le 28 mai
De 10h à 17h les deux jours

Le Salon du livre anarchiste se tiendra dans deux bâtiments situés l’un en face de l’autre autour du Parc Vinet:
– Au Centre d’éducation populaire de la Petite-Bourgogne et de St-Henri (CEDA), 2515 rue Delisle
– Au Centre culturel Georges-Vanier (CCGV), 2450 rue Workman
C’est à une courte distance de marche du métro Lionel-Groulx.

Ni dieu, ni maîtres; ni patrons, ni frontières.
GRATUIT. Bienvenue à tous et toutes.
Pour les anarchistes et pour les personnes curieuses de l’anarchisme.

->Des participants venant de partout au Québec et en Amérique du Nord : des libraires, éditeurs, ateliers, films, discussions, activités pour enfants, expositions d’arts et plus!
->Dans le cadre du Festival de l’Anarchie se déroulant tout le long du mois de mai 2017 et offrant des activités dans différents lieux de Montréal.
->Lors du Salon du livre de cette année, les tables d’exposition prendront place sur deux jours : le 27 et le 28 mai, entre 10h et 17h.

– Appel : Nous cherchons une personne pour faire le design de l’affiche du Salon (date limite : 10 février 2017): http://ift.tt/2jhahae
– L’appel pour les distributeurs de livres, les ateliers & présentations, les films, l’art et le Festival de l’Anarchie sera diffusé bientôt.

POUR INFORMATION :
-> Courriel : info@salonanarchiste.ca
-> Poste: Salon du livre Anarchiste de Montréal
1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Suite 204
Montréal, Québec H3G 1N1

POUR DES MISES- À-JOUR :
-> web: http://ift.tt/1wDugPo
-> liste d’envoi: http://ift.tt/1iSm3yl

MÉDIAS SOCIAUX :
-> facebook: http://ift.tt/1N608q4
-> twitter: @BookfairAnarMTL



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Ctrl-Alt-Delete: An Antifascist Report on the Alternative Right

ctrlaltdelete_coverThe latest from Kersplebedeb Publishing, Ctrl-Alt-Delete addresses the origins and rise of the so-called “alt-right,” the fascistic movement that grabbed headlines in the months leading up to the 2016 election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. It is due back from the printers in February, but is available for pre-order now; the
cover price is $10, but bulk pricing ranges from $4-6 each depending on quantity. Pre-ordering copies will help us have a sense of how many we should be printing, and will also help us cover our printing costs. You can do so by clicking here!)

The title essay, Matthew Lyons’s “Ctrl-Alt-Delete,” is a thorough survey of the origins of the alt-right, a look at its constituent parts and beliefs at the present time, as well as observations about how its future relationship with the Trump administration may play out. Of particular interest, Lyons draws attention to the importance of sexism and misogyny within this movement, to its long-term “metapolitical” strategy, as well as to the tensions between the disparate groups that have found their home under its banner.

Lyons’s essay was already in the works prior to the developments of 2016, part of a broader study of anti-systemic far right movements in the United States. That book, Insurgent Supremacists, is due out from Kersplebedeb and PM Press in 2018. Given the rapid developments of the past few months, however, it was felt important to make his chapter on the alt-right available as soon as possible – therein lies the origin of this publication.

Supplementing “Ctrl-Alt-Delete” is an essay written by comrades from the Its Going Down website, “The Rich Kids of Fascism.”  This is a view from activists currently involved in opposing both the far right and the state, on the streets. As its title would imply, “Rich Kids” focuses on the elitist class politics of the alt right, and how that sets it apart from other far right phenomenon like boneheads or militias. Looking at the alt-right’s fortunes over the past few years, IGD show the role played by both the media, and white racist fears about the ongoing struggles of Black people and immigrants, in feeding this threat.

An appendix, “Notes on Trump,” by Bromma (also available on the Kersplebedeb website), serves not so much as a counterpoint, as a contextualization. Not directly addressing the alt-right itself, Bromma’s Notes posit that the election of Trump and the rise of the far right are not simple accidents of history, nor the result of some single failure on our side or success on theirs, but are conjoined expressions of a deep shift within the world economy. As he argues, “What’s coming into view, semi-hidden underneath the frenzied soap opera of reactionary populism, is that the tide of globalization has crested and started to recede.”

The alt right in one expression of this reactionary moment. We must oppose them, but also prepare ourselves to oppose what might come next. Understanding one’s enemy can only help in this regard, and indeed a thorough understanding of an opposing political force can also help us prepare for future far right iterations.

That is why this book is being offered now. A tool for work that needs doing. Let’s get started.



on the main Kersplebedeb website: http://ift.tt/2jhiMlM



Sunday, January 15, 2017

Why are Jews, gays, and other minorities in Europe increasingly voting far-right? (repost)

Paris and Amsterdam—Leon de Winter, a Jewish bestselling novelist in Amsterdam, says supporting the Dutch political figure Geert Wilders, who seeks to “de-Islamify” the Netherlands, is “politically incorrect” and “not civilized.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Why are Jews, gays, and other minorities in Europe increasingly voting far-right?



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Vancouver: Report Back from Anti-Alt-Right Demo (repost)

On Saturday December 17th 2016, roughly 30-40 demonstrators converged in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside at Pigeon Park, the site of the recently erected Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Survivor’s Totem Pole.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Vancouver: Report Back from Anti-Alt-Right Demo



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Denis Lessard (repost)

(Québec) Le resserrement des règles sur les séjours à l’étranger touche très majoritairement des citoyens nés à l’extérieur du Canada, révèlent des données obtenues par La Presse.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Denis Lessard



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Saturday, January 14, 2017

Vancouver: Report Back from Anti-Alt-Right Demo



On Saturday December 17th 2016, roughly 30-40 demonstrators converged in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside at Pigeon Park, the site of the recently erected Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Survivor’s Totem Pole.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Vancouver: Report Back from Anti-Alt-Right Demo



Why are Jews, gays, and other minorities in Europe increasingly voting far-right?



Paris and Amsterdam—Leon de Winter, a Jewish bestselling novelist in Amsterdam, says supporting the Dutch political figure Geert Wilders, who seeks to “de-Islamify” the Netherlands, is “politically incorrect” and “not civilized.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Why are Jews, gays, and other minorities in Europe increasingly voting far-right?



Denis Lessard



(Québec) Le resserrement des règles sur les séjours à l'étranger touche très majoritairement des citoyens nés à l'extérieur du Canada, révèlent des données obtenues par La Presse.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at Denis Lessard



Thursday, January 05, 2017

What the hell happened? (repost)

How did this happen? How is it that we find ourselves in this bizarre alternate reality? The policy wonks were already celebrating the coronation of Hillary Clinton, but even as the champagne flowed, Trump was gaining in the polls.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at What the hell happened?



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The Safety Pin and the Swastika (repost)

If you had read in early 2016 about a National Pol­icy Insti­tute con­fer­ence on the theme of “Iden­tity Pol­i­tics,” you might have assumed it was an inno­cent gath­er­ing of pro­gres­sives. If you had attended, you would have been in for an unpleas­ant sur­prise.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at The Safety Pin and the Swastika



on the main Kersplebedeb website: http://ift.tt/2j6Pjtx



What the hell happened?



How did this happen? How is it that we find ourselves in this bizarre alternate reality? The policy wonks were already celebrating the coronation of Hillary Clinton, but even as the champagne flowed, Trump was gaining in the polls.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at What the hell happened?



The Safety Pin and the Swastika



If you had read in early 2016 about a National Pol­icy Insti­tute con­fer­ence on the theme of “Iden­tity Pol­i­tics,” you might have assumed it was an inno­cent gath­er­ing of pro­gres­sives. If you had attended, you would have been in for an unpleas­ant sur­prise.

Read the rest of this post on the original site at The Safety Pin and the Swastika



Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Protect Kevin “Rashid” Johnson from Prison Repression!

rashid_sp2013PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

WHEN: Anytime, but esp. on January 5th
WHAT: Protect imprisoned activist-journalist Kevin “Rashid” Johnson
FACEBOOK EVENT: http://ift.tt/g8FRpYevents/1794902884117144/

On December 21, 2016, Kevin “Rashid” Johnson was the victim of an assault by guards at the Clements Unit where he is currently being held, just outside Amarillo, Texas. Rashid was sprayed with OC pepper gas while handcuffed in his cell, and then left in the contaminated cell for hours with no possibility to shower and no access to fresh air. It was in fact days before he was supplied with new sheets or clothes (his bed was covered with the toxic OC residue), and to this day his cell has not been properly decontaminated.

This assault came on the heels of another serious move against Rashid, as guards followed up on threats to confiscate all of his property – not only files required for legal matters, but also art supplies, cups to drink water out of, and food he had recently purchased from the commissary. The guards in question were working under the direction of Captain Patricia Flowers, who had previously told Rashid that she intended to seize all of his personal belongings as retaliation for his writings about mistreatment of prisoners, up to and including assaults and purposeful medical negligence that have led to numerous deaths in custody. Specifically, Rashid’s writings have called attention to the deaths of Christopher Woolverton, Joseph Comeaux, and Alton Rodgers, and he has been contacted by lawyers litigating on behalf of the families of at least two of these men.

As a journalist and activist literally embedded within the bowels of the world’s largest prison system, Rashid relies on his files and notes for correspondence, legal matters, and his various news reports. Furthermore, Rashid is a self-taught artist of considerable talent (his work has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and books); needless to say, the guards were also instructed to seize his art materials and the drawings he was working on.

(For a more complete description of Rashid’s ordeal on and following December 21, see his recent article “Bound and Gassed: My Reward for Exposing Abuses and Killings of Texas Prisoners” at http://rashidmod.com/?p=2321)

Particularly worrisome, is the fact that the abuse currently directed against Rashid is almost a carbon-copy of what was directed against Joseph Comeaux in 2013, who was eventually even denied urgently needed medical care. Comeaux died shortly thereafter.

This is the time to step up and take action to protect Rashid; and the only protection we can provide, from the outside, is to make sure prison authorities know that we are watching. Whether you have read his articles about prison conditions, his political or philosophical polemics (and whether you agreed with him or not!), or just appreciate his artwork – even if this is the first you are hearing about Rashid – we need you to step up and make a few phone calls and send some emails. When doing so, let officials know you are contacting them about Kevin Johnson, ID #1859887, and the incident in which he was gassed and his property confiscated on December 21, 2016. The officials to contact are:

Warden Kevin Foley
Clements Unit
telephone: (806) 381-7080 (you will reach the general switchboard; ask to speak to the warden’s office)

Tell Warden Foley that you have heard of the gas attack on Rashid. Specific demands you can make:

  • That Kevin Johnson’s property be returned to him
  • That Kevin Johnson’s cell be thoroughly decontaminated
  • That Captain Patricia Flowers, Lieutenant Crystal Turner, Lieutenant Arleen Waak, and Corrections Officer Andrew Leonard be sanctioned for targeting Kevin Johnson for retaliation for his writings
  • That measures be taken to ensure that whistleblowers amongst staff and the prisoner population not be targeted for any reprisals from guards or other authorities. (This is important because at least one guard and several prisoners have signed statements asserting that Rashid was left in his gassed cell for hours, and that his property should not have been seized.)

Try to be polite, while expressing how concerned you are for Kevin Johnson’s safety. You will almost certainly be told that because other people have already called and there is an ongoing investigation – or else, because you are not a member of his family — that you cannot be given any information. Say that you understand, but that you still wish to have your concerns noted, and that you want the prison to know that you will be keeping track of what happens to Mr Johnson.

The following other authorities should also be contacted. These bodies may claim they are unable to directly intervene, however we know that by creating a situation where they are receiving complaints, they will eventually contact other authorities who can intervene to see what the fuss is all about. So it’s important to get on their cases too:

TDCJ Ombudsman: ombudsman@tdcj.texas.gov

The Inspector General: 512-671-2480

Let these “watchdogs” know you are concerned that Kevin Johnson #1859887 was the victim of a gas attack in Clements Unit on December 21, 2016. Numerous witnesses have signed statements confirming that he was handcuffed, in his cell, and not threatening anyone at the time he was gassed. Furthermore, he was not allowed to shower for hours, and his cell was never properly decontaminated, so that he was still suffering the effects of the gas days later. It is also essential to mention that his property was improperly confiscated, and that he had previously been threatened with having this happen as retaliation for his writing about prison conditions. Kevin Johnson’s property must be returned!

Finally, complaints should also be directed to the director of the VA DOC Harold Clarke and the VA DOC’s Interstate Compact Supervisor, Terry Glenn. This is because Rashid is in fact a Virginia prisoner, who has been exiled from Virginia under something called the Interstate Compact, which is used by some states as a way to be rid of activist prisoners, while at the same time separating them from their families and supporters. Please contact:

VADOC Director, Harold Clarke
804-887-8081
Director.Clarke@vadoc.virginia.gov

Interstate Compact director, Terry Glenn
804-887-7866

Let them know that you are phoning about Kevin Johnson, a Virginia prisoner who has been sent to Texas under the Interstate Compact. His Texas ID # is 1859887 however his Virginia ID # is 1007485. Inform them that Mr Johnson has been gassed by guards and has had his property seized as retaliation for his writing about prison conditions. These are serious legal and human rights violations, and even though they occurred in Texas, the Virginia Department of Corrections is responsible as Mr Johnson is a Virginia prisoner. Despite the fact that they may ask you who you are, and how you know about this, and for your contact information, they will likely simply conclude by saying that they will not be getting back to you. Nonetheless, it is worth urging them to contact Texas officials about this matter.

It is good to call whenever you are able. However, in order to maximize our impact, for those who can, we are suggesting that people make their phone calls on Thursday, January 5.

And at the same time, please take a moment to sign the online petition to support Rashid, up at the Roots Action website: https://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/prison-activist-gassed-in-clements-unit-prison-texas-law-enforcement-is-violently-out-of-control

Rashid has taken considerable risks in reporting on the abuse he witnesses at the Clements Unit, just as he has at other prisons. Indeed, he has continued to report on the violence and medical neglect to which prisoners are subjected, despite threats from prison staff. If we, as a movement, are serious about working to resist and eventually abolish the U.S. prison system, we must do all we can to assist and protect those like Rashid who take it upon themselves to stand up and speak out. As Ojore Lutalo once put it, “Any movement that does not support their political internees … is a sham movement.”

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To learn more about Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, the abuses in the Texas prison system, as well as his work in founding and leading the New Afrikan Black Panther Party-Prison Chapter, see his website at http://ift.tt/2ePl5xW



on the main Kersplebedeb website: http://ift.tt/2iFy6IG