Occupy San Quentin for National Occupy Day in Support of Prisoners

Occupy Oakland supports call for Participation in National Occupy Day in Support of Prisoners, Monday, February 20 2012 (President's Day).

In the Bay Area we will “Occupy San Quentin,” to stand in solidarity with the people confined within its walls and to demand the end of the incarceration as a means of containing those dispossessed by unjust social policies.

Prisons have become a central institution in American society, integral to our politics, economy and our culture.

Between 1976 and 2000, the United States built on average a new prison each week and the number of imprisoned Americans increased tenfold.

Prison has made the threat of torture part of everyday life for millions of individuals in the United States, especially the 7.3 million people—who are disproportionately people of color—currently incarcerated or under correctional supervision.

Imprisonment itself is a form of torture. The typical American prison, juvenile hall and detainment camp is designed to maximize degradation, brutalization, and dehumanization.

Mass incarceration is the new Jim Crow. Between 1970 and 1995, the incarceration of African Americans increased 7 times. Currently African Americans make up 12 % of the population in the U.S. but 53% of the nation’s prison population. There are more African Americans under correctional control today—in prison or jail, on probation or parole—than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began.

The prison system is the most visible example of policies of punitive containment of the most marginalized and oppressed in our society. Prior to incarceration, 2/3 of all prisoners lived in conditions of economic hardship. While the perpetrators of white-collar crime largely go free.

In addition, the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimated that in 2008 alone there was a loss in economic input associated with people released from prison equal to $57 billion to $65 billion.

Demonstration at San Quentin Prison - East Gate - 12noon-3pm


END MASS INCARCERATION
*Abolish Inhumane Conditions and Torture
*Abolish Unjust Sentences including the Death Penalty, Life Without Possibility of Parole, Three Strikes
*Solidarity with Prisoner Movements for Human Rights
*Free Political Prisoners
*End Repression of Activists
*Development of People Not Prisons

Join us in listening to the voices of people in prisons and those who have had first-hand experiences within the prison industry. There will be a full program based on the reading of statements written by people in prisons, presentations and music. Bring banners, bring solidarity, bring a willingness to listen and learn about what is happening inside and why we need to stand up and demand change. We ask that the spirit of solidarity with people in prisons, their loved ones and formerly incarcerated people create a safe space for all on February 20th.

Called for by Prisoners
Sponsored by Occupy Oakland

Endorsed by
Angela Davis * Elaine Brown * All of Us or None * Critical Resistance * Campaign to End the Death Penalty * California Coalition for Women Prisoners * Kevin Cooper Defense Committee * Oscar Grant Committee * Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal * Iraq Veterans Against the War - SF Bay Area Chapter * STW Legacy Network * San Francisco Bay View Newspaper * and many others

Joined by
Actions in Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Fresno, CA; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC and the list is growing:

Transportation
Meet-up at 10am for bus/carpool: 14th & Broadway, Oakland and 1540 Market @ Van Ness, SF. SIGN-UP for bus/carpool or get public transportation/driving/parking directions - PLEASE READ - at http://occupy4prisoners.org/occupy-san-quentin/

website: http://www.occupy4prisoners.org
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/occupy4prisoners
twitter: @occupy4prisoner
email: occupy4prisoners [at] gmail.com