Bay View: Baddest paper on the planet

Three testimonies from behind enemy lines

Uhuru-Baraka-Rowe-aka-Brian-Lee-Rowe-w-SF-Bay-View-ppr-web-cropped, Bay View: Baddest paper on the planet, Abolition Now!
Uhuru Baraka Rowe is a longtime subscriber and supporter who is also currently working hard to save the Bay View. Send him some love and light: Uhuru Baraka Rowe, 1131545, Sussex 2 SP, 24427 Musselwhite Dr., Waverly VA 23891.

Freedom is coming soon

In response to your urgent calls for donations to save the Bay View, I am sending you my last five dollars in my sacrifice to the cause. If I was wealthy, I would donate $50,000 a year to the Bay View for the service you give to the community.

When I read your newspaper, it gives me life and sends revolutionary fervor running through my veins. I want to be free and your paper gives me the energy, inspiration and resources to do so.

When I read your newspaper, it gives me life and sends revolutionary fervor running through my veins. I want to be free and your paper gives me the energy, inspiration and resources to do so.

I’ve been in prison 23 years now and I know freedom is coming soon. You want me to tell you how I know? Because the mighty Bay View told me so!

The writer has good reason to request anonymity at this time.

All it would take to save the Bay View is a National Quit Commissary Day

by Deryl L. Harlaque

Bay View gives me journalism regarding African Americans and the state of racist “lock ‘em up” laws that are laser focused on us. Although I’ve been receiving the Bay View for less than a year, I feel as though I can’t go without a monthly issue.

I did not know of the Bay View’s financial situation until I saw the picture of you, Dr. Willie Ratcliff, holding the Bay View banner in San Jose outside the Santa Clara County Jail on Aug. 19, 2017. My heart filled with regret and sorrow to think that this very loved and much NEEDED newspaper could actually stop being printed, mailed and put in circulation. It gives me feelings of loss I can’t stop.

Being in prison over 10 years on indigent status – no family, no income, no letters – I do know a little bit about “financial woes.” It’s just unbelievable with all the money Black people, including prisoners, spend on everyday bullshit with white establishments, all it would take literally is a National Quit Commissary Day, and prisoners could probably donate a million dollars to the paper!

Bay View gives me journalism regarding African Americans and the state of racist “lock ‘em up” laws that are laser focused on us. Although I’ve been receiving the Bay View for less than a year, I feel as though I can’t go without a monthly issue.

Sad and pathetic that some Black prisoners would rather feed the hand of the oppressor who has his boot on our neck. He must laugh at our dumb ass.

I’m praying every day for your fundraising campaign to keep the Bay View in operation now and for the next 50-100 years to come, so poor people like myself can continue to receive the paper when donations to the Prisoners Subscription Fund allow. God bless you all!

Send our brother some love and light: Deryl L. Harlaque, 590377, Oaks Correctional Facility, 1500 Caberfae Hwy, Manistee MI 49660-9200.

Bay View: Baddest paper on the planet

by Rodney L. Williford

I’ve been getting your newspaper for almost a year now and yours is, bar none, the baddest paper on the planet. I’m so glad it found its way to me.

I am not political, but I’ve been inside the system for 27 years and seven months, consecutively. In my time, I have subscribed to a multitude of publications that deal with issues of political prisoners and prisoners’ rights, and I have, for long periods, had personal contact with several organizations representing us.

My papers, after I read them, circulate this entire prison and take months to get back to me. (They always do though! Come back to me, that is.) Afterwards, I send them to the streets to folks I know who are still actively engaged in the struggle. I deeply appreciate all that you are doing and all that you represent in terms of aiding the brothers and sisters doing time.

I am a part of a mentoring group here in Northern State Prison, which is prisoner created and prisoner run. We do have the cooperation of the administration in that they allow us to meet twice weekly. Our cycle runs for six months at a time, and at the end we have a graduation ceremony, also courtesy of cooperating entities.

I’ve been getting your newspaper for almost a year now and yours is, bar none, the baddest paper on the planet. I’m so glad it found its way to me. 

To date we have graduated over 700 men and, of that number, very few continue to act out or do segregation time. Many have been encouraged to participate in other viable reentry programs and educational and vocational programs the prison offers.

We have even had a host of civilians come in as guests or keynote speakers, and a few have stayed on to serve as our liaisons. We recently held our first semi-annual writing contest in which submissions ran the gamut from writings on personal experiences to poetry. At the end of each session, we award a member or two with honors for most improved mentee. All of the graduates receive certificates marking what they’ve accomplished.

Because we are not chartered, our supplies mostly come from our pockets and whatever we can then pilfer. We’ve managed to make it work for six years now with no end in sight. We’re reaching out continually to outside resources and hope that you can now be counted as a resource.

My papers, after I read them, circulate this entire prison and take months to get back to me. (They always do though! Come back to me, that is.)

I personally would like to re-subscribe to your paper for myself and buy an additional subscription for one of our most improved. Additionally, I would like to donate $12 towards your Prisoners Subscription Fund.

Lastly, I want to reemphasize that I sincerely appreciate your publication and hope that you will be able to keep it going until there are no more prisons in Amerika.

Salute! Prince Naim B.U. Allah, s/n Rodney L. Williford

Send our brother some love and light: Rodney L. Williford, 203770 / 234353B, E-1-E, P.O. Box 2300, Newark NJ 07114. Rodney sent $60.