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2021
Yearly Archives: 2021
Letters of life from slow death row
Tiyo Attallah Salah-El’s “Pen Pal” is lovingly reviewed by David Gilbert, himself in his 41st year of a life sentence. In the body of 92 prison letters written by Tiyo to Paul Alan Smith, he reveals deep friendships, teaching, mentoring and lawyering accomplishments, and evidence that in the worst situation imaginable he chose to make the best of it – the very best.
Mishandling of COVID-19 at Eastham Plantation
It is notable that prisoner Steve McCain is caged in a prison still owning the name of the plantation it was built on, Eastham Plantation, meting out the same cruelty, disrespect and dehumanizing atrocities on prisoners as was perpetrated on the slaves before them, who originally cleared the land before the Civil War.
Joyce Gordon and her gallery
Downtown Oakland, Calif. – Managing Editor Nube Brown speaks with renowned gallerist and arts and community advocate Joyce Gordon on growing up in Berkeley, how she got Joyce Gordon Gallery started, the importance of the youth and the future of her art space.
Dr. Caesar Churchwell, a leader who made a difference
Dr. Caesar Churchwell now transitioning to the Ancestors, leaves his legacy of love and service to the people of his community, and like the pebble dropped into the water, ripples far, touching those he never knew.
Kick Drum Only
Art in all forms has always been a voice in movements for change and has illuminated the essence of the pain and struggle. In launching the new monthly poetry column, SF poet laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin shares his penned voice in powerful, revolutionary elegance to the struggle.
Shape-shifting the narrative: Louis Hutchinson aka Wally
To be honest this is the first time I can honestly say ‘I’m Black and I’m proud.’”
Sunnydale residents organize protest against SF Housing Authority for Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021
Here is capitalism in one of its ugliest forms by way of housing privatization, eliminating the people’s sovereignty over their own lives in the true name of profits over people. Sunnydale residents are having none of it and are fighting courageously by relentlessly and loudly demanding their rights.
One cop, three shots, zero proof
Mr. Chavez’s incarceration tells a truth about utter dismissal of fellow human beings and injustices perpetrated upon himself, his family and so many others, who are suffering and dying from the racist abuses of a system that is designed for dehumanization and genocide of non-white and other vulnerable people.
The FBI will not save us from white supremacy
Jeremy Miller succinctly describes the seemingly benign invitation from the FBI to help them keep us safe from scary events like the recent white supremacist insurrection at the People’s House as being somewhat akin to the fox asking the chickens to help with the slaughter. As Jalil Muntaqim said, “We Are Our Own Liberators.”
Positive Directions Equals Change: Resiliency, character and hope
There are always forces afoot like the prison and criminal substance abuse to crush beautiful human lives. The beauty of our humanity is that there are also forces of love with relentless purpose to support our communities to heal, recover and live into successful and vital lives.
Sunnydale residents hold BBQ to garner support to oppose HOPE SF’s redevelopment plan
Shameful history may be repeating itself where again the city of San Francisco and a developer are moving forward with a housing redevelopment project, during a pandemic, without respectfully hearing the voices of those who have been residents for decades and who likely will be adversely impacted.
SF Bay View editor gagged, threatened and his work phone confiscated for reporting COVID...
By every rights violation imaginable, the new editor of the SF Bay View, Keith ‘Malik’ Washington, is being retaliated against for doing his job to protect people from harm and possible death by COVID-19, as the GEO Group multi-billion-dollar private prison operator attempts to silence the messenger. A civil rights complaint was filed Monday by attorney Richard Tan suing the Federal Bureau of Prisons and GEO Group. Press conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
San Francisco for-profit halfway house detains Black newspaper editor
Editor fears retaliation from Florida for-profit halfway house for appearing at 11 a.m. press conference
Complaint
1-ComplaintDownload
1-Civil-Cover-SheetDownload
7-Motion-for-TRO-and-Preliminary-InjunctionDownload
8-Declaration-of-Mary-RatcliffDownload
9-Declaration-of-Steve-ZeltzerDownload
10-Declaration-of-Alexis-TerrazasDownload
Photos
Louisiana: The last slave state in America
From Anthony Boult we learn the disturbing truth about just how historically diabolical the state of Louisiana is with regard to their caged “slave population,” utilizing a systematic strategy to destroy the dignity of the Black family and suppress the legal, political and socioeconomic rights of African Americans.
The found condom: A DeWayne Ewing mystery
This mystery, like so many others, is the daily nightmare that the pathologically corrupt injustice system and the capitalist Industrial Prison Complex systematically perpetrates on Black and Brown, young and poor and often innocent people. When will our rage as a society be the force that repels the greed and cruelty of the racist elite ruling class? District Attorney Nancy O’Malley’s office at 510-272-6222
Halt the mean Prop 19 now! Stop the attack on Black and Brown wealth
God-Mother Elizabeth Quida has grave concerns about possible negative impacts of the just passed under-the-radar Proposition 19 on vulnerable families and communities, and urges the Proposition immediately be put on hold for the benefit of further community consideration.
Mayor London Breed announces $25 million early education economic recovery program
Details of Mayor London Breed and former BOS President Norman Yee’s Early Education Economic Recovery Program created to address early education issues in general, and specifically during this COVID-19 global pandemic, to protect and nurture our most precious gifts – the children.
Wanda’s Picks for February 2021
Wanda Sabir opens the door to the abundance of February with the gifts of Black History Month, observations on today’s Jim Crow, stories and people we may not know about like Adam David Miller (A.D.) and young Amanda Gorman, who’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” breathed hope and vitality into a weary country at the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Alabama prison guards brutally beat Kinetic Justice, sending him to trauma unit
Alabama Department of Corrections is the “worst of the worst” of present day criminal capitalist slave plantations and they have this week attempted to murder prisoner leader Kinetic Justice to silence his constant exposure of the ADOC’s inhumane brutality of those in its “care.” As a society, we must speak our outrage, or be utterly shamed.
Prisoner advocates across the country call on DOJ nominee Kristen Clarke to address urgent...
Feb. 1, National Freedom Day, commemorates both the passage of the 13th Amendment and the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,” including incarcerated human beings.