Regarding the Serve the People Prisoner Re-Lease on Life Program; I believe that what is most important is providing ways for ex-prisoners to meet their basic needs -- food, clothes and shelter, and these things can be obtained through being gainfully employed. No man(or woman) wants a hand-out, so by helping to provide ex-prisoners with employment, they will not only be able to provide for themselves, but also they will feel more independent, raising his/her sense of self-worth (self-esteem), rendering them more productive, and a greater asset in the struggle. Keeping ex-prisoners involved in the struggle should prove to be an easy matter.
Anyone who has been in prison, and once released, turns their back on the struggle, was not really conscious regarding revolutionary struggle from the beginning, but was only involved in such activities in order to pass time. I don't believe that a person in this imperialist country can be more oppressed than its prisoners. Once aware of true/correct revolutionary ideology and theory (Marxism-Leninism-Maoism), and they are given stable avenue in which to practice those ideologies and theories (actually BE revolutionaries and not merely ideological strugglers), then I'm confident that they will not only stay involved once released from prison, but will prove to be valuable assets.
With the Re-Lease on Life Program, MIM will establish a sense of legitimacy in the eyes of ex-prisoners because they will see that MIM is walking the talk and that they are really here to support the people. Revolution in and of itself is illegal, so there's no way to keep a revolutionary out of trouble, but keeping them out of non-revolutionary situations entails continuously raising their level of consciousness and directing that energy towards revolutionary goals through study groups, workshops, MIM volunteer work, assisting USW leaders, etc.!
--A New York Prisoner, April 2004
On the "Serve the People Prisoner Re-Lease on Life Program" you asked me for input on "How to provide for people when they get out to keep them out of trouble & involved in the struggle?" Well, my Bro & Sis, coming from a brother who's been here multiple times, the biggest worry & downer for people coming home is, where they gonna live? As we speak we have a comrade about to go home in 2 days. A GOOD brother who's been striving to stay clean and involved in positive organizing. He doesn't know where he's going to live and the stress has gotten to him severely. The system won't help him cuz he's maxing out (no parole) so he's assed out. His first steps are to go get drugs to sell to provide for himself a place to stay, second to get high to get his mind of the problem, BOOM, then what, he's back to his old cycle. We all have a common understanding that this capitalist system is exploiting our people in many ways, prison is ONE. I hate to say it, but the system has his deck set up to lose and come back to get them more money.
What do we do to break the cycle is the question? We need to set up housing, temporary housing for Bro & Sis. just coming out of jail, that will show we don't just talk about giving back to our community be we doing it! And a comrade sees that Love, it will encourage him/her to show love to the next. We must first revolutionize the way we live as a community before we revolutionize the existing order of things. Second, to get them out of the temp housing they need a job to provide 4 his/her self. A job placement program, we find the jobs, teach them bro/sis how to talk in an interview, help them with resumes and transportation. Through all of this process is where you encourage the comrades to get involved in the struggle, you don't ever want to force feed someone cuz it will backfire. We need people who do this from the heart, not cuz they obligated. Well my Bro & Sis, I close this letter for now until the next time.
Revolutionary Greeting to all, --a New York Prisoner, April 2004
MIM responds: As our readers can see, the need for the Re-Lease on Life program is great. We are currently soliciting resources in the forms of housing and job opportunities. We are also exploring different options for providing treatment for addictions and planning ways to immerse comrades in the struggle upon their release. This is particularly urgent in NY and CA, but wherever you live there are prisons nearby and there is the need for such a program. Get in touch with MIM to begin building it.