This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
Uphill battle for border petition

I received your book "Marx and Engels" as well as the other info you sent, which I sincerely appreciate.

I will do my best to fill all signature spaces on the petitions you sent. However, the one for "Operation Gatekeeper" might be hard to fill. [MIM is circulating a petition which reads in part: "The U.S. Border separates families, communities, and nations. It also keeps Third World workers and farmers under regimes where wage rates are drastically depressed through violent repression -- this allows the United States to make huge profits off of its investments abroad. We the undersigned call for an end to 'Operation Gatekeeper' and an end to policies restricting people's free movement across the border." See http://www.prisoncensorship.info/archive/etext/cal/OpenBorder.htm for more information --ed.]

Where I am currently there aren't too many comrades, and the views on Mexican Americans aren't too equality based. As I'm sure you know, prison systems breed racism and fuel hatred among prisoners to keep us separated and weak as a class, which I believe we are. The focus has over the years been on each other instead of our oppressors. Nevertheless, we comrades will seek to unite them together on a more common goal basis. ...

I end this letter with a clenched fist salute!

In solidarity, --A Texas Prisoner, December 2003

MIM responds: Petition campaigns play several roles. One is to register the number of people who already believe the position stated on the petition, and communicate that to the public or politicians. But they are also very important for developing and solidifying those beliefs. We struggle with people over signing petitions because we want to convince them the political positions on the petitions are correct. In some cases it's not worth it -- when the proportion of supporters is likely to be so low that we should spend our time elsewhere. However, we have developed these campaigns over issues where we believe we can make substantial progress and build support for our cause.

If you are correct that many of your fellow prisoners are predisposed against Mexicans, the struggle to get petition signatures may help change some minds, and may help develop or strengthen ties to those who, like you, oppose imperialist oppression. Many prisoners, including even those from the oppressor nation, might be convincible on this campaign because the issue is so clearly one of state repression, which prisoners share in common with undocumented migrants.

Even when people come from different backgrounds or nations that have opposing interests, experiencing the injustice system and imprisonment might help tip them in favor of the correct position on this issue. We urge you to stay with it, and keep us posted on the outcome.