Help Build the Amerikan Prisons on Trial Conference


February 22-26, March 4, 6, 11, 23, & 27-28, 1998

UMass, Hampshire College, March on White House for Political Prisoners,Teach-In in Washington D.C.


Recent projections based on u.s. government statistics show that if current trends in imprisonment continue, there will be almost 10 million prisoners in the u.s. by 2020. Blacks would be imprisoned at a rate of 9,517 per 100,000 if current trends continue -- that means almost 1 Black person out of 10 would be in prison, not to mention on parole or on probation.

This bleak future is not inevitable, but it will take the consistent efforts of activists within and outside prisons to prevent it. This is why we are organizing an Amerikan Prisons on Trial Conference for Feb 22-26,1998. The conference will help educate the public about the truth about prisons and crime, and help mobilize people in defense of prisoners and against the criminal injustice system. RAIL is initiating this Conference because it sees the struggle against Amerika's incarceration craze as part of larger struggles for national liberation within the borders of the United States; as prison is a large part of Amerika's war against the Black, Latino and First Nations.

RAIL is actively encouraging individuals and other organizations to help us build and organize Amerikan Prisons on Trial. Individuals not currently associated with political movements are encouraged to join RAIL, or to work with us on these events without membership in RAIL.

 

Schedule of Events


Sunday, Feb 22, 7pm. Hampshire College. Franklin Patterson Hall

A discussion & video about control units torture and the need for students

to become revolutionaries. Video contains short interview with Hampshire

College alumni and former political prisoner Timothy Blunk.

 

Monday, Feb 23, 7pm. UMass Campus Center 101.

All Power to the People: The Black Panther Party and Beyond, a 1997 video

about revolutionary movements and the genocidal Amerikan government from

the 1960s to the present;

 

Tuesday, Feb 24, 7pm. UMass Campus Center 101.

Repression in Massachusetts Prisons: The Inside Story. Panel discussion of

former Mass prisoners, their families, friends, and activist supporters.

 

Wednesday, Feb 25, 7pm. UMass Campus Center 905.

liberation movements speak on their incarcerated revolutionary leaders

 

Thursday, Feb 26, 7pm. UMass Campus Center 168c.

PeopleUs Tribunal on the Amerikan Justice System. A trial will be held,

with the event goers as jury, to judge the Justice system for the crimes

of genocide and national oppression.

 

Wednesday March 4, 7pm. UMass Campus Center.

Video: Date With Death (Mumia Abu-Jamal)

 

Friday, March 6, Location, Time TBA.

Benefit Concert to send area activists to Jericho March. Headline act: Hip

Hop band Critical Mass. Contact RAIL to perform or help organize benefit

concert.

 

Monday March 9, 4pm Bangs Community Center, Amherst

Video: Framed: The Geronimo Pratt Story. Story of ex-Black Panther Party Leaders unjust incarceration.

 

Wednesday March 11, 7pm. UMass Campus Center

Video: Passin' It On: The Dhruba Bin Wahad Story. Documentary of State Repression of ex-Black Panther and political activist.

 

Thursday, March 12, 7pm. Unitarian Society of Northampton, Lilly Room.

Video: All Power to the People, the Black Panther Party and Beyond

 

Monday March 23, 7pm, UMass Campus Ctr

Invited Speaker: RBig BlackS, aleader of the Attica prison rebellion and advocate for prisoners

 

Friday March 27. White House, Washington D.C.

Bus trip for Jericho March on the White House for Political Prisoners.

 

Saturday March 28. Washington D.C. Location TBA

Prisons Teach-in.