From Support Marius Mason
Greetings,
The campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons will be hosting its second annual national convergence this Summer! Last year’s convergence gathered activists and revolutionaries from across the country to explore the intersections of the environmental movement and the struggle to end mass incarceration. We also took our voices to the streets of DC, together with former prisoners and banners declaring support for those yet to win their freedom, we blocked the entrance to the Bureau of Prisons as well as the major intersection between the FBI and the Department of Justice!
This year’s convergence is taking place from June 2nd through 5th in the Denton/Ft. Worth region of North Texas. Registration is now open, sign up today by clicking here! It’s free to register, we ask only for a sliding scale donation.
One reason we are excited to bring the 2017 FTP convergence to North Texas is the launch of the Close Carswell Campaign. Those who focus attention on support for political prisoners may know of the infamous Carswell federal prison, located in Ft. Worth, Texas. The facility houses over 1,500 prisoners who allegedly have special health-related needs. Carswell is surrounded by toxic military Superfund sites from the Air Force base where it is co-located.
Carswell has housed many prominent voices from the inside, from current residents Marius Mason and Aafia Siddiqui to former political prisoners Lynne Stewart and Helen Woodson. The goal of the Close Carswell Campaign is to immediately shut down the overly-restrictive Administrative Unit, which BOP states only contains 24 beds, and call attention to the general conditions of the facility. For years, prisoners and their loved ones have been documenting abuses with little to no response from the Bureau of Prisons.
Join us June 2nd – 5th to learn more about the Close Carswell Campaign and to take action directed at this toxic prison! Click here for convergence registration.
Environmentalists have long recognized Texas as the financial headquarters and political stronghold of the global oil and gas empire, and prison abolitionists know Texas as home to one of the most brutal and corrupt state prison systems in the country. It’s hard to imagine a more appropriate setting to discuss the intersections of ecological resistance and mass incarceration. We look forward to seeing you in June as we continue to build our movement to Fight Toxic Prisons!
With love and solidarity,
xxxxx
Keep up to date at FightToxicPrisons.org
