[Ppnews] Support Rod Coronado

[Political Prisoner News]

It has been 4 days since Rod left me and our 5 
year old last Monday in a hotel in Phoenix.  It 
was 3 am.  That morning at about 2:15am, Rod got 
up, began sifting through photos of our kids, 
trying almost desperately to organize those last 
minute details that have seemed less urgent until 
you realize there really is no more time before 
you have to go
. and “there” is a place that is a 
vacuum of emotion, warmth, humaneness.  He was on 
his way to catch a flight to Oklahoma; he had to 
surrender himself to El Reno FCI by noon that day.

It was so hard to say good-bye; a part of us both 
just let the wee hours of the sleepy morning melt 
our emotions away.  We looked at each other, 
knowing what lie ahead, and wiped the tears away, 
and the phone rang to remind him that the shuttle 
was waiting for him.  (We decided to have him 
take a shuttle so Maya would sleep, and not be in 
that traumatic situation of asking for him to 
stay, and him having to go
)  So he left, and I 
felt sick to my stomach, and tried to sleep 
again.  But you know how that is.  All of the 
visions that start to play, to lead your mind 
into the future, remind of the tenderness in the 
past, and how you can ask to let go but your 
heart still pleads to change something it cannot.

Prison.  Good for no one.  Well, let me restate 
that, great for empire and all those who profit 
off of the oppression rampant in this 
system.  But, for anyone who is stricken with 
having to experience it, it is not good or 
helpful in any way.  I have said this before, and 
I will again, it has no hope of rehabilitation or 
solving any social problems.  Quite the opposite, 
it generates the dis-ease of our nation, and 
breaks up families.  It provides room for hate to 
grow and revenge to foment.  Uh
..
Rod knew that these coming months were going to 
be difficult, but knew that there was really no 
better way to deal with shifting to a life that 
focuses on our family and building strong ties 
within a community.  The plea deal is really no 
deal; it is paying a price for being willing to 
take a stand.  Unfortunately, things look pretty 
bad for most activists willing to take a stand 
these days.  I think that is where Rod began to 
rethink his approach to dealing with the government.

At no time has he condoned any of the heinous 
acts that the government and transnational 
corporations have committed against human and 
animal peoples. Neither do we believe it is time 
to shut up and accept what is happening around 
us.  Quite the opposite actually, I think it is 
more accurate to say that the message is that we 
need to be OUT OF PRISON to do the good work that 
needs to be done.  We need to be part of the 
community structures that can be avenues to the 
world we want to see.  We need the passion we 
feel toward our vision of the future to be 
funneled into creating networks that exist 
outside of state systems.  Perhaps that sounds 
difficult to imagine, but start with cooperative 
models like local food cooperatives, community 
supported agriculture, housing cooperatives, 
ect.  There are projects happening in cities all 
over the world that lend to great ideas.  One day 
perhaps we will all have a voice in how our local 
lands are used, our resources are distributed, 
and how our time is managed.  There are endless possibilities!

Rod’s time in prison is only (hopefully) 10 
months, and then we can move on and begin our 
journey into creating a better world!  The 
sacrifice is small for the ability to have our 
lives back and to have the chance to do the 
community building that we long to do, to support 
our children in the ways that they 
deserve.  Truly, how can we expect the macrocosm 
to heal when our own little microcosms are 
suffering from the attack against their daddy?

I also want to take this opportunity to apologize 
for the lack of communication over the last few 
months.  Rod and I moved in February and we, 
being a living a little bit in the stone ages, 
never got hooked up to the internet.  It meant 
going to the library to write an update, which I 
did, but literally as I finished, so did my 
allotted hour and the hour computer shut down on 
me, saved document was lost and it was really a 
Zen moment.  If you have ever watched Buddhist 
monks create a sand mandala over a period of 
days, only to blow it to the wind once it is 
finished, well, not that the posting was a 
Buddhist act, but I felt the same.  Let it 
go.  It has been difficult to find enough time to 
juggle all of the normal family functions with 
all of the legal dealings that surround Rod.  But 
again, I will be posting regularly and I will do 
a post on the sentencing and the visit to the FBI 
office to get his things returned.

Rod and I have been deeply humbled by the amount 
of support and warmth that has surrounded us 
during this time.  It has been steady and strong, 
and there have been kind folks at all steps of 
this process to let us know we are surrounded in 
love and gratitude.  I always feel held in the 
love of all those who have stepped forward.  But 
more than anything that has been revealed is that 
this movement of people who stand for a better 
world, a just society, and an ecological system 
in balance is strong.  We have seen it!  Although 
at times it seems fragmented, at least under 
attack, we are witnesses to the strength that 
exists.  We were talking about that as we drove 
to Phoenix, the last conversations were of 
this.  We want to share with you that the energy 
which surrounded us has come from far and near, 
in many forms, and keeps us ready to move 
forward!  We hope you feel warmed in knowing that we, and you, are not alone.

Much love and thanks!
Chrysta

PS:  Rod’s address is
Rodney Coronado 03895-000
El Reno FCI
PO Box 1500
El Reno, OK 73036

Only USPS money orders can be sent for his commissary fund at:
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Rodney Coronado 03895-000
PO Box 474701
Des Moines, IA  50947-0001

You must have his full name and # on them, and 
your name and return address on the envelope.



Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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