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Political Prisoner Periodicals

The modern movements for prison abolition and against inhumane practices and conditions reached an initial high peak of struggle and mass militancy during the 1970s, with rebellions and protests at many prisons nationwide, the writings and example of George Jackson, and the historic rebellion at Attica State Prison. This collection includes a wide range of publications grown out of this ongoing movement, including  the Anvil, War Behind Walls, Big Mama Rag, The Outlaw, The Struggle Inside, Politics of Crime, and Arm the Spirit.

Documents

Racism and the War on Drugs Racism and the War on Drugs
Date: 1/1/1996Call Number: PM 325Format: Cass A & BCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
In a panel discussion, several speakers express their views about how racism and the war on drugs are connected. Racism is found in every step of the criminal justice law enforcement process. Blacks and Hispanics are unfairly targeted in the war on drugs. The speakers advocate that federal law enforcement change, and that mandatory minimums, crack laws, and guideline sentences be revised.
Birmingham Conference Coverage Birmingham Conference Coverage
Date: 4/8/1995Call Number: PM 328Format: Cass A & BProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: On the OutsideCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Conference on rights for political prisoners and prisoners of war. Brother William Muhammad discusses racism and the war on crime. Louise James calls for revolutionary change to free political prisoners and talks about the racist political system targeting and imprisoning the Black community. Discussion on how to build a political movement.
Police Accountability Police Accountability
Date: 4/16/1993Call Number: PM 343Format: Cass A & BProducers: KPFAProgram: BrainstormCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Features Babara Attard, then senior investigator with San Francisco's Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC), Suzanne Pegas, co-founder of Berkeley's Copwatch, and Carmen Johnson, political activist and board member of the MLK Housing Cooperative in San Francisco. They discuss the question of "How to police the police", the source of racist police policies, and where accountability resides in the police structure. Jerome Skolnick, affiliate of UC Berkeley School of Law and author of "Above the Law: Police and the Excessive Use of Force" also joins the discussion. He discusses "siege mentality" of the police, the code of silence in police departments, and the need for cops to relate to their communities.