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Committee to End the Marion Lockdown

The Committee to End the Marion Lockdown (CEML) was a movement organization that opposed control unit prisons in particular, and racism and oppression in general. It was founded in 1985 and came to a close in 2000. Over the course of those 15 years, CEML led and organized hundreds of educational programs and demonstrations in many parts of the country and tried to build a national movement against “end-of-the-line” prisons. Along the way the Committee wrote thousands of pages of educational and agitational literature and pioneered new ways of analyzing and fighting against this national quagmire that morphed into the proliferation of the “prison industrial complex.”

Collection includes: Publications on their efforts to shut down the Marion Prison control unit, prevent the opening of USP Florence, CO; protests against toxic water at Crab Orchard Lake; efforts to improve conditions for inmates; efforts to stop the proliferation of Control Units in general; and further human rights and social justice in the US prison system.

Kurshan, N. (2012). OUT OF CONTROL: A Chronological Narrative of the Committee to End the Marion Lockdown's 15 Year Struggle (manuscript ed., p. 1).

Documents

Reflections at Marion Reflections at Marion
Author: Sundiata AcoliYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Reflection on the conditions at Marion. Recollections of abuse guards. Call for the closing of Marion and Lexington.
Allegations of ill-treatment in Marion Prison, Illinois, USA Allegations of ill-treatment in Marion Prison, Illinois, USA
Publisher: Amnesty InternationalYear: 1987Format: ReportCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Also known as: Amnesty International Report on Marion written 1987. Includes allegations of ill-treatment guards towards prisoners of Marion penitentiary. Includes 1) Report on Prisoners' lawsuit against Marion Prison, Illinois, USA / David Matas. 1/1986. 2) Letter to Dir. Norman Carlson from Jose Zalaquett for A.I. Secretary General inquiring into an official investigation. 3/22/1984. 4) Letter to Jose Zalaquett from Carlson asserting no further investigation was needed. 4/3/1984. 5) Letter to Carlson from Clayton Yeo citing Matas' report and A.I. recommendation for a full, impartial investigation. 12/30/1986. 6) Response Carlson referencing modifications of prison procedures and pending litigation before U.S.D.C Southern District, IL. 2/4/1987. 6) Further response to Yeo Carlson. 2/27/1987. 7) Response from Yeo stating inadequacies of the litigation. 3/20/1987. Part of packet (Enclosure 1).
Brief Biography of Morton Sobell Brief Biography of Morton Sobell
Publisher: Committee to End the Marion LockdownYear: 1987Format: FlyerCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Human Rights Group Rips Marion Prison Human Rights Group Rips Marion Prison
Author: Tom GibbonsPublisher: Chicago Sun-TimesYear: 1987Format: ArticleCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Reproduction from 5/31/1987 article on Amnesty International's report, "Allegations of Ill-treatment at Marion Prison".
Crime's Causes Crime's Causes
Authors: Carol Mosely, James R. RumbaghPublisher: Chicago tribuneYear: 1987Format: ArticleCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Reproduction of comments on "The Crime of Black Imprisonment" by Steve Whitman
The Crime of Black Imprisonment The Crime of Black Imprisonment
Author: Steve WhitmanPublisher: Chicago TribuneYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Reproduction of article. Discusses racist policies and united states prison rates
Close Marion and Lexington Control Unit Prisons Close Marion and Lexington Control Unit Prisons
Publisher: Committee to End the Marion LockdownYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Information on Control Unit Prisons at Marion and Lexington.
Letter to Alan J. Dixon Letter to Alan J. Dixon
Author: Norman A. CarlsonPublisher: US Department of Justice: Federal Bureau of PrisonsYear: 1987Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
3/25/1987 concerning the conditions of the lockdown and Marion and Lexington. Denies allegations of ill treatment and denial of inmates access to education, religious, medical and mental health programs
Letter to Friends Regarding Marion Lockdown conference Letter to Friends Regarding Marion Lockdown conference
Publisher: Committee to End the Marion LockdownYear: 1987Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Letter reporting on the October 1987 conference to expose the crimes of the Marion and Lexington control units
Correspondence to CEML Members Correspondence to CEML Members
Author: Steve WhitmanPublisher: Committee to End the Marion LockdownYear: 1987Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Letter referencing enclosures (absent) and request for financial support.