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RUNNING DOWN THE WALLS 2011


The beginning of a Revolutionary tradition

The 2nd annual Running Down The Walls in Guelph was a great success fund raising over $2000 dollars with up to 40 people participating. The money raised will be split between the Anarchist Black Cross Federation: Political Prisoner Subsistence program, and rent on Ryan Rainville and Kelley Pflug Back’s housing when they are out of pre-trial state sanctioned house arrests from their g20 related arrests in 2010.

The Success of RDTW is that people come together and actively support revolutionary activity. We are supporting prisoners and those repressed by the state. It is not only because they are caged in government sanctioned hellholes, that we show support.* It is because we support revolutionaries and more so the act of creating revolution and resistance in defense of communities, land bases, cultures, and ourselves. In the open support of revolution lies the real power of RDTW. We support the Leonard Pelletiers and Ramona Africa’s of this world. We desire to find in ourselves the love, dignity and determination that has been displayed by our imprisoned revolutionary comrades behind enemy walls.

Thanks To OPIRG Guelph and WPIRG Waterloo for supporting us and the countless individuals that participated, supported or donated funds to make this event what it was.

We also regret not talking enough at the Running Down The Walls event about the struggles of specific Political Prisoners in North America. To learn more about imprisoned North American Revolutionaries, Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War visit
denverabc.wordpress.com/political-prisoners-database/   or
www.abcf.net/la

If you have not donated to RDTW and still want to you can send money via paypal on the guelphabc.wordpress.com website or send a check to Guelph ABC with RDTW in the memo line.

We want to make this event a revolutionary tradition in Guelph and spread it to other cities across Canada in 2012. If you would like to participate in planning for next years event send an email to guelphabc@riseup.net.

* In Canada this year there were over 300 000 people in some form of custody. In the United States 2.5 million people are currently incarcerated and 7.5 million went through a form of correctional supervision.

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Posted in Guelph ABC Event, Prison Resistance, Prisoner Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 08/04/2011

Noise Demo!

Kitchener, Ontario: In Solidarity With Pelican Bay and Nyki Kish

On the evening of July 9th, to express solidarity with the hunger strike at Pelican Bay and across California, 30 folks from Southern Ontario gathered in Kitchener for a noise demo at Grand Valley Institution for Women (GVI), a federal women’s prison. We marched with banners, chants, and balloons flapping in the winds to an area near GVI where we could see and communicate directly with folks imprisoned, many of whom were in the yard when we arrived.
Balloons with flyers about the situation in Pelican Bay were released over the grounds. Fireworks were set off, silencing the screws that approached. The screws attempted to try and calm down the excited prisoners in plain view on the grounds. As chants and speeches were yelled, the chain link barbed wire fence separating the two groups became much less significant, as the isolation was broken for a few minutes. Prisoners yelled and whooped along with the chants that included: NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, FUCK THE POLICE… SCREWS, PIGS, MURDERERS…FUCK ALL PRISONS, SMASH THE STATE, ALL THESE WALLS ARE GONNA BREAK and…NO PRISONS, NO BORDERS, FUCK LAW AND ORDER. After many fireworks, speeches, and chants the group decided to depart, but only after the folks inside proclaimed that they were on lock down and 5 cruisers arrived.

The demands of the prisoners at the Pelican Bay SHU were read, after which the prisoners at GVI responded with cheers. A part of the solidarity statement by Corcoran prisoners was read. A statement was read in support of Nyki Kish, a woman locked up at GVI. “FREE NYKI KISH” was chanted. Nyki is an artist, musician and community activist from Hamilton who was recently convicted of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison. In 2007 a street altercation in Toronto left one person stabbed to death. The State politicized the case, using the violence as a justification for further crackdowns on poor people. Nyki maintains her innocence, and was convicted on March 1, 2011, with no evidence other than that she was there and she was stabbed. She is currently in the max unit at GVI, awaiting the appeal process.
Solidarity and love to Nyki Kish, prisoners on strike at Pelican Bay, and prisoners in struggle for dignity everywhere!

more info:
freenyki.org

prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com

 

Posted in Guelph ABC Event, Prison Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 07/18/2011

Running Down the Walls – Saturday July 30th, 2011!


Running Down the Walls 2011 Guelph

Saturday July 30th

1:00-4:00 PM

Exhibition Park, @ London and Exhibition

Run, Walk, Bike or Roll for Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War

On the last Saturday in July, hundreds of people across the continent will participate in solidarity 5k runs in communities and prisons. This collective event, known as Running Down the Walls, has been held annually since 2002. Each year, Anarchist Black Cross chapters, prisoners, and allies, participate in these runs to raise funds for the Anarchist Black Cross Federation Warchest (a fund that sends monthly stipends to political prisoners across North America), and other support efforts for political prisoners and prisoners of war.

Last year, Guelph’s Running Down the Walls drew 30 participants, and we raised over $2000, which was split between the ABCF Warchest, and the G20 Support Fund.

This year, we are aiming to double the amount of participants, and also, in turn, double the amount of funds raised. The money raised from this year’s Guelph run will be split between the ABCF Warchest and living expenses/rent for two G20 defendants, Kelly Rose Pflug-Back and Ryan Rainville.

Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) Warchest

The ABCF Warchest program is now almost 16 years old. Funds from the Warchest are divided and distributed through monthly stipends to political prisoners who receive little or no financial aid. Prisoners use this money to cover the basic necessities of everyday living. Funds have been used by prisoners to pay for stamps, shoes, clothes, as well as assisting their families with what little they can.

Living Expenses/Rent for Kelly & Ryan

Kelly Rose Plfug-Back and Ryan Rainville are two individuals from Southern Ontario facing criminal charges stemming from last year’s G20 summit protests in Toronto. While on house arrest, as well as other court-ordered conditions, it is difficult to earn an income and also retain legal aid as the amount of money one can earn is quite low. Thus one is essentially forced to “choose” between being unemployed/precariously employed or crippled with legal debt. So that is why we are raising money for Kelly and Ryan’s living expenses — to help our comrades get back on their feet (and back to their communities!) after their legal situations are resolved. To make this effort successful, we need YOUR support!

Who is Kelly Rose Pflug-Back?

Kelly Rose Pflug-Back is a grassroots anti-poverty activist from Guelph. She was arrested over the G20 weekend on conspiracy charges and released on bail. On July 21, police issued a news release announcing that she was wanted for 6 counts of mischief over $5000 from the G20 protests. After weeks in jail, she was released on strict house arrest bail conditions. Her conspiracy charges have been since dropped. She remains on house arrest far from her friends.

Who is Ryan Rainville?

Ryan Rainville is an indigenous anarchist who was arrested at the G20 and released on bail. About a month later, he was rearrested on more charges related to the G20 including mischief and assault. He was in jail for almost three months and was rejected bail multiple times. He was finally released on bail on November 9th with very strict conditions. His trial was on April 12, 2011 and is now awaiting sentencing.

Support The Struggle…. Run For It

Run/walk/bike in the 5k – We need participants who can run/walk/bike/roll the 5k and able to collect financial pledges to offer as donations to the run. Raising $50 can go a long way for an imprisoned ally.

Volunteer for the run – We need folks who are willing to staff a registration/literature table, hand out water,  put up posters and help chalk the route before the run.

The Struggle Needs Money. Supporting Revolutionaries Makes Revolution. 

$20, $50, $200. It all makes a difference. All the money you raise or contribute goes directly to supporting our comrades who are struggling for personal and collective freedom

Donate to the run/sponsor a participant. You can bring your pledge sheets and donations to the Running Down The Walls Event on Saturday July 30th, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in Guelph or email guelphabc@riseup.net

If you are not able to attend, but want to support this fund raising effort,

please mail donations written out to Guelph ABC with RDTW in the “memo” line to:

Guelph ABC

P.O Box 183

Guelph, ON

N1H 6J6

Or donate to Guelph ABC through the Guelph ABC website guelphprisonersolidarity.wordpress.com

Want to participate? Want to volunteer? Want to donate? Contact us at Guelphabc@riseup.net

Solidarity with our allies on both sides of the wall!

-Running Down the Walls Guelph

Running Down the Walls Poster 2011

Posted in Guelph ABC Event, Prison Resistance, Prisoner Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 07/12/2011

Check out the Chants Page

The “Chants” page has been updated. bring some to the next demo or let us know via comment or email if you have any to add to the list.

 

 

Posted in General.

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By Guelph ABC – 07/08/2011

Hamilton Anarchist Bookfair 2011

we’ll be there, hosting a postcards to prisoners table where you can set down and send a postcard. Postcards and stamps provided! Click banner below for link to its blog!

Posted in General, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 05/30/2011

Montreal Anarchist Bookfair 2011

Get your bookfair shoes on! We’ll be there tabling both days!

Posted in General.

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By Guelph ABC – 05/16/2011

Monthy Letter Writing Night

Guelph ABC Presents:

Monthly Letter Writing To Prisoners
For the Secret Trial 5
Tuesday, May 10
6:30pm
49 Alice St.

Come out to hear a presentation about the Secret Trial 5, and the struggle
against security certificates. We will be focusing on two men, Mohamed
Harkat and Mohammad Mahjoub, who remain under strict house arrest and have
spent years in jail since their initial arrests. Security certificates
give the government the “right” to imprison people on no charge, not
giving them access to any evidence against them or a fair trial. If these
men are deported, they likely face torture or death.

Show your support for folks who have been forced through especially brutal
repression by the State.
Letter writing materials (stationary, stamps) will be provided.
________________

The Guelph Anarchist Black Cross holds letter writing nights on the second
Tuesday of every month.
Coming up on June 14: letter writing to Nyki Kish, a community activist
wrongfully convicted of 2nd degree murder, imprisoned in Kitchener.

Posted in Guelph ABC Event, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 05/09/2011

New “Support G20 Defendants” Flyer

Hey! Check out the new “Support G20 Defendants” flyer by clicking the title below…

G20 Support Flyer updated April 15

comments/suggestions/updates please send to guelphabc@riseup.net

Posted in G20 Update, Southern Ontario.

rev="post-185" 2 comments

By Guelph ABC – 04/15/2011

Kazoo Zine Fest

If you are gonna miss us at the Toronto  Anarchist Bookfair you can catch us at the kazoo zine fest. We will have a small table again this year. See you there!

Posted in General, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 04/11/2011

Letter Writting Night

Tuesday April 12th
49 Alice, Guelph Ontario
6:30pm till around 8pm
Guelph ABC invites you to participate in an evening of writing to prisoners, folks on house arrest, and others facing state oppression. We will provide the supplies; colored pencils, paper, pens, stamps and addresses. Come down to hang out, write letters and make art for those those locked up.

Posted in Guelph ABC Event, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 04/11/2011