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Halifax
Prisoner Justice Day BBQ
7:00pm
Mardi Août 10 2010
Venue: Roberts Street Social Centre
Address: 5684 Roberts Street
Cost: Free
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On Tuesday August 10th at 7pm the Anarchist Black Cross and Books Beyond Bars will host a free BBQ in recognition of Prisoner Justice Day. To find out more about Prisoner Justice Day see below, or check out prisonjustice.ca.
As well, a new issue of Words Without Walls will be available at the event. From inside the walls of women's prisons in Nova Scotia, this is a book of poetry and art that challenges the nature of prisons to keep people isolated and silent. Women courageously share their first-hand experiences of living on the inside and the complicated situations that brought them there. Created by Books Beyond Bars, a grassroots organization that runs books exchange and writing programs in prisons in Nova Scotia.
PRISONERS' JUSTICE DAY IS...
...August 10, the day prisoners have set aside as a day to fast and refuse to work in a show of solidarity to remember those who have died unnecessarily -- victims of murder, suicide and neglect.
...the day when organizations and individuals in the community hold demonstrations, vigils, worship services and other events in common resistance with prisoners.
...the day to raise issue with the fact that a very high rate of women are in prison for protecting themselves against their abusers. This makes it obvious that the legal system does not protect women who suffer violence at the hands of their partners.
...is the day to remember that there are a disproportionate number of Natives, African-Canadians and other minorities and marginalized people in prisons. Prisons are the ultimate form of oppression against struggles of recognition and self-determination.
...the day to raise public awareness of the demands made by prisoners to change the criminal justice system and the brutal and inhumane conditions that lead to so many prison deaths.
...the day to oppose prison violence, police violence, and violence against women and children.
...the day to publicize that, in their fight for freedom and equality, the actions of many political prisoners have been criminalized by government. As a result, there are false claims that there are no political prisoners in north american prisons.
...the day to raise public awareness of the economic and social costs of a system of criminal justice which punishes for revenge. If there is ever to be social justice, it will only come about using a model of healing justice, connecting people to the crimes and helping offenders take responsibility for their actions.
...the day to renew the struggle for HIV/AIDS education, prevention and treatment in prison.
...the day to remind people that the criminal justice system and the psychiatric system are mutually reinforcing methods that the state uses to control human beings. There is a lot of brutality by staff committed in the name of treatment. Moreover, many deaths in the psych-prisons remain uninvestigated.
2001
Prisoners' Justice Day Committee
Topics: Police/Prisons
471 words
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