4strugglemag

Running Down the Walls 2008

What: Running Down The Walls 2008
When: August 23rd , 2008 – 10:00 Am to 2:00 PM
Where: Whittier Narrows Regional Park, El Monte, CA
LA-ABCF
P.O. BOX 11223
Whittier, CA 90603
www.abcf.net/la

Running Down The Walls is back and it brought it’s friend Biking Down The Walls with it!

The Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross Federation is proud to announce the return of Running Down the Walls (RDTW). RDTW is a 5k run / walk / jog / and now bike ride for Political Prisoners.

Due to increased demand by PP/POWs and community activists, LA-ABCF will be organizing the next RDTW on Saturday, August 23rd, 2008. We hope our friends will come out and support the run just as they have in past. Our goal is to increase the number of solidarity runs in prisons and other cities.

If you are interested in organizing solidarity runs you should contact LA-ABCF before August 8th 2008.

Proceeds from this run will be divided between the ABCF Warchest and the campaign to free Chip Fitzgerald.

What is Running Down the Walls?
Starting in 1999 and continuing with one small break to today, LA-ABCF has organized a 5k non-competitive run/jog/walk (and now bike ride) designed to raise funds for the ABCF Warchest and other programs supported by local organizations. Since its inception this event has raised thousands dollars for important programs. In the first three years, the funds were divided between the ABCF Warchest and the Prisoner Art Project – a fund designed to monetarily assist political prisoners with art supplies. In '02, the run helped the ABCF Warchest and autonomous settlement of Maclovio Rojas in Mexico - which has considerable repression over the years. In '05, RDTW helped raise funds for the Growing Healthy program Sponsored by the New Panther Vanguard. In ’07 RDTW helped raise funds for the Black Riders Liberation Party and their Watch a Pig program.

Solidarity Runs are one of the strongest components of Running Down the Walls, they take place in various prisons and cities. In the previous six Running Down the Walls, there have been solidarity runs in prisons such as USP Leavenworth, USP Lompoc, USP Atwater, and MCI Walpole. In addition to this we have begun to expand runs to other cities, such as Winnipeg, Boston, and Montreal.

We hope to expand this portion of Running Down the Walls because of its impact with the runners both in LA and other run locations, Jaan Laaman wrote about his experiences with the Leavenworth RDTW in 1999:

'Not only our pace and spirits soared, but the sun broke through the clouds and the temperature rose to the 60's. So we ran down the walls and ran up the sun and we were glad to be doing it.'

PP/POWs have organized runs in their locations as an act of solidarity with those of us running in LA. In the past comrades like Malik Smith, Leonard Peltier, Ali Khalid Abdullah, Tom Manning, Bill Dunne, and many more have put their running shoes on and broke a sweat along the prison fences. These comrades have also reached out to our social prisoner comrades, who have in past been committed to Running Down the Walls year after year.

RDTW and PP/POWs
Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War have always been an extremely important aspect of Running Down the Walls. The runs themselves are designed to build support and awareness for those imprisoned for their political convictions. Prior to every run, statements by the prisoners are read to remind us of why we are running. The runs within the prisons give the prisoners and opportunity to participate with events taking place beyond the walls. The past five RDTW's have seen two Political Prisoners participate in the run, outside the walls, before being locked away. Former Anarchist Political Prisoner, Rob Middaugh, assisted the LA chapter in organizing the first several years of the run. In 2002, Sara Olsen (SLA political prisoner) and her daughter participated in the run prior to her being sentenced to 20 years for crimes committed in 1974.

Since the goal of LA-ABCF is to support PP/POWs and the communities they come from, we feel it is imperative this year’s run supports, Romaine (Chip) Fitzgerald, he has been imprisoned for the past 39 years and has the dubious distinction of being the longest held Black Panther political prisoner in the United States. Held since 1969, his arrest and conviction occurred during a time when the Los Angeles Police Department openly targeted Panthers and were ordered to “shoot to kill.”

Chip has been denied parole after has his July 2, 2008 parole hearing. He will not be eligible for parole until July 2009. The Board stated that he had to do more 'programming' such as participating in group discussions and counseling - which he has continued to do in his 38 years. He will be coming up on nearly forty years in prison at his next parole date- that is forty years too long for this man to be in prison.

-ABCF's Warchest Program:
In 1994, the ABCF initiated a program designed to send monthly funds into those PP/POWs who have been receiving insufficient, little, or no financial support during their imprisonment. It's purpose is to collect monthly funds from groups and individual supporters and send that money to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War (PP/POW) via monthly checks. Since its inception, the program has raised over $45,000 for PP/POWs in need. One component of the ABCF Warchest is the Emergency Fund. Its design is to immediately send funds to those PP/POWs in need of one time or emergency assistance. This portion of the program has been used to assist PP/POW's in purchasing shoes, toothpaste, and clothing in desperate times, as well as, assist in legal costs. These programs are the very heart of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation. Our imprisoned friends rely every month on the donations and money raised through the Warchest.

-How to Support RDTW:
We encourage people to participate in helping us raise funds for the Warchest and Romaine (Chip) Fitzgerald, which can be done in the following ways:

-Be a runner:
We are asking people or groups who are running to collect as many sponsors for
the run as possible. Remember the money received is going to help imprisoned comrades.

-Sponsor a runner:
This can be done through a flat donation to the runner of your choice. We ask from those who wish not to run to actively support those who are running in hopes of collecting as much for our comrades as possible.

-Sponsor Running Down the Walls:
Any amount helps. Contact the Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross if you wish to simply donate money to the cause. Organizations who donate more than $35 will be added to list of sponsor organizations on the website and all fliers/posters.

-Donate to the Warchest:
Send funds to the Philadelphia ABCF, who heads up the Warchest, indicating your desire for those funds to go to the Warchest. (Philadelphia ABCF P.O. Box 42129 Philadelphia, PA 19101)

-Organize a Running Down the Walls in your location:
We wish to expand the solidarity runs in more cities and prisons. Please contact LA Anarchist Black Cross, if you plan on doing this. Also, the LA ABCF welcomes anyone interested in helping us to organize the LA run.

-Jaan Laaman, UFF Political Prisoner Statement of Solidarity
October 19th 2002 My Brothers,

'Thank you for running at this special event that means so much to many of us all over the world, both free and imprisoned. In a relative way, we are all political prisoners because it is the politics of this system of things that is exploiting, crushing, imprisoning, and destroying the masses all over the world and the earth itself. Then there are those who know this and take actions against those who seek to deny us our rightful place on earth as common human brethren. Those are the ones we run for and seek to help... whom sacrificed their family, freedom and lives, so that our lives may be better! The fact that you ran with us is a sign that when the red-hour comes, you will not be caught asleep. You are conscious and you too are willing to represent. The potential in you is great. Thank you for running for the cause!'