F.I.P. Movement

by kenneth glasgow

Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:06 pm (PST)

WE NEED HELP WITH DONATIONS, FREQUENT FLYER MILES, MOTEL ROOMS, OR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME ON THIER OWN.

On February 28th-March 2nd, 2011, a group of activists who have first-hand experience regarding inhumanities of the American prison industrial complex will convene in Alabama to lay the groundwork for a national civil rights movement. This conference of affected peoples grows out of broader momentum over the past decade, with many formerly incarcerated activists unifying to establish their own conference, for their own agenda, …as part of their own movement.

“What you are seeing now in Georgia,” says Pastor Kenny Glasgow of The Ordinary People’s Society (TOPS), “is a response to inhumane prison conditions and thousands of people’s sense of hopelessness.

” He is referring to the December 9th prison labor stoppage across the Georgia system, the largest prisoner protest in American history. “It has become so systematic,” he says, “the prison industry has managed to unite us.” Over 3,000 people have signed a solidarity petition in support of the prisoners.

America, with 5% of the planet’s population, holds 25% of the prisoners. The 2.3 million exist in a gulag of state, federal, and for-profit prisons, while nearly 10 million people currently live under some manner of government supervision. This would be the 8th largest state in the nation. It is unknown exactly how many millions have a criminal record, or are family of those who have once been inside the prison industrial complex, but some estimates exceed 10 million released prisoners in America, and 50 million with criminal records.

Linda Evans, co-founder of All of Us or None, puts this gathering in a historical perspective: “Holding the first of two national gatherings at the epicenter of the Civil Rights struggle is a symbolic action of great power, invoking similar moments such as Stonewall, the Great Grape Boycott, and the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments. The rights of prisoners, including those who were there and those who are targeted to go there, need all of us to share our wisdom and unite our struggle.” Events will occur in Montgomery, Dothan, and Selma, including a backwards march over Edmund Pettis Bridge.

The conference is being organized by a Steering Committee consisting of Malik Aziz (Philadelphia), Susan Burton (Los Angeles), Pastor Kenny Glasgow (Dothan, Alabama), Arthur League, Aaliyah Muhammed, and Dorsey Nunn (San Francisco/Oakland), Bruce Reilly (Providence), and Tina Reynolds (New York). Participants will be putting aside their local struggles in order to develop a common platform regarding restoration of civil rights, stopping prison expansion, elimination of excessive punishments, and protecting the dignity of family members. The Steering Committee will organize dozens of others to convene in Alabama. Read the Committee bios HERE…

The Alabama Convention will be the beginning for activating a Movement. Next stop: Los Angeles, on November 1st, 2011. Allies and supporters should send donations, via paypal, at www.theordinarypeoplesociety.com or by mail to: TOPS, 403 W. Powell Street, Dothan, AL 36303 to assist in the expenses of creating such an event. People can also get involved, as participants or supporters, by Supporting Civil Rights of the Formerly Incarcerated. A political agenda will be established by a collaborative process, and provide opportunity for strategic support.

This national conference is supported by All of Us or None, World Conference of Mayors, Drug Policy Alliance, The Ordinary People Society, Equal Justice Initiative, Rev. Al Sampson, Dr. C.T. Vivian, Prodigal Child Project, National Justice Coalition, Rev. Al Sharpton, New Bottom Line, National Second Chance Council, National Exhoodus Council, A New Way of Life, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Women on the Rise Telling Her Story (WORTH), Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), MN Second Chance Coalition, and others.

Those seeking more information should contact:
Dorsey Nunn
dorsey@prisonerswithchildren.org (415) 916-9599

Pastor Kenny Glasgow
alabamaalliance@yahoo.com (334) 791-2433

Pastor Kenneth Glasgow
Founder, National President
The Ordinary People Society (TOPS)
403 West Powell St.
Dothan, AL 36303

Office / Fax: 334-671-2882
Cell: 334-791-2433

Web: www.wearetops.org or www.theordinarypeoplesociety.com or wearetops.blogspot.com, www.ordinarypeoplenews.com