Retiring Arizona Prison Watch...


This site was originally started in July 2009 as an independent endeavor to monitor conditions in Arizona's criminal justice system, as well as offer some critical analysis of the prison industrial complex from a prison abolitionist/anarchist's perspective. It was begun in the aftermath of the death of Marcia Powell, a 48 year old AZ state prisoner who was left in an outdoor cage in the desert sun for over four hours while on a 10-minute suicide watch. That was at ASPC-Perryville, in Goodyear, AZ, in May 2009.

Marcia, a seriously mentally ill woman with a meth habit sentenced to the minimum mandatory 27 months in prison for prostitution was already deemed by society as disposable. She was therefore easily ignored by numerous prison officers as she pleaded for water and relief from the sun for four hours. She was ultimately found collapsed in her own feces, with second degree burns on her body, her organs failing, and her body exceeding the 108 degrees the thermometer would record. 16 officers and staff were disciplined for her death, but no one was ever prosecuted for her homicide. Her story is here.

Marcia's death and this blog compelled me to work for the next 5 1/2 years to document and challenge the prison industrial complex in AZ, most specifically as manifested in the Arizona Department of Corrections. I corresponded with over 1,000 prisoners in that time, as well as many of their loved ones, offering all what resources I could find for fighting the AZ DOC themselves - most regarding their health or matters of personal safety.

I also began to work with the survivors of prison violence, as I often heard from the loved ones of the dead, and learned their stories. During that time I memorialized the Ghosts of Jan Brewer - state prisoners under her regime who were lost to neglect, suicide or violence - across the city's sidewalks in large chalk murals. Some of that art is here.

In November 2014 I left Phoenix abruptly to care for my family. By early 2015 I was no longer keeping up this blog site, save occasional posts about a young prisoner in solitary confinement in Arpaio's jail, Jessie B.

I'm deeply grateful to the prisoners who educated, confided in, and encouraged me throughout the years I did this work. My life has been made all the more rich and meaningful by their engagement.

I've linked to some posts about advocating for state prisoner health and safety to the right, as well as other resources for families and friends. If you are in need of additional assistance fighting the prison industrial complex in Arizona - or if you care to offer some aid to the cause - please contact the Phoenix Anarchist Black Cross at PO Box 7241 / Tempe, AZ 85281. collective@phoenixabc.org

until all are free -

MARGARET J PLEWS (June 1, 2015)
arizonaprisonwatch@gmail.com



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AZ Prison Watch BLOG POSTS:


Tuesday, July 31, 2018

LOVE to the North American Prison Strike! AUG 21, 2018

 Rock on, friends - 

All Power to the People this summer! 

Resistance is not futile!

PRINT and send this FLYER  INSIDE!

 More info from the

The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee.


July 19, 2018

Final Straw Podcast - Interview with Prison Strike Organizers Amani Sawari and Brooke

The Final Straw - A Weekly Anarchist Show
 
The Final Straw interviews two outside organizers, Amani Sawari and Brooke of IWOC about the upcoming national prisoner strike starting on August 21st and continuing through September 9th, 2018.


Prison Strike 2018


#prisonstrike
#AUGUST21
      2018



Rebels incarcerated in prisons across the nation declare a nationwide strike in response to the riot in Lee Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in South Carolina. Seven comrades lost their lives when prison officials turned their backs on a riot they provoked. We are demanding humane living conditions, access to rehabilitation, sentencing reform and the end of modern day slavery.
Learn more at http://sawarimi.org/national-prison-strike

Demands

    Immediate improvements to the conditions of prisons and prison policies that recognize the humanity of imprisoned men and women.
    An immediate end to prison slavery. All persons imprisoned in any place of detention under United States jurisdiction must be paid the prevailing wage in their state or territory for their labor.
    The Prison Litigation Reform Act must be rescinded, allowing imprisoned humans a proper channel to address grievances and violations of their rights.
    The Truth in Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform Act must be rescinded so that imprisoned humans have a possibility of rehabilitation and parole. No human
    shall be sentenced to Death by Incarceration or serve any sentence without the possibility of parole.
    An immediate end to the racial overcharging, over-sentencing, and parole denials of Black and brown humans. Black humans shall no longer be denied parole because the victim of the crime was white, which is a particular problem in southern states.
    An immediate end to racist gang enhancement laws targeting Black and brown humans.
    No imprisoned human shall be denied access to rehabilitation programs at their place of detention because of their label as a violent offender.
    State prisons must be funded specifically to offer more rehabilitation services.
    Pell grants must be reinstated in all US states and territories.
    The voting rights of all confined citizens serving prison sentences, pretrial detainees, and so-called “ex-felons” must be counted. Representation is demanded. All voices count.

Endorsers



See  full list of endorsers.

Add your organization's name to the list by emailing prisonstrikemedia@gmail.com
Support the Strike

    Educate yourself and others about the strike demands    

    Organize a phone tree in preparation for phone zaps
    Amplify incarcerated voices via social media using the #August21 and #prisonstrike hashtags
    Join or organize a solidarity demo

   and check this out:

Solid Black Fist : Official National Prison Strike Newsletter - Issue 1

Allied Literature, Publication

First issue of the 2018 national prison strike newsletter.


July 20, 2018


Solid Black Fist Newsletter header
GO TO:   
    

 

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