Activism

There are 286 posts filed in Activism (this is page 29 of 96).

Statement In Support Of The Prison Strike In Georgia Prisoner Abuse Is Terror Supported By The U.S. Capitalist Ruling Class

Chicano Mexicano Prison Project
December 15, 2010

It has come to the attention of the Chicano Mexicano Prison Project (CMPP) that a massive prison strike is presently taking place in many of the prisons in the state of Georgia. The strike, in which the prisoners are refusing to come out of their cells and participate in any activities, began on December 9, 2010 and is now in its 6th day. Called a “Lockdown For Liberty” by the prisoners, the strike’s central demand is for all prisoners to be treated as humans and not as slaves or animals.

PRISON ABUSE IS THE NORM THROUGHOUT THE BELLY OF THE BEAST
Prisoners for years have complained of violence, destruction of personal items, lack of medical attention, unwarranted harassment, illegal denial of privileges, unhealthy meals, cruel punishments (months and years in solidarity confinement), lack of rehabilitation/education programs, and refusal of visits from family –perpetrated and condoned by prison authorities. These conditions are the norm not only in Georgia, but also throughout the belly of the imperialist beast known as the United States. They are conditions of terror-abuse supported by the capitalist ruling class, its politicians, and the mainstream media.

The CMPP, founded in 1993 by Unión del Barrio, one of the most consistent groups fighting for the human rights of Mexican-Raza prisoners –is in absolute support of the state-wide prisoner strike occurring in Georgia. We stand on the side of justice and peace, and support all actions that will lead to the end of the mass incarceration of the poor and working class and the oppressed-colonized nations found within the belly of the beast (United States).

PRISONS BREED RACISM AND OPPRESS NATIONS
Our position has always been a stance that recognizes and exposes the U.S. prison/concentration camp system as one that:
• is used to breed racism; a tool to divide the workers, poor people, nationalities, and the various ethnic groups living within the boundaries of the beast
• is used to justify the continuing oppression and colonization of Africans, Mexican-Indigenous-Raza, Asians, and Pacific Islanders
• is used as a business (Prison Industrial Complex) by the capitalist-pigs to further enrich themselves
• is used as institutions for the physical and psychological torture of poor and working class people –with the goal of imposing fear on those, inside and outside prisons, who might have rebellion on their minds

In conclusion, the CMPP understands that only the destruction of capitalism-colonialism will put an end to the mass incarceration of workers and oppressed/colonized nations.

All Power To The People!
Down With Racism/Capitalism/Colonialism!
Venceremos

For more info on the CMPP see: http://uniondelbarrio.org

Union del Barrio, Base Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales’ statement on the DREAM ACT

The Federal Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM ACT and previously introduced as S.729/H.R. 1751, is a legislation that would permit “undocumented” youth conditional legal status and eventually citizenship status once they meet ALL the following requirements:

• Entered the U.S. before the age of 16,
• Are under the age of 35,
• have lived in the U.S. continuously for 5 years,
• graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED,
• have good moral character with no criminal record and
• attend college or enlist in the military.

We, the youth base of Union del Barrio, Base Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales, full-heartedly denounce the military component of the DREAM Act. We as an organization are against any legislation that would lead to the militarization of our brothers, sisters, friends and community. Many DREAM Act supporters do not realize that by supporting the DREAM Act with the military component they are also supporting the inhumane War in Iraq, the slaughter of thousands of immigrants at the border, and undemocratic military coupes in “Nuestra America”. The deaths and inhumane treatment of our gente will be implicated by your own selfishness. The militarization component is not the only problem with the DREAM Act. There are no options for citizenship within the DREAM Act for students who have been pushed out of the educational system or who are thirty-five and over. We call for a Dream Act that will not have a life or death choice for our youth, especially when many undocumented students come from poorly funded high schools in working-class neighborhoods where Army recruiters outnumber college recruiters. Army recruiters make many promises to our youth. For instance, the army promises to pay for college, traveling around the world and a path to citizenship. We as Union del Barrio understand that the American government has created a poverty draft supported by the cuts on education. Given the current financial crisis and the push-out rates at our schools, joining the Army is becoming a more attractive option for our youth.

It is extremely important for Union del Barrio to make the following three points clear. First, our enemies are not the DREAM Act supporters; our enemy is capitalism and imperialism. Second, we DEMAND a humane and immediate “legalization” for all “undocumented” people in these occupied territories. Third, the legalization of people is only one step towards the liberation of “Nuestra America.” An education is NOT a Privilege, it is a HUMAN RIGHT!! We should not let the Dream Act or any law deny or restrict us that right!