Inmate solidarity rally Saturday, July 17 : AZ IMC

CALL TO ACTION:

The Monsoon Anarchist Collective (MAC) calls for a solidarity rally to be held in support of inmates rights. Join MAC in a campaign against the brutality of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and in support of inmates’ rights and struggle.

WHAT: Maricopa County jails house prisoners awaiting trial or serving sentences of up to one year, and conditions in the jails have been cited by human rights group Amnesty International and the US Department of Justice as inhumane and unconstitutional. Just over two weeks ago, inmates in Maricopa County's Durango Jail went on hunger strike to take action against the poor conditions prevalent in County jails. 2,200 inmates refused meals to take action against the horrible quality of the food served and to demand that a third meal be served, as only two are served in Maricopa County Jails. In the days following the start of the strike, inmates returned to eating, but a core group continued the hunger strike. The strike has ended now, but the poor conditions of the Maricopa County's jails persist, and, at least, one of the strike organizers has faced harassment and unjust persecution for organizing inmates to stand up for their human rights. Members of the Monsoon Anarchist Collective, Phoenix Copwatch, and Mothers Against Arpaio came together and held a solidarity rally two days after the strike began at Durango Jail. A second rally was held on Monday of this week at the Sheriff’s Office and in front of the Madison Street Jail. We’ve received a lot of support from inmates, ex-inmates, family members and friends of inmates but most importantly, more people know that folks on the outside support the inmates’ struggle. Come out to the Estrella Jail on Saturday, July 17, to stand in solidarity with inmates rights and struggles, and against the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, their lies and their brutality.

MAC has three demands to support the struggles of County inmates:

1. We demand an end to the harassment and unjust persecution of inmates who participated in the Durango Jail hunger strike and the hunger strike organizers.

2. We demand that the inmates demand of three meals a day be acted upon immediately by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and that inmates receive a more balanced and healthy variety of food.

3. We demand that Maricopa County close the Tent City jails immediately due to the brutality dealt by the guards upon inmates and the well known and documented flagrant disregard for human rights and life.

MAC believes that residents of Maricopa County must organize to prevent further abuses of inmates and their inalienable human rights. Aside from the demands presented by MAC, we see the need for the creation of a people’s review board to review the conditions of the jails. We are in the process of discussing the creation of this board or a similar forum, and we invite former inmates, family members of inmates, members of human rights organizations, lawyers and doctors to contact MAC to get involved.

WHERE: The Estrella Jail, 2939 W. Durango Street in west Phoenix. We will be meeting in front of the Estrella Jail and Tent City on Durango St. and we will rally there. Parking is available on the side streets just north of Durango Street.

WHEN: Saturday, July 17th at 9:00 AM.

TO BRING: Water, a hat, sunscreen, banners, and signs.

For more info, read Amnesty's report on Maricopa County Jails:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/usa/document.do?id=5EA95096ECE9FFC2802569000
0693391

Contact us at: pac@phoenixanarchist.org
http://www.phoenixanarchist.org