[cdn_abolition] [un-aic] Digest Number 909

Thu Sep 29 09:57:21 EDT 2005

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. ccwp editorial
           From: "gil read" <gilread at readsearch.com>

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Message: 1         
   Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 10:19:14 -0700
   From: "gil read" <gilread at readsearch.com>
Subject: ccwp editorial

immigrants: locked in/locked out

this editorial was written by the immigrant women of ccwp with input
and commentary from other non-immigrant women.

the situatin for incarcerated women who are also immigrants has always
been difficult and becomes worse all the time.  the number of people
locked up in california who are not citizens has been on the increase
for the past dozen years. almost half of people incarcerated in united
states federal prisons are not native english speakers. an incarcerated
woman who does not speak english in california's english-only prisons
has trouble seeking medical or legal help and certainly cannot fully
function within the prison system on an every day basis.  often,
immigrant families must use the translation help of young children in
order to understand complicated legal inricacies of a prison system
that is not designated to be helpful to anyone.

the nightmarish situation for immigrant women in prison reflects the
brutal realities which immigrants face in the united states every day.
immigrants in this country, documents or undocumented, live in a
continual state of struggle for survival and also of resistance.
harassment, racism and exploitation are not far away from any of us.
our human rights are constantly violated. we don't even have full
freedom to walk around without fear that the migra (now homeland
security), the police or the minutemen will take the opportunity
to put us in prison, deport us or beat us to death.  when governor
schwarzenegger encourages the ultra-right-wing minutemen to help patrol
the border, we see paramilitarism becoming an accepted policy in
california which in turn promotes other forms of racism against
immigrants.

we leave our home countries because of u.s. foreign policies that
devastate our economy and politics, forcing us to leave our family
and land. entire communities are separated and subjected to double
exploitation. our situation is a direct consequence of policies like
the free trade agreement, the international monetary fund, war and
occupation, sanctions, blockades and the exploitation of our natural
resources.

we are forced to leave our countries because of these exploitative
policies and when we do get to the united states we are treated like
criminals. now an actual wall is being built across the southern
part of what today is called the united states but is land which used
to be part of mexico. this wall divides mexican families and is
intended to lock out mexicans and other latinos. it is similar in its
racist purpose to the wall which has been erected in palestine to lock
palestinians out of land which is theirs but is now called israel.
what a coincidence that both walls are called "security fences".

but is is no "security" for immigrants in the countries which have
conquered and occupied their land. instead, since the infamous
'war on terror' started, we've seen an intense wave of attacks against
..immigrant communities, and more immigrants are being locked up for
"security reasons".  freedom died and democracy exploded when the u.s.
sent immigrant soldiers to destroy the lives of thousands of iraqis
based on wholesale lies.

we need to understand in more detail the ways in which immigrant
women are being railroaded to prison and once there are suffering
in specific, terrible ways. we need to condemn the mass targeting
of immigrants because it is an injury to all of us. the struggle for
immigrant rights is a struggle for the liberation of people..around
the world and is our uprising here in the belly of the beast.

stop the war against immigrants!
tear down the walls!

california coalition for women prisoners

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dictionaries to women in prison

chicago books to women in prison is having a dictionary drive and we
need your help.  we are a volunteer collective that distributes
books free of charge to women in prison nationwide. incarcerated
women send us their requests for books and we attempt to furnish
the requested materials.

no other request comes in more frequently than the one for a 
dictionary. a woman incarcerated in florida writes "i will be
incarcerated for up to two more years and receive very little
support from my family. however, i'm trying to further my education.
please send me a dictionary you think would help. anything you could
send will be greatly appreciated."

we are unable to provide dictionaries to everyone who requests them.
you can help us meet this overwhelming need by donating dictionaries
or money to purchase them.

please contact us at chicagobwp at hotmail.com to let us know how you
wish to be involved. we will publish a list of supporters on our
website and in the next edition of our newsletter. we thank you in
advance for helping us provide this much desired and necessary
resource for the women in prison.

the fire inside
newsletter of the california coalition for women in prison
1540 market st., rm 490, san fransisco, ca 94102
http://www.womenprisoners.org
issue number 30, spring/summer 2005
caring collectively for women prisoners

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sister listgroup at
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AICAP/AIFAP ~Bookmark:
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/aicap_inmates_newsletter/index.html
http://epe.lac-bac.ca/100/201/300/aicap_inmates_newsletter/PDF/2005

Foreign Nationals, Consular Rights & The Death Penalty
http://www3.sympatico.ca/aiwarren
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/menu-en.asp?mid=9&cat=144

A Guide to Canadians Imprisoned Abroad
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/problems/arrest-en.asp
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/imprisoned_abroad-en.asp

CSC International Transfer of Offenders
http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/test/prgrm/inttransfer/trans_e.shtml

Criminal Alien Removal Act (CLEAR) - Bill H.R.2671
The National Sheriffs Association, the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, and the Law Enforcement Alliance of America have endorsed the bill.

Bill C-15 - International Transfer of Offenders Act
http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fct/2004/2004fc1054.shtml

Immigration Law News
http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/us/im 

Bookmark
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/aicap-aifap
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/angelgoddess-newsmuse

The information provided (in this moderated weekday digest) is not legal advice. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Do not act upon any information without first seeking advice from a qualified attorney.[ILW]

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