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Critical Resistance Day 1
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Critical
Resistance Day 1
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Thousands
Demand: "Shut it Down!"
NEW YORK -- (IMC) Activists from as
far away as California assembled in Columbia University's Miller
Theatre this evening, the site of the opening events of Critical
Resistance Eastern Conference. So many showed up, unfortunately,
that organizers of Critical Resistance began turning people
away thirty minutes after the doors opened. Organizers assure us,
however, that there will be plently of space tommorow and Sunday;
Over 100 workshops and caucuses scheduled, as well as an
interfaith breakfast, a plenary at Riverside church, and an
action in a South Bronx Youth Detention facility.
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The opening session for
Critical Resistance East titled The Attica
Rebellion: Roots of Resistance, concluded
a few hours ago. It began with a screening for a
powerful film made by New York-based
filmmaker Ashley Hunt and Brad Lichenstein
specifically for Critical Resistance East about
the Attica Uprising;
The
Attica Rebellion
(PHOTO: CRITICAL RESISTANCE)
The evening continued with a
spectacular jazz presentation by Fred Ho, a noted composer
and musical innovator in the activistsrc="http://nyc.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/metafiles/fred_solo.jpg"
align="right" hspace="0" width="283" height="509"> face="Verdana"> community, David Bindman and Salim
Washington. They performed Charles Mingus' Remember
Rockefeller at Attica and Fred Ho's The Underground
Railroad to My Heart which Fred described as "an
anti-bourgeosy Boogie Woogie," to a standing ovation.
Kai Lumumba Barrow kicked off the
evening, which was a celebration of the spirit of
the Attica Rebellion and the unity and
self-determination of the Attica brothers, by asking
political prisoners to stand up; She then asked everyone who
has been in jail to stand; Then, she asked everyone who has
ever been harassed or threatened by a police officer to
stand. To the delight of the crowd, she asked everyone who
has ever had a traffic ticket or watched a cop show to stand.
In the end, there was no one left
sitting.
face="Verdana">Fred Ho (r.), David Bindman ,
and Salim Washington (not pictured) play
"Remember Rockefller at Attica,"
by Charles Mingus.
(PHOTO: PETER HOLDERNESS)
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Emani
Davis (pictured) reads a letter from her
father, talks about her involvement with prison
activism, and introduces Attica brothers and
others at CRE's opening session.
(PHOTO:
PETER HOLDERNESS)
Manny, a young father of 2 from
Boston, Massachusetts, who was formerly incarcerated,
spoke about the need to change the Prison system, and how
it unfairly targets the youth and minorities. Daughter of
Attica survivor Jomo Davis, Emani Davis, overwhelmed
with emotion, read to the diverse audience a message from
her father. Jomo Davis called on the youth to carry on
the Resistance.
src="http://nyc.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/metafiles/che1.jpg"
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color="#FF8000" size="2" face="Verdana">George Che Nieves
(l.) describes his work organizing with the black panthers and
the young lords inside prisons, culminating in his involvement in
the attica uprising.
face="Verdana">
(PHOTO: PETER HOLDERNESS)
George Che
Nieves, who organized for the Young Lords, an
organization of Puerto Rican revolutionaries who was
part of a Rainbow coalition during the 70s with the
Black Panthers, and the Young Patriots Organization,
a former street gang of white youths-turned
political, also spoke.
David
Johnson (below), one of the San Quentin Six, described
the atmosphere of anger and hope that gripped California
prisons as he and others organized against inhumane
conditions and coerced labor. size="1" face="Verdana">(PHOTO: PETER HOLDERNESS)
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Nieves and other
speakers like Danny Meyers, the attorney for the Attica
brothers, and David Johnson of the San Quentin 6, cited
startling statistics about the Prison-Industrial Complex.
Approximately 30 years ago, there were 12 prison
facilities in New York City. Today there are 72. They
equated Corrections with corruption, they called for an
end to sensory deprivation; They argued that impeding a
prisoner from touching their loved one, which they termed
"sensory deprivation," was an atrocious act.
They placed blame of the 39 deaths attributed to the
Attica Rebellion, some of which included state employees,
to former New York Mayor John D. Rockefeller.
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Higlights of the evening included
a musical performance by the IMPACT Repertory Group,
which boasts a membership of 80 youths based in Harlem,
"not Morningside Heights," they emphasized.
They sang songs about self-empowerment, the
disenfranchisement of young people, and about their
feelings on the Central Park Puerto Rican Day parade
"wilding" incidents.
Youth
from Impact (r.) performed songs and dance routines they created
in response to the world around them. This performance ended the
night with hope.
size="1" face="Verdana">(PHOTO: PETER HOLDERNESS)
Critical Resistance is an
organization founded in 1998 to increase public
awareness and activism around what they call the
Prison-Industrial Complex. New York City Independent
Media Center has teamed up with Critical Resistance East
and Riptide Communications to bring you extensive
coverage of the Conference. Keep checking New York City
IMC for continous updates. href="http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2644"> face="Verdana">You can listen to exerpts from The
Attica Rebellion: Roots of Resistance.
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width="285" height="425">
(ILLUS. COURTESY: CRITICAL
RESISTANCE)
All Photos Courtesy href="mailto:ramona_ramona@yahoo.com"> face="Verdana">Peter Holderness size="2" face="Verdana">. Illustrations Courtesy href="http://www.criticalresistance.org/creast"> face="Verdana">Critical Resistance East size="2" face="Verdana">.
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