RUNNING DOWN THE WALLS
On Saturday, September 12th, 2009, various Anarchist Black Cross chapters and political prisoners will participate in 5k runs in cities and prisons across the country.
This event is designed to raise much-needed funds for the Anarchist Black Cross Federation Warchest and the Romaine Fitzgerald Homecoming Fund.
In Denver, the run is also intended to highlight some of the local tools of state repression. The run will begin at the Denver Sheriff Department Detention Facility at 13th and Cherokee, and will also run by the Denver office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The run will end at Civic Center Park downtown.
RAISING FUNDS
The goal for this year’s run is $3,000. Funds will be divided between the following:
• The Warchest Program was created in November of 1994. Through the program, The ABCF sends monthly financial support to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War (PP/POWs) who have received insufficient, little, or no financial support during their imprisonment. Funds from the Warchest are distributed through monthly stipends to the political prisoners in need. Prisoners use this money to cover the basic necessities of everyday living. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised over $56,000 through the Warchest program. For more information, check out www.abcf.net
• Romaine Fitzgerald Homecoming Fund Currently, there is a parole campaign for political prisoner Romaine ‘Chip’ Fitzgerald. This fund will assist Chip his legal appeal effort and in re-establishing a life outside of prison. Chip has served forty years in prison and is the longest held political prisoner in the United States. For more information, please check out: www.freechip.org
SUPPORT THE STRUGGLE
Remember that many of those arrested in the past or present are not far from us. Many of them were and are community and labor activists, queer and environmental activists- people who decided to speak out against various forms of oppression and paid the price of freedom for their actions. Anyone of these people could have at one time stood beside us in a demonstration, at a speak-out or even a organizing meeting. At any moment it could be us who finds ourselves in this situation, so it is imperative that we ensure that a strong community of support exists for these people as well as ourselves. The strength of our movement is determined by how much we support our fallen comrades.
GET INVOLVED
People can participate in the following ways:
• Be a runner: We are asking people or groups who are running to
collect as many sponsors for the run as possible. Remember the money received is going to help imprisoned comrades and local groups who need help. Check out www.abcf.net/la for more information.
• Sponsor a runner: This can be done through a flat donation to the
runner of your choice.
• Volunteer at the event: Help hand out water to runners and literature to passerby.
• Sponsor Running Down the Walls: Any amount helps. Contact the Denver Anarchist Black Cross if you wish to simply donate money.
• Donate directly to the Warchest: For the Warchest send funds to the Philadelphia ABC, indicating your desire for those funds to go to the Warchest. Please make checks and money orders to Tim Fasnacht. (Philadelphia ABCF P.O. Box 42129 Philadelphia, PA 19101).
ALSO:
Following the Running Down the Walls 5k Benefit for political prisoners, there will be a kick off party for the Denver Anarchist Black Cross at 2pm at El Centro (2260 California Street).
Food and some entertainment will be provided. Please attend and bring friends.
September 12th is also the birthday of Leonard Peltier, American Indian Movement political prisoner. Leonard recently had his parole denied, so we’ll have cards for folks to send to show their support for him.
In love and solidarity,
Denver ABC Crew