A movement with the goal of crushing a ruling oppressive system will have to learn that people in it will be exposed to repression from the government. This can sometimes mean that you, or your friends, are forced into prison. To take care of ourselves, our comrades, our movement, and to continue fighting to achieve our goals, it is therefore important that we practice prisoner support.
Prisoner support can look very different. Among other things, because we may have different needs when we are imprisoned. But also because we who help do it in different ways. Therefore, it is not possible to easily define exactly what prisoner support is, how it is done. However, there are some recognizable features of prisoner support.
As prisoner supporters, it is fundamental to show solidarity with your comrade in prison. You can do that by getting in touch and check what needs the prisoner have. For example, you can write letters to the inmate (guidelines for letter writing differ between different institutions, so check which rules apply in the prison you are writing to). Then think about what you want, and can handle. You can, for example, write a letter only on a single occasion, to show that the inmate is not forgotten, alone. You can also start a longer relationship, by writing letters. You can hear what the inmate wants.
In addition to letter writing, there are other ways to help prisoners. For example, for those who have the opportunity, and if it is allowed by the prison, you can contribute with money and things that the inmate needs, e.g. send books to the prisoner. If necessary, you can also help the inmate’s friends and family, outside the prison. Several families need both emotional and financial support. In cases where you are not able to donate financially, you can contact the nearest Anarchist Black Cross, check if you together can start a fundraiser for the family. You can also be there for the inmate when they are released, helping in different ways when the comrade leaves prison is often important.
With prisoner support, we can not only help inmates but also strengthen comrades outside prisons. All comrades in the movement should know that if they themselves are imprisoned, they will not be alone or forgotten, on the contrary. In this way, prisoner support contributes to strengthening the entire movement for the liberation of animals. No one is alone. No one is free until all are free!
IN SOLIDARITY – PRISONER SUPPORT
