We’re humbled by the enormous outpouring of solidarity which comrades all over the world demonstrated on June 11th this year, especially the ways in which people linked Marius and Eric’s struggles in prison with their own struggles against environmental devastation, the prison-world and the forces of capitalist exploitation.
We’d also like to draw attention to the hunger strike currently taking place in Greek prisons, against the construction of new high security wings and entire prison for those convicted on terrorism charges (primarily anarchist and nihilist combatants). We continue to stand in complicity with comrades, near and far, who are struggling both inside and outside of prison walls against the intensification of the systems of control and oppression.
The night was capped off with a wonderful 45 minute performance by Straight Out Scribes, a mother/daughter spoken word duo who are very familiar with what it means to stand with political prisoners. They visited Marilyn Buck when she was being held at FCI Dublin, CA, they worked on the campaign to free Huey P. Newton, and they continue to write to many prisoners today. We were honored to have their performance be a part of our June 11th event this year.
The SPS table was full of literature on Eric McDavid, Marie Mason and other political prisoners, as well as a lot of support stickers and T shirts. Some new connections were made and fliers for our next prisoner letter writing night were distributed.
We move forward with Eric and Marie on our minds and in our hearts, along with all the other prisoners we stand with and work for. We find solace in the fact that there are june 11th events happening all over the world, knowing we are part of a movement and that we are making a difference.
Tel-Aviv, Israel/Palestine–
In June 11th, 2014, there were at least 41 events in 39 cities in seven countries, as well as many actions. Anarchy being what it is, we’re sure even more happened.
Our list of 2014 events is here; mouseover for details, if available. You can find the 2014 callout in, thanks to ContraInfo and other friends, Serbo-Croatian , Italian, German, Greek, Spanish , and Portuguese.
Thank you for all the solidarity you show, on June 11th or any day. It means everything.
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Curated by the Earth First! Prisoner Support Project
This year on June 11 – the International Day of Solidarity with Marie Mason, Eric McDavid & all Eco-prisoners – we will be running the 2nd annual Never Alone online exhibition. It will serve as an avenue not only for fundraising for these political prisoners, but as a way to reach out informatively to a broad audience on issues of earth & animal liberation and state captivity. We would love to invite you to contribute an artwork to this exhibition.
June 11 started back in 2004 as the International Day of Solidarity with Jeff ‘Free’ Luers, an eco-prisoner sentenced to 22+ years in prison in Oregon (U.S.) for an act of arson against 3 light trucks in an effort to highlight the threat of climate change. This threat is now widely recognised, as was the incredibly unjust sentence that Jeff received. An international campaign of support had a massive impact on the fact that Jeff’s sentence was ultimately reduced to 10 years. By the time he was released in 2009 many other activists in the U.S. had been locked up in prison for standing up for a better world. Two of these prisoners – Eric McDavid and Marie Mason – had been sentenced to 20 and 22 years respectively. Both were sentenced severely for their willingness to fight for a world without oppression – be that of the earth, other animals, or our human communities.
Last year the Never Alone exhibition raised important funds for Marie and Eric’s support campaigns. We want to build on all the amazing support shown by artists and art buyers, and make this year’s exhibition an even bigger and more successful fundraiser. You can still see last year’s online exhibition [here].
Marie and Eric are contributing artworks for the exhibition, as well as a number of other amazing artists already on board. We are inviting a range of incredibly talented artists to contribute, whose art regularly touches on themes of liberation, wilderness and political action. We are very interested in contributions of original work, prints and small sculptures, and any other ideas that artists may have. Please feel free to get in touch and discuss with us any ideas you might have.
The exhibition will be online at www.neveraloneart.org, from June 11-30. It will be promoted heavily through our support networks, social media, and through other June 11 events being organised around the world. Artists involved would need to be able to provide suitable images of their artwork/s, as well as details of the dimensions, medium/s and price (incl. cost of postage within the U.S).
We are hoping that any artists involved will be willing to contribute between 100-70% of the sale of any artworks at the exhibition, with funds raised going directly to the support funds of Marie Mason and Eric McDavid. We would also require artists to be responsible for posting any sold artworks to the purchaser, with those costs being reimbursed to you by our collective.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Expressions of interest close on May 1st, 2014. We really hope to hear from you if you are interested in contributing, and look forward to working with you!
In solidarity,
The Earth First! Prisoner Support Project team
[email protected]
www.supporteric.org
www.supportmariemason.org