RUNNING DOWN THE WALLS 2011

LA ABCF

Locations for this years run: Cities: Los Angeles, CA New York City, NY Denver, CO Connecticut River, MA Guelph, Ontario Tucson, AZ Prisons: USP Terre Haute USP Tucson On Sunday, July 31st, 2011 at 10 a.m., the Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross will host a 5k run / walk / jog / bike at MacArthur Park, in downtown Los Angeles, CA. This event is designed to raise much-needed funds for the ABCF Warchest and Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC) We are attempting to reach the goal of $3,000 with the run. Funds will be divided among the two programs: ABCF WarchestThe ABCF Warchest program is now almost 16 years old; funds for the Warchest are divided and distributed through monthly stipends to political prisoners who receive little or no financial aid. Prisoners use this money to cover the basic necessities of everyday living. Funds have been used by prisoners to pay for stamps, shoes, clothes, as well as assisting their families with what little they can. Revolutionary Autonomous Communities: Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC) was created in the aftermath of the May Day 2007 police riot targeting migrant workers who dared stand up for our human rights. Members of the MacArthur Park area and others joined together to support those with no papers and those with no means. RAC-LA came forward to aid the community in self-organizing such that with the help of each other we might make an inhuman way of living a bit more bearable while at same time acquiring the means to one day transform this system into an image of our own humanity. Official Runs The ABCF is a Federation of ABC chapters that span across the country and is holding two official Running Down the Walls runs. Both New York and Los Angeles will be holding official runs on the morning of July 31st. In Sync with each other and other solidarity runs, we will collectively pound the pavement with our feet and bike tires as we exhibit our strength and stamina as examples of our tireless effort to free our imprisoned comrades. Solidarity Runs Every year, prisoners and supporters of political prisoners organize solidarity runs with Running Down the Walls (Los Angeles). We have had runs throughout various cities and prisons, including but not limited to: Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland, (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA), Connecticut River (MA), Denver, (CO), Elmore (AL), Guelph, (Ontario), Inez (KY), Marion (IL), Mexico City, USP. Navosta (TX), New York (NY), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto, Ontario. We raised just thousands of funds for various local organizations in these areas. This year we hope to expand the amount of runs in prisons and other cities, as well as, increase the amount of funds raised for community projects. This year we hope to have even more runs in cities, towns, and prisons all across North America. Raising Funds The Warchest program was created in November of 1994. Its purpose is to send monthly financial support to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War (PP/POWs) who have been receiving insufficient, little, or no financial support during their imprisonment. Support the Struggle We must 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 their freedom for their actions. We must remember that anyone of these people could have at one time stood beside us in a demonstration, at a speak-out, or even at an organizing meeting. At any given moment it could be us who finds ourselves in this situation, so it is imperative that we ensure that a strong enough 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. As the Anarchist POW Ojore Lutalo says it, "Any Movement that does not support its political internees, is a shame movement." So please help us, help them! Help us, help you! We encourage people to participate in helping us raise funds for the Warchest, which can be done in the following ways: Be a runner: We are asking people or groups who are running to collect as many sponsor for the run as possible. Remember the money received is going to help imprisoned comrades who need your help. The person who collects the most amount of funds will be given a prize for their involvement and dedication to helping our fallen comrades. Sponsor a runner: This can be done through a flat donation to the runner of your choice. We ask from those who wish not to run to actively support those who are running in hopes of collecting as much for our comrades as possible. Sponsor Running Down the Walls: Any amount helps. Contact the Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross if you wish to simply donate money to the cause. Donate to the Warchest: Send funds directly to the Los Angeles ABCF (PO Box 11223, Whittier, CA 90603) or to the Philadelphia ABCF (PO Box 42129, Philadelphia, PA 19101) Make checks or money orders out only to Tim Fasnacht. Get involved in the planning of Running Down the Walls: We always need help with organizing the event and we encourage people to contact us if they would like to get involved. You can do this by contacting the LA Anarchist Black Cross, www.abcf.net/la, la@abcf.net Pre-registration for the RDTW click here Download 3-fold registration flier for Running Down the Walls Running Down the Walls 2011 Sunday, July 31st, 2011, 10 am - 4 pm MacArthur Park, (south west corner), 2230 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90057 Registration fees: $12 preregistration; $15, the day of the run. (Make checks out to Tim Fasnacht) For more information contact the Los Angeles Branch Group of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation PO BOX 11223 Whitier, Ca 90603 www.abcf.net/la la@abcf.net