People who are sent to prison, especially for the first time, can feel extremely isolated and lost. You can help the young people criminalised for supporting the Palestinian struggle by sending them letters and cards of solidarity, putting their names on the mailing lists of publications you are involved with and generally letting them know that they are not alone.
If you know someone who has been convicted and is currently in prison, ask them if they want their details circulated to supporters. If they do, you can post their name, prison number and prison address here. If they don’t you can just email your close friends and contacts and ask them to get in touch.
If you know someone is in prison and know where they are but don’t know their prison number (which you will need to ensure letters get there) you can ring the prison and ask for the Discipline Office. Explain you are a friend/family member and you know the person but not the number. They should give you the number.
If you don’t know where the prisoner is, first ask their solicitor to try and find out. If this does not work, you need to contact the Prisoner Location Service
You can send letters and cards to prisoners. Put their name, prison number and the prison address on the front of the envelope. Put your name and address on the back as some prisons refuse to accept anonymous mail. If you want to send money, put a cheque or postal order in your letter. Address the cheque/postal order to The Governor but address your envelope to the prisoner. If you are sending money, it is best to send the letter recorded or special delivery.
Each prison has its own rules and regulations about what can be sent or handed in, ie books, DVDs etc, and what prisoners have to purchase for themselves via the prison ‘canteen’ system. If you are confused about the specific rules in a particular prison, you can ring the visitors’ centre and ask them.
There are lots of different organisations that provide advice to prisoners and their relatives. The most useful ones are:
| For legal advice on the treatment of adult prisoners (21 and over), contact the Prisoners Advice Service e-mail – advice@prisonersadvice.org.uk telephone – 020 7253 3323 09:30-13:00 & 14:00-17:30 only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
| For legal advice on the treatment of young prisoners(21 and over), contact the Howard League legal department
free advice line – 0808 801 0308 |
| For advice and support for relatives and friends experiencing problems with visiting etc, contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline
Free advice line – 0800 808 2003 |
Alternatively, if you have a query about the prison treatment or conditions of someone you are supporting, you can post your question on this blog and we will get it answered by someone with the appropriate expertise. It will then be visible to others who may need advice on the same subject. That way we can build up a body of information and support each other.
Solidarity is vital
We need to stand 100% in solidarity with these brave demonstrators. By standing in solidarity with them we are also standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The state wants to scare us and stop us from resisting their global oppression. In response we need to do everything we can to show our solidarity with those imprisoned and demand their release.
There are 5 Cuban men, who are prisoners of imperialism in the United States, who were arrested for trying to PREVENT terrorism. They are called the 5 heroes in their country, every child knows who they are. And this beautiful solidarity they have received helps keep them strong while they are unjustly imprisoned. We need to take the Cubans example, because our young people are also prisoners of imperialism. They are political prisoners and we have to work hard to ensure that every young person knows who they are and knows that their imprisonment was not in vain. Most people don’t choose to be brave, they have no choice. These young people were targeted by a racist police system – we can’t change that. But we can make the state regret their actions.
In Newcastle, like in every British city, asylum seekers are regularly arrested in dawn raids, they experience a similar trauma to that described so well in this article. Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR) knows that we can’t stop the dawn raids from happening but we CAN stop them happening silently, we can rip off the mask of democracy that the Labour Government tries to wear. Each time one of our members are snatched we demonstrate outside the government offices and invite local journalists. The majority of our members have since been released from detention, only a few deported. We need to achieve the same political consequences in the case of the Gaza protesters. It will take hard work and determination but it can be done. And while we campaign for our brothers and sisters here in Britain we can also campaign for the young people arrested daily in Palestine.
My first step in joining the Gaza Demonstrators Support Campaign will be to speak about the Gaza demonstrators on the megaphone when we picket Marks and Spencers this evening (the biggest British corporate sponsor of Israel)
Globalise the intifada!
End British support for Israel!
And as we say in TCAR, Together we are Stronger!
In solidarity,
Annie
Revolutionary Communist Group North East
I was at the protest and saw how the police provoked a response when they kettled (if that’s what it’s called) very aggressively, men, women and children. Myself, my sister and brother in law were crushed by very aggressive police, and many young muslim men were hit for no reason. The protest was peaceful prior to this. What I saw after this was terrifying; there was a steady stream of men and women, young and old passing through the packed crowd with serious injuries. Like the Israeli attacks on Gaza, this police action was totally disproportionate.
To learn that 65 people have been jailed because of police aggression makes me wonder what kind of country we live in. It certainly isn’t a free one. You’d think this was China when you see police hitting women and hear that they haven’t been charged for it. It stinks of corruption.
I did put a complaint into the police complaints commission but withdrew it when my CRB hadn’t been processed after 9 weeks.
York Branch of palestine Solidarity Campaign is 100% behind the Prisoners. The State is criminalising human rights campaigners who deserve a medal, not a prison sentence.
This is an attack on dissent, and an attempt to intimidate critics of the racist Israeli state. Instead it will harden our resolve
Brilliant initiative. Hard for those physically not close to London to show support, donating money and stuff for these heroic political prisoners is a great way to show solidarity. Be good to get an account set up so that people can make a donation of they have the means. Forward to the release of these most righteous of companeros.