Don Bosco Park Defense in Bologna + Bernard Jemison on Conditions & Resistance in AL Prisons

The Final Straw Radio

This week, two segments plus Sean Swain

Don Bosco Park Defense in Bologna

First up, an interview submitted by audio comrades in Italy about the struggle against the cementization of the city of Bologna and the defense of Don Bosco park from the expansion of a university, highways… the whole urban landscape without the input of the residents so the city can move a school rather than renovate it. This struggle, including the occupation and defense of the park, represents an innovation in urban struggles in Italy which consciously takes inspiration from the struggle to Stop Cop City in so-called Atlanta and the activities of the park defenders has forced the left-leaning municipal government and mayor to temporarily suspend the cutting of trees. [00:02:04 - 00:27:10]

• Transcript
• PDF (Unimposed)
• Zine (Imposed PDF)

Bernard Jemison on Conditions and Resistance in AL Prisons

Then, you’ll hear Bernard Jemison, an incarcerated activist held in Holman prison in Alabama talking about conditions inside the ADOC recent calls for prisoner strikes in the state by the Free Alabama Movement and their outside supporters, as well as his views on the demands being made. [00:27:57 - 01:05:10]

• Transcript
• PDF (Unimposed)
• Zine (Imposed PDF)

The demands that we mention are the following:

1. BILL TO REPEAL THE HABITUAL OFFENDER ACT ON THE TABLE
2. CIVIL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION FOR PAROLE ALREADY FILED. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SIGN UP.
3. PAROLE BILL ON THE TABLE
4. WE NEED TO ABOLISH LWOP AND CREATE AN AVENUE FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
5. NO MORE NITROGEN GAS EXECUTIONS..
6. STOP SELLING OUR ORGANS.

A few articles on the subjects worth reading include:

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/death-rate-alabama-prisons-five-091450767.html
• https://www.alabamasmartjustice.org/reports/hfoa
• https://www.al.com/news/montgomery/2024/03/alabama-legislature-seeks-to-solve-missing-organ-issue.html
• https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/crime/2024/03/15/death-rate-in-alabama-prisons-is-five-times-the-us-average/72936145007/
• Statement of support by CCR for a strike called for by Free Alabama Movement: https://ccrjustice.org/home/press-center/press-releases/center-constitutional-rights-stands-solidarity-mass-prison-strike

Social media accounts Bernard thinks are doing a good job covering these issues:

• @Hopedealersprisonreform is Bernard on TikTok
• @truthbehindbars is a private facebook Bernard contributes to
• @prison_toks on TikTok

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Featured Track:

• On Point (instrumental) by House of Pain