[WestMALocals] Fwd: 7/13 No New Jails Press Conference

[David Rolde]

>
>
>For Immediate Release:  July 7, 2005
>Contact:  Holly Richardson
>Statewide Harm Reduction Coalition
>www.stopchicopeejail.org
>(413) 348-8234
>
>
>PLEASE JOIN US
>
>No New Jails Press Conference
>
>ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH, 2005
>WHERE:  State House, Grand Staircase
>WHEN:  Wednesday, July 13th from 11am - 1pm
>
>
>Statewide Harm Reduction Coalition calls for Moratorium on Jail and
>Prison Expansion in Massachusetts
>
>
>COALITION MEMBERS SAY "DECARCERATE", CITING 30 YEAR DROP IN CRIME RATE,
>COSTLY FAILURE OF DRUG WAR, and HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
>
>
>Members of SHaRC and supporters will assemble at the State House
>to announce a statewide campaign to demand a moratorium on all
>jail and prison construction in Massachusetts. Speakers will
>explain why continued construction of jails and prisons, no
>matter what the cost per bed, is fiscally irresponsible and
>has led to the current crisis of poor health for individuals,
>families, and communities across our state.
>
>
>Sponsored by 1st Hampshire District Representative Peter Kocot, speakers
>will include:
>
>-Boston City Councilors Chuck Turner and Felix Arroyo
>-Iris Wallace, Arise for Social Justice and formerly incarcerated
>-ACLU-Massachusetts Executive Director Carol Rose
>-Family of Kelly Jo Griffen, who died one month before the
>      murder of John Geoghan, while in custody of the
>      Massachusetts Department of Corrections
>-Susan Mortimer, long time anti-prison activist whose severely
>      disabled brother, along with scores of others, experience
>      ongoing medical, mental, and physical abuse in the
>      Massachusetts prison system
>-Keith Harvey, Executive Director of the New England Regional
>      Office of American Friends Service Committee
>-Judith Roderick, of District 7, Boston
>-Solobia Hutchins, Arise for Social Justice
>-Jack McCambridge, formerly incarcerated
>
>and
>
>-creative political expression by Reflect and Strengthen
>
>
>We will have photos of the proposed Chicopee women's jail site, land
>originally willed by George Atwater to be used in perpetuity as open space,
>and of a jail cell stand-out demonstration held in Chicopee. Also red and
>white www.StopChicopeeJail.org lawn signs and bumper stickers will be
>available.
>
>
>The evidence supporting the case for a moratorium includes:  (1) The War On
>Drugs is waged more harshly against poor communities and communities of
>color; (2) Despite widespread public perception that crime rates have
>skyrocketed, the reality is that violent crime and property crime have been
>on the decline; (3) People struggling with addiction are not criminals; (4)
>The human rights of people in jail and prisons are being violated; (5) The
>state is wasting taxpayer dollars; (6) Majority public opinion is not in
>support of indefinite detentions of immigrant or War On Terror detainees;
>(7) If we build healthy communities we will not need to build new jails or
>prisons (for complete text and links supporting these points, please visit
>the abovementioned website).
>
>
># # #
>
>
>Statewide Harm Reduction Coalition - Moratorium Endorsers
>
>American Civil Liberties Union - Massachusetts
>American Friends Service Committee - National
>American Friends Service Committee - NE Region
>American Friends Service Committee - Western MA
>Felix Arroyo, Boston City Council
>ARISE for Social Justice
>BAGLY
>Center for Popular Economics
>Chuck Turner, Boston City Council
>Citizens for Participation in Political Action
>Community Change, Inc. - Boston
>Community Church of Boston
>Connecticut River Valley Green-Rainbow Party
>Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard School of Law
>Critical Resistance
>Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts
>Efficacy - Hartford, Ct.
>Freedom Center
>Holyoke Girls, Inc.
>Out Now
>Paloma House
>Prison Book Program - Quincy
>Prison Book Project - Western MA
>Root 9 Collective
>STEPServices
>Tom Mooney Local Socialist Party USA
>UAW Local 2322
>Western Massachusetts A.N.S.W.E.R
>Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Boston
>
>
>
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