Prisoners Are People Too, Inc.

November 2019

The Family is in Prison Too

by Karima Amin

For generations, people have always made negative assumptions about those whom they thought of as “lesser than.” During the Era of Enslavement, Black people experienced that and people in prison experience that today. Inhumane treatment in jails and prisons is often accepted because those who are confined are thought to be unworthy of humane and professional consideration. 

 When people are released from prison, the denigration continues. The collateral consequences of a criminal conviction could lead to homelessness, unemployment, and health problems. So-called prison families, those with an incarcerated loved one, have to endure negative assumptions as well. Prison families suffer financially, emotionally, and psychologically. Mass incarceration impacts everyone in society, whether they realize it or not. Statistics show that the Black and the poor are hurt the most.

If a teacher who has a student who is in danger of being a drop-out, that child could be one who is dealing with the loss of one or both parents in prison. During the Era of Enslavement, Black families were sometimes shaped by a system that caused frustration, constrictions, disruptions, and pain. The criminal justice system does the same thing. A prisoner’s condition is felt by his or her family. It is as if the entire family is locked up. 

It may sound strange that a child would want to go to prison to be with a parent, but this does happen. Family love is powerful. Frustration and pain can lead to depression. If undiagnosed, this can go untreated. Untreated depression can lead to the kind of distorted thinking that takes a child into gang involvement...looking for love (a family) in all the wrong places.

I regret that we have had too few females as guest speakers. It is also regrettable that women who have been to prison are reluctant to speak about the experience in a public forum. It’s sad that the negative assumptions they face in society exist, because we need to hear their voices. Young girls especially need to hear their voices.

At the next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, we will take a look at this lack of female voices. Please attend for what promises to be a lively discussion on Monday November 25 at the Rafi Green C.A.O. Masten Resource Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood, at 7:00 to 9:00pm.

October 2019

Are You in the “Man Box?”

by Karima Amin

I have known about the “Man Box” for many years. I just didn’t realize that there was a name for it. All my life, I have seen the impact of the “Man Box” on men and women, boys and girls. When I learned that the fastest growing prison population was female, I wasn’t surprised. I knew that the “Man Box” had something to do with that statistic. Most of the women in prison are there because of a relationship with a man, stuck in the “Man Box.”

The “Man Box” is a narrowly defined theory of what makes a REAL MAN. Most boys grow up in this country being told that real men don’t cry and that real men never show weakness or fear. Real men are always strong and in control. Real men are providers and breadwinners. Real men are tough. These rules and others have helped to develop stereotypes that have led to unhealthy and harmful behaviors that hurt the men themselves and all of the people in their lives... especially the women.

Men in “the box” perpetuate both psychological and physical violence toward women. These so-called real men disrespect women. A woman who dares to resist, in an effort to save herself, could end up in jail or prison for her actions. There are numerous accounts of victimized women who ultimately killed their victimizers. In some cases, self-defense may not be considered as a defense for murder.

“Women’s rate of incarceration has surpassed men.According to the Sentencing Project, the number of women in prison in the U.S. increased by 700 percent between 1980 and 2014. While there are more men in prison, the total women’s prison population grew at a rate of 50 percent more than that of men between 1980 and 2014.”

While the “Man Box” promotes confidence, success, and leadership it downplays kindness, emotions, and vulnerability. It devalues women and anything associated with femaleness, except the act of sex.

The next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO will take place on Monday, October 28, 2019, 7:00 to 9:00pm at the C.A.O. Rafi Green Community Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood. We will take a look at the “MAN BOX” and the damage it has brought to our community in the form of gangs, fatherless and motherless families, and the prevalence of poor mental health impacting men, women, and children. Join us in what promises to be a lively discussion of the “MAN BOX” and its impact.

For more information, contact Karima,[email protected]or BaBa, 716-491-5319.

September 2019

September 9 – 13, 1971: Attica Prison Rebellion

by Karima Amin

We remember and we will never forget. Every year in September, PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO takes time to remember what is often described as “the bloodiest prison riot in United States history.” I don’t like using the word riot as it seems to describe something that is “disorganized” or “spur of the moment.” I prefer rebellion, revolt or uprising. These prisoners were organized and clear about their demands for better living conditions and political rights. For several months, they had used the so-called proper channels to make their grievances and demands known. They were ignored.

In the past, we have had guest speakers, some who were at Attica in 1971. We have shown films, some documentaries and some Hollywood products. In 2011 we hosted a panel discussion at a local church. In the following year, a small group, members of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO and THE WESTERN NY PEACE CENTER, walked to Attica, concluding with a prayer vigil to remember the slain prisoners who were murdered by the State in this conflict. Last year Brother Lion Blyden was our guest speaker. He is the son of Herbert X Blyden. When Herbert X died in 1997, the New York Times described him as “... the jail-hardened, prison-educated civil rights activist who gave eloquent voice to 1,200 beleaguered inmates as their chief negotiator during the 1971 Attica prison uprising...” Lion’s presentation gave us a glimpse into what it was like being raised by someone so politically astute and attuned to prisoner justice advocacy.

On Monday, September 30, at our regular public monthly meeting, we’ll be showing a film about Attica, New York’s best known maximum security prison. Plan to attend this meeting. The Attica story is an important one. The film we are screening and the discussion afterwards are very likely to teach you something that you didn’t know before. How does what happened at Attica in 1971, connect with what’s happening in prisons today? We will be meeting at the CAO Rafi Green Masten Resource Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood, 7:00-9:00pm. You are invited. Attica is all of us.

For more information: Karima, [email protected] 

You’re a FELON!

by Karima Amin

(August, 2019)

Imagine hearing these words and you are certain that you have not committed a crime. What is a felony? In criminal law, a felony is a category of crimes that are often classified as the most serious type of offenses. Felonies can be either violent or nonviolent. Some examples are murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, fraud, manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance, and child molestation. You believe this is someone’s mistake. Imagine further that it takes two years for you to clear your name and discover how and why the FBI has your name attached to a felony conviction. This is what happened to an innocent Black man who just happens to be a well-respected educator, historian, author and activist.

I just discovered this man’s story and it reminded me of all the outrageous things I have heard and read about the experiences of Black people who encounter whites who immediately criminalize, ostrasize, marginalize, and dehumanize them based on misinformation, stereotyped views, or a perceived notion based in racist bias. I know you are familiar with many such instances, especially over the last four years: driving while Black, laughing or talking too loudly while Black, sleeping while Black, shopping while Black, entering your own apartment while Black, walking too slowly while Black...and the list goes on. Innumerable Black lives have been lost due to some white person’s belief that we just don’t belong.

Looking back at our history in this country since 1619, our very presence seems to have been a problem for some white people although they benefitted from our labor, our creativity, and our willingness to be forgiving in spite of the suffering we endured. When I look back at the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, this was a time of tremendous growth in my understanding of self, history, and culture. The mistreatment of Africans in America was and is rampant. It was so during the period of our enslavement and it is true today. It is also true that we have always fought back for justice and liberation.

The man I wrote about at the beginning of this article is Dr. Curtis Austin. He wrote a book about the Black Panther Party entitled UP AGAINST THE WALL. His writing led to a criminal record when it was simply written to dispel the misconceptions that so many people had, and still have, about the Black Panther Party. Outrageous but true. Driving while Black has led to the unbelievable deaths of some unfortunate African Americans. Outrageous but true. Standing up for justice has led to the unconscionable assassinations of some Black leaders...Malcolm, Martin, and George.

Our next meeting will highlight Dr. Austin’s story and his book and the life and work of George Jackson whom we remember yearly with a commemoration of “Black August” during our August public meeting which will be held on Monday, August 26at the Rafi Greene C.A.O. Masten Resource Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood from 7 to 9pm.

More information: Karima, [email protected]; BaBa, 716-491-5319.

PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO:

FOR OUR GIRLS- Part 2

by Karima Amin

Our June meeting was quite a celebration, with the promised ice cream and cake and the return of several people who had missed some recent meetings. Our special guest, Mr. Renwick Feagin from Niagara Falls, shared his inspiring story of incarceration and what it feels like now to have written a book that has proven to be an encouragement to people who are now behind prison walls. His book, A LETTER TO THE INMATE, is a motivational tool, available at Amazon.Com, that men and women will find helpful in navigating life on the inside while preparing for life on the outside. His heartfelt words were a testament to hard work and faith... two principles that guide his life today. While we celebrated PRP2’s 14 years of education and advocacy in this community, we also celebrate all that Mr. Feagin has accomplished as a returning citizen.

We enjoyed a brief screening of more video footage from our May Regional Conference. It was a reminder of the work we have accomplished and the work we have yet to do. That evening, several attendees pledged to join PRP2 in its work by paying their $5.00 membership fee. We are grateful for more members. “Many hands make light work.” We are also grateful and honored to host Asia Alexander as our Summer Intern.

Asia called my attention to the fact that there were no young people at our June celebration. She took the initiative to share a 6-session curriculum that she created to empower our youth. Highlighting goal setting, self-care and more, Asia is interested in encouraging both boys and girls but due to our limited time she will be meeting with girls in 4 sessions. By the time this article is published, she will have completed 2 sessions. The last two will be at the Rafi Green Center 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood on Tuesday, July 30 and Monday, August 5, 7:00 – 8:30pm.

The next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO will be on Monday, July 29 at the Rafi Green Center, 7:00 – 9:00pm. It will include more video from the Regional Conference and a brief presentation by Asia Alexander. We encourage you to attend and to become a member of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. For more information: Karima, [email protected]; BaBa, 716-491-5319.

FOR OUR GIRLS

by Karima Amin

For only the second time in the 14-year history of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, we are hosting a Summer Intern. Several years ago, we were privileged to have Sahil Jain, a student from Cornell University, thanks to the Partnership for the Public Good (PPG). This year we are happy to have ASIA ALEXANDER, a nineteen- year-old Buffalonian who attends Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She has developed a curriculum which can help to go a long way toward keeping our girls away from the criminal injustice system. Although her time with us will be brief, she is going to deliver 4 sessions with a plan entitled “Kathryn’s Angels” …remembering her grandmother, Kathryn.

“Kathryn’s Angels” will meet on 3 consecutive Tuesday evenings, July 16, 23, 30, and Monday, August 5 at the Rafi Green Community Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue at the corner of Glenwood from 7:00 to 8:30pm. The idea for this plan developed from Asia’s noting that a recent Prisoners Are People Too meeting attracted no young people. Our youth need to be apprised of the criminal injustice data that directly affects them. Our girls need to know that the fastest growing prison population is female….and that Black girls are three times more likely to be arrested, convicted, sentenced, and imprisoned than White girls.

Asia is an outstanding student majoring in English with a Minor in Comparative Women’s Studies. It should also be noted that she is on the Pre-Law Track. If you have a small group of girls who may be interested in “Kathryn’s Angels,” let us know by e-mail or “private message” on my Facebook page: Karima Amin, [email protected].

PLEASE NOTE, this is NOT PRP2’s regular monthly meeting. Our July meeting is July 29.

PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO CELEBRATES 14 YEARS of SERVICE

by KARIMA AMIN

At the next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, the organization will celebrate 14years of education and advocacy. When the organization was just an idea…and then a program…before it was an organization, I believed that my family and community would help me to establish something that would help the incarcerated, returning citizens, and their families to improve their lives. Initially, in 2005, I hoped that I could help my community to see and to learn what I was beginning to understand about a criminal injustice system and a prison system that failed to recognize the humanity in every person. As a career teacher, I hoped to share everything that I learned. Despite frustrations, challenges and disappointments, we have experienced a phenomenal 14 years of service.

Meeting BaBa Eng in 2002 was a godsend. After 36 years in prison, he was able to connect me with individuals and organizations that had been prisoner justice advocates for many years. BaBa is now the the Program Director for PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. Recently, we hosted a Regional Conference (May 3-4), that attracted local attendees and others from across the State. A review of the conference evaluation form, evidenced the need for such a conference as well as the success of our conference which highlighted “Changing Criminal Injustice” and “The Impact of Mass Incarceration on Families and Communities.”

At the next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO on Monday, June 24, from 7:00 -9:00 at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore [email protected] Glenwood, we will celebrate our success. There will be more pictures and a video from our Regional Conference and we will host three formerly incarcerated men who are now published authors.

Come to this meeting prepared to be informed and inspired. For more information: Karima, [email protected]; BaBa, [email protected]

SUCCESS for PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO

By Karima Amin

The weekend of May 3 and 4, 2019 will long be remembered as the time of a very successful hosting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO’s REGIONAL CONFERENCE. Attendees came from across the State of NY to participate in an event that focused on Mass Incarceration’s impact on Families and Communities. Our local theme, “Changing Criminal Injustice,” with an eye focused on reducing recidivism, took a closer look at legislation coming out of Albany that has brought us to our present condition with the stats that I have written about before. 

The USA has the highest incarceration rate of any other country in the world. 2.4 million people are imprisoned at this time. Our panelists, on Friday evening, shared data that was both interesting and heart wrenching as well as strategies for gathering the people-power that is needed to challenge the powers that be. Soffiyah Elijah, Executive Director of the Alliance of Families for Justice, opened our eyes to strategies that work to engage our lawmakers. Our Saturday Keynote Speaker, Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., Founding Director of UB’s Center for Urban Studies, took us on a journey with a “follow-the-dots” analysis from Slavery to the 13Amendment to Harry J. Anslinger to Herbert Hoover to Cointelpro to today. Eyes were opened and minds were elevated.

This 9-hour conference resulted in fruitful networking and camaraderie as attendees heard from various prisoner justice advocates.

Due to the upcoming Holiday, Prisoners Are People too will meet on Monday, May 20at 7 to 9pm at the CAO Rafi Green Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue, @ the corner of Glenwood. 

Our 14Anniversary is coming soon. SAVE THE DATE, June 24, 2019. We’ll have a video to show from the Regional Conference. Stay well. Stay safe.

Our Regional Conference was a Major Success! Shown above: Karima Amin and BaBa Eng with

our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., Founding Director of

the Center for Urban Studies, University at Buffalo.

“Changing Criminal INjustice: Reducing Recidivism”

by Karima Amin

This is the focus of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO’s upcoming Regional Conference. We are excited to be able to share information with you on May 3(5:30 to 8:00pm) and May 4 (8:30am to 3:30pm) at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, located at 701 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo, NY, in collaboration with the Alliance of Families for Justice. We hope that the information we share will encourage you to join us in a fight for justice that impacts everyone. Since 2005, PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO has provided advocacy and education, bringing awareness and empowerment to our community around the issue of how legislation that comes from Albany in general, specifically focused on “Corrections,” actually impacts the lives of families and people in our 

communities, sometimes in ways that they are not aware of. If a person has not spent time in prison or has never had an incarcerated loved one, oftentimes assumptions are made. Prisoners become “the other,” unworthy of respect, care, or concern. The stigma that results, happens because we rarely talk about a system that ignores the humanity of all people. 

Prisoners are all of us. Anyone of us could find ourselves behind bars. There are men, women, and children who once thought, “This couldn’t happen to me.” But it did. There are thousands of adolescents in prison. Only NY and NC will place some in adult prisons. Today in the USA, there are 2.7 million minor children with incarcerated parents. Imagine your childhood with one or both parents in prison. The imprisonment rate for prisoners age 55 or older continues to grow. Imagine your grandparents in jail or prison. Imagine your sibling, or child, or classmate, or childhood friend, or neighbor, or teacher in prison. I could go on; the impact on relationships is endless. Hence, our communities suffer. Our conference will highlight the strategies that we can use to improve the lives of the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated, and the victims.

We are honored to have Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr. as our Keynote Speaker on Saturday, May 4. (See photo above.) Dr. Taylor is the Founding Director of the Center for Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. His research, focusing on issues of race and class, and the needs of traditionally marginalized groups, has made him an expert in assessing systemic factors, fueled by racism, that frequently lead to criminal convictions. The presence and words of this activist-scholar should ignite conversation and actions for positive change. 

The next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO will take place on next Monday, March 25 from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the C.A.O. Masten Resource/Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood. As always, our regular monthly meetings are open to the public. Plan to attend. Also make sure to post our Conference dates on your calendar: Friday, May 3, 5:30 to 8:00pm and Saturday, May 4, 8:30am to 3:30pm. For more information: Karima, [email protected], or BaBa, [email protected]

The C.C.I. Conference is Coming!

by Karima Amin

Save the date! PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO’S Regional Conference is coming! On Friday and Saturday, May 3and 4, 2019, Prisoners Are People Too will deliver a conference designed to examine a system that affects all of us, whether you have an incarcerated loved one or not. This organization, since 2005, has served this community with education as its mission. Once monthly meetings have always been open to the public on the last Monday of the month from 7:00 – 9:00pm, now at 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY. You are invited to learn, network and build with activists, from Buffalo and across the State, who are committed to C.C.I., “changing criminal injustice.”

We, all of us, need to step up to the challenge of changing what goes on in a system that is heavy-laden with inequality. Much of the obvious inequality is due to racism. A failed, so-called war on drugs, means that although five times as many whites report using illegal drugs as blacks, blacks go to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of whites, with much longer sentences. If this pattern continues, one in three black men can expect to be incarcerated, leaving broken families and ruined neighborhoods behind as a result. One aspect of this conference will deal with the ways that we can use legislation to fight the racism that pervades our prison system. From arrest to release, human beings have rights that must be clear, that must be advanced and that must be protected. Our speakers and workshops will encourage you to participate in this fight for justice. Join us in a fight that speaks to the humanity of every person. This includes our brothers and sisters in prison.

Our next regular public meeting will be on Monday, February 25 at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood in Buffalo at 7:00pm. For more information, contact Karima, [email protected]or BaBa, g[email protected], 716-491-5319

PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO PLANS REGIONAL CONFERENCE

By Karima Amin

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, good people. PRP2 is in the early stages of planning for its Regional Conference. I have mentioned in the past that it was coming in April but due to some unforeseen circumstances the conference has now been scheduled for May 3 – 4, 2019. It will take place at Mount Olive Baptist Church, 701 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo, NY.

This will be the fourth conference that PRP2 has delivered to the community in nearly 14 years and it is long overdue. Our last conference, held in 2012, was focused on helping the children of incarcerated parents in Erie and Niagara counties. Presently, we have no over-arching theme for this event, but several topics have been tentatively selected. They range from what families can do to support an incarcerated loved one to things we all can do to initiate criminal justice reform through legislation. The state of our Erie County Holding Center will be on the agenda as well as very sensitive issues such as what can be done to overcome the stigma of having a loved one in prison. These topics and more will be discussed in workshops that all connect with reducing recidivism. Prison families, returning citizens, and YOU are all invited to attend a conference that welcomes you to share your ideas regarding the state of mass incarceration in Erie County and the State of New York. We are in the process of selecting a keynote speaker that will inspire, empower, and energize you to work for much needed change.

Save the date NOW. Share this information with family and friends. Plan to attend PRP2’s regular monthly meetings where more conference details will be shared as we move forward to get ready for this event. 

The next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO will be held on Monday, January 28, 2019 at the C.A.O. Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood in Buffalo, from 7:00 – 9:00pm. Need more information? Call BaBa Eng, 716-491-5319 or E-mail Karima Amin, [email protected].

Looking Forward

By Karima Amin

As 2018 draws to a close, I am already thinking about our agenda for 2019. This year was quite busy….filled with triumphs and losses, but we have persevered. PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO will hold its last public meeting for the year on Monday, November 29. Anticipating a slew of Holiday activities in December, especially for Kwanzaa, monthly meetings will be suspended until January, when plans for our April conference will move into full swing.

We participated in two retreats this year. Western New York individuals with incarcerated loved ones joined others from across New York State at Powell House in Old Chatham, NY and Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY to discuss issues held in common and plans to dismantle NYS policies that negatively impact prisoners and their families. Long-held political prisoners were released this year, after more than four decades. Herman Bell and Robert Seth Hayes came home. Our letters and prayers were answered. Our assistant, Dani Johnson, went to Cuba, to take a look at the prison system there. Her report was a welcomed eye-opener. We participated in the recently held Prison Abolition conference, sponsored by the Buffalo Anti-Racism Coalition and Canisius College. I urged four people with incarcerated loved ones to share stories of their lived experience at this conference.

Their willingness to be honest and vulnerable helped to humanize “the prisoner.” Dani Johnson, Baba Eng and I participated as workshop leaders. Governor Cuomo signed an executive order this year, giving parolees the right to vote. We believe that this made a major difference in the voting outcome in Erie County. As I reported last month, Baba Eng’s “SafeHome” is showing itself to be a success at the Community Health Center of Buffalo. 2018 was a year of faith and fruition. We believe in the miracles that result from faith and hard work.

Our last meeting for this year will feature a film, PRISON SONG, starring Mary J. Blige and Q-Tip.

In this movie, a young Black man, growing up with a father in prison and a mother who ends up institutionalized, winds up in prison himself. But in the end he is strong enough to fight for his dignity and prison reform.

Join us for the last meeting of the year at the CAO Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore [email protected] Glenwood, 7:00-9:00pm on Monday, November 26. Need more information? Call BaBa Eng, 716-491-5319 or E-mail Karima Amin, [email protected].

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Joining Hands for Liberation

By Karima Amin

During the month of August, we remember what so many of our Ancestors have said about our liberation. During the month of August, PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO has frequently taken time and space to remember the significance of “Black August” and its relevance today. “Black August” started in the prisons of California, acknowledging the political and militant struggles of conscious (politicized) African American prisoners and those who were martyred in the process of fighting the prison system. We have commemorated the lives of George and Jonathan Jackson whose lives and deaths fueled the revolutionary spirit of Africans across this nation and around the globe.

When we celebrate the life and work of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, on the date of his birth, August 17, we recall what he said about freedom: “Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.” His vision of African Liberation was a Pan-African view that encompassed the need to eradicate mental slavery first. While “Black August” had its inception in the prisons, it could have been born below deck on a ship in the Middle Passage or in a shack during plantation slavery. Liberation has always been a relentless humanstruggle. In his vision of African Liberation, Garvey said, “I saw before me then, as I do now, a new world of Black people, a nation of sturdy people, making their impress on civilization and causing a new light to dawn upon the human race.”

Garvey reminded us over and over that we should not simply focus on our smaller individual selves. He urged us to understand ourselves and engage the world in collective ways built on and in the work, strength and struggles of our people. He saw us joining hands and working for the common good of all. He saw the need for us to build a closer kinship and a closer love of self. This Honorable Ancestor has taught us that our liberation will come “not from the will of others to see us rise, but from our own determination to rise, irrespective of what the world thinks.” This is not to deny the need for cooperative relations of mutual respect and mutual benefit, but to stress that we are essentially and ultimately our own liberators.

Inspired by Garvey’s words, political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim (aka Anthony Bottom) published his selected prison writings in 2003 in “We Are Our Own Liberators.” A short film about Jalil will be screened at the next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. After 46 years in prison, Jalil is facing his tenth parole board hearing this month. After nine denials, he remains strong in the belief that his liberation is at hand. Support for his freedom has come from many who believe that he should be with his family after nearly half a century of imprisonment. Our Circle of Supporters for Reformed Offenders has forwarded letters of support for Jalil’s release.  

Join us for the next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO which will be held on Monday, August 27, 2018, from 7:00 -to- 9:00pm at the CAO Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore @ Glenwood Avenue. What does LIBERATION mean to you? Join us for this film and follow-up discussion. 

For more information: Karima, 726-834-8438, [email protected]; BaBa 716-491-5319, [email protected]

Your Vote is Your Voice

By Karima Amin

September 13, 2018 is the primary mid-term election date. It seems so far away but it is fast approaching and there may be some confusion in your mind about who is eligible to vote and what it may mean to the party of your choice and your

community. Can you vote for a Republican if you are a registered Democrat? Do you know the general mid-term election date? Do you know where you can get a voter registration form? Are you aware of the fact that parolees now have the right to vote?

You can get these answers and more at the next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO (PRP2). We have invited several local lawmakers to answer your questions and dispel rumors about the voting process and the impact of your vote. The following have confirmed: Retired County Legislator Betty Jean Grant, County Legislator April Baskin, and City Councilmember Ulysess Wingo. On April 18 this year, when Governor Cuomo granted the right to vote to people convicted of a felony who are currently out on parole, there were those who said that this action was purely, politically motivated since the Governor is running for re-election. PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO understands political motivation and we are looking at the numbers. More that 35, 000 people, out on parole, can vote this year and we are looking at the power this could generate and how this could impact our community. We are hoping to see many prospective voters at our next meeting. Your vote is your voice and it needs to be heard.

While voting will definitely be the major theme of our next meeting, some time will be devoted to sharing a brief report and photos from a recent retreat in Old Chatham, NY at Powell House. As a member of the New York State Prisoner Justice Collective, PRP2 escorted several people from Buffalo to Old Chatham for a retreat that was designed for families having incarcerated loved ones. There were 42 participants, adults and children, from across the state who enjoyed a weekend gathering that included fresh air and sunshine and activities that included opportunities for networking and community building. 

Our assistant, Danielle Johnson, will speak briefly about her recent trip to Cuba. This 10-day excursion was an eye-opening experience that enhanced her understanding of a criminal justice system that is very different from what we have here in the USA.

Our monthly meetings are always open to the public. Plan to join us for the next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO on Monday, July 30, at 7:00 – 9:00pm @ the Rafi Greene CAO Masten Resource Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood. For more information: Karima Amin, 716-834-8438, [email protected]; BaBa Eng, 716-491-5319, [email protected]

June 2018

Join the Celebration with Prisoners Are People Too, Inc.

The month of June is such a special time with so many celebrations: graduations, weddings, family reunions, proms, my birthday (June 1), Juneteenth, and the list goes on. PRP2 has so much to celebrate. Our speakers this month will highlight good news. The hope that I have written about for the last two months is coming to fruition as hard work pays off, minds are opened, policies change, and struggle continues without ceasing. PRP2 had its inception in the month of June 2005; BaBa Eng was released from prison in the month of June 2013; and Gerrod Bennett’s release from prison came in June of 2016. BaBa and Gerrod will be two of our four main speakers.

Many have heard BaBa Eng speak about the importance and value of Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices. Many have been trained by him in hubs throughout this city. Donna Habeeb, a PRP2 member and good friend, will talk about the ways in which her family has been positively impacted by a Restorative Conference which BaBa facilitated several months ago.  

Gerrod Bennett will talk about his reentry experience, recounting the ups and downs which have ultimately led to his college graduation, after 22 years in State Prison and only two years on the outside. Reentry is very difficult, given the pressures that one faces adjusting to the world outside. Gerrod is a successful reentry candidate who beat the odds. 

Sheila Hayes is someone who can speak effectively about the ways in which an incarcerated loved one’s imprisonment can impact the entire family. Supporting Robert “Seth” Hayes has been extremely challenging. According to the “Jercho Movement” website, “Seth first came up for parole in 1998, but prison officials have refused to release him, and are effectively punishing him for having been a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army.” Still he has remained true to his ideals even after 45 years behind bars, medical maltreatment, and ten parole denials. Recent news has announced that his release from prison has been approved.

BaBa Eng is our fourth designated speaker. He will talk about the importance of parolees now having the right to vote. On April 18, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order granting the right to vote to thousands of New York State citizens, no longer in prison, who are now on parole. BaBa will talk about the value of this decree and how it effects all of us.

I will talk about my visit to Auburn State Prison where I have been invited to speak at the prison’s Juneteenth Celebration. I have not had the opportunity to speak at a prison in quite some time so I am excited and grateful for this opportunity.

You’re invited to join us for the celebration at our next meeting, Monday, June 25, 2018 at the Rafi Greene Center located at 1423 Fillmore @ Glenwood in Buffalo, from 7:00- to -9:00pm. For more information, contact Karima Amin, 716-834-8438,[email protected]; or BaBa Eng, 716-491-5319, [email protected]

May 2018

The May 28th meeting will be canceled due to Memorial Day celebrations.

Join us on June 25th to celebrate our good news and plans for the future. PRP2 will be acknowledging 13 years of education and advocacy!

 April 2018

There is Hope – Part 2

By Karima Amin

“There is Hope” was the title of last month’s article from PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO (PRP2). We have learned that hope can be a valuable commodity but it is NOTHING without ACTION. PRP2 is an organization that inspires ACTION. We stand up, speak out, and fight for justice. In the last month, PRP2 members and supporters have made phone calls, sent e-mails and faxes, have signed petitions and tweeted in favor of parole for Herman Bell, a respected and beloved elder and political prisoner in his 70s who has served more than 40 years in prison. Last month I stated that parole had been granted. Within days, the Police Benevolent Association had pushed back, building public opinion against Mr. Bell. They even urged the NYS Parole Board to rescind its decision. After the above stated actions from prisoner justice advocates around the country, on April 20, a Judge ruled in favor of Mr. Bell’s release. Good news!

Last week, Governor Cuomo decreed that parolees in New York State now have the right to vote. More good news! We will be watching. It’s our job to hold the Governor accountable.

Join us at the next regular monthly meeting for PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO on Monday April 30, 7pm – 9pm at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood Avenue.

For more information: Karima Amin, 716-834-8438, [email protected]; BaBa Eng, 716-491-5319, [email protected] [Photo: Gov. Andrew Cuomo]

March 2018

There is Hope

By Karima Amin

There are times when I feel like PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. just isn’t doing enough to keep the community informed about the broken systems that keep us scrambling 24/7 for justice. The time and energy we expend to reform the Criminal INjustice system and the effort we put forth to fight Mass Imprisonment is extensive, yet our progress seems negligible. The work can be frustrating, and when I’m feeling distressed about it, something or someone comes along to make me feel inspired and rejuvenated and ready for the work at hand.

The last two weeks have provided that inspiration. PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. was invited to a weekend working retreat at Powell House in the Adirondacks, sponsored by the Alliance of Families for Justice (New York City) to collaborate with several prisoner justice organizations from across the state in the continued process of planning a series of regional conferences designed to deal with New York State prison issues. These issues included, but were not limited to: healthcare (physical and mental), diet/nutrition, solitary confinement, felony disenfranchisement, and treatment of the LGBTQ population. A special retreat for families who have an incarcerated loved one, is being planned for this June. Western New York’s regional conference will take place in Buffalo in April of 2019. Evidence of the work being done across the state gives me hope.

For several years, we have urged parole reform. When a prisoner goes before the Parole Board in New York, he/she hopes for release but may be denied. A denial can be appealed but, generally speaking, there is usually a 2-year wait before the next Parole Board appearance can be scheduled. We have written letters of support for men and women who have prepared themselves for a return to society. Our “Circle of Support for Reformed Offenders” provides encouragement for a person moving toward parole readiness. In addition to letters we sign petitions, make phone calls, and send e-mail messages to the Governor if necessary. Recently, Herman Bell, a political prisoner in New York, was granted release after numerous denials and forty-five years in prison where he earned several college degrees, coached football and basketball, taught Black History, English grammar, and writing skills to fellow prisoners, and even mastered the flute. The release of this respected elder gives me hope.

Now that I am feeling more hopeful, I am realizing how important it is to celebrate success. Even in the midst of struggle and frequent disappointment, good things are happening. Our collaboration in the Adirondacks was a success! Brother Herman Bell’s release is a success! Every PRP2 meeting has been a success! Come out for our next gathering on Monday, March 26 from 7:00 to 9:00pm, at the CAO Rafi Greene Community Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @Glenwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY. (For more information:[email protected] or [email protected])

Update-- Above Photo: Herman Bell was a Black Panther and member of the Black Liberation Army. He has served 45 years in prison, having been charged with the murders of two police officers. At the age of 73, he has made monumental strides in preparing himself for release on parole. Some of his victims' family members have forgiven him and have vocally supported his release. Pushback has come from the Police Benevolent Association and several law enforcement unions. We are fighting for justice.

February 2018

It’s Black History Month….Again!

by Karima Amin

I recently made a comment to someone about this month being Black History Month. In an incredulous tone, that person replied, “Again!” I was a little shocked as I was speaking to someone who was my age and college-educated who, for some reason, didn’t realize that Black History Month is an annual observance. Also, she had never heard of Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, “The Father of Black History,” who founded “Negro History Week” in 1926. Initially, the response to Dr. Woodson’s work was lukewarm but the idea gained in popularity over the next five decades and by 1976, school administrations, religious institutions, fraternal organizations, city councils, and some state governments embraced the value and importance of acknowledging the significance of the history of people of African descent. Canada and the UK also celebrate Black History Month. Woodson died in 1950 after distinguishing himself as a historian, journalist, and author, most notably for Mis-Education of the Negro (1933). He also founded the Association for the Study of Negro (African American) Life and History (1937), which still functions from its offices in Washington, DC.

Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. will acknowledge Black History Month with the screening of a short documentary, Incarceration in America: The Inside Story which gives a quick review of Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness. In addition to viewing and discussing the film, we will take a look at our Youth Program aka YEST (Youth Education for Social Transformation); we will consider our upcoming participation at a retreat sponsored by AFJ (The Alliance of Families for Justice); and we will start initial planning for a PRP2 conference which will take place in April 2019. As always, we encourage you pay your $5. 00 membership, and join us in the local, statewide, and national work that we are doing.

Our next meeting will take place on Monday, February 26, from 7:00 – 9:00pm at the C.A.O. Rafi Greene Community Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood in Buffalo, NY.

Refer to our website for additional information: www.prp2.org or write to us at Prisoners Are People Too, P.O. Box 273, Buffalo, NY 14212.  

January 2018

My Issue is Yours; Yours is Mine

By Karima Amin

This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Not celebrating this administration, women, men, and children participated in Anti-Trump marches that marked the one-year anniversary of the “Women’s March” that took place in Washington, DC following Trump’s swearing-in last year. On Sunday, January 21 this year, hundreds of thousands showed up in NYC, Las Vegas, Palm Beach, Paris, London, and downtown Buffalo with signs and chants expressing Anti-Trump sentiments and more.

BaBa and I were there. I spoke briefly in front of the Erie County Holding Center, stressing the importance of being a voice for the voiceless. BaBa carried a “Restorative Justice” sign and spoke at length with several individuals who asked about his interest in the principles of this healing practice. I don’t know how many participated in the Buffalo march but my guess is ten thousand. This was a spectacular event that brought, all races, ages, genders, and faiths together. As the marchers flowed from City Hall, to the Holding Center, to Main Street, it was obvious that our issues are varied but, no doubt inter-connected. Advocates espoused women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and rights for seniors and veterans. Some reminded us about DACA and the Dreamers and Immigrants. While there were signs highlighting Unity and Democracy the key word seemed to be Justice.

“Justice for all” is an oft-repeated phrase that isn’t always fulfilled. Opportunity is what we’re working for. One of my community brothers is well-known for frequently saying, “Working together works.” We have to work together, overcoming the differences and difficulties that keep us apart. I was pleased to be a part of the Women’s March. The weather was a blessing but I would have been there anyway. Seeing and hearing so many people expressing a willingness to work for justice really made me feel good about 2018.

Our next regular meeting, on the last Monday of the month, will take place on Monday, January 29, at the Rafi Green Community Resource Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue, @ Glenwood in Buffalo, from 7:000-9:00pm. For more information: Karima, 716-834-8438, [email protected]; BaBa, 716-491-5319, [email protected]. Our website is: www.prp2.org.

It’s Just Around the Corner

By Karima Amin

November 2017

We are approaching year’s end and we will have our last monthly meeting on November 27. By now, everyone knows that we have our regular meetings once a month on the last Monday. We do

not meet in December, as the winter holidays tend to make regular meetings difficult.

There is no doubt that local issues are inextricably linked to state issues, and they are massive. When we take time to think about criminal INjustice issues, the list of concerns can be daunting. Feeling that these issues are insurmountable leaves us feeling that we can do nothing to make right what is wrong. We encourage you to believe in hope and victory. We were nearly victorious in advocating for Bernie Tolbert to be our next Sheriff. He did well in the recent election and he might have won if we had started our efforts sooner. During 2017, we have engaged our readers and attendees with monthly programs that centered on: parole reform (Lobby Day in Albany); political prisoners (Jalil Muntaqim, Robert Seth Hayes, and Herman Bell); organizing for liberation (Black Panthers, Attica Rebellion 1971, and Black August); and reentry (Fonz Carter, Entrepreneur, Thearthur Duncan, Lawyer and Wayne Oates, Social Worker); and restorative justice (“Life Stories: Restoring Justice” and continuing RJ training in schools and with neighborhood youth in conjunction with My Brothers’ Keeper).

 During 2018, we anticipate continuing to highlight the above-mentioned subjects. They will be further illuminated by our membership in the NYS Prisoner Justice Network, #FREEnewyork, and the Alliance of Families for Justice. We will move forward with information regarding Y.E.S.T…Youth Education for Social Transformation, mental health treatment in prison, and a recently organized campaign demanding bail reform. Our next regular meeting will feature a film about Kalief Browder, an African American male who went to prison at age 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held at Rikers Island for almost 3 years, awaiting trial. Most of that time was spent in solitary confinement. He committed suicide 3 years after his release at the age of 22. Kalief’s story is important and it relates to three of our 2018 initiatives: juvenile justice, bail reform, and mental health.

As always, the public is welcomed to join us on Monday, November 27, 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Rafi Greene CAO Community Center, 1423 Fillmore @ Glenwood. For more information: Karima, 716-834-8438, [email protected]; BaBa, 716-491-5319, [email protected]

Do You Really Want Sheriff Howard for Another Four Years?

By Karima Amin

Bernie Tolbert, a Democrat, is running for Sheriff this year. His platform is about bringing dignity and integrity to the Sheriff's Office.

Since 2005, Timothy Howard has been the Sheriff of Erie County. We have lived with his incompetence, his lack of transparency and his descriptions of conditions and incidents at the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden that rarely reflect the truth. I just took a look at an article that I wrote, just before the last election in 2013, entitled: “Who Will Be Our Next Erie County Sheriff?” I could have written it yesterday. Not much has changed. I urged you then, as I am urging you now to VOTE! In 2013, improving conditions at the Holding Center was a real “hot button” issue. This time there’s not much excitement about the Holding Center or about the upcoming election on November 7.

By 2013, PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. and the ERIE COUNTY PRISONERS’ RIGHTS COALITION, had invested a lot of time advocating for prisoners to receive humane and professional treatment. We were among several entities that led the push to bring in the Department of Justice to investigate Erie County’s Jail Management Division after a suspicious spate of suicides. We also urged the Commission on Correction in Albany to be more vigilant in its oversight, as it was discovered that Sheriff Howard was guilty of misreporting and simply not reporting issues at both the Holding Center and the jail in Alden.

Those who find themselves confined to either of these facilities deserve better that they are getting. In the early days of our advocacy, there were those who said that we wanted “4-star hotel accommodations” for prisoners. That was a ridiculous assertion, made in an attempt to make us look ridiculous. When we held our rallies, and speak-outs, and teach-ins, forums, and press conferences, there were media people and others who asked if we were being paid to do the work of advocating for the voiceless.

Election Day, November 7 is almost here. Sheriff Howard has one opponent. You need to know who he is. You need to be aware of his platform. He wants to bring change to county law enforcement. You must come to our next meeting to be informed. Your vote is vital in making this community a place where justice prevails and those in power are held accountable. Don’t ever assume that the criminal justice system will never touch you.

PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, October 30, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm, at the Rafi Greene C. A. O. Community Center in Buffalo, 1423 Fillmore @ the corner of Glenwood.

More Information: Karima, [email protected] 716-834-8438; BaBa, [email protected], 716-491-5319.

“LIFE STORIES: RESTORING JUSTICE”….We have presented this twice before and we’re presenting it again in conjunction with Buffalo State College’s “Anne Frank Project.” This two-day Social Justice Festival, "Sharing Stories/Connecting Communities," will feature PRP2 this week on...

Wednesday, October 4

Buffalo State College

1300 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY

Student Union Social Hall

4:45pm - 6:30pm

Hear our storytellers: Sandi Green, Danielle Johnson, and Marquita Nailor share their stories of loss and restoration. Sadly, losing a loved one to gun violence has become a part of the “new normal” in some communities. What can we do to begin to heal ourselves, our families and our communities? This production will give you food for thought and an opportunity to ask questions and to share your ideas.

This is a FB event. Check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/542672519409253?%3Fti=ia&__mref=mb

Out of Sight…Out of Mind

By Karima Amin

Program- September, 2017

Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. is an organization that takes the time to acknowledge those behind the wall. Men, women, and children who are imprisoned are important. Sadly, we have a tendency to forget that they even exist. On a national scale, the numbers are staggering. The US has the world’s highest prison population, with 2.3 million people behind bars.

I thought about this when Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit the islands and the mainland. There was a lot in the news about our most vulnerable populations….the children, the sick, the elderly, and the undocumented immigrant. I wondered about the prisoners. What happened to them when jails and prisons were flooded? Free Speech TV reported on Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now,” that some prisoners were evacuated, while others stood in water that was 3 to 4 feet deep. Some were mistreated and others faced retaliation for reporting their conditions to family on the outside.

We plan to show a clip from Democracy Now’s September 8, 2017 program at the next regular meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. on Monday, September 25 at the Rafi Green Center, 1423 Fillmore at Glenwood, at 7:00 to 9:00pm. We also plan to further discuss membership and the importance and value of our standing committees. Also, there will be an update of the “March for Justice,” sponsored by the Alliance of Families for Justice which started in Harlem on August 26 and ended with a rally in Albany on September 13, the anniversary date of the 1971 Attica Prison Rebellion. A few of us went to Albany for the rally while others had the opportunity to enjoy a “live streamed” version of the rally at the Rafi Greene Center via Skype.

For more information: Karima, 716-834-8438, karima @prp2.org; BaBa, 716-491-5319, [email protected]. Or visit our website: www.prp2.org.

Remembering Black August

By Karima Amin

(August 2017)

In 1961 at the age of 18, George Jackson was accused of stealing $70 at gunpoint from a gas station. Although there was evidence of his innocence, his court-appointed lawyer urged him to plead guilty in exchange for a light sentence in county jail. Since George had a record of two prior instances of petty crime, he ended up spending the next ten years in Soledad Prison (California) with most of that time being in solitary confinement. Instead of bowing down to the dehumanization of prison life, he transformed himself into the leading theoretician of the prison movement. Letters he wrote from 1964 to 1970 were published in his first book, Soledad Brother, which became a bestseller. His second book, Blood in My Eye, was published just days after his being assassinated by prison guards at San Quentin State Prison on August 7, 1971. He was 29.

Every year in August, millions around the world, celebrate the life and work of George Jackson, a man who said, “We must establish a true internationalism with other anti-colonial peoples. Then we will be on the road of the true revolutionary. Only then can we expect to seize the power that is rightfully ours, the power to control the circumstances of our day-to-day lives.”

 George’s younger brother, Jonathan, like so many of today’s youth, had a rebellious spirit. He was inspired by George’s spirit of resistance and revolutionary fervor but he lacked the kind of instruction that could have channeled the “warrior” in him. Jonathan was a victim of circumstance, without the kind of guidance that could have saved his life. Unfortunately, like Jonathan, many of our young ones today are misguided and misdirected victims of circumstance. They often lack the kind of nurturing and discipline that could save them and add value to their lives. Too many of our youth are criminalized at birth and throughout their lives by the systemic racism that leads to poverty, mis-education, poor nutrition, substandard housing, and stop-and-frisk policies. Jonathan was murdered by the police in a fatal and futile attempt to negotiate freedom for his brother. He was 17. That was August 17, 1970.

This month’s meeting will look at the lives of George and Jonathan and we’ll hear from some local men who believe in our youth and what they can accomplish with the proper love and guidance. I have invited Mr. Duncan Kirkwood who is on the road to becoming the Erie County Legislator for District 2. He will share his thoughts on the state of our youth and what he hopes to accomplish in improving their condition. I have also urged Mr. Tommy McClam to speak at our next meeting. He is the “Say Yes Director of Boys and Men of Color.” He will describe this program and speak about what it hopes to achieve.

Remembering George and Jonathan Jackson and their spirit of resistance, State prisoners in California held the first commemoration of Black August in 1979. Prisoners and outside community groups have continued this practice across the nation.

Join us for the next meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. which will be on Monday, August 28, from 7:00 to 9:00pm, at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood. For more information: Karima- 716-834-8438, [email protected]; Brother BaBa- 716-491-5319, [email protected]

Impromptu film screening at Burning Books.

June 25, 2017

“Life Stories: Restoring Justice” A Success!

by Karima Amin

For the last two years, I have been trying to figure out a way to link activism with art. I knew that there must be a way to show on stage, that storytelling, which I have been doing for almost 40 years, could work with the activism that I embraced as an educator and as the founder/director of Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. From the day that Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. was launched, it has provided a platform for formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones to tell their stories. Over the last twelve years at our monthly meetings we have entertained all kinds of stories from men and women. Guest speakers delivered some of these stories, while others came unsolicited from the hearts and mouths of audience members who could no longer keep silent.

Everyone has a story and those stories have power. I always say, “Tell a story; save a life.” I wanted “Life Stories: Restoring Justice” to provide an opportunity for the community to hear stories from three women who turned to restorative thinking and restorative behaviors after losing loved ones to gun violence. I wanted the audience to have a better understanding of the value and benefits of restorative justice. As these women told their stories, parenthetically framed by their musical choices, bolstered by a poem that linked all three, and a talk-back that allowed the audience to share their feelings, the spiritual energy and emotion in the room was palpable. Tears flowed, people sighed, bodies rocked and unexpected stories came from the audience as “Life Stories: Restoring Justice” became a vehicle for healing.

As our DJ, Patrick Cray, gave us just a little bit of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” the first storyteller, Sandra “Sandi” Green, stood silently for a moment next to a photograph of her beautiful babies, Steven and Corey, her only children, two sons, both lost to gun violence in 2010…one in Atlanta and one in Buffalo. She talked about her anger and the depression that nearly consumed her when she thought she was “all right.” Sandi, who spent 27 years as a corrections officer, learned that the path to wholeness includes forgiveness.

Danielle “Dani” Johnson followed with “Sunshine to the Rain” and a story about her nephew, Devon, who was killed at the age of 19 in New Orleans. Despite the distance from Buffalo, Devon and Dani were very close. She described the darkness of anger and bitterness that threatened to change her from the inside out until she discovered restorative justice at a peace circle at her church, facilitated by Baba Eng who later trained her in Restorative Justice Practices. She gave credit to BaBa and to Jerome Wright, a formerly incarcerated man whose story about transformation and redemption inspired her, a few months ago, to take an interest in working with Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. A large format poster in the staging area, depicted a three-year old Devon, held lovingly in the arms of his father, Dani’s big brother, whom Dani further acknowledged as a person who has been instrumental in her healing process.

Marquita Nailor lost her eighteen year old daughter, Sh’merea, to gun violence in 2014. Sh’merea was a star athlete, looking forward to her high school graduation, with a scholarship to Syracuse University. She was walking home from school with friends when someone mis-identified her, shot and killed her, and then “ran off before her body hit the ground.” Marquita ‘s grief was still apparent when she talked about the police who still have her daughter’s personal belongings and when she described the things she does to heal and keep her daughter’s name alive. She organizes annual fundraisers which allow her to give scholarships to promising high school students. She also created a van service, “Sh’merea World Transportation,” which she uses to transport people who want to visit their incarcerated loved ones around the state. The audience visibly responded to the heartbroken strains of Marquita’s musical choice, Wiz Khalfa’s “See You Again.”

Angela Woodson-Brice’s poem, “Beacon of Hope,” was a salute to the mothers and others who grieve; and a reminder to say the names of the children, gone but not forgotten; and a thank-you to the activists who work unceasingly in the name of Restorative Justice.

I expected this evening to be informational and inspirational. It was further described as strong, uplifting, and beautiful. I have to say that it was all that and more.

Program- May 2017

It’s June Again!

by Karima Amin

Without even looking back at my notes, I can recall, almost word-for-word, what I wrote a year ago. I wrote about this being a month of celebrations, graduations, weddings, family reunions, my birthday (June 1), BaBa’s homecoming (June 2013), Juneteenth, our Ma’afa (formally honoring our Ancestors), “Git on da Bus” (our annual Storytelling Crawl), Bro. Gerrod Bennett’s release from prison (June 2016)…I could go on and on about June but we have some May business to speak about.

On last Wednesday, May 10, we went to Albany with a contingent of activists, from Buffalo and Rochester, to speak truth to power at the Legislative Office Building. With hundreds of others from organizations and campaigns from across the State, Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. and Burning Books Independent Bookstore, we were united in our call for parole reform, releasing aging people from prison (R.A.P.P.), ending prisoner abuse (e.g. solitary confinement) and more. This was “Lobby Day.” We participated in a full day of rallies, speak-outs, networking and meetings with our State Legislators. We personally thanked those who support prison reform and, using data and personal stories, we encouraged the naysayers to consider bills that fight mass incarceration. Our Program Director, BaBa Eng, was invited to speak out at a rally at West Capitol Park. Later, in the State Capitol Building, he was urged to share his words again on parole reform and restorative justice.

We thank Judith Brink and Carol Morley, from the Prison Action Network in Albany, for attending PRP2’s April meeting in preparation for this lobbying event. 

There are two important dates coming up: May 22 and May 25. Mark your calendar. Because of Memorial Day, we will not be meeting on the last Monday of the month. We will be meeting on Monday, May 22 at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue at Glenwood Street in Buffalo. “Lobby Day” attendees will talk about their lobbying experience.

On Thursday, May 25, Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. will sponsor “Life Stories: Restoring Justice,” from 7:00 – 9:00pm at 1412 Main Street, in Buffalo, formerly known as “Buffalo East,” formerly known as “Steel Drums Jamaican Restaurant,” formerly known as the “A Train Jazz Club,” diagonally across from the “Oakk Room.” This storytelling event will highlight the value and benefits of restorative justice in repairing harm and healing pain after a wrong has been perpetrated. The powerful stories of Sandra “Sandi” Green, Marquita Nailor, and Danielle “Dani” Johnson will inform and inspire. You will leave with a better understanding of Restorative Justice and an elevated regard for turning a negative into a positive. (Freewill donations appreciated.)

More information: Karima Amin, 716-834-8438, [email protected]; BaBa Eng, 716-491-5319, [email protected]

(Photo: Wayne Oates and BaBa Eng, Albany,

May 10, 2017, "Lobby Day")

Program ~ April 2017

Unite for Parole Reform and Prison Justice

By Karima Amin

In less than a month, “Lobby Day” will be here. On Wednesday, May 10, Prisoners Are People Too. Inc. will go to Albany to raise our voices and to stand up for justice. We will join with several statewide initiatives, challenging mass incarceration and the abuse that impacts incarcerated people and their families and communities. More than 50 organizations and campaigns will come together on that day to speak truth to power for those who are often voiceless.

In preparation for “Lobby Day,” more information and legislative trainings will be provided within the next two weeks in New York City and Albany. Buffalo will get that information and training at the next regular meeting of Prisoners Are People Too, on Monday, April 24, at the Rafi Greene CAO Masten Resource Center, 1324 Fillmore Avenue @Glenwood, 7:00-9:00pm.

A team from the New York State Prisoner Justice Network will be present to provide the information that we need to make our trip to Albany a success.

“Together we will be demanding a more humane parole system. The day will include a rally and speak-out, a march through the Capitol, and legislative advocacy with your elected officials. We will unite to demand that Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature bring our friends and family members home and abolish the state-sanctioned violence and oppression that has plagued New York for far too long.” (NYSPJN)

Whether you are traveling by bus with us or driving to Albany, you must RSVP. Please advise me of your intentions by e-mail or phone by May 3.

For more information, contact Karima, [email protected], 716-834-8438 or BaBa, 716-491-5319 or [email protected]

Program- March 2017

Organizing for Liberation (Part 2)

by Karima Amin

Last month, we screened the beginning of “Panthers” (1995). This film, though fictionalized, showed the beginnings of an organization, “The Black Panther Party for Self-defense,” that was organized by a group of young people, stressing racial dignity and self-reliance. In my last article, I viewed this organization as having a place in the long line of liberation movements that largely impacted people of African descent from the Plantation System to the present day. Viewing this film, was our way of acknowledging February being Black History Month and viewing the second half of the film on March 27 reminds us that every month is a time for acknowledging the history and culture of Black people. Given the history of Black people in this country, respectful recognition should happen everyday.

The fight for “prison justice” is an ongoing battle….not relegated to a special time. It is intense and necessary. It is hard work to engage a moral imperative. In the second half of this film we see these young people stepping up their efforts to change the gun laws by confronting lawmakers at their State Capital in Sacramento, CA. This is what we will do on May 10 when we speak out in Albany, uniting for Prison Justice in “A Day of Advocacy and Action.” This is “LOBBY DAY” and it will be a day of speaking truth to power. The list of our concerns regarding mass incarceration is extensive. You will find information about the issues that top the list of our concerns at our website. Go to: www.prp2.org. Check the page listing “CURRENT INITIATIVES.” Isolated (solitary) confinement, parole reform, RTA (raising the age of criminal responsibility), and RAPP (releasing aging people from prison) are most concerning at this time. The mass incarceration landscape is formidable. Our concentration on these four issues may only make a dent in a system that denies the humanity of prisoners as well as their families and communities but it is our responsibility to stand up and speak out.

On May 10, PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. will have a bus going to Albany. Stay tuned for details.

The next meeting for PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. will be Monday, March 27, 7:00-9:00pm at the Rafi Greene Center, 1423 Fillmore Ave. @ Glenwood in Buffalo. We will view the second half of “Panthers” (1995) and participate in a follow up discussion regarding the importance and value of organizing for justice. More information: 716-834-8438, [email protected].

PLEASE NOTE: This film is rated R for strong language and violence.

Program- February 2017