Good Intentions Co.

As we close out black August I want to take a moment to remember those imprisoned. In planning this event surrounding the 40th anniversary of Attica I have once again submerged in the stories of George Jackson, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Angela Davis, the Attica brothers, and so many more.

Here is a great article that breaks down the prison industrial complex, the prison guard unions, and the revolutionary work of George Jackson.

A brief history for those who do not know- September 13th, 1971. 1,500 prisoners at Attica State Prison staged an occupation. The occupation lasted for 5 days and included blacks, whites, puerto ricans, and indigenous peoples. These came together in a heavily segregated prison to write a manifesto demanding food, adequite medical treatment, and to be given the respect that humans deserve.

Note the similarties to the demands issued by the Pelican Bay Prisoners just last month.

On the 5th day riot gassed was released over the prison, and the prisoners were immediately bombarded with gun fire. Sticks and hand made weapons in hand, they faced shot guns, exploding bullets, and toxic gas. 43 men were murdered, and the rest were tortured for the days to come.

This really just scrapes the surface of a moment that was precipitated by so much violence and so much resistance. There is a wonderful quote by an Attica brother that says it all-

          “Wake up, stop hiding. Because the same thing happening to me is happening to you. And deal. Petition, rally, let the people know how you feel about your sons and your daughters that are being incarcerated. Other then that- wake up, because nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream.”

We speak about death as if it is the grandest of failures.

“They lost their battle to cancer.”

We are all playing the game of life and constantly trying to cheat the ultimate ending.

But since everyone who has ever lived has died, and everyone who is living will die, and everyone who has plans of living will die- then are we not all losers?

And if no one can win then it is not really a game now is it.

Sometimes, you just die. And this takes away none of the hurt and loss that comes with death. That retching pain at the first initial shock, and then the heart breaking hollowness of the months to come when you, just for a second, think you can call them on the phone.

“Sometimes, you just die” is meant to recognize the humility of life. And then to inform that life. To take the risk, because would you rather live your entire life wrapping your moments in bubble rap to avoid the inevitable?

There are no dice, or technicolor squares, your fate does not come in an intensely hetero-normative board game.  I plan on living with intent. Be that intent to follow dreams and goals or the intent to hop on an inter-tube and let the flow take me.

Let us let go of these pesky binaries. If we cannot avoid it then is death truly the opposite of life? Are endings really the opposite of beginnings? Or are they just different parts of a one barely linear story.

If it is not a game, then no one can lose.

The exit poll of this essay-

pro-crastination.

Ya. I went there.

In an effort to lubricate my words I am blogging. When envisioning New Orleans last year I always imagined thousands of friends and a colorful social life. As Mollys grandmother always says “there is the trip you envision, the trip you actually have, and the trip you remember.”

I am realizing that much of my life has been spent putting in energy into making homies for life. That desicion sits very solidly in the “good decisions ” category. And while I do have a few homies to keep me sane, I think my real work here will be internal. With some desperate grabs at the telephone when my brain gets a little too much for me.

But if there is one thing I have learned is that New Orleans does not give a hot rats ass what you think is going to happen. New Orleans has other plans.

What up morning. I seemed to have missed you. My very well laid plans of rising early were abandoned in favor of my new memory foam pillow.  Last night I attacked my field notes with fervor until Eric and Katy came home and we discussed everything and nothing until 4:30 am.

Currently I have two eggs boiling on the stove. I will soon add some nooch and be on my way to the office where there is a veritable land mine of things that need to get done. I am planning an event commemorating the Attica Prison Rebellion on Sept. 13th. While I am excited to have this much responsibility I am little confused on how to actually start the process.I am sure co-workers will help me with loving, but no doubt sassy, advice.

My time has gone from 0-60. Just as Critical Resistance has started gearing up I have landed this new job at Flora’s coffee shop. I love the juxtaposition. Critical Resistance is stressful in the “I am really sketched out about the course of human history and would like to throw my body in front of the moving train” kind of way; and Flora’s is stressful in the “Crap, I need to foam milk- a process I am convinced is impossible- AND give this crusty punk kid correct change” kind of way. These two stresses combined has made for a very busy Zora. I am reveling in this amount of purpose, however. I am really starting to feel like there is a there here.

Sack your inner Rome.

At my finger tips is a wealth of human knowledge

But I doubt if any answers are found behind the screen

For true knowledge comes from the search

From what you find when you are not looking

Break down the myth of linear progression

Allow yourself to get lost

And maybe you will find what you were never looking for

And maybe that is just what you needed.

I have a new goal

To listen more than I speak

So I may learn.

*This is my most recent baby. This was once a  92 page ACLU report on Fines and Fees. Me and a couple co-workers trimmed it down and then ran it through the abolitionist machine. Let me know what y’all think.

In 1840 an LA state statue abolished debtors prisons. In 1983 the Supreme Court case Bearden v. Georgia ruled that imprisoning someone for being unable to pay debts is a violation of Equal Protection Clause of the 14^th amendment.And yet New Orleans continues to imprison people for their inability to pay their court debts.

A report issued by the ACLU found that the New Orleans judges routinely-

• assign fines of approximately $500 without establishing whether or not the defendant can afford to pay them;

• charge those unable to pay on time a late fee of $100;

• require people to enroll in Diversion and Treatment programs costing around $600; if they are unable to pay they may be dropped from the program and then given jail time.

• and even charge a fee for the appointment of a public defender.

When a person is unable to pay their court debts, they may be sent to spend extra time in Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), typically from 5 to 30 days. With 1 out of every 4 people in New Orleans falling below the poverty line, it is no surprise that the most common way for people to be re-incarcerated is because of their inability to pay their fines/fees.

Who makes the decision to assign fines and fees?

It is up to a judge’s personal discretion whether or not a person is able to wave their fees with community service. Court records state that these alternative sentences are rarely given. Instead, judges put pressure on each other to collect more fines and fees. These judges are then rewarded with better amenities.

Where does the money from fines and fees go?

The money collected from defendants is used by the city to fund the office of the public defender, the courts’ general fund, the law enforcement fund, the judicial expense fund (which pays for courtroom improvements) and other criminal justice funds. In 2010 fines and fees were used to finance 2/3 of the criminal courts general operating budget.

While these fines and fees may be self serving to the court system the routine imprisonment of the poor racks up costs much higher than the courts hope to gain in fees. The City pays $23 a day to the Sheriff to house someone in the Jail for 30 days to collect $100.

How does this impact New Orleans?

While many people in New Orleans still lack basic needs the city is spending $8,172.35 to incarcerate a single person for one year. New Orleans is depending on OPP to respond to poverty instead of funding schools, affordable housing, healthcare, and other much needed public services. The fines and fees create a rotating door to OPP and reinforce the criminalization and imprisonment of this city’s poorest people.

What can we do about it?

Critical Resistance and our allies with the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition (OPPRC) have been working to decrease the number of people languishing in OPP. Join the fight to abolish the fines and fees practices at OPP to significantly reduce the number of our loved ones in prison and jail.

• Share this information widely;

• Attend a Critical Resistance or OPPRC meeting;

• Collect/share testimonies and stories of people doing time because of their debts;

• Connect us with other organizations in New Orleans doing related work!

For more information or if you would like to join the fight, please contact Critical Resistance at:

504.304.3784 Email

crno@criticalresistance.org

or check us out online at www.criticalresistance.org