a benefit for maclovio rojas and political prisoners
Get ready for the 4th annual running down the walls. The Los Angeles
ABCF is organizing a 5K run to raise money for political prisoners
and the autonomous settlement of Maclovio Rojas in Mexico. Dubbed
"Running Down the Walls", the LA Anarchist Black Cross (LA-ABC)
will be holding it's fund raiser on October 19th at 9a.m. in Griffith
Park in Los Angeles. The run is a fundraiser to get much-needed
funds to the families of Maclovio Rojas and Political Prisoners in the United States.
The fund raising goal set by the group is 00. The group is recruiting
people to run in the 5K and each runner is asked to find people
and groups to sponsor them. Sponsoring runners can be done in two
ways: either a flat rate donation (i.e. 15 bucks for the whole run)
or pledging a certain amount per kilometer. Groups and individuals
can also sponsor the run itself, rather than individual runners.
Presently, Maclovio Rojas is resisting an assault by the Mexican
government, who is attempting to expel the 2000 families that currently
preside on the settlement. Maclovio Rojas, which sits on 1800 acres
of land, is surrounded by maquiladores and is prime real estate
for us capitalists who are in search of cheap labor costs. The
LA-ABCF sees a need for an active role in the support of those presently
facing repression in the same way we see a need for supporting political
prisoners and prisoners of war. Let us show our support in actions,
and not just in words! Support our comrades in Maclovio Rojas.
LA-ABC, which is one of 8 groups in the Anarchist Black Cross Federation,
aims to not only raise money through Running Down the Walls, but
also to raise general awareness about political prisoners and help
build the movement to free all political prisoners. The group is
actively working to build ties and relationships with other organizations
in the LA area and beyond. They are also focusing energy on outreach
to students and they have already done several presentations to campus groups.
As part of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation they contribute
money to the Warchest Program which provides monetary support to
political prisoners: thousands of dollars a year are given out in
monthly checks to prisoners who generally do not have their own
support committees. The Warchest Program also provides emergency
financial assistance to prisoners in times of need. The Federation
provides concrete solidarity to political prisoners from different
movements and has been able to build alliances between anarchists,
communists, socialists, revolutionary nationalists and anti-imperialists.
The Anarchist Black Cross Federation also provides ways for political
prisoners to be actively involved in organizing on their behalf.
There is a Prisoners Committee, which helps advise and direct the
Federation. The Prisoners Committee is a rotating body of political
prisoners and POWs who serve yearly terms on the Federation Council,
which is the decision making body of the Federation.
When asked why it is so important to support political prisoners,
Matt of LA-ABC responded, "These people are our freedom fighters
who have been captured. It is our duty not to forget these individuals
and to support them and demand their freedom now."
What you can do to support Running Down the Walls and Maclovio Rojas?
* Sponsor Runners - either through a flat donation or pledging a
certain amount per kilometer or mile.
* Sponsor Running Down the Walls rather than individual runners- any amount helps.
* Donate funds for Maclovio Rojas, can be sent to LA-ABC PO Box
3671 Anaheim, CA 92803 (all checks can be written out to Anarchist
Black Cross Federation of Los Angeles).
* Get involved in the planning or participate in Running Down the
Walls. Pull up your running socks, put on your running shoes, collect
as many sponsors as you can and get ready to sweat. Call 310.608.4106
or email la_abcf_bg@hotmail.com for more info.
For more info on ABC and political prisoner support write to ABCF
Box 8532 Paterson, NJ 07508-8532 and order the ABCF Guide to Political
Prisoner and Prisoner of War Support - send and 2 stamps
Original: rund down the walls