Black Bird Legal Collective

Keep Tasers Out of Portland!

2009-04-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

Incoming Portland police Chief James Craig wants to arm the Portland Police Department with Tasers:

Despite the manufacturers label of non lethal Tasers have been involved in 375+ deaths
Tasers have a long history of abuse by law enforcement including subjecting targets to multiple shocks, while in restraints, and against individuals posing no physical threat - for verbal non-compliance

The U.N Committee Against Torture has declared Taser use " a form of torture "

Contact 207 252 5379 to find out how you can help keep tasers out of Portland

Second Annual M-PAC Gathering

2009-03-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

We would like to invite you to the second gathering of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition (MPAC) happening on March 21st 2009 at 1200 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Belfast Maine.

Last January, organizers, family members, friends, prison abolitionsts and ex-prisoners from throughout the state of Maine gathered to discuss how we can share ideas, resources and stratagies in working towards more humane and just treatment for Maine prisoners.

At this years gathering we come together again to talk about how we can stand unified to best support Maine prisoners and change the conditions they live in.

For more info visit www.mainepac.org

Free the New Jersey 4 !!

2008-11-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

Support Event @ The Dooryard ( 108) High St. Portland )
Sunday - November 16th-7pm

Who Are The NJ4? - Four young, Black, lesbians from Newark, New Jersey imprisoned for basic self-defense.

Get the info at -http://freenj4.wordpress.com
http://www.amyewinter.net/nj4
http://thenaughtynorth.blogspot.com

Get involved at the Dooryard - November 16th -7PM

The Naughty North Collective has joined forces with the Dooryard to throw a queer cabaret benefit bash in Portland ME.

The show will feature slamming poetry, scuzzy electro gender-deviant hip hop, drag muppets teaching self-defense and much more! So come on down and check out the NJ4 t-shirts, patches, info and support self defense! @ The Dooryard, 108 High Street, Portland ME, Sunday November 16th, 7pm, $1-$10!

SUPPORT SELF DEFENSE!!

FREE THE NJ4!!

8 Week Petitioning Drive Oct. 23 - Dec 11th

2008-10-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

END PRISON ABUSE IN MAINE!
8 WEEK PETITIONING DRIVE
THURS. NIGHTS STARTING OCT.23TH
5-7P MEET AT USM's Woodbury Campus Center

The Black Bird Collective will be kicking off an eight week petition drive to culminate the first phase of our anti-torture petitioning campaign. The campaign, inspired by a joint statement from the San Fransisco Eight, ( freethesf8.org ) has allowed us to raise the issue of human rights violations in ME's prisons within our community throughout the past year.

We have nearly 600 petitions at this time and aim to hit our 1200 signature goal through this 8-week effort. The petitions demand that " all prisoners and detainees in Maine be treated in accordance with the U.N Convention Against Torture ( CAT ). CAT prohibits the intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain and suffering by public officials for purposes of intimidation, administering punishment, obtaining a confession or for any reason based on discrimination. " We will be presenting these petitions to local politicians in an effort to gain support for a piece of statewide anti-torture legislation.

On Thursday evenings from 5-7 pm we will be hosting an information table in front of USM's campus center as well as coordinating a door-to-door petitioning effort throughout the city. Get involved in the following ways:

* Volunteer to staff the table - Talk to students, collect petition signatures and distribute literature

* Hit the streets - Knock on doors with BBC members and others to gather signatures and to raise awareness of ME/US prison conditions

* Spread the word - Post info about the petition drive on your website, list serve and in your community

* Contact Black Bird to have petitions sent to you for independant petitioning

Call 329-7145 for more information

' Till We Unite... We're All Potential Prisoners

In Solidarity and Struggle -

Black Bird Collective
blackbirdcollective.blogspot.com

End Torture in U.S Prisons - Street Workshop Congress Square Portland ME 6/30 5-7p

2008-06-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

Join members of the Black Bird Legal Collective in recognizing Torture Awareness Month with an outdoor workshop on Maine/U.S prison conditions and a public reading of prisoner testimonials. This workshop will focus on the human rights violations taking place in the SuperMax unit of Maine State Prison, the efforts being made to end these practices and the ways that individuals can get involved. We must assure that the voices of incarcerated community members are not locked away! We must assure that violence carried out by prison officials/guards gathers the same attention and reaction that would occur if it were carried out by police in the streets of our cities! We will be reading the testimonials of Maine prisoners at this event and at events throughout the summer. We are advancing our campaign to challenge prison conditions in our state and to carry on the anti-torture legislation campaign put forth by the San Fransisco Eight ( www.freethesf8.org ) To get involved in this campaign contact us. Let's Fight To Win!!.

' Till We Unite We're All Potential Prisoners!

National STOPMAX Conference

2008-05-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

The BBLC has been invited to participate in the AFSC'S national STOPMAX Conference in Philly May 29th-June1st. The STOPMAX Campaign aims to end the use of isolation and other forms of torture in U.S prisons.. We plan to come out of this conference better equipped to kick off a STOPMAX ME campaign focused on closing down the Special Management Unit of Maine State Prison. We'll be out in Monument Square in Portland on June 5th and 6th 5-7p and June 7th 12-2p with info on our STOPMAX ME campaign. We plan to read the testimonies of current supermax prisoners on the microphone and info table we'll be setting up. Join us if you can,

A Panther is a Black Cat: The Legacy and Contemporary Work of the Black Panther Party

2008-04-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

An Evening Discussion with Malik Rahim and Robert King. Saturday 3.19 at the Meg Perry Center 644 Congress St. Portland Me - 7pm

ON A MOVE

2008-03-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

In August '08 eight members of the MOVE organization are up for parole. They have spent the last 30 years in prison for their undying commitment to protect life ( human life, animal life, the life of our planet, ALL LIFE ) from the exploits of capitalist society. As MOVE founder John Africa said " Revolution is not a philosophy, it is an activity." It's time to MOVE!!

The Black Bird Legal Collective is holding a film showing and letter writing party to support the MOVE prisoners on Sunday March 9th @ the Meg Perry Center 644 Congress St. Portland Me

MOVE member Ramona Africa will be live on speaker phone for a presentation and Q&A session.

Join us in sending our support to incarcerated MOVE members and our demands for their freedom to the Pennsylvania parole board. The event kicks off at 12:30 - Hope to see you there

Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition

2008-02-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

The Bend the Bars Forum resulted in the formation of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition ( M-PAC ). The coalition is made up of groups/individuals throughout the state commited to challenging the many obstacles that Maine prisoners are faced with. For more info visit - mepac.blogspot.com

BEND THE BARS: MAINE PRISONER ADVOCACY FORUM

2007-12-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

The Black Bird Legal Collective is organizing a statewide prisoner advocacy forum to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast Maine on January 20th from 1-5pm. Bend the Bars is a response to the recent exposure of prison conditions in Maine and an attempt to build a stronger and more unified movement around these issues. We are asking all who are currently involved in prison reform/anti-prison work as well as those intereted in becoming involved to attend. For more information call 766-8091

How To Deal With Police

2007-10-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

Workshop series at the Meg Perry Center - Every Sunday in November

The BBC will be hosting a weekly workshop series on dealing with police at the Meg Perry Center 644 Congress St. Portland every Sunday in November from 3-4 pm. Stop by and learn your rights and how to enforce them when confronted by police on the street, in your home, in your vehicle and in the detainment/arrest process.

These workshops will be designed to give participants the ability to carry out training sessions in their communities. All are welcome. If you are interested in facilitating a workshop or helping to organize the workshop series please let us know.

Video from the Jena 6 Speak out

2007-10-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

We've added some video that we shot at the Community Speak Out. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to check it out!

FREE THE JENA 6 !

2007-09-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

National Day of Action for the Jena 6 - September 20th

The BBC will be hosting a community speak-out in Tommy's Park in Portland from 5-7 pm this Thurs 9/20 as part of a national day of action for the Jena 6. We will be speaking out against the racism and injustice in the u.s legal system and are encouraging folks to come on down, get on the mic and do the same. For more info on the event contact us. For information on the Jena 6 visit freethejena6.org

Anti-Torture Legislation Campaign

2007-08-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

The SF 8 recently released a joint statement calling for supporters throughout the country to work towards passing local anti-torture legislation. The BBC will participate in this campaign and is currently organizing a community outreach effort throughout the Portland area. We will be circulating petitions demanding that " all prisoners and detainees in Maine be treated in accordance with the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT). The collective is in the early stages of drafting legislation banning the practices currently in place throughout Maine's jails and prisons that violate the Convention.

We view this campaign as an important opportunity to express support for the SF 8, let the state and federal government know that we condemn their use of torture and to defend the many prisoners throughout our state currently suffering from the systematic human rights abuses occurring within Maine's prison system. ( Click on the video below to witness a routine cell extraction at the Maine State Prison. This video was given to journalist Lance Tapley by a source who wished to remain anonymous. )

If you are interested in getting involved in the campaign or would like copies of the petition sent to you to distribute in your community please contact us. blackbirdcollective@gmail.com or (207) - 766 - 8091

Support Deane Brown

2007-08-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

The BBC has been working to build a support team for exiled Maine State Prison inmate Deane Brown since his transfer to the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center this past November.
See http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid28210.aspx for details.

You can actively support Deane in the following ways: Send letters of support ( contact us for the address )/ Send donations directly to Deane ( every bit helps - $5 buys stamps and envelopes to allow Deane to keep in contact with friends and supporters )/ Participate in the lawsuit filed on Deans's behalf by his attorney, Lynne Williams, of The National Lawyers Guild ( contact us to find out how you can help )/ Help us organize a support event for Deane to be held in Portland this November.

( Click on the video below to watch an interview with Lynne Williams chronicling the events leading to Deane's transfer )