#OpSeasonsGreetings 2018

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Hello, there!

This paste is meant to accompany my #OpSeasonsGreetings graphics to tell you a little more about the op and give you some helpful tips and tricks for writing to prisoners.

WHAT IS #OPSEASONSGREETINGS?

#OpSeasonsGreetings is meant to spread love to prisoners! The holidays can be a really lonely time in prison. At a time when you are supposed to be surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones, the loneliness and dehumanization of prison life can be felt even more acutely. #OpSeasonsGreetings was born to remind prisoners that they are not alone, and that people on the "outside" care.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN #OPSEASONSGREETINGS?

There are several ways!

First, and most importantly, we ask people to WRITE! That's why the graphics feature addresses! Mail is vital to prisoners - it means so, so much to them. Some more tips about writing are going to be included below, so keep reading!

For those who  may have a few spare dollars, you can also donate to defense funds, or add some money to a prisoner's commissary fund. Everything a prisoner has - from clothing, to personal hygiene products, to extra snacks - must be bought from commissary, where prices are often marked up exponentially from "street prices." This often presents a great hardship for prisoners, as they work for mere pennies per hour. A couple extra dollars can mean an extra pair of socks or a sweatshirt to help ward off the cold, some cold meds to help them through the sniffles, or even a simple Snicker's bar to make them smile.

#OPSEASONSGREETINGS TIPS AND TRICKS:

* PLEASE NOTE: All mail that is sent to prisoners housed in Pennsylvania state prisons have specific rules that apply to them. ONLY MAIL THAT IS 8.5x11 INCHES WILL BE ACCEPTED. This means you CANNOT send cards, and can ONLY send letters. This affects two prisoners on the list: Mumia Abu-Jamal and Joe-Joe Bowen. For more information on this change and more specific instructions on how to address your envelopes and what mail is and is not acceptable, please visit the following website: https://www.cor.pa.gov/family-and-friends/Pages/Mailing-Addresses.aspx

* Prisoners can be moved on a moment's notice. All prisoner addresses listed here are current as of the publishing of these graphics. HOWEVER, THIS COULD CHANGE. Please check the included websites and social media links to make sure the address provided is still the correct address.

* Some prisoners go by names other than their legal names. This could be for several reasons, including religious or cultural reasons, or because they are transgender. Most times, envelopes need to be addressed to legal names. However, the enclosed letters can be addressed to chosen names. I have, wherever possible, included both a prisoner's legal name, and how they prefer to be addressed. Please be mindful of this.

* NOT EVERYONE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS. When writing to a prisoner for #OpSeasonsGreetings, try to avoid phrases like "Merry Christmas" or cards that are Christmas-specific. Instead, use "Season's Greetings" or cards that are generally winter-themed.

* Please remember that all mail is read by prison officials before being given to the prisoner. Please do not talk about illegal things, or anything you would not feel comfortable saying in front of police, prosecutor, judge, and jury.

* Some prisoners have specific topics that need to be avoided when writing to them. This is why we include web address for support networks with the graphics. If you have any questions about what can or cannot be included in your letter, please contact a prisoner's support committee.

* Please try to limit what you include with your card. Extra envelopes, stamps, checks, cash, phone cards, or money orders are usually forbidden and will not reach a prisoner. Some prisoners can receive photographs, while some cannot. As always, if you have questions, check with support committees!

* Things like perfume (or anything scented), ribbons, glitter, glue, yarn, etc. are often prohibited and are generally to be avoided when sending cards and letters. The use of colored pencils and markers is usually okay.

* Please do not send packages to prisoners. In many cases, they are forbidden, and will not reach a prisoner. Some prisons have websites that allow people to send "care packages" to prisoners. Check with support committees to see if that is an option for the prisoner you are writing to. Books generally need to be sent directly from a publisher or distributor (ex: AK Press, Amazon, PM Press, etc.).

* Writing to a stranger can be really intimidating, but don't let that stop you! Prisoners are human, just like everyone else. Letters and cards don't have to long, just heartfelt. A simple, "Hi there! I'm thinking about you and want to let you know you are not forgotten!" can make a prisoner's day.

* If you want a response, please include your return address in the body of the letter as well as on the envelope, as envelopes don't always make it to prisoners. In the same vein, please do not expect a response or get mad if you do not get one. Some prisoners have lists of people they are pre-approved to write to, and if you are not on that list, they are not able to write back. Also remember that stamps, paper, envelopes, and writing instruments cost money, and a prisoner just simply might not be able to afford to write back to everyone that writes to them.

* The graphics I have posted are by NO MEANS an exhaustive list of people that could use some support. To find more prisoners to write to, not only during the holidays, but all year round, please download the NYC Anarchist Black Cross prisoner guide. You can also find more information about many of the prisoners listed here. It is updated regularly with addresses of political prisoners and prisoners of war from many different movements. View and download it here: https://nycabc.wordpress.com/guide/

And, of course, if you have any questions, I can be reached via Twitter.

Now get out there and get writing!

Solidarity Forever,

Brazen Queer
twitter.com/brazenqueer

ADDRESSES

Smart Communications/PA DOC
Mumia Abu-Jamal, #AM8335
SCI Mahoney
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
Website: FreeMumia.com
Twitter: @MumiaAbuJamal
Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialMumiaAbuJamal

Walter Bond, #37096-013
FCI Terre Haute
PO Box 33
Terre Haute, IN 47808
Website: SupportWalter.org
Facebook: facebook.com/SupportWalter

Anthony Bottom, #77-A-4283
Sullivan Correctional Facility
PO Box 116
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116
*Address envelope to "Anthony Bottom" & letter to "Jalil Muntaqim"*
Website: FreeJalil.com

Smart Communications/PADOC
Joseph Bowen, #AM4272
SCI Fayette
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
*Address envelope to "Joseph" & letter to "Joe Joe"*
About Joe Joe: bit.ly/joejoebowen

Veronza Bowers, #35316-136
FMC Butner
PO Box 1600
Butner, NC 27509
About Veronza: veronza.org
Veronza's Medical Fund: gofundme.com/support-veronza-bowers-jr

Jared Chase, M44710
Dixon Correctional Center
2600 North Brinton Ave.
Dixon, IL 61021
Website: FreeTheNATO3.wordpress.com
Twitter: @FreeNATO3
Facebook: bit.ly/freenato3

Matthew Paul DeHart, #06813-036
FCI Ashland
PO Box 6001
Ashland, KY 41105
Website: MattDeHart.com
Twitter: @FreeMattDeHart
Facebook: facebook.com/FreeMattDeHart

Bill Dunne, #10916-086
FCI Victorville Medium I
PO Box 3725
Adelanto, CA 92301
About Bill: bit.ly/billdunne

Red Fawn Fallis, #16358-059
FMC Carswell
PO Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127
Website: standwithredfawn.org

David Gilbert, #83-A-6158
Wende Correctional Facility
3040 Wende Rd.
Alden, NY 14004-1181
About David: bit.ly/davidgilbertwiki

Michael Giron, #25201-075
USP Hazelton
PO Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
*Address envelope to "Michael Giron" & letter to "Little Feather"*
About Little Feather: freelittlefeather.com

Jeremy Hammond, #18729-424
FCI Milan
PO Box 1000
Milan, MI 48160
Website: freejeremy.net
Twitter: @FreeJeremyNet
Facebook: facebook.com/freejeremy.net

Alvaro Luna Hernandez, #255735
James V. Allred Unit
2101 FM 369 North
Iowa Park, TX 76367
*Address envelope to "Alvaro" & letter to "Xinachtli"*
Website: FreeAlvaro.net
Twitter: @FreeAlvaroNow

Michael Kimble, #138017
3700 Holman Unit
Atmore, AL 36503
About Michael: anarchylive.noblogs.org

Eric King, #27090-045
USP Leavenworth
PO Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Website: SupportEricKing.org

Justin Liverman, #62701-056
FCI Fort Dix
PO Box 2000
Joint Base MDL, NJ 08640
About Justin’s Case: bit.ly/justinliverman

Thomas Manning, #10373-016
USP Hazelton
PO Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
About Tom: oocities.org/tom-manning

Michael Markus, #06280-073
FCI Sandstone
PO Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072
*Please address envelope to "Michael Markus" & letter to "Rattler"*
About Rattler: freerattlernodapl.com

Marie Mason, #04672-061
FMC Carswell
PO Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127
*Address envelope to "Marie" & letter to "Marius"*
Website: SupportMariusMason.org
Twitter: @supportmarius
Facebook: facebook.com/supportmariusmason

Ramsey Orta, #16-A-4200
Groveland Correctional Facility
PO Box 50
Sonyea, NY 14556-3769
Website: RamseyOrta.com
Twitter: @RamseyOrta
Facebook: facebook.com/supportramseyorta

Dion Ortiz, #16559-059
FCI Sandstone
PO Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072
About Dion: bit.ly/dionortiz

Leonard Peltier, #89637-132
USP Coleman I
PO Box 1033
Coleman, FL 33521
Website: WhoisLeonardPeltier.info
Twitter: @PeltierHQ
Facebook: facebook.com/PeltierHQ

Joshua Stafford, #57976-060
USP McCreary
PO Box 3000
Pine Knot, KY  42635
*Address envelope to "Joshua" & letter to "Skelly"*
Website: cleveland4solidarity.org
Twitter: @FreeCleveland4
Facebook: facebook.com/FreeThe4

Connor Stevens, #57978-060
FCI Jesup2680 301 South
Jesup, GA 31599
Website: cleveland4solidarity.org
Twitter: @FreeCleveland4
Facebook: facebook.com/FreeThe4
Connor’s Welcome Home Fund: bit.ly/welcomehomeconnor

Sean Swain, #243-205
Warren CI
PO Box 120
Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Website: SeanSwain.org
Twitter: @FreeSeanSwain

Ross Ulbricht, #18870-111
USP Florence - High
PO Box 7000
Florence, CO 81226
Website: FreeRoss.org
Twitter: @Free_Ross
Facebook: facebook.com/FreeRossUlbricht

Alisha Walker, #Y12381
Decatur Correctional Center
PO Box 3066
Decatur, IL 62524
Twitter: @SupportHoseChi
Facebook: facebook.com/StandWithAlisha

Josh Williams, #1292002
Jefferson City Correctional Center
8200 No More Victims Rd.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
About Josh: bit.ly/joshwilliamsferguson

Reality Winner, #22056-021
FMC Carswell
PO Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127
Wesbite: StandWithReality.org
Twitter: @StandByReality
Facebook: facebook.com/standwithreality

Doug Wright, #57973-060
USP Big Sandy
PO Box 2068
Inez, KY 41224
Website: cleveland4solidarity.org
Twitter: @FreeCleveland4
Facebook: facebook.com/FreeThe4

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Shoutout to comrades who were on 2017's list who were released in 2018! May we see all cages emptied one day soon!

Herman Bell
Seth Hayes
Nicole Kissane
Bresha Meadows
Jeffrey Sterling