Retiring Arizona Prison Watch...


This site was originally started in July 2009 as an independent endeavor to monitor conditions in Arizona's criminal justice system, as well as offer some critical analysis of the prison industrial complex from a prison abolitionist/anarchist's perspective. It was begun in the aftermath of the death of Marcia Powell, a 48 year old AZ state prisoner who was left in an outdoor cage in the desert sun for over four hours while on a 10-minute suicide watch. That was at ASPC-Perryville, in Goodyear, AZ, in May 2009.

Marcia, a seriously mentally ill woman with a meth habit sentenced to the minimum mandatory 27 months in prison for prostitution was already deemed by society as disposable. She was therefore easily ignored by numerous prison officers as she pleaded for water and relief from the sun for four hours. She was ultimately found collapsed in her own feces, with second degree burns on her body, her organs failing, and her body exceeding the 108 degrees the thermometer would record. 16 officers and staff were disciplined for her death, but no one was ever prosecuted for her homicide. Her story is here.

Marcia's death and this blog compelled me to work for the next 5 1/2 years to document and challenge the prison industrial complex in AZ, most specifically as manifested in the Arizona Department of Corrections. I corresponded with over 1,000 prisoners in that time, as well as many of their loved ones, offering all what resources I could find for fighting the AZ DOC themselves - most regarding their health or matters of personal safety.

I also began to work with the survivors of prison violence, as I often heard from the loved ones of the dead, and learned their stories. During that time I memorialized the Ghosts of Jan Brewer - state prisoners under her regime who were lost to neglect, suicide or violence - across the city's sidewalks in large chalk murals. Some of that art is here.

In November 2014 I left Phoenix abruptly to care for my family. By early 2015 I was no longer keeping up this blog site, save occasional posts about a young prisoner in solitary confinement in Arpaio's jail, Jessie B.

I'm deeply grateful to the prisoners who educated, confided in, and encouraged me throughout the years I did this work. My life has been made all the more rich and meaningful by their engagement.

I've linked to some posts about advocating for state prisoner health and safety to the right, as well as other resources for families and friends. If you are in need of additional assistance fighting the prison industrial complex in Arizona - or if you care to offer some aid to the cause - please contact the Phoenix Anarchist Black Cross at PO Box 7241 / Tempe, AZ 85281. collective@phoenixabc.org

until all are free -

MARGARET J PLEWS (June 1, 2015)
arizonaprisonwatch@gmail.com



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Thursday, February 18, 2010

NO: Pearce and Constitutional Carry in COW

More of Russ Pearce sneaking his legislation in under the radar, then getting people to use this special software of his at "Life, Liberty, Freedom"(isn't that a bit redundant?) to hammer their legislators into thinking that thousands of folks really want them to do what this guy says, when it's really just a noisy handful, bullying and BSing their way through our halls of government. This showed up in my email at about 1:40am, from russellpearce.com. 

This is what I mean about him being so anti-democratic. He's not trying to fight fair here. He's not out for The People to win; he's out to win for his people, that's it. And soon they'll all be carrying concealed weapons wherever they want without even having a permit. 

Are we nuts or something? God I hope no one really votes for this.

If they do, I'll swear that Pearce just has dirt on everyone - like Hoover did. I just don't believe that many Republicans are so blind or corrupted...but the past thirty years have really corroded their collective soul. Even my grandmother got out once Bush began demolishing the world and our economy - she became a democrat at the age of 92...

This means folks need to call their legislators first thing to head them off, because Pearce's folks will be up at dawn with their orange juice dialing their Republican legislators the moment the phones come on.

------------------------pearcealert!--------------------------

Hi ,

My Bill, SB 1102, is the Senate version of Constitutional Carry that eliminates the prohibition and penalties for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

A short while ago, the Senate placed SB 1102 on their Committee of the Whole (COW) agenda on Thursday, February 18, 2010.  It is critical that you immediately contact the Senate members and urge them to support SB 1102 during the COW debate. Life Liberty Freedom members, you know what to do.

Also in the Senate COW on Thursday is SB 1153, which establishes that state law preempts local rules and ordinances concerning the regulation of knives and knife making components.  I need your help in letting the Senate know that you support both of these bills.

I know many of you have become members of Life Liberty Freedom, and the guys at Life Liberty Freedom have told me that many of you are using the FREE tool they provide to contact the legislators at the capitol.

For those of you who have not registered to be a member at Life Liberty Freedom, I urge you to do so now at www.lifelibertyfreedom.com
 
You’re Voice for Families, Freedom, Constitutional and Limited Government and a Consistent Conservative Voice:  God... Family ... Country

Russell
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