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



INDIGENOUS ACTION MEDIA

INDIGENOUS ACTION MEDIA
ANTICOLONIAL zines, stickers, actions, power

Taala Hooghan Infoshop

Taala Hooghan Infoshop

Kinlani/Flagstaff Mutual AID

Kinlani/Flagstaff Mutual AID

MASS LIBERATION AZ

MASS LIBERATION AZ
The group for direct action against the prison state!

Black Lives Matter PHOENIX METRO

Black Lives Matter PHOENIX METRO
(accept no substitutions)

BLACK PHX ORGANIZING COLLECTIVE

BLACK PHX ORGANIZING COLLECTIVE

BLACK PEOPLE's JUSTICE FUND

BLACK PEOPLE's JUSTICE FUND

PHOENIX: Trans Queer Pueblo

PHOENIX: Trans Queer Pueblo

COVID Mutual AID PHOENIX

COVID Mutual AID PHOENIX
AZ Prison Watch BLOG POSTS:


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Support Read Between the Bars!

If you can't make it to Tucson for this, please at least consider sending them a small donation of money or supplies. They perform an extremely valuable service on a shoestring budget...
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READ BETWEEN THE BARS

FUND-RAISER, ART AUCTION, AND CELEBRATION!

Sunday, May 16th, 5-10pm

The Boxing Gym: 1080 N Contzen, Tuscon - SE corner of Speedway and I-10

$5-7 minimum donation for entrance

$5-7 donation for drinking cup for beer, wine, and cocktails

Food from Brooklyn Pizza Co. and Small Planet Bakery

Soda-pop beverages available

Kid Friendly

All are welcome

FEATURING PERFORMANCES:

Leila Lopez, www.leilalopezsongs.com/

Vicki Brown, http://www.myspace.com/vickibrown

JC Olsen

Lisa O'Neill, http://www.myspace.com/lisamoneill

Maggie Golston, http://www.myspace.com/maggiegolstonmusic

Silver Thread Trio, http://www.myspace.com/silverthreadtrio

Fire Hooping by Revo Lution

Lindsay Miller, http://www.myspace.com/sweetlittlemary

All donations go directly to RBTB and postage for sending books to prisoners in AZ.

Help RBTB spread the word about this fund-raising extravaganza - attached to the e-mail is a pdf and a jpeg of the celebration's flyer.

Thank you very, very much for your continuing support. See you at the party.

Sincerely, RBTB

--
Read Between the Bars
c/o Daily Planet Publishing
PO Box 1589
Tucson, AZ 85702
readbetweenthebars@gmail.com
http://www.readbetweenthebars.org

RBTB accepts donations of packaging materials and tape, paperback books in good condition and office supplies. We are also looking for a bigger space to house more books.
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