4 Ways to Fight Jail Expansion in Fresno!

 

My name is Debbie Reyes and I’ve spent that last 10 years of my life fighting prison and jail expansion here in the Valle.  Today I want to share with you a few upcoming opportunities so you can join the fight here in Fresno.

Fresno County Sherriff Mims is steamrolling a plans forward to build a new $50 million dollar jail that our city does not need. The Board of Supervisors will be voting tomorrow on moving forward with the jail expansion project, please join us and speak out against this plan. 

The new jail would cage 140 people downtown at Merced & L Street.  Nearly 69% of the people housed in the Fresno jail are awaiting trial, essentially being held because they are poor.  Common sense bail reform could keep these people in the community and reduce jail populations and costs.

Here are 4 things you can do to help stop jail expansion:

1. Come voice your opposition at the Board of Supervisors meeting!

Tuesday, October 22nd from 9am-2pm at the Fresno County Hall of Records Room 301, 2281 Tulare St., Fresno, CA 93721

The Board of Supervisors will be voting on an application to the state for $80 million dollars in construction funds.

2. RSVP for our “How to Fight a Jail in Your Town” Webinar

Tuesday, October 15th at 12:00pm (PST).

Join CURB & Nation Inside for a special webinar on fighting jail expansion in your community. Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) has created a resource guide “How to stop a jail in your town,” for local organizing against jail expansion.

The interactive webinar will cover local organizing techniques through case studies that focus on environmental strategies, community alternatives, and will specifically look at the impact of jail expansion on women. Join experts from across the country as we share experiences, lessons learned, and hear your stories about this issue.

3. Attend the Prison Nation: Posters on the Prison Industrial Complex

Exhibition: October 1-November 30th; events all week

New Light for New Life Church of God

1106 West Woodward

Fresno, CA 93706

Art & Protest will include a series of events held in conjunction with the Prison Nation exhibition at the New Light for New Life Church of God.October 13 – Educational Program – BAN the BOXOctober 21 – 6 pm – Film Screening: Dr. King & The Black Panther Party vs United States Of America Police Brutality!

October 22 – 5:30 pm – at Eaton Plaza – 18th Annual National Day Against Police Brutality – Rally

October 26, 2013 – 10 am – Exhibition Tour & Poster Making Workshop Led by Mary Sutton, CSPG Program Director & Abigail Janzen, Barrio Arts Collective

October 27, 2013 – 11 am – Educational Forum & Panel Discussion
The educational forum will include a presentation on the history of prison expansion in California and panel discussion with representatives from organizations fighting prison and jail expansion in California and alternatives to putting people in cages that are more effective, less expensive, and will make families together and keep our communities safer.

Co-sponsored byAssistance to the Incarcerated Mentally III – Atlanta, Georgia; Barrios Unidos, Fresno; Californians for Justice – Fresno; CA Prison Moratorium Project; Californians United for a Responsible Budget; Center for Non Violence; Central California Environmental Justice Network; College Community Congregational Church – Fresno; Chilli Most Show – L.A.; CJF Harris Disposal & Vendor Services – Fresno; Critical Resistance; Dialysis Advocates; Good Citizen – Fresno; Fresno Brown Berets; Idriss Stelley Foundation – S.F, CA; International Network In Action – Fresno, CA; National Network In Action -Youth; New Light for New Life Church of God, Fresno; New Light For New Life Church Of God – Youth Department; Occupy Fresno; October 22 Against Police Brutaltiy- Fresno; Peace & Freedom Party; Recovery Show – Fresno; Rev. Dr. Floyd D. Harris, Jr. & Dr. Jean Kenney Real Talk with The 1Drs. Blog Talk Radio – Atlanta, Georgia & Fresno, CA; Southern Christian Leadership – Fresno; Will Green I Got Your Back KFCF 88.1 FM – Fresno 

4. Sign our “Statewide Petition against Prison and Jail Expansion”

Help us reach our goal of getting 200 people from the Valle to sign this petition.

These issues not only plague Fresno, there are troubling expansion projects throughout our valley. Please share this email with friends, family and organizations and help us build an even larger voice of opposition to prison and jail expansion throughout the Valley.

Ya basta, juntos nos organizamos!

Debbie Reyes

California Prison Moratorium Project and member of Californians United for a Responsible Budget

 

 

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