Anonymous Comrade submits "A Statement from Anarchist Black Cross Network Members

Report from Break the Chains Conference

Eugene, OR | August 8-10, 2003

Members of various collectives affiliated with the Anarchist Black
Cross Network (ABCN), which formed in July 2002, met at the Break the
Chains Conference, August 8-10, 2003 in Eugene, Oregon. The Break the
Chains Conference was originally intended to be the ABC-Network's
second annual conference. We consider the Break the Chains Conference
a success in terms of bringing folks together and in sharing
information about the struggle against prisons. We managed to meet
several times throughout the weekend, despite a packed conference and
a hectic workshop schedule to discuss common work and goals. We came
up with several goals for the network during our discussion sessions.These fall into five areas: 1.) short-term and political; 2.) common
work; 3.) communication; 4.) outreach; 5.) assisting the formation of
new ABC collectives.

We feel, based on our meetings, that there is a continued interest in
carrying on the work that was started at the inaugural ABCN
Conference held in 2002. We feel as though collective participation
is key to reinvigorating that network. Such an organization is
important to achieve the critical mass we need to successfully
agitate against incarceration and repression.

We the undersigned endorse the "New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist
Black Cross Network" and adopt this statement as a working document
for the ABCN. At this time, we see this document as neither a draft
nor simply a proposal, but a starting point for our efforts and the
debates that will accompany them. This statement is signed in
personal capacity pending final approval from our collectives. We
request that all collectives currently affiliated with the ABCN
report back with either approval or clarification regarding their
involvement with the network by September 11, 2003.

Patrick-Houston ABC

Twitch-Austin ABC

Jeff-Fresno ABC

Nicole-Houston ABC

Puck-Southwest Prisoner Support Network

Heather Ajani-Southwest Prisoner Support Network

Clayton-Southwest Prisoner Support Network

Dave Negation-APLAN outside support

Anthony Rayson-Chicago ABC

Goals

The following is a list of goals that came out of a discussion
breakout session during the Break the Chains Conference, held in
Eugene, OR, August 8-10, 2003. It is neither complete nor
representative of the ABCN as a whole, and reiterates many points
spelled out in "A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross
Network," it is merely a starting point proposed by ABCN members
present at the BTC Conference.


1. Short-term and political

* Adopt ABCN Proposal

* Plan next year's conference.

* Newsletter (bi-annually)

2. Common Work

* Supporting various campaigns around specific prisoners and local
projects

* Focus on wider issues, such as women and gender in relation to
incarceration

3. Communication

* Methods-phone communication and correspondence via mail between
groups

* Meetings-regional as well as national gatherings regularly

* Electronic-tightening up list-serves, limiting list-serve
participation to only those individuals affiliated with active
network collectives, using the rapid/emergency response list-serve as
it was intended, assisting with local website creation, updating the
network website and providing a current and comprehensive listing of
all active network-affiliated ABC groups.

* Local report backs from each collective (2 per year for newsletter,
4 per year on listserve—we need to know what is going on so we can
work together more effectively) [this point was added per Sunday's
discussion, but was not on the original draft handed out]

* Print/Literature-for internal communication and for local report
backs as well as for outreach, both behind and outside the walls.

4. Outreach

* Building ties within our communities (with active groups and with
families of those incarcerated)

* Keeping prisoners involved in communications

* Establishing a more "home-base" feel for the prisoners we work with

* Finding meaningful ways for traveling comrades to maintain
membership with the network.

5. Assisting the formation of new ABC collectives

* Providing resource guides and address lists

* Providing continuing help for new collectives on issues regarding
internal process as well as organization and outreach in their
communities

Tightening of listserves

In keeping with proposals coming out of Eugene meetings, ABC Network
email lists are being streamlined



The former network list, abc-net, and all other lists will be changed
to abc-friends, a list for ABCN supporters and those interested in
sharing news and discussion related to anti-prison work. List info:
abc friends



abc-ern will be used as a Emergency Response Network for prison and
criminalization issues initiated by ABC groups and others. List info:




A new list, abcn, will be primarily for those in ABC/anti-prison
collectives interested in building the ABC Network. Introduction and
stated support of the Draft Proposal requested. List info:




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