December 15, 2015

Spectra Energy protesters who planted tulips are sentenced in court

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Those arrested in Burrillville earlier this month for trespassing onto land owned by Spectra Energy and planting tulips were processed in court today. They were given a filing in court which will not be put on their permanent record if there are no further arrests this year, and told to not trespass onto Spectra Energy property again. Spectra is currently working to upgrade pipelines and compressor stations in Burrillville as part of a massive methane gas expansion project. Protesters are hoping to stop the project and save the planet.

In a statement, Sister Mary Pendergast wrote, “A culture of care is part of my spirituality: care of Earth, and care of people who are poor. Pope Francis has called us all to an ecological conversion and he said it is essential and not an option. He asks for a revolution of Mercy as well as a bold, cultural revolution. The Paris agreement is calling for an end to the fossil fuel era NOW! Yet the Burrillville plant will lock RI into fracked gas for the next 30 years. It is beyond time for the people to rise up, sure as the tulips we planted on Spectra.”

Andrea Doremus, also arrested and processed through court today, wrote, “I got arrested because I’m a high school U.S. history and Civics teacher, and I feel it is my educational and moral responsibility to model for my students what it means to stand up for what you believe in, and to use the tools of civil society to challenge that which is wrong and out of balance. Democracy is earned, not given – the forces of greed make sure that is true. And every generation needs to learn and earn it again.

“As Naomi Klein says, we are at a historical juncture. I believe it is our democratic responsibility to act.”

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015

Rhode Island Muslims seek community help in combatting Islamophobia

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“I wish to welcome you and also seek your assistance in trying to join together and be able to dispel a lot of these unfortunate characterizations of the Muslim community,” said Imam Farid Ansari, to the crowd gathered inside the Islamic Center of Rhode Island in Providence. Ansair was speaking for the Rhode Island Council for Muslim Advancement, (RICMA).

The rise of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim violence across the country in response to recent terror attacks and political demagoguery has lead Muslim leaders in our state to make strong statements unequivocally condemning the terror attacks in Paris and the recent mass shooting in San Bernardino. Ansari said, “these acts are not representative of the Islamic faith…

“The backlash of these atrocious attacks have been felt deeply in the Muslim community nationwide. Inflammatory rhetoric as demonstrated by some politicians to isolate and marginalize American Muslims is reckless and undermines the safety and security of our great nation,” Ansari continued.

On a positive note, he said, “the American Muslim community in Rhode Island has unprecedented support from public officials, law enforcement, faith community and fellow citizens and we deeply appreciate this support.”

To counter this wave of mistrust, hatred and violence and because “we strongly believe that hate can only be countered by love and peace,” Ansari announced that, “we will be expanding our engagement with the Rhode Island community, to launch several social and educational programs across the state.”

These programs include an open house this Saturday from 1-3 at the Islamic Center, and continuing open houses at mosques throughout the state.

Other speakers took to the podium to denounce Islamophobia and to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community. Lutheran Bishop James Hazelwood lamented the way politicians have used the tragic recent events as an opportunity to divide rather to unite.

Jim Vincent of the NAACP says that his organization is “totally against the xenophobia that is happening in our country today.” Blaming all Muslims for the attacks in Paris or San Bernardino makes as much sense as blaming all Christians for the actions of the KKK, just because they use the cross as their symbol.

Episcopal Bishop Nicholas Knisely, said, “It’s important for us… to reject the voices calling for us to treat the people of one faith differently than all others.”

“Words have power,” said Rabbi Sarah Mack of the Greater Providence Board of Rabbis, “Our language can create good will and harmony in the community, or as we have sadly seen in recent weeks, our words can build mistrust, hatred and xenophobia.”

Dr. Wendy Ibraham of the Sisters Wing of RICMA, said that speaking for women Muslims is difficult, because they are such a diverse group. “Eighteen years ago, I decided to adopt a faith that believed in love and freedom and mercy and justice and kindness for all people, regardless of faith or ethnicity or color or creed… It’s important right now for Muslims to come forward and tell you what our religion is about.”

Toby Ayers, on behalf of the Rhode Island for Community and Justice and runs a youth program called Project Respect. In this program, “Young people become leaders in service to the mission of fighting bias, bigotry, and racism by promoting understanding between all races, religions and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education.

Reverend Thomas Wiles, of the American Baptists channeled Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, who championed religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

“We continue to proclaim,” says Wiles, “that for faith to be true it must be free.”

Evangelical Pastor Andrew Mook advocated for a radical Christianity that embraces love and peace, even at the cost of one’s own life.

Last up was Reverend Donald Anderson, who decided to name the “elephant in the room,” Donald Trump. (That the elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party might be a subtle joke on Anderson’s part.)

“We are called, as faith leaders, to speak truth to power. So let’s do that. Mr Trump, we will not stand for your demagoguery that leads to discrimination. For those people who would follow him and his foolishness, those who would value temperament more than truth, audacity more than accuracy, let us say that love will win.”

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015

Why don’t female ACI inmates have a nice, big rec yard like the men?

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Gender discrimination and the invisibility of women has been an issue in this world since before I was born. In my lifetime, I have seen attempts of changing this, steps toward gender equality. In my current situation, the invisibility of women is still an issue.

I am currently doing a six-year sentence in the women’s maximum/medium security facility. The facility is housing women with thirty-day sentences to life sentences. This building was not built to house inmates with long-term sentences. It was going to be a transition facility, which means there was not going to be anyone staying here for more than one year.

For whatever reason, something different happened. They took the women from a condemned prison (thank you) to this facility. Although the other prison was infested with roaches and mice, there was one thing to look forward to: “rec” (recreation) time. That building had a gym with weights and other workout equipment and a very large yard, that included an area with a basketball court and a large grassy space. We gave up a dirty old building for a newer one with no gym, and a yard that consists only of a basketball court. And that yard is all cement.

The yards at the men’s facilities (also medium and maximum) are much bigger than ours, with grass areas, weight areas, and a basketball court, as well as track and soccer fields. I do not know the exact measurements of the yard, but I don’t think the size of our yard is even a fraction of the size of theirs. They have the space to play a number of sports/activities. We can walk, play basketball with a ball that is basically flat, or volleyball until the ball goes over the fence and can’t be retrieved. What makes it okay for the men to have that yard but not the women? One may answer this question saying that there are more men than women incarcerated in Rhode Island, but I still don’t see that as a reason to deprive us women from having a better yard.

This may not matter to people who are not incarcerated, but it surely does matter to those of us who are. Rec time is very important; it’s a time to blow off steam, and it’s a way to stay healthy by exercising. It is also important for mental health. I know this issue may not ever matter or mean anything to people who do not have to be locked up in a facility on a daily basis and have only two hours a day to breathe fresh air.

I see signs that the overall problem of gender discrimination and the invisibility of women in the changing in the world. I think it only right that it change within this institution as well.

This post is published as part of the Prison Op/Ed Project, an occasional series authored by CCRI sociology students who are incarcerated at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute. Read more here:
- ‘Prison Op/Ed Project’ teaches civic engagement, writing – Meghan Kallman
- Does racial injustice still exist? Look at our schools – Aaron Carpenter
- Rhode Island charges felons absurdly high court costs – Christopher Nemitz
- Public school students and inmates need more vocational training – Darnell Hie
- Prison policies put probation and vocational training at odds – Norman Johnson
- Corporate-modeled prison industrial complex doesn’t serve society – Adrian Rojas
- Incarceration is the new slavery – James Poston
- Justice isn’t blind with data-based sentencing – David Brown
- Ending welfare entitlements opened the door to disability fraud – Dan Davidson
- Post prison services would stem system’s revolving door – Michael Wheelock
- You’re vote doesn’t matter as much as your money – David Brown
- How schools emulate prisons, and prepare students for them – Richard Pimiental
- Cars that are good for society – David DeGrasse
- PTA involvement instead of prison mentality in schools – Mustapha Bojang
- Prison is about re-socialization, not corrections – Christopher Marsich
- ACI administrator praises Prison Op/Ed Project – Ralph Orleck
- Alcohol, incarceration and what it means to matter – Laura Baumgardner
- Was Myron Magnet a genius or just a Republican? – Danny Mercure
- Ike was right: Military industrial complex corrupted economy – Christopher Marsich
- Second Chance Act deserves second chance at full funding – Christopher Rocheleau and Adrian Rojas
- Who poses a bigger threat to US: Ben Carson or Ahmed Mohamed? – David Brown
- Taking a play out of black Mizzou football players playbook – James Poston

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015

Students of color at Brown reclaim #BrownTogether

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#BrownTogether is the official social media branding of a $3bn fundraising effort announced by Brown University President Christina Paxson. Paxson’s fundraising effort seeks to “transform” the university by allowing wealthy donors and corporations to make visible public contributions. Named chairs and endowments make good press, but Brown’s students of color have reclaimed the hashtag through weeks of action, protesting a racially inequitable and hostile campus sustained by their tuition dollars.

The movement began with a direct action staged during a meeting of the Brown University Community Council. Students’ use of the #BrownTogether hashtag demonstrated the hostile environment experienced by students of color at Brown. These tweets were documented by Bluestockings Magazine, a student-led feminist magazine on campus. The tweets also offered critiques of Brown’s relationship with the community (a relationship often described within the context of Brown’s public relations apparatus) and the practice of branding racial inequities as a “learning experience.”

Brown’s leadership dedicated $100 million (3.3% of the $3bn effort) to “improving race relations” on campus. However, this plan was roundly criticized by students for not addressing specific issues. This critique was drafted by a Coalition of Concerned Graduate Students of Color. The critique noted that salaries and stipends paid by Brown are inadequate compared to public universities such as the University of California – Riverside.

Though $100M has allegedly been earmarked, Brown has not released a timetable or specific breakdown on how funds will be distributed.

The program’s nebulous statements about inclusion stand in stark relief with Paxson’s commitment to arming Brown DPS (law enforcement) officers. This additional weaponry raises immediate concern after Brown’s police department was forced to apologize after a Latinx conference attendee was assaulted by a police officer. College law enforcement officers claim to be concerned with student safety on campus. However, the killing of Samuel DuBose by a campus police officer shows that the college campuses are no safer than the rest of the US for students of color. Ray Tensing, the white officer who killed DuBose, was indicted for murder – a testament to the power of #BlackLivesMatter movements in demanding justice.

Specific demands, including exact wording on hiring and applications policies, were drafted and presented by students of color during an occupation of Brown’s administration buildings – where the students put in a day of work as diversity consultants for the University.

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015

RIPTA fare increase is cruel, whether it happens or not

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The worst part must be the stress of not knowing when and if their lives are going change. You can see it on the faces of many of those who come to speak.

Those on fixed incomes and dependent on the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) for their transportation needs gained a brief reprieve yesterday when the RIPTA board voted on a modified fare increase package due to Governor Gina Raimondo’s last minute intervention.

The governor promised to direct state agencies to “develop programs that will ensure the continued mobility of the low-income elderly and persons with disabilities.”

As a result, a fare increase from free to $1 for the disabled, elderly and homeless has been delayed until July 2016, and the new proposed fare increase is only 50 cents, tentatively starting in July. At the board meeting RIPTA Director Peter Alviti said that, “our target is zero” meaning that he hopes the governor will find the money to avoid charging even that 50 cents and keep the free bus fare system in place.

More than a dozen elderly, disabled, homeless and transportation advocacy groups have been fighting this fare increase since it was announced. Hundreds of people have attended meetings and spoken out against the fare hike. Randall Rose, of the RIPTA Riders Alliance said that the fare increase is “a badly thought out plan” that, “is not going to stand.”

There is a good chance Rose is right, and ultimately this will all be about nothing.

But if you are one of those dependent on RIPTA for your transportation needs, you don’t know this; not with any certainty. Some estimate that those on a fixed income will have to spend $30 a week or more on transportation. Not on doctor’s visits, they will be covered by Logisticare, a private contractor. But pharmacy visits, shopping, friend and family visits, trips to twelve-step programs, church, political meetings, or any other kind of travel, will be money taken out of the budget for food, medication, utilities, toiletries or rent.

Some will start trying to make their medication last longer, because maybe half a pill is just as good as the one pill prescribed by a doctor. Maybe take one pill every other day, or skip certain medications entirely. That might work.

Less food will become a certainty. Life without electricity or heat will be endured. Little joys will be sacrificed. Life will become grayer. Life will be less.

Many will not travel any more. They will become home bound, economically imprisoned in their homes. Their health will suffer. Some will die.

Did the General Assembly, when they voted to force the RIPTA board to increase the fares on the most vulnerable, think about the people whose lives will be ruined? Even if this entire issue goes away over the next weeks and months, did the Senators and Representatives who voted for this think about the stress they inflicted on the poor, the elderly, the disabled and the homeless?

Lives already clouded by poverty shouldn’t have their stress compounded for no reason. It’s cruel.

The actions and inactions of our General Assembly have consequences. People suffer when the General Assembly behaves so cavalierly. The Speaker of the House cares mightily for the concerns of his “well-to-do” neighbors yet seems to think nothing of inflicting senseless cruelty on the poor.

If we are to be judged by how we treat the most vulnerable among us, we are failing.

We must do better.