Kite Line

The Federal government rolled out the weed and seed program in the early 1990s in response to a new wave of urban uprisings. It placed social services under police control, so that cops could first “weed,” (i.e. remove undesirable elements) and then “seed” by distributing resources, following a classic model of counter-insurgency. Two decades were required for Weed and Seed to collapse, under pressure due to its own dysfunction, as well as concerted opposition by affected communities. Weed and Seed remains a model for similar counter-insurgency efforts, though, so Anne Gray Fischer and Max Felker-Kantor’s analysis on this week’s Kite Line is invaluable for organizers and community members affected by future programs.

You can hear Max Felker-Kantor’s episodes on police in Los Angeles here and here

Our episode this week finishes the conversation between Rojas, Meg, and Cyrus. Last week, they spoke about the conditions of transgender and gender non-conforming prisoners in the prison system. They continue talking about efforts to support transgender and GNC prisoners inside and outside of the walls. Additionally, they talk to each other about exciting upcoming projects, how the #MeToo Movement impacts prisoners, and the inherent sexual violence and power disparities in the prison system. Make sure to listen to last week’s episode here.

Our episode this week is a conversation between Rojas and Cyrus, two advocates with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.  CCWP is an organization that exists, in their words, to “monitor and challenge the abusive conditions inside California women’s prisons. We fight for the release of women and trans prisoners. We support women and trans people in their process of re-entering the community.” Rojas and Cyrus address the conditions of transgender and gender non-conforming prisoners, or GNC prisoners, in the California prison system. Subject to increased surveillance and retaliation from both cops on the outside and correctional officers on the inside, Rojas speaks out about what they were subjected to while within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation- or CDCR.

You can find out more about the California Coalition for Women Prisoners at: womenprisoners.org

On our show this week, we hear from Dennis Boatright, a co-organizer with MAPS- Michigan Abolition and Prisoner Support. Boatright presents ‘From Convict to Inmate’, tracing the counter insurgent and repressive measures- such as isolation, book restriction, and even the colors used within the facilities- used by the Michigan Department of Corrections to neutralize and depoliticize prisoners. He spoke about his time behind prison walls, along with some of his research at the recent Bend the Bars conference in Lansing, Michigan.

For the first part of this week’s episode- we hear from Onishona. In this interview, she tells us about her experiences with recidivism and problems with re-entry. She also talks about the role books, and specifically how books about mass incarceration, such as The New Jim Crow, shaped her prison experiences.

After her interview we share another piece as a continuation from last week’s episode.  This piece, recorded on the inside, is from Muti Ajamu-Osagboro. Our friends over at the Prison Radio show sent along the audio, which we will continue to air over the upcoming weeks. He reads his piece “The Opioid Cellphone”.