Kite Line

In 2002, imprisoned refugees inside Australia’s Woomera immigration prison coordinated with 2500 outside supporters who had pitched camp outside the facility.  Their coordination allowed them to stage a mass breakout.  This is the first of three episodes dedicated to telling this story, from an interview with a participant in the solidarity camp. It’s a vital …

This episode, we focus on two individuals who are working to organize support systems for communities that are directly affected or targeted by law enforcement and incarceration. First, we continue our conversation with Akili Shakur, wife of prisoner Shaka Shakur, who works to organize support groups for family members of prisoners. Then, we hear from local student organizer Willy Palomo, who explains local efforts to protect undocumented communities from prosecution and deportation.

This episode, we focus on two individuals who are working to organize support systems for communities that are directly affected or targeted by law enforcement and incarceration. First, we continue our conversation with Akili Shakur, wife of prisoner Shaka Shakur, who works to organize support groups for family members of prisoners. Then, we hear from …

Our focus for this episode returns to the impact of incarceration on families. First we have a discussion between our friend Lucy and one of her fellow classmates at Indiana University, Rafael Green, III. Rafael describes having multiple family members in prison during his childhood, and the way that affected both his childhood, and the lives of other family members on the outside. We follow that discussion with the first of several talks with Akili Shakur, wife of Shaka Shakur, a prisoner within the Indiana Department of Corrections. She talks about Shaka’s case, and also explores what it is like for her to have a spouse serving a long prison term. She tells us about navigating the perceptions people have about those who have a spouse or loved one in prison.

Our focus for this episode returns to the impact of incarceration on families. First we have a discussion between our friend Lucy and one of her fellow classmates at Indiana University, Rafael Green, III. Rafael describes having multiple family members in prison during his childhood, and the way that affected both his childhood, and the …

We return to the topic of education within the prison system. After some prison news, we hear a statement written by someone who taught in prisons in the Midwest. Then we return to Micol Seigel's discussion with Jarrod Wall, who tells us about getting a degree while incarcerated, and the effects/benefits of education while incarcerated, based on his personal experience- and more. You can also hear Jarrod and Micol in our previous episode, "Off Paper," where we begin to explore difficulties people have trying to navigate life after being locked up.

We return to the topic of education within the prison system. After some prison news, we hear a statement written by someone who taught in prisons in the Midwest. Then we return to Micol Seigel’s discussion with Jarrod Wall, who tells us about getting a degree while incarcerated, and the effects/benefits of education while incarcerated, …

In this episode, we introduce a new topic, going "off-paper." When

prisoners finish their time and re-enter the free world, they confront a

whole host of barriers and questions that extend the hold that

institutions have on them well past their "on-paper" sentences. To

begin, we hear a recently released anarchist prisoner who reflects on

his time outside prison and the reactions he faces when people learn

about his record, and then we move onto hearing about barriers to

housing that ex-prisoners confront in Bloomington. The last piece of

the puzzle is Micol Seigel's interview with Jarrod Wall, who, after

serving 26 years, had to overcome both legal and social barriers in

order to simply exist in his small Indiana city. We also share news of

prisoner call-ins, as well as inedible cafeteria food and words from

revolting prisoners, both in Delaware.

In this episode, we introduce a new topic, going “off-paper.” When prisoners finish their time and re-enter the free world, they confront a whole host of barriers and questions that extend the hold that institutions have on them well past their “on-paper” sentences. To begin, we hear a recently released anarchist prisoner who reflects on …

We go to the neighboring state of Ohio this week in order to dig into

the history of Midwestern prison resistance. We share more of the story

of Siddique Hasan - one of 5 prisoners on death row for their role in

the 1994 Lucasville Uprising - as well as his organizing and his case.

We also spoke with Dan, an ex-prisoner who spent decades inside Ohio

prisons. He describes his early years, learning from and organizing

with members of the Dirty Dozen, an informal, multiracial team of gang

peacemakers who organized strikes and revolts across Ohio's prisons. He

also charts transformations in the system and in resistance to it over

many years.