See the ABCF website: www.abcf.net SUPPORT THE WARCHEST The Anarchist Black Cross Federation Who we are? What do we do and why? What is the Anarchist Black Cross? The origins of the ABC date back to the 1905 Revolution in Russia. It was originally formed as the Anarchist Red Cross to organize aid for Poliical Prisoners and their families as well as organize self-defense against polltical raids by the Cossack army. During the Russian Civil War, its name changed to the Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confusion with the International Red Cross, also organizing relief n the country. It has continued, at times very sporadically. serving its purpose of organ - izing aid for Political Prisoner and Prisoners of War (PP/POWS) for over 100 years, In the 80s, the ABC began to grow and resurfaced once again in the North America. Since then the ABC name had been kept alive on the continent by a number of completely autonomous groups scattered throughout the North America and has grown to support a wide variety of prison issues. What is the ABCF? In May of 1995, a small group of ABC collectives merged into a Federation whose aim was to focus on the overall support and defense of PP/POWs. Political Prisoners & Prisoners of War are not in prison for committing social "crimes", nor are they criminals. Different PP/POWSs participated in pro- gressive and ~ revolutionary movements in varying levels, some in educational and com- munity organizing, others in clandestine armed and offen- sive people's armies. All are in prison as a result of conscious political action, for building resistance, building and leading movements and revolution... for making change. Many of us in some way or another are part of these very movements, part of that resist- ance that PP/POWSs helped to build. As people continuing to struggle for change, we are obligated and it is our duty to support those people who are in prison as a result of strug- gling to make change. “Political Prisoners & Prisoners of War are not in Prison for committing social ‘crimes, "nor are they criminals.” “Making sure PP & POW's are a part of their own support is crucial and one of the greatest strengths of the ABCF”. Though some have a wider definition of Political Prisoners, we maintain that even if the definition of Political Prisoner was expanded and widely accepted to include social pris- oners of conscience, it needs to be clear that those prisoners who went to prison as a result of political action taken on the street would still demand our priority support. For move- ments to support other prison- ers before we support the pris- oners who have gone to prison for building the very move- ments we now participate in is backwards and criminal. How do we support PP/POWs? Making sure PP/POWs are a part of their own support is cru- cial and one of the greatest strengths of the Federation. We directly communicate with as many PPIPOWs as we can. A large part of this communica- tion is working together with hem (0 find out what they need and how we can practically pro- vide this support. The ABCF has established a Prisoners’ Committee made up of 5 PP/POWSs who have shown the most interest in our work and helping it grow. These PP/POWs serve on the ABCF's Prisoners’ Committee (PC) for a one year rotation before another 5 PPIPOWS are select- ed. We also produce information about PPIPOWS, the struggles they came from and the move- ments they represent. Booklets, fliers, video/audio tapes, Tisweat shirts and cal- endars are produced featuring these prisoners. This, not only informs people about their exis- tence and daily struggle behind bars, (where the struggle con- tinues), it heightens their visibil- ity in our communities. Funds raised from sales are also sent to PP/POWs, Raising material assistance is a crucial responsibility in the support for PP/POWS. It is not uncommon to find that PP/IPOWs are left with no finan- cial support to pay for phone calls or postage stamps to communicate with their fami- lies, friends and supporters. Not enough money to pay for a Mews _subscription, o buy books. No funds to get proper footwear or summer/winter clothing. If we call these prison- ers our comrades, we cannot allow this to continue, and we don't. We do so in part through the Warchest Program and the Anarchist Subsistence Pro- gram. Since 1994 the Warchest has collected monthly donations from our own ABC groups and monthly or one-time pledges from other supporters from around the country. With these funds, we provide reliable non- partisan financial support of monthly checks of up to S60 to those revolutionary PP/POWs who are receiving the least financial support to our knowl- edge. The Anarchist Subsistence Program is like the Warchest, except it is designed to support those PP/POWs who come from our own anarchist/anti- authoritarian community. Our first Anarchist Subsistence Program campaign provides a check and 40 postage stamps every month to a New Afrikan Anarchist POW. Still, financial support and communication are but two forms of direct support needed to demonstrate to their keepers PP/POWS are not forgotten. As enemies of the state, they serve the hardest time. The government often attempts to lock them away from their fami- lies, friends and supporters. We must not allow them to be iso- lated. When geographically possible we go into prisons and visit PP/POWS. This also brings the harsh reality of political imprisonment much closer to supporters. It reminds us that PP/POWS are not only names and figures, pictures on our shirts and leaflets, but people with personalities and personal needs. And if we forget this or neglect to include it in our work o defend them, our foundations will soon become weak. For more information, get in touch. Political Prisoner Jaan Laaman