December 15th, 2007
This holiday season
I’m not a Christian. I gave up celebrating Christmas for myself a number of years ago. However, I do have friends and family members who continue to celebrate Christmas. I’m also a war tax resister and around this time of year I start thinking about redistributing whatever’s left of my resisted tax money for the year. When I combine that with making donations in honor of other people, I get a chance to spread some cash around to worthy organizations. Giving, spreading the wealth, helping those in need, keeping money away from the warmongering US government–everybody wins! So this year I’d like to ask y’all to consider participating with me in the following ways if you can.
Free the New Jersey Four
Please, please, if you haven’t yet, sign the petition. It won’t cost you anything, it’s quick and easy, and it does matter. Knowing that people believe them, support them, and know that they are wrongly accused, convicted, and imprisoned is of great importance to these young women. It’s really hard for me to believe that only 1283 people (as of today) care about this travesty.
Send a card or a letter. Again, your support matters to these women. This contact information is correct as of right now:
Patreese Johnson #07-G-0635 and Renata Hill #07-G-0636
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 1000
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Terrain Dandridge #07-G-0637 and Venice Brown #07-G-0640
Albion Correctional Facility
3595 State School Road
Albion, NY 14411-9399
Send a gift. This service will allow you to order items that are approved by the NY State Department of Corrections and have them shipped directly to the women.
Write a letter to the NY State Governor requesting that these convictions be overturned.
Support Pretty Bird Woman House
Pretty Bird Woman House, a domestic violence shelter on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, has been through the wringer this year. Due to funding cuts by the Bush Administration, the shelter was in danger of closing in May; progressive bloggers and blog readers raised over $27,500, enough to keep the shelter running until they could secure their federal grant. Then, this fall, the shelter was broken into, looted, and burned. Pretty Bird Woman House provides the only services to victims of violence on a 2.3 million acre reservation. They’ve recently identified a house for sale which could be converted into a new shelter; it’s larger than their previous building, and very near the police station.
Donate money to help Pretty Bird Woman House purchase a new shelter.
Or, send a check to Pretty Bird Woman House, P.O. Box 596, McLaughlin, SD 57642.
They also need donations of material goods. On the sidebar of their website, they have a list of clothing, personal hygiene, and educational items that they need (scroll down).
These actions will make a real, material difference in the lives of women who are having a hard time. Please do what you can.
