Oakland activist youth in new video - Books Not Bars
The Razor Wire featured in the July/August/September 2001
issue a story called "Oakland youth rally to oppose jail."
Using a variety of bold, creative tactics, 70 young people "crashed
a stuffy meeting of California's Board of Corrections,"
and convinced Board members to withdraw $2.3 million in pre-approved
funding that was earmarked to help build a new juvenile prison
in Alameda County.
Now you can see the power and resourcefulness of young people
in a new video depicting this important, local struggle for justice.
As such, the video can be a powerful and effective tool for people
mobilizing to reform this country's juvenile justice system.
"Books Not Bars" is a twenty-one minute video that
documents the inspiring youth-led movement to reform a system
that over-incarcerates working class people and people of color,
according to information released by its distributor, WITNESS.
"Featuring music by Dead Prez and Sweet Honey in the Rock,
"Books Not Bars" examines the criminalization of young
people, corporate gain from the warehousing of youth and the
disparity between money spent on prison and money spent on education
in the United States."
WITNESS, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the Human
Rights Law Institute at Columbia Law School collaborated to make
this video. Additionally, WITNESS is also able to provide an
action pack designed to give local activists concrete tools for
creating change, and a high school lesson plan that places these
issues within the human rights framework.
To see for yourself, you can watch a short version of "Books
Not Bars" online at www.witness.org.
The Internet feature includes a background "story"
section, links to relevant websites and an opportunity to take
action by writing to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors
in California to demand that they completely reconsider their
plan to build a super jail for youth.
According to information from WITNESS, MTV and BET are considering
broadcasting "Books Not Bars" on television and online
this fall. In anticipation of this broadcast and increased traffic
to its website, WITNESS is trying to identify a nationwide network
of activists working on prison issues who would be willing to
serve as a regional contract for people interested in learning
more about these issues. WITNESS "would love to hear from
you about the incredible work your group has been doing, as well
as your advocacy objectives in the coming months so that we can
add your organization to our juvenile justice-related database
and direct viewers to you."
WITNESS Program Associate Ronit Avni wants to know if you
are interested in using "Books Not Bars" as part of
your particular advocacy campaign. WITNESS is providing the video
at $15.00 "for those groups who are effecting change at
the grassroots."
Contact Ronit Avni by email: ronit@witness.org
or by phone: 212-274-1664, ext 201.
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