For the outside and in:
Get Five Petition Drive

I know that you've been wondering what you could do . . .

Join the Jubilee Justice 2000 Campaign - phase one

Our subscribers should find an insert within this paper. The first project of this campaign is a simple petition. Prisoners are asked to mail this petition to a loved one, and in your own words, appeal to them to have five friends or acquaintances read and sign it. Just five, not an overwhelming number; we are trying to make it easy. Your loved ones who read this paper will have the same opportunity to gather signatures. The flyer will photocopy well.

We now have projects in place; growing community distribution of our literature; drug war vigils and expanding regional leadership - both in numbers of leaders and in the leadership roles they are assuming. Volunteerism increases and a viable network of activists broadens.

In brief summary, this first project, The Get Five Petition Drive, will bring us five signatures and fulfill five functions as well:

1) Enable us to show support for drug war prisoner release - It's easy - five signatures. Read the article on page one very carefully and write your friends and family asking them to join the campaign by gathering five signatures. Various formats are available on the internet at (www.jubileejustice.org) for immediate download, and our vigil leaders are all supplied with large 11 x 17 copies for public demonstrations. Let's do some math. There are (at conservative estimates) a half million drug war prisoners, and if each prisoner sends out one petition that is returned to our office, we will turn 2 and a half million signatures to the White House before Bill Clinton leaves office.

2) Ask of a specific leader a specific request - The President has the power to grant this request. Sure, there might be some complicated details, but surely no more complicated than what our federal leaders face now - how to build more prisons fast enough in the face of mounting public outcry. This is one more opportunity to push this issue over the hump in a very unique year. It's the time of Jubilee and it comes only once every fifty years. It is also an election year. This is a good time to make a formal request for release.

3) Educate those who read this petition - Having only five signatures on each 8 x 11 petition will allow us room to explain the issue and the campaign. The more the petitions circulate, the more people will be exposed to the issue beyond newspaper, radio and TV. We intend to provide the Razor Wire to all who sign these petitions. Each issue is usually a good source of basic information about the folly of the drug war and for those who respond and join our organization - a continuing education will follow.

4) Identify new supporters - There are a lot of people paying close attention to the barrage of drug war critics in the press and on television. Many would actively oppose the laws if they knew there were organizations they could work with. We know that many a malcontent is wondering just what to do; it's time to track at least some of them down. For family members, we hope that you will go beyond the call of duty-and hit your local copy shop, then all of your friends and colleagues. Businesses can place a petition on their counters. Many people are very aware of the injustice, and if given the opportunity would sign such a declaration and request.

5) Target specific constituencies building a broader coalition- In greater numbers, the clergy are learning more about the issues of drug war injustice and are willing to speak to their congregations. This is a perfect opportunity for your family members and friends to make an appointment with their religious leaders and discuss this issue, urging them to speak about excessive imprisonment in their public discourses; write about it when they have the opportunity. We hope to expand our drug war vigils nationwide; in order to do this we must expand our membership and target specific potential supporters. The petition can be used to identify and persuade people interested in responsible civics, good government and the community of citizens concerned about problems of criminal justice.

Our members should find this project of ease and interest. We will work together to make it a good, effective effort. Next issue you will be given more opportunity to participate, and it will be a next step. Help us on this first step today! Tell your loved ones to access the internet at: www.jubileejustice.org for updated information. The campaign is underway.

* Artists! Please send submissions for envelope art that reflect the sentiment of our Jubilee Justice 2000 Campaign. Please enclose inside the envelope. We would like to have a suitable illustration for use on the back of a #10 envelope (9 1/2 x 4).