COORDINATING REGIONAL STRATEGIES in the

MOVEMENT AGAINST MASS INCARCERATION

Questionnaire to prepare for our gathering at LeftForum.org, NYC, 5/31, 5-6:50pm (Session 4, Rm. 1.101)
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, 524 West 59th Street, New York


For more information on the session at Left Forum, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeftForumSession
Please send your completed form back to brokenonallsidesINTERN@gmail.com
Please send your completed form back to brokenonallsidesINTERN@gmail.com. This will help facilitator
Matt Pillischer frame the discussion, and we hope it will assist you in gathering your thoughts for these sessions.
Each person will only have a limited time to speak, so using this as notes may help keep remarks short.

Name: ___ Brenden Beck, Milk Not Jails
Date: __5/30/14___

1. Please provide a brief update (250 words or less please) on organizing efforts you are
focusing on in your city/area. What are you particularly proud of, what are some things
you are having a tough time with?

Milk Not Jails is a grassroots campaign working to end mass incarceration and build agriculture
jobs in rural New York State. We combine the power of farmers and anti-prison activists to
achieve these goals. This year weve been working to increase the purchase of local food in
New York Schools, pass the SAFE Parole Act, and end racist marijuana arrests. Were
targeting State Senator Jeffrey Klein and are interested in networking with folks from his Bronx
district.

2. What would be your ideal vision for working with cities, towns, and states near you?
(250 words or less. Dont worry about ideas not being fully developed.
This may include determining shared goals with activists nearby, better coordinated communication,
regional demonstrations, emergency networks, national day of action, etc.)

Building a rural-urban alliance is key to making change on this issue. The places where prisons
are built and the places where people who are incarcerated come from have a lot in common.
Upstate legislators justify prisons by saying they bring jobs, despite strong evidence that they
hurt rural economies. When rural and urban folks come together, the movement is strongest.

3. Is it time for a national March On Washington against Mass Incarceration, or
coordinated day of action in cities across the country? (250 words or less.)

Because state prisons and local jails hold the largest share of people locked up, I think a state-
by-state approach is the place to start.

4. Please share any concerns you have about coordinating efforts across regions.
(250 words or less.)

Different states face such different issues. New York has reduced its prison population by 22%
in the last decade, Pennsylvania (I think) still has a rising prison population. Very different
organizing strategies are needed. That said, effective strategies and practices should be
shared far and wide.