Greetings of solidarity! A few months ago, JLS asked organizers to join us all in holding Shut Em Down demos. This included a request to lawyers for legal support. We did receive support and commitments outside these walls and inside to start the work to make this push strong. Recently, under extreme difficulties and in some instances life-threatening, Jailhouse Lawyers Speak CC was able to carry out a vote. As a national organization, we are in agreement that this is not the time for Shut Em Down demos. One of the biggest concerns is the number of prison units around the nation that are currently locked down or being threatened to stop operations over this new spike in covid infections. Another brutal concern is the political environment outside the walls that we do not see as favorable for these types of actions at the moment! We would rather spend another year organizing and spreading the message that there will be a 2023 National Shut Em Down action! However, for those who will continue Shut ‘em Down Demos this year, you have our full support.

Moving forward, this year we will continue our prison resistance in the Black August tradition. We have been encouraging prisoners around the nation to join and promote this culture of resistance. August is a time we commemorate our best examples and those in battle that lost their lives in this protracted struggle. It’s a month of discipline: fast, study, train and fight! This is a month when prisoncrats turn up to harass and abuse their authority in order to discourage our adherence to this tradition. You see, they understand that we are cultivating a culture of resistance! We are asking our outside Comrades and supporters to find and get involved with local prisoners-oriented events. Find a way to spread the Abolitionist message and to promote Jailhouse Lawyers Speak national 10 demands!