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How we can Observe Earth Day 2019
Vegetable-garden

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

My ideals on how we can observe Earth Day 2019 and why:

1) Clean a elder neighbor’s yard

2) Make a list of fracking sites in your area and number of earthquakes since fracking began in that area, then tweet/use instagram about it

3) Research history of the land use before the prison in your area was built, connect that to complaints prisoners have with toxicity inside the prisons

4) Make others aware of enviromental regulations Trump has deregulated and the potential inpact of that

5) Create a small garden, help a elder maintain theirs.

We must be reactive and proactive! There are no border walls between good and bad air, good and bad water. The earth is ours, lets reclaim it!

Freedom First,

Greg Curry

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Reflection 26 years after the fall, by Greg Curry

From: Lucasville Amnesty:

Last year on the 25th anniversary the State of Ohio silenced me and my comrades whom are on death row from any communication with the outside world. Afraid our message of truth justice and equality for all would be too radical, as a result, our comrades Ben Turk and Joyce Jones was barred from our visit list. Siddique Hasan has been put on extended communications restrictions and Bomani Shakur (aka Keith LaMar) has officially been given a execution date. I’ve finally been transferred out of Youngstown only to find that the van carrying me out of Youngstown carried a load of ideas on how this prison in Toledo could further harass me.

Just a year ago we recognized 25 years since America’s longest prison riot. By now most of you know the details of the event that immediately brought in a unyielding era of state oppression from the selection of judges, and prosecutors to bribing witnesses to lie on us all while being harassed and assaulted by prison staff. Harassment that has been constant for 26 years now for those of us that speak out, that refuse 2 accept unjust verdicts as legally binding.

Through cell shakedowns, book censorship, lengthy delays in email processing if the email contain any mention of how we can fight the system. I’ve been under constant ”investigation” for 26 years. Now yet still I must march forth and I need the support, wisdom, connections of those of you you there that recognize enough is enough. Silence is complicity! To the victorious brothaz known as the vaugn17, yes the criminal trials are over, yes the loss of your property, the prison transfers, delay in mail deliveries, staff harassment, maximum penalties for minor rule violationsis all part of state oppression designed to test your will.

There is a group of us here in Ohio that has had to deal with this 26 years and counting one of my co-defendants passed away this year while being held hostage. Don’t be surprised, be prepared. Share your experience with young soldiers so they will know what can be gained, and be honest about the pain. The pain of accepting oppression and the pain of fighting it. Be clear this struggle is happening whether we acknowledge it or not, oppression knows no boundaries has no limits, it aims to control our actions and reactions. Prepare soldiers you’re proud to have in the trenches with you, comrades. Reflections 26 years after the fall and mental rising lets get free!!!

Freedom First!

Greg Curry

Greg speaks during the Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit 2019

Here is the text and recording of Greg Curry speaking at the Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit 2019, on 26th of January. Thanks to Pittsburgh ABC!

Here is the recording, and below is the text.

Hello everyone,

Greg Curry at the kiosk where he can have a picture made, phone and write a Jpay to his family and friends

Greg Curry at the kiosk where he can have a picture made, phone and write a Jpay to his family and friends.

Thank you for taking time to attend this important conference. Since last year I was finally allowed to leave the Supermax prison and come to a more normal prison setting. Comrades among you agitated for my
transfer and we won the transfer, so never underestimate the power of collective energy coming out of this conference. I do have a few ideas I’d like to share with you.

First, I feel you should get to know the prisoners you advocate for and
establish a bond so that even if you make a wrong decision we will
understand you weren’t working against us. Also, don’t settle for a
response that supports your position on prison or race issues– ask
more questions, examine the logical conclusions. For example, in the
last election in Ohio, many progressives supported issue 1 of a bill to
let only non-violent drug offenders out of prison. No one asked the
question, if progressives don’t advocate for violent offenders’ release,
especially those who have already done lengthy sentences, then who will?

Your support and your calls to prisons, to parole boards, the media, all
matter in time of crisis. Continue to support us in that way, as well
as visit. Many of us have limited human contact. Encourage up and
coming journalists, documentary makers, and attorneys to make a name of
this self by looking into some of these cases involving in race, class,
and sexual orientation.

As a convicted member of the Lucasville riot case, I can tell you the
injustice that no one saw was in plain sight. Don’t let that be the case
with the members on trial for the Vaughn incident. Call the judge,
the defense attorneys, write the prisoners on trial, send them a few
dollars for stamps and books, and be ready to support them through all
forms of retaliation that will come as a result of convictions, so they
will not suffer in silence as the Lucasville convicted did.

In closing, I’d like to say, let’s bring some people home and be sure to those who put on this event on.

Freedom First!
Greg Curry

Greg Curry in Solidarity with the Vaughn 17

This dates from Oct. 24th, published on Lucasville Amnesty, and also on the Vaughn 17 Support site.

Support the Vaughn 17

From Lucasville Amnesty:

On Monday the Vaughn 17 trials began, sending the first 4 defendants to trial. Like Lucasville, the state is relying entirely on informant testimony, underfunding defense lawyers and improperly witholding evidence. Two of the four starting trial this week kicked their court appointed attorneys off and are defending themselves.

Unlike Lucasville, there’s active public support and solidarity with the prisoners, rather than petitions calling for their executions.

Greg wrote the following statement in solidarity with the defendants.

My clenched fist salute to the brothaz known as the Vaughn 17!

I personally know how you felt leading up to the day you made demands to be treated like human beings, I know the state’s abusive response, I know the journey you will face in the weeks to come as your trials begin, with attorneys underpaid, unprepared, and unenthused.

I know what it’s like to be skeptical of…

View original post 86 more words

Black August at OSP
This was published on: Lucasville Amnesty, Sept. 10th, 2018

Statement by Greg Curry.
Greg Curry intended to make this statement at the recent pig roast solidarity event in Central Ohio, but was unable to connect with organizers at that time. Instead we’re printing it here.

Salute,

Today I’d like to give you a mental picture of how Ohio’s supermax is set up so that the context of what follows will make sense.

There is severely limited movement here in 4 blocks: A, B, C, D.

A & B are on top of each other, C & D are on the other side of the prison on top of each other.

In each block there are 8 pods. Eeach of those pods holds up to 16 people.

Each pod is isolated from the next so much so you may never see them even though its just a door/wall between y’all. Likewise, the blocks are even more cut off since there’s a floor between A & B, then 1/2 a football field between the other side of the prison where C & D blocks are similarly set up.

There is actually only one or two jobs per pod. This is the backdrop for which any organizing would take place within these walls.

However, we do have successes. Usually it’s some situation brought on by repressive cops armed with oppressive rules, drawing a response that temporarily disrupts operations around here.

For Black August, one of my closest Comrades, Siddique Hasan is accused of organizing Statewide action against the orderly operations of prisons. In the process, this Comrade was placed in the hole, stripped of his personal property and his access to communicate is severely cut back.

Of course he continues to lead, to deeply care about justice for us all, even as he fights for justice to keep the State from murdering him.

Some of you know the prison rules was twisted up just to find that Hasan broke any rule. He did 3 weeks on hunger strike while many of you made calls demanding fairness.

I want to say on his behalf: THANK YOU!
I want to encourage you all to continue your work CONVENTIONALLY & NOT SO CONVENTIONALLY.

HASAN & I appreciate you. Our collective Energy is what will tear down all resistance to FREEDOM!

As for the events inside of this prison with all attempts to FREE people you first have to wake them up to their condition. In the process of doing that, late in July, the cops was being overly aggressive writing prisoners up for minor stuff just to put them on restrictions. In my pod I noticed the frustration & started sharing reading material, even with the Trump-supporting white supremacists, about the value of of their labor, about Black August.

Events across the country and how just by refusing to continue to work for cops that treat them so bad that they could make a difference. Because I have a reputation for being solid and my actions speak for themselves, all over Ohio Prisons people began to say let’s do this right here, right now.

Of course there was a number of SUPER JANITORS the cops knew they could count on for information & work. These guys was excluded from any idea sharing and as the cops put pressure on them for info and work equally, the pressure was put on them by prisoners to stay out the way of this protest. READ INTO THAT WHAT YOU WISH! As this strike took place ahead of the nationally planned Black August dates but for 3 weeks this strike was every bit Black August inspired and I hope we made all our comrades past and present Proud.

That pod was shut down, the administration wanted to hear OUR concerns, no one crossed the Pickett line, and although I was put in the hole, and LOST personal property, the whole pod was relocated to bust the spirit!!!

Here now several of us did a 3-day fast while refusing to spend money with commissary during the national protest. I have heard in other parts of this prison there is also hunger strikes / commissary boycotts but I can’t confirm this due to the isolation of each section.

In closing I speak for myself and I’m sure Hasan would agree, we need y’all out there, we need all that energy aimed at a time when 3 weeks in August Injustice has a moment and the rest of the year justice prevail for Black folks, for immigrants, for Women, for living wages, for the environment, for the poor, for LGBTQ.

“Our collective Energy is what will tear down all resistance to FREEDOM!”

At this moment in time it has been placed upon us to move humanity forward. Let’s get it done.

I’d like to ask you all a small favor tonight. Sign a post card or email to the SAN FRANCISCO BAYVIEW, tell them thank you for participating in the liberation of us trapped inside.

FREEDOM FIRST,

GREG CURRY

Greg’s Birthday is coming up on September 26, he’s asking people to make Tshirts that say “Free Greg Curry” on them, with “GregCurry.org” on the back and send photos of yourself wearing it to his Facebook page. 

Also write to Greg: Greg Curry
213-159
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd
Youngstown OH 44505

Greg speaks on the commemoration of Lucasville 25 years – and the transfer that did not happen

Greg Curry speaks on having to stay in Ohio State Penitentiary for at least 1 1/2 years more, because he was tricked into believing he was going to transfer, and the importance of fundraising for his release as an innocently convicted person.

In April of 2018 it will be 25 years ago that a disturbance or riot, caused by inhumane, extremely strict dictatorial management at the Lucasville prison in Ohio led to the murder of 10 people, and the construction of the supermaximum security prison in Youngstown. Those convicted were not the actual perpetrators or murderers, but people who refused to snitch for a deal with the prosecutors or investigators, and some of them had been negotiators between the factions that were united during the riot.

Greg was not involved with any gang, and the causes of the uprising were not his focus, instead, he had been concentrating on his release that was not far away. And yet, he was indicted because he did not want to make a deal about something he had no responsibility in.

During the trial, snitch testimony was used to get him convicted. 25 years later, Greg and others who did not murder or hurt anyone, are still in prison with life sentences or the death penalty. This is injustice! Ohio must step up its conscience and stop this wrongful incarceration now!
Recorded on March 2nd, 2018.
Gregcurry.org