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People Not Pest
Heather Jarvis
I’m Heather Jarvis, and this is “People Not Pest.” At 22, I was arrested and admitted into the masses of incarcerated in our country. I found my so-called [inaudible] bathroom with a burly female officer… Full Transcript
American Victims
Charles Karim Diggs
My name is Kareem Charles Diggs. I met a woman one day while sitting in the visiting room. She asked me why was the prison so large? And why there was nothing but concrete wires,… Full Transcript
If I Were A Rich White Kid
Dontie Mitchell
“If I Were A Rich White Kid.” In 84 days, December 24th, Christmas Eve, I’ll be 40 years old. Wow. 40 years old. From 17 to 40, I’ve been in prison. That’s 23 years behind… Full Transcript
Wrongfully and Unjustly Convicted
Michael Paul Astorga
Michael Paul Astorga and my piece is titled: “Wrongfully and Unjustly Convicted.” Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Hello, my name is Michael Paul Astorga. I like to start by taking the time… Full Transcript
But What Is Justice?
Dontie Mitchell
I just got finished watching the TV show We The People. This particular episode moved me deeply because it dealt with the question of bail and redemption. Rodney was being held on a 100,000 dollar… Full Transcript
One Foot In Darkness
Spoon Jackson
Okay this is called a, “One Foot In Darkness.” Over the years I have pondered how intoxicating would have been to come across some liquid or pills that would do the deed in an instant.… Full Transcript
Sag
Spoon Jackson
Sag. How do I hold my temper, keeping my grace, and not become bitter, stuck in this infamous place? I remember even at seven, I dreamed of a better place, in a better race. Stuck… Full Transcript
Fight Power With Power
Dontie Mitchell
“Fight Power With Power.” I’ve been watching the BET series Finding Justice, and it brought up a recurrent theme in my mind about the lack of true Black power. How is it that Black people… Full Transcript
Terry Daum
Dontie Mitchell
In 1997, Terry Daum was convicted after a trial, of three commercial robberies in Staten Island. The evidence against him consisted of testimony from one eyewitness for each robbery. In 2014, Terry discovered the police… Full Transcript
Unlawfully Incarcerated
Stevie Stevenson
My name is Stevie J. Stevenson, K16324. And the title of this piece is “Unlawfully Incarcerated.” I’m from Los Angeles, California. I’ve been down for the past 28 years. In 2012, I filed what is… Full Transcript
CDC Removes Lawbooks from Prisoners
Stevie Stevenson
My name is Stevie J. Stevenson. I am a California state prisoner. The title of this is “CDC Finally Gets its Chance at Taking the Lawbooks Away from Prisoners.” In 1966, over 100 inmates filed… Full Transcript
How Long
Spoon Jackson
I dreamt about you once, when tiny raindrops cascaded across the windowpane. I dreamt about you once, when the snowflakes covered the woodlands and made it too cold to go outside for weeks. I dreamt… Full Transcript
Charles Goldblum’s Nightmare
Mumia Abu-Jamal
“Charles Goldblum’s Nightmare.” In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the trial of Charles Goldblum, reportedly for the premeditated murder of George Wilhelm, was a sensation. Goldblum, a young tax attorney and part-time law professor, was the son of… Full Transcript
Rain Down on Me
Khalfani Malik Khaldun
Hello, this is a poem called “Rain Down on Me” in association with the commentary “A Storm is Coming.” It symbolizes the strength of rain and God’s vastness in purifying the land of evil, racism,… Full Transcript
Law & Liberation
Mumia Abu-Jamal
“Law and Liberation.” From the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement now comes the rise of Law for Black Lives, a collective of lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers, and other legal workers in support… Full Transcript
United Snakes of America
The Policy of Death
Mumia Abu-Jamal
It has happened again. And again. And again. And again. And again. A cop arrives on a scene. An order is barked (or oinked) And, in a flash, a person is dead. More than likely,… Full Transcript
Judging Injustice
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Several weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision, as rare as it i was remarkable. It overturned a decision by the PA Supreme Court, strongly rebuked that court’s former chief justice, and issued… Full Transcript
My inmate number is ND7568. I’m calling this piece, “The Release of Brittney Griner.” This is Kenjuan Congo, Jr. calling from a prison camp behind enemy lines. WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is a WNBA Champion… Full Transcript