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The Dark Side of American Exceptionalism

The Dark Side of American Exceptionalism

02/23/15 Kenneth Hartman

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Commentaries

Other Commentaries by Kenneth Hartman

Affirmation read by Kenneth Hartman
02/25/18
Not The Last Days Of The Republic
02/15/17
Interview on The Other Death Penality Project
02/10/17
“Ok Now What”
12/29/16
The Work Begins
11/14/16

View All Commentaries by Kenneth Hartman

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It is with great sadness that we report on the tra

It is with great sadness that we report on the tragic death of Angela Renee McConnell, a 39-year-old Juvenile Lifer Without Parole inmate at the Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility in Washtenaw County, Michigan. What makes this extra tragic was that Angela was the last woman in Michigan sentenced to life without parole for a crime committed while she was a juvenile. Krystal Clark called and reported that Angela, who was a kind and caring person, took her own life last week after reporting to guards and fellow inmates that she was going to hang herself. Despite her cries for help, nothing was done.

According to prison officials, McConnell was found hanging in her cell on Friday, February 24th, and was pronounced dead two days later. Michigan State Police are currently investigating her death.

McConnell's case has been a tragic one, as she was eligible to be resentenced as a juvenile lifer, but she was still pursuing her claim of innocence through the courts.

McConnell's death highlights the urgent need for an investigation into the conditions at the Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility. This is one of many recent suicide at WHV, the previous being a 30 year old woman named Shikisha Monet Tidmore who passed in September, 2022.

We urge Governor Gretchen Whitmer to take swift action and ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted into McConnell's death. The mistreatment of inmates cannot be tolerated. We must continue to shine a bright hot light onto the darkness behind these prison walls. Our thoughts and prayers go out to McConnell's family during this difficult time. We stand with them and with all those who have been impacted by the inhumane treatment of inmates.

Please share this urgent message with your networks and demand action for the sake of all prisoners at the Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility. While we are working on printing these postcards, you are encouraged to write letters to Governor Whitmer demanding swift action into the conditions of WHV or print your own postcards to mail.

RGENT CALL TO ACTION! FREE KRYSTAL CLARK! Our fri

RGENT CALL TO ACTION! FREE KRYSTAL CLARK!

Our friend and comrade, Krystal Clark is a Correspondent for @prisonradio reporting on the conditions at Women’s Huron Valley in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Krystal is in critical need of our help. For the last 13 years, she has been slowly tortured by the conditions inside the prison. Exposure to mold, lack of basic health care, and retaliation from guards for speaking out have caused Krystal’s health to deteriorate so dramatically that her face has suffered paralysis and she relies on a walker for mobility. Krystal is 38 years old. When she entered Women’s Huron Valley in 2011 she was a healthy woman and now, a doctor outside of the prison has assured her she won’t survive if she stays at Huron Valley.

Please join us in taking any and all of these action steps to keep Krystal safe:

Send an email (sample email in bio) with the subject line “URGENT MEDICAL CARE FOR KRYSTAL CLARK #435064” to the following:

Heidi Washington WashingtonM6@michigan.gov
Lisa Guilick MDOC Deputy Director of Operations guilickL@michigan.gov
Marti Kay Sherry, MDOC Director of Health Care services SHERRYM@Michigan.gov
Jeremy Howard, Warden howardj15@michigan.gov
Don Jones, Director jonesD18@michigan.gov
Emily Cecil, RN CecilE1@michigan.gov
Kyle Kaminski Kaminskik@michigan.gov

Share about Krystal with your community and on social media using these images and text (artwork available for download at agitarte.org/artwork-for-download)

Donate to Krystal’s GoFundMe page to help pay for her medical expenses: https://gofund.me/b3c64a1f

Artwork and animation by @t.orlandini for AgitArte

"Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never

"Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never has and it never will” Frederick Douglass.

We were all shocked by the Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen's position that he would not acknowledge his office's racial injustice and the pattern of prosecutorial misconduct & release Mr. Walker. Shaka is now faced with additional years in prison. He is 62 and has suffered stroke symptoms and two heart attacks in the last year. While it was a blow, we are regrouping and re-strategize with Shaka and his family: and we will continue to call on all of you to stand with us - and with Shaka.

Put this date on your calendar. April 20th 8:30 am.

We will be back in court. And thanks to all of you who showed early this month inside and outside the Santa Clara Court House in San Jose to stand with Shaka. You are the power of the people. Thank you for demanding justice for Marvin "Shaka" Walker. A teenager, convicted by an all white jury and sent to death row in 1979, 43 years ago.

The prison industrial complex is a machine designed to over incarcerate. The laws that have developed, the very laws that promise justice, often are written to all but extinguish the possiblity freedom. It is unbelievably hard to get folks out, even after decades.

Here are some things you can do to support him:

His next hearing is April 20 at 9 am in Dept 39 (on the sixth floor) of the Santa Clara County Courthouse at 190 West Hedding St in San Jose. Please join us!

Order postcards here. Tell Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen that the public wants a timely resolution on this case that has already dragged out for so long. Send a letter to:

Jeff Rosen
Santa Clara County District Attorney
40 West Hedding St,
San Jose, CA 95110

Here at Prison Radio we know that bringing the voi

Here at Prison Radio we know that bringing the voices of those inside to the airwaves is a sure fire way to honor their humanity. It is a key way to maximize their agency. It is an avenue for their voices to lead the movement. So they can define their own work and to tell the truth of this monstrous misuse of public funds. Without this window, the conditions, experiences, and the beautiful resilience would be kept hidden, and kept secret. We can only build a world without prisons if we let incarcerated people lead the public discourse.

Yes, this is always a call to alms. We need some cash to literally keep the lights on. This work is complicated and expensive. We don’t have foundation funding. We need your help now more than ever. Please dig into your pockets and share with us what you can.

URGENT MESSAGE: Krystal Denise Clark, an inmate at

URGENT MESSAGE: Krystal Denise Clark, an inmate at WHV, the valley of death, is calling for attention to the mistreatment of inmates. Last week, Angela McConnell, a jlwop inmate with hopes of release, committed suicide after telling guards and inmates that she would hang herself, but nothing was done. Angela was a peaceful, caring woman who was helpful and kind to others. She was most often smiling, with beautiful long hair and a friendly demeanor. She had been in WHV for a long time, considering her young age. She was housed in segregation when she took her life. This tragedy highlights the urgent need for an investigation into the conditions at WHV. We must hold those in power accountable for their negligence. Our hearts go out to Angela's family. #InvestigateWHV

Pack the Courtroom! Thursday 8:30 am in San Jose

Pack the Courtroom! Thursday 8:30 am in San Jose Marvin "Shaka" Walker is Back in Court

Mumia Abu-Jamal has been waiting for 41 years for

Mumia Abu-Jamal has been waiting for 41 years for justice, and now is the time for a new trial. Shocking new evidence suggests that there was bribery, perjury, and jury tampering with the inclusion of white jurors in his trial. This evidence was recently discovered in Storage Closet No. 17 in the basement of the DA's office. Mumia's lawyers have submitted a supplemental petition to the court, exposing the constitutional violations in the jury selection process and the suppression of evidence that has been buried for four decades.

Presiding Criminal Division Judge Lucretia Clemons of the Philadelphia Common Pleas court has the power to overturn Mumia's conviction and grant him a new trial. But the clock is ticking, and time is running out. Judge Clemons needs to act now and consider the overwhelming evidence of prosecutorial misconduct in this case.

We cannot sit by and let justice be denied any longer. Mumia deserves a fair trial, and this is the time to make it happen. We need to put pressure on Judge Clemons to take action and grant Mumia a new trial. Share this urgent message and demand justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal. visit http://lovenotphear.com for more information.

Law is Politics By Other Means: Mumia Case Update

Law is Politics By Other Means: Mumia Case Update

We need everyone to visit www.keithlamar.org to su

We need everyone to visit www.keithlamar.org to support Keith during his hunger strike. Keith has gone one week without food and we need shine a bright hot spot light on his unlawful death sentence.

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