As the U.S. performed its semi-religious rites in memory of 9/11, it does so with little real question of why 9/11 happened–at least among average Americans. For they have been ill-served by the media, primary educational systems and even many universities, which teaches approved lessons designed to instill and reinforce U.S. nationalism, while turning a blind eye to the real American history of the CIA and the military as it wreaks sheer havoc abroad.
For while these agencies often engage in secret carnage, their attacks are seldom secret to those who have borne the brunt of their mega-violence. For them, for the vast majority of the people in the world, 9/11 sparked an imperial temper tantrum; wars against nations that had nothing to do with 9/11; wars that have left them shattered– shadows of their former selves. Rome called its aggressions against foreign nations “Pax Romana” (Latin for ‘the Peace of Rome’), which really meant the destructive peace wrought by the Roman sword. Scholars today speak of “Pax Americana”, which means something quite similar to the Roman version. War–unrelenting, for empire.
As the Empire spends more and more on war, it closes factories, schools, hospitals and homes (through foreclosures, for example). All must serve empire. The nation must sacrifice itself to such an infernal dream. While the rest of the world weeps.
![Prison Radio is sharing an abbreviated version of a press release covering recent racist incidents at SCI Rockview in PA and the organizing to demand accountability. We are reaching out to people incarcerated at Rockview as well as recently transferred folks, inviting them to call, in hopes of hearing commentaries from them.
Benner Township, PA.-
On November 24th, 2023, imprisoned people at SCI Rockview found two nooses hanging in the CO’s office, displayed visibly for many prisoners to see. When the prisoners asked the staff why the nooses were hung, they were told it was a joke.
By December 4th, prisoners filed a grievance to document what they saw, noting that the hanging of the nooses was “unethical, racially motivated, hateful, [a] deliberate debasement of black inmates" and “unsafe for inmates, staff, [and] the whole prison in general.” In the grievance, they demanded that Sgt. Mosser and CO Richard be fired and investigated for a hate crime, and for CO Kirchner to get therapy. Captain Andrews, the head of security, denied the grievance.
The sergeant and COs are still working in the prison to this day, with no repercussions...
As of March 10th, prisoners have reached out to Pennsylvania officials at the Dept. of Corrections in a letter campaign, sending 100 copies of the grievance. Copies of the letter also were mailed to Governor Shapiro, Senator Fetterman, Senator Street, and various advocacy groups. The demands for relief in the original grievance have now become the platform of demands for this campaign. About 20 of the 100 letters were withheld by the prison.
Activists on the outside are joining forces with prisoners to elevate their demands, flooding the phone lines of DOC offices, assisting with outreach to media, and circulating the stories of prisoners who have found unity in opposition to the facility's virulent institutional racism.
In any other workplace, hanging a noose would be grounds for immediate termination. However, Nicki Paul, the superintendent's assistant and "grievance coordinator" informed the public that they self-investigated their staff and found they did nothing wrong.
Read the full article at i
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