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midwestbooks2p.bsky.social
Midwest Books to Prisoners
@midwestbooks2p.bsky.social
60 followers 37 following 7 posts
We share free reading materials with people behind bars, undermining the lack of access to communication and education while amplifying voices the system silences by helping people self-publish their works as zines. Get involved! linktr.ee/midwestbooks2p
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midwestbooks2p.bsky.social
Midwest Books to Prisoners @midwestbooks2p.bsky.social · Jun 10
Midwest Books to Prisoners is excited to announce our new home at Theatre Y, a free theater & abolitionist space in North Lawndale, located at 3613 W Cermak Rd (1 block from the Central Park Pink Line). 💗💗💗

Volunteers are welcome anytime during our open hours: 💞Wednesdays 3-7pm
💞Saturdays 12-5pm
Flyer for new location: Theatre Y, 3613 W Cermak (1 block from Central Park Pink Line) Volunteers are welcome anytime during our open hours: Wed 3-7pm Sat 12-5pm A peek into our new space... a work in progress that is coming together beautifully!! None of this would be possible without our amazing group of volunteers & community who show up to support. Come join us!
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taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 3d
A group of Chicago cops have been accused of bullying witnesses into falsely implicating suspects, & threatening to separate people from children if they didn’t provide favorable testimony.

But prosecutors are failing to take a meaningful look back at people convicted bc of their testimonies:
Exonerations Grind to a Halt Under Chicago’s New Prosecutor - Bolts
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has weakened her office’s already broken system for freeing the innocent, even as allegations of coercion mount against a former Chicago detective.
boltsmag.org
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truthout.org
Truthout @truthout.org · 3d
Trump is normalizing attacks on blue cities because he intends to overpower hubs of democratic resistance.
Trump Is Releasing the Full Force of Federal Police on Chicago
Trump is normalizing attacks on blue cities because he intends to overpower hubs of democratic resistance.
buff.ly
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jtischauser.bsky.social
Jeff Tischauser @jtischauser.bsky.social · 3d
“We have not been able to speak to him or even enter the hospital per ICE request. We do know that he will be sent to federal jail downtown until he awaits a judge over a case where he did NOT fight back”

www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with...
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bylaurenfitz.bsky.social
Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 7d
Broadview was never designed to be a detention facility, but the administration of President Donald Trump is now using it as a de facto one. As a “service processing center” it’s intended to hold up people picked up by immigration authorities for up to 12 hours. chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
ICE's Broadview facility has become a de facto detention center, minus the rules and oversight
ICE regularly held immigrants far beyond the hours they set for the Broadview processing center, data through July shows. Immigrants held there say there are no beds, limited food, and toilets are out...
chicago.suntimes.com
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harmscommitted.com
Harms Committed @harmscommitted.com · 13d
"California Department of Corrections decided to ban my book."

"I've never held it."

"As we fight the increasing suppression of material in our schools, libraries, and historical records, we must not forget the people living through incarceration."
#California #USA #Incarceration
California Officials Defend Right to Read Banned Books — Unless You’re in Prison
Books are heavily restricted behind bars, including some of the books that officials have fought for students to access.
truthout.org
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peoplesfabric.com
The People's Fabric @peoplesfabric.com · 18d
Holy shit man. DHS couldn’t care less that they killed a man. Instead of the loss of human life giving them pause, ICE agents have only gotten more aggressive and emboldened.
djbyrnes1.bsky.social
Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 18d
I didn't see this DHS presser when it was released. Reading it now, I'm floored it used the incident where an ICE agent killed Silverio Villegas González - without mentioning an ICE agent killed Silverio Villegas González - as part of a plea for public sympathy.

www.dhs.gov/news/2025/09...
Excerpt from 9/17 DHS presser. Text reads: "On September 12, while carrying out an enforcement operation targeting a criminal illegal alien, the alien resisted arrest, attempted to flee the scene and dragged an ICE law enforcement officer a significant distance with his car. The officer sustained multiple injuries and is in stable condition." The language makes no mention of Silverio Villegas González, the man whom an ICE agent killed in this incident.
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peoplesfabric.com
The People's Fabric @peoplesfabric.com · 18d
“Pelayo said her dad described being held in a room with at least 150 other men as ICE officers constantly yell at them and call them slurs. He also told his daughters detainees are only given food and water based on good behavior.”

These are the conditions at the site of yesterday’s protest.
Detained father calls daughters from Broadview ICE facility, says he's held in room with 150 men
Rosalio Pelayo Salgado was detained on Sept. 10. His daughter said he described being called slurs and having his anxiety medication taken away.
chicago.suntimes.com
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iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social
Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 19d
Family of Mexican father fatally shot by ICE near Chicago 'wants justice to be done'
Family of Mexican father fatally shot by ICE near Chicago 'wants justice to be done'
With law enforcement releasing little information about the death of Silverio Villegas González, one advocate said they "have to stitch this together ourselves."
www.nbcnews.com
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nlgchicago.bsky.social
National Lawyers Guild Chicago @nlgchicago.bsky.social · 17d
NLG Chicago Denounces Violent Federal Law Enforcement Response to Protest in Broadview, IL (1/2)

On Friday, federal agents significantly escalated their attacks on speech and people protesting at the now notorious ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL.
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oaklandabosol.bsky.social
Oakland Abolition & Solidarity @oaklandabosol.bsky.social · 17d
19 ICE detainees on hunger strike at Angola.

Today makes it Day 5.

www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
19 ICE detainees at the new Angola camp are on a hunger strike, advocacy group says
The strike was reported by the National Immigration Project on Saturday. The group says the detainees have not been eating for the past four days.
www.theadvocate.com
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thetriibe.com
The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 18d
Federal agents did this in front of the news cameras and helicopters.

They did this in front of elected officials and political hopefuls.

They did this in a tucked-off industrial park in Broadview, an otherwise quiet suburb just 12 miles west of Chicago.

thetriibe.com/2025/09/and-...
And then came the tear gas: Federal agents use excessive force against protestors outside Broadview ICE facility • The TRiiBE
During a Friday protest outside the ICE processing facility in a Chicago suburb, federal agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls against protestors, press and elected officials.
thetriibe.com
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injusticewatch.org
Injustice Watch @injusticewatch.org · 26d
🎧 Reporter Kelly Garcia is a guest on the latest episode of City Cast Chicago, discussing her investigation of the head of Cook County’s juvenile detention center and the results of Cook County’s chief judge election. buff.ly/Rixw9wX
Operation Midway Blitz, Cook County's New Chief Judge, and Mexican Independence Day by City Cast Chicago
megaphone.link
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prisonjournalism.bsky.social
Prison Journalism Project @prisonjournalism.bsky.social · Sep 3
MIT and University of Massachusetts Lowell published a study on the positive effects of teaching HTML and JavaScript to incarcerated students.
From Web to Work: How a Tech Ed Program Helps People Prepare to Leave Prison
MIT and University of Massachusetts Lowell recently published a study on the effects of teaching HTML and JavaScript to inside students.
prisonjournalismproject.org
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bookstoprisoners.bsky.social
Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @bookstoprisoners.bsky.social · Sep 6
"How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way". A book deemed so harmful by the Florida DOC that even a review committee upheld the ban on the grounds that learning to draw comics somehow presents a threat to the safety of the prison. Even worse, per policy (p. 2), books banned like this are often destroyed.
Page 1 of a rejection letter from Florida Department of Corrections, addressed to Books to Prisoners Seattle. Dated May 2025. Page 2 of a rejection letter from Florida Department of Corrections, addressed to Books to Prisoners Seattle. Dated May 2025.
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prisonpolicy.org
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · Sep 4
In a desperate attempt to recruit ICE agents, DHS is offering massive signing bonuses, lowering age requirements, and shortening training periods.

We've seen these exact recruitment strategies play out in U.S. prisons & jails – and they always fail 🧵
‘Trump’s private army’: inside the push to recruit 10,000 immigration officers
As Ice expands and standards are lowered, advocates and former US officials warn that misconduct may increase
www.theguardian.com
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wttw.bsky.social
WTTW - Chicago PBS @wttw.bsky.social · Sep 3
Under an emergency rule, the Illinois Department of Corrections is moving to allow prisons across the state to electronically scan and distribute mail.

IDOC states this is to prevent the smuggling of contraband and hazardous substances.

to.wttw.com/4p7zzs2
Under Emergency Rule, Illinois Prisons Plan to Withhold Physical Mail in Favor of Electronic Scanning
The change comes after debate over the safety of physical mail. IDOC states that these emergency rules are intended to prevent the smuggling of contraband and hazardous substances into correctional fa...
to.wttw.com
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midwestbooks2p.bsky.social
Midwest Books to Prisoners @midwestbooks2p.bsky.social · Sep 5
We are organizing to stop this egregious "emergency" attempt to censor and repress our comrades already doing hard time

Politicians and prison guard unions are lying so they can implement mail scanning services from profiteering communication monopolies

midwestbookstoprisoners.org/midwest-pris...
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jaillawspeak.bsky.social
Jailhouse Lawyers Speak @jaillawspeak.bsky.social · Aug 18
To us, censorship and repression are not abstract policies they are daily tactics used to isolate, silence, and break our organizing efforts. When a legal challenge is needed, the process is slow, resources are scarce, and communication is intentionally broken
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chicago-cata.bsky.social
Coalition Against the Trump Agenda @chicago-cata.bsky.social · Sep 5
🚨CALLING ALL CHICAGO! Join us in the streets to say "NO TRUMP, NO TROOPS!" this Saturday September 6th at Ida B. Wells and Michigan Ave at 5PM.
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midwestbooks2p.bsky.social
Midwest Books to Prisoners @midwestbooks2p.bsky.social · Sep 5
Latest "In Contempt" article dropped on @igd.bsky.social, updates on political prisoners, anti-ICE actions, and other news from the front lines against prison society

itsgoingdown.org/in-contempt-...
In Contempt #56: DFW Support Committee on Resisting Repression, Casey Goonan Launches Hunger Strike, Reports of Uprising at Alligator Alcatraz
In this column, we present our monthly roundup of political prisoner, prison rebel, and repression news, happenings, announcements, action and analysis. Packed in as always are updates, fundraisers, a...
itsgoingdown.org
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unraveledpress.com
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · Sep 4
While Chicago's festivals will go on, looks like organizers in Waukegan are canceling their Sept 14th Mexican Independence Parade. They fear gathering will be too dangerous with so many ICE agents in the area:
'Reckless and dangerous': County board member to introduce resolution opposing ICE, National Guard in Lake County
A county board member is calling for an emergency meeting to introduce a resolution opposing Trump's "dangerous" deployment of National Guard troops and ICE agents at a Lake County naval base.
www.lakemchenryscanner.com
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citybureau.bsky.social
City Bureau @citybureau.bsky.social · Sep 5
Officials warn that ICE raids could begin in Chicago as soon as this weekend. We created a resource list with support hotlines, links to legal services, & multilingual Know Your Rights materials to help inform our communities. Access the guide in English: www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...
How Chicagoans Can Get Help and Help Others During ICE Raids — City Bureau
Local community groups are providing hotlines, trainings, legal support, community canvassing and other resources to keep people informed.
www.citybureau.org
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pilsencommbooks.bsky.social
Pilsen Community Books @pilsencommbooks.bsky.social · Sep 4
Attn all ICE agents! Here’s an announcement from our front window: Chicago hates you, and you are not welcome here!
An anti-ICE flyer hanging in the window of the bookstore.
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crimethinc.com
CrimethInc. Ex-Workers' Collective @crimethinc.com · Sep 5
Thank you to everyone in Illinois who stood up to ICE mercenaries today. This is what it will take—to put our own bodies and freedom on the line in order to make every action they take as difficult as possible.

crimethinc.com/zines/seven-...

It is, in fact, our own freedom on the line.
unraveledpress.com
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · Sep 5
ICE is turning around now, escorted by Broadview police.

Crowd is jubilant.

Someone is shouting, "this is what it takes! They are turning around!"
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workshops4gaza.bsky.social
Workshops4Gaza @workshops4gaza.bsky.social · Sep 2
TOMORROW September 3, 1-3pm EST/12-2pm CST, join us for a phone banking session for T HOXHA, CASEY GOONAN, XINACHTLI and MUMIA ABU JAMAL.

Join at bit.ly/phonebank25

We will be making calls and emails to ensure our political prisoners' lives and well-being are protected.
Prisoner solidarity virtual phone bank 9/2-9/5 @ 12-2pm CST Mumia Abu-Jamal T Hoxha Xinachtli Casey Goonan Our political prisoners urgently need our support to ensure their health, safety, and survival. Join us for a virtual phone bank where we'll share campaign updates, scripts, and toolkits to take action. Join at: bit.ly/phonebank25
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