31st Annual Prison Justice Day - August 10, 2009

33nd Annual
Prison Justice Day 2009

Highlights from the August 10, 2009 Prison Justice Day memorial rally at Trout Lake Park, Vancouver.
This was the 33st Annual Prison Justice Day, a day set aside to remember all those who have died unnatural deaths inside Canadian prisons.

August 10th is a day set aside each year when prisoners and supporters gather to honour the memory of the men and women who have died unnatural deaths inside of Canadian prisons. On August 10th, 1974, Eddie Nalon bled to death in a solitary confinement unit at Millhaven Maximum Security Prison near Kingston, Ontario, when the emergency call button in his cell failed to work. An inquest into his death found that the call buttons in that unit had been deactivated by the guards. In the year to follow, there was another death in this same unit. The call buttons had not been repaired. Prisoners at Millhaven mark the anniversary of these deaths by fasting and refusing to work.

What started as a one time event behind the walls of one prison has become a national day of solidarity. On this day, prisoners across the country fast, refuse to work, and remain in their cells, while supporters organize community events to draw attention to the conditions inside of prisons. Prisoner deaths from murder, suicide, and neglect, can and must be prevented.

For more information go to http://www.prisonjustice.ca

Click on the links below for webcasts
Please be patient, some files take time to download

Hey'-Way'-Noqu' Drum RT: 4:58

Phyllis Iverson, Joint Effort RT: 6:55

T'uy'tanat (Cease Wyss), Squamish Nation RT: 6:04

Eddie Rouse, lifer, West Coast Prison Justice Society, Newpage Foundation RT: 6:28

Karlene Faith, Activist / Author RT: 6:34

Lora McElhinney, Joint Effort RT: 6:28

Sarah Rauch, Prisoner Legal Council RT: 4:13

Women Warrior Song - Bev Lightfoot, Carol Shorty, Cease Wyss, Veronica Butler RT: 10:16

Wade Compton, Writer / Activist RT: 10:23

Fred John, Elder / Drummer RT: 4:00

Sisters In Action and Solidarity RT: 5:55

Terry Howard, BC Persons With Aids Prison Outreach Program
RT: 16:08

Hey'-Way'-Noqu' Drum RT: 7:49

TOP

Highlights from the August 10, 2009 Prison Justice Day memorial rally at Trout Lake Park, Vancouver. This was the 33st Annual Prison Justice Day, a day set aside to remember all those who have died unnatural deaths inside Canadian prisons.

Click on the links below for webcasts Please be patient, some files take time to download