Prison Justice Day (PJD) emerged as a prisoner-initiatied day of non-violent strike action to commemorate the August 10, 1974 death of Eddie Nalon in the segregation unit of Millhaven maximum-security penitentiary. It was first observed in 1975, and in 1976 the prisoners of Millhaven issued a communication "To All Prisoners and Concerned Peoples from across Canada", calling for one-day hunger strikes in opposition to the use of solitary confinement and in support of prisoners' rights, in memory of Eddie Nalon as well as Robert Landers, who also died along in solitary confinement (see www.prisonjustice.ca).
Since that time individuals and groups on the outside have used PJD not only as a day to bring attention to deaths in custody, but also other prison justice issues such as facility overcrowding, mental health, the overrepresentation of Aboriginals in our penal institutions, and broader social justice issues in our communities.
Below is a snapshot (albeit incomplete) of PJD events taking place across Canada.
MONTREAL
Criminalizing Risk:
Discussion and Presentations on the Criminalization of HIV Transmission
Thursday, August 12, 2010
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Association sportive et communautaire Centre-Sud
2093 rue de la Visitation (between Sherbrooke East and Ontario)
This community dialogue and panel discussion will bring together a host of people involved in HIV prevention and HIV legal issues to discuss the recent legal shifts in Canada that have seen the deepening criminalization of HIV transmission, risk, and nondisclosure. The panel will speak to the costs and harms to HIV positive communities brought about these shifts, as well as how we might confront - and reverse - this trend. Speakers will present in both French and English. Whisper translation in both directions will be provided. This event will take place as part of PJD efforts across the country, an annual commemoration of the lives of all prisoners who have died while in custody, including the many Canadian prisoners who have died from AIDS related illness while in prison.
Event Sponsors:
Prisoner Correspondence Project
Politi-Q
AIDS Community Care Montreal
Contact: Prisoner Correspondence Project (info@prisonercorrespondenceproject.com)
Prison Radio Coverage of PJD
Friday, August 13, 2010
11:00am - 12:00pm
CKUT 90.3 FM
Visit CKUT
OTTAWA
Prison Justice Day:
A Time to Reflect Upon Deaths in Custody and Other Issues Inside Our Prisons
Tuesday, August 20, 2010
12:00pm - 1:15pm
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch - Auditorium
120 Metcalfe Street
Speakers include Kim Pate (Executive Director, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies), Susan Haines (Volunteer and Consultant), Michelle Mann (Lawyer and Consultant), and Peter Collins (Federal Prisoner).
For those who are not fasting as one of the ways some memorialize deaths in custody, please bring your lunches. Coffee, juice and water will be provided by the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons.
For more information visit Tracking the Politics of 'Crime' and Punishment in Canada.
Justice Symposium
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
2:30pm
Bronson Centre Theatre
210 Bronson Avenue
Keynote speaker for the Justice Symposium, Anne Marie Hagan, is an insightful and knowledgeable motivational speaker, known for her ability to captivate an audience and effectively deliver a message of forgiveness and hope. Having faced the incredible obstacle of the murder of her father, she challenges and empowers us to look beyond our anger to find the ability to forgive.
Registration: $30 ($15 for students)
Contact: Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa (info@efryottawa.com)
TORONTO
Prisoners' Justice Day Radio
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
12:00pm - 6:00pm
CHRY 105.5 FM
Histories, interviews and music dedicated to PJD.
Visit CHRY
Prison Justice Day Fast
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
11am - 6pm
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
10 Trinity Square (Bay & Queen, behind the Eaton Centre)
For those who chose to fast in solidarity with those inside, we will break our fast with dinner at 6:00pm.
RSVP by August 6.
Sponsored by:
Toronto Bishop's Working Group on Justice and Corrections
The Bridge Prison Ministry
John Howard Society of Toronto
Toronto Restorative Justice Conference
Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Contact: Gary (garryg@golden.net)
Prison Justice Day Vigil
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
4:00pm - 7:00pm
South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC), A/B room
955 Queen Street East (at Carlaw Street)
A vigil, discussion and free supper will be held at SRCHC from 4:00pm - 5:30pm in the A/B room. Afterwards, we will walk in procession to the Don Jail for the 6:30pm vigil.
Contacts: Molly Bannerman (mbannerman@srchc.com) and Zoe Dodd (zdodd@srchc.com)
Candlelight Vigil at the Don Jail
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
6:30pm
550 Gerrard Street East
Join us for speakers, performers and a candlelight vigil at dusk when we read the names of those we have lost to the prison system.
VANCOUVER
Prison Justice Day Program
Monday, August 9, 2010
7:00pm - 8:00pm
102.7 FM, Starchoice #845
A special program in honour of August 10th, a day to remember those who have died inside prisons in Canada and around the world. We hear from one lifer, who is now on the outside, about his experiences with PJD on the inside and on the outside, and how the prison system is making it harder to celebrate PJD on the inside. Vancouver organizers talk about PJD, its history and organizing today.
Contact: Stark Raven Media Collective (starkraven@prisonjustice.ca)
Prison Justice Day Rally
Tuesday, August 1o, 2010
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Claire Culhane Memorial Bench, Trout Lake Park (southeast corner)
Speakers include ex-prisoners and anti-prison activists. All welcome.
Prison Justice Day:
A Time to Reflect Upon Deaths in Custody
and Other Issues Inside Our Prisons
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
12:00pm - 1:15pm
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch - Auditorium
120 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON
Prison Justice Day (PJD) emerged as a prisoner-initiated day of non-violent strike action to commemorate the August 10, 1974 death of Eddie Nalon in the segregation unit of Millhaven maximum-security penitentiary. It was first observed in 1975, and in 1976 the prisoners of Millhaven issued a communication “To All Prisoners and Concerned Peoples from across Canada”, calling for one-day hunger strikes in opposition to the use of solitary confinement and in support of prisoners’ rights, in memory of Eddie Nalon as well as Robert Landers, who also died alone in solitary confinement (see www.prisonjustice.ca).
Despite promises to ‘reform’ our prisons, deaths in custody continue to occur. We invite concerned citizens to participate in a public forum where speakers will reflect upon the current state of incarceration in light of decades of opposition and resistance.
For those who are not fasting as one of the ways some memorialize deaths in custody, please bring your lunches. Coffee, juice and water will be provided by the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons.
Prison Justice Day (PJD) emerged as a prisoner-initiated day of non-violent strike action to commemorate the August 10, 1974 death of Eddie Nalon in the segregation unit of Millhaven maximum-security penitentiary. It was first observed in 1975, and in 1976 the prisoners of Millhaven issued a communication “To All Prisoners and Concerned Peoples from across Canada”, calling for one-day hunger strikes in opposition to the use of s...olitary confinement and in support of prisoners’ rights, in memory of Eddie Nalon as well as Robert Landers, who also died alone in solitary confinement (see www.prisonjustice.ca).
Despite promises to ‘reform’ our prisons, deaths in custody continue to occur. We invite concerned citizens to participate in a public forum where speakers will reflect upon the current state of incarceration in light of decades of opposition and resistance.
Despite promises to ‘reform’ our prisons, deaths in custody continue to occur. We invite concerned citizens to participate in a public forum where speakers will reflect upon the current state of incarceration in light of decades of opposition and resistance.
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