Building a Movement

A severe housing crisis exists in the United States. All across the country, despite courageous struggles against divestment, land speculation and gentrification, public housing communities are being permanently displaced as developments are razed to the ground. Millions of families have been dispossessed of their homes, wrongly evicted and displaced from their communities by the escalating foreclosure crisis. Homelessness is escalating to levels unseen since the 1930’s as a direct result of the various forces of displacement stated above and economic dislocation from increased automation, deindustrialization, and the globalization of production.

Historically oppressed peoples and women are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis. Working class African Americans in particular are being devastated by the destruction of public housing, evictions from foreclosures, the record loss of home equity, and spiraling homelessness. 

The government’s promotion of discriminatory politics and policies lies at the heart of the housing crisis. It’s support of redlining,predatory lending, gentrification, hyper-inflated speculation and a near exclusive system of private homeownership and land tenure privileges wealthy elites and exploits the working class and the poor. The government’s unwillingness to change these discriminatory policies and practices constitutes a gross violation of its obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to adequate housing for the individuals and peoples under its jurisdiction.  

It is no mean feat to publish an article in a corporate magazine that includes any reportage that exposes Israel’s lies.

1. She reports well on the case for reparations
2. She provides an insightful narrative on aspects of the African reparations movement
3. She recognizes the synergy of interests between US, Israel and Europe
4. She points out that Obama betrayed Black people by waffling on reparations and boycotting the UN’s anti-racist efforts in Geneva.

by Sundiata Acoli

Health care costs are soaring and have become unaffordable for many families.It is no different for the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) except they're required by law to provide medical care to their wards.

Altho much of prison health care is inadequate, many of its youthful captives can at least squeak by on what's presently provided. Not so fort hose over 50 years of age, most of whom are beset by the common old age infirmities: high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes,clogged arteries, heart disease, cancer and the need for body part replacements.

California has the largest prison population in the U.S. plus the highest health care cost and spends $98,000 to $138,000 per year for each prisoner over 50.(1) An August 11, '09 NY Times editorial noted that...Just days before a Chino, California, prison riot, a 3-judge panel ordered the state to reduce its 150,000+ prison population by about 40,000 in the next 2 years as the only way to bring its prison health care system up to constitutional standards...The editorial concluded:" The riot at Chino and the federal court's ruling contain the same message for states everywhere: They must come up with a smart way to reduce prison populations and they must do it quickly."

More prisoners today are serving life sentences than ever before. They are called "Lifers," their numbers have quadrupled since 1984 to over 140,000 and they've become a major driving force behind the explosion of health care cost in prisons.(2) Many Lifers are over 50 and most are parole eligible while the remainder are doing life without parole (LWOP). One reason for the ballooning of life sentences result from the 3-strikes you're out, mandatory minimums, 100 to 1 ratio of crack to powder cocaine sentences, children sentenced to LWOP (in clear violation of international law) and other harsh edicts of the law and order climate of the last several decades.

The other reason for the balloon is the unrectified racial residue that has accompanied America's Justice System since ante bellum days. Two-thirdsof prisoners serving life sentences are Latino and Black and nearly half of those serving life are Black. In 13 states Blacks make up 60% of the Lifers. In NY state only 17% of prisoners serving life are White.(3) Many Lifers over 50 have already done 20, even 30 years or more and some are 60, even 70 years old and more. Crime has been decreasing for the last decade or two and ALL indicators show that elderly prisoners, once released, rarely commit another crime and are least likely to return to prison.

So it is self-evident that the smartest and quickest way to begin reducing prison health care cost and prison overcrowding is to release aged and infirmed Lifers and LWOPs whose age + years served = a fixed number(say 70 years,for example) which could be further reduced in proportion to the seriousness of the Lifer's illness. Such are lease process would not only be smart but ethical and prisoner's families, loved ones and the public would be even wiser to urge their Congressperson to put such a Prison Cost Cutting bill into effect immediately.