ADOPT A PRISONER

Sic Parvis Magna

--- "Great things have small beginnings" --- motto of Sir Francis Drake---first man to sail around the world.

I have been in contact with the November Coalition. Chuck and Nora we met at Hempfest. They did a great article in their Razor Wire Newsletter that goes into prisons nationwide about the Peter McWilliams Rally last June. They have offered to publish a article about our Adopt-A-Prisoner program. The National LP should officially recommend that all State LP parties implement a Political Prisoner Support Committee. Each State Party could run its own program with the National LP coordinating the State efforts in their newsletter. If we in California get inquirers from out of state we can refer them to their state LP.

We also have the Friends Committee on Legislation, a lobbying Quaker group. They have a newsletter that goes out to all the prisons in California. They are willing to do a article on us.

So now we have two newsletters that should go into prisons to carry our message at no cost to the LP. I bet that as a group we can come up with all kinds of ideas to get our message into California. prisons. As of now I know of at least 20 prisoners that are interested in this program.For some of them I have called the National LP and they gladly sent a info package about the Libertarian Party, again at no cost to the State LP. It's after the prisoner reads the LP package that a introduction letter from the State LP goes to the inmate offering him/her free membership in the LP, including newsletters. All newsletters, state and national, should have a column devoted to the LPCPPSC and printing letters of interest from inmates. Of course we can encourage inmates to write letters to the editor of newspapers and our newsletters, that is how they can contribute to this cause. They can refer other inmates and their families to the LP.

This is where we really need help to make this work. Once we get a referral it should go to the State LP. data base. Then a call would go out to National and a LP packet can be sent to the inmate. 10 days latter a introductory letter goes to the inmate inviting him/her to join the LP. If they join then great, if not there still invited to join the adopt a prisoner program.

If the inmate wants to join the LP we have to make sure it is done correctly. Remember, when they are off parole they can vote and become dues paying members and some of our best activists. The computer at state LP level would take care of getting the inmate registered in the LP and into the Adopt-A-prisoner program. It would also place inmates that just wanted to be in the Adopt a Prisoner program in the appropriate file.

I would like to have a committee devoted to Support of Medical Marijuana patents and cases. We can have Action Alerts on cases that we need to support so our activists can show up in court and show support.

Just a few days ago I found a web site, www. Adopt-A-Green Prisoner.com. I thought the name implied Green Party, wrong it was Green Bud. The site was founded by Will Foster and James Dawson. I've been in contact with them and they are willing to work with us. Will Foster, many of you will remember, was released from Oklahoma State Prison. He had a 90 year sentence for a small home grow for Medical Marijuana and due to public pressure got a Governor`s pardon after doing six years. Check out their web site.

The next bit of info is a article I sent out last June. We can promote a Inmate for Liberty Group inside California prisons and maybe get donations for the Party.

I'll need all the grassroots Volunteers I can get for the LPCPPSC so we can reach into our states prisons to the over 225,000 people behind bars in California and their families and friends. We must reach out to the people victimized as political prisoners and let them know they have a voice and a political party whose goal is to restore freedom.

Through a one on one Adopt a Prisoner program we can plant seeds in fertile soil. I believe this would be a great way to increase party membership and give us some of our best activists. Getting this going is something that will take team work. We might be able to get a grant from the Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation. For some of our Political Activities. This is a rough plan for the LPCPPSC Adopt-A-Prisoner Program.

Goals would be to:
Advise inmates of their rights.
Encourage inmates to vote as soon as as they're off parole.
Write letters to news papers and government.
Encourage friends and family on the outside to support the the LP and to raise funds for the LP.

Accordingly...

1. Lend support to adopted prisoners on a one on one basis. This support will include writing to the inmate as a friend, maybe sending stamps and books, and visiting. It is up to the volunteer to determine the amount of support and type of support. As we grow and gain experience our support services will grow.

2. Reach into California. prisons to let prisoners and their families know how to contact us. Let them know about the LPCPPSC and our Adopt-A-Prisoner program.

3. It is a goal of the LPCPPSC to expand Libertarian Party (LP) membership. 4. Frequency and type of meetings
a. General meetings once a week.
b. Goal of three fund raising meetings and one banquet per year.
5. Outside affiliations
a. State and Federal authorized political parties.
b. Newspapers and magazines.
c. Church groups.
d. Lobbying groups
e. Official candidates.
f. E-mail groups.

6. Structure of the groups governing bodies.
a. Chairman
b.vice-chairman
c. treasurer
d. secretary-recorder.

These four officers would be volunteers and then be elected by ballot vote by the members.

7.The group will abide by the rules as set fourth in C.C.R. Title 15 # 3230. The four officers will have authority to appoint committees.

8. Provision for annual update of bylaws for the institution head or designates approval. Sixty days before the deadline for annual review the governing committee will review the the provisions of the group and update them for annual review.

9. Inmates for liberty agree to operate under all rules and conditions imposed by C.D.C. with staffs guidance we hope to have an employee or volunteers willing to sponsor and cosponsor Inmates for Liberty and will develop a signed written agreement for that purpose.

This program can be modified in many ways.

 
Yours In Liberty  Hal Chiprin
Chairman of The Political Prisoners Support
Committee of The Libertarian Party of California