Who We Are

Chain Reaction (defined): & sequence of
events, each of which, results in, ot has
an effect on the followiag event.

* “Unshackling Captive Minds" is our slo-
gan. We believe that as the truth is re-
vealed and minds are liberated, a "chain
raaction® of revolutionary change will
transform our present capitalist society
of haves and have-nots into a truly demo-
cratic and egalitarian society built upon
meating human need instead of capitalist
geed.

* Chain Reaction is a revolutionary anac-
chist collective. We are anti-fascist,
anti-authoritarian; dedicated to the abo-
lition of prisons, racism, classism, sex
ism, and the accomplice capitalist system
that supports and perpetuates these in-

* Though our coverage is international ia
scope, our primary focus is on the social,
economic, and political issues confronting
Taxas prisonecs and workers. We believe,
howaver, that these issues and their Teso-
lution are relevant to all prisonecs and
workers worldwide.

# We encourage you to submit articles, act,
clippings-and-other-information-concerning—
prisoner and worker issues. All submissions
become permanent contributions to Chaim
Reaction collective and cannot be Teturned.
Ve don't make any money off this and don't
imply that any payment of any kind is
offecad for submissions. We Tesarve the
right to reject any material comtrary to
the goals and purposes of Chain Reaction
collective. Send all submissions to:

South Chicago ARA

P.0. Box 721

Homewood, TL 60430

1ain Reaction

Reaction in the form of political artic
are, satice and humor, news from prisen
units, case law and successfully litigated
cases, and your letters and comments. We
ill not print anything of a racist natuze
or_anything which pucposely promotes di
vision of the working class within and
without prison walls.

Wn recommend prisoners engaging in
study groups to discuss articlas appearing
n Chain Reaction and how you can contri-
bute to Chain Reaction to make it a voice
heard for Tevolutionaty social change.

e also recommend studying the phil-
osophy of anarchism and libertarian soci-
alism and learning how to apply them to
everyday life. We will also be featuring
articles in Chain Reaction on basic con-
cepts and principles of anarchist sociaty.

The capitalist state

By Gulf Coast Red

The boss class would like us to view
social problems such as poverty, crime,
2nd prison expansion as separate,
unrelated phencmena to be dealt with

indivicually. These social-problems-are-

interrelated, stem directly from the

to our rulers advantage. In particular,
want to talk about the historical advent
of prison expansion in our era, and its’
relation to new trends in econcmics, as
well as the changing historical role of
the state.

A little history. In the latter part
of the 15th and early part of the 20th
century (into the 1930's), the political
state government in America was a total

alist system, and are exploited often

era by some. Which mean large factories,
Iots of union jobs, and government reform
aid to workers who hecome unemployed.
During the 50's and 60's the civil
rights movement, anti-war roverent, — —
feminist movement, as well as the hippy
rovement were inspiring people to have
T high exgectations akout the future- an
optimistic view of life. Unions wers
strong, and all Of this was not only
eating into the boss class' profits, but
was causing our rulers great anxiety. Our
rasters “ecided we were exercising too
much democracy, and began initiating a
plan of systematic roll backs, i.e. class
war tactics, to put the working class in
check and maximize their power and methods
e e "R ot Bl o

STAMP OUT
that used to merit a night in jail.
Clinton has stepped up police fovers and
enacte¢ legislation which makes it hard
for prisoners to fight their cases. These
measures keep prisons filled and secve to
mop up excess lahor, while instilling fear
in workers.

The War on Nrugs has heen a great
weagon in the “oss class' arsenal. Used
to_lock up leads of workers and erace..
Constitutional rights. Drugs are treated
as a criminal problem in this country,
while some other countries place more
emphasis on treating it as a health
problen. The criminalization of drugs
Create all manner of crime and violence.
Decriminalization, free supply, and
treatment, vould go a lot further. Sut
the government has no intention of doing
avay with crime or prisons, as these
problems serve to maintain their hegemony

through police state measures.
are {a a Aareat deal af evidence that,

hlackmail. They have heen resgonsible for .
mass killings in Guatemala, 150,000, and
50,000 disapeearances. They have heen
part of many Latin American dictatorships
responsible for untold atrocities all to
Eurther American interests in the region.
The $.0.A. has teen usad in this manner
under the guise of prosecuting the War on
Drugs! .

The phencmena of crime, prisen
expansion, War on Drugs, and Capitalist
Restructuring, are not unrelated events.
These are all measures which are connected
and exploited to the btenefit of our
masters. We prisoners are as affected as
our working Class brothers and sisters
€ighting in Chaippas against tyranny, and
our cause is linked with workers exploited
by capitalists everywhere. Prisoners of
the world, wake up!

We have nothing to lose, but our Wardens.

1g Better

Prisonecs must begin to battar commu-
nicate with each other in a positive way,
wocking to achiave a fealing of friendship
and equality. It is of great importance
that we prisoners recogaize that thece are
only two group distinctions that matter—
THE KEEPERS and THE KEPT.

Some of the questions I'm often asked
by fellow prisoners is, "Do you think that
things will get better?” O, "Why do you
think the politicians keep passiag these
fucked-up laws?" To €ind the answer to
these and other questions, prisoners need
to begin with some honest self-evaluation
and mirror gazing. Though not all our
troubles are of our ovn making, prisoners
are often times their own worst eneay. If
prisoners want positive changes, then they
are going to have to start by changing
their negative or indifferent attitudes
rouards prisoners’ rights issues. It fust

cec.” Often times they pin theic hopes on
unat the €ads will do to help. Well my
Ecisnds, thosa days of larga-scala system=
wide class-action lavsuits ace all but
gone. The remnants of pravious consent de-
crees are still clinging to life in a faw
scate prison systems. However, it won't be
long befoce the politicians completely
close that avenue of relief.
Historian and political philosopher

Howard Zinn once wrote:

Histocy does show us how hard it is to

challenge those in authority.... But we

also learn that at certain times in hi-

story, sucprising, uapredicted victor-

ias became possible when ordinary people

ocganized, riskad, sacrificed and per-

sisted.

It's time for prisoners to begin once

again making some history of their own.
Court rulings favorable to the plight of

prisoners came about because thece was a
SO Oy arcnce harh insids and out=

NMost impoctantly, talk to fallow pei-
sonecs about problems and the altetnatives -
available for dealing with them. Just es-
Cablishing a regular dialog with each ocher
is an impoctant ficst stap. In futuce issue
3¢ Chain Reaction we will provide info and
ideas about methods available that prison-
acs can use to affect change.

Prisonecs won't aluays achieve the
improvements they want regardless of what
athods they use to present their grie-
vances. However, we can work toward a fu-
ture day when prisons acte a thiag of the
past. The idea isa't as facfetched as it

ay sound. One thing is for sure: We will
never get anything just sitting on out
collective asses. In a speech given in
1857, the ex-slave and abolitionist
Fraderick Douglass said:
I there is no strugsle there is no
progess.... Power concedes nothing
without a demand. It never did and

it never will

nary Mail

The goverament of the Unitsd States
is axploicing its citizans by using peop
primatily the pooc and working class, to
keep a machine of nconomic tragedy turning.
Texas is at the forefront of this govern-
ment vs. the people campaign. They've found
3 commodity;-and—it's-humamives————

Since OPEC decreased the price of oil,
domestic explotation has decteasad. In Tex-
as, oil exploration was our number one aco-
nomic stabilizec. In despecation the poli-
ticians looked for an mconomic boost, with-
out recognizing the destruction of so many
lives, for that matter, without caring.
They discovered human warehousing is very
profitable.

The FBI has created the DNA index sys-
tem. Some critics believe it will eventual-
1y contain the DNA makeup of every citizen
in the country. They are also putting to-

Police State USA

Ia a cecent article in The Nation adapt-
»d Ecom his forthcoming book, "Lockdown

Police and Prisons in the Age of

America
Ceisis,” Christian Parenti gives us a view
of the American police state. Paraati

starts off by saying this is "a sneak pre
View of a future American police statm.i:
However, from the examples of paramilizary
police operations that are currently takiag
place nationwide, it's obvious that the
police state is already in full bloom.
Fresno, California has "America’s most
aggressive SWAT team.” This special para-
militay force is the Fresno police depart-
ment's Violent Crime Suppression Unit.
Massive pacamilitary police sweeps ate a
common accurance in the sprawling poor
neighborhoods of the city's southwest side.
One evening, "three squads of tem police

oc SWAT team mobilizations— quadrupled be-
tween 1980 and 1995, according to Kraska's

study. And a CBS News sutvey of SWAT en-

the aacice world. As mocte and more peop
beistle uadec the heavy boot of capitalist
exploitation, the accomplice governmant
(local, state, and federal) knows that the
only uay to pruvent a majot uprising against
the mastec-class is by using increasingly
bruzal and militacistic tactics against the
civilian population.

US Secretaty of State Madeleine Albcight
has used the tecm "permanent war" in descri-
bing America's curtent stance in the world.
And s0 it is, even here in the good ol' USA.
It's class war and the wocking class must
prevail as the victors.

(Source: Christian Pacenti, "SWAT Nation,"
The Nation, 31 May 1999]

They Fill Graves With Our Bones

By Scott A. Mollette

A Monday morning, just after Mid-
ay 1999, and I had again awakened to
another day in the belly of the Texas
gulag system. My eyes were barely
opened slits peeking out from six
hours of blissful peace and quiet,
when a jackbooted grayshirt occasion-
ed by my cell on the main run, paer-
ing ever so suspiciously into my
cramped, steel cage. I busied myself
vashing the remainder of Mr. Sandmans
labor from my blinkers and then szun
and reached and turned my radio ca, a
modicum of displeasure awash in my yet
foggy brain. Anon, akin to those
clear paper weights with the pretty
scenery inside, and the magical snow

falling when turned asunder, I too saw
whi ned asunder, i 90 S

they knew only vhat they had been told
or had been gleaned from various mediz
outlets and HPD spokespersons. In ef-
fect, they had become victims of the

cropagznda machine, and mayhaps will-

ingly.
My ire was raised forthwith as I

stumbled -on a recent memory regard-
ing Pedro Oregon, himself a murder
victim. Indeed, he was a victim of
sver-zealous, trigger happy EPD
Jeficers who kicked the door in at
his residence and promptly shot the
gentleman dead with a multitude of
bullets, most of which struck the
innocent man in the back! Big heroes
these guys, huh? The story is ever
worthy of the retelling as susse-
hent to the gestapo action 11 of

ty of apathy as are most? Did you go
and pray for the Blando's and neglect
the Oregon's? Ultimately, all are
guilty who would forget these state-
sanctioned murders, those who would do
nothing. The voices of the people
nust speak plainly and boldly! We,
the working class, must say no to this
oppresion with our votes, our wallets
and by direct action. We cannot, must
not, sit idly by, knowing that there
are more Pedro Oregon's unknowingly
mearing their demise at the hands of
over-zealous, trigger happy police,
who themselves are above the law we
must abide by. Hear again the reason
of Charlot: "They fill graves with
our bones.” Don't you or your loved
ones become the next victim. Act.

Today!

Commodifying Life

8y Gulf Coast Red

Genetically modified foods are fast
growing cash crops for greedy transnational
cocporations. These corporations care noth=
ing about screwing with nature. As long as
shoct term profits are available, to hell
with the long term picture.

The monsanto corporation, one of the
most notorious in this field, has produced
“Roundup Ready” seeds which are genetical-
1y engineecad to withstand mega-doses of
the extremely potent herbicid yeah,
you guessed it, Roundup. These gemetically
altevad plants tun the risk of cross-polli=
nating with pest weeds which could result
in superweeds impervious to herbicides.
Monsanto just happens to produce Roundup

feally alteced f£oods by pulling-up and
trashing genetically altered test crops.
People in India have revolted by burning
crops being tested by Monsanto and have
been organizing against attempts of this
and other gread-head corporations to mono-
polize and commodify 1ifs
Monsanto has been developing wheat,
rice and other food staples that contain
a terminator geme which causes crops to
produce sterile seeds. This forces impover-
ished farmers to have to'buy new seeds each
year. Of course, pollination to other crops
Could result in unintended seedless crops.
An iaternational call has gome out to oppose
this greedy profit-driven tinkering with
nature, with direct actions against these

crops

e e
a weapon used to destroy an otherwise good
parent/child relationship.

Courts have simply refused to aid pri-
soners trying to enforce their parental
rights despit the fact that the fundamental
Tights as a parent are one of the few that
prisoners do not lose when the prison door
shuts.

Look how quick the state and its many
agencies join the bandwagon of a custodial
parent and have the non-custodial parent
prosecuted for failing to pay child support.
Heanwhile, non-custodial parents have to
fend for thesselves to pursue claims of be-
ing denied access to the children.

Then think about this: While the non-
custodial parent is imprisoned for failure

Corporate Junkies

As evacyona who has not baen in a coma
the past ten years is aware of, the United
Scates won the Cold War against the former
Soviec Union. This was a very joyous occa-
sion for the socially conscious individuals
uho for years have spoken out against mas-
siva expendituras devoted to military ex-
pansionism. Suddealy the arms race was over
and the so-called "peace dividend” could be
dicectad toward more socially enodling pro-
grans, such as education. Or could it?

The megacerporations, devoted to sup-
plying America with its implements of death
and destruction, soon Woke-up to the reality
that the trillion dollar governmenc teat

upon which they suckled for all these many
¢ devingenn Like.

pom e e T on,

U.S. MILITART PREPARES
FOR URBAN ASSAULT

It was a scary sight to soms South Tex-
as cesidents: Black helicopters swooped in
and droppad helmeted soldiers into the
downtown area, even causing a fira in
Kingsville.

Those weren't foreign invaders in Kings-
ville and Port Aransas, however. The sol-
diers were part of the Atmy's Delta Force,
a counterterrorism unit from Fort Brags,
North Carolina.

Maj. Jeff Fanto, spokesman for Atmy
Special Operations Command headquarters at
MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, said
the training was "routine.”

‘They'ze practicing skills of gecting in
and out of urban areas and special operat-
ioms for the missions they're responsible
Kofi Tahatka, of the National Black
Jnited Front, said it appears that Lavergne
a3 murdeced. "We are demanding a full ia-
restigation,” he said.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
sedia flack Glen Castlebury said he could
1ot comment on the body's reported suspi-
:ious marks, saying TDCJ internal affairs
{nvestigators are still iavestigating.

(Source: Houston Chronicle]

PRISON LIFE

Everyone knows the influence of de~
cant clothing. Even an animal is ashamed to
sppear before his fellow creatures if so
hine makes him look ridiculous. A cat whom

TEXAS SLAVE LABOR FEEDS & HOUSES POOR

Taxas prison slave labor is being used
to £eed and house the poor. Though volun-
teering one's labor to help the needy is a
noble gesture in the free world, it takes
on an ominous and somewhat disturbing as-
pact when performed by people enslaved by
the stat

The prison slaves at the TOCJ-ID Steven-
son Unit in Cuero, Texas harvested 31,847
pounds of vegetables that benefitted the
Community Food Bank in Victoria, Texas. It
provides food to the needy in Victoria and

surrounding areas.
Texas Sacond Chance, initiated in the

Rio Grande Valley, uses prisoners from the
Lopez State Jail at Edinburg, Texas to pro-
vide a consistent slave work force for the

Thea thece is the matter of Habitat for
Humanity, a quasi-religious organization
that builds nau houses for the poor. One of
the most notable participants in Habitat
for Humanity is former president Jimay Care-
ec. Once again, there's nothing wrong with
volunteering your time and energy to build
affordable housing for the poor. But such
volunteecism is highly dubious when perform-
ed in the coersive atmosphere of a prison.

Take for example the Ferguson Unit at
Midway, Texas and the Rudd Unit at Brown-
field, Texas. Both have Habitat for Humanity
house-building programs. The homes ace pre
fabricated inside the prison perimeter and
then moved to their final location upon com-

pletion.

ts

laustrophodia
.0. Box 1721

altimore, 4D 21203

Prisonec support group. Also puts out a
cod anactchist paper and literature)

coks Through Bars
722 baltinore Ave.

niladelphia, PA 19163

They have excellent free books to prison-
©s and supportive of prisomers’ rights)

S.4. T.W.A
39 Lafayette St. #202

eu York, NY 10012

Anarchist syndicalist union. We stroagly
commend requesting info on their aims and
rinciples)

Men raquesting literatura, newspaper:
A CANCZ WITH LIFE AND DEATH

In no teginning, all is death -
heralds scon remissed

Ly amdous breaths -

from veil to silent veil.

Under mirrors' orbit we venture,
young and old in & ring.

Feel or feed a cual string,

a cyclic, camal ruse.

Marked or not, mers tones do
habit sesk . . . 5o devise a Five-syed
vassel. Decay of an Angel ccme clcse,
T wish to pray on you.

What is to be . .
for hundreds dying in chains?
Into a southemn scarscrows' camp,
cast ancther lamp.

In spring, the last words life dic
hear vers, "Just die you S.0.B." . . .

after telling the victim's mother,
"I dida't kill your caughter."

Zorad and fearful minds tend

hate filled cages of the timi¢ and mad.
Who will the pack benc

as tige tums blincness to sight?

Lusion Le gagged on until you're truth;
lief can foreshadow no desd.

Doubt what's near or cling to rules -
victin and felon but t

Changeless be crossed,

shame be camnad!

Till the surmoned virus is lost,
1life and it relics' thirst.
AND DEXTH

In spriny, the last words life did
hear wera, "Just die you S.0.3." . . .
after telling the victim's mother,

I éidn't kill your Gaughter.”

Borad and f2arful minds tend

hate filled cages of the timi¢ and mad.
Who will the pack bend

as time tums blincress to sight?

Lelusion be gagged on until you're truth;
zelief can foreshadow no desd.

Doubt what's near or cling to rules -
victin and felon but tcols.

Changeless be crossed,

shame be damned!

Till the surmoned virus is lost,
life and it relics' thirst.
Contacts

Sceak The Chains
?.0. Box 25706

Eugene, OR 97402

(They provide great prisoner literature
aad also put out a good zine callad revolt

South Chicago ARA-ABC
?.0. Box 721

Homauood, IL 60430

(Provide great revolutionary literaturs
for prisonars)

Active Transformation
2.0. Box 11508

Detroit, MI 48211

(4n excellently produced Direct Action
Anazchist newspaper. Free to prisoners)

News & Letters
59 East Van Buren St., Room 707

Claustrophobia
P.0. 3ox 1721

Baltimore, 4D 21203

(Prisonec support group. Also puts out a
8ood anatchist paper and litecature)

Books Through Bars
4722 baltimore Ave.

Philadelphia, 2A 19143

(They have excellent free books to prison-
ers and supportive of prisomezs' rights)

H.S.A. LA
339 Lafayette St. #202

New York, NY 10012

(Anarchist syndicalist union. We strongly
cecommend requesting info on their aims and
principles)

[When tequesting literature, newspapers
Then there is the matter of Habitat for
manity, a quasi-religious organization
at builds nau houses for the poor. Ona of
e most notable participants in Habitat
¢ Humanity is former president Jimmy Cart-
. Once again, thera's nothing wrong with
lunteering your time and energy to build
‘fordable housing for the poor. But such
lunteerism is highly dubious when perform-
| in the coersive atmosphere of a prison.

Take for example the Ferguson Unit at
duay, Texas and the Rudd Unit at Brown-
sld, Texas. Both have Habitat for Humanity
use-building programs. The homes are pre-
bricated inside the prison perimeter and
en moved to their final location upon com-
etion.

TEXAS PRISONER MAY AAVE BEEN WURDERED

The family of a Houston teanager who
dind in prison April 17, 1999 said his
body was emaciated and had numecous wounds
causing them to believe he died under sus-
picious circumstances.

Reginald Lavergae, 18, was serving a
five-year sentance in the Hichaels Unit
neac Palestine, Texas for aggravated rob-
bary. He became a Texas prisoner at age
15 in October 199.

An autopsy was performed within a day
oc so at the University of Texas Nedical
Branch hospital in Galveston, but Lavergne's
aunt, Janet Talton, said the tesults had
not been released.

e are here today because we need some

answers. We trying to find out what
B o A sere oald &

Kofi Tahatka, of the National Black
United Froat, said it appears that Lavergne
was murdecad. "We are demanding a full ia-
vestigation,” he said.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
media flack Glen Castlebury said he could
not comment on the body's reported suspi-
cious marks, saying TDCJ internal affairs
investigators are still investigating.

(Source: Houston Chromicle]

PRISON LIFE

Everyone knows the influence of de-
cent clothing. Even an animal is ashamed to
appear before his fellow creatures if some-
P makes him look ridiculous. A cat whom
U.S. MILITARY PREPARES
FOR URBAN ASSAULT

It was a scaty sight to some South Tex-
as cesidents: Black helicopters swoopad in
and dropped helmeted soldiers into the
downtown acea, even causing a fire in
Kingsville.

Those weren't foreign iavaders ia Kings-
ville and Port Aransas, however. The sol-
diers were part of the Army's Delta Force,
a counterterrorism unit from Fort Brags,
North Carolina.

Maj. Jeff Fanto, spokesman for Atmy
Special Operations Command headquarters at
MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, said
the training was "routine.”

“Thay'te practicing skills of getting in
and out of urban areas and special operat-
ions for the missions they're responsible

PARENTS VS. PRISONS
[The following article is adapted from a
letter by D. Knod]

Custodial parents in this country are
exploiting the civil and criminal justice
systems by filing criminal charges on non-
custodial parents in attempts to keep them
from accessing and knowing about their
children.

The problem is that one-sided laws are
being enacted and enforced. Too often
domestic violence and child support laws
are used to lock-up the non-custodial par-
ent. Laws designed to counsel or mediate
solutions to domestic problems are seldom,
if ever, used before criminal charges are

filed.

a weapon used to destroy an otherwise good
parent/child relationship.

Courts have simply refused to aid pri-
soners trying to enforce their parental
rights despit the fact that the fundamental
cights as a parent are one of the few that
prisoners do not lose when the prison door
shuts.

Look how quick the state and its many
agencies join the bandwagon of a custodial
parent and have the non-custodial parent
prosecuted for failing to pay child support.
Meanwhile, non-custodial parents have to
fend for theaselves to pursue claims of be-
ing denied access to the children.

Then think about this: While the non-
custodial parent is imprisoned for failure

ally alteced foods by pulling-up and
shing genetically altered test crops.
ople in India have revolted by burning
ops baing tested by Monsanto and have
en organizing against attempts of this
d other gread-head corporations to mono-
slize and commodify life

Nonsanto has been developing wheat,
ce and other food staples that contain
terminator geme which causes crops to
duce stecile seeds. This forces impover-
hed facmers to have to'buy new seeds each
ar. Of course, pollination to other crops
uld result in unintended seedless crops.
 international call has gone out to oppose
\is greedy profit-driven tinkering with
ture, with direct actions against these
ops.

e

ton and Texas as well as throughout
our nation.

Bear Claw, aka Charlot, was a
principal chief of the Xalipsel band
of the Flathead Indians. Long lied to
oppressed, cheated and killed, he
spoke for his people boldly concerning
the reign of terror at the hands of
the U.S. government. When speaking of
the shame of those in power, who were
relentless in their thirst for wiping
the Indian out, Charlot wrote these
fitting words that parallel the opp-
ression Of the working class blacks,
whites and hispanics of today. Won't
you her them?

"Did he (the U.S. capitalist)
not feast us with our own cattle, on
our own land, yes on our plain by the
spring? Did he not invite our hands
to his papers (treaties); did he not
promise before the sun, and before the
eye that put fire in it (a possible

ty of apathy as are most? Did you go
and pray for the Blando's and neglect
the Oregon's? Ultimately, all are
guilty who would forget these state-
sanctioned murders, those who would dc
nothing. The voices of the people
must speak plainly and boldly! We,
the working class, must say no to this
oppresion with our votes, our wallets
and by direct action. We cannot, must
not, sit idly by, knowing that there
ars more Pedro Oregon's unknowingly

mearing their demise at the hands of

over-zealous, trigger happy police,
who themselves are above the law we
nust abide by. Hear again the reason
of Charlot: "They fill graves with
our bones.” Don't you or your loved
ones become the next victim. Act.

Today!

With Our Bones

Mollette

they knew only what they had been tolc
or had been gleaned from various mediz
outlets and HPD spokespersons. In ef-
cect, they had become victims of the

crogagznda machine, and mayhaps will-

ingly- .
My ire was raised forthwith as I

stumbled -on a recent memory regard-
ing Pedro Oregon, himself a murder
victim. Indeed, he was a victim of
sver-zealous, trigger happy HPD
Seficers who kicked the door in 2t
his residence and promptly shot the
gentleman dead with a multitude of
bullets, most of which struck the
innocent man in the back! Big heroes
these guys, hun? The story is ever
worthy of the retelling as susse-
hent to the gestapo action , ?ll of

the eatice world. As mote and mote poopla
bristle uadec the heavy boot of capitalist
axploitation, the accomplice govecnmant
(local, state, and federal) knows that the
only uay to pravent a major uprising against
the mastec-class is by using increasingly
brutal and militaristic tactics against the
civilian population.

US Secretacry of State Madeleine Albright
has used the term "permanenc war® in descri-
bing Amecica’s curtent stance in the world.
And s0 it is, even here in the good ol' USA.

It's class war and the sorking class must

prevail as the victors.

[Source: Christian Pareati, “SWAT Nation,”
Nation, 31 May 1999]

V/ "y "&»A i

;o SWAT team mobilizations— quadrupled be-
cween 1980 and 1995, according to Kraska's
CBS News € SHAT

Revolutionary Mail

Welcoms to the great lust and feast of
human £lesh and blood. The Texas Prison sys-
cen along with the greedy bloddthicsty pri-
sonccats ace among the first ac the table.
It is uritten that man will lust for, and
gain great pleasute from other mea's soc-
cous:—So-the belly of the beastis being
gorged. Our society society of submissive-
aess has opensd the doot to a great many
cleaver thinkers, sho are taking advantage
of a society that allows lawmakers to ma-
aipulate the constitution of the United
States all to benefit a very lucrative
€adoral and state incarceration campaign
against the common citizen. Not to mention
the carnal pleasure they gain by the de-
struction of multictudes of families and
relationships.

The enhancement of the federal con-
spiracy law and the faderal and state pro-

The government of the Unitad States
is exploiting its citizens by using paople,
primarily the poor and working class, to
keep a machias of economic tragedy tucaing.
Texas is at the forafront of this govern-
ment vs. the people campaign. They've found
2 commodity;-and-itts-humam1ivesi———

Since OPEC decreased the price of oil,
domestic exploration has decreased. In Tex—
as, oil exploration was our number one eco-
nomic stabilizec. In despecation the poli-
ticians looked for an economic boost, with-
out crecognizing the destruction of so many
lives, for that matter, without cacing.
They discovered human warehousing is vecy
profitable.

The F3I has created the DNA index sys-
tem. Some critics believe it will eventual-
1y contain the DNA makeup of every citizen
in the country. They are also putting to-

Most impoctantly, talk to fallow pei-
onncs about problems and the altecnatives
7ailable for dealing with them. Just e:
sblishing a cegulac dialog with each ot
s an important first step. In future issue
¢ Chain Reaction we will provide info and
deas about methods available that prison-
cs can use to affect change.

Prisoners won't always achieve the
aprovements they want Tegardless of what
sthods thay use to present their grie
ances. However, we can work toward a fu-
sce day when prisons ate a thing of the
ast. The idea isn't as farfetchad as it
ay sound. One thing is for sure: We will
ever get anything just sitting om our
ollective asses. o a speech given ia
857, the ex-slave and -abolitionist
cederick Douglass said:

If there is no struggle there is mo
progzess.... Power concedes nothing
without a demand. It never did and
it never will.

Something Better

By West Taxas Slim

Why is thece so much division and
strife among prisonecrs? After all, aren't
we all being held in the same oppcessive
state of bondage? What brings out dishar-
mony among us when things could be so much’
better in an atmosphere of mutual aid and
cooperation?

For stactecs, we prisoners bring with
us into the prisons the same prejudices,
hates, and power trips that we carried a-
round in the free world. Just as the free
world is structured with its various
classes, cliques and gangs, so too, pri-
sonars ce-creats and form relationships in
the prison environment around those sam
hierarchies. We are, for the most part, a
mirror-im of society. And as such, we
reflect the various strifes and conten-
B o T e T T .

Prisonecs must begin to battar commu-
nicate with each other in a positive way,
wotking to achieve a faeling of friandship
and equality. It is of great importance
thac we prisoners recognize that there are
only two group distinctions that mattec—
THE KEEPERS and THE KEPT.

Some of the questions I'm often asked
by fellow prisoners s, "Do you think that
things will get better?” Or, "Why do you
think the politicians keep passing these
fucked-up laws?" To €ind the answer to
these and other questions, prisonecs need
to begin with some honest self-evaluation
and mirror gazing. Though not all our
troubles are of our own making, prisoners
are often times their own worst ememy. If
prisoners want positive changes, then they
are going to have to start by changing
their negative or indifferent attitudes
couards nrisoners' rights issues. It just

hlackmail. They have teen resgonsible for .
mass killings in Guatemala, 150,000, and
50,000 disappearances. They have been
part of many latin imerican dictatorships
responsible for untold atrocities all to
further American interests in the region.
The S.0.A. has teen usad in.this manner
under the guise of prosecuting the War on
Drugs! .

__The phenomena of crime. pi

=xpansion, War on Drugs, and Capitalist
Restructuring, are not unrelated events.
These are all measures which are connected
and exploited to the btenefit of our
nasters. We prisoners are as affected as
our working class brothers and sisters
fighting in Chaippas against tyranny, and
ur cause is linked with vorkers exploited
by capitalists everywhere. Prisoners of
che world, wake up!

We have nothing to lose, but our Wardens.

Tn the T's, ve stacted see
sent overseas. In the 80's, we saw Ronald
“eagans’ war on the goor with his trickle
down economics that didn't trictle down.
During the Peagan years, the precedent was
set to hegin gutting sccial reforms,
spoken of earlier, that henefit the goor.
Union husting was started by Reagan as
vell.

The move to ship johs overseas, in
order to ruthlessly exploit fellow vorkers
n other countries, is ‘mown as capitalist
restructuring. These johs are seat to
countries which have no environmental
regulations, horrible working conditions,
low wages, often repressive governments,
some of which are hacked by the U.S., who
suporess and even shoot and jail union
organizers.

“nat it reans for Americans is that
most of the good jobs leave the country.
Leaving a whole 10t of service jobs and
McJobs to remain. Lots of gart-time,

5 jors

STAMP OUT

list state

ast Red

era hy some. Which mean large factories,
lots of union jobs, and government reform
2id to workers who hecome unemployed.
uring the 50's and 60's the civil
rights movement, anti-war-moverent, — —
feminist movement, as well as the hipoy
movement were inspiring people to have
high exgectations ahout the future- an
optimistic view of life. Unions were
strong, and all of this was not only
eating into the boss class' profits, but
was causing our rulers great anxiety. Our
masters “ecided we were exercising too
much democracy, and began initiating 2
plan of systematic roll tacks, i.e. class
war tactics, to put the vorking class in
check and maximize their power and methods
s e "G Sous aalt

Starting a Chain Reaction

tzlcome to the first issue of Chaia
Reaction. Our purpose for starting Chain
Reaction is to advocate and promote the
political education of prisoners and wock-
ecs in order that ue may learn about the
machinations of capitalist socinty and the
political state which oppresses us. In
this way e can empower oursalves to £ight
against this crooked system while in pri-
s0n, and alse, once released from the gu-
lags, ue can engage solicaristically in
prisoner support. Also to engage in labor
and community organizing to abolish the
capitalist system of wage slavery.

Prisoners inside the Texas concen-

tration camp system are here for various
reasons and lemgths of time. Some of us

may never get out, though we always keep
a glimmes of hope alive. Others may be on

Reaction in the form of political articles,
are, satire and humot, news from prisen
units, case law and successfully litigated
cases, and your letters and comments. K
ill not print anything of a racist natuze
or_anything which purposely promotes di
vision of the working class within and
without prison walls.

Wn recommend prisoners engaging in
study groups to discuss acticlas appearing
in Chain Reaction and how you can contri-
bute to Chain Reaction to make it a voice
heard for Tevolutionary social chaage.

We also Tacommend studying the phil-
osophy of anarchism and libertarian seci-
alism and learning how to apply them to
everyday life. We will also be featuring
articles in Chain Reaction on basic con-
cepts and principles of anarchist society.

- Though our coverage is imternational in
cope, our primary focus is on the social,
conomic, and political issues confronting
xas prisoners and workers. We believe,
owever, that these issues and their Teso-
ution are relevant to all prisomers and
otkers worldwide.

 We encourage you to submit articles, act,
‘ippings-and-other-information concerning—
risoner and worker issues. All submissions
ecome permanent contribdutions to Chain
eaction collective and cannot be returned.
e don't make any money off this and doa't
mply that any paymeat of any kind is
Efacad for submissions. We Tesecve the
ight to reject any material-contrary to
e goals and purposes of Chain Reaction
ollective. Send all submissions to:

South Chicago ARA

P.0. Box 721

Homewood, IL 60430

Texas Seria /\?'T,"pp; _
Killers '/ S/ 30\