Janet and Janine Africa Are Finally Free!!! 

 Janet Holloway Africa and Janine Phillips Africa of the MOVE 9 were released from state custody after more than forty years of incarceration on May 25, 2019.  Following their 2018 parole denial, we joined the  People’s Law Office filed petitions for habeas corpus seeking their release from prison. The habeas petitions challenged their parole denials on the grounds that the decisions were arbitrary and lacking in any evidence that janet or Janine presented a risk to public safety. Under pressure from litigation and with a court date for May 28 looming, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (board) granted Janet and Janine parole on May 14, 2019, just one day after the anniversary of the notorious May 13, 1985 bombing of the MOVE home.

We are so happy Janet and Janine are finally home to be with their families and loved ones. 

A Multi-Million Dollar Prison is Finally No More 

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) announced it withdrew its intent to construct a new $510 million federal prison in Letcher County, Kentucky, the most expensive proposed federal prison in U.S. history. The lawyers represented prisoners and activists concerned about the new facility being sited on a former mountaintop removal coal mine and near an active mine and coal sludge pond.

 “Spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new prison makes no sense with the substantial decreases in the federal prison population over the last several years,” said Dustin McDaniel, Executive Director of the Abolitionist Law Center. “We hope the BOP’s action ends this prison project permanently, and that it also signifies a turning point nationally, away from investing money in prison construction, and toward increased investment in communities devastated by mass incarceration.” Read the official press release for more information.

Donor Spotlight: Roberta Guido 

As a legal nonprofit we rely on donor support to accomplish our goals and advocate for people. Your support means the world to us as it is integral to our success so we are always shocked when we people choose to host fundraisers to support our work. One such person was Roberta Guido who chose the ALC as a beneficiary to our birthday fundraiser.  Roberta chose us  "because their mission and work is incredible and they fight every day to end mass incarceration. They have also opened their space up for Legal Observer Training in light of the death of Antwon Rose. " 
Roberta's fundraiser not only raised funds for us but also helped to spread our message of abolition far and wide. We are thankful for Roberta's generosity which is why our donor spotlight is shining on Roberta. Thank you so much. 

#ICYMI Kimberly is out of Solitary Confinement 

Last week, the Abolitionist Law Center along with the law office of Timothy P. O’Brien and attorney Jules Lobel, filed an emergency petition against the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to remove a young woman from solitary confinement housing after spending more than 70 days – including her birthday – in the restrictive housing unit at ACJ , resulting in severe mental health crises and three suicide attempts.

We are pleased to announce she was taken off of psychiatric observation status and released from solitary confinement, permitted recreation, several hours out of her cell today, and phone calls. Kim is in good spirits, because when we force the government to stop torturing people it results in improvements to people's health.

Solitary confinement of people with serious mental health conditions is torture, it deprives people of their ability to cope with reality, causes extraordinary pain and suffering, and dramatically increases the risk of suicide.