Jesse James being released!

Jesse James is being released from jail right now! Finally!

Still an Outlaw

Jesse is still in the hands of Ramsey County, Minnesota. He is being held because of a warrant that was issued in California on November 5th, and only made it into the Ramsey County system sometime between Thanksgiving and November 30th. We assume this warrant is for an alleged probation violation in California. The situation is very uncertain and unclear, a rude shock from the expectation of a reunion, a reminder of the arbitrary power these people hold over us. We all thought Jesse would be released Monday morning, and only discovered he was being held while we were waiting for him outside the jail, when the other prisoners were set free and we saw no sign of Jesse.

On Monday, Jesse was moved from the Ramsey County Workhouse to the “Law Enforcement Center”, the jail in downtown St. Paul. This place has less amenities and the prisoners only get about 7 hours out of their cells each day. There is no recreation and no library, just a meager offering of tattered romance novels and bibles, or whatever they have in their wing. We’re not sure if the jail accepts books, but feel encouraged to send letters and zines or articles (without staples!). The address is:

Jesse James Forrey

ADC

425 Grove St.

St. Paul, MN 55101

After the false certainty we held, now we are in limbo. A lawyer tells us that California has 30 days to file their written demand of extradition, and 90 days to extradite. If they don’t follow through with either of these time limits, Jesse will be released. The warrant is a “no bail” warrant, as warrants for probation violations often are. We’re looking for a way to expedite this process, but as of yet we don’t know how long this will take. We can visit Jesse, more than once a week now, although we have to be on a list of up to 5 people who can visit him. Also, Jesse has not yet recieved vegan food at the LEC, so please call and request that they serve him vegan food. They may hang up on you, or tell you he just has to talk to the nurse, but so far he hasn’t been allowed to speak to a nurse. The number is (651) 266-9352.

In the meantime, we stave off the winter, try to navigate our way through these choppy legal waters, struggle to grasp our power. Sometimes we find solace, maybe inspiration, in the occupations by students and would-be insurgents, the exploits of the like-minded in distant places. Sometimes we find it in those closest to us. In this situation where politics contain us, we search for the right words to get lovers and sons out of cages. We’re walking the thin line between playing their game and denouncing it, knowing it was rigged from the start.

Yours in struggle,

Friends of Jesse James

Still In Custody…

Despite our hopes and expectations, Jesse is still in jail.

We went to the Ramsey County Workhouse this morning to pick him up, but even when other prisoners were released, we didn’t see him. Upon asking the clerk inside, we learned there’s a “hold” on Jesse. This is because of a potential probation violation in California. We knew this was a possibility, but even yesterday the jail didn’t inform Jesse that there was a hold on him, though he asked. Today he will be transferred to the LEC (Law Enforcement Center), the jail in downtown St. Paul. We don’t know when he’ll be released, but we will keep you updated and are trying to arrange his quick release. Please keep in touch, via email or otherwise. Thanks for all your support, we need and appreciate it and so does Jesse.

A Brief Note

Hey there friends, allies, and government agents—

Time marches on and the month draws to a close. Jesse has enough food, through trading deserts and such for fruit and veggies. There’s more writing from Jesse, including an account of his halloween in jail, at the usual place.

There was a benefit for Jesse in Montpelier, VT. Here’s a brief reportback:

“The benefit went well, I think- kitchen was crazy for a day or two with friends making a bunch of lovely pies and cupcakes- the prodigal string band and our friend played music and a fair number of people showed up”

Just over a week left until this is over, at least Jesse’s incarceration. However, for many of us the cops and courts remain an unwanted presence in our lives, our neighborhoods, and our towns. The prison system and methods of surveillance and social control continue to expand, and we must ask ourselves, what do we do when faced with this behemoth? What creative methods can we theorize and put into practice to physically and otherwise dismantle these institutions? How can we short-circuit this cycle of revolt and repression, and find ourselves in a realm of wild possibilities?

 

Please support Carrie and Scott, two wonderful Minneapolis residents who were imprisoned last week in Iowa for not cooperating with a grand jury. Folks’ educated guess is that the grand jury is investigating an ALF action at the University of Iowa in 2004. Scott has since been charged with conspiracy under the “AETA” and may be released on bail, but it’s possible both could stay in jail for up to 18 months, simply for choosing to remain silent and not participate in sketchy and secretive grand jury proceedings.

 

Many thanks,

Friends of JJ

To Friends Far and Near

Nov. 7th: 22days and a wake-up.

Today was the worst day for me so far. For breakfast I was given: two sad “waffles,” one package of artificial maple syrup, and a piece of banana bread. I complained to the officers who then called the kitchen. A few minutes later I was brought a soymilk, a veggie burger patty and two peanut butter packages.

There are no lunches on the weekend.

For dinner I was given a bag lunch instead of a hot meal! And on top of that insult it had the usual four pieces of bread but only one peanut butter and one jelly. Again I had to complain and ask the custody COs to call down for more pb&j.

It is not my responsibility to do the jail’s job for them. It is fully frustrating and if it continues tomorrow I am going to ask folks to call in to demand I get full meals.

To be given a bag lunch instead of a hot tray is felt as an insult amongst inmates. Those of us with special diets deserve hot food too! Another person in here has been getting bags for hot meals for about a week or so now and it sucks. They even give him things in his bag that he is allergic to (the reason he doesn’t get the normal tray to begin with). He has put in “grievances” but it hasn’t seemed to do anything.

Our ability to feed ourselves is a very basic need and right of all living beings. It is difficult enough to have to take the usual menu offered here in jail, but to be pushed around beyond that is just additional punishment. I’ve realized how frustrated and hard my days are when I am given poor meals, as well as the pimple addition of a handful of grapes or dates can make my entire day. Jail is completely unhealthy, wrong, unjust. I was going to say “inhumane” but considering humanity is singularly misguided enough to cage living creatures, such ugliness as jail is distinctly human.

I also want to communicate my concern and support for Karen. They are about to have their sentencing and it is really hard for me not to be there for them. Court dates are hard, sentencing especially because of the unknown decision that will be made. I hope all who support me will show them the support and care they  deserve, even more so because I am kept at this distance. It is hard to think of them going to jail, of them being in jail when I get out. I hope y’all support them.

Love, jj

Karen and Christina’s Sentencing

Our friends Karen Meissner and Christina Vana will be sentenced tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10th, at 1:30 in Courtroom 840 of the Ramsey County Courthouse, by Judge Teresa Warner.  At trial, they received a plea deal, with the State agreeing to grant them a Stay of Imposition (meaning the felony charge will be dropped to a misdemeanor after succesful completion of probation), a maximimum of 90 days jail time, and the possibility of doing Sentence to Serve as a jail alternative. They face up to 7 years probation. Friendly faces and warm hearts wanted. We hope to see you there.

The Ramsey County Courthouse is located at:

15 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul

Another Visit

Today we visited Jesse again, his beard is fuller and he seemed cheerful and energetic. He says he’s been spending more time out of his cell, playing cards (hearts) and being social, and has had trouble focusing on writing. He still takes time to himself to read, exercise, and stretch. In October, he did over 3,200 push-ups! (Definitely more than twice the amount of money donated.) While visiting, we joked, talked about halloween and the pranks that were played on us, and generally just shared stories and updates about our lives. Jesse said he recently had one of the best days he’s had in there, and then the next day was much harder. Sometimes the grim reality just sinks in. But today his spirits were higher.

While we were visiting, the video monitor system was malfunctioning, so we had to wait for about an hour, and then the visit got cut off early. Luckily, the clerk rebooted the system and gave us an extra 10 minutes for the visit, so the whole ordeal took up a good chunk of our time, and Jesse’s (which is always nice on the inside, to have something to break up the routine).  However, the visiting system they have continues to be a useless, terrible application of technology.

Jesse said that when calling one house that he’s called many times, he got a message saying he’d reached 86% of his collect call limit. So now he bought a couple calling cards. If you have any issues with contacting Jesse, please let us know and maybe we can help. Recently one letter didn’t get through to him, but most have gotten through. He has “too much to read”, but letters are something that continue to keep him engaged with the world, so let’s keep them steadily flowing in for this last stretch. Articles and news are appreciated as well, it’s hard to come by intelligent or relevant information in there. Check out the book list for ideas on topics.

Only 4 visits left!

Yours truly,

Friends of Jesse.

Almost Halfway

Some friends visited Jesse today. Only six more visits to go! Jesse says he spent two hours writing a letter today, appreciated the letters he recieved, and talked about the play he saw (Othello).

Again, there’s some more writing from Jesse, here.

Stay well,

Friends of JJ

More Words from JJ, etcetera

Hi friends!

So there’s lots of new words from Jesse on the From Jesse page, including “A Day in the Life of an Inmate at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility”, which should provide some insight into JJ’s experience.

Friends have been visiting Jesse every week, and that seems to help a lot. He’s growing his beard out again and looks in good spirits. If you want to visit, send us an email.

Also, this month, Jesse will do as twice as many pushups as we get dollars donated! So keep it up with the benefits. So far there’s been some money coming in from the secret café benefit that happened in Los Angeles (thanks so much!), and while the immediate costs of buying writing and hygiene supplies are met, the legal costs still loom overhead.

Here in Minnesota it snowed last week, and then melted and rained for most of the week. The past few days have been close to the ideal fall days-warm and crisp, still sunny and and a good antidote to the premature snowfall.

Stay well and in touch,

Friends of JJ

Support Jesse James Flyer Updated

We’ve updated the old Support flyer so that it has Jesse’s mailing address on it. Download it here and distribute widely!