Incarceration is not only systemic repression; prisons thrive on exploitation through money by forcing people in lock up to pay for their own incarceration. Loved ones on the outside are not allowed to send toiletries, food, art supplies, items for ceremony, envelopes, clothes, medical supplies, etc. Most necessities must be bought through prison commissary, or those incarcerated simply go without. It costs incarcerated Water Protectors money to communicate with the outside as well. Each email they send costs money. Each phone call they make costs money. Each envelope, stamp, and piece of paper costs money. Therefore, funds that go to their commissary account will also aid them in avoiding the Bureau of Prison's goal to silence incarcerated Water Protectors as they continue their work and sacrifices behind bars.
Halfway houses also pose their own kind of struggle as political prisoners are required to seek local employment, their own transportation, approval for visits, phone calls and medical care while under federal surveillance, curfews, required BOP courses/"treatment", and a 25% halfway house fee taken from their paychecks in order to keep their beds. Halfway houses do not allow people to freely roam. Inmates can only go to pre-approved public locations on certain days of the week at allotted times to abide by curfew (once "points" are earned to receive such "privileges"). Public locations must have no gambling, alcohol or firearms. They cannot visit private residences or homes. Personal phones must be approved by the halfway house and can be monitored at any time. Social media will also be monitored by halfway house staff at any time. Their personal belongings and their own bodies can be searched by halfway house staff at any time. ALL HALFWAY HOUSES ARE UNDER LOCKDOWN, MEANING NO VISITATION AND LIMITED OUTINGS, DUE TO COVID-19. IT IS INCREDIBLY ISOLATING FOR EVERYONE UNDER FEDERAL CUSTODY IN HALFWAY HOUSES.
Probation requires the courts and probation office to approve their home address, their place of employment, required "treatment" courses, and daily surveillance of their movements, communications, belongings, homes, electronics, etc. It often makes housing, transportation, employment, and physical/mental health a serious struggle for many.
COLLECTIVE FUNDRAISER ONLY THROUGH MARCH 2020:
You can choose to donate to federally sentenced NoDAPL Political Prisoners simultaneously by contributing to this collective Paypal link. Currently, Red Fawn, Rattler, Little Feather and Angry Bird have particular circumstances in need of fundraising: RedWood Justice Fund: Support NoDAPL Political Prisoners
LONGERM DONATION OPTIONS:
Moneygram and WalMart money transfers can also be an option for Rattler (Michael Markus) in North Dakota, Dion Ortiz in New Mexico, and for Angry Bird (James White) in North Dakota. Their legal names from their state/tribal IDs and the state and/or prison must be provided for them to receive donations.
Monegram may charge at least a $6.00 transfer fee.
Online Moneygram transfer: https://www.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/send/how-to-send-money
In-person Moneygram transfer: https://www.moneygram.com/us/en/how-to-send-money/send-money-in-person
Walmart may charge at least a $4.50 transfer fee to send funds from one WalMart to another WalMart. These transfers can only be done in person at a local WalMart, or through the WalMart app.
Online WalMart transfers use Moneygram for pick up/transfer: https://www.moneygram.com/walmart/us/en/
Western Union also requires their legal name and the state they will pick up the money order.
MAIN OPTIONS for commissary, jailhouse calls, probation transitions, and legal fee donation include:
Red Fawn is currently with loved ones under federal surveillance on probation: https://www.paypal.me/RedFawn303
Rattler is currently away from immediate family under federal surveillance on probation: https://www.paypal.me/siouxic
Little Feather was seeking sobriety/mental health aid at a treatment center while under probation, but his situation has become complicated. Public updates and advocacy are pending indefinitely.
Dion Ortiz, his partner and mother are very much in need of financial support for Dion's recent transition during COVID out of incarceration for a nonviolent probation violation:
Dion's Paypal: @dionortiz (profile picture of Dion holding boxes of pizza)
Family cash apps: $DollaHolla47 and $missrissancc
Venmo: @Marissabear
Please support our Akicita elder Angry Bird, whom for years was under federal surveillance on probation.
Angry Bird's passion is horses. Please read their horse relay team's statement below to learn how to support Angry Bird's continuing work for indigenous communities:
Bad Nation Relay
Indian Horse Relay
33472 228th st
Fort Thompson, SD 57339
Whom this may concern,
At Bad Nation Relay, we have been noticed from people all over the United States and Canada and have brought an inside look at the type of warriors we truly are in the Hunkpati and Hunkpapa Sioux Indian Reservations for the past year now. This season, we’re aiming to continue to raise awareness towards Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives through the first extreme sport of Indian Horse Relay. A sport combined of horsemanship, culture, and horse racing.
During the 2019 season we are looking not only to raise awareness for an ongoing issue that has taken a toll on many reservations including our own, but to also get more youth involved in our Native American culture and the ongoing issues that happen daily. We think our efforts can go even farther with your help.
If you’re willing to help, the donations we receive will go towards helping get awareness out to more people to start bringing more of our native relatives’ home. The donations we receive will provide a donation towards travel and horse expenses such as feed, medications, and equipment for both horse and riders. Our mission will be to raise awareness and keep you updated on our racing journey by providing you with photographs and pictures of our team throughout the season.
With you by our side this upcoming year, we’re sure to achieve our goal in raising awareness for MMIW and MMIR and bringing our youth closer to our culture.
If you’re interested in being a part of our journey by contributing anything from money to supplies for the horses or riders, please reach out to us at (308)360-3281 or
Sincerely,
Jama Bourne
Bad Nation Relay
https://www.facebook.com/BadNationIndianRelay/
The NoDAPL Federal Prisoner Support Committee also accepts donations to further our work of advocacy events for incarcerated Water Protectors, events to discuss lessons learned about effective collective restistance and legal defense for movement work, accept donations for family and legal teams to visit incarcerated Water Protectors in prisons and halfway houses, as well as our continual work surrounding legal battles as we maneuver through prison, halfway houses and probation. Please indicate if your donation is meant for their prison commissary, or if the donation goes towards further work of the Support Committee.