Category: Ways to Help

Writing to Joel has Never Been Easier!

We are happy to announce a brand-new way for supporters and comrades to send Joel mail! No need to figure out international postage or scrounge for an envelope! Simply e-mail your letter to solidaritywithjoelbitar [at] gmail [dot] com with “Letter for Joel” in the subject line, and we will print, address, and mail the letter to Joel for you! Please remember to include your return address if you wish to receive a reply.

Writing a letter to a political prisoner is a concrete way to support those imprisoned for their political struggles. A letter is a simple way to brighten someone’s day in prison by creating human interaction and communication–something prisons attempt to destroy. Beyond that, writing keeps prisoners connected to the communities and movements of which they are a part, allowing them to provide insights and stay up to date.

We encourage everyone to write to Joel, and now it is even easier than ever! However, if you prefer to send a letter yourself, his current address is:

Joel Bitar
Central North Correctional Centre
1501 Fuller Ave.
Penetanguishene, ON
Canada
L9M 2H4

NYC ABC Letter-Writing for Joel, Kevin, and Richard

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 18th, 2014
WHERE: CAGE – 83A Hester Street (UPSTAIRS) New York, New York 10002 (directions below)
COST: Free

So, who wants to talk about the weather? Great, neither do we. We will note that it doesn’t always bring out the best in people. We’ll also say that, despite the winter cold, we had an amazing turnout for Punk Rock Karaoke that benefited NYC ABC. Money raised from the event helps fund projects such as our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinners, which we’ve been consistently hosting for nearly seven years.

This Tuesday we continue the project, writing to three folks from the northeast recently sentenced to prison for taking part in protests against the G20 in Toronto way back in 2010. On February 3rd, Richard Morano was sentenced to seven months in jail, whereas the prosecution was seeking 12-15 months. Ten days later, Joel Bitar and Kevin Chianella, both New Yorkers, were sentenced to 20 and 24 months, respectively. You can read Joel’s statement to the court here.

Kevin Chianella received a 2 year prison sentence for his participation in the G20 protests in Toronto in 2010. Chianella, 18 at the time, got a heftier sentence because he attacked a cop car with a canvas bag full of rocks. He is also stated to have fueled and helped sustain the fire that was set upon another cop car. Chianella, from Queens, was supported in court by his family, among them, his 90-year-old grandmother.

Come find out more about Joel, Kevin, and Richard, and other political prisoner news, and enjoy a meal with friends (new or old).

Write Joel A Letter!

We have an address for Joel! Please take a moment to write him a letter–the first days are some of the hardest for people going in. Also, please be advised that international first-class stamp for a standard letter to Canada is $1.15 or more.

Joel Bitar
Toronto West Detention Center
111 Disco Road Box 4950
Rexdale, Ontario
M9W 5L6
Canada

For more info on writing to prisoners, check out the New York City Anarchist Black Cross website.