By Boston Woodard (Editor’s note: Woodard remains in administrative segregation (“The Hole”) in San Quentin. However, he is doing fine and plans to share his experience with us in the near future. He [...] Continue Reading
Police
When I Grow Up
By Grid Margraf “When I grow up I want to be a cowboy.” That was my response at five to my first grade teacher’s question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” There were cattle ranches [...] Continue Reading
Men of Color Facing Life Obstacles: The Prison Press – August 2014
By Boston Woodard Independent researchers want to understand the roadblocks young men of color face that could impede their success in life. They are looking into the underlying causes: disparities [...] Continue Reading
Charlie’s Story Part III
By Grid Margraf (Editor’s note: This is the third and final installment of “Charlie’s Story,” which details Margraf’s interaction with Charlie, a Vietnam veteran who shot up a sheriff’s office as a [...] Continue Reading
Local Progressive Activists Targeted by the Fresno Police Department
By Mike Rhodes Sergeant Robert Dewey, with the Fresno Police Department (FPD), has produced a PowerPoint presentation that identifies Chris Breedlove of the College Community Congregational Church as [...] Continue Reading
Charlie’s Story Part II
By Grid Margraf Charlie picked up the 10 of spades. I bounced a rolled smoke off his chest, rolled one for myself and lit them both. I got comfortable again sitting at the end of the bed leaning [...] Continue Reading
The Prison Press: San Quentin Prison Report: Communication via Incarceration – July 2014
By Boston Woodard “True public safety will be achieved by freeing minds, not restricting bodies.” —Troy Williams Prison walls work both ways; they not only keep prisoners from society but also [...] Continue Reading
About the Cover: The Personal Is Political
By Ernesto Saavedra Arts and culture have always played a critical role in shifting the mind-set of the masses in a way that crosses all barriers. That visual aspect of the movement brings the [...] Continue Reading
The Prison Press: Death Row: A Different Perspective
By Boston Woodard I wasn’t sentenced to death before coming to prison, but wound up on death row, not literally where I would eventually be executed via California’s state-sanctioned death penalty [...] Continue Reading
Charlie’s Story Part I
By Grid Margraf The place reeked of cigarettes; everyone smoked. There was no ventilation, not even windows in the concrete walls. This was Nevada County Jail, 1984, and windows like doors were a [...] Continue Reading
The Prison Press: Power Players Visit San Quentin
By Boston Woodard On a quiet night in San Quentin, you can hear the sounds of rehabilitation in progress coming from the small arts room on the upper yard. And, from time to time, you will meet [...] Continue Reading
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: Restoring the Balance of Justice
By Community Alliance Staff The Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) has designated an annual National Crime Victims’ Week, and it will be observed April 6–12 this year. The theme of this year’s Victims’ [...] Continue Reading