111 Years–$113 for BA Everywhere

Launching "1000 Years–$1000 for BA Everywhere" in a big city

May 21, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

Knots of people gathered around a display board and read statements about why people were donating to the "1000 Years–$1000 for BA Everywhere" project. Others listened as BAsics 3:16 and 1:13 were read. The stories sometimes poured from people as they had been waiting for a chance to tell someone. At other times the painful tales emerged slowly.

"I did 15 years and I have too many brothers that is still there. Help me help them."

"My son has been in and out of prison. Can't give the amount of his years combined, it's many. I willing/able to do whatever it take to save all our sons and daughters, men and women of all colors and situation. God bless."

"Me and my uncle was very close. Last Christmas was my first Christmas without him, I really can't wait until he is free."

"I did 44 years, 10 months, and 18 day. I went in as a young man (26) and came out as an old man (70). It was a hell hole. No more."

These are some of the words of people who contributed their years in prison or those of loved ones. Every single one of these stories was filled with heartache, and anger. A 16 year old young woman spoke of her uncle, who recently got a 10 year sentence. She talked about how close she was to him, how this past Christmas was the first without him there, and how the family could hardly celebrate the holiday. A man in his 70s stopped and told us how he did 44 years, 10 months, and 18 days locked up as a young man, age 26, and came out an old man, age 70. An older Latina woman, told us about her son, who was locked up for 3 years for a half an ounce of marijuana. A disabled woman, talked about her brother, explaining how he has become institutionalized, and felt that if he was released from prison, that he would come out and make the same choices that got him locked up in the first place.

It was hardly a stretch for these people, who shared their experiences, to look at the way in which this system gives whole sections of society certain choices—choices that are not of their own choosing, choices that set them up for no future. Many people were eager to learn more about "flipping the script" on the system, and making the years of incarceration count toward getting BA Everywhere. Many of the people who contributed years did not have enough money on the spot to cover each year. But, when others read their statements and saw the numbers of years, they would contribute more money toward those years.

Just from our experience being out today, we can see that there is great potential for this project to move many, many people and raise big money to get Bob Avakian EVERYWHERE!

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