Prisoners’ Justice Day Press Release (Montreal)

On August 10th, 1974, Eddie Nalon bled to death in a solitary confinement unit at Millhaven Maximum Security Prison near Kingston, Ontario when the emergency call button in his cell failed to work. An inquest later found that the call buttons in that unit had been deactivated by the guards. Prisoners at Millhaven marked the anniversary of Eddie's death by fasting and refusing to work. By May, 1976, the call buttons had not yet been repaired. Bobby Landers was the next to die in one of those cells. With no way to call for help, all he could do was scribble a note that described the symptoms of a heart attack. The call for national support went out and Prison Justice Day began.

What started as a one time event behind the walls of Millhaven Prison has become an international day of solidarity. On this day, August 10th, prisoners around the world fast, refuse to work, and remain in their cells while those of us on the outside organize to show our solidarity with those struggling behind the bars, to show that they are not forgotten and to draw attention to the conditions inside prisons.

This year will mark its 27th year in existence. Here in Montreal, some of us have formed a Prisoners' Justice Day Committee, which will be organizing events on August 8th, 9th and 10th. We have received material support from Q-PIRG Concordia, and the events are a co-presentation with CKUT 90.3 FM.

On August 8th and 9th there will be two cultural-political evenings at the Sala Rossa, at 4848 Boulevard St-Laurent.

The first evening, "Rock Against Prisons", starts at 8pm sharp on August 8th (doors open at 7:30pm). It will feature five musical acts in a wide range of musical styles – DJ Lynne T (Elektrolysis CKUT), La Jeunesse Apatride, 1-Speed Bike, Ark of Infinity and F.B.I. Jedeyez – and many speakers who will expose and denounce how the prison system impacts various groups, including First Nations peoples, refugees and immigrants in detention centers, sex trade workers and, of course, prisoners themselves. This event will be MC'd by former prisoners. There will be a cover charge on a sliding scale of $6 to $10.

On August 9th, also starting at 8pm at the Sala Rossa, there will be a video night with DJ Static and Aum Supreme. Video interviews with prisoners, about prisons and prison struggles, will be shown. There will also be information tables from many different organizations exposing the different repressive and oppressive facets of the prison system, prisoner rights activists and former prisoners will be attending. This event will have no cover charge, although donations will be solicited.

No photographic or video cameras will be allowed at either event.

The proceeds from these events will go to two groups. The first is the "Justice for Joe David Committee