8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

1/8

Lires&w

kdfc Qgf nuturf is ckt ` pe`hf

wf `rf lkicl tk, it is

skdftgicl wf `rf hrf`ticl.\f g`vf ` rfspkcsimieitytk hrf`tf ` mfttfr wkrea,tk ef`vf ` dkrf gkpfnueefl`hy nkr nuturf

lfcfr`tikcs.

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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Qgf fxpfrifchfs `ca pkeitih`e str`tfly kn pfkpef ic wkdfcs priskcs

prkviafs ` wicakw ictk tgf w`ys tg`t kpprfssfa hkdducitifs ic kur

skhiftyhkdducitifs kn hkekr `ca tgf guclry, gkdfefss, ais`mefa,

idpkvfrisgfa `ca ucfdpekyfa kn `ee r`hfs`rf ichrf`sicley vuecfr`mef

tk idpriskcdfct `ca prfd`turf af`tg ic dkafrc skhifty, `s wfee `s ictk

df`cs kn rfsist`chf.

Ic 097:, tgfrf wfrf 0=,8:: pfkpef idpriskcfa ic Vcitfa Xt`tfs st`tf

`ca nfafr`e wkdfcs priskcs. Qg`t w`s mfnkrf tgf \`r kc Aruls mfh`df

mil musicfss `ca priv`tf hkrpkr`tikcs wfrf `eekwfa ` gistkrih tkfgkea

ictk idpriskcdfct tgrkulg priv`tf priskc hkcstruhtikc ca d`c`lfdfct,

ichrf`sfa usf kn priskcfrs `s ` priv`tf nkrhfa nrff e`mkr suppey, `ca

dkckpkeifs kc m`sih lkkas ca sfrvihfs skea tk pfkpef ic priskc ca tgfir

n`dieifs.

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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Ic hkctr`st, stuaifs icaih`tf tg`t wkdfc kn hkekr `rf kvfr-`rrfstfa,

kvfr-icaihtfa, ucafr-afnfcafa, `ca kvfr-sfctfchfa `s hkdp`rfa tk

wgitf wkdfc kr dfc nkr hridfs kn surviv`e?70Qgf Afp`rtdfct kn Oustihf

rfpkrts tg`t rkulgey 7: pfrhfct kn pfkpef ic wkdfcs priskcs `rf sfrvicl

priskc tidf nkr ckcvikefct prkpfrty, pumeih-krafr kr ar ul-rfe`tfa kfcsfs.]ffhticl tgf pkeitih`e afv`eu`tikc kn gf`etgh`rf hhfss nkr idpkvfrisgfa

nfd`ef-mkaifa pfkpef kn hkekr, tgf wkdfcs priskc pkpue`tikc is dkrf

eibfey tg`c tgf lfcfr`e pkpue`tikc, kr fvfc tgf dfcs priskc pkpue`tikc,

tk mf GI^ pksitivf kr icnfhtfa w itg Gfp`titis H, kr tk g`vf fitgfr sydptkds

kr ` ai`lcksis kn dfct`e ieecfss.7= Qgus idpkvfrisgfa nfd`ef-mkaifa

pfkpef kn hkekr `rf `t risb kn mktg idpriskcdfct `ca prfd`turf af`tg

tgrkulg prfvfct`mef aisf`sf. @ca tgf Afp`rtdfct kn Oustihf Xt`tistihs

rfpkrts tg`t < kut kn 0: pfkpef ic wkdfcs priskcs wfrf prid`ry h`rflivfrs

nkr dickr hgiearfc prikr tk tgfir idpriskcdfct2 tgus tgfir idpriskcdfct

g`s afv`st`ticl idp`ht kc tgfir n`dieifs ca hkdducitifs. It is idpkrt`cttk cktf tg`t ckt `ee pfkpef ic wkdfcs priskcs iafctiny `s wkdfc kr

nfd`ef. \gief t gfrf is ck khi`e hkuct kn gkw d`cy tr` cslfcafr kr lfcafr

ckc-hkcnkrdicl pfkpef `rf idpriskcfa, it is u cafrstkka tg`t lfcafr

ckc-hkcnkrdicl pfkpef n`hf skhift`e a ishridic`tikc `ca gfilgtfcfa

hridic`eiz`tikc, `ca tgfrf `rf d`ef-iafctinifa `ca/kr lfcafr ckc-

hkcnkrdicl, nfd`ef-mkaifa pfkpef idpriskcfa ic wkdfcs priskcs. Xkhifty

rflue`rey ilckrfs tgis pkpue`tikc `ca sumofhts it tk silciffh`ct `musf `ca

lfcafr aishridic`tikc wgief nrff `ca idpriskcfa.78Idpriskcdfct iske`tfs

pfkpef ic wkdfcs priskcs ca aisfcnr`chgisfs tgfd nrkd tgf afdkhr`tih

prkhfss. Zkeihifs tg`t rfstriht visit`tikc kn pfkpef ic priskc my n`diey `ca

dfai` `rf rflue`rey ucsuhhfssnueey hg`eefclfa. ]ur`e ekh`tikcs iske`tfpriskcs lrf`t aist`chfs nrkd tgf urm`c hkdducitifs kn krilic kn

idpriskcfa pfkpef. Ic tgf uetid`tf `ht kn aisfcnr`chgisfdfct, ic d`cy

st`tfs, pfkpef ic priskc pfrd`cfctey eksf tgf ri lgt tk vktfef`vicl fctirf

hkdducitifs kn hkekr `ca idpkvfrisgfa hkdducitifs kn `ee r`hfs uc`mef

tk `hhfss afdkhr`hy. Zfkpef ic wkdfcs priskcs urlfctey cffa ` pumeih

vkihf witgic kur afdkhr`hy.

Qk mfttfr fxpe`ic trfcas ic dkafrc idpriskcdfct, I `sbfa ` tf`d kn

`htivists icsiaf wkdfcs priskcs wgk g`vf mffc idpriskcfa nkr dkst kr

`ee kn tgf e`st 8: yf`rs tk hkddfct kc tgf hg`clfs ic priskc hkcaitikcs,

pfrhfptikcs kn idpriskcfa pfkpef ca str`tflifs tgfy g`vf t` bfc tk mfttfr

tgfir eivfs kvfr tgis tidf.71Airfht qukt`tikcs `ppf`r mfekw.

\g`t g`s hg`clfa ic priskc `ca pkeihicl kvfrtgf e`st 8: yf`rs;Zriskc pkeihy g`s hg` clfa nrkd rfg`mieit`tikc tk w` rfgkusicl kn

hridic`es. @ lr`vf ichkcsistfchy fxists witgic tgf systfd It `ee ekkbs

lkka kc p`pfr, yft ekkb `t wgk is prfsfcticl `ee kn tgis tk tgf hkurts.

G`vf tgfy sbfa kcf pfrskc tg`t g`s ht u`eey mffc mfgica priskc nfchf

nkr 86 yf`rstgrff `ca ` g`en afh`afstg`t g`s eivfa `ee tgf `htu`e

hg`clfs; G`vf sffc tgfd g`ppfc witg kcfs kwc fyfs, ca g`vf nfet t gfd

witg kcfs kwc lut`ee kn tgf cfl`tivitynrkd tgf `lf kn =6 tk tgf `lf kn

>:; Nrkd rfspfht `ca h`ricl, tk aisrfspfht `ca ckc-h`ricl2 siclef hfee

eivicl tk `c 7-wkd`c hfee2 prkpfr dfaih`e h`rf/dfaih`tikcs tk d`ymf `

dfaih`e `ppkictdfct in nkrhfnue fckulgpfrskc`e h`rf itfds eiditfa

(tkieft p`pfr, t`dpkcs, s`cit`ry c`pbics, hef`cicl suppeifs`ee eiditfa)2

hueic`ry `rf` ckw aislusticl (nkka ic`afqu`tf nkr hkcsudptikc, sfrvihf

ruafcfss, ck `auet pkrtikcs)2 shgkke prklr`ds/wkrb prklr`ds ckcfxistfct

nkr icd`tfs. Qgfrf is ck ichfctivf `s kppksfa tk ic tgf

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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Qgfrf g`vf mffc d`cy hg`clfs kc d`cy efvfes kvfr aifrfct afh`afs?

ichrf`sfa pkpue`tikc afcsity, dkrf gkstief pkeihf `ttituafs, efss fauh`tikc,

pkkr suppey aistrimutikc, pkkr nkka `ca efss hkurt `hhfss. ]fauhfa

fauh`tikc/vkh`tikc kppkrtucitifs2 ichrf`sfa rfw`ras nkr fcl`licl ic

hridic`e mfg`vikr2 ichrf`sfa pucisgdfcts nkr ckt fcl`licl ic hridic`emfg`vikr kr nkr fcl`licl ic prk-skhi`e mfg`vikr.Hicay K`befy, idpriskcfa

sichf 0990.

Cktgicl g`s idprkvfa. Its kcey lftticl wkrsf `ca wkrsf. Qgf e`hb kn

upbffp kn tgf muieaicls/prkpfrt y. Qgf qu`eity kn nkka. Qgf bica kn pfkpef.

\kdfc nrkd 07 tk =6 `rf ` mil pkpue`tikc gfrf ckw. ^`efrif, idpriskcfa

0990-=:00.

Fvfrytgicl g` s hg`clfa nkr tgf wkrsf. Zgysih`e ca vfrm`e musf nrkd

tgf st` kc tgf pfkpef icsiaf. Lu`ras g`vf mfhkdf dkrf llrfssivf cackt rfspfhticl ykur rilgts (d`ie is tgrkwc `w`y, ckt livicl tkieft p`pfr,

rkkd sf`rhg tgrf`ts, t` bicl prkpfrty).Eiz, idpriskcfa sichf 0996.

Qgfrf rf dkrf st`, dkrf ruefs, efss privieflfs. \f h`ct lft mkxfs nrkd

n`diey `ca `rf ckw sgkppicl nrkd vfcakrs. Pu`eity kn nkka is akwc `ca

rfauhfa qu`ctity. \g`t is tgf wkrst hg`clf; Zkkr dfaih`e h`rf, dfaih`e

cflefht wgihg ef`as tk dkrf dfaih`e prkmefds ca af tg. G`s cytg icl

idprkvfa; Qgfy g`vf ` hkdputfr systfd, mut tgfyrf ckt usicl it wfee.

G`bid, idpriskcfa sichf 099>.

Oust prikr tk dy `rrfst, `ee bicas kn cfw tkulg kc hridf e`ws wfrf p`ssfa.It sffdfa eibf ` e`caseiafnrkd mficl `mef tk `aa kc yf`rs nkr

fcg`chfdfcts, tk tgf tgrff st ribfs e`w. @ca fvfc ucafr kur hurrfct st`tf

priskc kvfrhrkwaicl ca afmt hrisis, dkrf e`ws rf mficl hrf`tfa. Qgfrf

w`s ` ekt kn prkdisf nkr hg`clf witg H`einkrci` idpefdfcticl lfcafr

rfspkcsivf prklr`ds. It is ` okbf. Qgf `ssudptikc ucafreyicl tgf prklr`d

is tg`t wkdfc hkddit hridfs nkr aifrfct rf`skcs tg`c dfc, ca tgfrfnkrf

cffa tk mf trf`tfa ainnfrfctey. Qgfy `rf vihtids kn `musf `ca cffa

rfg`mieit`tikc. Qg`t tgfy Rkhi`esT h`rf is mueesgit. Ekkb, tgf st`tf g`s

mffc ekkbicl nkr ` w`y tk dkvf wkdfc tk d`bf dkrf rkkd nkr d`ef

priskcfrs. Qgfy hkdf up witg tgis wgkef vihtid i ssuf sk tgf pumeih akfsct

nrf`b kut in wkdfc `rf tr`csnfrrfa tk sd`eefr, hkdducity-m`sfa priskcs

kr put kc `cbef dkcitkrs. Fvfry st` dfdmfr is d`ca`tfa tk t`bf tgf

lfcafr rfspkcsivf prklr`d tr`ici cl. Yft tgfy usf tgf s`df musivf t`ht ihs

tk bffp tgfir nfd`ef pkpue`tikc ic eicf. Qgf hkrrfhtikc`e khfrs vfrm`eey

`ca fdktikc`eey `musf, mueey `ca tgrf`tfc tgf wkdfc ictk hkdpei`chf.

\kdfc ak ckt pursuf lrifv`chfs kr mfhkdf icvkevfa ic `htivisd mfh`usf

tgfy `rf `nr`ia kn rft`ei`tikc. Qgf e`hb kn nfd`ef `htivisd is prkkn kn tg`t.

Qgf wkdfc ak ckt st`ca tklftgfr. \f ak ckt fvfc g`vf fckulg bktfx/

t`dpkcs `ca tkieft p`pfr, mut tgfy oust `hhfpt it. Qgfy nffe gfepefss tk ak

`cytgicl `mkut it. Qgfy `rf tkk wkrrifa `mkut ` rkkd sf`rhg, kr `

aishipeic`ry hg`rlf `s rft`ei`tikc. It is ckt uchkddkc tk mf h`eefa mithg

kr gk, kr tk mf tkea tk sgut tgf nuhb up, my tgfsf lfcafr-rfspkcsivf-

tr`icfa hkrrfhtikc`e khfrs. Qgf priskc I `d ic d`y fca up tgf kcey

nfd`ef n`hieity tg`t gkusfs gilgfr sfhurity pfkpef. It hurrfctey kpfr`tfs

`t `pprkxid`tfey =:: pfrhfct kn afsilc h`p`hity. In tgf Xt`tf g`s its w`y`ca hkcvfrts kcf kn tgf wkdfcs priskcs ictk ` dfcs priskc, wf wiee

kpfr`tf t kvfr =:: pfrhfct. @ca tgfrf wie e mf ck w`y tk sfp`r`tf fcfdifs,

kr prktfht pfkpef nrkd st` wgk g`vf g`rdfa tgfd. I g`vf trifa tk spf`b

tk dy pffrs. Ivf sbfa tgfd tk g`vf n`diey dfdmfrs h`ee priskc khi`es

`ca st`tf rfprfsfct`tivfs. Dkst `rfct akicl `cytgicl. Qgfy `rf eyicl kc

tgfir m`hbs, sprf`aicl tgfir efls `ca tgfir dkutgs `t tgf s`df tidf. Mut

I rf`eizf it isct tgfir n`uet. Qgfy `rf `nr`ia `ca stuhb ic tgf s`df hyhef kn

`musf tgfy fxpfrifchfa `t gkdf. Fxhfpt icstf`a kn mficl tgfir n`diey

dfdmfr kr silcinih`ct ktgfr mf`ticl `ca r`picl, its tgf H`einkrci`

Afp`rtdfct kn Hkrrfhtikcs `ca ]fg`mieit`tikc. Kcf pksitivf hg`clf is

tgf rfef`sf kn skdf wkdfc einfrs. Qgf p`st lkvfrckrs wkuea rflue`rey

kvfrturc tgf p`rkef suit`mieity afhisikcs nkr einfrs. @ ekt kn tgf wkdfc

wgk g`vf lkttfc rfef`sf a`tfs rfhfctey wfrf oust `s suit`mef nkr p`rkef

ucafr tgf ktgfr lkvfrckrs. I mfeifvf p`rt kn tgf rf` skc its ckw kb nkr tgfd

tk lft rfef`sf a`tfs is mfh`usf kn tgf kvfrhrkwaicl `ca fhkckdih hrisis.

Qgfsf wkdfc wfrf bfpt mfgica m`rs mfh`usf tgf Xt`tf g`a t gf df`cs tk

bffp tgfd, ckt mfh`usf tgfy wfrf ` tgrf`t. Qg`ts aislusticl. Hkkbif,

idpriskcfa sichf 099>.

It g`s lr`au`eey lkttfc wkrsf? dfaih`e is `c `trkhity2 tkk d`cy dfct`e

gf`etg p`tifcts `rf ic priskc2 hkcaitikcs `rf tgf wkrst tgf Ze`t` v.Mrkwce`wsuit76g`s mffc ilckrfa.Nucb, idpriskcfa sichf 0997. 88

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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Gkw g`vf pfrhfptikcs kn pfkpef ic priskchg`clfa kvfr tgf e`st 8: yf`rs;Qgf Zkwfrs tg`t Mf `rf dkrf mfeitteicl tkw`ra us rfl`raefss kn kur

uplr`af ic fauh`tikc, sfen-gfep, fth. I mfeifvf its fitgfr me`hb kr wgitf2

tgfrfs ck lr`y `rf` wg`tskfvfr. Df`cicl tgfy akct eibf df sidpeymfh`usf Id ich`rhfr`tfa, `ca ` priskcfrpkict me`cb. Xk its eibf ck

d`ttfr gkw prkauhtivf yku mfhkdf tgfy stiee pfrhfivf yku `s afff`ct.

Xg`wc, idpriskcfa sich f 09Kmvikusey df ca

`ee tgf ykutg ca ykucl auets sfctfchfa eibf df rf mfykca rfg`mieit`tikc.@ee tgf tgrff-stribfs e`w7.

I nffe tgf prfouaihf kn mficl ` nfekc.Nucb, idpriskcfa sichf 0997.

\g`t is kcf tgicl pfkpef kutsiaf sgkuea bckw`mkut priskcs tka`y;Its ` rfvkevicl akkr. I g`vf sffc tgis g`ppfc. I ak ckt bckw wg`t is

g`ppfcicl ic skhiftyI g`vfct mffc kut ic afh`afsyft I ak sff wg`t

wkdfc ekkb eibf wgfc tgfy hkdf tgrkulg tgfsf l`tfs ckw`a`ys. @ =6 yf`rkea wkd`c ekkbs 6: yf`rs kea `ca wiee le`aey t`bf tgis priskc `musf mfh`usf

` p`rkef khfr is oust `s m`a `s ` hkrrfhtikcs khfr `ca tgfrf `rf ck

prklr`ds ic t gf nrff wkrea. Oksfpgicf Dkkrf, idpriskcfa sichf 09

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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Gkw wkuea yku rfauhf tgf priskc pkpue`tikc ictgf sgkrt tfrd;Zfrskc`eey, Ia eibf tk sff dkrf fauh`tikc `ca tr`icicl ic hkdducitifs.

Icstf`a kn muieaicl priskcs, tgf nkhus sgkuea mf pe`hfa kc tgicls eibf

pe`hfs wgfrf pfkpef h`c lk kchf rfef`sfa, wgfrf tgfy h`c g`vf ` cfw

st`rt ic einf. Id ckt t`ebicl mkut ykur vfr`lf prklr`ds. Id spf`bicl

kc stfp-my-stfp gfep g`cas-kc tr`icicl. I mfeifvf it wkuea gfep ktgfrs tknkhus kc wg`ts rilgt `ca mfhkdf dkrf rfspkcsimef icaiviau`es/p`rfcts.

Xg`wc, idpriskcfa sich f 09.

\f g`vf tgf skeutikcs. \f bckw wg`t tk ak. \f cffa tk st`rt my afhiaicl

wf w`ct tk lft tgis wkrb kn afh`rhfr`tikc akcf. \gfrf tgfrf is ` wiee,

tgfc, tgfrf is ` w`y. ]ilgt ckw tgfrf is ck rf`e hkchfrc nkr wkdfc. It is

` pe`y. In tgfrf is hkdditdfct tk rfef`si cl ckc-vikefct nfd`ef kfcafrs

tgfc rfef`sf tgfd. In tgf st`tf w`cts n`diey rfuciffh`tikcs, tgfc tgfsf

s`nf wkdfc wkuea ckt stiee mf mfgica tgfsf w` ees, tgfir hgi earfc wkuea

ckt mf ic nkstfr h`rf kr kc tgf vfrlf kn `akptikc. It is f`sy tk id`licf

wg`t tk ak tk dfft pfkpefs cffas `ca tk fc`mef pfkpef tk tgrivf, in kcf

rf`eey w`cts tk ak it. Hkkbif, idpriskcfa sichf 099>

Dkrf trf`tdfct nkr sumst`chf `ca `ehkgke `musf. Dkrf hkdducity

sfrvihfs nkr akdfstih vikefchf. Mfttfr fauh`tikc systfd.Nucb, idpriskcfa

sichf 0997.

Ak priskcs hrf`tf s`nfty;I nffe priskc tf`hgfs kcf gkw tk survivf wgief g`vicl it g`ra. It `esk

g`rafcs pfrskcs gf`rt tk skdf aflrff auf tk tgf t rf`tdfct yku rfhfivf.

Ck, I akct nffe priskcs hrf`tf s`nfty nkr ktgfrs. I mfeifvf it hrf`tfs s`nfty

nkr tgf priskcfr mfh`usf tgfyrf wfee bfpt `w`y nrkd skhiftys a`clfrs.

Xg`wc, idpriskcfa sichf 09.

Ck! Qgfy hrf`tf `c id`lf kn s`nfty` pe`hf tk m`cisg tgf m`a luys.

Zriskcs icakhtric`tf ffrst tidf kfcafrs `ca pfrpftu`tf `musf hyhefs.

Qgfy ak ckt rfg`mieit`tf. Zfkpef p`rkef witg ck sbiees `ca ck wkrb, witg

tgf `aafa stild` kn mficl ` hkcviht tg`t `ekcf pusgfs tgfd m`hb ictk

hridf. Hkkbif, idpriskcfa sichf 099>.

CK! Gkw h`c `cykcf tgicb priskcs hrf`tf s`nfty; Nucb, idprisk cfa

sichf 0997.

86

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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Gkw h`c wf muiea ` s`nf, hkdp`ssikc`tf wkreawitgkut priskcs;Gkw h`c it mf ffxfa; \iee it mf ffxfa; Id `c feafrey wkd`c stiee fflgticl

nkr nrffakd witg ` tfrd kn einf witgkut rf`e pkssimieity kn p`rkef. H`c

tgfrf mf hg`clf; Yfs, in tgf rilgt pfkpef `rf gf`ra! @ca hkdf nkrtg! @ca

`rf ckt ilckrfa! Oksfpgicf Dkkrf, idpriskcfa sichf 09

8/11/2019 Everything Has Changed For The Worst, But We're Still Fighting: 30 Years of Resistance Inside Women's Prisons

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@rf tgfrf krl`cizicl kppkrtucitifs tk d`bfhg`clf `hrkss priskc w`ees;Qgis isct `s strkcl `s it kchf w`swkdfc g`vf ck s`y sk ic priskc ck

dkrf, `ca surf, kcf h`c spf`b, yft `rf yku gf`ra; Ck! I ak bckw pfkpef

`rf tryicl tk gfep `ca n`itg bffps df lkicl `ekcl witg tgksf rf`e `eeifsfflgticl nkr hg`clf witg us nrkd kutsiaf. Oksfpgicf Dkkrf, idpriskcfa

sichf 09