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JACOB
CONROY the SHAC7
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Writing from Jake Posted June 9, 2008 In 5th grade, our teacher let us tape pictures we’d cut out of magazines to the side of our desks, probably to foster individualism. They were our “locker doors” since we didn’t have lockers. I mostly had the usual sports figures one might expect in the mid 80’s — Lawrence Taylor, Danny Manning, George Brett—athletes who are now old enough to be forgotten. My neighbor to the right, Karen, went a different route, which was often the subject of my ridicule. She had quite the portfolio of glam rockers, who, unless they were Motley Crue, I could care less about. One in particular had an amazing teased hair do, purple leopard print spandex, an assortment of strategically tied bandanas, and was on wires flying over the crowd, microphone in hand. Over 20 years later, as I sit in prison, I think about those days and how I probably wouldn’t have ripped on Jon Bon Jovi if I knew how his lyrics would later define my stay here. “We got each other, and that’s a lot/…we’ll give it a shot!/ Whoa, we’re half way there.” At the end of May 2008, I will have spent a little over 18 months in lovely Victorville, with a little over 18 to go. That’s right; I’m half way there. The first 18 months have been more than I can try to express. I’m writing on day 6 of another 24 hour a day lockdown after the third racially-motivated “incident” since I’ve been here that ended with flash grenades and riot cops. The violence, drama, and gang- and racially- motivated tension seems to be an underlying current that is always present, some days more than others. But I try and make the best of it by keeping busy, keeping motivated, and having fun every day, which isn’t the easiest thing to do. The Jovi, however, said it best—“We’ve got each other, and that’s a lot.” The support and letters that still pour in 18 months later is amazing. On top of your letters, I hear from new people that are just learning about the case and animal rights through your web pages, emails and outreach. That’s very inspiring. Thank you for your dedication to our support, and, more importantly, to the animals. “Through the years and miles between us/ it’s been a long and lonely ride// but if I got that call in the dead of the night/ I’d be right by your side.” It’s almost four years to the day that just about every federal agency came through our door at 6 in the morning to catch us by surprise and arrest us on our indictment. Like every other time, we knew they were coming and it wasn’t quite the surprise they had hoped for. What was a surprise was the movement’s reaction. Four years later and many miles, we are still fresh on people’s minds and lips, as is the movement. It’s said you can tell who your true friends are by who will stand by you in the darkest of times. When I flip through my mail every day I see old friends and new ones. Some people who I haven’t talked to in 10, 12, 15 years. I even received a note from my 5th grade class neighbor, Karen (I wonder if she still loves Jon Bon Jovi…). Then there are people who actively campaign to have support and recognition stripped from some of us. People who use to be good friends who now go out of their way to make sure some of us are kept in the dark. It’s disappointing to see anyone in our movement become blinded purely by their wants and desires. I suppose it’s human nature, but in one of the only truly selfless struggles, it’s disheartening to be stabbed in the back this late in the game. But leave it to the mighty Bon Jovi to put it in perspective: “You got to give it all you got now/ or you might get shot down/ fight hard until the battle is won/ stick to your guns.” It’s an incredibly exciting and pivotal time in our movement’s history. We are under attack by new, egregious laws, animal abusers and government harassment more than ever before. More and more of our freedoms are being restricted based on nothing more than our ability to be effective against big business. And there’s no bigger business than exploitation. However, even in a federal prison in the desert I am inspired by our forward momentum. Be it animals being liberated in areas once unheard of for direct action, like Malaysia and Mexico, protests all over the U.S. and the world, and potentially crippling ballot initiatives against California animal agriculture, it’s an exciting time to be involved. And it’s a time that everyone of every ability can make a huge difference. I won’t quote you Margaret Meade or tell you to be the change you want to see in the world. Let’s face it: if it wasn’t for Bon Jovi, my letter would be just another 2 page cliché. But I can’t say it enough—what’s going on right now is historic. I’m excited and for the time being, I’m just a spectator. Be a part of it and give it all you got now—stick to your guns! Did I mention how great your support has been? Please support all of the SHAC 7 and animal rights prisoners, here and abroad. Don’t forget the few Green Scare prisoners who, despite looking down the barrel of a life sentence, truly stuck to their guns. Particularly my old buddy Jonathan Paul. There are so many activists in prisons doing time for simply resisting. If you have a free minute, put a smile on their face at mail call. In the mean time, get back to the pens, phone and picket lines! “We’ve got to hold on, ready or not/ you live for the fight when it’s all that you’ve got!” Keep Fighting, Jake Conroy |
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