Running Down The Walls


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Sunday, September 15, 2024
11 am sharp (Yoga warm-up at 10am)
FDR Park


RDTW 2024

Philadelphia Anarchist Black Cross invites you to our seventh annual Running Down The Walls (RDTW)! This year marks the 25th anniversary of this non-competitive 5K and political education event in support of political prisoners and prisoners of war. Every year we split the proceeds between the ABCF Warchest —which has provided over $240,000 in stipends and other material support to prisoners with little or no other financial means—and a specific political prisoner, organization, or movement we want to uplift. This year we’ll be supporting and amplifying the voices of people struggling for freedom in Gaza, the world’s largest open-air prison.

Resistance is a continuous endeavor.

- Bassel Al-Araj, Palestinian scholar and former political prisoner, martyred

How will proceeds go to support Palestine? If you’ve participated in previous years, you know that we announce the recipient from day one. We have to take a slightly different approach this year due to how rapidly the situation is changing in Palestine. Given the unpredictability, the exact recipient(s) are subject to change. For example, in our initial planning meeting we were in touch with people in Cairo gathering funds for evacuations. With Rafah crossing since closed, other potential beneficiaries include vetted mutual aid groups in the Gaza Strip, and we will coordinate with trusted folks on the ground to distribute resources appropriately after the event. More information will be made available in the reportback.

Running is not required! You can also walk, roll, or cheer. We’ll begin with warm-up stretches at 10am (bring a mat if you can). At 11am, those who want to participate in the 5k will take two loops around the park; at a walking pace, this takes about 45-60 minutes. Afterwards, stay for socializing with speakers, tabling, and light refreshments.

Remote participation is encouraged! Every year we are joined by incarcerated comrades who take part in this by running, walking, or otherwise exercising at the same time as us–from behind bars. If you can’t attend the event at FDR Park for any reason, leave your shipping address in the comment box at registration, and we’ll mail you a t-shirt. If you would like to make an additional contribution beyond your own registration, please sponsor a participant either outside prison, inside prison, or one of each. Contact us for more information on sponsoring.

Due to the abominable conditions that political prisoners and freedom fighters are subjected to, let’s drum up support now more than ever. Join us as we celebrate our successes this last year, including the releases of Veronza Bowers and Eric King, and build momentum for the struggles ahead!

Register for the 5K

Thanks for your support by running/walking/rolling the 5K! Everyone must fill out the following form to register NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1ST so that you receive your official shirt the day of the event.

The registration fee of $40 confirms your place at the event and covers your t-shirt. We can accept credit/debit donations online or cash/check/money order on the day of event. Make checks and money orders out to Tim Fasnacht. Additional funds over the $40 base fee raised through sponsorships are more than welcome (see our fundraising tips below).

After submitting the following registration form, please allow 24 – 48 hours for your confirmation email. Check your Spam folder if the message does not appear in your Inbox. If you did not receive a confirmation email, please get in touch with us at [email protected] .



Onsite security strives to make Philadelphia RDTW a safer space event. If you experience harrassment or abuse at the event, or if someone who has engaged in such behavior is adversely affecting your participation, please come to a volunteer. Experienced advocates, medics and support people are available.


Tips to Get Sponsors for your 5K Participation:

Many participants will pay the $40 registration fee on their own but if you would like to get sponsored instead, here’s a few tips and ideas to get you started.

  • Make a list of potential donors. Friends, family, co-workers, neighbors…think creatively and include everyone you can think of (it doesn’t hurt to ask). Who might be supportive? Who cares about similar causes? Decide to ask for a specific amount that you think will be within your prospective sponsor’s budget (for instance $1-8 for each kilometer).

  • Hand-write request letters. Deliver them personally if possible. Write your letter in a genuine tone and reference your relationship. Email is faster, but many will be less likely to forget a letter (than an email in a crowded inbox) and they’ll appreciate the personal touch. Include a self-addressed envelope for people to mail checks. Use email to follow up with those who don’t respond.

  • Make it personal and face to face. Ask for support from the people you see regularly, and ask in person. People respond to eye contact, assertiveness and passion. Tell them why you’re inspired to support political prisoners and their stories. Practice the conversation beforehand if you think it might be difficult to find words in the moment.

  • Use all communication tools available- Phone calls, text, social media, websites, and email to reach broader networks. If you’re trying to appeal to an organization, make it clear that the event can be a source of positive press for them. Ask them to match the donations of other groups if possible. You could even start a crowdfunding page for your run. Add quality images and tell a story to engage people. Share it on social media and encourage your friends to do the same. Use letters and other communications to direct people to your crowdfunding page.

  • Follow up, provide updates and say ‘thank you.’ Remember to reconnect to your sponsors with photos and stories from the event and thank them for their support.

History

Since 1999, the Anarchist Black Cross Federation, incarcerated people and support organizations across the country participate in Running Down The Walls (RDTW) . This annual 5K run/walk/roll event is to show solidarity and raise funds for numerous political prisoners in Turtle Island. Funds raised are typically split between the ABCF Warchest and a recipient chosen by the local hosts. Each year, incarcerated comrades participate by running inside prison. This event brings us closer together, strengthens our bond, and lets people behind bars know they are not forgotten!

The Warchest program receives donations from ABC chapters and other individuals and then disperses the funds to the recipients in the program. Since initiation in November 1994, the program has raised almost $260,000. The current Warchest recipients are:

In past years, Running Down the Walls was held in Albuquerque (NM), Arcata (CA), Ashland (OR), Austin (TX), Bellefonte (PA), Bloomington (IN), Boston (MA), Brooklyn (NY), Buffalo (NY), Chicago (IL), Chico (CA), Denver (CO), Gainesville (FL), Hamilton (Ontario), Elmore (AL), Guelph (Ontario), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA), Lowell (MA), Marion (IL), Middletown (CT), Minneapolis (MN), USP Navosta (TX), New York (NY), Oakland (CA), Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), Richmond (VA), Riverside (CA), FCI Sandstone (MN), Seattle (WA), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto (Ontario).

Palestinian imprisonment

We recognize the Palestinian struggle as one of many worldwide—for dignity, against settler colonization and genocide—going on for generations.

For over 70 years, Palestinians have been forced into a multi-faceted struggle for their lives and relationship to the land. The process of ethnic cleansing, colonization and apartheid started with the 1948 Nakba involving the destruction of approximately 600 Palestinian villages. This was followed by the Naksa in 1967 marking the beginning of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem expelling approximately 300,000 Palestinians from their homes. The restrictive wall around Gaza was first built in 1971.

This settler colonial and apartheid system bucks common distinctions of political imprisonment. In many countries if someone is accused of and prosecuted for being part of a resistance movement, they are considered a political prisoner. Yet, under occupation, it is understandable that essentially the whole population would be resistant to the oppressive system. Thousands of Palestinians trapped in Israeli prisons could fit this description (over 8000 prior to October 7th). The apartheid-based travel restrictions add additional barriers for family members and even lawyers to visit prisoners held in certain areas, some of whom are minors. Additionally, the administrative detention system (with over 2500 detainees prior to October 7th) exasperates double standards and injustices inherent to incarceration.

Hope in prison is like a flower that grows out of a stone.

- Khalida Jarrar, activist and multiple-time Palestinian political prisoner

Since Israel invaded the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, about 800,000 Palestinians have been detained in Israeli prisons and brought before Israeli military courts. Children as young as 12 years old can be prosecuted, and hundreds of minors are detained each year. Israel has two parallel legal systems, which it uses based on ethnic-religious criterion - by policy, Palestinians are tried in draconian Israeli military courts, while Israelis are tried in civilian court under a much more lenient penal code. This dual court system’s existence is a major reason why the regime in the occupied territories is so often defined as apartheid. Following the release of Dr. Abu Salmiya in early July, it was revealed that Israeli prisons are now “full” with approximately 21,000 detainees many without charges.

#FreeEmAll


Resources for information on Palestinian prisoners

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Running Down The Walls 2023 Reportback

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Running Down The Walls 2022 Reportback

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Running Down The Walls 2021 Reportback

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Running Down The Walls 2020 Reportback

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Running Down the Walls 2019 Reportback

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Running Down The Walls 2018 Reportback

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