On the evening of Oct. 31, members of the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and the Party for Socialism and Liberation joined many community and religious leaders, plus over 100 Maryland residents and activists for a rally and march to demand the immediate halt to the construction of a new youth prison which is estimated to cost in $104 million in taxpayer money.
 Oct. 31 protest, Baltimore |
Demonstrators gathered at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School football field in Baltimore for a spirited rally chaired by Reverend Heber Brown III, with speakers from the Baltimore Algebra Project, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Kinetics Faith & Justice Network and more.
The new jail facility in East Baltimore, with a proposed location only a few blocks from central booking, was proposed by the administration of Democratic governor Martin O’Malley. If built it would house 180 juveniles who are charged as adults, some of whom are currently incarcerated with adult offenders.
Many felt the urgency needed for a struggle against the racist prison-industrial complex and the disproportionate criminalization of the city’s Black youth, while also fighting for money and programs to meet peoples’ needs. “We need to have a movement to run over those in power,” said Morgan State Professor and Jazz & Justice radio show host Jared Ball.
After the rally, demonstrators marched towards the proposed location of the new facility, only a few blocks away, at 600 East Monument St. Walking down the streets of East Baltimore and stopping traffic, marchers shouted “Educate! Don’t Incarcerate!”, “Money for Jobs & Education, Not for Jails & Incarceration!” and “Books Not Bars!”
Marchers were met with an empty lot surrounded by a chain-link fence and signs marking the block as state property. Despite warnings, a few activists proceeded to cut the lock in a dramatic break-in as protesters huddled around the gates. After a successful break-in, many poured inside the lot scattering books on the grounds, symbolically marking it as an area that should be dedicated to youth education. ANSWER placards which read, “No To Youth Jails!” and “Money For Jobs & Education, Not Jails!” were driven into the ground and fencing, to remain for all those driving by to see.
Under free market capitalism, the prison industry has raked in fortunes, swelling the coffers of the few corporations and banks that profit off the incarceration of poor and working class people. Corporate politicians like O’Malley have proven their allegiance to the ruling class time and time again. Their constant betrayal of our city’s youth is only an indication that our struggles cannot be overcome through the ballot box. We must turn to a different course: taking matters into our own hands by continuing to build a fight back movement in the streets.
