From the north and south and east

"... Whoa, mercy mercy me, things ain't what they used to be"

I remember first learning about Many Chout Uch when we watched the documentary Sentenced Home for SASC SI. And then we watched it again, for the SASC retreat. And then we watched it for Asian American Studies 125. And then Boalt Hall had an event and we watched it there too. But this time, Many was there and we got to hear him speak. And even though the producer and his pd spoke the most during the panel, it was amazing to finally meet this man whose story had had such a big impact on my personal development as a Southeast Asian American male.

Many is up for a clemency hearing next Thursday, June 11th. I hope the best for Many and his family. For more details about what you can actively do to help, please check out his posting at the API Community Leadership Foundation. I'm planning on writing something to send to the clemency pardon board, hopefully you can too.

On a related note, I recently finished reading Other: an Asian & Pacific Islander Prisoners' Anthology (be like Monica and try to get it from an independent bookseller). It's API, but is predominantly SEA and male (there's one female and one transgender submission). As I was reading it, the personal narratives got me all sorts of angry and sad and feeling hopeless, but after some having some time to think about it, I see the power that the experiences of each person have. Because we read the vignettes and come to know what they've shared with us, they are less alone, we are more together; there is a cathartic release in that. It's bridging gaps in our communities.

And our folks in the prison system need support; they sure as hell aren't getting that from the system, they fucking aren't even counted (hence the title, Other). So we can't even know how messed up the whole situation is. And yes, it's some messed up Orwellian shit (Department of Corrections?? GTFO!). For more information, you can check out the blog of the guy who compiled it, Eddy Zheng (he's also facing deportation).

That's all for now, can you lead us out Marvin?