I met Death Row inmate James P. Anderson about five years ago. He heard me on a Bay Area radio program and tracked me down. He called me collect from San Quentin prison in California and I accepted the charge. We've been friends ever since and talk almost every week.
James is an artist and does many kinds of art work. The key chain above he made from a domino. The leather pouch at the top he fashioned from the leather tongues of prison boots. He also paints and often has his work displayed in art shows. (See below)
He also writes about jail conditions and has gotten in trouble with the jailers for revealing the mistreatment inside the California prison industry.
James was recently transferred from San Quentin to another state prison in San Luis Obispo. (The state is closing down its death row portion of the prison.) He wrote an article that was printed in the San Francisco Bay View newspaper about his new digs. Below are two paragraphs from the article. The rest of it can be read at https://sfbayview.com/2024/12/snys-spis-and-other-beasts-of-cmc-east/
After spending 45 years on San Quentin’s death row, I’m one of those transferred to the California Men’s Colony (CMC-East) which is located in San Luis Obispo and is sometimes referred to as a “country club,” even though it’s a Security Level III prison.
One of the first and most obvious aspects of the prison was the extremely minimal number of Black (African-American, negro) faces of corrections “officers” and employees. That is, compared to San Quentin, there are so few that I was compelled to actually ask a Black female officer about the percentage of Blacks employed here. Her response was simply and cautiously, “There’s some.” Needless to say, her facial expression – she was surprised that a prisoner would ask such a question – and lack of any elaboration made a very powerful statement – without actually saying it.
Another article by James was written in 2022 about conditions at his former prison - San Quentin. He was often punished for challenging the system and/or disclosing the many injustices. In one case he was put in the 'hole' (solitary) for filing grievances. When this has happened James usually had his property (and court documents) taken from him and often never returned.
That article can be read at https://sfbayview.com/2022/10/the-prisoners-property-matrix/
James has made my understanding of the US prison system quite real. After so many years behind bars James is a remarkable man who has found a way to stay in touch with the wider world. Friends that he has made 'on the outside' over the years send him things to read, money, supplies thru a corporate run program that enables snacks and the like to be donated to inmates.
Every time James calls me he shares stories about radio programs he recently heard. His whole network of supporters around the country are often enlisted by him to even share information with his other supporters. He frequently tells folks about the Global Network and our peace in space organizing. It's what keeps him sane.
It's been an honor to know James P. Anderson. His long-time friend and most vigorous supporter is Louis Wolf (co-founder of CovertAction Magazine along with former CIA whistle blower Philip Agee. I strongly recommend Agee's book 'On the Run). Wolf has researched the charges against James, and his corrupt trial, and insists that he long ago deserves another trial which so far has not been granted.
Here is a painting done by my friend James.
Bruce
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