Every year around Valentine’s Day, VINE Sanctuary encourages people to send cards and letters to vegans who are incarcerated due to their activism for animals, the environment, or social justice. This year, we tried to roll that together with a Valentine-themed potluck, but Mother Nature had other ideas. (If you’re counting, that’s the third out of four letter-writing parties that have been snowed out.) So, we invite you to join us as we send some sweetness to incarcerated activists on Valentine’s Day.
Here’s how to participate:
- Use the information below to write a card or letter to an imprisoned activist between now and Valentine’s Day.
- Leave a comment here or on the Facebook event page to let us know you were with us.
- BONUS: If you’re on Facebook, snap a selfie of yourself writing (or a photo of your writing supplies, if you’re shy), and post that on your own page, along with a link to this post or the Facebook event page, to encourage others to write their own letters.
Not sure what to write? Here are some tips for writing letters to imprisoned people. Don’t know to whom to write? You’ll find names and addresses of five currently-incarcerated vegans below:
Marius Mason
Marius Mason is an anarchist, environmental and animal rights activist currently serving nearly 22 years in federal prison for acts of property damage carried out in defense of the planet. This is the longest sentence of any Green Scare prisoner. (Even though no person was injured in the acts of property destruction to which Marius admitted as part of a plea agreement, this sentence is similar in length to that given to killers.) Previously known as “Marie Mason,” Marius has recently transitioned — a challenging process while imprisoned. An accomplished painter and poet, Marius enjoys corresponding about books, art, nature, and animals. Please note that Marius is allowed to write back only to a limited number of people and do not be dismayed if you do not receive a reply. Please be sure to include the name “Marie” when addressing the envelope, or Marius will not receive your letter. Do not send anything that is in any way “affixed” to the letter or card – such as glitter, glue, or white-out. Pen, pencil, crayon and paint are fine.
Marie (Marius) Mason #04672-061
FMC Carswell
P.O. Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127
More info here: https://supportmariusmason.org
Fran Thompson
Fran Thompson was an environmental and animal rights activist until the events that landed her in prison. A farmer who had been stalking her and had threatened to kill her broke into her rural home, at which point she shot and killed him. Her claims of self-defense were rejected by a prosecutor against whom she had campaigned in the past. Unpopular in her rural community due to her activism, Fran faced a hostile judge and jury and is now serving a life sentence, in the course of which she has sometimes had difficulty obtaining vegan food. Thompson is said to be a no-nonsense person who disdains sympathy and sentimentality. She can receive only letters and non-polaroid photographs, so do not attempt to send anything else.
Fran Thompson 1090915
CCC, 3151 Litton Drive
Chillicothe, MO 64601
Nicole and Joseph
On July 24th, 2015, Nicole Kissane and Joseph Buddenberg were arrested and federally indicted for Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act by allegedly releasing thousands of animals from fur farms and destroying breeding records in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Last year, Joseph was sentenced to two years after entering a non-cooperating plea agreement. Since then, he has experienced some difficulty in getting vegan meals from the prison system.
Joseph Buddenberg #12746-111
FCI Victorville Medium I
P.O. BOX 3725
Adelanto, CA 92301
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/supportnicoleandjoseph
Early this year, Nicole’s non-cooperating plea agreement was accepted by the judge, and she was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
Nicole Kissane #20651-111
FCI Dublin
5701 8th Street – Camp Parks
Dublin, California 94568
More info here: http://www.supportnicole.com/
Mike Davis Africa
Mike Davis Africa is a member of the MOVE 9, all of the surviving members of whom are serving 35-100 year sentence after being framed for the murder of a police officer during the infamous raid on the MOVE house in 1978. He is 62 years old and vegan.
Michael Davis Africa #AM4973
SCI Graterford
P.O. Box 244
Graterford, PA 19426-0244
More info here: http://onamove.com/
Katie Carroll
bravebird
