On occasion of 8th of march we will once again fo to women’s prison to chemnitz. In solidarity with all the prisoners behind these walls – we want to show them that they are not alone.
More than half of the prisoners are serving substitude custodial sentence or enforced detention. Some of them are in deportation custody. They are in prison, cause they do not have the money to pay their fines or because they are affected by marginalization, poverty or discimination. Therefore it’s hardly surprising that poverty-related offenses often lead to alternative custodial sentences. Prisons will never solve any social problems, they don’t even intend to do. On the contrary, they aim to maintain or even exacerbate inequality in society. What the don’t tell us: Not individual misbehavior but the strukctures pf power and discrimination cause violence and inequality.
In our discussion about prisons, FLINTA* are often overlooked, although their oppression is is inextricably linked to the existance of prisons. While many today only think of men’s prisons, the first prisons had a completely different origin: they were places to punish prostitutes/sex workers, beggars and those who did not fulfill their social role and remove them from society’s field of vision. The idea of re-education is particularly pronounced in women’s prisons. Violence committed by men is often explained as “natural” and impulsive, while the same acts committed by women are considered “planned” and “pathological” and must be “reeducated”. This construct of thought leads to harsher penalties. For exampe, in cases of violence within a relationship, a man may receive eight years in prison for homicide because he is considered to be “impulsive”. A woman, who commits a similar crime, is often convicted of “planned murder” – with sentences of at least 15 years, often even 20 to 25 years, including preventive detention.
Especially for thans* people detention in prison can be massivly discriminating due to the binary assignement to the respective prison. Additionaly the acces to medical care is often insufficient for Trans* people. Access to necessary medication and essentials can often only be guaranteed through a long, grueling struggle – and even then is still dependent on the “favor” of the guards and medical staff. In practice, imprisoned trans* people are also often isolated for alleged security reasons, as they are seen as a potential “risk to the security and order of the institution”. It is time to question the deeply rooted patriarchal and binary structures, to make them visible and to actively fight against them. The annual trip to the women’s prison in Chemnitz is therefore an important concern for us. Our solidarity should at least sporadically and symbolically overcome these walls. So come with us to Chemnitz!
For all the people who are imprisoned and driven underground. Their absence leaves emptiness, fear and anger. Let’s shout this anger over the walls of Chemnitz Prison.
P.S.: We are organizing the rally primarily for the prisoners. Please leave flags of organizations, parties or nations/territories at home.
30.03: Together against prison, patriarchy and faschism!
