Tamms supermax prison was built in 1998 for short-term solitary confinement, or as added punishment for prisoners already in the system. Eleven years later, a third of the original prisoners are still there in conditions of extreme isolation, with no phone calls, no contact visits, and no communal activity of any kind. Long-term social isolation causes mental breakdown. And many of the prisoners that are there were never given an opportunity to hear or address the charges responsible for their placement in Tamms.

Tamms Year Ten has organized cultural events, corresponds with prisoners, and has introduced a bill in the legislature that would establish oversight for this extremely punitive prison.

If you're interested learning more and helping out: attend this organizing meeting on May 3rd in Hyde Park. We will be working on canvassing, outreach, writing letters to prisoners and preparing future projects/events for the campaign.

WHERE: Backstory Cafe, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. (inside the Experimental Station)
WHEN: Sunday, May 3, 2009
TIME: 2:00-5:00 p.m.