In this post — Urgent Action Calls: Incarcerated Individuals in Danger; Execution Emergency

Events in June — Freeing Each Other (6/12), Advocacy Training (6/18), Starvin’ for Justice (6/29-7/2)

Resources — Bending the Bars album; Torture Awareness Month; new Zeh Ha-Yom

Urgent Action Calls

Incarcerated Individuals in Danger

Prison Radio continues to issue urgent call for support of Kevin Rashid Johnson, a regular reporter who was brutally transferred after speaking about about conditions at Red Onion State Prison in Virginia. In addition, there is an urgent call to support an individual on hunger strike who needs immediate mental health assistance and family contact. The “Phone Zap” instructions also include email options for those who prefer that mode of communication. Please consider phoning, emailing, and/or sharing the call regarding these urgent situations.

Script/background is regularly updated — https://www.prisonradio.org/news-update/49797/

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Kevin Rashid Johnson

The transfer to South Carolina is one way system is trying to silence and intimidate Mr. Johnson. He continues to ask for support. He needs his tablet and writing materials so that he can communicate, he needs access to his legal team, and he needs an end to the brutal, mattress-less solitary confinement.

Updates: During my own May 30 call to Mr. Earley’s office, I was told Mr. Johnson was “in RHU for disciplinary reasons” and, therefore, did not have access to writing or communication materials, but that all prisoners could access a legal library via tablet. Warden Curtis Earley also admitted to Mr. Johnson directly that censoring him was retaliatory. See Phone Zap for June 5 updat.

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Emergency Case: Wayne Hollinshead

Rashid reports that another prisoner in the same unit, Wayne Hollinshead, has been on hunger strike since June 2. Wayne is under total communication restrictions and has attempted suicide twice due to the extreme isolation. “He’s tried to hang himself twice as a result of just being totally isolated.” Callers should demand emergency mental health care and family contact for Wayne Hollinshead as well. Scroll through Phone Zap for script re: Mr. Hollinshead’s immediate needs.

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The situation at Red Onion, which has been on-going, was shared by Interfaith Action for Human Rights (See statement and report). Visit UPROAR and Prison Radio for more. Also see article at Prison Policy Institute regarding the impact of transfers, often as brutal as described by Mr. Johnson, and otherwise disruptive to those experiencing incarceration.

Execution Emergency

The U.S. has already executed 19 individuals in 2025, with SIX EXECUTIONS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE and more to follow! In addition to loss of individual lives, the United Nations recognizes Death Row itself as degrading and cruel treatment prohibited by the Convention Against Torture; loved ones and communities with connections to those on Death Row also suffer. Learn about ways to speak out from L’Chaim: Jews Against the Death Penalty (also on Facebook) and Death Penalty Action.

Events

“Freeing Each Other” — June 12

“Freeing Each Other, from Palestine to Cook County: Incarceration and Jewish Responsibility” Thu, June 12, 7-8:30 p.m. CT. Join Tzedek Chicago for a virtual program of learning and action in honor of Torture Awareness Month. We will hear from congregational members and faculty who are active with incarcerated migrants, jail support, prison correspondence, and human rights efforts in the US and Palestine. Our program will also include Jewish text exploration, reports from the field, and action opportunities. The Talmud cautions that we are responsible for one another’s freedom and healing and for preventing harm where we can. Please join us in connecting across bars through learning, connection, action opportunities and letter-writing. Free and open to all; registration required. Learn more and share link: https://tinyurl.com/TzChgo612

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Solitary Confinement Advocacy Training — June 18

National Religious Campaign Against Torture hosts “How To Shine Your Light,” a webinar on faith advocacy to end solitary confinement: Wed, June 18, 12pm – 1:15pm ET/9am-10:15am PT. An estimated 122,000 people in U.S. prisons and jails spend 23 hours/day in isolation; vigils on the 23rd of each month serve as public witness to this torture. This webinar, the second in NRCAT’s advocacy how-to series, shares the work of WISDOM, a Wisconsin network of faith-based organizations using these vigils as part of their carceral justice efforts. Join WISDOM and NRCAT in marking Torture Awareness Month by developing advocacy tools for work ahead. Register and share the link: https://bit.ly/June18-2025Webinar

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“Starvin’ for Justice…End the Death Penalty” — 6/29 – 7/2

“Starvin’ for Justice: Annual Fast and Vigil to End the Death Penalty” takes place on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, Washington DC, June 29 – July 2. Grassroots, not-for profit effort to bring a message of death penalty abolition to the U.S. Capitol and connect with others concerned about preserving life and human dignity. Register and share the link: https://abolition.org/

Resources

Bending the Bars

“Bending the Bars,” brand new, original album of hip-hop music by Florida-based incarcerated artists. Details, free single recordings, and options for obtaining the album on release, June 11. Links to share — https://linktr.ee/bending_the_bars.

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Everyday Torture

Jewish and multi-faith study resources, general learning on “Everyday Torture” in U.S. domestic prison facilities, and further background for learning and acting for Torture Awareness Month and beyond. Link to share — https://rereading4liberation.com/

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Zeh Ha-Yom (New June 2025 edition)

Latest edition of Zeh Ha-Yom / This is the Day (pdf) is available for download and sharing. This resource from Matir Asurim: Jewish Care Network for Incarcerated People offers “blessings, prayers and prompts for the Jewish day, inside and out.”