Baltimore says no to a new jail

BALTIMORE--Halloween is normally not a day one would associate with grassroots political action. But on October 31, over 150 people held "Youth Justice Sunday," a rally and march against a proposed juvenile jail that would cost Maryland taxpayers over $100 million.

The event was sponsored by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, the Baltimore Algebra Project and Faith in Action. A diverse crowd, mirroring the social and cultural diversity of Baltimore, participated, with strong showings from local churches, nearby neighborhoods and a diverse array of local radical organizations.

The fact that a large number of people turned out despite the holiday and prematurely cold weather is even more striking considering that it took place against a backdrop of local and state electoral politics that lacks true alternatives. Both the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor have proved poor friends to the working people and students of Baltimore.

Martin O'Malley, the Democrat (who won re-election), is a die-hard supporter of building the jail, even if it requires deeper budget cuts. On the other hand, Robert Ehrlich, the Republican challenger, was seeking to lead the GOP back to power in the state on a program of cutting spending, and was notorious for a 40 percent increase to college tuition approved while he was in office several years ago.

As a result, it is no surprise that even in the face of the worst economic crisis in 80 years, the state and city governments feel the jail expenditure is "necessary," despite massive job losses, record numbers of residents on state and federal aid for food, and deep cuts to education and social program funding.

Many people in Baltimore feel that spending so much on a new jail while so many people are hurting is a self-fulfilling prophecy that will rapidly fill the jail while further cratering the school system and local economy.

Rally participants felt dissatisfied with the upcoming election--dissatisfaction which could be heard in some murmurs during Democratic state Sen. Catherine Pugh's speech about using the election as a tool to oppose the jail. Despite the lack of enthusiasm about the election, however, rally participants were happy to have some support within the state legislature.

Other speakers criticized the local education system for failing to meet the needs of a predominantly African American student base while ignoring community input. The criminal injustice system and law enforcement were castigated for their destruction of lives inside of the state's prisons and jails while efforts to increase employment and decrease poverty have been mediocre at best.

The most heartening sign came from the grassroots participants, who showed signs of linking up with struggles brewing among teachers rejecting a substandard contract, hotel workers demanding better conditions and health care, and tourism-sector workers at the Inner Harbor demanding a living wage as part of their human rights.

At dusk, the rally concluded with a brisk march into the heart of East Baltimore's complex of state and prison facilities. Chants of "Education, not incarceration" and "Money for jobs and education, not for jails and incarceration" filled the air.

When marchers came to the fenced-off lot of the proposed jail, a combination lock was removed and the chain link fence fell to the ground. A few dozen people immediately burst on to the now-open site, proceeding to adorn the lot with placards. Several waited for the police to come, intending on civil disobedience, but none appeared despite marchers being in the midst of a cluster of jails and fortress-like state offices.

This direct action is also a promise: Baltimore does not support increased incarceration and resistance against the proposed jail is going to grow.