Slam/Spoken Word Asian Prisoner Support Committee Benefit

Bao Phi (HBO Def Poetry Jam) >Ishle Yi Park (HBO Def Poetry Jam) >18 Mighty Mountain Warriors (Asian Am. Comedy Troupe) >Yuri Kochiyama >Shailja Patel >Jason Mateo (8th Wonder) $7-10, no one turned away Some of the greatest slam/spoken word artists in the nation, the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors (renowned Asian American comedy troupe), and Yuri Kochiyama (leading Asian American activist) will be performing/speaking at a benefit for Asian American prisoners & inmates. The Asian Prisoner Support Committee was formed to provide services/support/assistance to Asian inmates and to raise awareness among Asian America about members of our communities. The two cases we're working on right now involve a group of inmates at San Quentin State Prison who demanded Ethnic Studies courses in the prison education program and have subsequently faced severe retaliation from the prison system, and an inmate (Mike Ngo) who is taking the Dept of Corrections to court, challenging its explicit policy of racial segregation as a violation of the 14th Ammendment. (see below for more info). In addition to these incredible performers, family members of the inmates will be at the event to share information about the cases. This is a really amazing line-up -- an event you should not miss! Benefit for the Asian Prisoner Support Committee >Sunday April 20, 7pm >Locus, 1640 Post (@ Laguna), SF >$7-10 (no turned away for lack of funds) Bao Phi is a Vietnamese American slam poetry superstar. Originally from Minneapolis, he has won numerous poetry slam accolades, including two Minnesota Grand Poetry Slam championships, and was a finalist at the National Poetry Slam in 2000. He has earned legions of fans from Minnesota to Vietnam, and is featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam. http://www.baophi.com Ishle Yi Park is an unbelievable Korean American poet from New York City. She has been featured on two seasons of HBO's Def Poetry Jam, and performed at this year's NAACP Image Awards. She's one of Russell Simmons' personal favorites, and you'd be a fool to miss her. http://www.ishle.com Yuri Kochiyama has been a leading Asian American activist for over five decades. Yuri has organized and spoken out for racial justice since being interned during WWII, and she has inspired generations of Asian American activists along the way. The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors consider themselves "the world's most psychotic asian american comedy group." Born in San Francisco, 18MMW combines hilarious comedy and incisive political wit and has performed across the country. http://www.18mmw.com >Shailja Patel is a diasporic South Asian spoken word artist. Originally from Kenya, she's currently based in the Bay Area, and stands up for human rights around the world. >Jason Mateo (aka the Kreative Dwella) is part of the SF-based Pilipino American spoken word group 8th Wonder. One of the best beatboxers in the Bay Area, he also works with Youth Speaks, an organization dedicated to developing writing skills among young folks in the Bay Area. http://www.8thwonder.cjb.net/ http://www.youthspeaks.org The cases that the Asian Prisoner Support Commitee has been working on have been featured in the latest issues of AsianWeek, including one article by an inmate himself (Eddy Zheng). Check out the links to the articles below for more info, or e-mail SQ3solidarity@yahoo.com. The Asian Prisoner Support Committee is always in need of legal assistance from attorneys; please contact us if interested. "Asian American Studies Denied to San Quentin Inmates" http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=21c23eb0876a4f7f8898a339eceb1feb&this_category_id=170> "The Facade of Prison Education" http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=7edfb83990a868e9ecfd3e462a5dbf2f> "APA Inmate Challenges Prison Segregation Policies" http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=fe9869c47b46cd2fdcfd9dc96a5b483f