Animal Rights Prisoner Support

Kerry Whitburn (TB4886)
HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham NG14 7DA

Kerry has been inside since September 2005, and is serving 12 years for conspiracy in connection with the Newchurch Guinea Pigs Campaign. Birthday: 18th April

What you can send: stamps; postal orders/cheques payable to HMP LOWDHAM GRANGE – include Kerry’s name and number on back and name/address of sender. Will not accept writing paper or packs of envelopes.

Letter from Kerry, 13th November 2009

Hello everybody,

How’s life? I hope you are all fit and well in mind, body and spirit. Here I am again for another drone! SORRY! But before I share my thoughts with you all I MUST say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everybody who has been such a fantastic support – that’s those of you who DO know me and those who DON’T – as you are ALL wonderful. I know my response time with replies to letters makes even George Bush look quick – and I apologise sincerely for that – but I truly do appreciate EVERYBODY who supports me in any way. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU! xx

Talking of letters, I received one recently from a ‘new supporter’, and this letter enticed a lengthy period of reflection from me. In the letter the writer informed me that he’d heard “prison was quite easy”, so he just wanted to say “hello” as I needed no words of a morale boosting nature as “animal rights prisoners can do prison ‘standing on their heads’”. Well, so he’d “heard”, anyway! I totally accept and understand the writer was simply basing his level of support and opinions on his interpretation of prison, influenced by words he’d read or heard from others. I also appreciate the fact he’d taken time out to write to me, as I do understand life goes on outside, and it is a morale boost to receive a letter from someone who has thought of you.

But my pondering, following such statements about prison written from hear-say, did make me mentally enquire as to the general feeling or opinion amongst animal rights activists/supporters concerning prison life. Even amongst animal rights prisoners there are varying opinions; in many letters written by a number of animal rights prisoners during the past few years I have read that “prison is no problem”, or “I could do this twice over and it still would not bother me”, and various other ‘positive’ claims. I have even written similar claims myself, previously, during VERY short sentences. At THAT time I meant it – being in prison WAS NOT a problem. But it was such an easy claim to make during a four month sentence, because it was TRUE.

But the reason there are varying opinions concerning prison life, amongst various animal rights prisoners, is because our experiences are VERY different and VERY personal to each and every one of us. I remember not long after I wrote a letter to the ALF-SG, in 2004 (during the four month sentence) it appeared in circulation in the ALF-SG magazine. YES, my claim of “prison being no problem” was included in my then letter. However, in the same magazine was a letter from my friend Dave Blenkinsop, written during his ten YEAR sentence. After reading his letter I reflected on just how different his situation was to mine; his letter was about how lonely and isolated prison can make you feel, and how sad and dark you can feel, and what a vile experience being in prison can be. I felt nothing but humility and admiration after reading Dave’s letter, because it was one of the most honest and open and emotionally valid letters I’d ever read, written by an animal rights prisoner. I also felt a tinge of guilt for being slightly insensitive when overdosing on bravado, in my own letter.

Now, not for one second am I denying that ANYBODY – including animal rights prisoners – does find prison life easy, or can do it “standing on their head”. I witness it in here, on a daily basis, where some prisoners truly DON’T appear troubled by prison life. It isn’t bravado, either, as I do not believe ANYBODY can paint a mask on EVERY DAY for such long periods of time.

But let’s not be complacent and believe that ALL prisoners – including animal rights prisoners – find prison easy. I have also seen AND heard, on a daily basis, EXACTLY how prison experiences can affect people. In my job as a Buddy/Listener I am fully aware of the severe and traumatic issues people can be experiencing. Be it psychologically or emotionally, an on-going situation pre-prison or one caused by prison, being in prison can – in a lot of cases – exacerbate the negativity.

So why should animal rights prisoners be different in ANY way? Is it because we are perceived as strong and stoical individuals or because, over time, prison truly hasn’t been a problem for animal rights prisoners?

Just consider how “easy” would it have been for Mel, spending months and months in a ‘unit’, when on remand, with so many restrictions placed upon him?. Consider how “easy” Dave Blenkinsop had it, when being moved from prison to prison to face further charges, then ‘forgotten’ about when serving a large part of his ten year sentence on a remand wing, seeing people go home every week. It must also be considered how “EASY” it is for the loved ones/ family/close friends of animal rights prisoners, who serve the sentence with the prisoner.

The most difficult aspect of my sentence is NOT the barbed wire, the wall, the fences, the jangling of keys, being locked in a cell every night, etc. – it’s being away from my beautiful soulmate, Jo, and my wonderful and amazing friends. So NO, I can truly say, prison life – although not unbelievably and unbearably difficult – is NOT easy and not all of us CAN do it “standing on our head”. After all, we are ALL different and have different situations to deal with.

RANT OVER! HA HA! Thanks for reading. Take care, all of you.

Big hugs and lots of love,
Kerry xx