Since 1999, prisoners and supporters throughout North America have participated in the annual event known as Running Down the Walls (RDTW) often running or walking simultaneously in many cities and prisons at once. This year, 9 cities hosted runs between September 21-28th. Below are recaps and some photos from the participating runs.
Be sure to check out Pushing Down the Walls Burpee Marathon and BBQ on November 8, 2025. A Fundraiser for Abolition Now OC at El Centro Cultural De Mexico, 837 N. Ross St, Santa Ana 92701. Doors open at 1pm, Burpees begin at 2pm. Sponsored by OC ABCF.
More information here.
Bloomington, Indiana
Another great turn out for Running Down the Walls this year! We ran, walked chatted, snacked, did yoga — and we read statements from Oso Blanco, Peppy & Krystal, Josh Harper, and Ray Luc Levasseur! 30+ participants and nearly 900 raised for our imprisoned fighters. We handed out zines written by imprisoned comrades and by local anarchists, too. Hope everyone liked the t-shirts we made and aren’t as sore as some of us are today, haha.
Brooklyn, New York
It turns out NYC ABC has been organizing annual events for Running Down the Walls for over a decade. We’ve been at the same spot in Prospect Park for much of that time and learned early on that if you don’t get there early, the spot will get got. So a few of us turned up to squat our favorite corner and start setting up–information tables, registration, and of course food. That’s when two folks hawking free vegan canned lattes showed up and offered us as many as we wanted (which turned out to be between twenty and thirty!). That made the day fly by for a lot of participants and helped cement us as the most bourgeois anarchist 5k in the country.
Once the crew gathered, it was quick work to finish up and get ready to register any folks who hadn’t done so in advance, and talk with passersby. Free information about political prisoners, alongside a giant banner reading “Running Down the Walls” gets folks from as varied an array of backgrounds as those who frequent the park to stop and check it out. Every year, we reach those who have never thought about the existence of political prisoners in the USA.
Homies from Radix Media showed up with mind-blowingly cool letter press posters made exclusively for this year’s event. Big thanks to them for coming through and adding another layer of greatness to the day.
While we are serious about our politics and getting our people free, we are less so about the mechanics of a 5k run/walk/roll/skate/bike/et al. The part where participants make their way around the course happens, some years it’s taken more seriously and folks train and other years it’s more casual. This year, we split the difference. This only happened after we introduced the event, our collective, and read statements written for the event by imprisoned comrades. And then we heard some inspirational words from Priscilla Grim, whose legal defense received half of the funds we raised this year. For someone facing such intense state repression, Priscilla spoke about others, primarily recipients of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation Warchest program, eloquently and with such passion that everyone in attendance got visibly hyped to complete the 5k.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who turned up, especially those who came to rep their crews and the support committees of locals facing the full weight of the state. Jakhi McCray‘s support committee turned out folks and we were happy to get the opportunity to build with them. After everyone finished the 5k, we gathered to share food and spent time in community. The food, all vegan by design (as the absolute minimum we can do to to express our resistance to oppression in even the meals we share), was preposterously good–from salads and tamales, to barbecue sandwiches and cookie bars. It isn’t uncommon for folks to show up just to enjoy the end of day meal. In the end, we counted somewhere north of 60 folks who participated throughout the day and reached the goal we set for ourselves in terms of fundraising.
None of that happens without organizing in advance and building relationships that last well after the day is over. Through it all, we center those who couldn’t be there with us, caged by the state. Thanks again to all who helped make the day so incredible. That’s what’s up and that’s how we get down (the walls).
Chicago, Illinois
Thank you all for coming out and supporting Running Down The Walls 2025. We raised $774 , better than last year, and have sent it all to the Anarchist Black Cross Federation Warchest, to add to the thousands raised every year at RDTW events around the so-called US and beyond in support of political prisoners. It was a lovely evening here in Chicago, starting off with a chill gathering over delicious homemade chili and rice, nourishing zines, and other wholesome munchies.
Comrades with the Black Autonomy Federation, including Hybachi LeMar, called in from prison to share messages of solidarity and strength with the RDTW crowd. Additional statements written by Warchest beneficiaries for RDTW 2025 were read aloud, kicking off our march around Cook County Jail’s Division 11 to show our love and solidarity directly to those held captive inside, making sure we were heard and seen by every side of the monstrous gulag. We then ran the 5K around the rest of the jail, met with more cheers and shouts from people inside to which we responded “We love you!” “Free Them All!”, running down those walls as the sun set.
Excellent performances by The Last Poet, Sol Said Earth, Glutton for Insurrection, and DJ Initial G rounded out the lovely night; a number of us brought the dance party straight to the windows of the people locked inside their cells for the night in Division 11. We couldn’t think of a better way to spend the last official day of summer.
Eugene, Oregon
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Eugene held its second consecutive Running Down the Walls. Nearly 70 people of all ages gathered at Alton Baker Park to run, walk, ride, and skate along the Willamette River, raising funds and awareness for US-held political prisoners. Combined, we raised $1,175, which was split evenly between the Anarchist Black Cross Federation’s Warchest and the Justice for Brian “Hakiym” Simpson campaign
.
The event was sponsored by NAC (Neighborhood Anarchist Collective) which tabled alongside local organizations WVAP (Willamette Valley Abolition Project) and Eugene Jail Support. The Justice for Hakiym campaign also tabled, and Food Not Bombs provided snacks and refreshments. T-shirts and buttons featuring a RDTW logo by a local artist were sold, and a free patch-making station was popular with attendees. Participants and the event MC took turns reading political prisoner solidarity statements, while PBS Oregon filmed parts of the fundraiser for a Justice for Hakiym documentary they are producing.
Events like this help raise awareness of systemic injustice and directly benefit our incarcerated comrades. These community organizations will continue to stand in solidarity against all forms of incarceration.
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
On September 29, supporters gathered at Bayfront Park in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for our annual Running Down the Walls event. We read inspiring statements from political prisoners and then ran, walk and rolled through the streets and past Barton Jail, as we waved and greeted our community members inside. RDTW has become an important part of the Hamilton Anarchist Bookfair weekend each year.
Los Angeles, California
On September 21, Los Angeles ABCF, joined by our comrades from Orange County ABCF and other friends and family, gathered at Echo Park Lake to Run Down the Walls. With roughly 35-40 in attendance, we began the event with speaking on the history of Running Down the Walls, an event that has been going on in Los Angeles since 1999. A comrade from the OC chapter spoke on the upcoming sentencing of our dear friend, Casey Goonan, which we now know was given a prison sentence of 235 months in federal prison. Such a grave injustice! After the update on Casey’s case, speakers listed off the runs taking place throughout the North America and read statements made by current and former political prisoners in solidarity with the event.
The run itself took place around the iconic Echo Park Lake, located in the heart of Los Angeles. Participants biked, ran, walked, and lollygagged around the lake three times before coming to the finish line. Prizes, provided graciously by AK Press, were given to the fastest runner and to the non-ABCF member who raised the most amount of money for the Warchest.
After the run, snacks were provided for the attendees, including delicious cupcakes adorned with ABC logos and other anarchist-inspired artwork. Dear friends of the LA chapter also handmade jewelry as part of the fundraising efforts. It is with a deep sense of appreciation that we say thank you to those who took the time and energy to elevate the event with their creativity.
It is important to note that we also had friends/family of Krystal and Peppy join us on as we ran down the walls. We also had comrades representing Bristlebush Distro, Abolition Now OC, Black Rose Anarchist Federation, and several other organizations. Again, we are humbled by the comradery shown by our friends and helping make this a great event.
Lowell/Lawrence, Massachusetts
We gathered at Bording House Park for our 6th annual event on the last day of Summer. Opened with an acknowledgement asking for blessings ofthe ancestors to conduct our dealings in a decolonial manner as things should be.
A member of Lowell/Lawrence ABC spoke on the work they do at their job and what’s been happening during this second Trump administration;
“I have been working with individuals in the MA DOC and HOC prisons getting them ready to come home. A lot of individuals are being released rapidly due to change of laws such as the MATTIS decision. We as a
community have a responsibility to welcome our neighbor’s home and be a positive support system for them. In my work I have witnessed individuals being released to ICE custody and not being found in the
database, losing contact with them and unsure whether they have been deported or not. They are nowhere to be found. Running Down the Walls is
for all prisoners – all prisoners are political prisoners.”
A member of Jericho Boston touched on organizing against repression;
“We are in a very difficult moment, with repression of our movements for justice, targeting basic freedoms to organize. But we also have examples, like the recent victory in the Cop City case, demonstrating
that if we can build strong community infrastructure and act in tight, disciplined solidarity, we can fight back and eventually win.”
This year’s event brought in $2,750 to the ABCF warchest. We had around 35 to 40 show between adults, children, newborns and of course our dogs.
We are grateful for folks coming out for the first time as well as those who have been attending every year. An extra thanks to Jericho Boston, LLAMA, Great Falls Books Through Bars. Keene Mutual Aid, just not the
fire department and Panethnic Pourovers.
Until next year- Msit no’kmaq (All My relations) Free All Political Prisoners!
Miami, Florida
Our first Running Down the Walls event was rained out, but that DID NOT STOP US! We spent the day at the park, flags flying high, and sharing zines and food with curious neighbors. These crucial steps build community, helping us spread the word about abolitionist prisoner support and challenge others to question the inhumane prison industrial complex. Friends at Cienfuegos Coop provided zines and coffee for the day!
This year we raised a total of $750 for the Anarchist Black Cross War Chest, which distributes funds to political prisoners every month! Next year our goal is to raise over $1000 for those fighting inside.
While nature may have had other plans, some of our members and attendees didn’t let that stop them; they completed the 5k under torrents of rainfall, honoring the commitment they made to those inside who were participating on this same day. Members of our chapter who have moved out of South Florida also participated in their new regions, running down the walls from afar! UNTIL EVERY CAGE IS EMPTY!!!
Portland, Oregon
A bright and sunny fall afternoon welcomed over 60 participants (and our crew) to the Willamette River waterfront on Sunday, September 21st. We were fortunate to have Mark Cook join us to share his wisdom and what this cause means to him.
Mark offered some of what he has learned from over 50 years of struggle, spanning an incredible breadth of organizing, both inside and outside. Mark eloquently relayed stories of how even simple acts, when done collectively, can and have led to systematic change in the living conditions within in state-run prisons. Mark’s passionate message was clear: political prisoners are at the frontlines of their fight for liberation. In solidarity, we are here to amplify and back up their work, centering the thoughts, actions, and directions of our comrades inside. Mark’s message really renewed our steadfast determination.
Between reading this year’s statements from prisoners and raffling off some pretty awesome items (including everything from gift certificates for tattoos, herbal tinctures, and bodywork, as well as handcrafted items, books, t-shirts, art prints, and more), DJ Ambush brought a killer vibe to the afternoon. We so appreciated our friends who prepared delicious BBQ and provided tons of tasty food and drink for the sweaty, hyped-up crowd.
Finally, We are proud to share that we raised $2,608 this year! These funds will go directly to the ABC Warchest. Thanks to all who made this year’s RDTW such a great day! We are so grateful for you. Onward!
