Cover story
Life After Incarceration
by Lee “Taqwaa” Bonner, LSPC Organizer Taqwaa Bonner. Photo by TaSin Sabir My given name is Lee Bonner, and my spiritual name is Taqwaa, which everyone refers to me as. I was born and raised in East Oakland, California. After serving 30 years and 2 months straight, I’m keeping my promise to the incarcerated population…
Features
The Light Left Behind, Illuminating the Path to Hope
by Jose Contreras, Pelican Bay State Prison, CA Chuy (l) and Blue (r). Photo courtesy of Chuy. by Jose Contreras, Pelican Bay State Prison, CA My name is Jose Contreras also known as Chuy which is short for Jesus. On May 31, 1992, I was arrested, then tried, and sentenced to two LWOPS sentences plus…
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Incarcerated Firefighters Face Trauma Without Equal Support and Pay
This story was first published by AfroLA, nonprofit solutions journalism for Los Angeles told through the lens of the Black community. To also reproduce or republish this article, please contact AfroLA. by Audy McAfee, AfroLA Illustration by Tara James Cal Fire is the largest firefighting force in the nation, with 12,000 permanent and seasonal personnel who protect more than…
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news from inside
Mailbag – Libni Vargas
Despite challenges, members of the LWOP Alliance Group remain resilient. Many have pursued education and earned their GEDs, while also supporting charitable initiatives such as No Shave November, the “From Taking to Giving” hygiene drive for the homeless community in Imperial County, and Tabs of Love for children with cancer. They actively engage in legislative…
Mailbag – Letter to the Editor
Dear TaSin Sabir and All of Us or None, I hope this letter reaches you well and brings you my intended egalitarian love, respect, understanding, thanks, and appreciation. I just received my first issue of All of Us or None, Vol. 6, No. 2 (February 2025), and your article on incarcerated firefighters was very informative.…
My Release Came with Another Set of Shackles
by Nateel Sharma, 2025 Elder Freeman Policy Fellow Being released from incarceration was supposed to be a step toward freedom, but the reality of wearing an ankle monitor made it feel like another form of imprisonment. The heavy, restrictive device clamped around my ankle was more than just an inconvenience—it was painful, physically damaging, and…
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A Letter to My Transgender Family
by Summer BreezeSouth Central Correctional Center, MO Dear Transgender Family, Recently we have suffered relentless attacks from the highest ranking diplomat on Earth. Donald Trump’s judgements involving the determination of our rights are appalling. They are meant to deceive us, to demean us and to destroy us. He is exerting himself into our state of…
