In July, AOUON’s San Antonio chapter hosted a national convening to bring us together as issues of crimmigration, the new presidential administration, and environmental injustice are deeply impacting us across states, borders, and walls. A multi-generational group of folks impacted by the criminal legal system ranging from toddlers to movement elders, we are leaving with a renewed commitment to the fight. Robert Bowden, LSPC’s in-custody coordinator, shares his experience below.
From July 17th through 20th, 2025, I was honored and blessed to be in space with souljas from all over the country. All of Us or None members came in numbers from New York, Kentucky, Las Vegas, Illinois, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Atlanta, Orange County, Austin, and San Antonio to attend All of Us or None’s National Convening in San Antonio, Texas. The purpose was to gather under the banner of “All Of Us Or None” with formerly incarcerated people who are in our local communities doing advocacy work: we are restoring the human and civil rights of people currently and formerly incarcerated, helping families be reunited by fighting against CPS, fighting for our souljas inside to be released by getting the information and resources inside the prison walls, and educating our people about new bills and laws which can help people apply for resentencing, elderly parole, and compassionate release. We’re also helping people prepare for their parole hearings, making sure they understand and know their rights. Yes, this is the work we do: this is the work that must be done to free all our people and our forgotten souljas behind those walls.
After the plane landed and we got to the hotel, I immediately heard a lot of laughter and saw a lot of smiles from these souljas who were coming in. It filled me with joy to be in this space, knowing that it was a true blessing to be there. It was confirmation of why God saved my life. I still remember being inside the cells trying to get through another day. I got on my knees begging God to please let me outta this hell hole:
I know I done asked before and got out and messed up, but this time I promise if you let me out I’ll be a light in this dark world. I’ll be part of the solution, not the problem.
Today I’m free, and I wake up every day on a mission to keep my promise.
Looking around on that first night at dinner in San Antonio, it actually felt like a big family reunion because that’s what we are: family. As I introduced myself to everyone, I explained that my position at headquarters was the In-Custody Coordinator. I let them know I was there to give everyone their flowers for their hard work and support their efforts for inside members in their own communities. Let me tell you, everyone’s appreciation and response brought joy to my heart. It was confirmation that none of us are in this fight alone, because as an organizer, it gets rough sometimes. This job isn’t easy, but it’s very rewarding.
For the rest of the convening, we attended many workshops and panels. I attended a workshop on Basebuilding given by Brandon from the Mass Liberation Project, whose theme was “you can’t free anyone until you can free yourself.” I also attended a Data + AI workshop which centered around using Artificial Intelligence as a weapon for liberation. This was led by Steve, from our San Antonio Chapter, who introduced us to Forged by Fire, a system designed to amplify your power, not to replace it. AI is a new tool and we must learn how to utilize it as a library and a database of information. Honestly I’m kinda stuck at how to describe my appreciation for having access to this information. It was mind blowing and life changing. Before a panel on Crimmigation, we had the honor to hear from Leonard Peltier via zoom. Leonard Peltier is an Indigenous political prisoner who was recently commuted after 50 years in prison. He was falsely accused of killing two FBI agents, though he was only standing up and fighting to defend against the sale of stolen land at the Black Hills near Pine Ridge Reservation, which is one of the poorest communities in the nation. He still isn’t free, because they have him on house arrest, so the fight continues. His voice and message was powerful; in closing he said “never stop fighting for our people” which was well received in the ballroom followed by a standing ovation.
On Saturday, we marched through the streets of San Antonio. Our chanting “Ain’t no power like the power of the people because the power of the people don’t stop!” filled the hot, humid Texas sky, and as we took those soulja steps through downtown San Antonio, the looks on the faces from the local community on the sidewalk was a sea of smiles and admiration for what we was marching for. They saw youth in our crowd, they saw elders, they saw Black and Brown souljas marching to change conditions in their community who wasn’t even from their community. We even had a mariachi band playing Latin music with a melody to step to.
This is my life. I’m in the Revolution, helping change laws that will change conditions inside prisons and in our communities. We are fighting for the hopeless; our job is to bring them hope. My role at AOUON headquarters in Oakland is to engage with our in-custody members, and right now we have over 2,000. One thing I stand on is not selling a dream, but being honest. I feel the appreciation. Many tell me they can’t wait to get out and join us in the fight. Dorsey Nunn, the founder of this organization, took a chance with a ex-felon like me, as he has with many, and I refuse to let him down.
This is the revolution I live for. ALL OF US OR NONE.
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