ABC Federation- LA
PO Box 11223
Whittier, CA 90603

Anarchist Black
Cross Federation
Constitution &
Structure

Revised July 25-26th 2009
Who and What are Political Prisoners (PP)

and Prisoners of War (POW)?
Political Prisoner: A person incarcerated for action carried
out in support of legitimate struggles for self-determination®
or for opposing the illegal policies of the government or its
political subdivisions. (Special International Tribunal on the
Violation of Human Rights of Political Prisoners and
Prisoners of War in the United States Prisons and Jails,
December, 1990)

Prisoner of War: Those combatants struggling against
colonial and alien domination and racist regimes captured
as prisoners are to be accorded the status of prisoners of
war and their treatment should be in accordance with the
provisions of the Geneva conventions relative to the treat-
ment of prisoners of war of 12 August, 1949 (General
Assembly resolution 3103{XXVIIL}).

*Self Determination: the right by virtue of which all peo-
ple's are entitled freely to determine their political status
and to pursue their economic, social and cultural develop-
ment. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of
their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any
obligations arising out of international economic coopera-
tion, based upon the principle of mutual benefit and inter-
national law. In no case may a people be deprived of its
own means of subsistence. (Common Article 1(1) of the
International Human Rights Covenants, 1966)

As s evident, these definitions were not our creation. We do
take objections to the term "illegal” in the PP definition and
know full well that the United States and all capitalist and
imperialist governments have now and will always murder,
oppress, and/or otherwise deny people the right to self
determination under the guise of and protection of "law.” We
also believe that the POW definition lacks recognition for
those combatants struggling against institutionalized and
legal" economic and class oppression. However, as
accountable members within an international community of
activists, we feel it is our responsibility to respect these defi-
nitions that were collectively agreed upon at the 1990
Special Interational Tribunal on the Violation of Human
Rights of Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War in the
United States Prisons and Jails. We also feel it is our
responsibility to develop our analysis and positions of these
objections so as to best articulate the to this international

community for acceptance in an appropriate, inclusive forum.

Changing these collectively agreed upon definitions, without
adequate dialogue between the activists and prisoners
affected by these definitions is unaccountable and irrespon-
sible. It would also deny us the opportunity to hear possible
objections or possible improvements to our positions.

The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) recognizes
that there are many who fall into the category of PP/POW,
including right wing militia leaders and white separatists,
Lyndon LaRouche and Timothy McVeigh, etc. Because of
this, we will further define PP/POWs the ABCF shall sup-
port as being “those persons incarcerated as a result of
political beliefs or actions consciously undertaken and
intended to resist exploitation and oppression, and/or has -
ten the implementation of an egalitarian, sustainable, ethi -
cal, classless society, predicated on self determination and
maximization of ll people’s freedom.” (Bill Dunne)

Also, the ABCF recognizes the subjectivity that may arise in
evaluating prisoners. Should any prisoner seeking support
and/or recognition as a PP/POW be unable to supply docu-
mentation as defined in the ABCF Guide to PP/POW
Support, our collective judgment will be based on the pris-
oners overall personalipolitical history and their overall
accountability and responsibility in their action(s). Such an
evaluation must still be made based on a factual account or
report, not one person's subjective account or evaluation.

less seriously should certainly be avoided.

3. Peoplelgroups can be expelled from the Federation based
on by-laws, Constitution and Structure and 2/3 vote of entire
Federation Council

4. There will be an editorial policy of public Federation mate-
tial mandating all to be specific about whom one is speaking
about when referring to an individual(s).

5. Because we view the purpose of this Federation as critical-
Iy important to the development and defense of our revolu-
tionary movement, we are compelled to take full advantage
of the strength its diversity represents in accomplishing that
purpose and in prefiguring the institutions of the society for
which we struggle. Accordingly, participation in any aspect of
the Federation will not be denied or limited on the basis of
race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. The intent of the
Federation is to be inclusive rather than exclusive.

6. The ABCF is a volunteer organization. By voluntarily join-
ing, you are voluntarily agreeing to the principles and meth-
ods we have collectively and demaocratically developed.
Members should not accept these principles and methods
for a desire to join the ABCF, but should want to join the
ABCF because they agree with them already.

7. All ABCF members should abstain from illegal drug use
and from abusing alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs.
This is to defend our organization against the harm that
substance abuse has caused to many organizations and
communities of resistance. All members are responsible for
doing everything within their power to prevent iliegal activi-
ty from being associated with members of the ABCF.
V) CAUCUSES:
1) Purpose:

Caucuses are internal groups that are formed to work upon
or promote specific issues or agendas within the ABCF.

All members of the ABCF are empowered to create cau-
cuses within the ABCF if they feel there is a specific area
of interest they hold or an issue they want to develop within
the Federation. Caucuses within the ABCF will use the list-
serve to publicize their work and they may engage in email
discussion, chat rooms, snail mail, newsletter production,
study groups as well as caucus meetings at semi-annual
ABCF meetings or any other activities which they feel will
further work of the caucus. Caucus activities are expected
to fit within the ABCF’'s mandate and not compromise the
Federation By-Laws or Tactical Unity explained elsewhere
in the Constitution, but they need not be sanctioned or
approved of by the ABCF as a whole.

Criteria for becoming a Caucus:
1. A caucus must have two members or more.

2. A caucus must provide a report in the ABCF Update
every six months.

3. All caucus activities must be in additional to all ABCF

Federation By Laws

1. Members of this Federation are/can be members of other
political organizations, but this Federation s a distinct entity
not affiliated with any.

2. ABC groups becoming a part of this effort should adopt
the common ABC and type of group's acronym (Branch

Group BG - or Support Group SG) as a affix, and their locali-
ty as a prefix. The use of names that could cause the prison-
ers, political formations and the masses in general to take us

Four Basic Founda
Principles of Federation

1) Unity of Purpose
1l) Tactical Unity or Methodology

11l) Collective Action and Discipline
VI) Federalism (Internal Democracy)

1) UNITY OF PURPOSE
Every organization has a purpose for existing, and when
organizations join together in a league or federation there
must be unity of purpose. The unity of purpose within this
federation is to build an organization capable of offering
long-term, non-partisan support to class war prisoners
(PPIPOWS).

1) TACTICAL UNITY OR METHODOLOGY
The fundamental Tactical Unity or Methodology of the
ABCF can be found within the "ABCF Guide to PPIPOW
Support" (in the form of Federation policies of support
work). Tactical unity is decided by the Federation Council,
which represents the various bodies of the Federation. The
purpose of the Federation is the foundation on which the
Federation works out its basic and tactical direction. This
enables the Federation to exploit all the advantages that
come with federating: continuity, accountabilty, concentra-
tion of efforts, economy of strength and the ability to
respond to needs and circumstances with utmost effective-
ness at anytime. Tactical unity reduces inconsistencies in
the organization that can undermine the Unity of Purpose.

Because the ABCF is a strictly above-ground PPIPOW
support organization, all activity done in the name of the
ABCF, or as an ABCF local, must be legal under the law of
the land. Extra-legal activities taken in the name of the
ABCF are grounds for expulsion.
Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of
this organization is the fact that chapters are freely
autonomous to take on whatever initiatives they can to fur-
ther the Unity of Purpose of the ABCF. So long as these
initiatives do not contradict any preexisting agreements
(Tactical Unity) that have been made by the ABCF, it is not
necessary for all groups to approve of andor agree with
programs, projects or work of other ABCF collectives. To
take initiatives that do contradict preexisting agreements
can be grounds for expulsion

i) COLLECTIVE ACTION AND DISCIPLINE

When a course of action is decided upon by the
Federation, agreement must be reached as to what s to be
done and who will carry out the various tasks needed for
the successful completion of the action. Those who take on
responsibilities are obligated to complete them, absent a
credible reason for failure.

Should a credible reason for failure to complete a task is
lacking, or any ABCF member be thought to have violated
any of the Four Basic Foundation Principles of the ABCF,
the FC has the ability to suspend ABCF members/chap-
ters. Grievances may be resolved through the mail.
Grievances through mail will be settled within 6 months. If
representation and/or resolution through the mail is insuffi-
cient, an ABCF meeting will be called at the end of the 6
months. When possible we will settle grievances in a timely
manner using the most accessible form of communication
available (phone, email).

Communication within the ABCF is of vital importance.
Thus all members should be aware of how the ABCF
Constitution and Structure works and how all members can
and should pass grievances or observations to the ABCF
through the ABCF listserve. The onus is on the
membericollective to do this in a non-disruptive way, work-
ing through and using proper channels all the time.

ABCF formation for a period of over 4 months shall auto-
matically cease to be in the ABCF. Members or Groups
who are dismissed for lack of contact may reapply for
membership at the discretion of the FC

3) Starting a New ABCF Group
Any group or individual wishing to join the ABCF as a SG
needs to submit an application in the form of a report of
their activities to the ABCF.

This application can be printed in the ABCF Update, or be
sent to ABCF collectives separately should the application
be submitted between publications. Upon reading the
application, ABCF collectives having anything to report in
favor of, or in objection to the applicant's approval will for-
ward comments to ABCF listserve within one month.
Should any group, without reasonable cause, fail to submit
any report in favor of, or in objection to the applicants
approval within one month, the said group forfeits its
opportunity to do so.

Should there be any objections or points to consider to the
applicant, discussion shall be settled in the ABCF listserve
between the ABCF and the applicant until:

1. The FC and applicant reach consensus over any
objection, in which case the applicant is approved

2. The FC denies approval based on the legitimate
objections of ABCF collective(s)

3. The applicant retracts the application

Should there be no objection, the FC must inform the
applicant and all ABCF collectives of their approval and the
group shall be officially recognized as an ABCF collective
in the following ABCF Update. It is appropriate for a newly
admitted ABCF collective to submit their first work report to
the Update in which they are introduced, to inform the
ABCF and Update readers to their activties.
Support Groups strengthen the Federation by spreading
and supporting the goals and projects of the Federation
and possibly becoming a Branch Group.

Four types of Support Groups can be:

1. Newly formed ABC groups. After 12 months of
meeting BG criteria, a SG can be admitted as a Branch
Group (if meeting the criteria and approved by FC).

2. ABC Formations that do not wish to be a Branch
Group or do not have the resources or capabilities to
become one.

3. Individuals (especially those in isolated areas)
who wish to support the Federation

4. Groups and individuals, who don't consider them-
selves anarchists, but support the goals and programs of
the Federation.

2) Responsibilities of Support Group

1. Support Groups not willing/able to become a
Branch Group must commit to raise a minimum of two hun-
dred dollars ($200) per year to the WarChest Program. A
year shall be defined as a typical calendar year ending on
December 31st. Support Groups who fail to meet their
obligation to the Federation will be p for review and sub-
ject to expulsion by the FC.

2. Support Groups not willing/able to become a
Branch Group must submit work reports to the Federation
no less than every 6 months.

3. Undertake locally determined initiatives that fur-
ther the objectives of the Federation.

4. Support Groups who have been affiliated with the
ABCF for 6 months or more may submit an application to
elect a FC delegate. Applications will be voted on by FC
(excluding PC). A decision will be reached based on the
SG meeting and exceeding SG minimum requirements.

5. Any member of a SG or SG as a whole that, with-
out reasonable cause, ceases to maintain contact with any

1. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:
The problem of working out tactics is much greater than
working out a purpose of unity. The nature of organiza-
tion is to coordinate forces toward a common goal.
When all arguments for the different tactical proposals
have been made, when discussion can not usefully con-
tinue, when similar opinions that agree in principle have
merged and there still remains an irreducible opposition
between the tactics proposed, then the federation must
find a way out. And there exists three possibilities

1) Accept tactical differences and leave everyone to pur-
sue their own tactics.
Conclusion: can only be allowed in certain cases on
points that are:

A. not of crucial importance

B. concern local group issues, not national

2) After consulting ts constituents, the Federation
Council wil attempt to sincerely seeks consensus on the
issue at hand. However, when consensus is impractical
or impossible to achieve, the Federation Council will vote
on the proposal. If there is a strong objection toward the
proposal by one or more delegate on the FC and the
proposal confiicts with the statements and by-laws of the
Federation, the proposal may be blocked. It s the duty
of the acting Facilitator, or the Federation Council as a
whole, to then open the floor for discussion until a con-
sensus or vote is made.

When the FC brings proposal to a vote, a 2/3 majority
decision rules. The minority accepting that it will give up
its ideas and tactics as far as public activity is con-
cerned, while keeping its right to develop its arguments
inside the organization- judging that if its opinions accord
with reality more closely than the majority then they will
eventually prevail by proof of events. This procedure in
no way is coercive, it applies because the members of
the organization accept it as a rule and the minority accept

it as a necessity which allows the tactical proposals accept-
ed put to the test. Conclusion: This is the goal of the feder -
ation in regards to tactical unity (No one will be required as

a condition of Federation membership to undertake or par -
ticipate in an action to which they're ideologically or other -

wise opposed.)

3) When no agreement between majority and minority
proves possible on a crucial issue which demands the fed-
eration take a position.

Conclusion: there is naturally and inevitably a split

Overall Summary of Three Possibilities
In all cases tactical unity is the goal; meaning option two is
Wwhat is accepted by the federation to manifest and attain
on points of tactical unity.

-Option one is an extremely exceptional choice

-Option three is the natural outcome when those in the fed-
eration reject the agreed upon collective action in favor of
an action decided personally.

IV) FEDERALISM - INTERNAL DEMOCRACY
Federalism combines the advantages of centralism with
those of autonomous decision-making. It allows members
and chapters to reach decisions with a view towards com-
mon work (Tactical Unity) with a shared goal (Unity of
Purpose).

Composition & Structure of ABCF

The Federation is composed of the following formations. A
brief description of each will be followed with a detailed
explanation.

1) FEDERATION COUNCIL (FC)
The FC consists of a 5 member rotating Prisoners.

5. Submit bimonthly reports to the Federation.
6. Encourage formation of Support Groups (ABC-
SGs).
7. Encourage and aid existing SGs to become BGs.
8. Undertake locally determined initiatives that fur-
ther the objectives of the Federation.

3) Criteria for Becoming a Branch Group:
To open a branch of the ABCF the formation must meet the
following criteria

1. Each Branch Group must commit to raise a mini-
mum of seven hundred dollars (§700) per year to the
WarChest Program. A year shall be defined as a typical
calendar year ending on December 31st. Branch Groups
who fail to meet their obligation to the Federation will be up
for review and subject to relegation to a Support Group by
the FC.

2. Members of formation must have a minimum 12-
month history of ongoing consistent prison related work
they can present to the Federation, as well as 6-months
experience within the ABCF as a SG (if meeting the criteria
and approved by the FC).

3. Formation must have maintained an active mail-
ing address for at least 12 months.

4. Any member of a BG or BG as a whole that, with-
out reasonable cause, ceases to maintain contact with any
ABCF formation for a period of over 4-months shall auto-
matically cease to be in the ABCF. Members or Groups
who are dismissed for lack of contact may reapply for
membership at the discretion of the FC

IV. SUPPORT GROUP (ABC-SG)
1) Purpose:

The purpose of Support Groups is to both strengthen the
Federation and strengthen the Support Group. By network-
ing with the Federation, the Support Group links up to
PP/POWSs and those in the prison movement who can offer
the Support Group aid, knowledge and experience.
ABCF groups who wish to nominate a PP/POW to the PC
should inform the ABCF of their nominee (who must have
previously accepted the proposed nomination) in the ABCF
Update two months prior to the time the Committee rotates.
For example, if an ABCF group wishes to nominate a
PPIPOW to the PC for the May rotation (in which 3 seats
need to be filled) they would nominate the prisoner in the
February edition of the ABCF Update. Groups should be
mindful that this means they should inform the PP/POW
they wish to nominate of their intentions well before that
February.

Should there be more nominations than seats available a
vote shall be taken among FC members on who will be
given the seats.

Those PPIPOWs who have agreed to be nominated, but
do not receive a position on the PC, will be given priority
placement upon the following PC rotation. Said prisoners
continued interest in serving on the PC is obviously a pre-
requisite to this condition.

Ill. BRANCH GROUP (ABC-BG)

1) Purpose:

The Branch Groups make up the foundation of the
Federation. Their purpose is to propagate and support the
goals and aims of the Federation, form coalitions with other
Political Prisoner support groups in their area, hold events
fundraisers, etc.

2) Responsibilities of the Branch Groups:
1. Consistent support of Federation goals and proj-
ects.
2. Fund raising.
3. Propaganda distribution.
4. Elect 2 members to Federation Council.

Committee, 2 elected delegates from each Branch Group
as well as 1 elected delegate from each eligible Support
Group.

1) PRISONERS COMMITTEE (PC)
A rotating committee of 5 PP/POWs shall serve on the FC
for 12-month terms.

i) BRANCH GROUP (ABC-BG)

The Branch Group is the foundation on which success of
the Federation relies. There is a criteria an ABC formation
must meet in order to be considered a Branch Group.

1V) SUPPORT GROUP (ABC-SG)
ABC groups without the desire, ability or resources to
become a Branch Group, or any other group findividual
wishing to support the aims and goals of the Federation.

V) CAUCUSES
Caucuses are interal groups that are formed to work upon
or promote specific issues or agendas within the ABCF

- Purposes and Responsibilities of Formations -
1. FEDERATION COUNCIL (FC)

1. Purpose:
The FC is the decision making body of the ABCF. Each
Branch Group elects 2 delegates to serve on the
Federation Council. Support Groups who have been affii-
ated with the ABCF for no less than 6 months or more,
may submit an application to elect a Federation Council
Delegate. This application will be reviewed and voted on
by the FC based on the demonstrated commitment and
comprehension of ABCF procedure and policy. The FC del-
egates represent their branch and the Federation. They are
alink between their branch as well as other branches. FC
members must serve no less than 6 months in their local
before becoming eligible to serve as a delegate.

The FC also consists of a Prisoners Committee (PC) made
up of 5 PP/POWs who serve 12-month terms.

2) Responsibilities of the Federation Council:

1. Voting on policy and proposals of the Federation.

2. Confirming the legitimacy of prisoners claiming
PPIPOW status.

3. Submit and help develop proposals.

4. Encouraged to stay in touch with the FC and PC.

5. Attend conference (with the exception of PC
members). At the start of each ABCF conference, those FC
members present shall decide if absent FC members shall
be allowed proxy votes.

6. Vioting on Support Group applications (with the
exception of PC members).

7. The FC must communicate on a basis of no less
than once per month.

1l) PRISONERS COMMITTEE (PC)
1) Purpose:

The Prisoners Committee is a tangible effort to include
PP/POWS in their own support. In addition to having the
ability to offer outside ABCF members with a unique insight
to political imprisonment and the effects of our work in sup-
port of them, the PC also connects the primarily younger
activists in the ABCF to the many years of political struggle
many of them have been involved with.

While other PPIPOWSs should and do offer their perspec-
tives and opinion to our work in an effort to inspire us, hav-
ing a small representative body who shall take in all
expressed opinions and participate in the voting body of
the ABCF is both the most practical and manageable by an
organization such as ours.

2) Responsibilities of the PC:

1. Allocating funds of the Warchest Program to
PPIPOW's.

2. Allocate Emergency Funds from the Warchest
Program.

3. Voting on policy and proposals of the Federation.

4. Confirming the legitimacy of prisoners claiming
PPIPOW status.

5. Submit and help develop proposals.

6. Stay in communication with other FC members

3) Criteria for becoming a PC member:

1. PC members must fall within the criteria of
PP/POWS the ABCF shall support.

2. PC members who do not come from the anarchist
or anti-authoritarian community must make all attempts to
try and respect and understand the autonomous based
procedures and practices of the ABCF.

4) Election of Prisoner Committee Members:
As previously mentioned PC members serve 12-month
terms, at the end of which, new PC members shall replace
their position on the FC. All members of the ABCF (includ-
ing current PC members) are encouraged and welcome to
nominate PC members to the FC. Ideally, this nomination
will be after a period of general work and discussion
between the ABCF group and prisoner. BGs and SGs
should refer to the ABCF Guide to PP/POW Support for
helpful hints on how to develop such a work relationship or
discussion. The ABCF should make all attempts to main-
tain a well-balanced PC, representative of the different
communities PP/POWSs comprise (i.e. Black/New Afrikan,
Women, Puerto Rican, Anti-Imperialist, etc, etc.)

Prisoner Committee terms are as follows:
-Three new PC members are elected to the FC every May.
-Two additional PC members are elected to the FC every
October