ABCF Plain Words 2
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![st Black Cross Federation? “The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) began shorly after the 1905 Russian Revolution. It formed afer breaking from the Political Red Cross, due to the group’s refusal to support Anarchist and Social Revolutionary Political Prisoners. The new group, naming itself the Anarchist Red Cross (ARC), began 10 pro- Vide aid to those Politcal Prisoners who were refused support by the PRC In the carly decades, the organization had chapters throughout Europe and North America. These chapters worked together to provide assistance to_prisoners only in Russia. Soon other groups, such as the Latvian Anarchist Red Cross, emerged o provide aid in other Easter Eropean coun tries. Armed with the ideas of mutual aid and solidarity, these groups worked tielessly o provide support o those who were suffering because of ther politcal beliefs In 1919, the organization’s name changed 1o the Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confu- sion with the International Red Cross. ‘Through the 19205 and until 1958, the organ- ization worked under various ofher names but provided the same level of support as the other groups working as Anarchist Black Cross Afier 1936, the ABC expanded it aid to places such as Greece, laly and Spain. In 1958, the organization collapsed but recmerzed in 1967 in London, England. ‘Once again ABC chapters spread throughout the globe providing support for imprisoned comrades. Sadly, by the end of the 19705 only a handful of ABC chapters st existed. ,the ABC began 10 gain gain in the US and Europe. For ABC’s name was kept alive by a ‘umber of completely autonomous groups scatiered throughout the globe and support- ing a wide variety of prison issus. n May of 1995, a small group of ABC collectives merged ino a federation whose aim was to focus on the overall support and defense of Politcal Prisoners and Prisoners of War. Various groups have since merged in numerous networks throughout the globe working on various prison issucs. The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) has continued ts mission to focus on the aid and support of Politcal Prisoners. We take the position that PPPOWS demand our top priority. We strive to continue with the same dedication and solidarity to our fallen com- rades as those before us have shown. Introduction: “Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of this organization is the fact that Branch Groups The ABCF is: Prisoner Committee Support Groups are freely autonomous to take on whatev- Y the ABCF. So long as these mmamfis do not contradict o ‘B P ) #1131 any preexisting agreements (Tactical Unity) that have ox 2002 ox Y & ty) Inez, KY 41224 SCC (B1-21) been made by the ABCF, it is not necessary for all groups to approve of andior agree with . projects or Work of other ABCE collectives » from the ABCE Elmore, AL 36025 MALIKI LATINE et o #81-A-4460 JAAN LAAMAN Clinton C.F. 10372.016 The following definitions are used to describe the below | PO Box 2000 P.O. Box 24550 terms whenever they appear in the ABCF Update or any | | Dannemora, NY 12920 Tucson, AZ 85734 other ABCF literature. USP Tucson 050 BLANCO Political Prisoner (PP): A person incarcerated for (B, CHUBBUCK) actions carted out in support o legitimate irgales fo | | 072151 self determination or for opposing the illegal poficies of | | p0. Box 1000 Lewisburg, PA 17837 USP Lewisburg Federation Chapters the government and/or its political subdivisions. [Special International Tribunal on the Violation of Human Rights of PP/POWs in U.S. Prisons and Jails, Dec. ’90] Prisoner of War (POW): Those combatants struggling | | ALBUQUERQUE ELIZABET against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes | | ABC NEWARK ABC captured as prisoners are to be accorded the status of pris- | |315 10th St. NW Apt#4 PO Box 2350 oner of war and their treatment should be in accordance 5 Albuquerque NM with the provisions of the Geneya Conyentions Relative Elizabeth, NJ 07207 o the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August, 1949 | %710 NYCABC (General Assembly resolution 3103) L ARCATA ABC PO Box 110034 PO Box 380 Brooklyn, NY 11211 4strugglemag Issue 15 Out Now! Check it out at http:/ / www.dstrugglemag.org Help keep this project going! Paper capies of each issue are sent to over 200 prisoners, at no cost to them. Get a “solidarity subscription’” - one year of issues for yourself and for a prison- er for only $30. Donate online or contact torontoblackcross@gmail.com & Arcata, CA 95518 PHILLY ABC PO Box 42129 Philadelphia, PA 19101 LOS ANGELES ABC PO Box 11223 Whittier, CA 90603 www.abcf.net](abcf-plain-words-2-summer-2010 2.png)
![15 Years of the Federation s v “Being in the ABCF isn’t casy.” This was the opening line to an carly ABCF pamphlet, and was entirely true for a variety of rea- Sons.... not the least of which were our own mistakes and over- sights] But there was a small group of us, determined to do what it took to sustain an anarchist organization that would materially support class war political prisoners and prisoners of war, without emphasis on size or appearance. In fact, we expected to be unpop- ular when we penned the original proposal to federate. We won- dered if anyone would join, and joked around about the type of riticisms and counter proposals others would hurl in our general direction in atiemps to discourage us from moving forward, or others from joining. In other words, we knew this was exactly the type of organization we wanted to be part of! I’m sure some of our critics thought so, but those of us who comprised the original ABCF didn’tset out (o illcit negative reac- tions (of which we received many). Is just that in the few years between when | had helped to start NI Anarchist Black Cross in carly 1992, and when the Anarchist Black Cross Federation was. formed in mid 1995, not a single thing [ had been a part of was met with much enthusiasm (with a few very important exceptions) Prior to the formation of the ABCF, we saw clear indications of the type resistance with which we would eventually be met. For exam- ple: 1 recall as clearly now as when it happened, siting on a stoop. n Philadelphia in 1993 with other anarchists who wanted to talk o us. They warned us that the anarchist community was going 1o want to know what we had 10 say about what it means for anar- chists to be working together with other groups of people like the Black Panthers? No lie; if you can’t imagine that right now, con- sider this was years before anyone | knew had a cell phone, or an email address! Equally as fresh in my memory is what | was thinking when 1 was asked that question. Being 20 years old at the time, my reac- tion (which I ried to keep to myself) probably reflects what would become the resilience the ABCF has come to represent. I don’t remember exactly what I said when asked what we would say to other anarchists when they wanted to know what we thought it meant to us to work with groups of peaple like Black Panthers. What | actually said sis in the shadow of what I thought and felt like saying: I could care less what you think, you figure out what it means to you, I’ve got crap to do.” Our mission seemed simple to us: What we wanted to do was. help political prisoners and prisoners of war. Period. At 19 years old, I was ignorant 1o their existence. It was Ray Luc Levasseur of the United Freedom Front, himself a political prisoner at the time, who introduced me to them. My reading a letter from him s a story. in itself and changed the direction of my life. Those details are likely still available on the ABCF’s website. It was plain to sce that not much effort was being put into working directly with these prisoners to meet their daily needs. We were utterly unaware of what this means to someone in high seurity prisons, or the more harsh control units. Helping to provide this support was at the cen- ter of everything and our sole mtivation. Some of the prisoners we supported were anarchist and ar authoritarian but most were not. Its important to note that | and those closest to me were not interested in specific political differ- ences we may have had with some prisoners. What we knew is that they sacrificed and endured more than my still teenage brain could understand in their efforts to help create a mre tolerant and toler- able world. Yes, some important details of their ideals differed sub- stantially from ours. The fact that some were sitting behind bars for decades as a result of doing completely legal activist work- very much like what many of us were doing- was serious personal incntive. We weren’t sure what we were going to o, but we kept talking and kept our ears open. Often when we came up with ideas, Herman Bell (center) and members of ABCF we asked the prisoners for help developing them. We listened to the ideas prisoners had, and did what we could to incorporate them into our lives and work. “To that end, in June of 1994 (Pre-ABCF) NJ ABC helped organize a general ABC conference along with a number of other ting, loosely affliated, autonomous ABC groups. NJ did what we could to include guests, themes and speakers, all of which were a prelude to what we wanted to sce ourselves be involved with in the future. Although the conference enjoyed a moderate level of success, what kept it from being really successful was the lack tangible results or concrete planning. Our small NJ group felt much more satisfied with the results, because even though at the time we didn’t have specific plans to propose an ABCE, the 04 conference was the first stepping stone toward moving in a direc- tion that interested us. More people were becoming open o the idea of working alongside groups of others. Groups contemporary anarchists were not aceustomed to being around. We strongly felt the anarchist communities discomfort and unwillingness to work with other progressive/revolutionary peaple and groups was center oFits isolation and stagnation. One example of collaboration between our membership and the prisoners we support i the Warchest program. In late 1993, NJ ABC was meeting in Newark, NJ with some of the members from the loosely affiliated ABC groups that helped organize the ‘94 NYC conference. Sitting at the table of some deli near the bus sta- tion where we would soon catch a bus back to Paterson, the Warchest was born. With no foresight, without much thoughi and not having previously run it by anyone else, | suggested the 6 or 7 ofus there contribute a small amount of money each month to help financially support Ojore Lutalo, an anarchist POW that we were all writing. We quickly agreed to the idea. A day or so later I ran the idea by Ojore and some of the other prisoners. ‘One thing led to another and before long, prisoners were asking people they knew to help and more people were contributing money. On the inside, prisoners were helping (o decide what other prisoners were most in need of the money. This quickly moving, fluid experience provided us with ideas and tools we would soon use to build the foundation of the ABCF. This spur of the moment Continued on Page 12 pre-e](abcf-plain-words-2-summer-2010 4.png)
![“The treatment reserved by the state for the imprisoned revolutionaries and it polit- ical cnemies is standard: Revanchist actions, sadism, physical and psychological violence, disrespect toward human dignity, indifference for health, for bodily integrity, for human lfe tself. Because the security of the state and the regime, the denial of freedom is above all - above [ife itself and “human righs” [Actually they continue to deny AND provide freedom. Even our blinders are pro- vided ] For the state officials, the political and financial elite and the rich, “human rights” only concen themselves and their class- alike ‘They do not concem the people, the poor, the impoverished, the workers, the unemployed, the veterans of work, the migrants, those digging through the ‘sarbage of street markets o cat. Nor do they concern the imprisoned - Social- prisoners, the vast majority of which comes from the poor, popular classes and the lives of which is worth absolutely noth- ing for the system. And of course, [human rights] do not concern revolutionaries or politcal prison- ers either, for which the system has always. attempted their physical and ethical exter- mination. In this context, my partner and comrade Panagiota Roupa and myself, both of which are members of Revolutionary Struggle, are denied the right of prison visits thanks to the attorney of the prison of Korydallos, who rejects “for security reasons” my visit o the maternity clinic “Alexandra” to visit my partner, who will bring our son o the warld - the youngest politial prisoner of the greek “démocracy”. She is also rejecting for the same “secu- ity reasons” my application to visit the female prisons of Korydallos, as my com- rade is unable due to her condition to visit the male prisons herself, a it is supposedly customary until now. Demanding, therefore, the “obvious”, as a partner and father to visit my pariner- Atenco Prisoners Free! ‘The twelve Mexican political prisoners scized in the aftermath of the 2006 Atenco uprising have been released following a sensational high court ruling. Judges ruled that not only was there no evidence (o sus- tain the prosecution’s case but also that the changs the twelve faced - organized kid- napping - didn’t even exist in Mexican . “The victory was celebrated by activists in Mexico and around the world who have relentlessly campaigned for justice over the lastfour years. Outside the courthouse, “Trini el Valle, wife of one of the prisoners, gnacio del Vale, told the gathered crowd from the Popular Front in Defense of the Land (FPDT) and the Justice and Peace Commitee for Atenco, I e teas of hap- piness inthe eyes of my compaferos and | ould like to say thank you’to everyone, {hank you to the Mexican people and iner- natonal soldarity: The federal and state govemments are not invincble!” "The announcement of the ruling led to an impromptu town festival, while hun- reds of locals and sctiviss estabiished a Vil outsid the prison holding Tgnacio del Valle Medina, Felipe Alvarez and Héctor comrade and our sons, I am going on hunger srike from July 15th in order for my following two demands to be met: 1. To be transfarred for a visit to the ‘matemity clinic “Alexandra” on July 25th, in order o visit my partner Panagiota Roupa and our son, since the childbirth has been planned with a Cacsarean for July 24th, while she will remain in the clinic for 2 few days after that and 2. That it is me who gets transferred for visits 1o the female prisons for the first peri- od afer the childbirth due to the unavoid- able inability of my partner and our son to ’As much as the repressive mechanisms believe that by imprisoning us they will get done with us, they are wrong. Either inside, or outside prisons the struggle for us is & ‘matter of honor and dignity; it will contin- Revolutionary strugle continues. NIKOS MAZIOTIS® Galind. There, they waited for the release of the prisoncrs behind a giant banner pro- claiming “Welcome, compafieros, 1o your town” ‘As the High Court judges assembled on Tuesday 29th June, inernational cam- paigners staged solidarity demos in Spain, Germany, the US, New Zealand and Britain. In London, activists from across the UK assembled outside the Mexican embassy and leafleted passers-by while blasting out Mexican revolutionary tunes Dirty Protest Begins Again in Ireland for Political Status The following communication_was released from the Irish Prisoners of War held captive in Maghaberry jail. The words speak for themselves and We encourage others o support these comrades in their demand for political status “After having exhausted every other avenue available to us, we the POWs have been forced to engage in a protest to bring about an end to the degrading and inhuman conditions we find ourselves being subject- ed to “Our protest began after Mass on Easter Sunday when we secured the recreation room and erected barricades to prevent the screws [prison warders] from gaining access. We held this position for two days with upwards of 200 serews plus RUC in ot gear taking up positions around the area we had seized. “Prison officials (accepted in consulta- tions) in which we agreed to hand back control with the understanding that within 48-hours further negotiations would take place within the aim of resolving our con- cems. The prison service rencged on their promise of negotiations, to no surprise to ourselves. “Since then we have refused 1o partici- pate in degrading strip searches and have been covering the observation flaps on our cell doors. Since then we have wrecked our cells i response to the search team remov- ing a POW 10 the boards, where he was handeuffed to a steel bed and had his cloth- ing cut off. “We then had to pour urine under our cell doors to get rid of it, as we have been locked down for 23 hours a day, “In our efforis 1o resolve the protest we have met with the prison governors and found them uninterested to discuss in any detai the issues concerning us. We have also met with seven delegations of the so- called Justice Committee, which comprises members of PSF [Provisional Sinn Féin] and the SDLP (Social and Democratic labor Party). A further meeting was held with the Prison Ombudsman but to no avail “Having once again exhausted all avenues to us we feel the option left to us is 10 step up our protest. “We call upon our families, comrades and supporters to organize again and sep up their efforts outside with protests, ltter- writing campaigns, leaflet drops and all other appropriate actions to highlight our plight “We salute your efforts to date and know we can rely on you in the future. For our part, on Sunday, June 13,2010 we will commence a Dirty Protest. “PRO Republican POWs. “Maghaberry jail™](abcf-plain-words-2-summer-2010 12.png)
![$60,000 Raised Through the Warchest Program! SUPPORT THE ABCF WARCHEST The ABCF has initiated a program designed to send monthly checks to PP/POWs who have been receiving insuffiient, little, or no financial support during their imprison- ment. PP/POWSs requesting funds complete an application of financial questions. When the ABCF has collected sufficient funds to send out another monthly check, the applications are reviewed by a rotating body of PP/POWs called the Prisoner Committee, who make a judgement on which applicant is in the most financial need. There is also an emergency fund designed to immediately send checks to those PP/POWS in need of one-time or emergency assistance. Founded in 1994, the Warchest has provided consistent and reliable financial aid, serv- ing a much- neglected comradely function. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised over $60,000 with just this one program. Al funds raised go directly to the political prisoners, for which the program is designed. Despite our success, our comrades are stil in dire need of funds. Endorse this program by giving a monthly or one-time donation to increase the number of prisoners being supported monthly. A financial report is published that documents all money received and the prisoner it was sent to. The prisoners” addresses are also printed so that endorsers may write and hold us accountable. Send cash,checks or mos made to TIM FASNACHT to: Philly ABCF ¢ P.O Box 42129 e Philadelphia, PA 19101 e timABCF@aol.com FUNDS TN 2009 AN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN FUNDS OUT 2000 FEB AR APR MAY JUN TR Aece 20" 0 10 20 0 0 0 SEOUKwBUr %0 30 % % w0 m Pl ASCE 600 50 50 S0 50 50 50 RUSSELLSHOATZ 3030 3 30 30 30 €2¢, 0 300 000 0 o g loseewbowen 36030 303030 30 TORONTOASCF 500 0 80 0 0 0 0 HANIFsEr 3030 30 0 30 0 X ABCE 0 0 0 0 0 0 o HeRMANBEL 3030 3 3 10 0 ) ABCE 00 0 0 35 0 45 SeKOUCDINGA 3030 30 30 30 0 NYC ABCE 750 6 60 60 60 60 60 RUGILMAGE 36030 30 3030 0 Denver ASCE 900 0000 0 AVAROHERNANDEZ 30 30 30 30 30 30 Ao Ancr 8 0 0 0 0 10 0 MALKILAINE 3030 3 3 30 0 PAc 140 0 0 0 0 0 0 TSUTOMUSHIROSAKI 360 30 30 30 30 30 (A oW 3100000 0 0 |VERONZABOWERs 360 0 0 0 0 0 W ROTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ABULAZEEZ S 0 0 0 0 0o TORONTO ROTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ooEwmo 00 0 0 0 0 Peican B2y ROTW 250 000 0 0 0 TOm 3,700 1300 300 300 300300 Portiand ROTW s 0 0 0 o o o WEST. MASS. "BTW 10700000 o ANON 13500 00 00 FUNDS IN FUNDS ouT ’AARON VIDAVER 00 0 50 o 0 o FLITI—TY o T. SHIROSAKI 00 0 100 0 00 1995 3860 1995 2796 REN BROWNING. 0 0 o0 1610 0 0 1996 4143 1996 4308 CHRIS S/IN 240 0 0 0 0 o 1997 3544 1997 4588 JIM M/PHILLY 107 0 0 00 0 0 1998 7643 1998 6412 JOHARIZONA 20 35 2 2 0 0 0 199 —soia 1999 sio1 TED HEXTER o0 0 0 10 0 o e 2000 ases JAGUAR PRESS 00 0 0 4 0 0 W0 Jo0i 3y ENRIQUE/SPAIN 3% 0 0 0 0 0 © 2001 _S2o0) e i zol o SUZY SUBWAY 100 0 0 0o 00 2004 [UNACC™ 2004 [UNACC 2005 453 20052620 DAN SHALLEY 300 0 0 0 0 0 Jo06 2680 SHANEANDREW 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 3268 oo zmml TorAL Gis8 535 720 1051 185 120 165 007 a3tz e 20083448 20053750, e 2005 3700 ol o8] 2010 2500 (oA eaate] ToTAL 57137 FUNDS REMAINING: $5274 (*Funds unaccounted for due to unreported funds from Jacksonville ABCF)](abcf-plain-words-2-summer-2010 15.png)
PLAIN WEORDS
SUMMER 2010
st Black Cross Federation?
“The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) began
shorly after the 1905 Russian Revolution. It
formed afer breaking from the Political Red
Cross, due to the group’s refusal to support
Anarchist and Social Revolutionary Political
Prisoners. The new group, naming itself the
Anarchist Red Cross (ARC), began 10 pro-
Vide aid to those Politcal Prisoners who
were refused support by the PRC
In the carly decades, the organization had
chapters throughout Europe and North
America. These chapters worked together to
provide assistance to_prisoners only in
Russia. Soon other groups, such as the
Latvian Anarchist Red Cross, emerged o
provide aid in other Easter Eropean coun
tries. Armed with the ideas of mutual aid and
solidarity, these groups worked tielessly o
provide support o those who were suffering
because of ther politcal beliefs
In 1919, the organization’s name changed
1o the Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confu-
sion with the International Red Cross.
‘Through the 19205 and until 1958, the organ-
ization worked under various ofher names
but provided the same level of support as the
other groups working as Anarchist Black
Cross
Afier 1936, the ABC expanded it aid to
places such as Greece, laly and Spain.
In 1958, the organization collapsed but
recmerzed in 1967 in London, England.
‘Once again ABC chapters spread throughout
the globe providing support for imprisoned
comrades. Sadly, by the end of the 19705
only a handful of ABC chapters st existed.
,the ABC began 10 gain
gain in the US and Europe. For
ABC’s name was kept alive by a
‘umber of completely autonomous groups
scatiered throughout the globe and support-
ing a wide variety of prison issus.
n May of 1995, a small group of ABC
collectives merged ino a federation whose
aim was to focus on the overall support and
defense of Politcal Prisoners and Prisoners
of War.
Various groups have since merged in
numerous networks throughout the globe
working on various prison issucs. The
Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF)
has continued ts mission to focus on the aid
and support of Politcal Prisoners. We take
the position that PPPOWS demand our top
priority. We strive to continue with the same
dedication and solidarity to our fallen com-
rades as those before us have shown.
Introduction:
“Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity
of this organization is the fact that Branch Groups
The ABCF is:
Prisoner Committee
Support Groups are freely autonomous to take on whatev- Y
the ABCF. So long as these mmamfis do not contradict o ‘B P ) #1131
any preexisting agreements (Tactical Unity) that have ox 2002 ox
Y & ty) Inez, KY 41224 SCC (B1-21)
been made by the ABCF, it is not necessary for all groups
to approve of andior agree with . projects or
Work of other ABCE collectives » from the ABCE
Elmore, AL 36025
MALIKI LATINE
et o #81-A-4460 JAAN LAAMAN
Clinton C.F. 10372.016
The following definitions are used to describe the below | PO Box 2000 P.O. Box 24550
terms whenever they appear in the ABCF Update or any | | Dannemora, NY 12920 Tucson, AZ 85734
other ABCF literature. USP Tucson
050 BLANCO
Political Prisoner (PP): A person incarcerated for (B, CHUBBUCK)
actions carted out in support o legitimate irgales fo | | 072151
self determination or for opposing the illegal poficies of | | p0. Box 1000
Lewisburg, PA 17837
USP Lewisburg
Federation Chapters
the government and/or its political subdivisions.
[Special International Tribunal on the Violation of
Human Rights of PP/POWs in U.S. Prisons and Jails,
Dec. '90]
Prisoner of War (POW): Those combatants struggling | | ALBUQUERQUE ELIZABET
against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes | | ABC NEWARK ABC
captured as prisoners are to be accorded the status of pris- | |315 10th St. NW Apt#4 PO Box 2350
oner of war and their treatment should be in accordance
5 Albuquerque NM
with the provisions of the Geneya Conyentions Relative
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
o the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August, 1949 | %710 NYCABC
(General Assembly resolution 3103) L
ARCATA ABC PO Box 110034
PO Box 380 Brooklyn, NY 11211
4strugglemag Issue 15 Out Now!
Check it out at http:/ / www.dstrugglemag.org
Help keep this project going! Paper capies of each issue are
sent to over 200 prisoners, at no cost to them. Get a “solidarity
subscription’” - one year of issues for yourself and for a prison-
er for only $30. Donate online or contact
torontoblackcross@gmail.com
&
Arcata, CA 95518
PHILLY ABC
PO Box 42129
Philadelphia, PA 19101
LOS ANGELES ABC
PO Box 11223
Whittier, CA 90603
www.abcf.net
ROM TH
Passing of Comrade Smitty
vestng veith the ancestors. It was his wish
Memorial Celebration of his Life is
being planned, will keep you postd. In the
should be sent to The BPP Commemoration
Committce c/o Yasmeen Sution 112-50
Northern Blvd Suite 2-D Corona, New York
11368
Checks & money orders should be made
out 1o Mary Smith, his widow. Keep her in
your prayers; she lost a dear grandson & 2
days later her husband.
Pawlak Has Been Released
Michael Pawlak has been released from
prison while he is awaiting tral. Pawlak s
an anarchist from Poland who was arrested
in Greece on December 6th, 2009 during
the demonstrations for the ane-year since
the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos by
police and the uprising that followed. He is
accused of attempting to make explosives,
an allegation that is both unsubstantiated
and based on circumstantial evidence. No
news on when that tial will begin. We will
repart any news that comes up regarding his.
Sundiata Give Ten Year Hit
It was bad enough that New Afrikan
Prisoner of War, Sundiata Acoli was denied
paole in April, but has just received a letter
from the parole board that the three-person
panel just gave him a ten year hit, This
means. for those who do not know, is that
he will not go in front of the parole board
for another decade. The standard hit is
about three years. And since Sundiata s
nothing short of a model prisoner, one
would have to conclude that the hit was a
combination of political repression and
pressure from the police unions.
Mutulu Moved Within ADX
Please be_advised that Mutulu's new
address is as follows:
Dr. Mutulu Shakur #83205-012
USP Max, DB Unit, Cell 214
PO. Box 7000
Florence, CO. §1226-8500
Please note that his 60 birthday is
approaching on August .
Asheville 11 Court Update
On Friday the 16th cight of the cleven
had a court appearance. They were all given
continuances and have a new court date set
Tor Sept. 30th. The rest of the eleven will
appear in court on July 30th. They are also
expected 1o receive 3 continuance unil
ept. 30th
On May 1, 2010 cleven people were
indiscriminatcly arrested in downtown
Asheville, North Carolina.
‘They were held on $65.000 bail each
and some for nearly five days. All cleven
have been charged with 10 misdemeanors
and 3 felonics.
So far, all of the eleven’s charges have
remained in District Court. This will only
be the case for a short time longer. In the
state of North Carolina, all felony charges
are handled by the Superior Courton a state
level. Sometime in the next few months, the
cleven's charges will be reviewed by a
Superior Court Jury. This jury is called a
“grand jury” but is NOT the same as a
‘arand jury that defendants would be called
o testify. This jury will be a grouping of
people from the state of North Carolina
who wil review the case and make a rec-
ommendation on which of the eleven's
felony charges will be brought 1o the state
Superior court
We will keep you updated on any
changes in court dates, or venues. Thanks
for al your continued suppor.
AETA 4 Court Update
On July 12,2010, Judge Whyte ruled to
dismiss withou prejudice the indictment of
the AETA4 because the indictment does not
specify the criminal conduct alleged to have
been commitied by the four defendants. The
‘zovernment sill has the opion to re-indict
if they wish.
‘The AETA 4 were indicted for conspira-
¢y o commit animal enterprise terrorism.
Charges against the AETA 4 include
protesting, chalking the sidewalk, chanting
and leafleting - and the alleged use of “the
Internet to find information on bio-medical
researchers.” These actions are clearly and
traditionally protected by the First
Amendmen.
“The Department of Justice brazenly calls
these young activists “terrorists” under the
Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA).
Passed by Congress near the end of the
Bush administration, the AETA aims o sup-
press speech and advocacy by criminalizing
activities protected by the First
Amendment, including protests, boycots,
picketing and whistleblowing.
“The scheduled July 19 court appearance
of the AETA4 has therefore been canceled
We'll keep everyone posted to any new
developments.
Reykjavik 9 Court Update
he Reykjavik 5 are nine protesters who
in December 8, 2008, entered the Ieelandic
Parliamentary building to demand that their
politicians resign. The action was done as
part of the growing movement that devel.
oped after the cconomic collapse of the
country. Though legally allowed to enter,
the nine were arrested and charged with
endangering the autonomy of the parlia-
ment. (No Joke!) They are currently on tral
and cach face a possible 16-years in prison.
Due to summer holidays, however, the
Reykjavik Nine's court proceedings are
expected to draw on tll winter, with the
next session scheduled for August 17th,
Polish Anarchist Arrested
Renata Zelazna s a Polish anarchist who
is being charged with the ridiculous aceusa-
tion of attempted murder of a police officer.
‘The incident began afer Zelazna had com.
plained about the noise from a nearby dem.
olition site. Afier one of the workers almost
hit her with his machine and another pushed
her down in response to her complaint,
Zelazna responded by throwing mud ai
them. They then called the police
Zelazna went up stairs to complete her
dinner when the police arive. As they
entered, she had a knife in her hand that she
was using for cutting. They announced they
were arresting her for destroying the
machine. Perceiving her knife as a threat,
they peppered-sprayed her and hog-carried
her to the police car. Meanwhile, they ille-
gally searched her apartment. She is now
charged with attempted murder of a cop.
Zelzna is ot a political prisoner but still
heeds our support as a comrade.for more
info, contact: sefsefe@hotmail co.uk
FBI Talks to Former Member
We have received news that 2 former
member of the Anarchist Black Cross
Federation was contacted recenly by the
FBL. The contact was brief with the agents
asking some questions about ABCF activi-
les. The member answered questions by
being brief and vague when iving answers.
Wihile the organization is sbove-ground and
only engages in “legal” activiies, we
should not have to emind activst, current
or former, that providing even the most
basic and public information should be
avoided. Simply put: Don't engage.
However, we must be clear that this per-
son's integity is not in question and the
person immediaely reported the incident.
1t should be noted that this visi, while
more than likely unrelted, ook place only
six months after ABCF member and former
Prisoner of War Ojore Lutalo, was anested
for alleged bomb threats. Lutalo was on a
{rain coming back from visiting with mer.
bers of the LA chapter, when other passen-
gers were offended by the revolutionary
nature of his phone conversation.
Other passengers reported _alleged
threas that were never mad. even connet-
ing him to al-Qaida. Ojore was then
detained by the FBI's Colorada Joint
Tertorist Task Force. All charges were
eventually dropped afer witnesses recanted
‘heir allegations when questioned,
15 Years of the Federation s v
“Being in the ABCF isn't casy.” This was the opening line to an
carly ABCF pamphlet, and was entirely true for a variety of rea-
Sons.... not the least of which were our own mistakes and over-
sights] But there was a small group of us, determined to do what it
took to sustain an anarchist organization that would materially
support class war political prisoners and prisoners of war, without
emphasis on size or appearance. In fact, we expected to be unpop-
ular when we penned the original proposal to federate. We won-
dered if anyone would join, and joked around about the type of
riticisms and counter proposals others would hurl in our general
direction in atiemps to discourage us from moving forward, or
others from joining. In other words, we knew this was exactly the
type of organization we wanted to be part of!
I'm sure some of our critics thought so, but those of us who
comprised the original ABCF didn'tset out (o illcit negative reac-
tions (of which we received many). Is just that in the few years
between when | had helped to start NI Anarchist Black Cross in
carly 1992, and when the Anarchist Black Cross Federation was.
formed in mid 1995, not a single thing [ had been a part of was met
with much enthusiasm (with a few very important exceptions)
Prior to the formation of the ABCF, we saw clear indications of the
type resistance with which we would eventually be met. For exam-
ple: 1 recall as clearly now as when it happened, siting on a stoop.
n Philadelphia in 1993 with other anarchists who wanted to talk o
us. They warned us that the anarchist community was going 1o
want to know what we had 10 say about what it means for anar-
chists to be working together with other groups of people like the
Black Panthers? No lie; if you can't imagine that right now, con-
sider this was years before anyone | knew had a cell phone, or an
email address!
Equally as fresh in my memory is what | was thinking when
1 was asked that question. Being 20 years old at the time, my reac-
tion (which I ried to keep to myself) probably reflects what would
become the resilience the ABCF has come to represent. I don't
remember exactly what I said when asked what we would say to
other anarchists when they wanted to know what we thought it
meant to us to work with groups of peaple like Black Panthers.
What | actually said sis in the shadow of what I thought and felt
like saying: I could care less what you think, you figure out what
it means to you, I've got crap to do.”
Our mission seemed simple to us: What we wanted to do was.
help political prisoners and prisoners of war. Period. At 19 years
old, I was ignorant 1o their existence. It was Ray Luc Levasseur of
the United Freedom Front, himself a political prisoner at the time,
who introduced me to them. My reading a letter from him s a story.
in itself and changed the direction of my life. Those details are
likely still available on the ABCF's website. It was plain to sce that
not much effort was being put into working directly with these
prisoners to meet their daily needs. We were utterly unaware of
what this means to someone in high seurity prisons, or the more
harsh control units. Helping to provide this support was at the cen-
ter of everything and our sole mtivation.
Some of the prisoners we supported were anarchist and ar
authoritarian but most were not. Its important to note that | and
those closest to me were not interested in specific political differ-
ences we may have had with some prisoners. What we knew is that
they sacrificed and endured more than my still teenage brain could
understand in their efforts to help create a mre tolerant and toler-
able world. Yes, some important details of their ideals differed sub-
stantially from ours. The fact that some were sitting behind bars
for decades as a result of doing completely legal activist work-
very much like what many of us were doing- was serious personal
incntive. We weren't sure what we were going to o, but we kept
talking and kept our ears open. Often when we came up with ideas,
Herman Bell (center) and members of ABCF
we asked the prisoners for help developing them. We listened to
the ideas prisoners had, and did what we could to incorporate them
into our lives and work.
“To that end, in June of 1994 (Pre-ABCF) NJ ABC helped
organize a general ABC conference along with a number of other
ting, loosely affliated, autonomous ABC groups. NJ did
what we could to include guests, themes and speakers, all of which
were a prelude to what we wanted to sce ourselves be involved
with in the future. Although the conference enjoyed a moderate
level of success, what kept it from being really successful was the
lack tangible results or concrete planning. Our small NJ group felt
much more satisfied with the results, because even though at the
time we didn't have specific plans to propose an ABCE, the 04
conference was the first stepping stone toward moving in a direc-
tion that interested us. More people were becoming open o the
idea of working alongside groups of others. Groups contemporary
anarchists were not aceustomed to being around. We strongly felt
the anarchist communities discomfort and unwillingness to work
with other progressive/revolutionary peaple and groups was center
oFits isolation and stagnation.
One example of collaboration between our membership and
the prisoners we support i the Warchest program. In late 1993, NJ
ABC was meeting in Newark, NJ with some of the members from
the loosely affiliated ABC groups that helped organize the ‘94
NYC conference. Sitting at the table of some deli near the bus sta-
tion where we would soon catch a bus back to Paterson, the
Warchest was born. With no foresight, without much thoughi and
not having previously run it by anyone else, | suggested the 6 or 7
ofus there contribute a small amount of money each month to help
financially support Ojore Lutalo, an anarchist POW that we were
all writing. We quickly agreed to the idea. A day or so later I ran
the idea by Ojore and some of the other prisoners.
‘One thing led to another and before long, prisoners were asking
people they knew to help and more people were contributing
money. On the inside, prisoners were helping (o decide what other
prisoners were most in need of the money. This quickly moving,
fluid experience provided us with ideas and tools we would soon
use to build the foundation of the ABCF. This spur of the moment
Continued on Page 12
pre-e
Lynne Stewart Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
by Jeff Mackler, West Coast Director of the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
‘The full force of the U.S. criminal
tice” system came down on innocent pol
ical prisoner, 30-year veteran human rights
attomey and radical poliical activist Lynne
Stewart today, July 15, 2010.
In an obviously preprepared one hour
and twenty minute technical tour de force
designed to give legitimacy 102 reactionary
ruling Federal District Court John Koelil,
who in 2005 sentenced Stewart to 28
months in prison following her frame-up
trial and jury conviction on four counts of
“conspiracy to aid and abet terrorism,” re-
sentenced Stewart to 120 months of ten
years. Stewart will serve her sentence in
Danbury, Connecticut’s minimum security
prison.
The jam-packed New York Federal
District Court chamber observers where
Koeltl held forth let our a gasp of pain and
anguish as Lynne’s family and friends were
stunned — tears flowing down the stricken
and somber faces of many. A magnificent
Stewart, ever the political fighter and
rzanizer was able to say to her supporters
that she felt badly because she “had let
them down,” a reference 1o the massive
ourpouring of solidarity and defiance that
was the prime characteristic of Lynne's
long fight for freedom.
Judge Koelil was ordered to revisit his
elatively short sentence when it was over-
turned by a two-judge majority of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit,
Judges Robert D. Sack and Guido
Calabresi ruled that Koeltls sentence was
flawed because he had declined to deter-
mine whether Stewart committed perjury
when she tesified at her trial that she
believed that she was effectively operating
under a “bubble” protecting her from pros-
ecution when she issued a press release on
behalf of her also framed-up client, the
blind Sheik Omar Abdel Rachiman.
Rachman was falsely charged with conspir-
acy to damage New York state buildings.
Dissenting Judge John M. Walker, who
called Stewart’s sentence, "breathtakingly
Low" in view of Stewart’s “extraordinarily
severe criminal conduct” deemed the
Second Circuit's majority opinion “sub-
stantively unreasonable.” Walker essential-
ly sought to impose or demand a 30-year
sentence.
“The three-judge panel on Dec. 20, 2009
followed its initial ruling with even tougher
language demanding that Koelt revisit his
treatment of the “terrorism enhancement™
aspects of the law. A cowardly Koelil, who
didn't need this argument to dramatically
increase Stewart’s sentence, asserted that
he had already taken it under consideration
in his original deliberations.
Government prosecutors, who in 2005
Sought a 30-year sentence, had submitied
155-page memorandum arguing in support
oFa 15-30 year sentence. Their arguments
demonstrated how twisted logic coupled
with vindictive and lying government of
cials routinely turn the victin into the cri
inal
Stewart’s attorneys countered with a
detailed brief recounting the facts of the
case and demonsirating that Stewart’s
actions in defense of her client were well
within the realm of past practice and
accepted procedures. They argued that
Koeltl properly exercised his discretion in
determning that, while the terrorism
enhancement provisions of the “law” had
0 be taken into consideration, the 30-year-
prison term associated with it was “dramat.
ically unteasonable, overstated the serious-
ness® of Stewart's conduct and had already
been factored into Koeltl's decision.
Stewart’s attorey's also argued cor
vincingly in their brief that the Special
Administrative Measure (SAM) that
Stewart was convicted of violating by
releasing a statement from her client to the
‘media was well within the established prac-
tice of Stewart’s experienced and mentor-
ing co-counsels. former U.S. Attorney
General Ramsey Clark and past American
Atab Ani-Discrimination Committce pres-
ident Abdcen Jabarra. Both had issued sim-
ilar statements to the press with no govern-
ment reprisal. Clark was an observer in
Koelil's courtroom.
As worst in such matters, govermment
officials refuse defense attorneys visiting
rights with their clients until an agreement
on a contested interpretation of a SAM is
in Stewart's case when the
mater was brought to_ then Attorney
General Janet Reno, the government
declined to prosecute or otherwise take any
action against Stewart.
But Koeltl, who had essentially accept-
ed this view in his original sentence,
reversed himself entirely and proceeded in
his erudite-sounding new rendition of the
law to repeatedly charge Stewart with mul.
tiple acts of perjury regarding her state-
ments on the SAM during her tial.
Koelil took the occasion to lecture
Stewart_regarding the first words she
uttered in front of a bevy of media when
she joyfully alighted from the courthouse
following the Jjudge’s original 28-month
sentence. Said Stewart at that time, *1 can
do 28 months standing on my head." A few
moments earlier Stewart, with nothing but
a plastic bag containing 2 toothbrush,
toothpaste and her various medications,
had stood before Koeltl, who had been
asked by the government fosentence
Stewart 10 a 30 year term, effectively a
death sentence for Lynne, aged 70, a dia-
betic recovering breast cancer vietim and
less than excellent health.
Koeltl dutifully followed the lead of the
Second Circuit judges, who feigned out-
rage that Stewart could possibly appear
Joyful that her life was spared despite 28
months in_ prison. Koeltl insisted that
Stewart's remark was essentially contemp-
twous of his sentence and insufficient to
convinge Stewart of the seriousness of her
“erime.” Lynne’s argument that while she
fully understood that 28 months. behind
bars, separating from her “family, friends
and comrades,” was a harsh penalty, she
was nevertheless “relieved” that she would
not die in prison. Koelil needed 2 legal
brick to throw at Lynne’s head and ignored
her humanity, honesty and deep feeling of
elief when she expressed it to a crowd of
two_thousand friends, supporters and a
good portion of the nafion’s media.
The same Judge Koeltl who stated in
2005, when he rendered the 28-month jail
term, that Lynne was “a credit to her pro-
fession and (0 the nation,”clearly heard the
Voice of institutionalized hate and cruelty
and responded in according with is unstat-
ed code. “Show no merey! Thou shall not
dissent without grave punishment” in capi-
talist America,
Lynne was convicted in the post-911
generated climate of political hysteria
Bush appointee, Atiorney General John
Asheroft, decided to make an example of
her aimed at warning future attomeys that
the mere act of defending anyone Whom
the govemment charged with “conspiracy
0 aid and abet terrorism,” could trigger ter-
rible consequences.
On July 15 Judge Koeltl made the deci-
sion of his carcer. Known for his meticu-
lous preparation in such matters, and
already having enraged the powers that be
withhis “light” sentence of Stewart, he
bent full il to the reactionary political
pressures exerted on him by the court hier-
archy. He had the option to stand tall and
reafirm his original decision. The “law”
allowed him to do so. He could have per-
mitted Lynne to leave prison in less than
two years, recover her health, and lead a
productive life. His massively extended
sentence, unless overtumed, will likely
lead to Lynne’s demise behind bars - a bil-
liant and dedicated fighter sacrificed on the
Herman Bell
Herman Bell, of the 'New York Three'
and ‘San Francisco Eight' cases, has been
denied bail for the fourth consectiive time.
Herman Bell was arrested and charged
in 1973 with the killing of two New York
City police officers two years carlier in
1971, Also arrested for the erime were Jalil
Muntagim, Albert Nuh Washington and
Gabriel and Francisco Torres. The two
brothers were later acquitied for lack of
evidence. The other three, Muntagim,
Washington and Bell were found guilty of
first-degree murder, weapon_possession
and conspiracy despite evidence shown to
be inconsistent, fraudulent, and based on
perjured testimonies. They became known
as the New York Three.
In January 2007, Bell and seven other
former Black Panthers (known as the 'San
Francisco Eight) were charged by a joint
state and federal task force, with the polit-
cal assassination of a San Francisco police
officer in 1971, Similar charges were
brought against several of the accused in
1975, but a California judge tossed out the
chanes, finding that they were based on
alter of an intolerant class-biased system of
repression and war.
Courage is a rare qualty in the capital-
ist judiciary. For every defiant decision
made, usually driven by a change in the
political climate driven forward by the rise
of mass social protest movements, there are
thousands and more of political appointees
that affim: the status quo, including its
punishment of all who siruggle to chal-
lenge capitalist prerogatives and power.
Lynne Stewart stands tall among the lat-
ter. We can only hope that the winds of
change that are stiring the consciousness
of millions today in the context of an
American_capitalism in_ cconomic and
moral crisis keeps the movement for her
freedom alive and well. The fight is not
aver! What we do now remains eritcal.
Lynne's expected appeal to the U.S.
Supreme Court cannot be writien off as
Denied Parole Yet Again
statements made after police in New
Orleans tortured them for several days
employing electric shock, cattle_prods,
beatings, sensory deprivation, plastic bags
and hot, wet blankets for asphyxiation.
On June 29, 2009 Herman Bell pleaded
euilty to_voluntary manslaughter of the
police officer. Muntiagim, also charged
with the action, pleaded no contest
Charges against’ four others of San
Francisco Eight were dropped. (Francisco
Torres stil faces charges.)
AS part of the agreement, Herman Bell
would be sent back to New York, be placed
on probation for five years and would serve
no additional time.
Since his imprisonment, Bell has had an
impressive record. He has received both a
BA. and M.A. and has been a coach for
football and basketball coach (bring prison-
ers together) He had dedicated his time
mentoring and tutoring other prisoners and
has received paralegal and HIV-counseling
certificates. He is also one of the founders
of the Victory Garden Project, an alterna-
tive food program that helps disenfran-
Carlos Alberto Torres Freed But Needs Help
In July of this year, Puerto Rican inde-
pendista and Prisoner of War, Carlos Alberto
Torres, was released from prison. Tortes served
30 years in U.S. prisons for his commitment to
the independence of Puerto Rico.
ALST years old, he will relocate 1o Puerto
Rico
immediately, where he hopes to establish
a ceramics studio, 1o continue the craft he
developed in prison, and to live selling his pot-
tery and teaching coramics.
“AS you can imagine, he is strting off with
very lile facing a huge- and wonderful- adjust-
‘ment. He faces almost immediate basic expens.
es, such as dental care, the need for a used truck.
1o transport ceramies and ceramic supplies and
of course, housing
The National
Network is raising funds 1 help the comrade
settle in. They are asking for supporters o
pledge their support to Carlos Alberto Torres
with s donation:
hitp://boricuahumanrighis.org.
2) Or make a check out to NBHRN and
wiite “CAT reeniry fund in the memo.” Mail to
National Boricua Human Rights Network,
2739 W. Division St, Chicago, IL 60622, c/o
Michelle Morales
absurd and hopeless. What we do collec-
tively to free her and all political prisoners
and to_fight for freedom and justice on
every front counts for everything!
Write to Lynne at
Lynne Stewart 53504054
MCC-NY 2.
150 Park Row
New York, NY 10007
For further information call Lynne's
husband, Ralph Poynter, leader of the
Lynne Stewart Defense Committee, at
718-789-0558 or 917-853-9759.
Send contributions payable to:
Lynne Stewart Organization
1070 Dean Street
Brooklyn, New York, 11216
& N
chised people develop their own sources of
organic food. In addition to his excellent
record, Bell had three job offers and was
able to provide letters of recommendations
for parole from three San Francisco
Supervisors.
He was told to come back in 24 month,
at which time he will be 64 year old.
Herman Bell has a wife, children, grand-
children, 9 siblings and a community of
friends and comrades awaiting his freedom.
Boricua Human Rights
1) You can donate through their site at
Marilyn Buck Released After 25 Years
Marilyn Buck, a political prisoner in
the U.S.. was released on July 15, 2010
from the federal prison medical center in
Carswell, Texas, according to her sup-
port group, Friends of Marilyn Buck
She is paroled to New York. As of the
writing of this article, no further deails
about her release have been made avail-
able.
Life-long commitment to anti-
racism & anti-imperialism
Marilyn Buck started her commitment
to fighting against racism and U.S. impe-
rialism as a student activist in the 1960s,
when she was 2 member of Students for
a Democratic Socicty (SDS) at the
University of Texas. There she organized
against the Vietnam War and against
racism, and she was one of the women
who hélped make women's liberation a
central part of SDS's politics. In the
19705 Buck worked to support revolu-
tionary _anti-imperialist movements
around the world, while also actively
supporting the Native American and
Black liberation movements within the
Us.
Despite great personal suffering,
including decades in jail, Buck mai
tained her commitmen to anti-imperial-
st and anti-racist politics, including sup-
porting those fighting against imperial-
ism and for national liberation.
Decades in prison
Marilyn Buck spent four years in
prison in the carly 19705, allegedly for
helping Black revolutionaries buy
firearms. Afier she was furloughed from
Jail, she went underground to resume her
political activism against U.S. imperial-
ism and in support of Black liberation.
She was captured again in 1985, and has
been in prison ever since. At that time
she was accused of actions such as help-
ing Black revolutionary Assata Shakur
successfully escape from prison in 1979,
as well as conspiracy in the 1983 bomb.
ing of the U.S. Senate building
response to the Reagan administration’s
invasion of Grenada, which had a leflist
‘overnment at the time.
With her capture in 1985, Buck
became part of the Resistance
Cnspiracy trial. This was a prominent
trial in the 1980s against seven white
anti-racist and anti-imperialist activists
who were accused of conspiring “to
influence, change and protest policies
and practices of the United States
Government concerning various interna-
tional and domestic matters through the
use of violent and illegal means.” They
were accused of supporting armed Black
revolutionaries within the U.S. and
accused of a series of bombings of US.
government and military buildings in
protest of U.S. foreign policy in Central
America and the Middle East. Buck
received an 80-year sentence in the case.
While in prison, Buck became a pro-
lific writer of political articles and poet-
ty. She wrote, “The trials, those years of
intense repression and U.S. government
denunciations of my humanity had beat
me up rather badly. Whatever my voice
had been, it was left frayed. | could
scarcely speak. For prisoners, writing is
a life raft o save one from drowning in a
prison swamp. 1 could not write a diary
or a journal; [ was a political prisoner
Everything I had was subject to investi-
gation, invasion and confiscation. | was
a censored person. In defiance, | turned
to poetry, an art of speaking sparsely but
fagrantly.”
To send funds to Marilyn to help get
re-established. Contact her support
organization af the following address!
Friends of Marilyn Buck c/o Legal
Services for Prisoners with Children,
1540 Market #490
San Francisco, CA 94102
Email: fombuck@yahoo.com
The Bruce Seidel Red Star Retirement Fund Donates to Marilyn Buck
When former George Jackson Brigade
(GIB) member and political prisoner Mark
Cook was released from prison in 2000,
after having survived 24 years behind bars,
Seattle's progressive community raised
nearly $8,000 in cash for him. They were
also able fo give him a car, which he drove
for years, and got him the job that he still
warks at today.
Now Mark wans to give some of his
good fortune to other progressive political
prisoners who are being released from
prison. Most of these men and women
have served twenty, thirty, and even 40
years or more on the inside.
The Bruce Seidel Red Star Retirement
Fund is a small step toward providing
financial help to those comrades coming
out of prison. Mark has placed $10,000
into escrow. Another former GJB member
has donated $3.000 to the fund. This
money will initiaily be paid out o political
prisoners and POWs being released at a
rate of $100 for every year they've been
confined. $2,000 was donated March 13th
at the Sparks Fly event in Oakland sup-
porting the upcoming release of political
prisoner Marilyn Buck. Several thousand
dollars more were also raised for Marilyn
at Sparks Fly.
Ifthe money in the Bruce Seidel release
fund also increases, s0 100 wil the amount
paid out to the comrades being released.
The fund is overseen by former impri
oned comrades of the George Jackson
Brigade, including Ed Mead, Mark Cook,
Bo Brown, and Janine Bertram.
“To support the growth of this fund of to
alert them of the release of political pris-
oners contact:
Bruce Seidel Memorial Fund
PO. Box 69586
Seattle, WA 98168
Running Down The Walls 2010
“Running Down the Walls While Running Up the Sun” !
On Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at 10
am, the Los Angeles Anarchist Black
Cross will host a Sk runwalkjjog/bike
around the bustling sports fields of South
Gate Park in South Gate Los Angeles. This
run/walkfjog/bike s designed to raise much-
needed funds for the ABCF's Warchest pro-
gram, and Corazén Del Pueblo.
We are attempting to reach the goal of
$3,000 with the run. Funds will be divided
between the two programs:
ABCF Warchest:
The ABCF Warchest program is now
almost 16 years old; funds for the Warchest
are divided and distributed through monthly
stipends o politcal prisoners who receive
litle or no financial aid. Prisoners use this
money to cover the basic necessities of
everyday living. Funds have been used by
prisoners to pay for stamps, shoes, clothes,
as well as assisting their families with whai
litle they can.
Corazin Del Pueblo:
Corazén del Pucblo is volunteer-run,
not-for-profit_collective, and community
cultural center, that promotes peace, social
Justice and cultural understanding through
the art, education and social action.
Official Runs:
“The ABCF is a Federation of ABC chap-
ters that span across the country and is hold-
ing two official Running Down the Walls
runs. Both New York and Los Angeles will
be holding official runs on the morning of
August 7th.In Sync with each other and
other solidarity runs, we will collectively
pound the pavement with our feet and bike
tires a5 we exhibit our strength and stamina
as examples of our treless effort 10 free our
imprisoned comrades.
Sol
arity Runs:
Every year, prisoners and supporters of
political prisoners organize solidarity runs
with Running Down the Walls._Last year,
we had runs in Albuguerque (NM), Arcata
(CA), Ashland, (OR). Bellefonte (PA).
Boston (MA), Deme, (CO), Elmore (AL),
Inez (KY). Los Angeles (CA), Marion (IL).
New York (NY), USP. Navosta (TX),
Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Sandstond
(MN), Tucson (AZ), and Toronto, Ontario
In LA we raised just over $1.000 with funds
being distributed between the ABCF
Warchest, Romaine Chip Fitzgerald
Homecoming Fund, and Ojore Lutalo's
Homecoming Fund. This year we hope o
expand the amount of runs in prisons and
other ciies, as well as,increase the amount
of funds raised for community projects
“This year we hope {0 have even more runs in
cities, towns, and prisons all across North
America.
Support the Struggle:
We must remember that many of those.
arcested in the past or present are not far
from us. Many of them were and are com-
munity and labor activists, queer, and envi-
ronmental activists: people who decided o
speak out against various forms of oppres-
sion and paid the price of thei freedom for
their actions. We must remember that any-
one of these people could have at one time
stood beside us in a demonstration, at a
speak-out, or even al an organizing meefing.
At any given moment it could be us who
finds ourselves in this situation, s0 it is
imperative that we ensure that a sirong
enough community of support exists for
these peaple as well as ourselves. The
strength of our movement i determined by
how much we support our fallen comrades.
As Anarchist and former POW Ojore Lutalo
say, "Any Movement that does not support
its politcal internees, is a sham movement.”
S0 please help us, help them! Help us, help
you!
Why August Tth:
We chose the date of August 7th as the
day to run down the walls to commemorate
the life of revolutionary Jonathan Jackson
who on August 7th was killed in an attempt
to free the Soledad Brothers. On August 7,
1970, Jackson brought guns into the Marin
County Court house during the trial of
James McClain, William Christmas, and
Ruchell Magee. Jonathan lackson demand-
ed the release of the Soledad Brothers as he
and the three prisoners took the Judge and
Tour others hostage. As Jackson and the
others entered his van in an attempt fo eave,
the authorities open fired on the van, kiling
Joanathan Jackson, James Mclain, William
Christmas and Judge Harold Haley. Ruchell
Magee was injured but survived the
onslaught and remains in prison to this day:
Registration fees: $12_ preregistration;
$15, the day of the run. (Make checks out 1o
Tim Fasnacht)
Or for paypal:
Log in to your PayPal account and send
your donation online to the email address
"imABCF@aol.com” (Tim Fasnach).
Make sure 1o add in the notes sction that
your donation is for RDTW 2010. If you'd
prefer to stay anonymus or are donating in
the name of an organization, let us know.
For more information contact:
Los Angles ABCF Branch Group
PO BOX 11223
Whiter, Ca 90603
Web: wwwabefnetla
Email: ly@abef net
Running Down the Walls
2010
When: Saturday, August 7th,
2010, 10 am - 2 pm
Where: South Gate Park,
9615 Pinehurst Avenue,
South Gate, CA
Three Anarchists Arrested in Ottawa
Three anarchists have been arrested in
connection to a May 18th fircbombing of a
Royal Bank branch in Ottawa, Canada. The
thrce men (Matthew Morgan-Brown, 32,
Claude Haridge, 50, and Roger Clement,
58) are being accused of being associated
the Fight for Freedom Coalition - Ottawa, a
group that claimed responsibility for the
attack. The three men are well-known with
the anarchist community and have been
active for many years.
Roger Clement and Mathew Morgan-
Brown have both been charged with arson
causing damage, possession of incendiary
material, using explosives with intent (o
cause property damage and mischief.
Claude Haridge, on the other hand, was not
given charges related to the actual bombing
but rather was charged with careless stor-
age and handling of ammunition.
In addition to_the charges mentioned
above, the investigation has also led to
changs for another action at another Royal
branch on Feb. 1. In this incident two indi-
vidual damaged windows and ATMs with
rocks and a hammer. Both Clement and
Haridge have been charged with mischief
in relation to this incident.
None of the men have made any state-
ment claiming participation in the actions
or involvement in the FFFC-Ottawa,
“The group, Fight for Freedom Coalition
- Ottawa, seems (0 have entered the scene
this year with no report of activity prior to
these incidents. The group stated in a com-
‘muniqueé that the act was done in protest of
Royal Bank Canada sponsoring the 2010
Olympics. The group stated that the land
used in the Olympics was stolen indige-
nous land that was never legally ceded to
colonial British Columbia.
Indigenous _organizations, like the
Native Youth Movement, have called for
the boycott and cancellation of the
Olympics, raising issues of continued
occupation of land stolen from indigenous
communities and the destruction of the
land and life for exploitation, profit and the
promotion of Manifest Destiny.
Otiawa police are claiming through pub-
lic statements that they used an undercover
police officer to infiltrate an Ottawa-based
anarchist group and, with his help, were
able to track the suspects and their getaway
car within hours of the plot. They stated
that they set up surveillance within 3 hours
of the explosion, yet had no knowledge of
the firebombing rather they had, over two
years of undercover work, won the friend-
Ship of the suspects. Despite these claims,
the police waited 30 days before aresting
the accused
Within two weeks of the arrests, the
three men had their bail hearings. Haridge
was released on bail with strict guidelines
on his movement, whereas, Matt and Roger
Free Our Friends! Community Update
by the Direct Support Committees of the G20 Detainees
While G20 leaders met behind a steel
cage and a 1-billion dollar Fortress Toronto
operation, we witnessed an unprecedented
coordinated police operation in the city of
Toronto. Police brutality against protest
partcipants, journalists, legal observers,
medics, and random passersby came in the
form of indiscriminate arests, beatings,
pepper spray, rubber bullets, police horse
chanes, illegal searches and seizures, and
extended arbitrary detentions. While in
custody, people were forced into steel cage
cells with up 10 40 people per cell; made to
sleep on concrete floors with open bath-
rooms; denied food, water, toilet paper, and
sanitary_products; subjected 1o sexual
harassment, threats, humiliation, and intim.
idation; and refused access fo medical
attention, phone calls, and legal counsel
Many were beaten and brutalized, lead-
ing to serious injuries and hospitalization.
According to an aricle authored by resic
dent_physicians of the Toronto Sireet
Medics, “All of the serious injuries we
treated were inflicted by the police. While
Violence against property received a great
“Make no mistake, if
these politically motivated
charges against organizers
are not defeated, police
will seek to use them
against organizers in all
sectors of our movement.”
deal of coverage, violence against peaple -
- broken bones, cracked heads and eyes
illed with pepper spray - has yet to feature
prominently in any mainstream media. Our
teams of medics witnessed and treated peo-
ple who had been struck in the head by
police batons, had lacerations from police
shields and had been trampled by police
horses.”
Over the weekend, there were 1090
arests, of whom 113 were released without
charges on the sireet, 714 were held for
breach of the peace and released within 72
hours, and 263 released with pending
are still being detained at Ottawa-Carleton
Detention Cenire, where they are only
allowed two short visis per week. This cuts
them off from their wide support networks
during this difficult time as they are facing
Serious charges.
We encourage you to write ltters of
support to them. Please tell them that you
are with them and support their immediate
release.
“Their mailing addresses are.
Joseph Roger Clement
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
2244 Innes Road
Gloucester, ON K1B 4C4.
Matthew Morgan-Brown
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
2244 Innes Road
Gloucester, ON K1B 4C4.
For more information on support:
Ottawa Movement Defense
207 Bank Street
Suite 453
Ottawa, ON
K2P2N2
Email
ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com
Phone: 613 304 8770
on G20 Detainees
charges
“Around 20 people still remain in cus-
tody. While the exact numbers and charges
of some of those sill being held in deten-
tion are unclear at this time, we know that
17 people are facing 3 varicty of trumped
up and. politically-motivated allegations
including conspiracy.
“At the time of writing (July 9). four
have been released with stringent bail con-
ditons including house arrest; ane was
denied bail; and others are awaiting bail
hearings over the next 1-2 weeks.*
“These seventeen people are our friends.
‘They come from towns and cites across
Ontario and Quebec and are respected and
committed activists for multitude of caus-
es such as environmental justice, women's
rights, _cconomic _justice, _antiwar,
Indigenous rights queer and irans libera.
tion, and migrant justice. They envision
and embody worlds rooted in love, jusice,
Treedom, and sel-determination. They arc
also known in their communities as legal
workers, students, animal lovers, childcare
providers, and academic rescarchers. Many
were targeted and arrested, including at
gunpoint, in pre-emptive raids before the
protests cven began.
We remain steadfast in standing by our
friends. Targeting organizers is intended to
weaken our thriving social and environ-
mental justice movement, (o isolate effec-
tive and vocal community activists, and to
criminalize dissent against the violent poli-
cies of the G20 that perpetuate environ-
mental degradation, miliarization, labor
exploitation, theft of Indigenous land and
resources, and misery for the world’s
majority. This escalating attack on certain
individuals and groups is intended to intim-
idate and silence us all in our various
movemenis and communities _across
Canada. Make no mistake, if these politi-
cally mativated charges against organizers
are not defeated, police will seek o use
them against organizers n all sectors of our
movement
A recent Toronto open letter against
police state tactics with prominent signato-
s calls for a full campaign to defend the
civil rights of those facing_excessive
charges. The Asian Canadian labor
Alliance - Ontario Chapter is demanding
the immediate release of all detainees sill
being held, and an end 1o the persecution
and daily criminalization of Indigenous,
migrants, and marginalized communities.
We encourage our alies 1o build on this
‘arowing solidarity within our diverse social
movements to frée our friends and demand
that charges be dropped against all G&/G20
arrestees, and to keep organizing for liber-
ation for all people, especially those who
daily bear the brunt of police, state, and
corporate oppression.
They cannot jail our hearts.
G8/G20, They Few, We Many: Solidarity with
the Toronto Arrestees
June 2010 brought thousands upon thou-
sands of dedicated activists to the streets of
Toronto to protest and confiont the G8/G20,
as “world leaders” conspired 1o further
destroy our communities and the world
around us for the sake of power and profit.
Residents of Toronto and activists from ali
aver Canada and the world were met by an
amy of police officers with a budget of SI
billion to fund their campaign of repressive
violence, fear and intimidation. This cam-
paign was designed to sweep the streets of
anyone daring to speak out against the
destructive policies perpetuated by the
G8/G20 and to scare people away from
organizing resistance to these policics
Not content with attacking people in the
streets and aresting nearly 1100 protesters,
the Canadian government also attacked the
very ideas of community and organizing by
aresting 17 prominent community organiz
ers from around Canada and charging them
with- conspiracy. Those who have been
released from jail face harsh bail conditions.
that prevent them from associating with
peaple in their communities and from exer-
cising their rights to organize and voice
their dissent. This attempt at breaking soli-
darity amongst and with the accused must
not and will not be successful.
Around two years carlier and 1300 kilo-
meters (0 the west, the Twin Cities of
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota expe-
rienced similar repression and attacks by
the state during the 2008 Republican
National Convention. Prior to the conven-
tion, police. preemptively arrested eight
anarchist organizers, now known as the
RNC 8, through a series of raids and target.
ed grabs. During the convention, the police
attacked thousands of protesters who had
taken to the streets, ultimately aresting §18
people.
In July 2010, the RNC 8 and their sup-
porters are stil gearing up for trial, sull
fighting back against the state’s attempts o
disrupt our organizing and resistance. The
state initially charged the RNC 8 with con-
spiracy “in the furtherance of terrorism,”
but our resistance exposed the political
motivations behind these charges and
forced the prosecutor 1o drop them. Our
organizing will continue to support the
RNC 8 as they endure a tral that could last
up to two months. Our solidarity will con-
tinue 1o defend not only these cight defen-
The Belgrade Six Are Free!
In June, the Belgrade High Court
acquitied a group of six anarchists because
of the prosecution inability to prove its
case. The six were accused of causing gen-
eral danger by throwing Molotov cockiails
at the Gireek Embassy.
‘The judge decided that they were free
and inriocent, declaring, “The basis for
acquittal is the legal, not political. It is not
proven that the accused committed the
erime.” The judge went on to explain in a
brief explanation that there is no evidence
that Ratibor Trivunac, Tadej Kurepa,
Nikola Mitrovi_, Ivan Savi_, Sanja Dojki
and Ivan Vulovi_ caused & general risk
throwing three Molotov cockiails at the
Greek Embassy.
Members of the Belgrade Six, who were
all part of an organization called the
Anarcho-Syndicalis Initiative, were origi-
nally indicted for intemational terrorism,
but this was later changed. The group
spent more than half a year fighting the
charges before they were thrown ou.
“The trial has confirmed what we
already knew, that this country kidnapped
us for political reasons and kept us in Jail
for 6 months. For total of six of us we have
been in prison more than 1,000 days,” said
Tadej Kurepa.
“They showed us now 'we can keep you
6 months without any evidence’, which is
dants, but the rights ofall of us o associate
with each other, organize with each other,
and resist the policies that aim to destroy
our communities and our world.
‘The parallels between our experiences
over the last two years and those of people
fighting back in Toronto are clear. We are
all part of the same strugale for a better
world. We are all affected by state repres-
sion. And we all face the same enemies
regardless of which side of which artificial
border we find ourselves on.
We stand in solidarity with everyone
struggling against state repression in
Toronto. We denounce the Canadian gov-
ernment.and all ts agents for their violence
in the service of the rich and powerful
And as local organizers are left o deal
with any summit’s aermath, it i important
to remember that we are still many, and the
state still consists of but a few self-pro-
claimed leaders. By leveraging our collec-
tive power, all of us can take direct control
ofourlives and defend all those facing gov-
ernment attack
With love and solidarity,
‘The RNC § Defense Commitice.
seen in court, the only thing they were not
allowed to do because it is so’clear that
there are no grounds. They didn't dare at
the end o condemn us, but they did what
they wanted - they kept us 6 months in jail
with no contact with friends. What they
didn't achieve is 10 break our organiza-
tion”, said Trivunac.
The first next steps of Anarcho-
‘Syndicalist Initiative will be publishing of
the book in which shall be, according
Ratibor Trivunac, find all documents from
the trial. As he says, it will show that the
trial against them was politically motivai-
ed
Greek Anarchist Nikos Maziotis Goes on Hunger Strike
Nikos Maziotis, an anarchist and mem-
ber of the Greek guerrilla group,
Revolutionary Struggle, has gone on
hunger strike. Maziotis and six others were
anested in April after a series of raids in
Athens and charged with membership of
the organization.
Revolutionary Struggle emerged in
September 2003, targeting courthouses,
banks and police stations. In 2006, the
group attempted the political assassination
of the Cultural Minister and less than a year
later claimed responsibility for a rockel-
propelled grenade attack against the U.S.
Embassy in Athens. The group escalated its
attacks in 2009 afler the police murdered
Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year old
anarchist, on December 6, 2008. The mur-
der also caused a rebellion that lasted more
than three weeks before being squashed.
On March 10, 2010, Athens police
engaged in a shootout with members of the
Revolutionary Struggle, who were atiempt-
ing to expropriate a vehicle. Lambros
Fountas was shot and killed during the con-
FREQUENT!
frontation. The other alleged member of the
aroup was able to escape. Further investi-
‘zation lead police to the other members of
the group.
‘After their arrests, thre of the six sus-
pected members of Revolutionary Struggle
- Nikos Maziotis, Panayiota Roupa and
Costas Gournas have publicly accepted
political responsibility” for the actions of
the group. Sarantos Nikitopoulos, Vangelis
Stathopoulos and Christoforos. Kortesis
have denied membership in the organiza-
tion and have stated they are being railroad-
ed because of they are anarchists and sup-
port their comrades.
Maziotis has been labeled the leader of
the organization by the media. He was sen-
tenced to 15 years in jail in 1999 for having.
planted a bomb outide the Development
Ministry two years carlier. The bomb did
Rt go off and Maziotis's fingerprint was
found on the device. He admitted in court to
planting the bomb. On appeal, his sentence
was reduced to five years but he served just
aver three before being released.
On July 17, supporters of Nikos
received a letter’ from him declaring his
intentions to go on hunger strike. Below is
the letter he sent out explaining (o reasons
for his actions.
Acronyms/ Terms
ABCE: Anarchist Black Cross Federation - ant-authoritarian fed-
eration of ABC groups who support and defend PPIPOWS.
ABC-BG: Branch Group - ABCF group with more responsibilies
than a SG.
ABC-SG: Support Group - ABCF group with fewer responsibili-
ties than a BG.
AIM: American Indian Movement - above ground revolutionary
organization of Native Americans.
Anarchism: Free or libertarian socialism. Anarchists are
opposed to government, the state, and capitalism. Thersfore
simply speaking, anarchism is a no government form of social-
ism. Types of anarchists include: Anarcho-Communist, Anarcho-
Syndicalist, Autonomist, Collectivist, ~Individualists, ~and
Mutualists.
BLA: Black Liberation Army - revolutionary Black clandestine for-
mation formed to defend the Black community and the BPP, inac-
tive since the '80s.
BPP: Black Panther Party - above ground Black revolutionary.
group seeking Black politcal power, disbanded in the mid-70s.
EALN: english translation: Armed Forces of National Liberation -
revolutionary clandestine group fighting for Puerto Rican inde-
pendence.
FC: Federation Council - decision-making body of the ABCF.
MOVE: Not an acronym, the name of an organization based in
Philadelphia whose members are committed 1o the teachings of
John Afica. Their belief is in Ife.”
PC: Prisoner's Committee - rotating body of 5 PPIPOWs on the.
ABCF's FC.
PRIPOW: Polica Prisoners andlor Prisoners of War.
(See page 1)
Self-Defense: The legal actof protecting one'sIfe or the Ife of
anather wih the idealpurpose of self-determination and inde-
pendence. Armed saif.dsfense s elative to the ABCF, specifical
Iy inthe U_S.,in that as the organizaton grows, 50 00 grows the
need toprotect ourselves from the armed agressor of th state
tight wing, and other declogical opponens. (Frearms training as.
preparation for self-defense arelegal actvties wihin the confines
ofthe US)
Self Determination; The right by virue of which al peoples are
entlle freely to determine their poliical status and pursue ther
economic, social, and culuraldevelopment. All peoples may, for
their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and
resources without prejudice o any obiigations arising out o nfr-
national economic cooperation, based upon the principe of mutu-
al benefit and ntsmational law. In no case may a peopie b
dieprived of their own means of subsistence
SDS: Students for a Democratc Society - left student group
founded inthe 605
The Update: This i a quarterly publicaion ofthe ABCF
WUO: Weather Underground Organization - first_the
Weathermen, later known s the WUO, evolved ot of the SDS
as an underground formation of primariy white anti-mperiait
revolutonaries from the student movement.
(The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) produces the
Revolutonary Poliical Dictonary with these and other sxpan -
ed definiions of oliical terms. Available from Los Angeles ABC
for $1 and two 43 cents stamps.)
“The treatment reserved by the state for
the imprisoned revolutionaries and it polit-
ical cnemies is standard: Revanchist
actions, sadism, physical and psychological
violence, disrespect toward human dignity,
indifference for health, for bodily integrity,
for human lfe tself.
Because the security of the state and the
regime, the denial of freedom is above all -
above [ife itself and “human righs”
[Actually they continue to deny AND
provide freedom. Even our blinders are pro-
vided ]
For the state officials, the political and
financial elite and the rich, “human rights”
only concen themselves and their class-
alike
‘They do not concem the people, the
poor, the impoverished, the workers, the
unemployed, the veterans of work, the
migrants, those digging through the
‘sarbage of street markets o cat.
Nor do they concern the imprisoned -
Social- prisoners, the vast majority of which
comes from the poor, popular classes and
the lives of which is worth absolutely noth-
ing for the system.
And of course, [human rights] do not
concern revolutionaries or politcal prison-
ers either, for which the system has always.
attempted their physical and ethical exter-
mination.
In this context, my partner and comrade
Panagiota Roupa and myself, both of which
are members of Revolutionary Struggle, are
denied the right of prison visits thanks to
the attorney of the prison of Korydallos,
who rejects “for security reasons” my visit
o the maternity clinic “Alexandra” to visit
my partner, who will bring our son o the
warld - the youngest politial prisoner of
the greek “démocracy”.
She is also rejecting for the same “secu-
ity reasons” my application to visit the
female prisons of Korydallos, as my com-
rade is unable due to her condition to visit
the male prisons herself, a it is supposedly
customary until now.
Demanding, therefore, the “obvious”, as
a partner and father to visit my pariner-
Atenco Prisoners Free!
‘The twelve Mexican political prisoners
scized in the aftermath of the 2006 Atenco
uprising have been released following a
sensational high court ruling. Judges ruled
that not only was there no evidence (o sus-
tain the prosecution’s case but also that the
changs the twelve faced - organized kid-
napping - didn't even exist in Mexican
.
“The victory was celebrated by activists
in Mexico and around the world who have
relentlessly campaigned for justice over the
lastfour years. Outside the courthouse,
“Trini el Valle, wife of one of the prisoners,
gnacio del Vale, told the gathered crowd
from the Popular Front in Defense of the
Land (FPDT) and the Justice and Peace
Commitee for Atenco, I e teas of hap-
piness inthe eyes of my compaferos and |
ould like to say thank you'to everyone,
{hank you to the Mexican people and iner-
natonal soldarity: The federal and state
govemments are not invincble!”
"The announcement of the ruling led to
an impromptu town festival, while hun-
reds of locals and sctiviss estabiished a
Vil outsid the prison holding Tgnacio del
Valle Medina, Felipe Alvarez and Héctor
comrade and our sons, I am going on
hunger srike from July 15th in order for my
following two demands to be met:
1. To be transfarred for a visit to the
‘matemity clinic “Alexandra” on July 25th,
in order o visit my partner Panagiota
Roupa and our son, since the childbirth has
been planned with a Cacsarean for July
24th, while she will remain in the clinic for
2 few days after that and
2. That it is me who gets transferred for
visits 1o the female prisons for the first peri-
od afer the childbirth due to the unavoid-
able inability of my partner and our son to
'As much as the repressive mechanisms
believe that by imprisoning us they will get
done with us, they are wrong. Either inside,
or outside prisons the struggle for us is &
‘matter of honor and dignity; it will contin-
Revolutionary strugle continues.
NIKOS MAZIOTIS®
Galind. There, they waited for the release
of the prisoncrs behind a giant banner pro-
claiming “Welcome, compafieros, 1o your
town”
‘As the High Court judges assembled on
Tuesday 29th June, inernational cam-
paigners staged solidarity demos in Spain,
Germany, the US, New Zealand and
Britain. In London, activists from across
the UK assembled outside the Mexican
embassy and leafleted passers-by while
blasting out Mexican revolutionary tunes
Dirty Protest Begins Again in Ireland for Political Status
The following communication_was
released from the Irish Prisoners of War
held captive in Maghaberry jail. The words
speak for themselves and We encourage
others o support these comrades in their
demand for political status
“After having exhausted every other
avenue available to us, we the POWs have
been forced to engage in a protest to bring
about an end to the degrading and inhuman
conditions we find ourselves being subject-
ed to
“Our protest began after Mass on Easter
Sunday when we secured the recreation
room and erected barricades to prevent the
screws [prison warders] from gaining
access. We held this position for two days
with upwards of 200 serews plus RUC in
ot gear taking up positions around the
area we had seized.
“Prison officials (accepted in consulta-
tions) in which we agreed to hand back
control with the understanding that within
48-hours further negotiations would take
place within the aim of resolving our con-
cems. The prison service rencged on their
promise of negotiations, to no surprise to
ourselves.
“Since then we have refused 1o partici-
pate in degrading strip searches and have
been covering the observation flaps on our
cell doors. Since then we have wrecked our
cells i response to the search team remov-
ing a POW 10 the boards, where he was
handeuffed to a steel bed and had his cloth-
ing cut off.
“We then had to pour urine under our
cell doors to get rid of it, as we have been
locked down for 23 hours a day,
“In our efforis 1o resolve the protest we
have met with the prison governors and
found them uninterested to discuss in any
detai the issues concerning us. We have
also met with seven delegations of the so-
called Justice Committee, which comprises
members of PSF [Provisional Sinn Féin]
and the SDLP (Social and Democratic
labor Party). A further meeting was held
with the Prison Ombudsman but to no
avail
“Having once again exhausted all
avenues to us we feel the option left to us is
10 step up our protest.
“We call upon our families, comrades
and supporters to organize again and sep
up their efforts outside with protests, ltter-
writing campaigns, leaflet drops and all
other appropriate actions to highlight our
plight
“We salute your efforts to date and
know we can rely on you in the future. For
our part, on Sunday, June 13,2010 we will
commence a Dirty Protest.
“PRO Republican POWs.
“Maghaberry jail™
New York City ABCF Branch Group
ABCF-NYC is currently four members
strong and we hope to add a member soon.
‘We recently spent time working on how we
treat each other within our colleetive, and in
the course of that work we developed an
internal anti-oppression policy. We are also
actively engaged in addressing sexism and
other forms of oppression outside of the
collective.
Since our last report, members of the
ABC have been able to visit Danicl
McGowan, David Gilbert, Herman Bell,
Jalil” Muniagim, Maliki Shakur Latine,
Robert "Seth Hayes, and Sekou Odinga. A
request from a Sekou Odinga supporter
inspired us 0 try to orzanize a system lo
ensure regular food packages for NY State
POW's who want them through collabora-
tion with other NYC _prisoner support
eroups. This initative s in s beginning
stages.
In other projects on the horizon, we hope
10 soon launch an Anarchist Defense Fund
10 lend bail and emergency legals funds to
anarchists detained on political charges as
necessary. We also plan to begin distribu-
tion of the catalog of pamphlets by, for
andlor about prisoners that we just pro-
duced after a few years of collecting mate-
rial for it. W are still in the process of
soliciting artwork t0 include in updated edi-
tions or fist-time publishing of some of the
essays.
The collective collaborated with the
Peoples' Law Collective of NYC to educate
activists about their righis during a period
ofactive political grand jurics in NYC. We
are collaborating with Family and Friends
of Daniel McGowan on a campaign against
the Communication Management Units in
Marion and Tere Haute. We co-hosted @
workshop with the Malcolm X Grasstoots
Movements Political Prisoner Committce
at the NYC Anarchist Book Fair on
PP/POW support and_movement repres-
sion. W also participated in a few
fundraisers with NYC Books Through
Bars.
As always, we have been hosting
Political Prisoner Letter-writing Dinners on
alternating Tuesdays in Brooklyn. We pro-
vide a vegan meal, an introduction to writ-
ing prisoners, information about a featured
PP/ pow o group as well as pens, paper.
envelopes, and stamps. The Holiday Card
Writing Party co-hosted with Resistance in
Brooklyn was a success again this year and
we are looking forward to Running Down
the Walls
In Solidarity,
NYC Anarchist Black Cross
ABCE-NYC
15 Years of ABCF (Continued from page 3)
proposal at a NJ deli, sparked by the idea that a few bucks from a
few people would not be missed by any of us, but could help
someone who had given so much and yet had next to nothing,
erew into a program which has lasted over 16 years and has sup-
plied dozens of political prisoners and prisoners of war roughly
560,000 (and counting)
‘Soon afterward plans we had been developing with help from
prisoners, primarily Ojore Lutalo, Sundiata Acoli, Sekou Odinga,
Ray Luc Levasseur, Jaan Lamaan came together in the form of 4
proposal to create 3 more tightly orzanized group of ABC collec-
tives who specifically wanted to provide material support and
raise awareness about Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. We
were as specific as we were vague. I think what was so different
about what we set out o do was how explicit and focused we were
in what we wanted 1o get done (support a very specific type of
prisoner), yet how undefined and vague we were about who we
were ideologically. Most of the larger anarchist groups (small as
we all werefare) at that time spent what seemed like a great bulk
of energy and time debating process and organization; theorizing
thearies and trying to fizure out howw ideas work without having
actually done much aside from put out newspapers. 1 admit that |
am over simplifying things greatly. Even if I weren't (and | know
Tam), there is great importance (o this type of work. I will also
admif 1 didn't want to have much to do with it. Like | said, I have
erap to do.” The ABCF was our way to do it and much to our sur-
prise, the ABCF was created in May of 1995 at a weekend meet-
ing in Washingion DC attended by several groups from the cast
oast and one individual supporter who was not even in an ABC
eroup.... yer! (Love you Tim!)
We' were literally in dishelief that everyone in attendance
agreed to join the Federation. In all honesty, some of the verbiage
of our proposal was included and written in such a way as to star-
tle and scare a few of these groups away! But even they joined.
Naturally, it couldn't have been something we were involved with
i there wasn't at least some degree of mud slung our way. There
was a highly critical counter proposal to our proposal from at least
one existing ABC group, and a letter of protest written by one
known and recognized anarchist prisoner who would be excluded
from collective support because he was not in prison for political
acts. Oh well,
Not six months later, the Federation faced what to this day |
“Consider to be is closest call with collapse. By this time, NJ ABC
wwent on a road trip through Chicago, Milwaukee and Minncapolis
talking to other groups about the ABCF and sceing if they wanted
tojoin Some did, some did not. We were all surprised, but pleased
at the unexpected and sudden growth of our new group. Knowing
the other groups, and the individuals who were in the groups, we
thought they did not want to go in the direction our proposal put
the ABCF on. We wanted a narrow focus on supporting only those
prisoners who were in prison as a result of their political activities
prior to being in prison. We wanted to stay away from ideological
debates about the things like capital punishment and prison abol-
ishment. Our intent was collectively agreeing on doing the work
we all wanted o do, and allowing autonomy on issues we dis-
agreed on, so long as they did not conuadict one another
Observing the much wider range of work most of the other groups
had been ivolved in to date, we did not think many of the groups
would agree with this more restricted theme. Yet they joined and
for a moment we thought we were wrong. We weren' wrong,
No sooner had the other groups joined and agreed to the spirit
and intent of the ABCF did they set about to change it. The biggest
problem for those of us who liked the ABCF for the direction it
was headed, and what posed the greatest danger to what the ABCF
is, and all it has done over these years, was the very thing outsiders
and insiders viewed as our success-our size! Early in our exis-
tence, we were not large, but were much larger than we'd thought
we would be. Sounds great? Not always... All of the groups that
we were so surprised joined now outniumbered the (very) few
‘groups we initially anticipated joining. I still sometimes wonder if
this was their intent all along. Ifs possible | suppose., but the series
Jalil Muntagim (center) and members of ABCF
of events which followed lead me to believe it was all just an
‘amazing coincidence and example of our inexperience.
In October of 05, less than a half year after the formation of
the ABCF we were forced to hold an emergency meeting in
Oberlin, OH. Faced with a larger number of groups who wanied to
change the direction and focus of the group, the few of us who had
hopes of making the ABCF something different wondered what we
would do to hold onto our original vision. Sitting in the parking lot
oF a movie theater after watching Halloween VI, we began to dis-
cuss what would become our stand. We were never alone. 'm not
sure it would have made a difference if we were; but the fact that
there were other groups, all who helped develop and support the
idea, was a great source of motivation. In addition to groups like
Lancaster ABCF and Jacksonville ABCF, the vocal minority who
urged us to stay the course and remain firm were the political pris-
oners and prisoners of war we were in touch with. Their encour-
agement alone was enough for us o be filled with certainty in the
face of much greater opposition. This lesson has followed me my
enire life.
Five of us from NJ and Jacksonville ABCF drove west
crammed in a small car. Each of us arguing over who would sit on
the hump in the back seat! We showed up to the meeting the night
before and decided not o stay in the crowded college house local
supporters provided. We found a cheap motel and piled out of the
car to cram into a tiny hotel room. If you can believe it, we still
\weren't entirely sure what we were going to do to maintain the cur-
rent direction of the ABCF. I don't think we slept at all. Most of us
stayed up most of the nigh talking about ideas. I'm not sure where
it came from, but in those few hours in the carly morning before
the meeting, we locked it down.
ABCF members showed up to the college classroom the next
moming. We had set aside more than ten hours a day over the next
two or three days to bring this all to a conclusion. Everyone was
prepared for long weekend. Some of the people who had shown
up we had never met and we immediately got the fecling they were
hostle to what we were trying to do. We sat down and got to work
‘The opposition had the numbers to change everything our small
faction had proposed. In reality and in perspective, it really wasn't
a lot. But 10 us it was everything. The Warchest Program. The
Update. A new and innovative concept 1o build the groups from.
“They had the numbers to take it all, walk away and leave us few
10 start from scratch. If | had to tell you the strategy we used to do
what we did, | couldn't I could, I woulda't. But will tell you it
was beautiful. In @ matter of a fow hours, someho, we convinced
the majority fo walk away and leave it all with a minority. And
they did. If we thought we were amazed and surprised when every-
one joined, it paled in comparison to how we felt when they
walked away. Unbelievable.
Late in the 1990's a small number of ABCF members formed
the Tactical Defense Caucus (TDC). The TDC hoped to raise
awareness about self defense for progressive individuals and
roups.
On July 4ih, 1998, shortly before the formation of the caueus,
Lin Neborn (age 24) and Dan "Spit” Shersty (age 20), two mem-
bers of Las Vegas Anti Racist Action, were set-up, brought to 1
desolate area of the Nevada desert, shot and killed with shotguns
by racists. Lin and Dan were not killed by coincidence, they were
deliberately and specifically selected because of their anti-racist
organizing.
“This event made some ABCF members start o ask questions. 1t
didn't take long to discover Lin and Dan's murders were far from.
being an isolated incident. Similar incidents have oceurred to
activists throughout history,
A fow ABCF members had already had some small experience
learning to employ martial arts and firearms for the purpose of self
defense. Their wish to share this skill with others so that people
might be better prepared should they face a similar encounter
caused some to "freak”. | believe that s the appropriate deseriptive.
ward. The level of speculation, assumption and emotion even the
mention of firearms caused in people was alarming. That's worth
repeting. It was alarming.
“The TDC was not looking to arm the masses or start the next
armed front. It simply hoped to raise awareness about compltely
Lawiul options available to interested people for their own safety.
“This was another step into new territory and another effort
which was met with vicious opposition (boih internal and exter-
nal). The organization soon settled internal differences using the
anti-authoritarian process developed in the ABCF constitution.
External were more difficult
“The TDC persisted (at least at that time) and offered classes in
pistol, shotgun and rifle to dozens of activiss over the next S
years. In addition, TDC encouraged people to seck out and get
martial arts and other forms of self defense training. They made
connetions with other activists who were involved with and able
0 teach self defense techniques. Equally as imporiant as the actu-
al wark done by the caucus was their daring to ask the question
and bring up uncomfortable but important issues.
‘While discussing the TDC with the prisoners we were support-
ing, Ojore Lutalo came up with a quote which was widely used;
"Sccurity is not optional”. Again, as fiercely as we believed in and
espoused personal and political freedom, the ability to protect
one's self from violence is an individual responsibility we can not
gloss over. | believe that to this day.
“The TDC has been dormant for more than 6 years, but is short
existence turned a new page and gave a voice to an important issue
which, to that point, was largely ignored. The work of the TDC is
referenced to this day by members of the activist community who
wish to openly discuss issues of self defense.
“This could go on and on with stories and events we faced in the
frst ten years o so of the ABCE. It was never casy. There have
been death threats, whole groups formed with the intent of making
us look bad, other groups sending what amounts to spies to hang
around us 4nd make reports, ridiculous mistakes on our part,
attempts to marginalize and question if we do anything at all,
while'atthe same time trying to say what we are doing will destroy
the anarchist movement. The Director of the FBI named us specif-
ically as a domestic terrorist aroup in front of congress, other anar-
chists calling for public condemnation and alienation of the ABCF,
members serving time in jail for their participation in legal
protests, phone calls from the B, roadside stops set up for an
ABCF member by local police and FBI, an FBI informan trying
Tor three years 10 join the group and/or encouraging an ABCF
member to commit Telonies. Through it all we have resisted temp-
tation 1o go astray and overcome cach adversity in time. Each of
these could take 2 page or more to explain and would be well
worth the space.
I need 1o end at some point. | was asked to write something
about what i was like starting the ABCF and if | thought it would
make it 15 years. Abso-freaking-1utely. In 2001 while on an ABCF
trip to Arizona, | sat down with a long time anarchist activist who
was surprised we were still around after 6 years. He asked me if I
thought the ABCF would always be around. My immediate answer
was yes. As long as | was around and even if it were only me, there
would be an ABCF. The truth is | haven't been an active member
of the ABCF in more than five years. | have not been to a meeting
in probably nearly 8 years. The fact that after 15 years the ABCF
continues on, even aiter all its founding members are gone and is
still on the difficult path we set back then says a great deal. The
fact that there are other members, unknown (o those of us who
started the group, who feel as strongly about ifs mission as we did
says a great deal. More than anything, it says that the work we set
out o do then is still needed. Political prisoners and prisoners of
war, due to the circumstances their sacrifice require, continue to
need assistance to meet simple, daily needs. Who will help? IF not
you, who? If not now, when?
Uil allare free,
$60,000 Raised Through the Warchest Program!
SUPPORT THE ABCF WARCHEST
The ABCF has initiated a program designed to send monthly checks to PP/POWs who
have been receiving insuffiient, little, or no financial support during their imprison-
ment. PP/POWSs requesting funds complete an application of financial questions.
When the ABCF has collected sufficient funds to send out another monthly check, the
applications are reviewed by a rotating body of PP/POWs called the Prisoner
Committee, who make a judgement on which applicant is in the most financial need.
There is also an emergency fund designed to immediately send checks to those
PP/POWS in need of one-time or emergency assistance.
Founded in 1994, the Warchest has provided consistent and reliable financial aid, serv-
ing a much- neglected comradely function. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised
over $60,000 with just this one program. Al funds raised go directly to the political prisoners, for which the program is designed.
Despite our success, our comrades are stil in dire need of funds. Endorse this program by giving a monthly or one-time donation
to increase the number of prisoners being supported monthly. A financial report is published that documents all money received
and the prisoner it was sent to. The prisoners” addresses are also printed so that endorsers may write and hold us accountable.
Send cash,checks or mos made to TIM FASNACHT to:
Philly ABCF ¢ P.O Box 42129 e Philadelphia, PA 19101 e timABCF@aol.com
FUNDS TN 2009 AN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN FUNDS OUT 2000 FEB AR APR MAY JUN
TR Aece 20" 0 10 20 0 0 0 SEOUKwBUr %0 30 % % w0 m
Pl ASCE 600 50 50 S0 50 50 50 RUSSELLSHOATZ 3030 3 30 30 30
€2¢, 0 300 000 0 o g loseewbowen 36030 303030 30
TORONTOASCF 500 0 80 0 0 0 0 HANIFsEr 3030 30 0 30 0
X ABCE 0 0 0 0 0 0 o HeRMANBEL 3030 3 3 10 0
) ABCE 00 0 0 35 0 45 SeKOUCDINGA 3030 30 30 30 0
NYC ABCE 750 6 60 60 60 60 60 RUGILMAGE 36030 30 3030 0
Denver ASCE 900 0000 0 AVAROHERNANDEZ 30 30 30 30 30 30
Ao Ancr 8 0 0 0 0 10 0 MALKILAINE 3030 3 3 30 0
PAc 140 0 0 0 0 0 0 TSUTOMUSHIROSAKI 360 30 30 30 30 30
(A oW 3100000 0 0 |VERONZABOWERs 360 0 0 0 0 0
W ROTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ABULAZEEZ S 0 0 0 0 0o
TORONTO ROTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ooEwmo 00 0 0 0 0
Peican B2y ROTW 250 000 0 0 0 TOm 3,700 1300 300 300 300300
Portiand ROTW s 0 0 0 o o o
WEST. MASS. "BTW 10700000 o
ANON 13500 00 00 FUNDS IN FUNDS ouT
'AARON VIDAVER 00 0 50 o 0 o FLITI—TY o
T. SHIROSAKI 00 0 100 0 00 1995 3860 1995 2796
REN BROWNING. 0 0 o0 1610 0 0 1996 4143 1996 4308
CHRIS S/IN 240 0 0 0 0 o 1997 3544 1997 4588
JIM M/PHILLY 107 0 0 00 0 0 1998 7643 1998 6412
JOHARIZONA 20 35 2 2 0 0 0 199 —soia 1999 sio1
TED HEXTER o0 0 0 10 0 o e 2000 ases
JAGUAR PRESS 00 0 0 4 0 0 W0 Jo0i 3y
ENRIQUE/SPAIN 3% 0 0 0 0 0 © 2001 _S2o0) e
i zol o
SUZY SUBWAY 100 0 0 0o 00 2004 [UNACC™ 2004 [UNACC
2005 453 20052620
DAN SHALLEY 300 0 0 0 0 0 Jo06 2680
SHANEANDREW 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 3268 oo zmml
TorAL Gis8 535 720 1051 185 120 165 007 a3tz e
20083448 20053750,
e 2005 3700
ol o8] 2010 2500
(oA eaate] ToTAL 57137
FUNDS REMAINING: $5274
(*Funds unaccounted for due to unreported funds from Jacksonville ABCF)
“Your ABCF Guide to PP/POW Support is great, PERIOD!”
- New Afrikan POW Sundiata Acoli
“You can see many of our concerns addressed in this pam -
phlet.”
- former Puerto Rican POW Carmen Valentin
“lt is extremely well thought out and put together.”
- Anti-Imperialist PP Tom Manning
Wiat's the ABC? Whar's the ABCF? Who are Political Prisoners? Who
are Prisoners of War? Where are they? Why make a criteria? What do
you mean by ‘documentation”and how do 1 get t? What kinds of sup -
‘por do Polltical Prisoners need? How should I o about my work?
Wiat can PP/POWS get in prison? What do I need o know if { wani -
ed o visit? Can I bring them food packages? What abous clothes?
Wiat do you mean_ by ‘principled support”? How do 1 get involved?
This is a practical guide compiled by Political Prisoncrs and
Prisoners of War themselves, based on concrete history and work
experience. It will help answer all of the above questions and more,
The ABCF guide to PP/POW includes definitions that were demo-
eratically agreed upon at an international tribunal, specific proce.
documentation on PP/POW's, information on
phone contact, food clothing packages, and the working
policies of the ABCF in our work to support PPPOW's. Send $1
‘and two stamps to
ABCF-LA * PO Box 11223 » Whittier, CA » 90603
LA-ABCF
Branch Group
PO Box 11223
Whittier, CA 90603
“This work is not done for glory, but because we believe in mutual aid.”