ABCF UPDA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE ABCF Spring 2009 "Any movement that does not support their political internees is a sham movement.” - O. Lutalo Tssue #52 at is the Anarchist Black Cross Federation? The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) began shorly after the 1905 Russian Revolution. It formed afer breaking from the Poliical 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 to 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 o prisoners only in Russia. Soon other groups, such as the Latvian Anarchist Red Cross, emerged to provide aid in other Easter Etropean coun- tries. Armed with the ideas of mutual aid and provide support to those who were suffering because of thei political belicfs. In 1919, the organization’s name changed tothe Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confu- sion with the_International Red Cross. Through the 1920s and until 1958, the organ- ization worked under various other names but provided the same level of support a the other groups warking as Anarchist Black Cross, After 1936, the ABC expanded it aid to places such as Greece, ltaly and Spain. In 1958, the organization collapsed but reemerzed in 1967 in London, England. Once again ABC chapters spread throughout the globe providing support for imprisoned comrades. Sadly, by the end of the 1970 T the 80, however, the ABC began (0 gain popularity again in the US and Europe. For years, the ABC's name was kept alive by a Bumber of completely autonomous groups scattered throughout the globe and support- ing a wide varicty of prison issues. In May of 1995, a small group of ABC collectives merged into a federation whose aim was 1o focus on the averall support and defense of Politcal Prisoners and Prisoners of War. Various groups have since merged in numerous networks throughout the globe working on various prisonissues. The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) has continued its mission to focus on the aid and support of Political Prisoners. We take the position that PP/POWSs demand our top priority. We strive to continue with the same dedication and solidarity to our fallen com- solidariny these groups worked tirelessly o only a handful of ABC chapters stil existed. rades as those before us have show. Introduction: The ABCEF is: “Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of | |y " 5 this organization i the fact that Branch Groups and Support | | Cla iAol CT] Groups are fieely autonomaus to take on whatever initiaives | | g1 | DUNNE 'SEKOU KAMBU! they can to further the Unity of Purpose of the ABCE. So 10510085 (W TURK) #113088 / long as these initiatives do not contradict any preexisting ARy T agreements (Tactical Unity) that have been made by the o 41224 e eran ABCF, it s not necesary 1o all growps approve o anor 3 i) oos agree with &r’ng;amum‘ems or work of other ABCF col- OJORE LUTALO imore, lectives.” [from the Consfitution and Structure] OJoRE LUTALO. AN LAAMAN The following definitions are used to describe the below Trenton, NJ 08625 #W41414 terms whenever they appear in the ABCF Update or any BOX 100 other ABCF literature. MALIKI LATINE South Walpole, MA #81-A-4469 02071 Box 51 Political Prisoner (PP): A person incarcerated for actions carried out in support of legitimate struggles for self deter- mination or for opposing the illegal policies of the govern- ment 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 against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes captured as prisoners are to be accorded the status of pris- oner of war and their treatment should be in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August, 1949 (General Assembly resolution 3103) Comstock, NY 12821 Federation Chapters B ALBUQUERQUE ABC PHILLY ABC PO Box 27662 PO Box 42129 Albuguerque, NM 87125 Philadelphia, PA 19101 ARCATA ABC PO Box 380 Arcata, CA 95518 TORONTO ABC PO Box 87048 RPO Roncescalles Ave Toronto, Ontario JAX ABC M6R 383 Canada PO Box 350392 Jacksonville, FL 32235 WARCHEST & SUBSISTENCE FUND PINBACKS Gt your Warchest & Subsistence Fund pinbacks today by donating to cither fund. All donationshelp imprisoned comrades whoother- W4 wise receive litle or no financial aid. With a donation, we will send you a pinback to say thank you. All funds should be sent to Philly ABCF Check and Money Order to Tim Fasnacht. LOS ANGELES ABC PO Box 11223 Whitter, CA 90603 MONTREAL ABC new Address shorlly NYC ABC PO Box 110034 Brookiyn, NY 11211 NEWS FROM TH. RONT Maliki Latine Transferred Maliki Latine was transferred in January from Great Meadows to Upstate Correctional Facilty in Malone, NY. This transfer took place after the ABCF initiated a campaign 1o pressure the NY DOC 1o provide proper meals consistent with Latine’s dietary needs. His food situation, while not ideal, was better than what he was receiving af the Great Meadows facili- ty. While in Upstate he was held in the SHU. Then in March Latine was moved again, this time to Clinton Correctional Faciliy. His current address is: Maliki Shakur Latine #81A4469 PO. Box 2001 Dannemora, New York 12029 Clinton Correctional Facility Jaan Laaman Transferred In February Jaan Laaman was trans- ferred from the Massachusetts prison sys- tem back into the federal prison system. Laaman s currently at USP Tucson but it is not_known if this will be his long-term assigned location. He current address is: Jaan K. Laaman (10372-016) P0. Box 34550 Tucson, AZ 85734 USP Tucson Chubbuck Transferred Byron Shane Chubbuck (Oso Blanco) has been transferred again. Chubbuck, known by the media and the FBI as the “Robin the Hood, is serving 80 years in prison for bank expropriation and escape from prison. Funds from the bank expro- priations were t0 be sent 10 aid the struggle in Chiapas. He can be contacted at: Byron Shane Chubbuck (07909-051) P0. Box 1000 Talladega, AL 35160 Eddie Hatcher Passes Eddie Hatcher, a Native American activist and former political prisoner passed away on May st in Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina In 1988, Hatcher took over office of The Robesonian, 2 local newspaper, in order to call attention to police corruption in the county. After the standoff, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the inci- dent but was released after serving five years after becoming seriously ill due 1o an 'AIDS related illness. Hatcher was arrested again after he was accused of the 1999 murder of Brian MeMillian. He was serving a life sentence when he passed away. He was 51 Bob Robideau Passes On 2/16, Bob Robideau, passed away in Barcelona, Spain. Robideau has been a long time activist for the American Indian Movement (AIM) and _supporter of Leonard Peltier. Robideau, along with Darrell Butler were acquited in the deaths of two FBI agents in 1976 on the grounds of self-defense. The charges arose from a shootout with the FBI on Pine Ridge reser- vation in June 1975. Later, Leonard Peltier was found guilty and sentenced to two life sentences for this. Our sympathies go to his former wife, Paulette from NYC Jericho, Sentencing of the Texas Two Two activists, David McKay and Bradley Crowder, known as “The Texas Two' have been convicted for their involvement in planned actions during the RNC protests. The two were arrested in last September afier a raid of a residence in St Paul, where police discovered eight Molotov cocktails. ‘The case has created significant atten- tion since it was discovered that longfime activist, Brandon Darby, had been working with the government, who had been inves. tigating the group, known as the Austin Affinity Group, since February 2008, Darby’s cooperation led 10 the arrest of the wo activists, who have claimed that Darby had been the mastermind of the plan. With evidence provided by Darby, the two activists saw the walls closing around them. Crowder pleaded guilty in January sentenced to 2 years on bomb charges with three years supervised released after his prison term. McKay pleaded guilty in March after his first trial ended in 2 hung jury. When it became clear that prosecu- tor’s were going 1o call his codefendant, Crowder, o testify at his second trial and would contradict McKay's version of events, McKay made a deal with prosecu- tors. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release. From the beginning, there has been an apprehension regarding support for this case due 1o unsubstantiated rumors of cooperation from both defendants. While it is known that both parties have freely talked about their own actions, there is no proof that they have mentioned other par- ties. However, during the first trial, McKay's father stopped several anarchists, requesting that they do not enter the court. room. He stated that thei strategy was one of disassociation from the aciivist and anarchist community. Unil evidence of cooperation _or _non-cooperation is revealed, the ABCF has chosen o abstain from adding these two on our list Seth Hayes Needs Funds Robert Seth Hayes needs help for rais- ing funds for legal assistance with a parole appeal. NYC Jericho is collecting money on behalf of Hayes and his new attomey. Please send a check or money order io IFCO/NYC Jericho. Please indicate on the memo/message ling that the check is for Seth, “The address for NYC Jericho is: NYC Jericho PO Box 1272 NY,NY 10013 Chicago ABC Moves Due o the move of the core ABC col- lective, Chicago ABC is dissolving ‘and relocating to central Georgia Al services for prisoners will sill be available, just from a new home ‘and a new chapter. Central Po Box 610 Roberta, GA 31078 orgia ABC Spanish Anarchist, Abel Paz, Dies (1921 - 2009) Abel Paz, the author of Durmuti, the People Armed, died in hospital in Barcelona the night of| April 13. Abel Paz is the pen name of Diego ‘Camacho, a Spanish anarchist, former combatant and historian. He was bom on August 12, 1921 in Almeria. In 1935, after moving to Barcelona, he started work in the textile industry and joined the Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). In July 1936, with the start of the Spanish Civil War and Spanish revolution he joined the anarchist Durruti Column. As well as fighting on the Aragon front, he fought in the Barcelona May Evens of 1937. ‘After the fall of Catalonia in January 1939, he went into exile in France, where he was interned. During the 19405 he fought both in the French resistance to Hitler and the Spanish Anarchist resistance to Franco He is the author of numerous works on anarchist history, the most important being his biography of Buenaventura Durrut, which has appeared in several editions, and numer- ous languages. ‘Why Anarchists, Freedom Fighters, and Supporters of Political Prisoners Should Support the Good Time Bill Why Anarchists, Freedom Fighters, and Supporters of Politcal Prisoners Should Support the Good Time Bill Those of us who believe absolutely in the power of peoples' organizing for empowerment and_self-determination--- those of us who believe in direct action, democracy. and revolutionary strugele, we. cannot support endeavors to reform state institutions with a clear heart. We know that, by themselves, reforms. ultimately serve the ruling class by creating an illu- sion of progress or compassion so that the apparatus of state repression and poverty can_continue its work. Prisons are no exception. Nor are the campaigns to free our political prisoners and o build on the legacies of the revolutionary movements they represent. This said, anarchists and other revolu- tionaries must use any and all of the tools at our disposal. We cannot rely on the state. to fight our battles or save our world, but we can and must be realistic about our aptions and utilize opporunitis. A congressman has introduced a bill that would allow federal prisoners a chance to carn credits toward a more substantial early release. Its HR. 1457, the Federal Work Incentive Act of 2009. Its nick- named, the Good Time Bill. Uniess this bill passes, this chance will not exist. From Their perspective: The US govemment is a financial disas- ter, federal prisons are an_overcrowded colossal drain of money with no end in sight. Why not let some of them out earli- From Our perspective: As we continue to organize and struggle for revolutionary aims, we must admit that, at this moment, we don't have many sure- fire ways to free our political prisoners any carlier. They sit in prison for daring to dream and et on revolutionary ideals. We owe it to them to use any tool we can get our hands on to get them home. The Good Time Bill could potentially affect many of the Eanth Liberation Front prisoners, Animal Liberation Front prisoners, and Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty prisoners. It could potentially affect anti-war political prisoner Helen Woodson, indigenous/pro- Zapatista_political prisoner Oso Blanco (Byron Chubbuck), and possibly even the Cuban Five Political Prisoners. While we continue to do everything we can to sup- port and hope for some victories in court, the state continues to attack our moveme: ments. IF any of the recent arrests, from the Green Scare o the Republican National Convention resistance, end in conviction, the Good Time Bill will benefit those tar- seted activists. (more on political prisoners ‘and prisoners of war at abef.net) OF course, the Gireen Scare and political prisoners are only a tiny minority of the prisoners and families who couldbenefit Thousands of non-violent, low-level drug. offenders are caged in the federal system with no hope for early relcase. Many com- munities and families have lost someone to the system. While the Black Liberation Prisoners of War would not be directly a ffected by this bill,if we can work toward passing the Good Time Bill as we continue 10 build toward revolution, we will make a small contribution in keeping with the Black Panther Party legacy of Survival Programs pending revolution. It could serve to reunite families torn apart by the so-called "war on drugs” or "war on terror- ism" or any other hetorical excuse for increased policing and prison-building at the expense of peoples' freedom, autono- my, and survival. While we continue 1o organize toward the abolition of the state, including an end to police and prisons, surely we can take advantage of a progres. sive-leaning administration in an cconomic erisis by helping to give struggling familics and communities a break. So this is calling on all anarchists, activists, and revolutionaries, 1o keep o rganizing for revolution and 10 also sup- port the Good Time Bill. Information below: Extend this or your own call to your own communifies. In Solidarity for Freedom, Anarchist Black Cross Federation wwwabcf.net nycabe@ariseup.net Support the Good Time Bill! On March 12th, 2009, Representative Danny Davis (D- IL) introduced H.R. 1457, 1o restore the former system of good time allowances toward service of Federal prison ferms, and for other purposes, otherwise known as The Good Time Bill. He introduced a similar bill towards the end of the 2008 session. This bill would reduce the people in federal prisons by increasing the credit they could receive and save US tax-payers more than 2 billion dollars per year. The reduction would apply to all federal prisoners except the ones serving life sentences. Join the Yahoo group To leam more, share information, help with the cam- paign. Send an email to ‘goodtimebill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Email, Write or Call Represerativel ttp://goodtimebill info/takeaction html Your Own Congressional Become an advocate for the Good Time bill! Talking Points on Why America Needs the Good Time Bill (HR. 1457) $40000 . N « I costs tax-payers over $40,000 per year to keep cac federal prisoner behind bars « Total cost to US taxpayers for federal incarceration is over 7.64 billion annually « The Federal Burcau of Prisons is over 40% overcrowd- ed and many facilities are operating at 100% capacity with 10 plan for relief. + Nearly three-fourths (72.1%) of federal prisoners are serving time for a non-violent offense and have no history of violence. “ Tt will cost the federal government over $700,000 to incarcerate a person over 50 years of age for the rest of his or her life. « Especially given the strain on the federal budget as well as the hardship faced by many American tax-payers during this coonomic recession; we cannot afford 0 incarcerate 50 many ageing people in the federal system. “Affcan American drug offendérs have a 20% greater chance of being sentenced to prison than white drug offend- ers, and Hispanics a 40% greater chance. (One in ifteen ‘Affican American men are incarcerated and one in thirty-six Hispanic men are incarcerated.) “Tn the last 30 years, the United States prison population has _quadrupled. 1 in every 99 American adults is now behind bars. « People in federal prison deserve a second chance to make positive contributions to society. Sara Jane Olson is Freed from Prison Sara Jane Olson was released from CCWE-Chowehilla shorly after midnight on March 17. Olson, a former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, served nearly seven years in jai for attempting to Kill two Los Angeles”police officers with pipe bombs in 1975. Ms. Olson had also served a concurrent six-year sentence for second-degree murder in the 1975 acciden- tal shooting death of a customer in a bank robbery. Sara, formerly known as Kathy Soliah, was areested in 1999 after living 25-years underground. During that time, she became a soccer mom, living in Minnesota under the name of “Sara Jane Olson. She was armested after the FBI received a tip from a Viewer of *America’s Most Wanted." Sara was brought 1o Los Angeles to stand trial for the atiempting bombing of o police cars. During this time, Sara met up with members of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation — Los Angeles, even par- ticipating in Running Down the Walls. On October 31, 2001, Olson ook 4 plea bargin pleading guilty 1o two counts of possessing explosives with intent to mur- der. She told reporters that she took the plea because of the climate after 9/11. She ter recanted her plea and decided 10 go to trial. Two months later she was sentenced 0 two consecutive 10-years-to-life terms. Justas Olson was being sentenced, first- degree murder charges were filed against her and four other former SLA members This charge was connected to a bank rob- bery that went south, where an innocent bystander was killed. Sara pled guilty and was sentenced to @ six-year term. In March 2008, Olson was mistakenly released for five days but was rearrested She had to serve one more year before being released. As Olson's released date approached, concerns as where she would serve her pro- bation began to emerge. Authorities from Minnesota and California began to openly express their desire to see Olson serve her probation in California. Minnesota State legislatures introduced a resolution secking 1o require Olson to serve her parole in California. The Minnesotagovernor and police unions openly expressed their opposition to Olson coming back home. Even the Los Angeles Police Protective League weighed in stal- ing the California governor should have “used his discretion in this matter 10 ensure Olson stay under the watch of California authorities as she finished out her sen- tence.” Despite the _opposition, both _the California and Minnesota Départment of Corrections approved her transfer to Minnesota. But she will still be under California authority and subject to condi- tions of parole in both states. She will be on parole for one year. James Kilgore is Also Free from Prison James Kilgore, the last captured and imprisoned member of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), was released on May 10th of this year. The SLA was a Califomia-based guerrilla group active in the *70s, most notably know for the kid- napping of Patricia Hearst. James William Kilgore was paroled from High Desert State Prison in north- eastern Califomia afler serving a six-year sentence for the accidental death of Myrna Opsahl during an April 1975 bank robbery. Kilgore was met by his wife after parole agenis picked him up at the prison in Susanville (Lassen County) and processed him there. That allowed the couple to. travel directly to their home in Hlinois, rather than have Kilgore wait to check in Monday with a parole agent in Sacramento_before leaving the st Kilgore's wife moved to Ilinois after he was arrested in 2002 in Cape Town, South Africa, after nearly three decades on the Kilgore, 61, eluded arrest longer than any of hs fellow SLA fugitives. His cover unraveled after the 1999 armest of his former girlfriend Sara Jane Olson, who had built a new ife as a doc- tor's wife in St. Paul, Minn. Olson, for- merly known as Kathleen Soliah, was paroled from a California prison in March and returned to her Midwestern home. Kilgore, a native of Portland, Ore., joined the SLA after graduating from UC Santa Barbara in 1969. He escaped a 1974 shootout with Los Angeles police in which six of the SLA's original members died. He disappeared on Sept. 18, 1975, as the FBI arrested Hearst and other SLA ‘members in San Francisco. He resurfuced as a University of Cape ‘Town Professor Charles William Pape. He was so bold as 1o write a South Affica high school textbook fitled "Making History” under that als. “Thére he married an American woman and fathered two sons. His wie, Teresa Bames, is now an associate professor of gender’ and_ women's swdies at the University of Ilinois in Champaign. Kilgore served his state sentence afier finishing a Sd-month federal prison term for using a deceased person’s birth certifi- eate 1o obtain a passport in Seattle and for possessing 4 pipe bomb in his San Francisco-area apartment in 1975 ALIFORNIA PRISQ KILGORE J V-15088 7-17-06 Anarchist Killed by Explosion In Chile 1t has been reported that a fellow anar- ehist Mauricio Morales Duarte died in an explosion on May 22 at 1:30 am. According o the press, Mauricio was ransporting an explosive device in downtown Santiago when it exploded unexpectedly. Itis believed that he was intending to target the School of Prison Guards. Mauricio, 27 years of age. has been described s a dedicated and militant anar- ehist. His st fow minutes were captured by security cameras of a business located near- by. He was seen with another person circling on bikes near the School of Prison guards. ‘The explosives, made of a fire extinguisher flled with gunpowder, was carried in a back- pack when went off, killing Mauricio instant- Iy. In addition to the homemade bomb, a 38 caliber revolver was also found on the deceased. According to the reports, before the explosion, a telephone call was made to the School of the Prison Guards altered of possible attack. Over the last three years, there have been countless non-lethal and low attacks in the capital of Chile. intensity Police are currently searching for a sec- ond person present at the scene of Mauricio’s death. They are also raiding various anarchist squats across Santiago. US Anarchist, Gelderloos, Acquitted in Spain AU, anarchist arrested in Spain after a squatters'rights protest has won acquittal on all charges there but faces possible deportation. Peter Gelderloos, 26, who grew up in Vienna, Va., was arrested in Barcelona in April 2007 and charged with public disor- der and illegal demonstration. He could have received up to six years in prison, an unusually stfF penalty for a public disorder charge ‘Authorities alleged that Gelderloos was. an organizer of a squatters'rights protest in a public plaza that created a panic among tourists because it ended with the explosion of an enormous firecracker. Police said he and other protesters shouted "We have a bomb!” before the firecracker was li, Gelderloos countered that he was a mere bystander. He said it was ridiculous to think that he had organized a protest in Barcelona given that he spoke no Spanish and had only been in the couniry for a few weeks Gelderloos argued that he was singled out for his political views. As an anarchist who often dresses with politcal T-shirts ~ and some slogans scribbled on his shoes, police assumed he was suspicious, Gelderloos said Ultimately, Gelderloos prevailed in Spanish court he was acquitted on all chars last month, a verdict that came nearly two years afier his arrest Now, after being forced to stay in Spain, Gelderloos is fighting a deportation bid by that couniry's government. Following a hearing last week, a decision isnt expected for several weeks. For much of the past two years, Gelderloos has essentially been required t0 live in Spain while he awaited trial, although he was able to secure permission for a one-month trip back to the United States last year. The Spanish government cited Gelderloos" arest in court papers seeking deportation. Now that Gelderloos has been acquitted, he argues that deportation pro- ceedings should be halted. "I'm fighting deportation because | think borders are an insult and 2 stupidity,” Gelderloos said in an e-mail interview. ‘1 don't recognize the legitimacy of any gov- ernment to tell me 1 can't set foot in an entire region of our planet. A deportation would keep me banned from all of Europe. including many people 1 care about, for seven years." He also said he wasn't allowed to work while living in Spain Gelderloos is best known in the anar- chist community for his 2005 book, "How Nonviolence Protects the State.” Leonardo Marcos, a press oficer with the Spanish embassy in Washington, said that deportation proceedings are unrclated to criminal prosecutions, but declined o discuss specifically why authorities want to deport Gelderloos. A Reflection on "the Left" and my Arrest by Joaquin Cienfuegos | wanted to writ this pice to update people on my arrest for the. iclony out sooner but people would ke to se this position paper gainst me, but I fec like things that I've been thinking about regard- am currently completing 200 hours of community service and one year summary probation (if I complete my community Service within one year, otherwise | will do o years summary probation). Part of the deal ‘they gave me was that they o were kept my legally purchased semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle, and destroy it. They also dropped my felony charge o a misde- ‘meanor: possession of a loaded weapon. | took this deal due to the fact that there was a chance if 1 lost this case | would do 19 months 0 3 years in a state penitentiary. Even though my position has always been that we need 1o organize where we are at, from the street block 1o the cell block, | have too many responsibilities in my com.- munity, including my prioriy at this point which is my family responsibilities Therefore I rather not sk being captured by the state and go behind enemy lines in their prisons. I took this deal and 1 am con- tinuing 1o organize with the Revolutionary Autonomous Communities and Cop Watch Los Angeles - Guerrilla Chaper. Tshould also star by thanking everyone Iwho supported me in this legal batte, those \who helped bail me out, and those who helped raise the money fo pay the folks back that lent us money to bail me out. We Iwere able to raise 2,000 dollar, thanks to individual donations from people, events at juniversities (like Cal State Northridge and (Cal State Humbolde). We also thought that fwe would have to raise most of the money fat the st Annual Los Angeles Anarchist [Bookfair, but thankfully the funds were raised before then. The money raised at the lbookfair went 1o the Southern California Library, the Bookfair Collective (for next Ivear's bookfair), Anarchist People Of Color in LA and to start a defense fund. (Currently I'm stil paying off my lawyer, fand hoping we can cantinue to build on & ldefense strategy and fund, because we Junderstand this is the nature of the state, fand until e gt rid of i, those with insti- futional power will continue to repress the imovement. The majority of the support | received came from anarchisis internation- fally, and that | am grateful for. Thank you for the world of support comrades. People lof color in the U.S. as well gave a great ldeal of love, during the time of my arrest fand legal battle. 1 think that my arrest raised a lot of important questions, and it seemed like the \dividing line for some activists was the fact fthat I had a gun. The question was why did I have a loaded semi-automatic weapon on ime. A lot of liberals did not support me Ibecause of this reason, but personally my life is more precious than the support of liberals and gun-conirol leftsts. The facts fwere that the police stopped me because fthey profiled me, it s legal to carry a \weapon in the trunk of your vehicle, | just lhappened to have it loaded. This is proba- bly the only thing I would have changed, | fwould have kept the ammunition separate from the rifle. The police searched my car illegally. and iry to put a felony charge on jme (by saying that this rifle is illegal in (California, even though it was legally pur- (chased at a Outdoors” store). They couldn't Ipin this on me so they dropped it o mis- (demeanor, "possession of aloaded weapon.” During the investigation they lbrought a weapons expert who had only looked at pictures and claimed it was an Jassault rifle and they tried to find out if | Ihad links to any gangs in Los Angeles. “This really made me reflect on many fthings. 1 don't think it matters if you say Ivou'e a lefist, progressive, or whatever, if [vou intend to side with the state and do the job of the police. When there are people |who are coming under attack, not just me, lbut all the other political prisoners who lhave done years and decades, and you have fthese activists siding with the state on \whether they might have done something |wrong First of all, ths is a setder-colonial- TSt system, and docsn't have the authority 1o try us because this system is not legitimate in my opinion. When in Los Angeles last year the law enforcement agencies killed ‘over 40 people, we have to begin to realize that they have waged war on indigenous, people of color/colonized people, and this ‘genacidal war has been going on for 500 years really. So when the police have the Tight to murder any of us and get away with it how is it wrong for anyone to carry a registered weapon? So it doesnt matter if anyone is from the Ieft or from the right, what maters is who gets in the way of the oppressed when fighting for a better world, and in the way of the people taking their lives and_communities back. There are many people who are doing the work of the police, snitching, informing, and straight Just being busters by siding with the ene- mies of the people, who rather commit acts of violence against the people than defend them. That s what is now called horizontal violence, and this is something we have to deal with as well People should arm themselves legally. politcally, and with an understanding that e are trying not o create a culture of the gun, but this is only one tactic in self- defense of our people and our community. Unfortunately, it is & necessary clement in the survival of our communities and peo- ples at this point. | have to agree with Franz Fanon, "Violence, i a cleansing force. It frees the native from his inferiority com- plex and from his despair and inaction; it makes him fearless and restores his solf- respect” Again, to me self-defense is a necessary tactic in safe guarding our com- munities and our_people from the state. When a community is building anything that poses a real threat t0 the state and the system, they will try to destroy it. So the communes will need to set up peoples militas and other mechanisms to protect itself from the fascists (learning from the Spanish Revolution, the ~ Russian Revolution, and even just from our own experiences with the Counter Intelligence Program and the Patriot Act) “ATs0 to speak 10 the fact that maybe we| do pose a threat, not only to the state but to Some organizations who are in bed with the state. This has become clear 10 me, on sev-| eral occasions, which includes May Day 2007. Where some of those aganizations| ame out and blamed Cop Watch L A., the| ‘youth and anarchists, for the police repres.| sion, similar to the Haymarket Massacre in| Chicago in 1886 (the first May Day, where| cight anarchist organizers were blamed for police murder and repression). These| o rganizations (mainstream non-profits and| non-governmental organizations), play the tole of house-slaves in the movemen] today. Their organizing is done in a way that is suitable for the state and poses nol threat to the oppressive system as 3 whole. To keep their position and be in good with| their masters, these organizations side with| the state in isolating the more radical ‘youth, anarchists, and "problem activists."| To keep their stafus as a large non-profits with good funding, they work with the state in keeping tabs on these madical youth| o rganizations. They speak of immigration| reform that leaves out these same youth| who are being targeted by the police, and| work with the state as well as developers to further gentrify communities of color. 1 personally saw how the system works| from inside the Los Angeles County Jail, and it was enough time to realize that wel have a lot of work to do internally. This is| a bigger challenge to me, than convincing| people on why I had a ifle inside the trunk| of my car. As a revolutionary 1 do think 1 have to be more careful, but o paraphrase Ricardo Flores Magon, *We Revolutionary| Anarchists have to be Outlaws,” we havel fight these injustices at all cause even and that means breaking the laws that are put | place to keep us in control and in check. Their oppressive institutions, which havel o place in our communities, are also legit-| imate targts in my opinion. This is a challenge on anyone who| wants to create a better world. ‘Always in Struggle. ‘Autonomy, Land and Liberty. ‘All Power Through the People. *Recently 1 was stopped by the North| East Division of the Los Angeles Police Department for not having a light on the plates of my car, they pulled me out and| handcuffed me and asked me if 1 had any M-16's in the car. They then scarched my) did not find any "drugs or but told me they could arrest me. They released me then but impounded my car, even though I had an abstract from court saying | can drive. It seems like they| fan my plates and saw my previous arrest, o they profiled me based on that. They did| search my backpack, and saw flyers for the o rganizations I am part of. This happened| on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 RNC 8: Two Down, Two to Go The RNC 8 are a group of activists who were part of the RNC Welcoming Committee, a group organizing the protesis around the 2008 Republican National Convention. A1l were preempiively arresied prior 1o the RNC and were charged with Conspiracy 1o Riot in Furtherance of Tervorism under the Minnesota PATRIOT act in response 10 their political organiz - ing. Laer, additional charges were added: Conspiracy to Commit Riot in the Second Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage 10 Propeny in Furtherance of Terrorism, and Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Popeny Below s a press release issued by the RNC 8 defense group. In the surest sign yet of the power of post-RNC court solidarity, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner has dropped two of four unfounded charges against the RNC 8. Caving to months and monihs of public pressure, Gaertner dropped one count of Conspiracy to Commit Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property in Furtherance of Terrorism. “We are heartened by the fact that our supporters have won this concession,” said defendant Nathanacl Secor. “Its taken a tremendous show of strength and solidarity over the past seven months.” Originally facing @ single charg Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism-Gaertner's office added three additional charges against the eight defen- dants in December o last year. Now, two of those charges have been dropped, clearly demonstrating that all the charges are a matter of political mancuvering, not a rea- soned look at the evidence. On March 28, supporters delivered to Susan Gaertner's office a stack of over 3,000 petitions urging her 1o drop all four chans. Among ofher statements, 2 resolu- tion from the 17,000-member Duluth Central Labor Body in support of the RNC 8 was also delivered. National media aten- tion, including an appearance on MSNBC on Wednesday morning, has drawn signifi- cant attention to the case at the same time as Gaertner is accelerating her campaign for Governor-having just hired full-time staffers, opened an office on University Avenue, and planned appearances at sever- al DFL cvents in the next month ‘Additionally, the broad-based RNC & Defense Commitice has succeeded in call- ing widespread attention to the Minnesota PATRIOT Act, and played an instrumental role in applying the pressure that led to this reduction of charges. DEFEND THE RNC 8 In removing the controversial MN PATRIOT Act from the debate at this ‘moment, Susan Gaertner obviously hopes to defray the costs of this unprecedented prosecution on her campaign for Governor, and 1o mitigate the overwhelmingly nega. tive public opinion of Ramsey County's repressive behavior during and since the RNC “Make no mistake,” said_defendant Luce Guillen-Givins, “This change to the complaint against us is a token gesture meant to placate our supporters and bolster a floundering political prosccution.” As_defendant Eryn Trimmer pointed out, “This move only focuses attention more acutely on the outrageous nature of the two remaining charges, Conspiracy to Commit Riot and Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property.” In the months leading up o the RNC, the defendants were involved in open, pub- lic_ organizing with a broad coalition of Twin Cities activists and commanity mem.- bers. We continue to assert that the only “conspiracy” committed by the RNC § was to provide basic and necessary infrastruc- ture for people who wished io engage in their fundamental right to dissen. “We're relieved and gratified that the most sensational part of the charges has been dropped.” said St. Paul peace and jus- tice activist Betsy Raasch-Gilman, menber of Friends of the RNC . She continued, “We hope that the conspiracy charges will also be dropped. If planning a protest can be called conspiracy, the right 1o free specch is in real danger.” Friends of the RNC & asks Susan Gaertner to continue in the direction of jus- tice by dropping all the remaining charges. thereby saving enormous financial resources for the people of Minnesota in this time of rampant foreclosures, unem- ployment and cconomic turmoil. We also remind supporters that while we should rightly celebrate this small victory, the time for increased action to defend the RNC 8 is now. Poliical organizing is not conspiracy. Dissent is not a crime. A Call to Support Ricardo Palmera The National Commitiee to Free Ricardo Palmera is calling on people everywhere to stand for human rights and social justice in opposition 10 the cruel and unusual treatment of Ricardo Palmer, a negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), now a Colombian political prisoner of the U.S. empire. He is being held in the Florence Colorado Supermax. Prison. Professor Palmera is being held in 23-hour solitary lock-down with no access to the outside warld. Members and supporters of the National Commitiee have attempted 1o write to Ricardo Palmera on more than one occa- sion, in English and in Spanish, inquiring as 10 his health and asking him about his psychological well-being. These letters have been returned by the Federal Bureau of Prisons with the following notice: “Your correspondence to the above hamed inmate is being returned. This correspondence was not delivered o the inmate because he is not authorized to correspond with you.” The National Commitice fo Free Ricardo Palmera sces this as 3 gross viola- tion of Professor Palmera's most basic human rights. It s a harsh and uncalled for punishment to deny someone such a simple thing as the exchange of letters with well. wishers and supporters. Ricardo Palmera deserves to reccive let- ters and anyone who writes him makes a declaration condemning the practice of denying him this right. As well, according to the “Retumed Correspondence’ letters we have received, Palmera is being noti- fied that the ltters are being retumed. This. means that he is told he i receiving ma il whether he can see it or not. In the solitude of his incarceration we believe that this simple statement will give him hope and in ftself expresses solidariy. The National Committee is therefore calling on people of conscience here and around the world to write to Ricardo Palmera, at Juvenal Ovidio Palmera Pineda #27896-016 USP Florence ADMAX PO Box 8500 Florence, CO 81226 Open Letter to All Progressives by Jalil A. Muntagim It is obvious to the majority of US. political prisoners that the movement in Support of them, for the exception of Jericho Amnesty Movement and individuals Support commitees, is impotent and nearly non-existent. There is no national determi- nation or initiative that captures the imagi- nation or represents opposition (o the over- whelming bleak condition the majority of US. political prisoners suffers. ~This is especially true for those who were direct Victims of COINTELPRO and have lan- guished in prison 25-40 years. In late 1976, | initiated the USS. Prisoners National Campaign to Petition the United Nations; by 1977, the campaign orzanized 2 signaiure pefition gathering 2500 signatures from prisoners across the country. In fact, the campaign had affliat. ed cadres in state and federal prisons in 25 USS. states, with communications with pris- oners in parts of Europe. n 1977, an attormey presented our peti- tion and complaint 10 a special subcommit- tee of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. This being the first time U.S. political prisoners had 4 petition submitted and recorded at a United Nations subcom.- mittee pertaining to racism and the condi- tions of political prisoners in the U.S. penal system. (See: UN. document During the E/CN.4/Sub.2NGO/75). course of arganizing the petition campaign, Comrade Sundiata Acoli, then in New Jersey, agreed 1o assist by organizing a march in support of the petition 1o the United Nations. The march and demon- stration was held in front of the Harlem State Office Building. This campaign was responsible for the firing of then UN. Ambassador Andrew Young from his post at the UN. by President Jimmy Carter When, in 1978, then, Ambassador Andrew Young was in Paris for a UN. event, I sug- gested a reporter we had communications with ask Ambassador Androw Young the single question, "Are there political prison- ers in the United States?” When Andrew Young answered, . perhaps thousands. ., rightwing political forces and the media in the United States had a field day rebuking and attacking him, eventually resulting in Jimmy Carter firing him from his UN. post. In'the course of the heightened political focus on U.S. political prisoners, an initia- tive was made to secure & political prisoners exchange with prisoners held in Cuba Contact and dialogue with Cuba’s represen- tatives at the United Nations was initiated and the Cuban government shared_their interest in support of an exchange of pris- oners. To ensure this possibility, in 1977, President Fidel Castro at the “Peaples National Assembly’ at Monaco publicly announced 2 willingness 1o accept US. Black poliical prisoners in @ prisoner's exchange. Unfortunately, as a result of political wrangling and miscues here in the US.. perhaps as a result of FBI interfer- ence, the exchange was never made - a lost opportunity! Nonetheless, because of this campaign_in 1979, members of the International Jurist toured the U.S. visiting political prisoners and reported to 8 United Nations special committee that political prisoners in fact existin the United States. Fast forward to 1996 when | called for the Jericho March to the White House, that Baba Herman Ferguson and our beloved late Sista Safiya Bukhari organized, and in 1998, 6,000 activists from across the coun- try, as far away as Hawail, traveled to Washington, D.C. and participated in a ‘march and rally in support of recognition of US. poliical prisoners. ~Since then, the Jericho Amnesty Movement has organized Cadres and support groups across the coun- try and overseas, continuing t© broaden understanding of the existence of US. polit- ical prisoners. - In 2008, Jericho Amnesty Movement had its tenth anniversary with a ‘march and rally NYC organized by Ashanti Alston and Kazi Toure. Despite a decade of ébbs and flow; highs and lows throughout the progressive movement, Jericho remains the noted national representative of US. political prisoners. Throughout the Jericho Amnesty Movement existence, it has consistently called for the reopening of COINTELPRO hearings. _In the last 20 years, there have been several national forums on COINTEL- PRO; the Intenational Tribunals in 1990 at Hunter College, and in 2000, reopening of COINTELPRO hearings was discussed by a panel conducted by then Congresswonian Cynthia McKinney. In late 2007, the San Continued to page 11 Aunt Doe By Jalil Muntagim April 22, 2009 Like an angry cat furiously pawing and unfurling a ball of gray yarn, the seams of her mind unwind. In an unrelenting battle resembling the Sun battering holes in an overcast sky, inter mittingly warming pastures of names, places and things, her memory struggles to defy the deadly diminishing of its existence. Blinding rain of dementia dims her thoughts as she stares into space, her mind screaming to remember but hearing only the echoing pit - ter-patter of deafening silence demanding an umbrella of medications to cast fading shadows that harks back to life's successes, the pain of lost opportunities, and pleas - ures of having loved and been loved. 0ld age have captured the beauty of her youth and cal - lously jostles her, as she stumbles absent signposts or directions, though a mental maze toward the terminal dark gallows of time. And, yet, we remember and love the whole of her! [Dedicated to my beloved Aunt Dorothy Philps suffering Alzheimer] Letter From Sekou Kambui Greetings My Beloved Friends & Comrades in Struggle! n accord with your request of me, [ am sitting down to take this opportunity for pro- viding you and our Sistahs and Brothas with a broader understanding of the circum- stances by which | am currently held in kap- tivity by the Slave-holding / Slave manufac- turing State of AlabakKkma. As for those of Youwho may or may not be aware of i, 1 am Teferring to the over-standing plight of the renowned Political Prisoner and Prisoner of War, Sekou Cingue TM. Kambui, whose illegal kapiivity has now extended over forty (40) years within an AlabakKkma prison Stave Kolony. Largely in retaliation for and because | have continued to assert myself as an active jailhouse lawyer and prisoners' human rights activist, | am sill maintained in kaptivity at this writing, and my diligent efforts to over-stand my current and long- standing incarceration are ongoing. As such things go, the question—one never resolved to justify my initial imprisonment—of whether I was guilty or innocent is no longer relevant at this point in my incarceration, since | have noww been imprisoned over forty (40) years. The majority of such years have been'and continue to be not only in con- tradistinetion to the laws governing guil or innocence, but also AlabakKkma's manda- tory paroling statutes-— notwithstanding any interpretation given by the paroling authori- ties, or the kourts working in conspiracy with them to perpetuate genocide to the con- trary-—which indicate that 1 should have been released from my illegal kaptivity over thirty (30) years ago, but s you can observe through this writing, I have not been so released. ‘At my last parole hearing, none of my supporters were able to make i, nor any of ‘my family members, and friends, or anyone: associated with me, who might have held desire to show their support and speak out in ‘my behalf at apen-board parole hearing that was recently held on February 24, 2009, This falling on their part was mainly because of the short thirty (30) days notice given in advance of the hearing. Secondly. ‘my supporters and friends mostly live out of state, and needed o go through the neces- sary steps to adjust their life schedules to armange o come to AlabakKkma to appear at the hearing in my behalf, to determine whether hiring another attorney 1o represent my interest before the parole board was fea- sible, or otherwise bring people t0 the hear- ing 10 demonstrate their concern and interest in seeing me released from my long-stand- ing and illegally maintained imprisonment within the State of AlabakKkma. The AlabakKkma Paroling authorities allow Victims' Rights groups in large num- bers to appear in protest of {m}y release or others similarly situated, on’ parole, but deliberately enforce limits 1o how many sup- porter, family members,or friends who are Interested in my/our reldase can participate in my/our parole hearing. incomparable to the amount of members from the local protest groups permitted at the parole hear- ing 1o speak out against my/our release. This is 50 even when the Victims’ Rights group does not contain any of the so-called victims. from the crimes charged to me, nor enjoy a constitutionally created or protected righ to o so. This makes the decision so influenced by such organizations illegal, immoral, and in violation of state and federal law. Thus, such actions and in-actions on the part of the State of AlabakKkma continue o faise the question: “Will an Afikan / New Afrikan man/woman, or poor person of whatever nationality, ethnicity ever receive justice within the Euro-Centrically conirolled AlabakKkma ~ Criminal Justice ~ Slave System? Of course, as things are inerpreted under AlabakKkma law, s in keeping with the ra- ditional holding of the U.S. Supreme Kourt Justice Tanner in the Dred Scott Decision of 1857 “the so-called black man (still] has no rights in the State of AlabakKkma that the white controlled criminal justice system is bound to respect.” I wonder why this is so. Has it anything (0 do with the 3/3's of a man concept? The Dred Scoit decision or the AtabakKkma Constitution of 1901 wherein it was said that this Constitution, which dis- cards any law favoring equal rights for the descendnt of the Afrikan Slave vis-a-vis 2 white person, andior the fact that said con- stitution was said to be designed to establish White Supremacy by Law? It goes without wonder as to the basis of why so many of the Afrikan/New Afrikan men, women or chil- dren are treated so blatanily in disregard of their human and constitutional rights in AlabakKkma, or their humanity o brutally disrespected. What should an Afrikan / New Afrikan man do when he recognizes that he is being so_deliberately disrespected as o human being: that he or she is not being afforded protection from such a travesty at law? It is my thought that I should not ailow this tray- esty at law to be allowed to continue with impunity; that I should not only speak out against being so abused and disrespected under the laws or by and through the agents of AlabakKkma, but that | should act out in whatever way is possible or necessary to bring attention to this situation. Therein lies the motivation for this letter of appeal 1o all my Brothas and Sistahs in the Afrikan Peoples'/New Afrikan protracted liberation movement. 1 am unable 1o achieve even piecemeal success without the understand- ing and loving support of my family and friends, my Brothas and Sistahs in strugele throughout the world, throughout the koun- try. I is my plan 1o endeavor as best | can to rally the people behind my plight, and give them motivation for coming_ together to work with me, whether to raise funding to hire an atiorney to assist me in ltigation against the state of AlabakKkma, or stand with me in protest for its blatant distegard for my human rights, and deprivation of rights, privileges, and immunities secured to me under the Constitutions of AlabakKkma and the United States, including its manda- tory paroling and pardoning statutes. Issuing protest, and calling for my release from my llegal detention and continued deprivation of human rights ‘AlabakKkma's Prison Slave Kolonies all actoss the State of AlabakKkma are over- whelmingly_overcrowded, and the dehu- ‘manization of the Incarcerated Persons held throughout (the ADOC) continues. When will it end? When will the cruclties running rampant within the AlabakKkma Prison Slave System be brought to an end; the suf- fering and callous indifference to the dehu- manizing effect incarceration has on the incarcerated person and their familics, the economic_exploitation accomplished by ever growing exceedingly high prices 1o be paid for personal items needed from the Intraprison canteen and snack-line, the tele- phones, and_the visitation yard vending ‘machines controlled by the ever present pri- vatization apparatus that controls such things throughout the adoc? When will such exploitation be brought 1o an end? What of inhumane treatment such as occurs when incompetent andprofessionallydysfunc- tional medical staff make life impacting decisions arbitarily resulting in the death of incarcerated persons, and such deaths are sill allowed to happen with impunity; or where parole authorities continue to pad their books with illegally withheld parole releases so as to justify demanding more money from the tax-paying citizens through its legislature, to finance their illegal, immoral, and racially discriminatory, cidal enforcement of its mandatory statutory paroling and pardoning criteria, when in fact the mandatory parole and pardoning statues would automatically relieve overcrowding conditions in a check and balance manner as they were designed to do. Does anyone The previous President, of the Bush Eamily Cabal, manipulated State govern- ‘ments all over the kountry, but especially in AlabakKkma where a republican govern- ‘ment was under the control of his brother- inlaw (the Gov. Bob Riley), literally manip- ulating or otherwise coercing them into denying release to and warchousing a large number of its poor and Afrikan American males within their AlabakKkma prison Slave Kolonies, so as 1o not only further denigrate them as human beings, but insure poverty remains_entrenched Within. their communities, and their families politically, economically, demographically displaced, and alienated or otherwise destroyed. I this Presidential action/inaction something one could define as hypocritical; or contrary to the U.N. Declaration of Humian Rights? In the midst of such a climate, | have incarcerated people. | have continued to propagate the truth and reveal the lies sur- rounding the unjust imprisonment_of AlabakKkma's poor, especially its Afrikan American populace. | have continued to provide much needed jailhouse lawyer assistance 1o those unfortunate ones who have been and continue to be railroaded to AlabakKkma prisons and jails. As a conse- quence of the commitment to the prisoners: human rights” struggle | have maintained, | continue to be illegally detained within the AlabakKkma prison Slave System. I contin- e 10 be the vietim of retaliatory decisions based on my jailhouse lawyer actvities, and my political, human rights activism, rather than my intraprison conduct such as would be 4 real and legally binding basis upon which to continuously withhold my release on parole. I is for this reason that this appeal is being sent out to all of you! Although | rarely admit it, | must acknowledge to not only myself but to my supporters that | need the support and financial assistance of those ofyou who not only understand my predi ‘ment, but can provide some form of support and assistance to me in my effort to raise funds for acquiring an attoney to assist me continued 1o fight to educate to liberate _in my fight against the AlabakKkma parol- FREQUENTLY USED Acronyms/ Terms ing and pardoning authorities, but also for the class action formed ltigation | have drawn against the AlabakKkma parole and pardoning authorities for their failure to conform parole decisions o its mandatory paroling and pardoning statutes. | need the Support and assistance of those of you who realize my potential for being & productive ‘member of society, and a worthy candidate for a favorable decision granting my release to my family, friends, and the community | am 10 return 1. I need your leters and c munity_petitions to the Governor of AlabakKkma, the AlsbakKkma paroling and pardoning authorities, letting them know that you are concerned about their continued failure to release me in accord with their mandatory paroling and pardon- ing statutes, and insist that justice for me would bring my long illegally delayed release o its end at last. Your leters to me, your questions, suggestions, or interest in ‘making yourseif more familiar with who | am and what | am about is welcome. You ‘may write me at the following address: Sekou Cinque TM. Kambui 113058 C1-32A PO Boxs6 SCF Elmore, Al 36025-0056 ABCE: Anarchist Black Cross Federation - anti-authoritarian feder- ation of ABC groups who support and defend PP/POWS. ABC-BG: Branch Group - ABCF group with more responsibilities than a SG. ABC than 3 BG. AIM: American Indian Movement - above ground revolutionary organization of Native Americans. Anarchism Free o libertarian socialism. Anarchists are opposed to ‘government, the state, and capitalism. Therefore, simply speaking, ‘anarchism is a no government form of socialism. 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 BP, in tive since the "80s. BEP: Black Panther Party - sbove ground Black revolutionary ‘group seeking Black politcal power, disbanded in the mid-'70s. FALN: english translation: Armed Forces of National Liberation - revolutionary clandestine group fighting for Puerto Rican independ- EC: Federation Council - decision-making body of the ABCE. MOVE; Not an acronym, the name of an organization based in Philadelphia whose members are commitied to the teachings of John Aftica. Their belief is in “life.” PC: Prisoner’s Committee - rotating body of 5 PPPOWs on the ABCF's FC Support Group - ABCF group with fewer responsibilties PRIPOWS: Politcal Prisoners and/or Prisoners of Wa. (See page 1) Self-Defense: The legal act of proteting one’s life or the life of ‘another with the idea/purpose of self-determination and independ- ence. Armed self-defense is relative 1o the ABCF, specifically in the USS. i that as the organization grows, 50 (00 grows the need o pro- tect ourselves from the armed agaressor of the state, right wing, and other ideological opponents. (Firearms training as preparation for self-defense are legal activities within the confines of the U.S.) Self Determination: The right by virtue of which all peoples are entitled freely to determine their political status and pursue their economie, social, and cultural development. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international eco- nomic cooperation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of their own means of subsistence, SDS: Students for a Democratic Socicty ed in the 60s. The Update: This is a quarterly publication of the ABCF. WUO: Weather Underground Organization - first the Weatherme Tater known as the WUO, evolved out of the SDS as an underground formation of primarily white anti-imperialst revolutionaries from the student movement, (The ederation (ABCF) produces. the Revolutionanfvliical Dictionary with these and other expanded def - initions of poliical terms. Asailable from Los Angeles ABC for $1 and o 41 cents stamps.) e student group found- Anarchist Black Cross Communication Management Units (CMU) Posted on htip://supportdaniel.org/cmu/ Over the past two years, the Uited States Federal Bureau of Prisons has quict- Iy opened at least two new prison unis that severely restrict inmates' bility to commu- nicate with the outside world. These units were opened either without the legally required public comment period or, there is good reason to believe, in spite of it. In April 2006, the Bureau proposed a strict hew set of regulations for people involved with (not necessarily convicted in) investi- ations of "terrorism." and a public com- ment period followed, Afler a strong outery from civil liberties advocates and. other wroups, the proposal appeared 1o be dropped. In December 2006, however, sex- eral men — almost all of whom were Arab Muslims -- were moved from the prisons in which they had been residing 1o a new "Communication Management Unit " (CMU) housed at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, which looked remarkably like the unit that the Bureau had proposed.(1] There was no public comment period for the CMU. In May of 2008, several men were moved without warning to what s believed 1o be the second CMU in the federal prison system -- this one located at the US Penitentiary in Marion, IL. Again, none of these men were given any notice ihat they would be moved: and it was not until they. arrived at the CMU there that there was any public acknowledgment that the CMU existed. The rules at the second CMU are the same as those at Terre Haute. One sirik- ing difference is that there are at least two non-Arzb men in residence -- one of them being Daniel McGowan, Once the news broke that the facilities had opened, CMU's came under immediate eriticism for segregating inmates on the basis of religion and ethicity and for pun- ishing low-risk inmates by almost eliminat- ing their abilty to talk on the phone to loved ones, see them in person, or corre- spond to them through letters in a timely fashion. Inmates at the CMU's are allowed only one phone call per week, which is lim- ited to 15 minutes, and which must be con- ducted in English, All mail that is sent or received i scrutinized and any mail written in languages other than English must be translated and transeribed before it is sent or received by an inmate. Visits take place behind glass and are limited to four hours cach month. They must also be conducted in English. These restrictions are devastat- ing t0 all of the inmates, who now have almost no contact with loved ones and very litle ability to keep up with events in the outside world; the restrictions are particu- larly damaging to those whose first lan- uage is not English. The U.S. Bureau of Brisons continues to have very litle to say publicly about the CMU's. The information we have is based on a few investigative articles_about_the CMU at Terre Haute (1102 and on what we have learmed from the inmates themselves. We need to know more. We need to know what is happening inside federal institutions that hold over 200,000 inmates and which may or may ot be following the regulations that gov- ern them. Please encourage local media in your area to invastigate cspecially if you live near a federal correctional institution. Wite letters to the editor and talk to you friends. [We have at least two political prisoners. in CMUs. Daniel McGowan in Marion and Tsunomo Shirosaki in Terre Haute. Just like the Maximum Control Units and the Supermaxes, these inhumane and illegal units of "special confinement” are being used against our freedom fighters and threaten the frecdom of all.-- ABCF] 1. Van Bergen, Jennifer. "Documents show new sceretive US prison program isolating Muslim, Middle Eastern prison- ers” The Raw Story. 16 February, 2007 hitp://wwwawstory.com/news/2007 Docu ments_show_new_secretive_new_US_021 6haml 2. Eggen , Dan. "Facility Holding Tertorism Inmates Limits Communication.” Washington Post. 25 February, 20 07. hitp://www.washington- post.com/wp-dyn/content/arti- cle/2007/02124/AR200702240123 L himl Continued from page 8 demanding the reopening of COINTEL- PRO hearings 1] Tn lght o repessive aws subjct 0 the Patriot Act and subsequent White House COINTELPRO hearings. Thereiore | am public why reopening COINTELPRO hear- free imprisoned. COINTELPRO victms, and the ultimate liberation o all US. polit now tha the FBI and CIA are under seut- Dubic. It essential to cxplin that such Clrk i just one of many impartant past 1 am also calling on those in academia, the progressive intelligentsia to also discuss how best to pose this concern to the Obama administration. It s high time for the broader progressive academic community o join in the overall struggle as it pertains 1o the existence of LS. political prisoners. There are a new generation of scholars, many of whom only read’studied about the movements of the 1960's and 1970's, hav-. ing been divorced from any empirical knowledge of revolutionary engagement or struggles for civil and human rights. Yet, some of these new scholars have written excellent books analyzing and explaining that era of struggle for civil and human rights, preserving those struggles in litera- ture for future study. However, even for them comes a time o put theory into prac- tice, 10 test their knowledge in doing the work lefl undone. The progressive aca- demic community can be an important com- ponent in this determination, and | am per- Sonally asking them to join, to get in where they fit in. Specifically, for progressive academics to forge a national commitice of academics to jointly propose the reopening of COINTELPRO hearings. I am now making this call for action because too many of our imprisoned COIN- TELPRO victims in the last 25-40 years suffer illnesses that could prove terminal. Several have died in prison, and the reality s many more will i the progressive move- ments fai to take action. There is a new historical era on the horizon where dialoguc and exchange between the U.S. and Cuba could result in the termination of a four decades old embargo. Here, today, there is a need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, since there cannot be any healing without revealing, 10 sort out the war imposed on the Black Panther Party and other liberation forces by J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, and various police agencies. Therefore, the time to seriously unite and rebuild a durable and sustainable freedom movement for US. political prisoners is NOW! Remember: WE ARE OUR OWN LIBERATORS!! [1] For detai information on these and other struggles on the issue of U.S. political prisoners read: “Let Freedom Ring - A Collection of Documents from the Movement to Free US. Political Prisoners”, Edited by Matt Meyer. NYC ABCF Branch Group Report I¢'s been a long and busy winter and spring for NYC. Collective members visit- d Daniel McGowan and Ojore Lutalo. We also participated in coalition efforts includ- ing the newly founded Jericho Intemational and a fundraising event for the Republican National Convention political prisoners Our table of ABCF tri-folds has continued o be a regular presence in anarchist and activist cvents including the NYC Anarchist Bookfair. We continue to build awareness of the Communication Management Units as well as the campaign to pass HR 1457, the Good Time Bill, which would allow some feder- al prisonérs the possibility of an earlier release. We organized a "call-in” campaign as an emergeney response to the deteriorating health of Maliki Shakur Latine, who suf- fored medical neglect of his multiple food allergies at the hands of the Gireat Meadow Correctional Facility and NY Department of Corrections. We are glad to report that the calls seem to have led to his transfer to Toronto ABC Toronto ABCF recently released lssue 12 of dstrugglemag, our zine project with anti-imperialist PP Jaan Laaman. The main theme of the issue is “Women in the Struggle.” and it also includes pieces on the financial crisis and struggles from Athens to Gaza to San Salvador to Vancouver. We encourage individuals and roups on both sides of the prison walls to respond to these articles and keep the dis- cussion going. Check it out online at Clinton where the situation i less dire as of his last letter. That said, the medical neglect of our comrade is ongoing, and we will continue to address it as a collective and federation as needed. We recently held a matching-funds fundraising drive to help pay for Robert Seth Hayes' legal strategy to gain freedom through parole in tandem with fundraising by other ABCF chapters, NY Jericho and other organizations. From what we know at this time, he unfortunately still has sub- stantial costs to cover. In an cffort to broaden awareness of PPS/POWSs, the young people of the Afterschool _Program at the 123 Community Space have started a corre- spondence with Russell "Maroon' Shoats. We're also proud supporters of the new Narth Bedstuy Copwatch prograr. We'te now a proud branch group of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation and with our new member we are seven strong. Several of our members may leave New York in the next year, but this does not dis- courage us as all of us are very likely to continue our prisoner support work wher- ever we find ourselves. We're looking forward to hosting an ABCF meeting this summer, and holding our second annual Rolling Down the Walls bike ride for the ABCF Warchest in the fal, We also look forward 1o more leters and visits, and more Political Prisoner Letter- Witing Dinners, which we've hosted on altemating Tuesdays for over three years now. The home of the dinners, the 1-2-3 Community Space, of which we are a ‘member organization, is currently fighting evietion. We're also addressing issues of intimate partner violence and promoting accountability in the activist community of NYC, as well as trying to support our com- rades’ in the student movement, some of whom face legal charges as a result of their activism, In Solidarity for Freedom, NYC ABCF PS- Welcome, Albuguerque ABCF! Branch Group Report W dstrugglemag.org. Support this project by purchasing “solidarity subscription!” A mere $30 covers a full year of issues for yourself and a prisoner. Paper copies of cach issue are sent 10 over 200 prisoners, at 10 cost 10 them, Toronto ABCF has been hosting semi- monthly_letter-writing nights, inviting community members to join us for food and presentations on Norih American PPs. Albuquerque Application My name is Justin and this is my application for membership into the ABC Federation as a Support Group Chaper. My interest in becoming an active member of the ABCF stems from the fact that POW'S/PP's from this very country and abroad are being denied recognition of their true status on the political ladder. I's also bom from the knowledge that all over the world, liberation movements are still struggling for self determination on many levels. Here in America, the situations in our streets, mountains and reservations is no differ- ent. The f ht against imperialism in our house has been met much the same as in other parls of the world, albeit on mre covert levels, especially when the imprisonment of our warriors s concerned. I have worked extensively with Earth First! focusing on issues here in the Southiwest. | also consider myself a personal friend and comrade of Rod Coronado and have been in ltter writing contact with him throughout his two latest federal prison sentences (he was just released 10 a halfway house in MI). Other experience with pris- oner issues comes from involvement with the Irish Freedom Committee, in both Chicago. (Albuguerque ABC’s application was approved at the FC meeting in January. On behalf of the entire ABC Federation, the editors of the Update would like 10 take moment to welcome Albuguerque ABCF into the Federation) We have also partnered with Addameer and the Right to Education Campaign to write letters to Palestinian administrative detainees. At the Palestinian event we played solidarity statements from Marilyn Buck, David Gilbert and Jaan Laaman. Bryan and Sara tabled at the 10th annual Montreal Anarchist Bookfair, where we co-sponsored a talk with former PP Laura Whitchorn and her partner Susie Day. 4STRUGGLEMAG of Noh Amencan Pottcal Pisaners and Frends. SUBSCRIPTIONS 1yoar (3 ssuos) 15 Solary subscrpion: 530 4astrugglemag.org Los Angeles Report Beyond the basic maintenance of the website and ABCF flyers, the LA ABCF, along with Atcata ABCF, has been busy trying to show a presence for the Federation on the West Coas. The Arcata and Los Angeles chapter shared a table at the San Francisco Anarchist Bookfair. This was the first time the ABCF had a table at the bookfair and we are happy 1o report it was rather successful. While there we met with old friends including former political prisoners Rita Bo Brown and Claude Marks. On April 25th, the Los Angeles chapter participated in a birth- day celebration for Mumia orzanized by the Jericho Coalition. The event included the new documentary, In Prison My Whole Life and also featured Hank Jones, one of the San Francisco 8. Jones talked about the current status of the SF case and the need to sup- port Mumia. Lawrence from the Puerto Rican Alliance also spoke o the curren status of Carlos Alberto Torrs. LAABCF also increased with a new member, Mapache. In case we did not mention it in our last report, we also have another mem.- ber, Jeff, who has joined our local chapter. We would like to take a moment to welcome both of them into the Federation. The Anarchist Subsistence Program The Anarchist Subsistence Program seeks to provide material aid to those PP/POWS who come from our own anarchist/anti-authoritarian community. As with the Warchest, this program is designed to aid PP/POWs who receive litte financial aid. However, it is unique because it exclusively assists those from the anarchist/anti-authoritarian commu- nity. Over the last few years there has been an increase of anarchist/anti-authoritarian PP/POWS. Most of these new prisoners have support committees who raise awareness and funds on their behalf. Long held anarchist/anti-authoritarian PP/POWS have had their support overshadowed by these new cases. “This program s designed to ensure that support for them remains consistent. ‘The two functions of this support campaign include a monthly financial assistance and forty 43¢ postage stamps per month. Supporters of the Anarchist Subsistence Program send whatever funds they can to Philadelphia ABC (who facilitates the program) who in tun distributes the funds among anarchist poliitical prisoners who participate in the program. All'U.S. supporters also take tums sending the Name: Ph; We are beginning the iniial stages for Running Down the Walls slated for September 12th. We are asking all chapters, support- ers, and our imprisoned comrades o please set this date aside. We are hoping to expand the amount of solidarity runs this year. Funds for this years run will go to the Warchest and the Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC) and their food program. stamps directly to Philadelphia ABC. Listed here are the monthly check documentation and rotation of groups sending stamps. If you want to support this important program and help us expand the number of Anarchist Subsistence Program campaigns we run, contact Philadelphia ABC. Make checks or money orders out only to: TIM FASNACHT. Funds should be sent in the last week of the month before the month the funds will be used (i.e,, send March funds in the 3rd week of February). 2008 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY NY ABCF 2% 0 0 0 0 [} LA ABCE 2450 0 100 0 0 TOR ABCF 50 0 0 0 0 [ PHILLY ABCF 0 0 0 o0 0 315 JAX ABCF 50 0 0 0 o0 [ ARCATA ABCF 0 50 0 o0 o [ ALBQ ABCF 0 10 5 5 0 [ RYAN, AK 10 0 0o 0o o [ RYAN,OREGON 10 0 0 0 0 [ EZE,N) 150 0200 0 o0 [ APOC-PHILLY 0o 0 o0 21 o0 [ TOTAL 760 60 205 125 0 3152 | Street Address: M FASNACHT to: | City/State/Zip. Philly ABCF | ONE TIME DONATION [] Pl commit to 6 months || Tll committo 1 year || MONTHLY SUPPORTER [ ] Monthly supporters, please check one of the follow P.0 Box 42129 Philadelphia, PA 19101 mABCF@aol.com toll frec (877) 6732658 ing: Amounts $ SUPPORT THE ABCF WARCHEST ‘The ABCF has initiated a program designed to send monthly checks to PPPOWSs who have been receiving insufficient, littl, or no financial support during their imprison- ment, PPPOWs 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 s in the most financial necd. There is also an emergency fund designed to immediately send checks to those PP/POWS in need of one-time o emergency s Founded in 1994, the Warchest has provided cor ing a much- neglected comradely function. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised over $54,000 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 reccived 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 t Philly ABCF e P.O Box 42129 e Philadelphia, PA 19101 ¢ timABCF@aol.com FUNDS IN 2008 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY FUNDS OUT 2008 JAN MAR APR MAY. LA ABCF/RDTW 1360 1100 0 300 0 0| [SEKOU KAMBUL 360 30 30 30 30 PHL ABCF 180 50 50 50 50 50| |RUSSELL SHOATZ 360 30 30 30 30 E2€, ) 150 0200 0 0 0| |JOSEPH BOWEN 360 30 30 30 30 ITORONTO RDTW 60 0 0 0 0 0| HANIFBEY 360 30 30 30 30 ITORONTO ABCF 130 0 140 0 60 0| |HERMAN BELL 360 30 30 30 30 JAX ABCF 50 0 0 0 0 0| |SEKOUODINGA 360 30 30 30 30 NYC ROTW 286 0 0 0 0 0| |RUCHELL MAGEE 360 30 30 30 30 NYC ABCE 376 60 75 74 0 0| |ALVARO HERNANDEZ 360 30 30 30 30 IALBQ ABCF 0 10 5 5 0 0| MALKILATINE 360 30 30 30 30 RYAN/ALSKA 45 0 0 0 0 0| |TSUTOMUSHIROSAKL _ 360 30 30 30 30 RYAN/OREGON 15 0 0 0 o o [0JORELUTALO 0 0 0 0 30 HOBART 10 0 0 0 0 0| |ROBERT SETH HAYES 50 0 0o 0 o0 JUSTIN/CLEV 0 0 0 0 0 0| VERONZABOWERS 0 5 o 0 o0 WEST. MASS.ROTW 143 00 0 0 o |TOTAL 3750 350 300 300 300 [ANON 25 25 0 30 20 40 RDTW/ARIZONA 43 0 0 0 0 0 “roNDSIN “—FUNDS OUT SHARON SHOATZ/N) 360 0 0 0 o 0| ——FONDSIN _ _FUNDSOUT PROPAGANDI 15 0 o o o o 1994 351 1994 120 CHRIS R/IN 0 24 0 0 o 1995 3860 1995 2796 1M M/PHILLY 0 15 15 0 30 15 1996 4143 1996 4308 RON/PHIL o 0 0 0o s o 1997 3544 1997 4588 SHANE ANDREW 0 0 0 0 0 50 1098 7643 1008 6412 TOTAL 3448 1284 485 460 115 155 o5 5814 o5 191 2000 3514 2000 4544 2001 5290 2001 4637 2002 2873 2002 4320 2003 1785 2003 1300 2004 UNACC* 2004 UNACC* 2005 4439 2005 2620 2006 3268 2006 2880 2007 4312 2007 3471 2008 3448 2008 3750 2009 2499 2009 1250 FUNDS REMAINING: $4198.50 TOTAL 56783 TOTAL 52137 (*Funds unaccounted for due to unreported funds from Jacksonville ABCF) % “Your ABCF Guide to PP/POW Support is great, PERIOD!" - New Afikan POW Sundiata Acoli “You can see many of our concerns addressed in this pam - phiet.” - former Puerto Rican POW Carmen Valentin “Itis extremely well thought out and put together.” - Anti-Imperialist PP Tom Manning What's the ABC? What'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 it? What kinds of sup - ‘port do Polltical Prisoners need? How should 1 o about my work? What can PPIPOWS gt in prison? What do I need o know if I want - ed 10 visit? Can I bring them food packages? What abour clothes? Wit do you mean' by ‘principled support”? How do I get involved? This is a practical guide compiled by Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War themselves, based on concrete history and work experience. 1t will help answer all of the above questions and more. The ABCF guide to PPPOW includes definitions that were demo- cratically agreed upon at an international tribunal, spet dures ini bl P PP et o T i o " proce- ob ‘documentation on PP/POW's. information on visiting, 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.”