Issue 19: Summer 2011 ASTRUGGLEMAG from the hearts and minds of north american political prisoners and friends geronimo ji-jaga, 1947-2011 IN THIS ISSUE: War in Lybia ® Anti-Racism ® Black August ® FBI Repression Struggle & Analysis ® Letters ® Poctry ® Updates & Actions ® and more! Welcome to 4strugglemag Youhave justcome upon a dynamic and unique publication, where Teuth (eal and raw) spesks to power. This magazin focuses on the insighis and experiences of north american politicalprisoners on major issuesof the day. While a ot of the writng is by politcal prisoners, other activsts, alies, sevolutionaries and insightful outside voices are included. We publish three issues a year and all back fssues remain posed on the website (4srugglemag org). srugglemag is an independent non-sectarian revolution ary voice. We are unapologetically anti-imperialst and Soldly in support of progressive national iberation. espe- fally the strugeles of New African/Black, Mexicano/Chi ano, Puerto Rican and Native American Nations presently ontrolled by U.S. imperialism. Reflecting on the work and principles of political prisoners hel by the United Sttes, Astrugplemag advocates for jusice, equality. freedom, so- cialism, protection of our Earth, huinan rights and peace. W Astrugglemag org is primarily an e-magazine, but had copies are availabl (see sideba for subscription de- tils)- We encourage readers o tespond, critique snd carry on discussions in the magazine. We value and encous feedback and discussion. The address of each politcal prisoner s posted with hisher articl so people can dircct- 1y communicate with thems (Few politica prisoners have access o the nternet). ‘We like dialogue, but we are not going (o print racist or pro-imperialist messages, s0 you tovernment agents and Klansmen don't bother wasting your time. Each issue of dstrugglemag focuses on at last 3 main top- ics. Additional poerms, graphics. essays, announcemens and more are included. Unsolicted witings and graphics are accepted and welcomed. We won't guaranice printin but we'd like to see your work. This and other cortespon. dence should be sent via regular mail 1o the following ad dress (remermber it costs 75 et tosend letter to Canada from the U'S). Astrugglemaz PO. Box 97048 RPO Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6R 353 Canada o via email 10 juanlaaman@ gmail.com Jaan Luaman, editor ‘antiimperialist poliical prisoner Moving? Don’t forget to send us your new address! Call for contributors 4strugglemag is looking for quality writing that contributes 1o crifical, revolutionary thought and reflection. In particulir, we are interested in the following; Feature articles: In-depth, analytical artcles that critically examine a particular issue, historical currence, political idea, or current event. If you are in need of research or writing help, don't hesitate toask Book reviews: I there a book you'd like to re- view for dstrugglemag? Let us know. Letters: We love to hear from you. Please let us know if we have permission to print your leftr. Subscriptions Support 4strugglemag’s commitment to providing free prisoner subseriptions by subscribing o do- nating. We publish 3 issues a year. Prisoner subscriptions: frec 1 year standard subscription: $15 1 year solidarity subscription: $30 (Solidarity subscription covers 1 year for yourself | and subsidizes a free prisoner subscription). 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You can print artiles from our website, or have a friend do so, if you don't have internet access: dstrugglemag.org Table of Contents 7 10 u 12 13 Black August A Celebration of Freedom Fighters by Doc Holiday et al ‘seronima ji jaga. 1947-2011 Menmorials by Sundiata Acoli, Lynne Stewartand Leonard Peltier Blood of a Slave, Strength of a Panther by Barry Crumbley Self-Awareness by Eddie Lang On Being Ani-Racist by Christopher Gonzalez 14 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 Transitions Part One: Casualties of War by Saleem Tarentelle by Kelly Pfug-Back Running Down the Walls 2011 First Nations Under Surveillance: Harper Government Prepares for First Nations “Unrest” by Russell Diabo and Shiri Pasternak Activists Cry Foul over FBI Probe by Peter Wallsten Activists Get $50,000 for FBI & t. Paul Police Raid Prior to 2008 Republican Convention Canadian Media Fails to Deliver: Media Coverage of Canada Post Labour Dispute Uncritical, Inaccurate by Kaley Kennedy Activist Jaggi Singh Given Suspended Sentence for G20 Speech by Megan Kinch Peaple’s Lawyer Gets by Stevan Kirschbaum il Sentence 3 s damai B o Tk on L T 39 41 42 43 45 46 46 APlace of Depravity, Death and Despair by Coyore Building Revolutions with Numbers Cons by Rey Tokatzin Fighting Strategy to Defeat G8/G20 Global Imperialist KKKorporation by Danny Bonds Organizations Truth is Revolutionary by Terrance E. White' Paying the Price: Feeding the Children of Irag by Katherine Hughes My Friend Marguerite by Jaan Laaman A oice for Change: The 605, the Civil Rights Movement and Today by Tim Loc Remembering Gil Scott Heron by Jaan Laaman Gil Scott-Heron by Chuck D Issue 19 Introduction Grestings, readers, friends, fel- low activists and revolutionar- fes. Welcome to dsm number 19 (mid-summer 2011). This issue bezins our seventh year of pub- lishing the news, views, insights and analyses of political prison- ers and alies. Tens of thousands of readers cheek o each issue(primar ily the online edition). Yet 3sm's production team is very modest nd the work gets done because of the extraordinary voluntary effort and commitment of a small number of dedicated ‘and rightcous comrades in Canada. And of course it is the words of politcal prisoners and other insightful witers (side and out). who create the material that makes this unique mag wha it is. S0 thanks (0 everyone who has con- tributed to 4sm, in words, work or materil support. Ler's Keep it up and keep advancing. We welcome and need your Words and your politcal and financial support Afte our letters section, we begin tis issue with our cele- bration of Black August 2011 4sm dedicates Black August and this entire issue 4 4 tribute 10 geronima ji-jaga. Who passed of a heart attack on June 2, in Tanzania. geronimo, Wwho was 63 (and chose 1o write his name without capital- ization) was a major leader of the Black Panther Party and a founder of the Black Liberation Army. He was ailroaded 10 prison on a bogus charge and did 27 years before he was exonerated and freed in 1997. We include several tributes 10 geronimo, as well a basic information on Black August in the fistsection. “Then we have a section on updates and actions. Everyone should check out the material on Pelican Bay, as well as this year's “Running Down The Walls” (RDTW), which will take place on July 31. Next is our primary analytical and dialogue section, on the war n Libya. Following this is our section on strugele and analysis Which includes essays on “Being Anti-Racist” information on the governments recent attacks on Carlos Montes. an original founder o the Brown Berets, and more. Remémber. we welcome feed- back and revolutionary dialogue on all our artcles. We will ook forward to your words for issue 20. including updates on Pelican Bay, and report backs on RDTW As you go through this issue, keep geronimo in your thouights, as well as our wasrior Sisters who pissed st Au- ust: Senora Lolita Lebron and Ms. Marilyn Buck. They Il did so mich. and now it is our . See you all n issue 20, out in Novernbe Jaan Laaman, editor/ani-imperialist politcal prisoner Struggle in Pelican Bay and beyond A very significant struggle began on July 1, by the brothers in D corridor, SHU. Pelican Bay SP. Quoting from some mateial re- cently reeased by the brothes: “The D corridor has the highest level of resrcted incarceration the state of California and among the mst severe condiions e United States. Conditions of long-ern isolation imprison- ‘ment amount 0 torture, and are designed i oder to coerce prs- oners into “debricfing”, i informing on other prisoners. Many ebricters simply make up information about othe prisoners s o escape the isolation units. This misinformation is then used to Validate other prisoners as members or ssociates of prison gangs wha i reality have nothing o do whatsoever with gang activiy, and then thy too become subjected 10 these nhumane conditons. “This Jly 1 strugele has the potential to become the most sienii- cant event in California prison reform in the lat decade. Public Support s cru July 10 update: The CDCR's own figures acknowledge 6600 prisoners participated in the hunger sirike actoss 13 pisons (out of tota 33)in Caifornia this past weekend. Thousands of prisoners have come together in solidariy with th prisoners at Pelican Bay SHU, while being locked up in brutal conditons themselves. This ‘massive resistance and support i 4 estament to people’s undying. ‘il and abilty to build collctive pover in the face of disappear- ance and deah, fler unanimously rejecting an insulting offe by ners contine o srke for mesningfl changes 2 Unit (SHU) conditions and policies Prisoners again due (0 extreme medial siuations have ejoined the hunger stike (o t-invigorate support for the Pelican Bay bunger sskers demands to be met. July 22 update: Mediators from Prisones Hunges Strike Solidar- ity's Mediarion team spoke with. hunger strike leaders at Pe Bay and confrmed the leaders have accepted an offer from the CDCR. At the same time. hunger sskers n othe prisons continue. o refuse food in at ledst CC1 Tehachapi, Corcoran and Calipa- s, It s unclear how long they will contnte, ifthey are aware of the agrecment or even believe anything the CDCR clsims give their history of deliberate misinformation campizns. The message. rom Hunger Stciking prisoners across Californa his week s clar: Suppor from people on the outsid is more important than ever. PBSP brothers Todd Ashker, Danny Troxell and Mutop DuGuya/. Crawford, have Jaid ou the isues and goal of this strugale n sev- eral noices and leters. These communiques snd al the information are prited i th online edition of 4sm, #19. For hardcopy readers. i you can, check out the online versicn. You can alo receive the lastest information by writing t: LA-ABCFE PO, Box 11223 Whiter, CA 90603 USA Justask them to mail you the 4sm PBSP siugele information. ISSUE 19 Letters Pesce, 1 just wanted 1o tell all of those down with the “4strug- slemag” movement, tha it is a pleasure 1o see different brothers and sisters come together, and (0 keep fighting your inner and outer siruggles. Know and understand that the challenges we face in life are what show us our srengths and weaknesses. Regardless of what you do, do ot zive up! Anything worth having is worth working hard for o get. A female frend of mine told me, “you always looking for the easy way out. Sometimes youhave 1o do things the hard way” seven and a half years 1g0, which is how long I've been incarcerated. For years these words. have been stuck in my head and it wok me a while to grasp the meaning of what she had said 10 me. Then, one day. | seceived spirital insight (understa ing of her words unfolded and expar came to the conclusion that “patience” really is a “vitue." fou have (0 realy Si yourself down, “check yourself” or ife will ot for you'™ Which leads e to sa reflct upon everything you think, say. or do, because in the end you'llfind love, peace, and happiness, that nothing material can buy." Peace and Blessings, Knowledge G (Stanley Corbett Jr) To those interested in my poetry — contct: Stanley Corbett, Jr #0716025 1300 Western Bivd, Raleigh, NC 27606 USA Revolutionary Greetings! Fellow Comrades in this struggle. Thisis my frst sermon, ina series o come. as T wish o extend internationally with those dedicated 1o the freedom of all oppressed peoples of the world and especially those in the Prison Industrial Complex. 1 was encouraged by your method in reaching those in most need of such: prisoners! As Karl Marx stated. “phi- Tosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways: the point s to change 1" e starts with the mind! A revolution of the mind of the masses of people. Revolutons arise from he objective conditions. Building public opinion as Mao stated helps one learn about the objective conditions which develop revolutionary consciousness and the will o act. As a prisoner who is oppressed in the belly of the beast, Iy come 10 learn, through the revolution of Knowledge, that 1 have been deceived by gimmicks and tricknology that has numbed into apathy my existence, @ system that debumanizes and keeps oppressed people under 3 Social Yoke of slavery (13th Amendment) through an cconomic System buil 10 fetter one 10 a surplus value eniching and Keeping in power the prisoncrats and exploiiers Those asleep need 10 be woken ups those dead 10 the strug- slet need to be mobilized or tossed aside like unusable rash and the huntericapitalist mus now be hunted. Many of you just don't realize that f you are not a part of the Solurion then you are & part of the problemn. Lwant 10 extend nationsl salutaions to my Brother K. Sol- omon who has helped me overcome n this dark and lonely place. Thank you, Brother, let us build and mobilize ail those “we" and who can unil the turning wheels fal o Inlove, stength and sacrifce! K. Tocat Anthony Montanez #1362332 Connally Unit 899 FM. 632 Kenedy, TX, 8119 USA Hotep, ‘Shu Ru. Thank you 4strugglemag for giving the Politically Intlligent Revlutionary Units an outle for their voice to be heard. We must learn from the people over in Egypi, Tunisia, Yemen, etc.to become one minded. We must ight for 4 cause liké freedom, justce, and equality against & ‘common enemy, the oppressive and exploitative establish- men. P interested in knowing, do any brothas or sises have the whole “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Black National An- them song, hat they can send to 4strugglemag 0 possibly print or send to me at the address below, for this blessed black history month? In Political Education fo this time we need more legal ed- ucation. The lawyers e pay or don't pay are selling us o They are cuting backroom deals wih the prosecutor and manipulaing the law to use loopholes to get brothas and Sistas enslaved in these modern day concentration camps. “Trial Lawyers be inexperienced: they fil © bring up ben- eficialisses, they allow the prosecitor o misstate of cov- er up evidente and they fil to make proper objections at imes. Some issues not brought up at tral or before tial are demed as waived. Tria Fawyers will pretend they are helping you. they take your money and they contact the appeal counsel 0 cover up their tracks on 4 buddy-buddy 1 ASTRUGGLEMAG system o favour for favour. I your appeal counsel do not presen the right issues in your appeal bref, you will have problems while fling Your State Supreme Court brief and your Federal Habeas. ‘Corpus. Iznorance of the law is no excuse. Motions must be ild within time limits. Two good books to have for beginners are your State criminal rules of court for tial and appeal and your State ivil Federal rules of court for Federal Habeas Corpus. I alo helps o get a Black’s L Dictionary. Due 10 lack of knowledge. understanding and Dear 4strugglemag, “To all comrades who ar a part of the strugale. & go0d com- rade just recently received your material and i nspired me 10 psh this pen and share my thoughis. T would like to be puton the mailing st o stat receiving your mag. 1 am cur- renty serving o ife sentences at Ely State Prison, and it is “hell” for some of my comrades. 1 Salute you in respect and solidarity 1 would ike 0 start this letter by itroducing mysell s “the Dropout.” Most of the gangs in here do not associae with me at all. They call me the “enemy” because: ‘compreliénsion, we are being railroaded inlo the system. 2 1 tell you or your e ourselves and, ‘The judge and prosecutor are not 2o Tawyer how to do theirjob. We must edu each one teach hundreds. Paralegals in jil are not really helping pris oners either. They only give you What you tequest from the computer or books. They don’ttell you what you need to know or bow t0.do something. 1 recommend that juilhouse lawyers build 4 network to exchange intel and communi- cate with brothas and sistas who come into the system that done et 1o trial. When the system fails us we must help ourselves as a collective. We must b leaders over ou des- liny. For my Guerrlla Revolutionary Freedom fighter brothas and sistas, these concentra- o camps are a form of population control You cannot reproduce from prison. Families are being tom apart and We are prisoners of war. A silent war i being carved out by targeting our domains under the disguise of the war on drugs. violence, terorism, eic ‘We are under attack, 50 the Ratural o i to defend sel, family. and domain, Guerrilas Rise Chanting Liberty or Death Dedicated 10 all PPIPO.W. the Black Blood Brothu and Sistahood, PD. 1 and the Mad- dox Family Mz Maddos #555753 878 Coitsville Hubbard R Youngstown, OH 43505 USA [Editor's note: we've reprinted “Lif Every Voice and Sing” on this page] Tdo not choose to engage in prison zang poliics. | choose torise above this system and for ur comrades and sistas 0 stay together and rise above the cruel and unusual punish- ment e endure day in and day out in this envisonmen. Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift every voice and sing, Tl carth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty: Let our ejoicing fise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud s the rollng sea. Sing 4 song full of the fith tht the dask past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present as brought u; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on il vietory s won. Stony the road we rod, Bitterthe chast’ning rod, Feltin the days when hope unborn had died: Vet with a steady beal, Have not our weary fect Cometo the place for which our futhers sighed? ‘We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, ‘We have come, reading our path throughthe blood of the saughtered, Out from the gioomy past, Tl now we stand a last. ‘Where the white gleam of our bright sta s cast. God of our weary years, God of ou slent tears, ‘Thou who has brought usthus far on the way; “Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the lght. Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet sty from the places, oue God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the witie of the world, we forget The: Shadowed beneath Thy hand. May we forever stand. True to our God. True to our native land. ISSUE 19 1 read all the writings in dstrugelemag and 1 feel good in- side, feel 2004 (0 see other brothas and sistas rise for their righi 1o be treated with fespect to not be treated s human laves. We allow ourselves (o become stagnant; we allow ourselves 1o be racist, to be haeful and rimmy. Now to all'who say Tam the enemy because I chose to iberate and educae my mind and not b racist, not be hateful and grim- imy. but 1o rise against the sysiem fo tefuse to be treated - fairly, cruelly and unusually —t0 refuse o be treated ike & slave. We need to eliminate prison gang politics and racism and create a movement o rise above, 0 educate ourselves. “To libeate our minds we must figh ou true enemies not only physically, but mentally as well. We waste so much {ime fighting amongst each oher; it does not make sense. 1 give my full salut to prisoners in Georgia for their “non- violent fise against the sysiem™ for sticking through the pain they're put through in hard times. 1 am there with You'comrades. I'm fighting the same fight 1 tefuse 1o be tepped on and used like a save. 1 alo salute i solidarity the Brown Riders Liberation Party for thei strugele and e against “the pigs” we are “al War” against. We need to open our eyes and see. We must stand together 35 an un- breakable wall 0 liberate ourselves, to educate ourselves ot only blacks and browns, but as human beings part of the stnugale. I've shed blood for respect and I know who the real enemmy is. 1 am not the enemy. | speak truthfully. There is no solidaity in this system. There is (00 much hatred between rival gangs; we are treated ik circus igers who aee being whipped to jump through hoops, o turn on one another while these pigs Taugh and trea us lke dogs. ‘We need 1o put an end t0 prison gangs and rise 1o adical prison groups, chapters and revolutionary prison move- ments. 1 hope all my comrades in solidarty read and take notice, (0 unite against the true enemy. These ar the words from “the Dropout.” To all prison radicals that may have love and esistance in their hearts and the power 1o educate and liberae their mind. ‘With respect and solidarty. Ricky “the Dropout” Vazqiez (Brown and Down) Dear Friends, Lam witing this leter because 1 was inspired by Lynne Stewart from Issue 18 for the Spring. Through fanily members 1 was in indirect contact With her asking about others like her hat may bave been able o help me. in my Case prior o the Appeal Courts” decision about hér pet ion. Though I was never able to uilize anyone she may have referred 10 me. [ was pleased and filled With grattude that there ae still human beings like her on Earth. Dear friends, Itis & constant for me tolive a ife of controlled intervals o activites behind fences and walls butkeep my beliefs and thoughts about the problems of the world botted up without losing a piece of my humanity, mind, and spiit. | refuse o blindly follow! Most people may not be aware of the connection that we. all have as human beings. and how powerful that connec- tion really is. How s individuals we al have an effect on one another whether this may be positive or negative in nature. No matter how far away we all may be from cach other o even if we do not even know one another, we can- ot escape this reality Which exists in all evels of con- Sciousness. This connection is not only imited to human beings. However, mankind, s the vicegerents of thisearth have the mostinfiuence and effect! Generally, individuals care about events surrounding them and no more: this is because of the immediate or the de- layed effect that certain events may have on themselves. and on their loved ones. Although it s an exceptional reac- ion o the human psyche. it is nsuffcient in higher levels: of spiituality, thought and especially when taking account of the great Human potential I has been decades, if not centuries, thal there has been a great deal of discoveries, inventions, and evolutions thathave taken place i s ma. terialstic lves. Yet the majority of the masses are sill in primitive thoughtslike racism, Raionalism (which is equal 1o tbalism of the early times) and capitalism without the “proper” avenue 10 care for the unable and the disabled, wars Tor idealism that cost millons of lives without resuli and betterment of the world for mankind ot for the fuure. Sadly, the truth is the opposite, we 4l have allowed ca- tastrophes and disasers to tske place throughout the ages simply because we lack 4 true vision and nsight for the future and because of the senselessness we have allowed the destruction of the future generations afer generations. There are many reasons why these problems have 2ot out of control. The masses are generaly puided by thir deal- istc governmental propagands, raiher than being able to process the information televised 1o them with 4 realistc overall assessment of the events. We see an uproar of the Sensible youth around the world objecting 1o the same old police states, military dictatorships, saying “NO” o tyr- nny and oppression and some of them even paying the ul- imate price of giving their lives up, n relity or all of our siruggle. 1 say our strugele because this world that we live in belons 10 ll of us. There is no such thing 45 superior race, colour,nation,ciilization (Wit is correct meaning). We dre the inheritors of this world. We all are the ambas- sadors and goverors of this planet. We all should have more say as (o how 1o operate this machine, rather than just having a choice to vote for one of the two bad guys. We all should prioriize the things tht really matter and start changing the fall int the endless pit, and stat climb- ing back up, aking care of needs of the uture generations. instead of feaving today's problems that nced fixing now 10'be dealt with laer. ASTRUGGLEMAG As human beings on the face of the earth, each and ex. ery one of us as individuals can take care of one major problem that causes some of the worstepidemics; that is o Tealize we all hase responsibilities o one another and that our actions affect mases no matter how big or litle. No matter what we do, we all must s think of how a certain o affect us as individuals, therefore affect our familie, therefore ffect our neighbors. herefore the town, the city. country,the world! This s the realty, and we all as individuals struggle hard, and seive 10 make this domino effect in a positive manner that will only benefit humaniind ‘We must care for ach other and seck change of the current state of the world due to lack of tre leadership, lack of rue vision of what we al stand for globally, what we want for ourselves and for the future. However, the change we want comes with a price tag. That is, Sopping o overly enjoy the very short time we all have here on this earth, ‘and being productive, not just for this ife but aso for the hereatter. We all must work double hard oty 1o make up e time thats ost and sl making sure that the future ke for even more generations 1o come, y the Token of time through the Ages. Verily man s in loss Except such as have Faith, and do Righteous deeds. and “Join Together” in the mutualteaching of Truth And of patience and constaney " (103-1.3) Tam 4 struggle! * Ihad to generalize to a minimum s lot of what 1 wrote are huge topics that are dealt with i the study of sociology theses that have volumes upon volumes of books tht have long available. History repeats tself only because we do ot learn rom the mistakes of the generations that cume “and passed before us. have especally stayed away from adding 2 ot of personal detil because of my ongoing batle with & system that serves only 1o its ownbeneft and po- liical propagation and agendas. Thank you all who have worked So hard 10 make this magazine happen. 1 wish all the success and a healthy growth Anone iniresed in finding out about me, simply | Google my name ¢ Serdar Tatar Dea s, Greatin tant levation of unity, peace and equal ity amongst all with & irm and solid revolutionary salute my name is comrade Kim.g. I've been incarcerated for 33 yest half of those years I've been kept in administza ve custody because of my actvism within the Puero Ri can population, as well as my poliical belief and the en Couraging of Resistunce against the racist and oppressive PA.D.OC. Practices. But if you allow the administrators (slive masters) of the PA. D.O.C. to explin I'm 4 g leader, a thieat to the running of thei instiutions. Anytime you choose to fight the oppressors and not your own, now You are the enemy of the stte. Just recently T came across your magazine issue #17 Fall ‘Winter 2010; i was passed around by other revolutionary and conscious minded brothers and comrades, here at this control uni. 1 was blown away by the information that | was honored 10 read: being that PA Ioves 0 monitor and ensor 4l political and revolutionary books, zines, and newspapers. and mags, o lterature really loved the Remembrance and The Commemoration that was offered to my fallen sister and mother paria Lolita Lebron. As a proud and stron Boriwa gucerro man (Puer- 10 Rican) my heart wept when we los the mother of our Independence Movemen, but our sruggles and cause will continue. For all my Puesto Rican Brothers & Sistes and their Revolutionary Comrades — wha e being oppressed by this racist and mperialistic capitalist government that secks to destroy us by systematically undermining us. in the workplace. educational levels, and in the econoric system T implore you al to continue to figh... So e can undermine Thei (he pigs) colonization of ur peoples, and the expansion of the prison complex control unit, Where so with the overnment/police or thei systém of oppression. 45m, T would like to know can your magazine please put me on your miling lst so I can obiain your knowledze: able magazine so it can be passed around this unit - so our Young brothers can wake up and see who the real enemy i8!S they can learn and Know the beautful history our people came from and that our strong culure as blacks and Hatinos is wha gives us the strength and that willing spirt despite our struggles, tials or tribulations o continue to fight and stand up against thi racist, oppressive and capi talist machine (Amerikin Governmen) ‘We mustlearfrom our past history. the mistakes ous fallen comrades made, 50 we won'Crepeat them, and become our ‘own demise. IS about the people first. We will never eave Where we are until we decide Where we'd rather be. Our expectations set the boundaries for ou lives my brothers ‘and ssters. I a evolutionary mindset, we must know that the means by which we live have out-distanced the ends for which we live. Our scientifc powers have outrun our ISSUE 19 revolutionary and consciousness power. We must continue to fight oppression and racism at all ost, because making aliving i not the Same as making a lfe. In closing my revolutionary brothers and sisters, lfe is the greatest of all statemens: so lets make sure ours speak Vollmes for the cause. of our people... because most peo- ple would rather look backward than forward because its casier o figure out where you've been, then f0 figure out Where you'te going. “To my tribe and beautiful nation, the ALK Q.N. is nation tme! Five Alive. Allow the light of o crown to be the illuminating light that hines towards our path-Jike 41 000 suns. And the wisdom of our ancient ancestors the guiding Guide... whether in front o proflle, ogether in one mind, body and soul e stand.. KING LOVE. In solidariy to all oppressed people, peace in blick & gold Miguel A. Martinez #5D 5038 State Correctionsl Insituton at Smithfield PO_Box 999, 1120 Pike Street Huntingdon, PA, 1652 USA Revolutionary Greetings: Lam writing this missive with two intentions in beart. First and foremost: 1 would lik 1o express my sincere appre- ciation o the “4strugelemag” publication. 1 became aware of your publication while T was being warchoused in this Stite Supermas. zulag. After receiving and devouring the fistissue | received I became an avid reader and unofficial srugglemag advocate, s former lumpen, | believe that dsrugglemag is @ vital ol in assisting the Revolutionary Conscious Prison Class 1o reshape, rehabilitate and de-program the brothas and sisters who are being held in ths rapacious “Bely of the Beast™ who will urn to booty magazines. unrealisically violent usban novels, and other irelevant publications as 4 form of escapism. These things are nothing more than a diversion to keep Brothas and Sisers from focusing on the real isues facing our collective struggle. The Prison Indusirial Complex encourages this type of numbing of the mind, and why wouldn't they? I easier to deal with a prison full of zombies than to face 4 prison full o evo- futionaries! Al i’ real 200 € be able 10 do my partn Our Struggle: by helping to enlighten these Brothas by the dissemintion of dstruglemag. Monthly Review and other revolutionary publications. To take on the tde and legacy of Tonary” s to take on your shoulders the burden world “Heavy is the head that wears the Revolutionary (Crown.” This is why they say that ignorance s blis, be- cause once you become conscious of Our Struggle and ‘adopt that revolutionary i you also inherit obligations: obligation o yourself, 0 become a Weapon of Change: ob- ligations (0 Gihers. those who have come before you and have shed blood, thers as well as others, in the name of Our Struzele: those who have died and Wil die in these: sulags for choosing to resist oppression; and an obligation 1o carry on the legacy of Our Sruggle. o advance it. And 0. it's out responsibility to strve Without cesation while Wwe're behind these Walls to awalken these zombies and to turn these prisons into universiies and o force “This Belly of the Beast” to become “The Womb of the Revolution- ary.” T believe that strugglemag is an essential weapon inthis war behind enemy ins... I's without doubt food 4 thought, and so Ashanti (thank You). In conclusion T would ke o give a special thanks o those. who have sacrificed so much o Our Strugele: in no partic- ular order but with deep teverence to all: Assata Shakur, Dr. Mutulu Shakr, Sundiata Acoli, Pro. Angela Davis Geronimo Prat, Mumia Abu Jansal George Jackson (RIP), Mark Clask (RIP). Sister Akua NJeii Bro. Cinque. Khaturi (RIP), Flecta Drungo. Native son Leonard Peltér al of the Africas and the Move Organization, Comrade Russell Maroon, Ed Poinidexter. Mr. We Lunga, Glose N. Lutala, Bro. Kevin Rashid,sister Lolia Lebron-— Viva Puerto Rico Libre! (RIP). Jlil Muntagim, Mss. Safiya Bukhari (RIP). Nub Washington, Our Sister Marilyn Buck (RIP), and the many many more Brothas and Sisters who gave their all and dared (0 Strugele, rom the BPP and BLA 10 the Young Lords snd the other réspective reovlutionary movements. Know that as o as one young revolutionary remebers, acknowledges, and respects your legacy then all of your Sacrifices will never be in vain - Ashanti Na Heshima “This is where 1 conclude, but in closing 1 would like to leave by saying this: & réal revolutionary acknowledges hisiher tole in Our Strugele and understand tha this is 3 protracted strugele and for the sake of this srugle sacri- Tices must be made. So therefore we must Siive not justfor self but for the Colleetive. If you don't realze the impor- tance of the Collctive Strugele, then you haven't adopted the rue tile of The Revolutionry, you're just usurped. ‘Shindano Jendelea ! (The Struggle Continues) Your Brotha: (Jova El Mansa Pambanc) ‘Government Name: Joeval Mansa Jones 1294919 Plantation: Waupun Correctional Inst (WCT) PO. Bo 351 Waupun, WI 53963 USA ASTRUGGLEMAG Dear 4Sirugglemag, Today 1 was introduced to_your thoughi-pro- voking publication for the st time ever even hearing about 4 collective work focused in 3 comprehensive manner toward 4 higher sense of ‘awareness for the imprisoned. To fight against tyrannical imperialsm through the spreading of Knowledge and insigh is Vital, offering a view- poit that_opposes.the government conicolled media’s selfserving biss against those Who re- fuse o conform 10 s agenda ‘Whille I am not a political prisoner per se, 1 have been a witness and a victim of “The System, bolh in the facade of due process in Court under the scemingly magnanimous punishments of Florida’s Department of Corrections staff, Where any complainis of abuse are teviewed by the offending stall member(s) brethren 0 no avail. After eleven years of this, [ know all 100 wellthe plight suffered by prisoners alike in hel. holes nationwide. Reading isues 16 and 17 gave me 4 new sense of unity and of being undersiood in the struggle for authentic justice so readily de- nied by the powers current in place s my wish to contribute 1o the strengthening of the network of voices being raised for the sake of true humanity. We must be heard! We must share our views; encourage our fellow warriors of all races and genders! We must overcome our ‘own divisions that were embedded into our vul- nerable childhood ninds to keep us from writing s onel When we become one people, one voice. one force centered on one 2oal - freedom - then, we shall know glory, butonly then. As we struggle together, 1 welcome all who are of a like mind, yearming for better way of lfe. enduring the hardships of today for hopes of & better tomorrow and willing to continually push onward, for you are my friends, my family and jointheirs of the victory on the horizon. Please: feel free to contact me at any time. ‘Whereever you may be, whereever you've been, Whereever you may be going, never surender. Never give up. Triumphant are those who refuse 10 be crushed or broken. Respectfully Submitted, Jeftrey Hatcher #125540 Wakulla CZ Annex. 110 Melaleuca Drive Crawfordville, FL USA 32321 Destruction of Culture BYKEVIN YOUNG e May 2011 isue of XXL. s magazine that reports on the mu- sic ndustry, such as Rap/Hip Hop/R&B, featured rapper/comrade. Lupe Fiasco who explains his issies with his record label. Aantic Records, an imperialistcapitalis organization, wants the. rapper o change his political and revolutionary style. They say that they want to see growth from Lupe, when his ans love him the way. he i. They want Lupe to make more R&B and pop songs, which he. stated he does not know how to make. “This imperialistcapitalist organization understands that music is part of the oppressed naton. Culture and its history is based on revolutionary principles. They know the impact music has on the oppressed nation and how Wide a message can get spread to the youth, which they do not wan, 0 swaken the consciousness in the people Lupe sated, “we ive in a heartless sociey, ke being the rebel. In his society being the rebel i being the guy who gives a fuck " He. i rght. Look at the Black Panther Party and what they did for the ‘community. But, the imperialistscapitalsts view thern as a threat because they are willng to make the people aware and conscious. Lupe spoke about rappers like Rick Rass, who are misguiding our youth, praising selling drugs, money, cars and clothes. What the. Fapper does not tel the youths is that you may 20 to jail and never et out. Before they rap to make our youth more aare of them- Selves and what i going on sround them they send fase messages. Lupe knows how the youth think and knows what they need: “that’s consciousness.” Lupe prew up with o faher that was 4 gun dealer ‘and his friends are or Were in the streets living the life these so- called rappers praise. We e sceing how the imperialists/capitalists are destroying our culture in music. They want our people to emain deluded by using. rappers and singers o create an llusion that selling drugs to the oppressed peaple i cool, women selling themselves s cool,al the Wrong messages. ‘When we have rappers like Lupe Fiasco we have to embrace them ‘and help them fight or ereativiy.to keep thir revolutionary princi- ples in their work. We also have (o have our own record companies, S0 e can put out our own revolutionary work. In Unity and Struggle, Kevin “Supreme” Young, D.O.C # IC-6555 S.CI Albion 10745, Route 18 Albion, PA' 16475-0002 USA ISSUE 19 Black August 2011: Editor’s Introduction Black August is a celebration of Freedom Fighters, an af- firmation and fenewed commitment (o the sruggle, on ev- ery level, of New African - Black Liberation. I a time 0 understand,remember and FIGHT for freedom, justice self-determination for Black people and the New African Black nation within the imperialist U.S. stte Black August (BA) originated in the California prison system i the 19705. Many significant events in the New African Nation's strugele for justice and liberation have occurred in August. The commemoration of Black Auzust salutes, i paricular, the sacrifices and advances of Black. Freedom Fighters. This year 4sm respectfully dedicates its BA tribute (o the outstanding Black leader and freedom fighter, seronima Ji- jaga (Prat), who sadly passed on June 2 in Tanzania. We nclude some information and tributes to geronimo i the BA section of this isse. Following are several pages of authentic information on BA. put together by Doc Holiday. an original comsade of George Jackson and a long time figure in the Black libera- tion and prison strugele. Black August: A Celebration of Freedom Fighters BY DOC HOLIDAY ETAL, Black August originated in the California penal system in the 19705, Many significantevens in the New Afican Na- tion's stnugele for justice and liberation have occurred in ‘August. The commemoration of Black August partcularly ails the advances and sacrifices of Black Freedom Fight. are several pages of authentic information on Black August provided by Doc Holiday, an original comrade of George Jackson and 4 longtime figure in the Black Liberation an Struggle. Doc is presenly in prison in Marion, Ilinois. History of Black August: Concept and Program The month of August gained special significance and im- portance n the Black Liberation Movement begi & courageous atiempt by Jonathan Jackson (0 freedom of politcal prisoners/prisoners of war, of Which the Soledad Brothers' case brought o the center of ate On August 7, 1970 Jonathan Jackson, Wiliam Chestmas, James MeClin, and Ruchell Magee were gunned down at the Marin County Courthouse in that attempt for free- dom,. Ruchell Cingue Magee remains the sole survivor of that bid for liberation. He also remains & POW at Folsom prison, doing life. Though this rebellion was put down by Sory pigs and their agents. ears and minds of the people on prison a5 well s those in the conceniraion o Internalized in the same fashion a5 we honor other heroic African Freedon Fighters, who sactificed their lives for the people and the iberation. On August 21, 1971, almost exactly a year following the save rebellion at Marin County Courthouse, George L Jackson (older brother of Jonathan Jackson as well as one of the Soledad Brothers) whos freedom was the primary demand of the Marin rebellion, was assassinated at San ‘Quenin prison in an allezed escape put forth by prso administration and the sate to cover its conspiracy. Com- fade George Jackson was a highly respected and purposely influential leader n the Revolutionary Prison Movement Jackson was also very populas beyond prison, not only be cause he was a Soledad Brother, but also because of the book he authored appropristely entitled Soledad Brorher. “This book not only revealed tothe public the nhumas degrading cor Well s in society: a decadent Capitalit system that breeds off of racism and oppressio On August 1. 1978 brother Jeffery “Khatari” Gualden, a Black Freedom Fighter and Prisoner of War, captured within the walls of San Quentin was a vietim of 4 blatant assassination by capitalsi-corporate medical politcs. Kha- tari was another popular and influental leader in the Revo- lutionary Prison Movement. An important note must be added here and that is. the Black August Concept and Movement that it is & part of and helping (0 build s not limsited to our sisers and broth- ers that are currently captured in the various prison Kamps throughout California. Vet without & doubt it is nclusive of these sisters and brothers and moving toward better understanding of the nature and relaionship of prison to oppressed and colonized people. So it should be clearly understood that Black August is o tellection and commenoration of hisiory of those heroic partisans and leaders that realistically made it possible for us to survive and advance to our present level of ib- eration struggle. such as Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Ga- briel Prosser. Frederick Douglas, WE B. DuBois, Mircus ‘Garvey, Paul Robeson, Rosa Pasks, ML King, Malcolm X and numerous others in ous more contemporary period. I must be further clrified that when we speak of “Culture Development.” we are not advocating Cultural National- ism andlor mérely talking about adopting African names, jewellery, dashiki, ete. Our primary interest ies not only 7 ASTRUGGLEMAG in where we came from, but the nature of “WHY” we were. forcefully brought here, understanding the character of CONTINUOUS" struggle ith the recognition that it is 3 protracted strugale and developing the necessary lifestyles 1o guarantee it succes. August 20, 1619: First born Afrikan capives were brought o Englands North Amerikn colony of Jamestown, Vie- sinia August 16, 1768: Charlestowa, South Carolina. Rebel. lious Afrikin slaves (known as maroons) engaged B ish military forces in bloody battle defending their camp Which was a haven for fgitive slaves. August 30, 1800: Day set for launching Gabriel Prosser’s tevolt. On this day over 1000 armed Saves gathered o en- deavor 1o secure thei liberty, however bad weather forced them to postpone the revol snd betrayal ultimately led to the crushing of their physical orce. August 21, 1831: Slave revolt launched under the leader- hip of Naf Turner which lasted four days and resulied in fity-one slaveholders and ther loved ones being subjected. 1o revolutionary people’ justic. August 29, 1841: Sireet skirmish o0k place in Cincin- nat between Afrikan and Euro- Amerikan, wherein for five days Arikans waged valiant struggle in defense of their Women, children and property against brutal racist terror campaigns. August 1854: Delegates from eleven sttes met in Cleve- land at the National Emigration Convention of the Colored People, to advance the posi base (nation) be set up for Kans in Babylon who wanted to reurn to Afrika August 1, 1856: North Carolina Fierce batte erupted be- tween fugitive slaves and slaveholders who sought their capture and te-enslavement. The only recorded casualtes Wwere among slaveholders. August 1860: Freedom (slave) conspiracy uncovered with the discovery of an organized camp of Afikans and Euro- Amerikan co-conspirators in Talludega County, Alabarma. August 2, 1865 Virginia. A sttewide conference of iy ‘Afrikan délezates met to demand that Afrkans in Virginia be granted legal e to Land occupied during the Civil Wa. Numerous of-pitch batles ensued during thi same month as terrorst mobs moved to eviet Afrikans from the land ‘and were met with rsistance. August 17, 1887: Honorable Marcus Garvey, faber of ‘contemporary Afrikan Nationalism, was born. August 1906: Afrkan soldiers raged behind racial slurs and discr wrecked the town of Brownville, Texas. August 1906 Niagara Movement met at Harper's Ferry, Virginia and issued WEB. Dubois' hisoric manifesto againstracist diseriminition in Babylon against Afrikans. August 1, 1914: Garvey founds Universal Negro Improve- ment Assbciation, advancing the cal for Land, Freedom, and Independence for Afrikan people August 23, 1917: Afrikan soldiers in Huston engaged in ireet skirmishes that lft more than seventcen Euro-Amer- fean racists dead. August 1920: Over o thousand delegates representing ‘Afrikans from the four commers of the carth gathered in New York for the International Convention of the Negro People of the World, sponsored by UNIA. The convention issued a bill ofrights for Afrikans. August 1943: Slave revolt ook place in Harlem as result of a K-9 shooting brother defending the honour of AT- sikan womanhood. More than 16000 military and police personnel were required to quellthe rebellon. August 1963: 190.000 Afeikans (250,000 people in total) ok part in the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King to petiton for the extension of the righis and privilezes due o them mandated by the US. Consttution. August 1964: Afrikans launched comparatively lage-scale urban slave revolts i the following citie: Jersey City NY. Paterson NJ. Keansburg NJ, Chicago L. and Philadelphia PA. These siave revolts were for the most part sparked by ither police brutaliy or distespect shown toward Afrikan Womanhood. August 16, 1965: Urban revols took place in Northern Philadelphia August 78, 1966: A lrge-scale usban revolt was laus in Lansing, Michigan. August 28, 1966: Waukegan, Ilinois. Utban slave revolt Taunched in response to police brutality July 30-August 2, 1967; Urban slave revolt launched in Milvaukee. ched August 19:24, 1967: A comparatively lusge-scale usban Slave revolt was launched in New Haven, Connect August 7, 1970: Jonathan Jackson killed i frefight while leading the Marin County Courthouse raid. August 21, 1971: George Jackson sht Queniin by tower guards. od Killed in San Most standard history books tend 1o ciher play down or ignore New African resistance s fctor in the destruc- tion in the slave economy. On the other hand, when one understands. that New Africans are stll an oppressed na- ion, the reason for such deception becomes clear. Black ‘Augist contends that not only was such resisance a fac- ISSUE 19 tor in the destruction o the slave economy but New Afi- can resistance to slavery continues 1o inspire New African resisance to national oppression. Herbert Aptheker (the author of “American Negeo Slave Revolis™) recounts the personal remark of one New African involved in the ¢ivil righis struggle: “From personsl experience 1 can tesily that American Negro Slave Revolts made a tremendous impact on those. of us in the civil rights and Black Liberation movement. i was the single most efective antidote (0 the poisonous. ideals that blacks had not a history of struzgle or that such Siruggle took the form of non-violent protest. Understand- ing people like Denmark Vessey, Nat Turner, William Lloyd Garrison etc. provided us with tha lnk 6 our past that few ever thought existed.” Black August contends that from the very inception of slavery, New Africans huddled llegall 0 commemorate ‘and drab stzength from New African slaves who met their death resistng. Black August assertsthat i s only natural for cach gencration of New Africans faced with the task. to liberate the nation, 0 draw strength and encouragerment from cach generation of New African warriors that pre- ceded them. It is from such 4 rich hertage of resistance: that Black August developed, commilted (o continuing the legacy of resistance, vowing 10 respond 10 the call Tor the. destricion of colorial oppression ith our George Jack- Sons, Malcolm Xs and Fred Hamplons etc New African resistance moved decisively into the 19205 and 1930s. Evidence of this was movements like The ‘African Blood Brothers, The Share Croppers, The Black Bolsheviks, etc. Unduly there is an incorrect endency 10 confine the discussion of African Nationalism (o the well- Known Garvey Movement a the sole manifestation of na- tonal consciousness. The Garvey Movement was the point of the emerging politcs of New African resistance. I labor, national consciousness, (. lterature, jazz, art, etc) in the struggle for the land, in al areas of poliics, like a great explosion of previously pent-up Natonal Consciousness took place among New Afrcans. The six- ties were & further example of New African fesistance 1o national oppression. 1t should be emphasized here that that Sruggle of non-violence was at that time a stategy of llegality. of danger, of arousing New Africans to diect Confrontaion with the colonial oppressor. Whether it was a sitin at a segregated lunch counter or bus sttion, the movement deliberately broke the colonial lav. Inevitably the anti-colonial strugele moved 1o a higher level, growing beyond the inidal stage of non-violent civil sighis ‘protes. The non-violent civi rights strategy was ried and discarded by New Africans. who found that it was a fullue, incapable of forcing an entrenched settler’s colonial regirne o change. Black August purports that it is important to briefly men- tion such events to counter the colonil propaganda that the iots of the 1960s was due to anger brought on by over- crowding and summer heat. Black August asserts tht in oder for New Africans to arise 1o the historical tsk of defending the Nation, it is imperative that New Africans have a historical perspective of themselves resistng colo- nial oppression. Black August avers that at a time when the Black Nation is experiencing the destruction of ts communty through planned gentrifcation. at a ime when the quality of New Adrican lfe is being blunted through unemploymen. pris- on, drugs, high infant mortality and povery. the cal of New Alrican organization should be one of resistance. Black August is the antithesis to “celebration” and empty “homage.” Black August attempis to place strugele and sacrifice o center stage. In thistespect, Black Augustsum.- mons all progressive people wh identify with the legacy of resistance to colonial oppression 10 actively partcipate in Black August. Thus during the entire monih of August in commemoration of those Afficias who have made the Supreme sacrifice for the cause of African Liberation and seflct upon the significance of those contributions s well s 0 draw closer 0 the continuing necessity for esistance, Wwe embrace the following as fenets to be practiced during Black August. Tenets of the Black August Program 1. A fast which hisorcally s been used s an exres- Sion of personal commitment and resitance. Hence, ng meal we wil bsan from cating, We i fom consuming any type of ioxi- Cans fo he enire monih of August The Recesty for {0 Should e se-evident for il serious paricipats o Biack August (BA). 2. Welimitou selecton of tlevsion and radio o educa- ol programs. 4. news. documentaricsand cltra progrim. e 3. During BA we emphasize poltical and cutrsl std- o5 o indivihals naived n BA. Participnts n BA should pair off with someone else you know 10 study ‘and share knowledge of African afTairs. 4. an outward expresson of BA we wear black arm o on the et i or wist 5 Ut f thos AT Ticans who v died 4 & resule of thlr saeince for ‘Afican Libention Th ar band can be wom eter on the insideor outside ofyour clohing. Black August i u revolutionary concept. Therefore. all revolutionaries, nationalists and others who are commitied 1o ending oppréssion should setively participae in Black August. Such participaton not only begins to build the bridzes of international slidarity. but it is through such solidarty that we strengthen ourselves to strugele for vie- oy, ASTRUGGLEMAG geronimo ji jaga, 1947-2011 seronimo i jaga (September 13, 1947 - June 2.2011).also Known as Geronimo ji-Jaga Prait (born: Elmer Pratt) Was & high ranking membe of the Black Panther Party ‘The FBI targeted him in a COINTELPRO opeation, which aimed to “neutralize Prat s a effective BPP functionary. Pratt was alsely accused, tied and convicted of the kidsdp and murder of Caroline Olsen in 1972. and spent 27 years inprison, eight of which were in solitary confinement. Prait was freed in 1997 when his conviction was vacated. He was working as & human rights activist up uni the time of his death. Pratt was also the godfather of the lte Tupac Shakur. He died of a heart atack in his adopted county, Tanzania, on June 2, 2011 Take the opportunity to rement importanty, o spread his messa; marchives org/Geronimo himl reedo and example. From Sundiata Acoli eronimo ji Jaga was 4 true “Top Soldier” Highly skilled in Warfare. tested and proven on the bailefields of Viet Na, he réturned stateside to put his expertise at the ser- vice of the Black Panther Party. the Black Liberation Army and other select organizations of the era. He saved many Tives. He made many soldiers. eronimo, or “G" as we called him, was our much beloved Comrade, brother. hero and leader. He was also 4 fa- ther and husband who it erally gave his eniice lfc over 1o the liberation of ‘Afrikans, here and abroad, and other oppressed peo- ple. worldwide. He was Al that—and yet he was one of the most forgiving. persons i've ever known. i was part of his makeup. and his enigma. G fought 10 the end, he ave all that he had and we, Afiikans and others oppressed. are all the bet. e for t. We ae foreve his debi. May the Ancestors receive i with their proudest salue o 4 rewning sol- dier GERONIMO JI-JAGA S MEMORIAL W\ T —— Dutramary Pk (aka Bty i Pt o Shee & A St Sy 17200 2o and, G5 e From Lynne Stewart “The untimely death of Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt has hit me very hard because it reminds me of al the work yet o be done. Not only the liberation of the oppressed o which Geronimo dedicated himself aa young man and agin af- ter his release but also the libe Tocked away inthe torture chambers of this Gul “The loss of Geronimo s so difficult because he was robbed of the opportunity to contribute 1o the long term struggle for liberation of the Black community in his most produc ve years. Yes, there was always a mention or 4 placard “Free Geronimo Pratc” but his ability to publcly inspire and uplift s jailed at San Quentin. He was there in his 205 and 305 and 405, The movement uffered...Hoover and i ke triumphed. We must now undo this evil By tortre chambers 1 mean, of course, the Prison “holes.” those places of solitary confinement, where loncliness and total Tack of human contact, drive people mad. Even the strong are “modified”. Many of those who have been juiled inthis way are political prisoners. Many of them have becn in 24 hour lockdown for more than 20 years and face the test of thir lives there. 1 really don'tnecd (o name name— they are engraved on my heart and 1 hope on yours. Just eheck the Jericho website for 4 complete rundown. And also, dare 1 say i, the Project Salaam listing of Muslims Wwrongfully imprisoned. I we are spared and are sill in the world and able 10 act and activate —this i our primary obligation if we think of ourselves as political, 10 take up this strugele and liberate those behind bars. As Mutulu Shakur wiote 10 me (and | paraphase) “The faith of those Wwho gave their al and stll wait forthe dedicated comrades, the People, o bring them home. is greater than any religious de- Votion.” Geronimo's death _ reminds us of this paramount obliga tion. The cnemy. in the BOP. the Nebraska and New York and Louisiana prisons will never act until those. unjust imprisonments. become more detrimental o them and their System than fecing our broth ers and sisters. Action! Action! Change! Change! GERONIMO JUAGA PRATT presente! Live Like Him!! 10 ISSUE 19 Leonard Peltier Remembers Geronimo Pratt Grestingst0al my rends and complrots, Everyone it scems knows something about Geronimo Prat, “To al of s, o every human being on the planet, he was 3 beacon of principle that we should all aspite o emulate. To those direetly involved in the Strugele. b was one of those sifted, tough as s wartors who not only had the vision o know what was right, but the strength and courage (o stick to his convictions o matterthe cost. When he had t0 e, e was a terror (0 his enemies. To me, he was a riend and an aly. T met him in jail of course, so many years ago. He always had so much of my respec He gave his all the figh for iberation, justice, and equal- ity His effectiveness as a a Teader cin be mea- Sured by the exient to which the enemies of justce and equality wen in order to try and silence hini. It wasn't enough to frame him for murder. 1t wasn't cnough to fush twenty-six years of his lie down a hell hole. No, they had 10 take those closest o him as well. But even the simulia- neous losses of his freedom and the lives of his wife and unborn child could not break bim. Al the lis and injustice they could muster could not subdue such greatness. The combined resources of the FBI, Los Angeles polie. and the LA District AL tomey’s office couldn't defeal him. Wha those: power did not understan Was that Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt was no ordinary m He was a giant among mer and remained focused dur- ing the most uying times. What they did not con prehend was that you c il the wasrior but not his deas. not hisstrength, nor his effect on others. BY BARRY CRUMBLEY with similar Noone would have blamed him if fier twenty-six years in jal he wanted o Tive a private life and age eracefully. True 1o his na- ure he continued to be o Tight in the darkness, figh ing for human rights until his death. He gave every- thing to the ssues which he held most dear. In do- Barry Crumbley # GP1523 SCI Smithfield Hustingdon, PA 16652 USA PO. Box 999, 1120 Pike Street ing s0 he inspired generations of young people who carry onhis legacy: Perhaps i i fting tha this statemen i being prepared on the anniversary of his false conviction being vacated. With that in mind, fow that I think about i, his can and should bea time of celebration. Rather than mourn a los of such magnitude, et us ejoice that we were blessed with such a presence 10 begin with. “The history of mankind is not written by corrupt govern- ments or their shadow agencies; it is formed by greatness of spirit and strength of mind. This is why Elmer Prat will always be remembered and honored a3 prophet and per- haps even a saint 0 his people. know wherever he i, is speaking truth o power and rallying SpiFits o his caie. “This was ot a spark that died! He was a fuse,igniting a series of events that we have yet o fully understand. 1 am certain in the fullness of time he Wil be celebrated while those who opposed him and their descendants will hang their heads in shame. It is this knowledge that makes me smille, and weep tears of great sppreciation. S0 raise your hands, raise you hearts, raise your voices. Give thanks to ‘Wankin Tanka that such a Titan walked amongst us. Never forget this incendiary spirit that openied minds and knocked down wall. Say his name withreverence, for he represents the very bestof us all and n that he wil e forever. Inthe Spiritof Crazy Horse... Doksha. Blood of a slave, strength of a panther Shackled, chained and placed in “captiviy” in a 10 by 4 seting (cage) thar's made of nothing more than cold scel and fayers upon layers of cement, my oppressors have stripped me completely naked of my freedoms, and placing me o a congesied bus iazes as myself as human cattle only to be first counted and shipped hundreds of milles away in the distance from both my kin and natural habtat a1 know it Blood of a slave,strength of a panther...they (my oppressors) have disregarded and forgotten shout my good grace and humanity because they themselves are nothing morc than beasts! Constantly being watched in hopes that 1 will break mentally and physically s wellus submit 0 their orturous mercies,thif impatience goes unnoticed by the day. s their smiles begin o tum into eV Suddenly turn into slits of a serpent. Determined 1 hold up and keeping my fear on firm ‘ground. T il not break!! I willnot altr neither my dignity, inteaity,nor my self- Worth...for Lam strong in mind, and a wasrior in heart, and warriors don’tcry1! Not only that bt T'm a man'!1 What Kind of man you ask am 17 One who was born with the blood of aslave. and the strength of a panther! maces with rzor sharp teeth, and thir eyes 1 ASTRUGGLEMAG Self-Awareness BY EDDIELANG How do we as Black Leaders over our domain define our- slves? Some who stand for and with the Black Liberation Osganization of Defense claim 1o be revolutionaries, but most claim and represent oppression, destruction, and fotal haos. We must be aware that everything that we say and o affeets the nation a5 @ whole. We must separale our- el from those who fail o truly embrace and represent the e cause of our nation with Sincerity. We must sepi- rate ourselves from those who consider themselves “gang- bangers™ so that we can no longer be looked upon in soci ety as monsters and savages. but 4 revolutionry Warriors. Removing this false “gang” concept from our organization wil not be an easy task but it should be of importance o that we wil have nothing holding us down from building our nation into an empir. For the last 30 or more years Black Leaders over our do- main have witnessed fist hand oppression in s Worst form. The government has Successfully enslaved our mindirames by keeping us at war ith ourselves so that we will not be strong enough to unite and overthrow this unjust system. We are 50 blind, deal and dumb that we £l 10'ee that not nly are We oppressing our own race but we are alo oppressing ourselves! We do this by cherishing the “ghetto superstar” lfestle instead of strving o be suc- cessful in fe as doctors, Lawyers, et. i o impossible: for us 10 gain (regain) our self-dignity but we must irst wake up und realize that our enemy is keeping us divided by brainwashing us o believe that their s no solution to our problems. The solution is eduction, understanding, wisdom, knowledge and self-swareness. Once we find so. Tutions to our everyday problems we must react! Our organization was developed and designed to stand for & common cause. What i that common cause? To fght off oppression by any means necessary and to unify black men ‘and women s that we can overcome the harsh conditions of confinement that we are forced to endure. bused on the fact that the black race s degraded and hunslited not only in our neighbouhoods but n society in general. We must tand up and unite as one and rebuild our sets and orga- nizations to become true revolutionaries and ot “gang- bangers” fighting over land that is controlled and owned by our common enem, the oppressors! We need to change the mindframes of young brothas and sistas who embrace this nation from the negative concep- o into 3 more positive and meaningful carity. We necd 10'show young brothas and sistas that what they See on T.V. and hear in hip-hop music is & false conception of what we stand for and fepresent. I we began 10 teach young brothas and sistas at a young age what revolution is and setexamples of how we as revolutionaries reac to the op- pression that we face daily, then we can reverse this cycle Trom pang-bangers and recruit more black leaders over our domain who can contribute to our nation in a meaninglul ‘and constructive way ‘We must begin [0 put our words into action and give our lie for this cause. The way 1o regain our liberation and dignity is through revolution. We must form & new st egy that will educate and guide young brothis” und sistas’ mindirames o stsve to achieve more in e and n- e 0 accept what they have or do not have. Revolution is & process. process tha involves more than just stategizing. We must begin o put our thoughts into action. We must offer our brothas and sistas successful ways to override oppression and feed them constructive knowledge 10 make them more conscious that they (we) are the op- pressed. Those of us that must put ou freedom at isk in order to feed our families, we must educate and build up our women so that when \e do fal they will continue to tay strong. We must show love. honour, and respect (0 our beautiful biack women at alltimes 0 that they ill never feel forzotien or unloved. For 4 woman is the backbone and foundation of our existence. We must stop labeling ourselves as a gang and society labeling us as o gang. We must got the “s ‘and “thuggish” mentalty out of our mindirame. Gangstas end up dead or in prison. revolutionaries end up in legacies and in the hearts,spiits and mindframe of their comrades. Secondly, we milst o up and take responsibility for our actions. This s how we become honest within ourslves Which causes us to be honest with those who We come in contact with. Being honest with oneself is one of the keys 10 really changing. When 4 person stats to make a real change they listen to what others have to say about them because others see things about us that We canot. Ofien times another will sa things bout us that W refus (o say about ourselves. Change takes 4 lot of srength and some- imes alotof tie. Most of all, we must be more conscious of our actions. because we stand s unit that is united and unified 35 3 whole. There is never cnough ime i the day for the busy and never enough rest for the weary, but a lazy heart can always find the time for nothing. Do not llow yourself o row lazy. for the heart i what keeps our blood flowing through our veins. Sawoop o all the Damus, political pris- oners, nd revolutionasies who died in the siruggle In solidariy through the suggles, Edward Lang #532018 Ohio State Pen 878 Coitsille-Hubbard R4 Youngstown, OH 43505 USA 12 ISSUE 19 On Being Anti-Racist BY CHRISTOPHER GONZALEZ T am anti-racist. What this means is that 1 am against the beliefs that any race is superior to another and that hatred and hostility promoted towards a person or people because of the their ethncity o because of the colour of their skin, is immoral and unjustfsble. A common misconception that 1 come acoss when 1 tel people that T am anti-racist, is that | am speaking Solely gainst white supremacists. While 1 have declared war on some groups such as racis skinheads, this is not because they are white, but ecause their crimés are atrocious. T recognize in ts entirety the fact that there are many rac- ists amongst people of colour, but since 1 am ignorant 0. and have not had any experi any groups made up of “minorities” that dedicate themselves {o promting. sacism - T must deal with people of colour on an individual basis. o not judge based on colour (o lack o), but judge based on condct and best believe that 1 wil just as quickly hit a Tellow “minority” in the mouth for using racial lur (o Wards Whites i my presence as | would & nazi for using. detogatory terms towards people of colour. 1 don'tcare who your hate s simed at when it stems from sacist ideology. There is nothing one can say that justifes hating an entire people because of the ethic 2roup they were born into. Such prejudice is sbsolutely fucking i diculous. Thatis ot an opinion that is fact. T def anyone 10 prove to me that there is anything at all inteligent in racist heary. 1 have heard all the excuses. Everythin that some groups are are seum, 1o the weak excuse tht the faulty Some jusify the discrimination of the whole. ime 10 time a racist ill be honest and s were raised to believe that shit, s0 it i they are simply fucked up in the head and hate every thin 10 do with peoples of a certain race for easons they don't Know or care to examine from the beliel nd the rest crions of Trom Limustalso point out tht 1 feelthat there is a difference be- tween “nationalism” and racism. | personally haven't any erious issues. against nationalism, There are some who. love their peaple and believe that it i thei duty to strive forthe betterment of ther own before others, and though T'would rather see & world of unity than one of pessimism, 1 cannot honesly say there is anything “wrong” Wih fo- cusing your efforts on helping a minoriy rather than the majority. ‘Whatis wrong is taking this a stp further by saying that while your godl i 0 uplift your own, you also have 1 bring down all those outside Your ace. Once that lne has been crossed, 3 threat has been extablished and an enemy revealed Lam & supporter of humanitarianism and an cnemy (o ol those who have 0o regard for human life. Racisis re such enemies. They wish forthe limination of ll men, womes. ‘and children whose only crimes e to have been born from. different people than they. believe that al people should be free 1o live as they see i, though [ lkewise believe everyone must face the con. sequences of their actions - good or bad —so it is that one Should ot expect me o be pussive when the motives of ‘another theeatens my well-being or that of ny other ere are those who have confrontations with their fence about ther belefs and actions.and even though they may have potentia in learming the ruth, racis s 4 racist and therefore an enemy and shall b tréated as such until the day comes that hey renounce their delusional and damaging Ways and show some remorse. Tencourage them to do as much and mre. but unil then 1 will batle these haters with 4 frenzy wheiher on the yard o in the free world. For me, being anti-racist isn'tjust saying 1 disagree with racism, i is actually standing against those who promote Though T have s humanist heast, L am ncapable of shoving haters my love. Chiistopher Gonzalez #95595 Ely Stte Prison, PO._Box 1959 Ely Nevada 30301-1981 USA 13 ASTRUGGLEMAG Transitions Part One: Casualties of War BY SALEEM, New Afikan Liberstion Frot Peansyvania I'e enjoyed reading the issues of dstrugglemag sent my way and have noticed that 4 ot of imprisoned comrades from all over the couniry (and. 1 it. Many come from exper L angs, o I decided 0 put ogether a 2-article series clled ‘ransiions” that breaks down the iransition from gang member to revolutionary activits “Waris an extension of politics by diffe - Clasewitz, Military Tactician “We have to face the fact that the whole problem is eally the Blacks. The ey is to devise 4 system that recogniz- es this while not appearing (0. —U.S. President Nixon, 1970 Killing us one by one. In one way or another Amerikkka will find 3 Way 0 eliminate the problem one by one. The problem is the troublesome Black youth of the ghetto. And one by one we are being wiped off the face of the carth at an alarming rate. Nigzas what are we gonna do? Walk blind into a lie? Or fight and die if we must Tike niggas? Amerikkka! I charge you with robbery. for obbin my history. I charge you with false imprisonment for keep- ing me trapped in the project. Nightmare, that's what 1 an Amerikkka's nightmare, | ans what you made me. The hate and evil you gave me. You should be scared. You should be running. You should be trying to silence me. Just s you r0se. you will all, by my hands!” — Words of Wisdom, Tupsc Shakur In all the hype surrounding the so-called “War on Terror” abroad. many people are blnd to 4 war that has been waged o the homefront by the government for over 40 years within ‘Amerikkkan ciies. 1t s quiet war with many nameless and faceless victims. 1 s th longest decared war in Amerikkkan history. It i the so-called “War on Drugs,”a war that i real- ity is being waged against youth of color and which benefits white conservative and ral Amerikkka, you Know those people Who want to sce “nigens” put back in their place ndspics” and “wetbacks” deported to Mexico or Whilever ountry they came from. The battlfields of this war e the “hoods" and “barrios” of Amerikkka. Young blacks and lati- nos hanging out on corners in their “hoods” are the tarzes. Young black and larino gangbangers have been identifcd a5 ruthles terorists long before AL-Qacda and i the cyes of law enforcement have terrorized Amerikkkan cites long be- fore September 1. They were wanied “dead or live” long. before Osama bin’ Laden, Within the borders of Amerik- Kka, youth of color are “it” i 4 n0 holds barred game being played out from the East Coast to the West Coast. When former USS. president_ Richard Nixon stood on the White House Lawn in 1970 and declared a “War on Drugs his declaration placed youth of color within the. crosshairs of law enforcement. This war on youth of color was declared because at the time black people, in particular militant youth of olor, had developed d revolitionry con- Sciousness and were sceking o overthrow the racist pol cal System under which they had been raised. The government strugeled with how to crush the mili- tancy of the youth ithout appearing to uphold the racist and exploitative politcal system the youth were rebelling against. A war on drugs was launched to give the govern- ment the jusification to flood communitics of color with police, pass harsh sentencing laws and connect crime and Criminality with youth of color as & means of imprisoning them en masse. The government used the white public's fear of Black nilltancy (0 garer public support o launch its campaign against youth of color. ‘What have been the results of this War on Drugs? In 1970, the nation’s prison population was under 200,000. Today the nation’s prison population numbers over 2.3 million the overwhelaving majority are prisoners of color. The war on drugs has tuned the United States into a Police Stte. In 1970, the revolutionary prisoner and witer George L. Jackson wrote in his book Blood i my Eve tha in the fu- ure the srcets in Black communities would be patrolled by armored personnel carriers and the sky's buzzing with ity heliopters s soldies cordon of whole neizhbor- hoods conducting search and destzoy missions o murder o apprehend young Blacks. George Jackson predicied these search and destroy missions would be conducted to hunt down Black revolitionaries and his analysis was dis- missed by many criics as the ranting of & revolutionary extremist. Yet everything he predicted has happened. The only diffrence s the Black revolutionry s ot of these operations. Youth of color are, in partcular,youth of color in urban neighborhoods that Sufer from poverty ‘and drug addiction. “The designation of youth of color s the enemy has allowed police commandos trained by the Amerikkkan military’s Special forces to patcol our hoods in black ninja suits with ki masks jumping out on young men in poverty stricken and drug nfested hoods (6 harass, strp and humiliate. A Young brotha can't even walk down his own srip with- ‘out & bunch of peckerwoods in black jumpsuits jumping out of unmarked vehicles and slamming him o the 2round Searching his body and person because e fis 3 “profle” young, male and dark skinned. The enemy in the eyes of Taw enforcement Hooded SWAT Teams roam our hoods like death squads Kicking in doors and disappearing brothas into the prison ystem o pumping & young brotha fll of holes becatise he. made 2 Suspicious move of because he was tired of being. 14 ISSUE 19 harassed by a bunch of racist police playing Rambo in the hood. To add insult o injury. cops brag about the deadly 1actcs of harassment they el away with i our hoods. One: 'SWAT Team member in an inerview boasted: “We'te into saturation patrols in hot spors. We do a lot of our work with the SWAT because we have biger guns. ‘We send out two, two-{o-four man cars, we look for mi- nor violaions and do jump outs either on people on the Siscet o in automobiles. Altr we jump out the second car provides periphery cover with a lirze display of weapons. We're sending a message: i the shooting dont stop., we'll shoot someone. — Excerpt from “Miltarizing American 1997, Palice; ‘Why don't these SWAT Team death squads do-“jump outs™ in white neighborhoods? The answer i because in Amerik- Kka black lfestill possesses ltle value compared to whi life and Obama’ election as president didn't change this IF police kil a white youth in cold blood there is massive. oulfage. As a matter of fact | can' emember the st ime Young white was shot 14 times by police. Yet when police pump an unarmed brotha full o 14, 20, r even 44 holes ln cold blood it is viewed s tragi¢ acéident and the po- lice are given the beneft of doubt. The murdered victims. are viewed as “collateral damage” n the war on drugs and the SWAT Team commando death squads that patrol our hoods looking for rouble are considered 3 necessary con- sequence of the war on drugs. The war on drugs has turned black and ltino neighborhoods into combat zones and free: fire zones making the inhabitants fir game while the po- lice have unchecked power to do as they please without ‘accountability,consequence of repercussion. When the police brutality and high tech Iynching in the courts have replaced the night ime ynching of the Klan it any wonder why some brothas have decided to hold courtin the sreet ' rial o fre? In Philly, 9 police of- ficers have been killed in the past 2 years by ex-prisoners. who have decided to 20 down shooring rather than be shot or rot away in Pennsylvania’s rcist Department of Cor- sections. Brothas know they ain't got nothing coming in the racist courts. In Oakland, California, a brotha on pa- sole and facing a return to prison for parole violation went down in a hail of gunfire., taking 4 SWAT members Wi him o the grave. rither than being another victim of the politcs of mass imprisonment. What i it inside these: prison kamps that create this type of titude n brothas re- feased from prison? A tip inside any one of the prisons in the United States s ik traveling SO years back in time, es- pecially if that maximum security prison is located in rural Amerikkka (where the majority of them ar). Prisoners of color step nto a white rural culture that s stceped in acism. They encounter red neck prison guards who pirol the pr on with Amerikkkan flags on their shoulders who belicve that they are serving the national nterest and performing 3 patriotic duty by oppessing prisoners of color. Day in and day out prisoners are humilited a5 a mater of palicy: they are not recognized ss men or for that matir even bursans. In casting youth of color as public enemies the stte has creat- da climate of fea within the public that justifies the expan- ion of the prison system and more polie o preven resless ‘and ruthless youth of color from invading the subusbs, rural ‘Amerikida and disturbing white Amerikkka’s way of lif. Casting youth of color as enemies of the stte also allows prison guands o believe they da not have o respect the basic: rights Of prisoners which bieeds a culture of racism, brutal- ity and unaceountabiliy with the prison sysiem. “The courts have slammed the door shut in prisoners” fac- es. making it almost impossible 1o overturn an unjust and isproportionate sentences o fle complaints about prison onditions. The courts have adopted a “hands off doctrine Wwhen it comes to prisaners’legal appeals. Faced with the injustices of the War on Drugs the nguage of the infi- mous U_S. Supreme Court’s 1357 Dred Scott legal opinion rings relevant today: “People of Afrikan descent are not and cannot be considered citizens of the United States and the blackman has no ights which the whiteman s bound to respect” For those of s imprisoned n rural white commu- nities those words sound a5 if they were uttered yesterday and represent the mirdset of prison guards and administra- o, The fact is the ideology of white supremacy is most ag- ressive and blaant behind the walls and gun towers of Amerikkkan prisons. ‘What hurts most is tha brothas subjected to the manifest sacism and injustice behind these prison walls continue 10 leave these kamps and reurn for the Same bullshit. To dd insult 1o our inury, the same peckervood guards that proudly wear that Amerikkkan fla on their shoulder and hold us hostage in these prison kamps are the cousins and ideological relatives of the racist peckerwood police that patrol ‘our hoods. The same brothas that g0 Home from these prison karmps chasing drug profis, destroying our hoods'and humiliating our sistas are the profi for rural while Amerikkka because every time they are teturned to prison their imprisonment. banksolls the employment of these racist prison guaeds o maintain the prison planta- tions scatered throughout rural Amerikkka The so-called gangstas are being ticked out by law en- forcement in the servitude of white supremacy and don't even recognize it or refuse to tecognize it because if they recognized it they Wwould have 1 take a stand and fight against it Gangstas don’t want 1o challenge the police, yeah they don't like the police and occasionally defy the police bul they ain't ready 1o 20 Lo o toe with the plice. There comes 4 time when we must draw the line. We have: 10 understand what this war on drugs is hitting for, It is against “us” for the advancement of the racist capitalist state. 15 ASTRUGGLEMAG Our imprisonment funds the mintenance of white supremicy at the expense of black and latino advancement and empowerment. When we recognize this is 4 war, then we must act accordingly and stop selling ourselves shorl ‘and Stop slling out ourselves and ou hoods. We have to start putting up some kind of & sistance (0 this one-sided war tha has us cor tantly on the other side of the gun and bei led en masse into prison kamps. Regardless of where we are from, this beast has itten us all und it doesn't discriminate when it comes winflictng pain and imprisonment on us and our families. ‘What is needed is for us 0 take a pledge, a prisoner pledge that commis us o no fe- turning 1o our hoods and poisoning them, distespecing our sistas and people 3nd nol nitching or informing for e enforcement agencies that e the frontline stormizoop- ers i a stae sponsored war being waged on Youth of color. We can't poison or terrorize our hoods the one hand then complain when the pe ple snitch or inform on us. Even a dog has enough sense no to shit where it sleeps yet We destroy out own territory in the name of represening. 1 is time someone else became casualies this war and maybe then we'll put an end to this so-called war and it tragic consequences for youth of color. Brothas need to start put. ing in real work, put down the bullshi sreet novels and drop the weak stle gangsia mes tality that avays has us ducking for cover Pick up Comrade George Jackson's books and recognize his saying that: “The soldier (of our people) has 1o be the baddest sro est of our kind: calm, sure, self-possessed and compleely fanslia with the fact tht the only thing that stands between black men and violent death are the fast break. quick draw ‘and snap shot.” —Comrade George L. Jackson, Blood In My e In Transitons Part 2 1 wil discuss the pro- cess of transforming the criminal mentalty into 4 revolutionary mentality and most i portantly, what must be done once you make that transtion. Tarantelle BY KELLY PFUG-BACK. Every day she pulls my body from the ground ‘and wrings the water from my clothes anew, eradling my head in her hands when she takes me to the iver and lowers me in Tam born again. she tells me. s surface is troubled, broken where she wades. She wants me to forget my name ‘and press my cheek into her belly’s smooth alter. ‘She wants o wrap the bones of fish into my winding sheet ‘and sow me in the ground like a seed, my skull crowning from the dirt once the frost has thaved. In her kitchen she smooths my hair with a fishbone comby I close my eyes. and I can feel the rats walk across me with their sharp feet, naked tails gripping the catwalks of my arms for balance. ‘She folds paper and cus the shapes of people, unfolding accordion-pleated garlands into a fanning arc between her hands. Every day they rise from dust to destroy each other again; they coat the ground in their white ash, setling while she paints crude animal shapes on my body with her set of stinging brushes. They paw at me with their blunt hooves and I feel nothing, braying panicked screams when they bound across my sbdomen away from the candle flame’s paraffin torch. My shadow dances a death-tarantelle under a canopy of powerline transmission towers, the frost-hard dir furrows eracking the soles of my feet like old leather. ‘Smal leaves have grown where the callous rends ‘and seeps my blood: It rains in fut teardrops from the fanned tips of my fingers, beading like sweat on my skin where the flames curl and lck. She wants to see me lined in shadows: i the cut-up shade of her broom-bristle wings. She wans to press me through the filer of her laced fingers ‘and hold my face while | drown, choked in pearls; my blood's fumnace quelled toa snuffed-out wick. 16 ISSUE 19 Running Down the Walls 2011 Los Angeles On Sunday, July 31,2011 at 10 am., the Los Ar Anarchist Black Cross will host o Sk run/walk/jog/bike around the festive paths of MacArthur Park. This run/walk/ jow/bike s designed to raise much-nceded funds for the AABCF Warchest program and Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC). ‘We are attempting o reach the goal of $3.500 with the run. Funds will be divided between the 1o programs: ABCF Warchest: The ABCF Warchest progtam i now almost 17 years old: funds or the Warchestare divided and distibuted through monthly stipends o politcal prisoners who receive litle of no fisancial aid. Prisoners use this money to cover the busic necessitis of everyday iving. These funds have been used by prisoners o pay or stamps. shoes, clothes,as well as assisting their familes with what Tile they can. wiwwabel netla Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC): In the aftermath of the May Day 2007 police ot targeting migrant workers who dared stand up for our human rights, members of the MacArthur Park area and others jo ether to support hose with o papers and those. Self-organizin "Wih the help of sach othr we might make an inhuman way of living a bit more bear- able while at the same time acquiing the means to one day ransform this system into an image of our own humanity. revolutionaryauionomouscommunities blogspot con ‘Solidarity Runs: Exery year, prisoners and supporters of political prisoners organize solidarty runs with Running Down the Walls. In syne with each other, we wil collec- ively pound the pavement with our fee snd bike fres a5 we exhibit our sirength and stamina 35 examples of our tireless effort to free our imprisoned comrades. In past years we had runs in Albuguerque (NM). Arcaia (CA). Ashland, (OR), Bellefonte (PA), Boston (MA). Connecti- cut River, Dannemora (NY), Dénver, (CO), Detroit (MI), Elmore (AL, Guelph (CAN), Inez (KY), Los Angeles (CA). Marion (IL), Mexico City (MEX), New York City (NY) USP. Navosia (TX). Pelican Bay (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Sandstone (MN), Tucson (AZ), USP Tucson (AZ), and Guelph and Toronto (CAN). Support the Struggle: We must remember that many of those artested in the past or present are not far from us. Many of them were and are community and labor actvists, queer, and environmentl activists: people who decided (6 Speak out azainst various forms of oppression and paid the price of their frcedom for their actions. We must emember that any one of these people could have at one fime stood beside us n 4 demonstration, at 4 speak-out, o even at an organizing meeting. Al any iven moment it could be us Who finds ourslves in this situation, s0 it is imperative that we ensure that strong enough community of support exists for these people 35 well as ourselves. The sicength of our movement is deterniined by how much we support our fallen comrades. As Anarchist and former POW Ojore: Lutalo says, “Any Movement that does not support ts po- litical nternces i a sham movement.” So please help s help them! Help us help you! Donate to the Warchest: Send funds dircetl to the Los Angeles ABCF (PO Box 11223, Whittier, CA 90603) or 0 the Philadelphia ABCF (PO Box 42120, Philadelphia. PA 19101) Make checks or money orders out ol to Fasnacht. Guelph On the last Saturday in July. hundreds of people across the Country will participate in solidarity Sk runs in comm- nities and prisons. This collective event, known as Run- ning Down the Walls, has been held annually since 2002 Each year, Anaschist Black Cross chapters, prisoners, and allies paricipate in these runs to raise funds for the Anarchist Black Cross Federation Warchest (2 fund that Sends monthly stipends to politcal prisoners actoss North Amerika). and other supportefforts for political prisoners. ‘and prisoners of wa. Lt year, Guelpl's Running Down the Walls drew 30 par- icipants. and we raised over $2000, which was split be- tween the ABCF Warchest and the G20 Support Fund. “This year, we are aiming (0 double the amount of parici- pants and also, n turn, double the amount of funds raised "The money raised from this year's Guelph run vill b split between the ABCF Warchest (see above for info) and liv- ing expensesient for two G20 defendans: Kelly Rose Pilug-Back and Ryan Rainville. Living Expenses/Rent for Kelly & Ryan: Kelly Rose Plfuz-Back and Ryan Rainville re two individuals from ‘Southern Ontario facing criminal charges stemming from last year's G20 summit protess in Toronto. While on house arrest, as well as other courtordered conditions, it is difficult 10 carn an income and alo retin lgal 3d a5 the amount of money one can earn is quite low. Thus one is essenally forced o “choose” between being unemployed precariously employed of crippled with legal debi. So that 15 Why e are raising money for Kelly and Ryan's living. expenses—to help our comrades get back on their feet (and back 10 their communites!) afte thei legal situations are resolved. To make this effort successful, we need YOUR Support! 17 ASTRUGGLEMAG Who is Kelly Rose Pllug-Back? Kelly Rose Pil is o prassroots ani-poverty activist from Guelph, artested over the G20 weekend on conspiracy chi released on bail. On July 21. police issued 4 new: announcing that she was wanted for 6 counts of mischief over $5000 from the G20 protests. Afier weeks in il she Was released o strct house armest bail conditions. Her conspiracy charges have been since dropped. She remains ‘on house areest Far from her frends. Who s Ryan Rainville? Ryan Rainville i an indigenous anarehist who was artested at the G20 and released on il ‘Abouta monith latr, he was rearresied on more charges re- Tated 1o the G20 inciuding mischief and assault. He was in il for almost three months and s rejected bail multple times. He was fnally released on bail on November 9 with very suict conditions. His trial was on Apil 12,2011 and I you are not able o attend,but wans o support this fund rs- ing effot, please mail donatons written o 1o Tim Fasnacht o Toronto ABC PO Box 97048 RPO Roncsvalles Ave Toronto. ON M6R 383, Canada Or contact guelphabe@riseup net o work out a way 1o do- nate. Solidarity with our alles on both sides of the walll Denver Saurday July 300 9:30 am- 1:30pm Startng ot La Raza Park (38th and Navajo) Over the st weekend of July, hundseds of people across the country will paricipaie in solidarity Sk runs in com. munitis and prisons. This colletive event, known a5 Run ning Down the Walls, has been held annuilly since 2002 Each year. Anarchist Black Cross chapters, prisoners, and alles participate in these rus to raise funds for the Anar ehist Black Cross Federation Warchest (a fund that sends monthly stipends to political prisoners across the country) and other support efforts for political prisones and prison- ers of war Last year, the Denver Anarehist Black Cross event drew 30 run participants, and we raised over $700, which was plt between the ABCF Warchest and our local Mutual Aid Fund. “This year, we are aiming to double the amount of paric- pants and alo, in turn, double the amount of funds raised. "The money raised from this year's Denver run il be spit between the ABCF Warchest and MOVE political prisoner Mike Davis Africa, who will use his funds to purchase & bass guitar and an amp so he can stat revolutonary jazz band behind the prison wals To make this effort successful, we need YOUR support! Run/walkbike in the Sk: We need partcipants who can runfwallbike the Sk and are able to callect inancial pl 510 offe s donations tothe run. I e 2et 60 participar Wwha each raise $50, we can double ou goal for this year's Volunteer for the run: We nced folks who are willing to safT 4 registrationerature table. hand out water, bike the foute as sireet medics. and help chalk the route before the march. Donate to the run/sponsor a partiipant: If you are not able (0 attend, but want to support his fundraising effort, please mail donations to Denver ABC. 2727 W. 27th Ave Unit D, Denver CO 80211 Or contact denverabe @rocket- mail.com 10 Work out & way to donate. Want to participate? Want to volunteer? Want to donate? ‘Contact us at denverabe @rocketmail com. 18 ISSUE 19 First Nations Under Surveillance: Harper Government Prepares for First Nations “Unrest” BY RUSSELL DIABO AND SHIRI PASTERNAK Full artcle at mediscoop.ca Internal documents from Indian Affirs and the RCMP show that shortly aftr forming govers January of 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper had the federa ermment tighten up on gathering and sharing intll ‘on First Nations to anticipate and manage pot Nation unrest cross Canada Information obiained by Access o Information requests e veals that almost immediately upon tsking power in 2006, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Can {INAC) was given the lead role 10 spy on First Nations. “The goal was to identify the First Nation leaders, paric pants and outside supporters of First Nation oceupation and protests, and to closely monitor ther actions “To accomplish this task, INAC established a “Hot Spot Re- porting System.” These weekly reports highlight ll those Commnities across the country that engage in ditect ac ion to protectthei lands and communities. They include Tobigue First Nation, Tsarlip First Nation,the Alzonquin of Barrere Lake, Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) Fist Nation, Six Nations, Grassy Narrows, Stz"uminous Fist Nation, the Likhis"aimsiyu Clan o the Wet'suset'en First Nation, Gitnaala First Nation, Wagmatcook First Nation, Innu of Labrador, Pikangiku Fist Nation, and many mre. They include bands from the coast of Vancouver Island to the Shores of the Atlantic Ocean What we see in these documens — from the hot spot reports themselves, 0 he intelligence-shar- ing beteen government and security forces — is a closely monitored population of First Nations, who clealy are causing a panic at the highest levels of Canadian bureatiacy and political of- fice. F i of Aboriginal “Hotspots™ In 2006, INAC gave the name those First Nations conflcts of “growing con- cem” due to “unrest” and increasing “militancy.” In'a briefing presentation that INAC gave the RCMP that year, they identifed certin commu- nities as hoispots: Caledonia, Ontario (Douglas Creek Esttes occupation): Belleville, Ontario (Montseal/Toronto Rail Blockade in Sympathy 1o Caledonia): Beantford, Ontario (Grand River Conservation Authority Lands):; Desoronto, On- ot spois” to Quebec aftera peaceful blockade in October, 2008 in north-western Quebec. taio (Occupation of Quarr): Grassy Narrows (Blockade of Teans Canada Hwy by environmentaliss); and Mant- waki, Quebee (Blockade of Route 117) But the “hot spot binder” prepared cach week by offcial closely monitors any and all actio ‘crossthe couniry an Sources of potential untest. A paricul eral zovernment is that these "hotspols” are unpredictable protests becanse they are led by what the federal govern. ment labels as “splinter groups™ of “Aboriginal Extrem. ists” As INAC deseribes in the same presentation to the RCMP. INAC place “Incidents led by splinter groups are arguably harder to manage as they exist outside negoliation processes 10 fe solve recognized grievances with duly elected leaders. We Sock to avoid giving standing 0 Such splinter groups 50 as ot o debse the legally recognized government. Incidents are also complicated by external groups such s Warrior Societies or non- Aboriginal counter-protest groups.” Telling in the INAC statement sbove is tht the identified protests are “outside of negotiation processes™ with elect ed councils. Canada is clealy spooked by the specire of First Nations demanding Crown recogaition of Indizenous sovervignty and self-determination, as well as Ab and Treaty Rights, beyond the narrow confines of Crown land claims and sel-government policies. These so-called “splinter” groups also threaten the Staws quo by demand. ing their own First Nation leaders, staff and advisors 0 pull ot of the compromising negotiations. Also tlling here is the cozy cooperative relationship be- tween INAC and the RCMP. The INAC bricfing 1o the RCMPis almostindistinguishable from presentation one Wwould expect o see from securiy forces, rather than from Barriere Lake community members 19 ASTRUGGLEMAG a government ministry. Contrary o ther caims, Indian Af- fairs is ot an Instttion of reconcilation and negotiation. but rather appears to be & management office to control the costs of Native untest, and they are wiling to work closely i Taw enforcement to accomplish this ask. In addition to the hotspot reporting. the Deputy Ministers of Public Safety Emergency Preparedness Canada and INAC directed that summer operationsl plan be prepared. i 2006 t0 deal with Aboriginal oceupations and protess ‘A progtess report on the operational plan reveals the blue- print for securiy integration on First Nations issues. “The “Standing Information Sharing Forum.” for example, is Chaired by the RCMIP a ludes s its members the pastment of Fisheries. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Transportation Canada, and involves weekly conference calls and continuous information dis- Semination by INAC to is partners. Harper is moving towards a sceurity paradigm familiar since the War on Terror was launched in 2001. The inclu- ion of Transportation Canada at the Information Sharing. Forum should also alert us to the commercial threat of blockades 1o the fce trade agenda. Aboriginal people who are defending their nds sre now reated on 3 spectrum from criminals o terrorists. On ther side, under Harper, an intensification of intelligence athering and surveillince procedures now govern the new Activists Cry Foul over FBI Probe BY PETER WALLSTEN, washingonpost com CHICAGO: FBI agenis tock box afier box of address books. Tanily calendars, artwork and personal leters in their 10-hour raid in September o the century-old house: shared by Stephanie Weiner and her busban The agents scemed keenly interested in Weiner's home- based business,the Revolutionary Lemonade Stand, which sells silkscreened infant bodysuits and other clothes with Socialist slogs “The search was part of a mysterious, ongoing nationwide terrorism investigation with an unusyal farget prominent peace activists and politcally ctive labor organizers. ‘The probe—involving subpocnas to 23 people and raids of seven homes last fall —has triggered 3 high-powered protest against the Deparment of Justice and. in the pro- cess, could create some politcal discomfort for President ‘Obama with his union supporters 45 he gears up for his reclection campaign. “The apparent targets are concentrated in the Midwest, in- eluding Chicagoans who crossed paths ith Obama when he Was young state senator and some Who have been ac- tive in abor unions that supported his politcal rie. Investigators, according 10 search wasrants, document and interviews, are examining possible “material suppor for Colombian and Palestinian groups designated by the US. government as tertorists. “The apparent targets all vocal and visible critcs of USS. forcign policy in the Middle East and South America. deny any ties 1o terorism. They say the government, using its ost-9/11 focus on terrorisn 5 pretext. is argeting them forther political views. They are “public non-violent activists with long, distin- puished carcers in public service, including teachers, union organizers and antiwar and community leaders.” said Mi- hael Deutsch, a Chicago lawyer and part of a legal team defending those who believe they are being tareted by the investigation. Several activists and their lowyers said they believe in- dictments could come anytime. so they have tumed their organizing skills toward & counteroffensive, decrying the inquiry a5 & theeat 1o their Fist Amendmen rights ‘Those who have been subpoenaed, most of them non-Mus- tim, include clerical workers, educators and in one case & stay-ut-home dad. Some are lesbian couples With young. children—a point apparently noted by investigalors, Who infiltrated the activiss” cirele With an undercover officer presenting hersel s a lesbian mother. AIL23 of the acivists invoked theit ight not o tstiy be- forea grand jury,defying US. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, whose office is speaheading fhe investigation. “The acivists have formed the Comilee to Stop FBI Re- pression, organized phone banks (0 flood Attorney Gen- eral Eric H. Holder Jts offce and the White House with protest calls, solicited ettes from labor unions and faih- based roup and sent delegations to Capitol Hill to in up support from lawmakers. Labor backers include local and statewide affiiaes rep- resenting the Service Employees Internationsl Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, (w0 of the mostinflueitial unions in the liberal movement. So ar.nine members of Congress have writien letters to the administration asking questions The major national labor organizations have not gotten 20 ISSUE 19 involved in the case and are considered lkely to support Obama’s reelection next year. But some state and local union organizations are express- ing alarm about he case. saying that the governme pears to be scrutinizing efforts by workers to buil Wil trade unioniss n other countrics T am 50 disgusted when I sce that so many union people have been targeted in this.” said Phyllis Walker, president of AFSCME Local 3800, which represents clerical work- ers at the University of Minnesota, ineluding four mem- bers who are possibe targets The union's statewide group, which says it represents 46,000 workess, called on Obarma o inestigate and passed a resolution expressing “grave concern’” about the rids. ‘Similar resolutions have been approved by Statewide AF- 'SCME and SEIU afflises in linois. IF there are indictments, the case could test a 2010 Su- premme Courtruling that found the ban on materal support for designated foreign terroris eroups does not necessarily violate the First Amendment ~even if the aid was intended for peaceful or humanitarian uses. The ruling held that any type of support could ultimately help 4 terrorst group's pursuit o violence. “The probe appears to date from 2008, as nursbe of activ- ists began planning for massive antivar demonsiation the Republican National Convenion n St. Paul. Activists Get $50,000 for FBI & St. Paul Police Raid Prior to 2008 Republican Convention Preemptive, politically motivated raids are em- blematic of police tacics used to suppress dissent news.nfoshop.org St Paul, MN: Three activists and theie attomeys won & 550,000 settlement in a lawsuit hat challenged an August 30, 2008 police aid on a St Paul home in adance of hat year's Republican Natonal Convention (RNC). The plain- s in the case—Sarah Coffey. Erin Stalnaker and Kris Hermes—are giving most of the award to the Commiice o Stop FBI Repression, the Insitute for Anarchist Stud- fes. and the formation of & national legal defense fund for political activisis. The St. Paul house raid was one of sev- eral police actions taken against protesers days before the RNC began, including the search and seizure of a central political meting space, which is also the subject of pend- Ing litigation “The City of St. Paul and the federal government were forced 1o pay for their politically-motivated attack on or- panizers.” said Sarah Coffey. one of the plaintiffs. “Rather than spend years in court fighting the government over its al surveillance program, we decided 1 use Setlle- money 10 invest in projects tha oppose Sich repres- ies™ The Tawsuit, which was filed in August 2009 ‘and accused the St Puul Police Department and the Federal Bureat of Investigaiion (FBI) of volating planifs’ First, Fourth and Fourtcenth amendment rights, s o fa the larz_ est setlement of its kind siemming from the convention protests. “We hope this sends & message 1o law enforce- et officials who would enter homes illegally or suppress. ere i a cost 0 their ac- The rid garmered significant media attention at the time due 0 an hours-long standoif between 10 activist and resi- dents and & heavily armed police force that had surrounded the duplex. Because the police attempted t0 raid the home without a search warrant, those inside refused therm cntry. Afier allegedly geting verbal authority from a local judge, the police used force to enter 949 Telehart Avenue and de- tined everyone inside. The owner. several tenants and ac- iviss, including members o the . Witness Videa colletive were detained for hours. No illegal items were found, no one was arrested and nothing was visibly seized, athough Computers and camera equipment were searched. “The search wartant afidavi, which was under seal until 3 month afer the raid in a kel attempt 0 avoid media scru- iny, relied salely on 4 confidential informant who made the clim that weapons were being shipped t0 951 Iglehart using the US. Postal Service. Ina sensationalist move, the police also ried o te property owner Michael Whalen 02 defunct 1970s politcal group. the Symbionese Liberation ‘Arm, i order lo bolster the Warrants outrageous claim of arms hipments. However, once inside 951 Iglehart, police: discovered that the boxes contained only vegan litcraure. Unsutisted, police broke through a locked attic door to en- ter the neighboring but separate 949 Talehart which plain- s claimed was the operation's true objective. St. Paul Police Officer David Langfellow was in charge of the operation as 4 cross-deputized FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (TTF) agent. Langfellow testified during 1 deposition that although the FBI had been surveilling the duplex. for more than & week before the convention. the investigation was not targeting Whalen, the main subject of the scarch warrant affdavit. Langfellow cither was not told or refused toreveal detals about the underlying inves- igation, which plantifs speculate had nothing to do with the shipment of boxes. Plainiffs attorneys also contributed a portion of the award o the Impact Fund, which provides money o small law firms and nonprofits for Lawsuits involving ssues of civil rights environmental justice, and poverty. 21 ASTRUGGLEMAG Canadian Media Fails to Deliver: Media Coverage of Canada Post La- bour Dispute Uncritical, Inaccurate BY KALEY KENNEDY, mediacoop.ca On the morming of June 14, letter carsirs across the coun- ry showed up t g0 o work as usual but Canada Post told them to g0 home: o mail was to be delivered that day. ‘Those workers are full-time leter cariers who deliver mail inour communities Monday to Friday While Canada Post claimed there was no work for the letter carriers, mail sat in the Halifax Canada Post plant, undelivered. Not even prioriy packages, which should be delivered by noon the day afte they are shipped. were able 10 leave the facility. Indgor workers, wha process and sort the mail were working - suggesting that there was mail that could have been delivered that day According to 4 twitter update from Ella Henry, 4 student activist in Fredericton, indoor workers were sent home af- ter three hours of work, even though there was sill mail 10 process. Fredericton workers had just come offa srike rotation, so the implication from Canada POst that there was no work for Fredericton workers, both indoor workers. and lettr carriers. is difficult to understand. Despite these circumstances, the local hourly CBC radio broadcast in Halifax told lsteners that Canada Post work- ers “consider themselves to be locked out” all ay. A CBC News headline online reads. “Union calls postl service reduction “partal ockout.” The Canadian Labour Code staes that a “lockout” “in- cludes the closing of place of employment, 4 suspension of work by an employer or 4 refusal by an employer to Continue to employ & number of their employees. done 1o compel their employees. or o sid another employer 1o compel hat other employer’s employes to agree o terms o conditions of employment. Letier carrers showed up to work on Tuesday, and were told 10 20 home becatie Canada Post decided no mail. not even mail that Canada Post guarantees delivery times on such s prior. ity service, was (o be delivered. This is very clearly a “suspen sion of work by the employer and in the context of 4 rotating surke, very much “done o com- pel their employes... to agrec 1o terms or conditions of em- ployment ™ Locked out CUPW members in Halia. Phoso by Lesey Thompson. “The workers were locked out by their employer, plain and simple. The addition of the caveat "consider themselves” casts doubt on a clear ituation, and works in favour of the employer's spin on the situaton. There are several complexiies that reporters and editors may ot b fumilia with when it comes o lsbour reporting. For example, when the partial lockout occurted, he union sepresenting the locked out workers, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), declared the locked out work- ers o be on strike. This s not because the workers chose to strke hat day, but instead, by declaring those mebers on strke, the union was able 0 protect workers who were not Tocked out from being pressured or disciplined for refus- ing to do the work of their locked-out co-workers. It i the sesponsibilty of eportrs and editors who intend to cover labour issues 10 understand these issues in order to cover labou issues fairly and aceuratly. “This example, though, s just one small example of the cor- porate and public media’slack of far,critcal and accurate Coverage of the abour dispute. Prior (o both the rotatng sisikes and the lockout, news. sources eporting on the Tabour negotiations repeatedly Tisted wages and benefis that Canada Post workers receive AU$26 per hour,a full-time worker makes about $54.000 per year, While this is higher than the median individual income of Canadian workers, iUis well below the median household income of S68, 860. The sticking point has not been wages for curtent workers. The only place Wages are oncerned is in regards to implementing two-tiered Wages Zlower wages for new workers. These lower wages would see new workers paid about $10.000 less than the median ‘Canadian income. and more than $30.000 below the medi- an household income. We are talking about middle-income Stable, secure jobs. The kind of jobs that governmens arc arguing are nécessary for economic recovery. Many sources, including the CBC, have cited Canada Posts statistic that mail volumes have fallen 17 percent since 2006. Overall however, mai volumes have increased by 10 percent since 1997. Con- Sidering the worldwide cconom- i recession that has been going o since al least 2008, it s un- dersandable that mail volumes Would be down. Also, the argu- ment that more things are being done electronically needs to be examined. The internet has been ‘around for a while now. Also, there has been lite 10 1o investigation of why or how mail volumes are dropping. Are people using the mail less? Are people using other mai servic- 2 ISSUE 19 s Has Canada Post lost contracts to private ‘companies, or has it given contracts to Purola- tor, which it owns? Are all volumes down? Itis very posible that letter mail volume is down, bt parcel shipping is up (think about allthe on line'shopping people do). Why isn't the corpo- rate and mainstrean media looking into his? Pehaps most frustrating is the incomputible arguments that on one hand mail is becoming irtelevant, and on the other, the disruption of the mail Service has signifcant detrimental impacts on the cconomy. Canada Post and the Harper ave it both ways, and I have et to sce a journalist take up this contradi Repeatedly,aricles have published that Canada Post has lost over S100 million during the la- bour dispute. This is & number that was put for- ward by Canada Post, and reporters have given o conlext for how the corporation arrived at that numbe. It seems that reportes have done lille to question where that number comes from, how it was arrived at, and when those losset are from, ‘Whille rotating srikes presented delays in mail delivery. mail was sill being delivered to he customer, something that postal workers were keeping in mind. While in 4 legal srike posi- tion, they could very well have held a nation- wide stk and stopped mail delivery all together. Instead, rotating stsfkes were imple- mented fo balance the nced to pressure Canada Post o birgain in good faith, and to continue 10 serve Canadians. Sil, though, the corporate and mainsiteam media iy repeated Canada PosCs hetoric that service reductions, ‘and the lockout were the faultof the union. News sources have also completely failed o point out that workers who have been locked out are receiving no pay from Canada Post Postal workers, like all Canadians. have Ties and bills and responsibiliies and are being prevented from working by their employers. ‘What i the economic impct of 48,000 work- ers being locked out? How much have workers. Seen in lost wages? Wha are workers doing o make up the lost w more? Are they diy being left unpaid? Where is the corporate and mainstzeam media onall of these questions? Deaeningly silent. Activist Jaggi Singh Given Sus- pended Sentence for G20 Speech BY MEGAN KINCH, mediscoop.ca Monireal activist nge Sigh s e Charged with ‘counsling mischiela press confrence 501020 prtets i Tosonto where he el peopl fo ke down hose (oo and those wals i Separai s s Tae posie il sentence of 6 monihs. The judge, however, handed down a suspended Sentence, counting time served on house arrest. Jagei emerged from the old city hll courthouse into the briliant sun- light,greeted by supporters and quickly surrounded by a media serum. He hiad no apologies. “I have no tegret for what 1 said. My only reget s that we dida’t suc- ceed in tearing down that fence, and we didn’ succeed in effectvely disruptng the G20 in the way it deserved o be disrupted.” he said. Jaged also sent solidarity messages to those sillfacing charges—peo- ple like Byron Sonne and Ryan Rainville, both of whom faced sig- nificant jail time and severe bail conditions. Sonne was only recently eleased from juil Singh drew atention to the double standard applied to activisis be- ing charged for speech crimes, and police, who displayed signifcant Violence ugainst hundeds of people during the G20, and who got off it impunity. “Two police officers charged? That' just & drop i the bucket.” said Singh. “T'm here o defend what 1 said ind I'm not sshamed of . Mean- while you have cops on the stand [whol were basically Iying —lying about he identity of another cop [who] was totally dentifiable.” “This double standard also applies to the massively expensive under- cover operation against actvists recently covered by Tim Groves. Singh suggested that i state money was spent infilrating other right. Wing or corporate groups, they might uncover more significantcrimi- nal activiy. “What fthey infitrated politcal lobbyists?” he said. “But instead they. spent 2 years infitrating poliical groups and al they get i a bunch of people alking about the G20, talking about what happened anyway — and that's a conspiracy charge, even though thousands of people were talking about what might happen at the G20." Jaggi Singh is heading home to Monireal to continue organizing. mass movements for social jusice, because jus being released i not enough. He stood on the courthouse steps,string up a the sandstone. Structure that of Old City Hall, which represents both Canada’s colo- il past, and the presen justce system in Canada. “IF e had real justice.” he said, it would be the G20 leaders up there. in the courtroom facing charges.” 23 ASTRUGGLEMAG People’s Lawyer Gets Jail Sentence BY STEVAN KIRSCHBAUM, Worker's World On May 19, peaple’s attorney and longtime movement ally Barry Wilson was sentenced to 90 days in the South Bay House of Correction in Boston for contempt of court. This outrageous sentence was in respon < challeng: ing racism and pro-law-enforcement biss in the jury sclec o process. Wilson was defending @ 22-year-old African-American man Who was facing frst-degree murder charges. Wilson had forcefully and passionately advocated for his client, objecting o the prosecutor's consistent use of peremplory Challenges to strke all African Americans from the jury. After an African-American juror was challenged because her children had “experience with law enfor "the judge allowed a white, longtime Homeland Security veter- 10 be seated on May . Wilson strenuously objected and challenged Judge Parick Brady on his reactionary, racist ‘and pro-polie bias. ‘Wilson has 4 long history of defending political activists, labor organizers. immigrants and oppressed people. He was lead counsel in the Plymouth 25, Marcus Jean and Amer Jubran cases; the fist lawyer for the Boston School Bus Drivers, Steelworkers Local $751. in the 19705; coun- sl for framed African-American City Councilor Chuck Barry Wilson, left, with clent Chuck Turner in February 2009 e Photo: Stevan Kirschbaum Turner; and has participated in countless other cases. Wi Son once did ix months in federalprison for tefusing 1o vi- olate attomey-client privilege. This flagrantly reactionary sepression — which comes from the same poisoned well that jailed people’s wyer Lynne Stewart — is designed to send 4 threatening message 1o the progressive movement ‘and o all defense lawyers who stand with i Ata May 19 contempt hearing the courtroom was packed Wit supportrs, including nearly every recognized. pro- ressive lawyer in the city s well as the family of the con- Victed young man, supporters of City Councilor Turner, Local §751 membirs and International Action Center ac- ivists. Wilson's law partner, Michelle Brennan, made nu- merous airight legal arzuments defending Wilson “The judge’s outrageous, eactionary and vindictve behay for on the bench exposed him as the tool of the capialist tate that he i, “The highlight of the day was Wilson's defiant statement 10 Judge Brady. who wanted Wilson o beg for merey and dentiy “mitigating factors” to show his remorse. Wilson explained that the only mitigating factor was tha he had 10ry his case in an aimosphere of racit,teactionary and pro-lav-enforcement tyranny. He passionately defended his actions as the only fesponsible. ethical and appropriate onduct—in order to zealously and passionately advocate forhisclient and for oppressed people generally.He stted that in 2011 an African-American man cannol get a fui il ‘Wilson spent most of his statement continuing to advocate Tor his client, saying that his client was the real vietim of the court’s unjust and unlawful conduct. A racist, pro-cop jury had found Wilson's client guilty. despite the fact that there was no credi dence to support this unjust verdic Wilson concluded by stating that years he has never backed down from iving 100 percent to his clients” defense. particularly azainst racism and pro-cop bias, and pledged to continue regardiess of the judge’s sentence. ‘Wilson s scheduled o begin his sentence on June 2. He plans on sppealing outrageous injusice At Local 751's monthly membership ‘meeting on May 26. o strong resolution was passed supporing Wilson and rec nizing his exemplary contributions o the strugele hisory of the union as well s his se of movement miltants and actv st for more than 30 years. 24 ISSUE 19 Dialogue on Libya: Editor’s introduction “The events - strugale - war in Libya, has engendered some confusion, questions, misunderstinding and disagreement ‘among some progressive, ant-war and even revolutionary people and organizations. 4sm is opening an ongoing dis- Cussion among our readers and revolutionary elements on the war in Libya. Every strugele, war and revolution i unique and based on the conditions, time and place of that partcular event. The history, cultre, specifc incidents and leading forces and individuals of particular sruggle ae the unique clements that drive and mold the contradictions within the sirugele. The people’s rsing in Tunisi, and then Egypt. certainly impacted and pushed forward the ensuing strugaies in Li va. Bahrain, Yemen and across the Middle East. But each of these counties and ther truggles is unique. even if part of a regional isng. Even the machinations of imperialism diffe in regards (0 each of these countries, their leaders ‘and goverments. We need o look carefully and specifi- cally a the events in Libya, including the imperialist war oW going on azainst that couniry. T was not aware there was much o ment on the war in Libya, until I, 1l Munia Abu- Jamal, received a ettt from Joe O'Connor in Olympi, ‘Washington. He fetthat both Mumia and 1 had it wrong on the sruggle in Libya. Investizating this some more among leftist forces, T s there was some disagreement and con- fusion sbout the strugele unfolding in Libya. or disugree- To begin this discussion 4sm s printing Joc's letter; etter from Saoud Sulem. a Libyan anarchist; an article by Jaan Luaman (mysel): Muria's words: and aticle and an in- terview with Cynihia McKinney (former Congress person and Green Pariy presidential candidate), who was jus in Libya: and Tucson Dry River Collectivé member Chads Views on Libya. ‘We urge dsm readers, individuals and collectives to discuss the war in Libya and partcipate in thi dilogue. Most of the Lt s in agreement tha the western imperialist attack and war on Libya is wrong and should be ressted. Send us your thoughts. We will publish legitimate progressive and tevolutionary views and questions in ssue 20 Dear Mumia Abu-Jamal and Jaan Laaman, the revolt in Libya. Normally you all have & keen insight into world affais and solid poliical ideas that 1 appreciate. It appears you both fel for the Statinist politica line on Libya. 1 want t remind you that T is more important than any politicl line. ‘Supporting the Gaddaf regi might againstrebels and civilians indiscriminately docs e while it uses it full military X make any sense. unless you come from the pointof view of a head of state ke Casiro, Chavez 1nd Ortega who would also use force against thir populations to siay in power. Bt for political prisoners like yourselves 1o apenly gloss over the huge loss of life to people in Libya o Gaddafi an stay in power, under the guise of “ant-imperialism” i imissing the brutality of Gaddaf 10 the people of Libya. Did You miss the repors of goverment saipers mowing down peaceful protestes at the beginning protess in Tripol and then the miltay offensive tha followed? To hear and read sbout the great upheaval across Northern Africa and the Middle East and then claim that n Libya the Whoe tesistance is made up of people Wanting 10 resore. monrchy s Tike you turned off you brains. Or you read the Stalinist and corporate press. Also mentioning how movements get co-opted would help as well ‘Some supporers of political prisoners are discussing Ways 10 get a Wider variely of news sources to you and others. Do you have ideas for people on the outside to repularly et news 1 the over 100 poliical prisoners and POWS in the US.in & non-sectarian way? Here is an article from a Libyan anarchist witien before. the imperialit bombs started fo fal in Liby. Joe O"Connor The Signs of the Defeat of the Libyan Revolution BY SAOUD SALEM, a Libyan anarchist K call on ll the peoples 0 support us,the Egypians, Tuni- sians, French, even Chinese, all the peoples of the world, we welcome iheir support nd sympathy. In a few hours, the UN Security Council will decide to stat air suikes against Libya. France has said that it is ready to start the ‘bombardment from tonigh. ‘We condernn his inemational resolution, if it s realized. And we totally reject any foreign intervention in Libya, Whatever shape it may take, especially a French one France, that sold Qaddall weapons worth billions, weap thathe is using today to blow up Libyans. the same France that didn't stop such deals until 3 weeks back. ‘We condemn this intervention that wil transform Libya into a eal hell, even more than now. That intervention will also stealthe volution from the Libyans,a revolution that 25 ASTRUGGLEMAG has costthem thousands of dead women and men So far. An intervention that will also divide the Libyan resis- tance, And even if these operations do suceced and Qaddafi falls (or dies) Tike Saddam Hussein, it will mean that we were liberated by Americans and French. and | can assure you that they will keep reminding us of that every minut. How can we stand this laer? How can we explain al these. casualtes o the coming generations, allthose dead bodies that willbe everywhere? “To be liberated from Qadli just 0 become slaves (o those who armed him and empowered him during all those years of authoritarian viokence and repressio After the frst mistake —the miliarization of the popular revolution—here we are committing our second mistake: the esablishment of a new leadership of igures arising out of the remnants of the Libyan Jamalirlya rezime. And our third mistake is coming inevitably, which wil be to ask for help from our enemies. 1 only hope we will not reach the fourth one: that i occupation and the armival of the marines. Sarkozy and France ace our enemies: they are also enensis of the whole Third ‘World. They don't hide their contempt of us. All that Sarkozy cares about is (0 be re-clected net year. “The man who orzanized the meeting be- tween Sarkozy and the represeniaiives of the interim national council is none other than Bernard-Hensi Levy. a quack philosopher, and for those who d Know i . French Zionist who ct I his efforts on supporting defending its interests. We saw him ltely in Tabri Square jus 1o make sure tha the revolting youth there Would not chant against Isra. ‘What can be said while waiting for the bombs? Because bombs will not differentiste between those who are pro-Quddaf and those who are against hin, Colonialist bombs, as you know, have only one objective: to defend the iner- ests of arms raders. They sold Qaddati ‘arms worth billions and then we ask them to destzoy them now..Then e will buy new arms theough the new overnment—it is an old, well-known ©Ghadamis \Ghat & Murzuk S O gond tory. But there are people who cannot learn except theough committng old mistakes, made long before 1 say this very clearly: his s a very dangerous siraegic mistake, one that the Libyan peoplé wil pay for, maybe for many years to come. More than the years of the ule of Qaddaf and his family. Ll oday, and now, just houss before the burning of Lib- va and before it is made into another Baghdad. 1 call on al Libyans. all itellectual, artists, university graduates, v~ eryone, those who can write and those who can female and male citizen, o reject this military by the USS., France and Britain, and the Arab regimes that ey support. At the same time, 1 call on all the peoples 10 Support us, the Egyplians, Tunisians, French, even Chi- nese, all the peoples of the world, we welcome thei sup- portand sympathy. Butas for governments, whatever government, we will ot ask anything from them, but {0 leave us lone, 1 let us fin- ish the problen of Qaddai by ourselves. Misritah Ghiryin \Gulfof Sidro ® Banghizi “Ajdibiyd | Great Sand Seas LIBYA Ribiana Al Kufrah Sand Sea® 4 26 ISSUE 19 An Anti-Imperialist Analysis of the War Against Libya BY JAAN LAAMAN, ant-imperialist poliical prisoncr! editor “This asicl is being witten in mid-June, as US. and Eu- ropean bombs and missiles continue raning down on the people and country of Libya for the third month in 4 fow. he United States, Britain, France, Canada, Iily, Den- mark, NATO, Qatis and some of the other oil kingdoms. have all been al war agains the official legitimate govern- ment and state of Libya. Initited under the context of a UN Security Councl reso- lution o “protect Libyan civlians.” this war against the country of Libya has morphed into a clear War 10 over- throw andior Kill he offcial Libyan government led by Muammar Qaddafi. This is UsS. and European imperial isin waging ar against small, but ol ich, Thisd World, Targely Muslim nat From an antiimperilist perspective, this unfolding mil- itary-geo-politcal-historic reality is ot very mysterious or complicated. Western imperialism is waging War 10 re- Conguer or recstablish conirol over a former colony and neo-colony. As 4 revolutionary and ant-imperialist, 1 am totlly and completely opposed to the U.S. imperialst state attacking 4 sovereign nation, bombing is ciies, govern- ment and miliary installaions. and trying 1o overthrow o murder ts official goverment and leader. And let us be clear, the couniry and government of Libya commitied 0 acts of war or agaession against the U-S. or any other Country. There is ot even the pretext of Libya building ukes or weapons of mass destriction. Anti-imperialist, peace advocates, progressives and cer- ainly all lfist revolutionaries should clearly be against the U.S. and European governments’ war and borsbing of Libya. In particula, as activists and revolutionaries within the United States, we hold 4 personal and international e- sponsibility to mike clear we do not support the imperial- ist poliies, and especially wars, of the US. uling class. the'U_S. government, and the U.S. corporate elites. Let us- remerber that when' the U.S. president and government orders the American military o attack some couniry, it s done in our name. i the nare of the people of the United States. It s certaily true that we aren't consulted or given any input into these imperialist polcies and wars: none- the-less the policies and wars are done in our name. We also of course are forced to pay for the bombs and builets. So,it s imperative that we cleasly and loudly oppose and resistthe imperialist wars of the United Sates government, including this most recent war on Libya. The war against Libya has created some confusion, dif- fering perspectives and lack of unity among at least some. anti-war, progressive and activis organizations and indi- Viduals i the United States. There are many contradictionsinthe strugele in Libya. Itis useful 0 identify and folow the development and changes in these contradictions. in order to have a cleaer under- standing of the war. Very early in February. we witnessed about a week of popular protests in several Libyan citis. ‘At this point the main or principle contradiction (the prin- ciple contradiction is that major contradiction that informs, influences and impacts all the other secondary contradic- tions), was between sections of the public and the govern- ment. Some people were demonstrating for political and economic rights and reforms, and there were some calls for changes in the top leadership. Youh, sectors of the working clas, reltives of prisoners. and some religious elements were Tined up azainst the government and ruling Class. ‘Within one or two weeks, armed atiacks against Libyan police sations and government faclites, especialy in the East, were taking place. Underground and foreign backed exile groups (at least some backed by the CIA) created a new level of conflict and & new contradiction between the ‘zovernment and ruling clas, versus underground rebel and Toreign backed armed groups. This stuation soon devel- oped into & ow levelcivil war. The principle contradiction now was between the government and the tribes, people. classes and regions backing the govermen. versus the armed. rebellion and the people. ribes and regions sup- porting the rebels. This principle contradiction was sull laternal to Libya, alibough western imperialist sttes were. Supporting the rebel side of the civil wr. When the United States and NATO counires attacked Libya, the principle contradiction changed from an inter- nal civil war, (0 war of resstance against.a foreign impe. salist attack and invasion. The internal contradictions sl existin Libya. There i till a civil war going on. There are: Sl class, regional and tibal conficts. But the prnciple contradiction now is the contradiction between the Libyan tate, government and people, versus foreign imperialis couniries who attacked and started 4 war against Libya. There are Libyan people and rebel forces wharside with the foreign imperfaliss and act in coordination With them. In factat this point they actas the miain ground forces for the mperialists AL his point, th rebel forces are subordinate. 10 the foreign imperialisi who support and dircct them against the Libyan government and stte Ler's now take a brief look at some of Libya's modern his- tory and the histori events that have and are sill unfolding in North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Like most of Africain the 19th and 20th century, Libya was ravaged by European colonialism. 1taly attacked and invaded the arca that is Libya in the Turko-Talian war of 191 This inva- sion set off & 20 year resistance struggle azainstthe Talian 27 ASTRUGGLEMAG colonialists that was centered in the castern part of Libya ‘around Benghazi state by joining together three distnc ca in the east, Tripolitana in the west South, “The Briish set up a Libyan king, King Idriss, who was from the Senoussi clan of eastern Libya. 0 rul this coun- ty. The King allowed Britin, France and the US. 0 re- i their miltary bases and corporate interests in Libya. Britain kept is Bases and political dominance i the east. bordering its former colony of Egypt. France kept is mili- tary and its dominance in the soulhwest, neat its colonies of Algeria and Tunisia. The U.S. military kept Wheelus Air Base outside Tripoli 1o dominate the entire Mediterranean area. In 1955, oil was discovered in Libya, and these three: mperialist powirs took significant control of the entire il industry. “This imperialist plunder lasted undl 1969, when 4 nation- alist, Pan-Arab, revolutionary-minded.group of junior military offcers, led by a then 27 year old Muamiiar el- Quddaf, overthréw the. is sovernment and sysiem. Libya changed its name from the Kingdom of Libya to the Libyan Arab Republic and laer o the Great Socialist Peo- ple’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. All oreign miltary bases were shut down. The oil industry was nationalized, along. Wwith many commereial interess that had been under US. and British control. Muammar Qaddaf and he other military offcers did not ometo power in evolutionary upheaval of the masses. It Wwas o a socialist evolution. Libya was and still s aclass Society, with extensive inheriied wealth and old privileges. But, Libya was no longer under foreign domination. Many progressive changes were carred out and a ot of the ol wealih was used to sieadily uplif the Standard of iving of the Libyan people. Most basic necessities—food, hous. ing, fuel, healtheare and education al the way through col- lege level) —became subsidized or totally free. Within 20 years, Libya had the highest Human Development Index b in Africa—a UN measuremen of lfe expectar et and adjusted real income. Cor tions for women changed positively and dramarcally. ‘Women entered various professional ranks from doctors 0 teachers o military and security roles Onthe international level, Libya became frm ani-imperi- alist voice and supporter of iberation struggles from South ‘Aftica, o Palestine, 1o Ireland, the ETA and the Basque land. and even quielly Supporting revolutionary forces. in Europe like the lalisn Red Brigades. Direct Action in France and the Red Army Fraction in West Germany. Theoughout these years,the US. carried out numerous as- sassination and coup attempts agains the Qaddafi regime. “The CIA financed and helped organize armed opposition ‘sroups.Tn 1981, they helped set up the Na the Salvation of Libya (NFSL). which mai tary force, called the “Libyan National Army.” in Egypt near the Libyan border. The NFSL and its miltary units were reported, in the intermational media, s being in- Volled in armed confrontations With government forces in the carly days (Feb.)of the present Libyan uprising. We'll come back to the question of who some of the Libyan reb- el are later in thi analysis. In 1986, Ronald Reagan sent 66 USS. jets o bomb Tripoli and Benghazi. They bombed Qaddaiis house and killed his 2 year old daughter. This is tragically similar to May 15t of 2011, when NATO fired 4 precision missiles in the home of Seif el Arab el-Qaddaf (one of Muammar's sons). Killng him and thrce of Muammar's grand children: a 4 year old granddaughter;a | year old grandson: a2 year old eranddaughter. Alotof people have and continue o di in Libya, up 0 this Very moment.This includes babies. children, non-combat- s old and young. One dead child i o sad and precious as any other. American bombs, NATO bombs, Briish and French bombs and missiles are doing most of the kiling. “This s the realty of imperialism, he reality when imperi- alit powers attack couniy, under Whaterer pretext. In the 1950 and especially the 905, he U'S. government was increasingly successfulin solating Libya with severe. economic sanctions and continuing efforts 1 destabilize the governmen and economy. After the massive U.S. at- tack and invasion of Irag, Libya gave in 0 USS. demands. Quddafi opencd up and turmed over his entie nuclear Weapons development program to the United Sttes Per zon. He also offered o assst the U.S. in its “war on terror. Libya had 1o accept responsibility for the Lockerbie planc. bombing and pay $2.7 billon i indemnities. Additionally, in order for USS. sanctions (0 be lifted. Libya had (0 open it markets and “restructure” s econory. IMF officials descended on Libya with mandatory pro- erams. Although Libya did not have forcign debi (i had 37 billon dollar surplus that year) the IMF prescribed the Same measures they impose on every developing county. “The IMF demanded an end to governmen subsidies of ba- sic necessiies, in order (0 undermine the public’s support forthe regime. Libya was told to privatize 36 state owned ‘companies,including seel mills, cement plants, f00d fac- tores. truck and bus assembly lines and state farms. This left thousands of workers jobless. Libya also had (0 sell 60 percent stake in the siate-owned o1l company, Tamoil Group and privatize its flour mills. 28 ISSUE 19 Another aspect of structural reform was the end of estric- ons on imports. Foreizn companies were aranted licenses 10 export to Libya. Products from all over the world flood- ed the previously protected Libyan market. This was 4 di- saster for Libya's Tactories, and led (o thousands of more. Job losses. Over the past 3 {0 7 years, risng prices, the end of subsidies for necessities. ind incréasing unempioyiment has led to poverty and dissatisfaction among 2rowing sec- tons of Libyan people. This has set the stage for o rger and broader opposition (0 the Libyan government, by its people, than ever before under Qaddaf’s leaderstip and Lovernment. Let s turn to the events and changes that have been hap- pening in North Africa and the Middle East since the beginning of this_year. Social upheaval and liberation struggle began in Tunisia, which led to the overthrow of Wwestern imperialst backed strong man Ben AL The fol- lowing month, U.S. imperilist backed Hosni Mubarik was pushed out of power in Egypr. Social strugele i sil very intense in both of these counires. The changes, lead- ership, and type ofsystem that will emerge see notyet clear in either country. ‘Whatis clear i that U_S. imperialism (western imperialism overall), sulfered a serious loss of power and abliy to ma- nipulate events, economies, leaders . wih the removal of Ben Al in Tunisia, and especially Mubarak n Biypt. For decades, .S policy n the Middle East has been centered on support for the Isacli state: sup- por for and contol of Egypt, with the largest population nd military machine in the Arab world: and support for ‘and major influence in the Saudi Arabian kingdom and its huge pool of oil. Fundamentally, it is al about the oil in the entire Middle East. 15 about who controls the ol, the ‘overnments in the region and the huge profits madé by the oil companes. US. imperialism never had complete control of al of the countries in this region. but with support or and control of Egypt. Saudi Arabia and Isrel, they also controlled or ma.- nipulaied Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Baheain, Oman. United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and Morocco. Turkey is 4 NATO member and usually supports all US. policy in the Middle East.Iraq was a problens unil the U S. invaded and occupied that county. Iran, Algeria, Lebanon, Syria and Libya have not allowed western imperilism 1o directly dominate or control them. Sometimes these counlries have opposed and resisted wesiern imperialist political nd eco- omic policies and plans. For decades, the US. government has treated these coun- ries and the leaders as obstacles and ofen as cnemies. This is especially true for Libya, Syria and Iran. ‘When the people in Tunisia and Egypt threw out their long time dictators, it efl USS. imperialism scrambling (0 re- i some conitol over this eniire region. As the peoples” legitimate thirst. for greater freedom and needed change rippled across North Africa and the Middle East, western powers saw the possibility of new ways to atack and try o overthrow those governments and leaders who had long opposed imperialism, Recent evens demonsirate this s ¢ pecially true in ran, Syria and particulaly Libya. The people in every country have the right and ofien the seal need 1o push for reform and even total revolution- ary change. We see this happening all across the Ardb. Mid-East and North African region. This is & natural and positive development, and activist and progressive people around the world look with interest and support 0 our Sis- ters and brothers who dre trying to bring real change to ther Tves and lands s the tight of any oppressed people to oppose and orga- nize agains their leaders i basic needs and rights ae not being met. 1 not the right of imperialist governm manipulate, exploit and outrght intervene in the internal affuis of another couniry while personally and politically demonizing their leaders Inperialist western powers are trying (0 regain control of Egypt and Tunisia. They are also trying to take advantage of peoples” legitimate demands for change in Libya and Syria, by trying o overthrow those leaders and govern- ments who they have been aftr for years. We can see this by the drastically different actions the LS. government s taken towards the governments in Babrain and Yemen, versus their actions toward Syria and especially Libya ‘The Bahrain government has repeatedly beaten, impiis- oned, shot and killed unarmed public demonstrators. The US. has said almost nothing about this and continues to support he Balrain government. The Yemeni government has also repeatedly attacked and fired on unarmed protesi- ers. Recenly there have been more srmed clashes between ‘covernment and rebel forces in Yemen. Here t00 the LS. overnment's response has been mild and they continse to Work wih the Yereni regime. In Syria, repressed unarmed demonstrations and armed clashes between government and ani-government forces have led to U.S. and European sanctions against the gov- ermment and call forthe president o siep down, In Libya, early in February, there was about a week of pub- lic demonsicaions that were repressed. but there were no deadly attacks or mass shootings of unarmed ‘Within a week, the Libyan opposition to0k up weapon and it became an armed rébellion between government and anti-government forces. As the Libyan government rather quickly moved to rezain control of Benghazi and some oth- er eastem towns, 4 cry went up from the USS. and NATO ‘powers that larze numbers of Libyan civilians would soon be massacred but NO massacres actually occurred. And 29 ASTRUGGLEMAG it was at this point that the U.S. and NATO launched their war against Libya, Letus now look more specifically at some of the clemens who make up the Libyan rebels. First, let me say. 1 have no more. and probably less, access o information than many of yo 3sm readers. My information comes from the bour- ge0is corporate press (New York Times,etc ) the Left press (Marist, anarchist, etc ), and some information from com- rades outside (U.S. and overseas). There is no question some people changes in their country. including change in the op leader- Ship. There were some public potests in Tripoli and Beng- hazi in carly February. There were some reported clash with cops and demonsirators, but no reports of mass shoot- ings or Killings. In foct a front page NY Times article on February 25 described how different Libya is from other Arab couniies facing rebellions: “Unlike the Facebook enabled youth rebellions, the insurrection here has been led by people who are more mature and who have been actively opposing the regime for some time.” The article described how arms had been smugeled across the border With Egyp for weeks, allowing the rebellion o “escalate quickly and violently in litle more than a week.” » Libya want major In the carly weeks of what had already become an armed e caster areas of Libya. the National Front of Libya (NFSL), wis often quoted and described as being 4 leading force in the uprising. Earler in this analysis, T explained how the CIA had set up the NFSL in 1981, including training & miliary force that was based in Egyp. Also widely quoted s the “National Conference for Libyan Opposiion.” which was group organized by the NFSL. and the “Libyan Constitutional Union.” This Tatter sroup advocates for 4 feturn of the deposed monachy in bya. In fact the flag of the Libyan rebels, which is often seei n USS. news clips, i the Senoussi clin lag that was used by the Libyan King. before the monarchy was over- throwt in 1969, Allhese CIA sponsored and/or U.S. or British based exile ‘eroups were incorporated into the Libyan “Nationl Tran sitional Council” (NTC). Many long time U'S. residents Were sent {0 Libya to be leaders of the NTC. A top il tary leader is Khalifu Hefiah, 4 reired general from Vi sinia. A teacher named Ali Tarhouni, who had been iving. in the US. for 36 years, teaching economics a the Uni Versity of Washington, as recently sent over 1o become the ‘and oil minister in Benghazi. the rebel capital. rance, Kuwait and Qatar have recognized the NTC as the iinsate” representative of the Libyan people. The U.S. overnment, NATO and others also meet and work with Another element within this rebel uprising are fundamen alis Islamist fighters. Al Queda in the Islamic Maghreb, which the CIA lists a5 the Worlds largest Qaeda branch, belore thi rebellion.In March, the N Times quoted report by Andrew Exum of the Center for a New American Securty, stting, “Eastern Libya, the locus of the rebellion, sent more foreign fighters per capita 0 join the Tragi nsurzency. f ing against US. troops, than any other region of the Arsh world" Many of these experionced Al Quedafighters_returmed 0 Libya and rejoined the batie the Qaddafi For years, even before 9111, the Quddat gov ernment had" recognized the danger that Llamist militants posed for Libya and its secular Socialist ng. government. Isa- Sltanis were not tol. in Libya and many Were arresied and impris oned. On March 17,2011, the NY Times teported that Abu Musab Abdul Wadid, the leader of Al Qaeda in the Islumic Magheb, st ed that he “reaffimed his ISSUE 19 ‘eroup's solidarty with the Libyan rebels.” Fanily, clan and tsibal ties are very signific Libyans. It has been reported that some caster seciions of them, have aligned withthe rebellior hasi_ Further reports say that hundreds, and per 10 6000 soldier, have defected from he governmer joined the rebels. And then of course, as we often see on US. TV news, there are dentists, students and clerks who have dropped their books and tools and become voluneer rebel soldiers. Many of these grass roots rebel, ke the unarmed dem. onstrators protesting in early February,are tying 10 bring change to ther country and do NOT want foreign powers 1o come in and take over their strugle and dicate how it will proceed. who will lead it and what type of country Libya wil be if they are successful in overthrowing the Qaddafi government, They are all part of what s now an ngoing civil war i Libya. How this war illdevelop and conclude s uncertain. What is certain s that major western imperialist powers have di- sectly intervened and are now the mjor factor and force onthe rebel sde. ‘When Barack Obama announced the United States and NATO attack against Libya, he made & big point about not puting any U.S. boots on the ground in this war. He also i the U'S. government was not 2oing to am and militar. ily supply the rebels. AS it turned out. and was reporied in e NY Times on 331711, “In aly March President Obama signed a secre finding athorizing the CIA to provide arms. and support o Libyan rebels.” Since then it has been widely reported that CIA and spe- cial forces troops have been in Libya meeting with rebel troops and marking targets for missile and bomb attacks. Even before this was revealed, it was reported that Bri ish SAS troops were aso in Libya organizing rebel troops and marking targets for bombs and missiles. The boots are: already on the sround. Meanwhile, the French, and then the Brtish, recently sent i attack helicopiers © g0 along with the U'S. and NATO jet fghters, bombers, missiles and unmanned diones. “The offcial publicly announced USS. cost for this war is 1 billion as of mid-June. Actual costs, including what it osts to keep an areraft carrir and it group off the coast of Libya, the aircrafts tha l in from tay and other Euro- pean ases,the drone lights,etc.,are not even included in the SI billon figure. Wars cost money and this new war in Libya, even in the midst o financial cut backs and budget problems in the U S..is no exception. ‘The British Sunday Telegraph reported over 3 month ago (May 15), that NATO had by then flown 2700 bombing sorties, over 57 per day. Since then the wa has escalated in several respects. The English press reported n lte May, that General Sie Divid Richards, head of the Briish Army has called for and ordered a new level of US. and NATO attacks. Richards called for NATO states to war by direcly targeting the Libyan governs than protecting Libyan civilians, a specified in the United Nations Resolution 1973. Within days of his remarks. the bombing of Tripoli was intensified. The British generai or- dered an increase in the range of targets to be ht, specifi- cally including Libya's infrastructure. The new bombing s aleady i telecommunications facilites, ports. gov- erment buildings, power grids, fuel depots, schools and hospitals 1 really think, as Americans, we should be ashamed and disgusted that we have allowed our government to get us into this thind simultancous war. The government has tried 1o diminish the reality ofthis war against Libya, by calling it NATO war and an air campaign and that the U.S. only has a back up role now and so0 on. The realit is we are bombing & wider range of facilites and killing, wounding and ruining more lives than when we started this wa. ‘The government is also trying to present this latest war of choice, as a killing field 4 lot of the world supports. This is not true. Since March 1,2l 3 counries n Africa, are on record, trough the African Union (AU).as “callng for noninterférence by foreign militry forces, ihe adoption of an immediate cease-fir, the protection of migrant Workers from other pars of the & Swif disribution of hu- manitarian telefto people in need, and safe passage nside and outside of Liby: India, Brazil and China are l on record as ot supporting. this war. Even Germany dida't g0 along with its NATO partners on this war, People and acivist and revolutionary organizations around. the Wworld have come out and stronaly denounced this im- perialst war. Justa small sample of some of these orzani- Zations sve: Worker's World Party. Free Arab Voice., World Federation of Trade Unions, Nation of Islan, Comimunist Party of Canada, Communist Party of Austrilia, Revolu- tionary Commurist Group (Britan). International. Com- munist League and its U.S. branch, the Spartacist League ‘and many, many more organizations. ‘The USINATO war against Libya is an imperialist war that all progressive, anti-war, ant-imperialst and left revolu- onaries should oppose and work to end. The natural his- tory and development within Libya. the civil war which began before the imperialist. distorted and polluted by the foreign attack. Whether the people, regional forces. trbes and classes of Libya, are bie toresolve their coniradictionsis unclear and probably ot ikely, because of the imperialist inervention. Whether the Quddl government and an independent Libya survive is o unclear and not at al certain 31 ASTRUGGLEMAG “The Libyan anarchist whose leter we printed in the begin- ning of this dialogue on the Libyan war section, was clear s well, hat foreign inervention was NOT what he and other aiti-Qaddafi activsts wanted “The main losers in this war on Libya are all the Libyan people. They are getting killed. Their homes are being bombed. Foreign powers are calling the shois. Even the anti-government rebels have become pawns in an imperi- alit plt t0 reassert contral over Libya and it oil (Libya has the largest proven oil deposit in all of Africa). “The imperalists also want to use this war in Libya, and laterthey hope, a conquered Libya, under the direct o in- disect control of the US. and Europe, as an example to all the people in North Africa and the Middle East, that U.S. imperialism i all powerful and each couniry better make s own deal o how 1o live under imperialist control ‘Whether such a sorry situation comes to be is also uncer- tin. What s certain s that the sruggle for freedom and justce, independence and human digaity Wil continue. ‘And the strugele against U.S. and western imperialism has 10'be s central partof any real iberation struzgle. Let me conclude this analysis by clearly sating my per- sonal leanings and questions on Libya, since 1 have been t0ld 1 have gotten this sitution wrong. 1 have long admired and quite often supported Libya, in its domestic and foreign policies under the leadership of Muammar Quddaf. This is particularly true from the overthrow of the Libyan king in 1969, ll around 2000, In 1969, millions and millons of young people, especally. were in the streets of America opposing war, facism and injustice. We supported many liberaton struggles, especially Viet- nam, Palestine and the struggles in Africa- When junior of- ficers overthrew the Libyan ing. kicked out wesiern bases. and nationalized the il fields, Qaddaft was sdmired and Suppored by activists and revolutionaries workdwide. In the 19705 and 805, when Libya was a loud voice and concrete material supporter of iberation strugles around the world, Libya under Quddall was saluted. This doesn’t mean that 1 agreed with or supported all of what Qudd- afl did, but overall he wWas seen as an ani-imperialist and ‘popular natonalist leader, A lot o oil wealth was used 10" uplit Libyans. The role. rights and opportunities for Women were greatly expanded. A fim and ongoing effort was established to keep the government and state of Libya secular. These poliies developed and modified over the years, but emained consistent untl the early 2000, when 4 policy shift toward the U.S. and west was made by the Qaddaf government. Afier Bush atacked Iraq, Libya capitulated 0 U S. imperi- alist demands and pressie. This was disheartening for me (and many others) to see. A continuing weakness in Qadd- afF's Libya is that it never had a popular socialst revolu- o, Unii the early 20005, it bad mostly beer rnally progressive and somewhai socialistic country, and an anii- mperialist country. It never had significant mass revolu- tonary formations and organs of power, and therefore (00 much poer has abways rested n the ceniral eadership and overnment. Certainly having the same leader in power for 40 years will be the source of some internal opposition. 1 do have criti- cism of the Qaddafl government and especially some of it plicies of the past § years. 1 do understand, like the leter from the Libyan anarchist shows, that there are legi mate actvists, radicals and revolutionaries in Libya who feel tht the eimoval of Qaddaf is necessary. don't know how lrge 4 percentage of the rebellion they are. By all media accounts, he rebels and their leadership are mostly ‘comprised of exiles, pro-imperialist and pro-capitalist el ments: people who deserted the Qaddafl government for ribal, regional o personal interest, and slamic funda- mentilises 1o not feel it is my place 10 tll he Libyan people, the rebels or pro-government forces, how o organize thef na- tion and move it forward. SEl, i does scem to me that 3 positive path forward for Libya and its people is the AU plan. Fiest of all Africans should be primarily responsible fortheir own people, countries and continent “The call for an immediate cease-fire, and an end 10 ALL forcign military action and & withdrawal of all forcign military forces. fllowed by humanitarian aid to al parts of Libya and then an AU sponsored peace efTort of all fac- tions of Libyans,is what [ think would actually help Libya and s people. Inperiatism, U.S. snd other western interference will ther benefit nor help Libya in any sense—now or in the futue. Libyans need to be given the space and forum to decide their own collective future. 1 s ther county, their land, their future. We in the wes( can support or criticize. who we want, but the principle of self determination for all people and nations demands that Libyans be allowed to Work out their own problems and futie. Iiperialism has no legal, moral o ethical right, no place or justifid interes in Libya. It only seeks to rape. pillage: ol over Libya, Libyans and their natural For us revolutionaries, activists and progressive people in the United States, we o have the righ (0 examine, critique: and supportthe various forces in the Libyan civl war. That said, we must be very careful and clear 1o not support the. U bourzeoisie, the U.S. government and U.S. imperial- isim overall in it war against Libya. 32 ISSUE 19 Wars and Revolutions BY MUMIA ABUJAMAL As NATO targes Libyan feader, Col. Muammar Qadia, the cover story.that its bobasiic efforts are designed t0 “protect civilians. is wearing exceedingly thi Daily, NATO' efforts, including the targeting of Qadhati for asassination and the killing of membes of his family, look like regime change —suspiciously similar 1o Iriq of several years ago) As for the assassination charge, Britan’s Sis David Rich ards, Chif of the Defense salf answered questions (0 that effectby declaring, "Absolutely not. It s not allowed under the UN Resolution” (LATUR 94/11. 71). Those assurances were blasted into confett by leading British poltcians. Indeed, the Tragi patter is virually identical: demonizi- tion in the corporate press, no fly zones, bombing aimed at the leader andior his farnly, and (once assassnation is accomplished) the instllation of 4 complisat, Western friendly puppet who acquiesces to the looting of his coun. s natural resources for foreign profi When did the West ever care shout Arabs (other than sheikhs or princes, that 15?7 David Mortison, writing in & secent edition of Labour & Trade Union Review answers the question thusly: I is inconceivable that the Governments of France and Britain and the U.S, embarked on this mission out of con. cem for the lives of Libyan civilians. In tecent years, the US. itelf has killed hundreds of civlians in Pakistan in dron attacks triggered from the safety of mainland U, The slaughter has intensiied under the Obama adminis- ration and i s sl going on. Has France or Britin cver expressed any concern for these civilian Killings, carried ‘ot regularly by their close ally? OF course not. Mortison goes on to write o the thousands of Lebancse and Pulestinians killed by Tsraeli bombing in 2006 and 2008-2009, “without any call for & No Fly Zone” from any of the states now leveling Libya. 2 the case of Lebanon in the Summer 2d Britain acted to prolong the conflc Mortison notes: * f 2006, the US. and the killing.™ Clearly. Morrison wites, “another reason, motivates the ‘Western powers other than the suffering or the bombing of Arab civilans, which they, o thei allis, do with reckless ‘abandon Morrison writes: “Though Qadhafi has accommodated himsell o Western interest in recent years. and opposes Al Queda, he has maintained the coherence of the Ardb nationalis Stte he has buil,and rtained form of Social- fsmints structures. This i itolerable to Western interess, which prefer 1o se¢ a mess 4 1a Iraq, rather than 4 strong. State pursuing the interests of its people in ts own way. The plan, therefore, is (o destroy the Libyan State under 1 ‘humanitarian and democratic guise. 1 s of no concern to the West that it may be unleashing 4 bloodbath. Firs Iraq, then Libya: that leaves the Last Arab Socialist State, Syria. That's why France and Britain and the US. are bombing Libya.” My sentiments, exactly Munia Abu-Jamal #AM-8335 175 Progress Drive Wayneshurg, PA USA 15370-509 Action Alert!: Call and Demand Leonard Peltier Be Taken Out of Solitary On June 27, Leonard Pelter was removed from the ‘eneral population at USP-Lewisburg and thrown n the hole. He has been strugaling with his bad kidneys and diabeétes and is now in an even more precarious Stuat because of his placement in soltary confinement. We. urge everyone to call in o Federal Bureau of Prisons to demand he be returned to general population. (Call Thomas Kane. Acting Director Federal Bureau of Prisons 202-307-3198 3 ASTRUGGLEMAG Cynthia McKinney Speaks on Libyan TV BY ABAYOMI AZIKIWE, Workers World ‘Speaking on Libyan TV May 21, former U S. Congressper- an African American and 4 fierce critic of US. foreign policy in Afica and the Middle East, raveled o Libya as partof & fact-finding missio of the war. ‘0 expote the criminal nature McKinney stated, “I' very important that people under- stand what is happening bere. And it's important tha peo- ple all over the world sce the ruth. And that i why 1 am hete ...t understand the truth.” ‘The Green Party 2008 presidential candidte emphasized: T wani to say categorically and very clearly that these pol- icies of war . are not what the people of the United States stand for, and iC’s not what Affican Americans stand for Under thé economic policies of the Obama administation, those who have the least are losing the most. And those who have the most are geting even more.” ted, “The situation in the United Stats is e dire for average ondinary Americans, and McKinney becoming the Tt thing we need 10 do s t0 spend money on death, destruction and war." the aftermath of the NATO bombing of numerous Libyan ships docked in three dif- ferent ports along the Mediterranean coast. In addition to bombing ships. NATO forces announced the deployment of atack helioptersinto the theater of War. NATO forces and the rebels they support have once again sejected cals fo a ceasefir from the United Nations Sec- setary General as well as the Libyan government. Instead e European Union has opened an offce in the rebel-held of Benghazi in 4 further atempt to encourage regime. change in the country. NATO: A Feast of Blood BY CYNTHIA MCKINNEY From Workers World ‘Whille serving on the House International Relations Com- mitee from 1993 10 2003, it became clear o me that the North Adantc Treaty Organization (NATO) was an anachronism. Founded in 1935 at the end of World War 11 NATO was founded by the Uited States in response to the Soviet Union’s survival as a Communist state. NATO was the LS. insurance policy that capitalist osnership and domination of European, Asian, and Afican economies Wwould continue. This also would ensure the survivalof the then-extant global apartheid. NATO is collective security pact wherein member states pledge that an atack upon one is an attack against all Therefore, should the Soviet Union have attacked any European Member Stat. the United States mlitary shield would be activated. The Soviet esponse was the Warsanw Pact that maintained a “cordon saniaire” around the Rus- ian Heartland should NATO ever atack. Thus, the world Wwas broken into blocs which gave rse o the “Cold War." Avowed “Cold Wartiors” of today sill view the world in these terms and. unfortunately, cannot move past Com- munist Ching and an amputated Soviet Empire 35 enemy tates of the U S. whose moves anywhere on the planet are 10be contested. “The collapse of the Soviet Union provided an sccelerated opportunity o exert U S. hegemony in an area of previous Russian influence. Africa and the Eurasian landmiass con- taining former Soviet satellie staes and Afghanistan and Pakistan along with the many other “stans” of he region, have always factored prominently in te theories of “con- tainment” or “rollback” guiding U.S. policy up to odsy. With that as background, last night's NATO rocket attack on Tripoli i inexplicablé. A civiian metropolitan arca of around 2 million people, Teipoli sustained 22 to 25 bomb- ings last night. ratling and breaking windows nd elass and shaking the foundation of my hotel. left my room at the Rexis Al Nasr Hotel and walked out- side the hotelsnd 1 could smell the exploded bombs. There were local people everywhere milling With foreign jour st from avound the world. As we stood there more bombs Struck around the city. The sky flshed red with explosion ‘and mre rockets rom NATO jets cut through low clouds before exploding. 1 could taste the thick dust stired up by the exploded bombs. | immediately thought about the depleted uranium munitions reportedly being used here —along with white phosphorus.If depleted raium weapons were being used Wha affect o the local civilians? ‘Women carrying young children ran out o the hotel. Oth- ers ran o wash the dust from their eyes. With sirens blar- ing, emergency vehicles made ther way tothe scene of the attick. Car alarms, et off by the repeaed blasts, could be: heard undeneath the defian chanis of the people. Sporadic_gunfire broke out and it seemed everywhere around me. Euronews showed video of nurses and doc- tors chanting even at the hospials 35 they treaed those: £ ISSUE 19 injured from NATO's latest installation of shock and ave. ‘Suddenly. th sreets sround me hotel became full of chant- ing people, car horns blowing. I could not tell how many were walking, how many were driving. Inside the hotel. one Libyan woman carrying a baby asked me, “Why are they doin tis 10 us” Whatever the military objectives o the attack (and 1 and many others question the military value of these attacks) the fct remains theai atack was Taunched on a major city ‘packed with hundreds of thousands of civilians. 1did wonder t00 if any of the politcians who had autho- sized this air attack ad themselves ever been on the ro- ceiving end of lasr guided depleted uranium munitions. Had they ever seen the awful damage that these weapon do'to 4 city and its population? Perhaps if they sctually had been n the city o an ai atack and flt the concussion from these bombs and saw the mayhem caused they just might ot be so inclined to suthorize an attack on a civilian populaton. T am confident that NATO would not have been 50 reck- less with human i i they had been called on 10 atack & major western city. Indeed, | am confident tha they would ot be called upon ever o attack 4 western city. NATO only atacks (as does the US. and ts allis) the poor and underprivileged of the Third World. Only the day before, at 4 women’s event in Tripoli, one Woman came up {0 me ith tears in her eyes: het mother is i Benghazi and she can't get back 1o see if her mother is OK or not. People from the east and west of the country lived with each other, loved each other, intermarried, and now, because of NATO's “humanitarian intervention.” ar- ifcil divisions are becoming hardened. NATO's recruit- ment of allies in eastern Libya smacks of the same strain of cold warriorism that sought to assassinate Fidel Castro ‘and overthrow the Cuban Revolution with “homegrown™ ‘Cubans willng (o commit acts of terror against theis for- mer home country More recently the Democratic Republic of Congo has been amputated de facto after Laurent Kabila refused a request from the Clinton Adminisiration to formally shave off the eastern part of his country. Laurent Kabila personly re- ‘counted the meeting at which this request and refusal Were: delivered. This plan to balkanize and amputate an Aftican ‘country (as has been done in Sudan) did not work because: Kabila said “no” while Congolese people sround the world organized to protectthe “teritoral inrity” of the coun- sy, 1 was horified to lean that NATO allies (the Rebels) in Libya have reportedly Iynched and then buichered their dasker-skinned compatriots after U.S. press reports labeled Black Libyans s “Black mercenaries.” Now, tell me this. pray tell How are you going 1 take Blacks out of Africa? Press reports have suggesied that Americans Were “sur- prised” o see dark-skinned people in Africa. Now, what does tha ell us about them? “The sad fact, however, i tha t s the Libyans themselves, Wwho have been insuled, errorized, Iynehed, and murdered a5 4 result of the press reports that hyper-sensationalized his base ignorance. Who will be held accountable for the lives Tost in the bloodlettng frenzy unleashed 45 4 result of these lies? ‘Which brings me back to the lady's question: why is this happening? Honestly, | could not give her the educated seasoned response tha she was looking for.In my view the international public is struggling 1o answer “Why ™ ‘What we do know, and what s quite clea, is this: what | experienced lust night s no “humanitarian ntervention.” Many suspect it s sbout al the oil under Libya. Call me. skeptical but 1 have to wonder why the combined armed sea, land and air forces of NATO and the US costing bil- Tions of dollars are being armaigned against relatively small North African country and we're expected to elieve. it in the defense of democracy. ‘What Ihave scen inlong lines o get fuel is not “humanitar- fan intervention.” Refusl to allow purchases of medicine Torthe hospialsis not “humanitarian intervention.” Whatis most sadis that I cannot give a cogent explanation of “Why” (0 people now terrified by NATO's bombs. but it is ransparently clear now that NATO has exceeded its mandate, lied about ts inentions. is guilty of extra-judicial Killings—all in the name of “humanitarian inervention. ‘Where is the Congress 45 the President exceeds his War- making authority? Where is the “Conscience of the Con- For those of you who disagree with Dick Cheney's warning. 101 to prepare for war forthe next generation, please sup- port anyone who will stop this madness. Please organize nd then vote for peace. People around the world need us 10'stand up and speak out for ourselves and them because: Tran and Venezuela are also n the cross-hars. Libyans don't need NATO helicopter gunships, smart bombs, cuise missiles, and depleted uranium o setile their differences. NATO' “humanitarian intervention” needs to e exposed for what it is with the bright, shining light of the ruth A dusk descends on Tripoli, let me prepare myself with the Jocal civilian population for some more NATO human- Stop bombing Africa and the poor of the world! 35 ASTRUGGLEMAG Why Libya Matters BY CHAD WELLINS The current revolts in Libya and actoss the Middle East open up possibilities for a world freer from US. imperial- i< Libya in partcular may prove to be 4 crucil flerum inthis sirugele. Keeping the U S. military and NATO en- tirely out of he civil war in Libya i the one thing. in the U.S. can do to help faclitate sell-determi Libyans and a reduction of U.S. power n the rez “The firs thing that makes Libya an important cause for people i the U.S. to engage i historical. The U_S. has an Unwavering track record of hoisting leaders, friendly to USS. business nterests. (0 power. Never has a U S _backed suler put the needs of the people first. This happened with the Shab of Iran in the 19505 Suddam Hussein was the chosen strong man to control Iraq in the 1980 and more recently Hosni Mubarak had US. backing to control the population of Egyp. These are examples only from the Middle East. There are many more examples from the Western Hemisphere that can be provided to prove the point as well If the U.S. gets involved in Libya miltrily and maybe even it doesa't it i all but gusranteed that the U.S. willset up a government friendly to the U.S. and uniriendly toits own people. Another possible outcome of US. involvement could be o draw religious fu Jiss secking to fight the U.S. from all over the Muslim world. There is some evidence that such campaign is aleady under way. As was Wi nessed in rag. such a sitation could cause the conflict to srow. causing even more destruction (0 Libya. 1£ 4 con- ict Between Muslim fundamentalsts and Wesiern impe- il powers sidelines secular, reform minded Libyans there may be o positive outcome. It would be an incredible Shame i the deaths and the courageous efforts of the esi tance army did not result in 3 more just Society Besides justice and self-determination for the people sec- ond consideration i the case of Libya is its proximity to Egypt. As the Second lurgest recipient of military aid in the Middle East, Irael being number one, Ezypt has been akey US. ally for many vears. Having Mubarak ousted musi have the U'S. intelligence apparatus, miltary and State Department in s tailspin. The U.S. government is assuredly trying to influence the power strugale going on in Egypt ight now and one way 10 exert control over Egypt s to control Libya. Flipping: the scenario around. if first Libya, and then Egypt with it large militry were to expel Weste a stance fimily opposed to US. involvement in the the whole lundséape of U.S/Western imperialism Middle East would change overnight. ‘Suddeny Isael would be very much slone and the Intifada Would have new negoiating terms. The rebellon in Syria ould receive suppor from these new regimes. U.S. client tates everywhere would have questions o ansiwer. ‘We are currently a a crossrouds. The U.S. successfully in- fuencing the outcome of the revoll in Libya could have terrible consequences. The Libyan people bei determine their own desting could resul in huge blow to American pover. Fora better future (0 be posible, we in the U.S. must play our role and do whitever we can to keep the U.S. and NATO out of Libya. Black Guard (UNI 2) My despair is not black, my mourning clothes are not black my devil's food cake s not chocolate, Neither my angel, vanilla. My kAos is not confounded with confusion. Itis a Black light, anight lite, a blucblack print of the UNI-verse from which came the universe. There are no black sheep. little white lies or blacklists! Although blackmail doesn’t exist, ‘when these Black men Black out, a Black rage turns day to night ‘Which s why, my black is not always beauiful. Sometimes it gets sticky and swamp thick! Yetit's stll ‘purple plums and blackberry kool-aid sweet Infinitely as beckoning as stars in Midnight's eyes and just as misunderstood as tightly clenched raised fists, yet as reliable as New Afrikan hands outstretched to assist. A, Castlin 199402 PBSP SHU DI-210 PO. Box 7500 Crescent City CA 095532 USA 36 ISSUE 19 Ely State Prison, Nevada: A Place of Depravity, Death and Despair BY CovorE Ely State Prison is a place of death, stagnation, misery, paiin Toneliness and indeterminate lockdown. If you ere o take o walk on one of these depressing tiers back here in the hole.” you would hear many disembodied voices fing out, yeling in anger and frustration. rying (0 ell you how bad iis for us in here, in between the Isolated confines of steel and stone. “This is a maximum securiy prison, but ot everybody here: is a securty risk, but if you were (0 ask thesé pigs that, theyd probably tel you dtherwise, ust 10ty (0 Jusify the fact they're keeping us warehoused in here, whether we deserve it o not. With time things change. and usually for the worse. Deterioration is & o here. In fact, if you were (0 ask the prisoners around here if they think the conditions here will et beter or worse, most of them wil tell you things are only going 1o get worse. Pes- simism and hopelessness permeate the minds and atttudes of the average prisoner in here. There's nothing much to look forward t, besides the next meal, and maybe a leter o the mail if you're lucky. Back in the day. ironically when ESP. was actually opened up (when we were allowed geoup yard, ter ime, porters,etc.), the majority of the prisoners here Were actu ally it of the staus ‘maximum security.” Back then, & man was sent o Ely State Prison for failure to adjust in ‘another, lss secure prison: violence, escapes and things of that ature. But even then, that could also mean he was disruptive—someone who organized other prisoners, led religious services, or filed 00 many legal wrts or griev- Not every man at ESP s 01d why he's here these days, and ot every man here has committed violent crime. Not every man here has done anything Serious to even Wartant maximum security status ({or exampl, | have a neighbour here in the hole Wwith me right now who was transferred up here simply for contraband). A prisoner has o chance. 10 appeal a transfer before being sent to ESP, and some- tmes arrives in the middle of the night Without waning. Brought into a world of darkness, locked into a cell lefi. 10 get stale and stagaant as he deteriorates, like 4 mouldy plece of bread. Nobody belongs in 4 orld where they're buried alive, where they're in a tomb for the dead, basically. And the police have total control, and many of them frequently abuse that conteol, either on a psychological level, or on a physical level. And over the days, weeks, months and years, prisone who is confined t0 this every day misery. begins 10 degenerate. I'ye seen it happen, over and over again. Nobody belongs in a world like ths, where death permeates the atmosphere, where pressure is applied so Constantly that all it does is make these men hard and mean s ime goes by ‘Some of these guys in here feelthey only have 2 or 3 choic- s now: escape. snilch or suicide. Nobody has escaped from here yet, but many tumed into snitches, and many have commitéd suicide. And others have Succumbed to psychotropic medications, which s a form of both escape and suicide. For so many of us n here, there’s nothing (o strive for: 10 aim, 0o goals, no hope, no light at the end of their tunnel and they just give up. give in. There’ here, just the arificial Tove that you'll find in the gan ture OF prison Iie. This is terible place o be, especially for someone wha has to return back to society. All you hase to.do s read a litle psychology 1o figure out Whr's going o, 10 understand what's being done 10 us in here. They try o break us down. Sever our family and social tes, dominate us, lk shit 0 us, treat us like c dren, going out of their ay (0 ry (0 kep s stagnant and ignorant, and always out 1o break our spirts. Needless to say, I pass around books, articles and notes on psychol- o that prisoners can ket a deeper understanding about hings—not just about being in prison, but 20 about hotw our minds work. personality, emotions, Why we act the Way we act, and why we are the way we are. I's very im.- portant 10 actually be able to come to 4 understanding of these things; 0 raise our level of conscious. To be sble (o elevate our thinking under these circumstances s very im- portantin more ways than one. and i’ also necessary for our survival in here, where psychological warfare s being Waged on us every day “The depravity and despair in this graveyard continuously pushes men to death or insanity. | Wrote an artcle on No- Vember 18, 2009, about the myserious death of death row inmate Tiamothy Redman. November 18,2009, was the day e died, and [ was there when it happened. This s 4 prime example of the daily depravity that takes place i this hell- hole. Approximately an hour after Redman allegedly tried 10 grab a correctional offcer by the wrist and pull his arm through the food sot (spparenily the pig had to strugele to free himsel), an extraction team of officers was made up to physically and forcefully remove Redman from his cel, o at least 10 ry. Redman refused to surender and to be placed in handeufs, and he did so by displaying a Weapon. What's cold about this whole thing is that the policy (ad- ministrative regulation) even sates that any ime prisoner has a weapon i his cell, his water and toilt s 0 be shut Off. an officer i (0 be Sttioned outside of his cell, and noihing is o come n or g0 out of his cell not even meals, and this offcer is supposed o sty stationed outside of his- cell until he prisoner eithe gives the weapon up, o for 72 37 ASTRUGGLEMAG hous. and then they have to decide what 0 do from there, wheier excessive force is o be used or not. Did this hap- pen? No. These pigs refused to follow their own rules and man died as 4 esult. T can tell you exactly what took place. After Redman re- fused tosurrender, the pizs then proceeded 0 spray one can of pepper spray into his cell. Afer that the semor officer in the control bubble commenced to open Redman's cell so the pigs could run in there on him and retaliate. and then semove him from his cell. But the cell door was jammed from the inside. and they couldn't get it open. Obviously Redman was 10 dummy, he knew how (@ keep the pigs ot and he Knew why it was s0 fmportant (0 do So. That's a siuation tha you usually don't . They come in and beat your ass, and afer they've gol you Iilly restrained, they beat you'some more as they el out “Stop resisting! Stop ressting!” So, over the course of two Hours, the pigs emptied a total of 6 canistes of gas into Redman's cell, ‘and then sprayed a seventh caniser one time. They would spray hin, and then g0 hide out i the upper sorage room. <0 that the 2as wouldn'taffectthem (Redman was housed i’ 3-B8, right next 10 the upper storage room). When they were inally able to open Redman's cel to get him ot e was dead. His face was purple, his body was blue ‘and blood was comiing out of his nose. His boxers were tained with feces and urine and he had what appeared to be a smile on his face. The nurses and doctors tried 1o re- vive him, but 0 10 2vail What's mysterious about this whole situation was that when they pulled Redman out of his cell there was n0 rope. tied around his neck or anything. But they say he hung himself. They said it was a suicide. But did he really hang himself o was he murdered by six cans of pepper spra ‘Was ita cover-up? People need 1o be concerned sbout hi ‘and they should demand to ce the video footage of the o raction, just 10 make sure, because the whole thing seemed mysterious o the majority of the inmates who sa the in- cident take place Al scem o agree that Redman died from the pepper spray They think he was murdered. Who knows what happened. Al humans are capable of murder, and death row inmates have been murdered before under McDaniel’s administra- ton. T know this muchs: a couple of hours afte they carried Redman’s body ot of the unit, 2 of the wardens, ihe coro- the investigator were &l standing outside of Red- Al Taughing, smiling and joking around, thinking it was funny. until prisoner piped up and said, “What are youaughing at? I that Was one o your own who died. you Wouldn’t find i very funny. now Would you?” They ‘got quiet. But it seemed like they were happy 10 sce Redman die. Atdinner time, a guard who was o the extraction eam came into the unit and yelled out loud, 50 everybody could hear, “Cell 48 said he doesit want his tray™ I ust goes 10 show how much regard these pigs have for our lives. They have no love, no merey for us. The whole scene was a blatant violaion of the administratve regulations and a blatant distegard for Redman’ life. And the really cold, cold, partabout it was, when the coroner asked the warden, on two separate oceasions, “How should 1 decide this “How do you think I shouid decide thi, suicide of mur- dex™ The warden looked around, seen that prisoners vere tanding et at thir doors and Said, “T can't decide that, that's your job.” But what would even propel the coroner 10 ask such an odd question like tht in the first place? It malkes you wonder. T knew Redman personally. He wasn't really 3 friend of mine. but someone I talked 10 occasionally. | don't know what set him off 0 g0 aer the pig, but [ do know this Redman was o death row inmate Who has had 1o endure 23.tour lockdown while on HRP. (High Risk Potenial atus: supermax custody level) for 16-17 years straight, Tve heard himm talking once about how year after year ad- ministration is stripping one privilege away from us cach year. Tobacco, milk, scrambled eggs. hot lunches. food packages. clothing packages, etcetera, etcetera. They just ke, ke, take and keep you locked down in 4 cell with a deith seience hanging over your head. Oh yeah, and | Know thatthey were messing with Redman's mail too. He seemed 10 think that his wie [efl him due 0 ths; because. certain leters never got 10 her.So, I think i’ safe 10 say. with all these things taken into consideration, you have 4 man who has nothing ( lose, and 10 hope in sight, who has bsically been driven o & point whete e doesn't oven matter anymore. There's a Lot of peaple like that in here. They weren't al- ways like that though. Theyve deterioraied, and have been broken, and just stopped trying. stopped caring. with no e or nothing to belp pull ther through. I 3 sad. Story, about depravity and despalr, Some of us Aght and sruggle (psychologically and spiricually). ry it through ths, ying (o better ourselves and Sitions in life, and some just aive up all hope. I’ casy 1o sive up in a filthy, foul-ass place ke this, where nobody Cares about what you're going through, or sbout what hap- pens 10 you, one way or another. “The guards that work here don'tcare about u. they e ot rained 10 care about us, they are only trained to conirol us. Ely State Prison is an unproductive, unbealthy envi- ronment,even for these pigs. I has been documented that prison slards have the highest rates of heart disease, drug and alcohol addiction, divorce — and the shortest ifespans — of any state civil servants, due 10 the stres in thei Ives. Prison guards are in constant fear of injury by prisoners, and the fear of contracting diseases always lingers in their minds,since prisons are normally flooded with all kinds of diseasés, from hepattis C, herculosis, 0 AIDS. From the first day in the academy these guards are rained 1o believe tha thy are the “200d guys” and that prisoncrs are he “bad guys.” They are pretty much programmed into 38 ISSUE 19 fearing and despising us — before they even come into con- tact with any of us! They are ld to believe that allprison- ers are manipulative, deceitil and dangerous, and that all prisoners are the scurm of the earth. So no, hey don't bout us.they are noteven allowed o care abot us; notev o rehabilitaton. On the contrary. it everyday depraviy here in this hellhole. contributes to the: T'm witing sbout al of this for @ teason though. I'm here. 10 expose the abuse,the injustices, the disparity and hope- lessness. T'm here fo raise awareness about all of these. things, and P'm hete (© help seek solutions. One of the things T'd like o help Nevads prisoners understand is that the situation for us out here is deplorable. There is 4 real problem with this whole system. and if we don't recop- nize these problerms, we will never find solutons, nol (o mention the possibliy that we ourselves could cven be contributing o many of these problems. Please beliove, the Way they Ve ot us doing our time is nol the Way we're supposed to be doing our time. This whole prison is “the hole.” There's no general population here a E.S.P: there's o incentive. no programs. no rehabilitation, nothing. We have way more coming 10 us than this! We are not Sup- posed to just lay down and accept this. We have (o start finding ways to come together. We have to start srving to make the necessary changes that will help better our posi- tions in e, o that we don’t have 10 keep coming back (o these dead énds Furthermore,lke Tkemba always says. there’s o real level of activism in Nevada. Prisoners do not have any available resources, bookstores for Nevada prsoners, no prisoners™ rights advocacy groups, no solid help from the outside, Whatsoeve. In order 10 make changes on the inside, we need support from the outside. We must take i upon our- Selves o build & proper support structure for Nevada pris- oners, and we have 1o do this from the ground up! S0.if you're a prisoner doing time in Nevada and if you have family/frends out here in Nevad — or anywhere clse: on the outs — 1 would lke t0 encourage you 10 explain to them how bad the situation is for youus i here. Let them Know that we cannot expect any type of real rehabilitation from this system: explain to ther tht the administration is ot going to do anything to help us further our erowth and development, o push us close to becoming reforme. Socially functioning individuals. We have to take it upon ourselves to do these things and we can't do it without roper support tzucture from people on the outside. Talk to your families. Talk to your friends. Talk to your oved ofes out there (show them his newisletter if you have 10). See what they would be willing 10 do to start up programs for Nevada prisoners. Something needs 10 be done. but nothing will improve unless prisoners sart tak- ing the initative. The guys who have (0 do life sentences. o Wha have o be here for the duration, ] encourage you (o start learning the law. Use it s a ool to make changes for everybody; start stepping up 1o the plte, instead of wai ing for others o do il for you. As long 08 we keep trying. Sooner or lter something has 0 give. I’ better o Ly than 10 do nothing, especially when we're lving an do anything we put our minds (0 i thought, and what we think about we become, s0 le’s get itcracking! Uniil then, we are just going 1 sit here, warehoused in this imisery. AS the yeas go by, more people losing theie minds, more deaths and suicides. more fepression, more rules be- ing placed on us, making it harder on us, more restri more losses of privileges and whatever else they want 10 ke from us. We will sit here with sad Iooks on our faces. as anger and hatred eat us up inside. The despair will lead 10 depravity, and the depravity will do us in. Death is the only outcome tomortow, for those that don't sart taking action today Coyote Sheff #5671 PO. Box 1959 Ely Nevada BO301-1989 USA coyote-calling blogspotcom Building Revolutionary Organizations with Numbers Consciousness BY REY TOKATZIN ~America i derived from the name Amaruca, which is Quiche mearing "plumed serpen” n the maive language of the Incas and was adopted to give a geographical loca- o to North snd South America Lt me start with Spain before it invaded the Iskands and Americas In 711, the Arabs and the Berbers invaded Theria (Spain) through North Afrca, For nearly cight centuries under her Mohammedan rulrs Spain st for all of Europe a shinning. example ofa civilzed nd enlizhtened sate. Al ‘and science prospered a they then prosy in Europe. Students focked from Fr and England to drink from the fountains fowed only in the cities of the Moors: mixed, created by the Arabs and Berbers. “The surgeons and doctors of Andalusia were n the van of science; womyn were encouraged to devole themselves (0 erious study. and a ady doctor was nol unknown among the people of Cordova. Mathematie, astronomy, and bota- 39 ASTRUGGLEMAG ny. history. philosophy. and jurisprudence, were o be mias- tered in Spain and in Spain dlone.” The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Manly P Hall In the Americas before the Spaniards arrived, there were ribes of Idigenous people iving in Kingdoms established by three major Empires: Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas. ‘Within these Kingdomns many tribes of Indigenous people lived. Some in peace and others in biter dispute. Overall there was an economs’ establshed that exported and im- ported goods from these trbes to those across the Ameri- Cas. These facts ae visible due {0 archacological indings in the Americas. There was even a route that was used for such purposes within the mot of South America up throughout North America. There were magnificent siructures buil immaculatly and mathematicaly well that on their civi- lized habitar, they were most advanced with the lest com.. plications and disease compared 0 other parts of the world in those days (1492). These three Kingdoms are comparable due o the location in the Americas. They represent the founding. just s black people represent the founding of Afrca. We should have feason enough to unite just s the black people do. ‘Some claim that Brown and Proud cry, but really fal to sealize that it i their own pride that divides the Kingdom of freedom we seek to stablish and build upon. “That pride s insignificant when you comit social crimes against your own people —the same people you must pro- tect and unite with: the oppressed masses! ‘When the Spaniaeds areived, the Indigenous people were colonized and a new breed emerged out of this mixture of ‘Spanish, Indian, and African, who contrbuted 0 he estab- Hishment of Nations,respectfully “This colonization divided us even thinner such as Mexi- cans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, etc. Which is in reality an illusion because we are al the same people. Just ike Mexi- cans in California are the same as the Mexicans in Texas, but divided it would be Californians and Texans. This “di- Vide and conguer” s an old trick in the books of Imperial- s, which we must seek out and destroy. “The Spanish people have a beautiful culture and a deep history. that when they mixed with Indigenous people of America, created a ne enlightened peoples (Latinos) for the world to se and learn rom. “These ancestos of oursar th resson for our exisence. For et or wors, they must help s bt th forces that ek o deny. “Tris Brown Consciousness s the gift of flavours which malkes the future leaders,and only in that way can one truly existin the light of things. ‘With this mixture began 4 new migration to North America and has not stopped, setling in the Southwest (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Calfornia, Colorado, Nevada, etc) and continucs on into oday’s gateways throtigh North America ‘and the World, ‘When these colonized setlements rebelled against Spain, i€ was due o the lack of communication and weapons. and Spain's ignorant decision not to recognize the Mesiizo people (Latino). For the Spaniards were already estab- fished 15 years before any Spanish females arrived which led 0 some, most, Spanards aking Indigenous womyn as their wives and stated the process, one that Spain did not Wani 1o recognize. These actions created a rebellion! Puerto Rico has been colonized by the United States since. 1598, They invaded the Island and have stayed their op- pressing the people “de La Isla Del Encanto.” Since 1846- 1848 the North American invasion, as i is known in Mexi- o, 100k over half of Mexico from the Mexican people and have stayed there since. The North American Indians have also been invaded and colonized since the first setlers in the 13 colonie. The African Americans have also been op- pressed by the Same system. To put this in proper perspec- {ive, Mexican, Puerto Rican, North American Indians, and Alfican Americans all have & common interest and 4 com- mon enemmy: the iberation of all ands and the destruction of capitalstimperialism! There are semi-differences between Mexican and Puerto Rican people, but the similarities are much deeper and swonger for we both share the same blood (Spanish and Indigenous with & sprinkle of African love). For those Mexicans who cant digest what I ve just stated,remember Vincente Guerrero wha was mulato (Spanish/African) and was a Founding Father of Mexico. He helped in the libera- tion of the Affican slaves that were vietimized in Mexico and helped liberate the Mexican people 104 Sate of Inde- pendene. To all Iatemationalists, Che Guevara, Colita-Lebron, AL bizu Campos, Emiliand Zapata, The Brown Beret, Young Lords, Independistas, Macheros, AIM, Zapatistas. ALKON, and al those hot mentioned! the Life, Enerpy and Strength of your pastsacrifices eminds us hat the sruggle is 4 continuous eycle: 00 yers and it stillain't stopped. Our people have fought agains colonialismn, hunger and ignorance and for human dignity. Let us not keep their Hames in vain. Let s carry their names ino our deaths Anthony Montanez (Rey Tokatzin) #1362332 Connally Unit 899 FM. 632 Kenedy, Texas T8I USA 40 ISSUE 19 Part 2: Fighting Strategy to Defeat G8/G20 Global Im- perialist KKKorporation BY DANNY BONDS Inadherence to General Malcom X, the G8/G20 resistance. movement must speak the language of the enemy (. the nations. mulinational corporations and banking insitu- tions that make up the GB/G20 Imperialist Kkkorporation): Peace when they speak pedce. violence when they speak violence. “The successful protest marches, alles and demonsteations in Tunisia and Egypt his January and February 2011 show that such forms of peaceful resistance may be cffective in bringing about revolutionary change, ot in asserting people power on the national andr global scale. However, i and Wherever such peaceful protest marches, demonstations. and activism are met with oppressive or violent stae re- pression (1. Lybia, Syria, and Ivory Coast etc). the Re- istance Movement must initite/conduct a well-organized urban guerrilla war campaign against the G8/G20 Kiklan on'a national or global level. There are three asttutions” to the GR/G20. Kiklan that come casily to mind that GS/G20 resisors can and should use 10 asset people power on the national and/ or global scale. They are: 1) The Millions More Moverment (wwmillionsmorémovement org); 2) The US. Social Forum/World Social Forum (wivwuss2010.0r); and 3) The Left Forum (www leftforum.org). 1 would rge all GS/ G20 resistance comrades 1o join forces/collaborate with one or more of these aliermative institutions. help build and trengthen them, and use them o5 the vehicle for ighting. defeating, and replacing the G8/G20 Global Imperilist Kikorporaton. In 4strugglemag #17, page 4344, the 4SM editor spoke in his response to my “Fighting Stfategy to Defeat G8/G20 Global lmperialist KK Korporation” (Pat 1), abou the na- ture of demonsizations and the different things for which people were artested while protesting the June 2010 G8/ G20 Summits. T take no issue with his analyss of the dem- onstrations in general,or the fact that people were arrested illgally simply Tor béing leaders, speakers. or organizers. engaged in lawfulpeaceful marching and démonsirations. However,the GR/G20 protests and demonstrations must be planned and conducted in such 4 Way a5 to avoid or mini- nize all unnecessary arrests or other State atacks. The risks involved in anti-G8IG20 protests, demonsra- tons and marches should be identified and \eighed be- forchand and these resistance activties planned and con- ducted in accordance with a cost-benefit assessment that secks (0 get maximum beneft from every contribution or saceifice, and (0 avoid or minimize al unnecessary loses o attacks on our comrades. GBIG20 protesters should not make themselves open invitations, easy target, or likely victims of foreseeable aress or violent attacks by police. security. o inteligence forces. This is especally rue when Such counter.revolutionary forces can be manoeuvred, andor evaded by the plans ct ing ofthe proests, demonstzations. and marches in.aplace, ime, and manner that put counter revolutionary forces at their Weakest point. Just because the 2010 GR/G20 Summits e in Hunts- ville and Toronto does not mean that the protests had to be staged at the same place instead of in a ity or couniry more hospitable to ant-GR/G20 protesors. Neither did the time of the protests have to coincide with the tme of the ‘GB/G20 Summits. nor protestors have to engage in direct- action confrontation or encounters with the opposition in order for anti-GS/G20 protests to be elfective and suc- Cessful. The time of the protest demonsirations could have been weeks or months before or after the Summits, and the manner of protesting could have been demonsizai marches, ralles, or conferences (1. World Conference. on Racidm) held at or in safe, neutral or allied teritory Where the opposition would not be able to carry out repres- sive activiies against G8/G20 protestors. (Note: CIAIU'S ‘Special Forces Invaded Pakistan o assassinite Osama bin Laden). Most fundamentally. any sctual confrontation or engage- ment with the GR/G20 Kkklan and or thei police, secu- sity, and intelligence forces should be conducted from 4 position of equal o greater power, whether these be direct, indirect, open or covert prolesurésistance actviies. It s neither \ise nor revolutionary for GR/G20 protesios to engage the enemy from a position of weakness when bet- e options remain available. Like Shaka Zulu, the Great Afrikan King and military strategist, the G8/G20 resis- ers must always fight from a poston of equal or greater power by always dictating, determining, and controlling when, where, and by what methods (terms) the war wil be fought, such that We are not fighting from position of weakness. and the superior power of the enemy is effec- tively off-setor circumvented. Finally, G8/G20 protestors and other comrades who com- it t0 armed revolutionary siruggle should assume the character, srategy. and tactics of the guerilla Warrior, s iheseapiy o ghing il and b s and o0 the local. regional. be done instead of engaging the enemy i counter-tevolu- tonary or sell-defeating confron erucial that comrades seriously study the following: 1. FBI secet wars againt the US. Commnist Pary. Black Panther Pary and Blsck Liberaton Moverent. Native Amercan Tndian Movement, Wte Lt a1 ASTRUGGLEMAG Groups, and American Muslims 2. CIAUS. Milary operations and wars aginst revo- Iutonariés, insrkents. and suerilla warsors in the Niddle Bt Afaka. i, and Latn America 3. CIAUS. Milary global war against Al-Quids. and Operstion Jetonime wheren CI and US. Specil Poroes asassinated Osama bin-Laden From this study, comrades should acquire knowledge of the denites, capabilites, weakenesses, and methods of the GR/G20 Kiklan and thei police. securit, and inteli- ‘zence forces. and furthr learn revolutionary and guersilla tactcs and sirategies required (o insttue 3 revolutionary insurgency and defeat counterinsurgency of the opposi- ion. Such study and preparation is most ritical. As previ- ously tated, we have enough politcal prisoners. prisoners of war and martyrs aready. We ned not add o these if no extraondinary or special reason jusify it and if it can be ‘avoided by more effective preparation and exect Free the Land! Reparations Yes! Death to White World Supremacy (Racism)! Death to Inperialism! Allahu Akbar! Allihu Akba! Truth is Revolutionary BY TERRANCE E. WHITE (COMRADE TEE) Thinking people choose to guide ther political awareness and activity by one of two basic assumptions: coercion, force, slavery, and oppression are acceptable or they are ot Human society iseither driven by mutual sid o some form of predation. Examples of both abound throughout history ‘and among personal rlationships. One is sustainable and benelicial and facilitates the flowering of all things good and the other drags our world toward demise, destroying Tife and making it miserable instead ofjoyous and creativ. ‘or Empire o predator or whatever you want (o s the quintessential en-laver of this carlh. It is Hiler's dream come true. A white, ultra capitalist pover dominates and acts s Nazi-esque enforces. To some, ths is good thing and they develop elaborat systems o justfy it and obfuscate the iruth. To them, slavery is freedom and. war s peace. Every second of our ives is bombarded with their propa- zanda, mixed with threats and countless examples of what Can happen to you i you don't £0 along with the program. “The world gets bombs and we get bars. Their object is Kill off hope of @ better world, while revelling in obscene wealth and the “thrill” of oppressing humanity. I'm talk- ing about the people behind the curtains — the policymak- ers. They may even have bought nto the propaganda that leads them 10 think they are doing the opposite. helping ‘humanity. Paul Wolfowitz. recently appointed 10 the U.S dominated World Bank, claims this group is interested in “ending povety” when in fact it docs the opposite. This malkes for 4 deeply pathological society “The murder of ens of thousands,even millions of people s outside judicial prosecuion, as Committed under the ageis of the State, as is the thefof billions of dollars by them and their corporate sponsors. Steet crime. on the other hand, is viciously prosecuted to the point whete We now have 255% of the world's prisoner population—2.2 million souls—warehoused in dseadful torture chambers. Where rape. violence, and disease are pandemic. I is domestic oppression of the highest rder. Abu Ghrai and Cook County Jil have similar objectives ‘and tactics. They are meant to keep the poor people down! “The punishment industry is ground zero in the war. here in the United States. The most oppressed e also the most Knowledgeable and insightful and that is why 1 work close- Iy with them. 1 want o learn and disseminate the truth t0 domy par Prisoners are classfied as slaves, sanctioned by the 13th Amendment o the Constitution, which we have been told Wwas meant 1o abolish lavery! “This i the implementation of policy to neutralize the threat from the oppressed communities. Young Blacks have had thei very existence criminalized. One third of all Black men i their twenties are ether incarcerated, on probation, o on parole. In some cites, this igure s well over S0%. Even the staid incarceration experts in the universiies cal it “frenzy 1o incarcerate.” It 1 4 holocaust sitation and most non-Black people do not even know o care. That is demented. A sinila situation is forced upon others Who are not wiling t0 be brainwashed and plugzed obediently into the system, such as Native Americans. Spanish speak- 12 people. and youns people. But, there is no such thing as “white people” and We 100 are buman beings who should demand our own selF-respect and not whore ourselves out 10 such hideous bulles We are oppressed 100, as wage-slaves, taxpayers and drones. A vacuous, hedonisic, materilist cullure is 4 Shamelul price o pay for acquicscence. Truth s revolut Termance E. White #200632909 SWDC. 30755 B Auld Road Murrieta, CA 92563 USA a2 ISSUE 19 Paying the Pric Feeding the Children of Iraq BY KATHERINE HUGHES, dhafirsial v February 26, 2011 masked the eighth anniversary of the imprisonment of Dr. Rafil Dhaie s he continues 10 pay the price for feeding the childsen of Iraq during the U.S - and" UK -sponsored UN sanctions against that county. His chariy, Help the Needy (HTN). openly sent food and medicines o starving civiians in iraq during the brutal embargo. 1.did not know Dr. Dhafir before atiending virtually all of his 14-week trial. The demonization of Muslims in the US. in the post-9/11 period, and the fact tht the govern- Without bring- ing any charges. made it imperative for me o tiend. | have had a passion for the preservation of civil iberties since waiching a documentary. 4t the age of 14, of the Allies oing into Bergen-Belsen, and for 38 years T have been 4 Voracious reader of first-hand accounts of what happened in Germany in the 1930s. 1 knew tht should anything like s happen in my lifetime, | wanted no partof i Dr. Dhafr was born in Irg in 1945. He completed medi- cal school before immigrating to the U.S. in 1972. and has been a U.S. citizen for more than 30 years. An oncologist inan underserved community. he frected many people for free, paying for expensive chemotherapy out of his own pocket He is a pillr of the central New York Mustim com- munity and a well-known natonal and international figure. ‘Alhough charged with only white-collar crime, Dr. Dhafir was held without bail for 19 months before tral, which ealy impeded his ability to prepare his defense. The proceedings showed him to be devout man of com- passion who was highly esteemed by all his associates, nd the message his conviction sent 0 the Muslim community cannot be oversiated D Dhafir was convicted of 59 counts of white-collar crime (the_government. had made a mistake in one of the counts, and the jury was not allowed to deliberaie on i0) and is currently serving 22 years — for s erime he was never conticted of in 4 court of law, money laundering 1o help terrorist organizations — in 4 special Communica- ton Management Uit that houses almost exclusively Muslim andlor Atab prison- Before attending this tial, 1 spent my en- tire life secure in the knowledze thal my il rights would always be respected. 1 o longer believe this o be true. Dr. Raiil Dhafe Iraq under sanctions and Dr. Dhafir’s humanitarian response ‘Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait on August 1, 1990, and on August2,U'S. sancions against Iraq Were put n place. On January 17,1991 the firt bombs of the Gulf War were dropped on Baghdad. Before this war, the people of Traq had 5 standard of living comparable 1o many Wesiern countries. Although a brutal dicatorship, the government provided universal healthcare and education, including college. for al it citizens. There was vitually no iliter- acy, and the education and healh systems were the best in he region. “The result of the war was total devastation: more bormbs were dropped on lraq in & six-week period than were dropped by al partes during World War I In otal, these: Were at Jeast six times more powerful thin o dtomic bombs. Many types of bombs were used, including ones containing dépleted uranium (DU), the wiste mater ffom nuclear plants; hundreds of tons of DU ammunition now lie scattered throughout Irag. The DU dust has entered the food chain through the soil and the water, and as 1 sesult many formerly unknown diseases are prevalent in Trag. Many pregniant wommen deliver babies as carly as six monihs, and many babies are born with terrble deformi- es. Cancer rates increased dramatcally. (These effects have been compounded by the current war in Iraq.) All major bridges and_communication_ systems vere bombed, making communication both inside and outside the couniry extremely difficult. The waer purification sys- tem was bombed and the UN never llowed it o be rc- paieds s a result, 15 years' Worth of raw sewage piled up in the sireets and resulied in much disease and death. pasticularly among the young and very old. Hospitals and schools were not spared, and as a resull of the bombing. and the sanctions, the health and education systems in Iraq Wwent from being the bestin the region 1o being the worst. According to the United Nations' own atstcs. every month throughout the 19905 6,000 children under the g of ive: in Iraq were dying from lack of food and access o simple medicines. Three senior UN. offcials resigned because of what they considered “genocidal” policy azainst Iraq. The United States led the ef- fort 0 place restictve sanctions on Irag. and when Madeleine Albright, then-US Ambassador o the United Nations, was asked in a CBS interview if the deaths of half & million children were 4 price worth paying 10 punish Saddam Hussein, she infamously replied, 1 think ths is & very hard choice, but the price - we think the pric is worth it.” When the deaths of children over the age of five and adults 43 ASTRUGGLEMAG are added. the number killed s direet resultof the sanc- ons rises 1o between 1.5 and 2 million dead civilans. i was in direc response to this humanitarian caastzophe that Dr. Dhafe founded the Help the Needy (HTN) chs and for 13 years he worked trelessly to help publicize the plight of the Iragi people and to faise funds t0 help them. According 1o the government, Dr. Dhlic donated 31 4 mil Tion of his own money over the years. Government Duplicity From the outset o the case, the government was duplici- tous. Using unfai tacties and innuendo, and aided by 1 compliant media.the government transformed Dr. Dhafir's ‘Community image rom 4 compassionate humanitisian into that of crook and supporter of terrorsm. Sexen government agencies investigated Dr. Dhafir and Help the Needy for many years. They intercepted his mail. e-mail, faxes, and telephone cills; bugged his office and hotel rooms: went through his trash; and conducted physi- cal surveilance. They were unable 1o find any evidence of links (0 terrorism, and no charges of Lerrorism were ever brought against Dr. Dhafir. Yet he and other HTN asso- ates were subjected to high-profile arrests in the carly morning of February 26, 2003, just weeks before the US. invasion of Iraq “The fes indictment against Dr. Dhafir contained 14 charg- es related only 10 the Irag sanctions. Later, when Dr. Dhafir refased 1o aceept 4 plea agreement, the government piled on more charges. and he eventually faced @ 60-cou in- dictment that ncluded violating federalregulaions relaed 10 economic sanctions imposed agains Iraq, money faun- dering, mail and wire fraud, x evasion, visa fraud — all relaed 0 running the charit - and Medicare fraud. Medicare charges usually involve fictitious patients and made-up illnesses: Dr. DRfic’s case had none of this. The. overnment. never contested that patients received care ‘and chemotherapy. ts argument for all 25 counts was that because Dr. Dhale was sometimes nol present in his of- fice when patients were treated, the Medicare clain forms. were filled out incorrectly. and he was thus not due any seimbursement for treatment or for the expensive chemo- therapy his office had adminisired. Inconsistencies in the government's position were a star- ling feature of this case from its inception and suzgested 1o possibilitis: either one hand of the government didn't Kinow whal the the was doing,of the government was de- liberately sming to deceive. The fact that, once conviction was successully achieved, the disrit atiomey and local prosecors claimed it as 4 successful prosecution in the Ear on terror” suggests that the government's duplicity Wwas a strategy from the outset. What you can do ‘Weit 1o Dr. Dhafir and let him know that he is not orgot- ten and that his humanitarian work is appreciated: Rafil Dhatir, 11921.052, PO. Box 33, Terre Haute, IN 47808 USA Dr. Dhafir's case will soon be coming back to court for resentencing: write o the judge asking for eniency (eters Should be submitted to Dr. Dhafir's lawyer and not directly 10 the judge): www dhafiiial netwrite o-judge-mordue My Friend Marguerite BY JAAN LAAMAN “Marguerite Cole Koester, 84, died peacefully surround- ed by her family on January 6, 2011.” Marguerite was a friend of mine. a frend of sm and political prisoners in general. 1 got to know Marguerite almost 20 years ago, when | was in Leavenworth Peni- tentiay. n'the early 19905, The Guardian (independent radical weekly) newspaper, ran a series of aticles on po- Tticalprisoners in the United States. | was feaured in one article and as result, received a good handful of letters ftom various random people. Marguerie Wrote o me and We never stopped cortesponding. ‘She was it older than me and shared many interesting ‘and informative stories about atitudes, life and struggle before and during World War 1L Margurite was aconsis- tently progressive and justice stiving individual. She was a supporter o poliical prisoners. an anti-war aciivist and Seriously disliked George Bush and his wars. Masguerite ruly cared about people, she cared bout his country and our whole world. L will miss my old friend and I'll end by reprinting partof her obituary from a local Akron, Ohio paper. “Born in Pittsburgh, she moved o Akron with her fumily in 1976 3nd came to consider it her home. She always said her greatest accomplishment was her nine children, who had the profound priilege to be raised by this extrdordi- nary woman. Inteligent. well read and unabashedy lib- eral in her politis, she faught us all about actvism and Social justce. She volunteered for the American Friends ‘Service Commitice and worked for Planned Parenthood. ‘She once had business cards printed tha read, “Marge Koester, Knitting and Peace Consultunt.” “Momina Blos- som” was 4 spiritual person who loved music, poety. Taughter and, above all, family. She mainiained the arl of ltter witng throughout her lfe, corresponding with iends, fumily,prisoners and well khown figues...” 4“4 ISSUE 19 A Voice for Change: The 60s, the Civil Rights Move- ment and Today BY TIM LOC, ahanbrasource org Activist Carlos Montes, a familir face in the 1960s Chi- cano Movement, moved 10 Alhambra 20 years ago because he saw it a5 peaceful enclave that was close 1o his home- base of East Los Angeles. He had a rude avakening on May 17 when the FBI and deputies from the Los Ange- les Sheriff's department exccuted a search warrant on his home. He was arrested afer the search turned up firearm. Montés speaks o The Alhambra Source on his history with activism, and what he alleges i the FBI's agenda of target- ing activists like hin, You were a co-founder of the Brown Berets. How did itbegin? I stared as a civie youth group. It became the Young Chicanos for Community Action, and then it got more in- Volled in direct grassroots organizing. Then it became the Brown Berets. and we dealt With the issues of education and police brutality. It strted smll. bt once it 1ook on 3 broader view of the political situation it rew really fast. i became part of the movement of the 605. 1 grew up in East LA. 50 © saw the police mistreating the youth. We'd eruise down Whittier Boulevard with the music on in the car and we would be harassed by the sheriffs. And in the Schools the students were mistreated and the classes were overcrowded. You were among the leaders of the school walkouts in 68. When you look at the quality of education today, in particular for Hispanic and Latino students, do you think anything has changed? Weve made some gains. but it looks like recently we've been losing ground. The orginal demands of the walkouts was that we wanted ethic studies and bilingual education. We wanted teachers and administrators that re- fected our backgrounds. We've got- ten a lot of that, but sil have the issue that public education is under- funded. 1 under attack by those who want to privatize t. And there's also the dropout rates. and the wide achievement zaps. The Mexican- American youths, the Latino youths. and the Chicano youths — they're il behind in reading and math. And with college admissions. Wwell, back then it was even worse Carios Montes | Photofrom wew:sopfbinet. L mean we weren't even going to college. We were being. hanneled into cerain trades and into the miltay. Activism must be so different these days. People have So much more access fo information. s absolutely true. There's more informarion. 1 can only semenber one book from back then that dealt ith our his- tory - Carey McWilliams' “North From Mexico.” Now we'have hurdreds of books, magazines and websites. And there’s Facebook and Myspace. The youths and orginiz- ers using Facebook and email have been able (o get more people involved. and faser. Back then we didn't ave cell phones [laughs]. We organized by getting into 4 car and driving (0 each community. But Jou know wha, the best organizing is done face-to-face. The Committee to Stop FBI Repression alleges that search warrants have been executed for you and simi- Iar activists. What led to this? “The motive is political persecution. Twenty-plus activists, back in September, had their homes raided by the FBL They had their computers and documents confiscated. It deal with thir involvement with Palesine and Columbia. ‘And of course they all refused and got lawyers and orga- nized the committee. 1 was listed in one of the search War- rants that was presented ot raid at the ani-war commitiee in Minneapolis. That's howw I got hooked into this thing. How do Palestine and Columbia figure into this? Activits were openly denouncing U.S. policies. stating with Iraq and Afghanistan. We also looked at the US. sup- port for Isracl and is teaiment of the Palestinian people. One of the eroups we formed — it was in Chicago - was called the Palestine Solidarity Group. I organizes tours for peaple to 2o to Palestine and come back to he U.S. to speak about it n forums and newspapers. | myself went t0 ‘Columbia and did the same thing. | met with human rights activists and labor activists. When I came back to LA T or. ganized several forums. W denounced the U'S. palicy of specificaly in Columbia supporting wha they call Plan ‘Columbia, where they give 4 bi Jion dollars a year 10 the Colum: bian government under the guise of fighiing the drug war. In real- ity, however, the money is goin 10 the Columbian mlitry, which is using it to fight its own people. Homan rights activiss are being Kidnapped and assassinated. “The FBIis using the pretext of our solidarity work in Palestne or Co- Tumbis fo persecute us. They say we're providing “material Sup- port” forteroristorganizations. a5 ASTRUGGLEMAG Remembering Gil Scott Heron BY JAANLAAMAN “The core of my personal soundirack in thi lie has long been Bob Marley and roots reggae. Right next 10 that music, and interwoven through the decades, has be shythens, the sounds and deflaitely the words of Gil § Heron, the cott 1t s with sadness that [ heard the brother, M. Gil Scott Heron passed on May 27, in New York Clry. e was 62 years old. Lnever knew the man personally, but from way back in the 605, when we fist heand the different sound and lyrics of “The Revolution will not be televised...he revolution will ot go better with Coke the revolution will not fight the ‘cerms that ause bad breath the revolution il put you in the driver's sea the revolution il not be televised! will ot be televised/ WILL NOT BE TELEVISED/ the revol tion will be no re-run brothers/ the revolution will be lve. we knew this brother had something (0 say. And he said it and did it in @ way like now one elie ever had before. OF ourse Gil St heron has been recognized s a pioneer of Spoken word and r3p sounds. Gil Scott created music that touched you, made you think, gave you information and insight, made you dance (00. Gil Scott Heron inspired. informed. inflamed me and so many others, with his raw, real, elevant thymes and sound. His music was about reality. about socil strugele from the US- to South Afrca and scross the world. Gil Scott understood that atisis have are going 1o miss you brotherman, but e will keep on Tistening to allyou had to s2y PS: for dsm readers who aren't 00 familiar with much of Gil Scott Heron's music, do yoursel 4 favor, get some of it and Tisten, learn and enjoy i Gil Scott-Heron A week before Gil Scott-Heron's death on May 27 a1 62,1 secorded guest vocal on a remix of his song “Third World Revolution.” L was honored, of course. 1 first met Gil when we appeared on a CBS Morning News show i 1985. I'm. typically quiet in the presence of royalty— musical o oth- ervise—s0 1 just listened careully that time and on the ew occasions e got ogether after that. Obviously. Gil's art, music and opinion formed a basis for rap music. His performances. with their adTib-lecture-po- etstyle commentary, were like his own onstage pl play. And though he didn't ke to clain responsibil Clearly i a comerstone of what we do and Why we especiall when we get it ight. No b, 1o us. ‘What gets me istha fo the past 25 years, folks had said he was so frail And yet he kept keeping on, smashing areat s, albusns and concerts. a1l of which e festament 10 his will and strength. He was and will remain a man whose powerful lines can knock you over in under 140 characters. socialtesponsibility and that culure s about this world we five and siruggle in it’s not above it. Gil Scott was & man of principle. Even though he had need of cash, he did not betray bis principles for corporate and imperil- st money. For example in 2010, afer his last album, “I'm New Here” came ot he turned down a concert in Israel, out'of solidarity with the Palestinian people and thei struggle (see “Sin Ing Tor Justice o a Lile-long Commit- by Marta Rodiguez, on page 25 of ssue 16 of 4sm, for an article on Gil Scott Heron'srefusal to play at this pro-Tsracl concer). “Think back readers: “Winter in Amer- Dust” “In & Bottle, and fuany. many more cuts. Yea, Gil Scott i ina lot of our soundiracks. We 46 KERSPLEBEDEB PUBLICATIONS Kersplebedeb » CP 63560 » CCCP Van Horne » Montreal » Quebec s Canada » H3W 3H8 web: http://www kersplebedeb.com email: info@kersplebedeb.com » Prisoners Pay No Postage Defying the Tomb Selected Prison Writings and Art of Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, Featuring Exchanges With an Outlaw ISBN 978-1-894946-39-1 386 pages paperback the re-biography of Harriet Tubman by Butch Lee ISBN 0.9731432.0-7 87 pages paperback 520.00 Let Freedom Ring Meditations on Frantz Fanon's A Collection of Wretched of the Documents from the Movements to Free U.S. Political Prisoners New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings by James Yaki Sayles ISBN 978.1.89494-632-2 399 pages paperback edited by Matt Meyer 1SBN 978.1-60486-035-1 912 pages paperback $37.95 520.00 tion fighters, Puerto Ricar the faures of the ant-colonial struggles on ereignty actiss, white anti ntinent. T 1o under i other " 11d* (James Yaki Sayles, aka Atba Shanna i, WWW.LEFTWI NGBOOKS NET www.4strugglemag.org 4strugglemag P.O. Box 97048 RPO Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6R 383 Canada