THE INSURGENT Newsletter of the Commit~ee to Fight Repression Vol. 4 No.1 Winter 1988

Celebrate International Women's .Dayl

International Women's Day 1988 Special Issue THE INSURGENT 2

The Committee to Fight Repression is pleased to present this special INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S Table of Contents DAY issue of the Insurgent! This is a chance Editorial: Solidarity with Sisters Inside ...... 3 for us to recognize and celebrate the spirit an? resistance of women everywhere fighting Special IWD Section ...... ' 6 for liberation. It is especially a tribute Chicago "Conspiracy to Escape" Conviction . : ... 23 to all those women who 'are behind bars, and Communique from Puerto Rico ...... 23 to w9men political prisoners and Prisoners-of­ Puerto Rico 16 Update ...... 24 War who have sacrificed their freedom so that Dr. Mutulu Shakur and Marilyn Buck Trial ...... 25 others might be free. Statement from Greg Boertje, Plowshares Activist .. 26 This issue of Insurgent is also special Prisoner Education Project on AIDS Press Release . . 27 because of the contributions from various political prisoners/POW's ~s well as some of their visitors. The pages of Insurgent are al~ays open to writings from , the political ' prisoners and POW's. But, in honor of IWD, . we made a special 'request for contributions. Th~nks to all those whose poetry, statements and drawings appear here. We equally want to thank anyone who sent in a contribution that does not appear here. Due to deadline • and length limitations, we unfortunately were , not able to print everything we received.

Committee to Fight Repression: Who We Are

,The Committee to Fight IRepression is an , Insurgent. We believe that: support for anti-imperialist organization that analyzes, political prisoners and POW's -- from the exposes, and confronts political repr~ssion. national liberation movements, the northamer­ We ~e ~ ieve that in order to build effect~ve , ican anti-imperialist clandestine movement, res~snance movements we need to understand the Plowshares, Sanctuary and peace move­ the u ; s. imperialist state and the dialectic ments -- is a critical aspect of all current betwe~n REPRESSION and RESISTANCE. People activities for human rights and social jus-_ don't ~utomatically resist government ' tice in this country. repression. We need to learn what we're up against and learn how to resist--from each The over 100 political/social activists and other 'and from movements allover the world revolutionaries in u.s. prisons today are who a ~e fighting the same enemy. in ~ail for their activities and actions, their commitments and beliefs, their poli­ In ani movement, political prisoners are tics and their refusal to back down. Many livinif examples that struggle' requires cour­ of them have led struggles and organizations. age ana sacrifice. We believe that movements Some were captured trying to build revolu­ can m~ture and grow from creating strong tiopary organizations that were armed and bonds with their political prisoners. Who clandestine. ' Some of the Black POW's and would oare to struggle if movements did not political prisoners have been imprisoned protect and defend those who are captured? since the 1960's, targets of u.s. COINTELPRO. We belleve that the movements must consisten­ From behind the walls, they each share our tly break through the state's isolation of visions and concerns. They daily re-affirm politij:;al prisoners, so th'at we can learn ' their commitment, sharpened by the sacrifices from people who went before and w.ho c,urre~tly they have made, and the abuse, isolation and , are in a high l~vel of confrontation wi{h degradation they experience at the hands of the state. ' guards and prison officials.

For the last four years, our group has ac­ As ,th~ Imperialist~ develop their strategies tively' worked to support political_prisoners to repress tesistance inside prison walls and POW's--from bringing support to political and" outside, " our' resistance, too, must grow. trials~ to participating in campaigns to DARE TO STRUGGLE! DARE TO WIN! fight human rights abuses, to putting -out the FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AND POW'S! THE INSURGENT 3

Editorial: International Women's Day 1988: Solidarity with Sisters Inside

March 8th is International Working Women's the'y have taken and continue to take on 'the Day, an international socialist holiday for front lines within the prisons challenge ' women. On that day in 1908, thousands of those of us who work on different fronts. women, most of them garment workers, marched The daily resistance, the battle to survive in New York City to demand better working and resist and maintain dignity that goes on conditions. Several years later, the behind the prison walls gives us strength -­ international revolutionary movement took up for if some sisters can fight on that level, March 8th as a holiday to commemorate the we can surely continue to fight as well. struggle of women for justice in the work­ place, and for dignity -- "for bread and We learn this in particular from the example roses", as the labor song goes. of those sisters who are in the High Security Unit at Lexington -- Silvia Baraldini, Susan The Insurgent is devoting this issue to Rosenberg and Alejandrina Torres. Under the women political prisoners and prisoners-of­ most severe conditions of psychological war: who they are, what they mean to our experimentation and torture, they continue movements, what they mean to us. As you can to hold their heads up. They continue to see on the last two pages, there are women assert their identities as revolutionary political prisoners and POW's from many women despite the efforts of the p.S. imper­ movements now held in u.s. prisons. They ialist state to destroy them. share the conditions faced by all women prisoners: substandard food, medical care We look as well to the Puerto Rican POW's and educational opportunties; overcrowding; who have stood fast since their arres,ts, physical abuse and sexual harrassment. They for some of them for eight years, refusing also share something with one another: all to recognize the legitimacy of colonial rule of them have committed themselves to the over their nation ortneir spirits. And, to struggle for human liberation and, in doing the sisters of MOVE, who have faced harass­ so, are challenging the traditional roles ment and isolation in prison because they and limits placed on women by this society. have refu·sedto compromise their way of life. Our committee is composed primarily of women and lesbians, and we, as anti-imperial­ ists, draw strength from this example.

With this issue, we are making a particular call to our sisters in the lesbian and women's movements who are white, to take up support of all political prisoners and POW's and to integrate it into our consciousness and our work. We think that this will make our movements stronger as we apply the lessons these sisters and brothers are teach­ ing us to our own struggle for liberation.

One lesson is that people always face risks when we decide to fight injustice, and that we can overcome our fear. There is a quota­ tion from don Pedro Albizu Campos, a leader of the Puerto Rican Independence struggle, for much of this century: "struggle is courage and saciifice" ("La luch4 es valor y sacrificio"). The risks and sacrifices are different: for some of us, it might mean the FBI tapping our phones and infiltra­ ting our organizations; for some women, it means facing the bullets and beatings of "israel" soldiers; for others, it means taking up arms against the U.S. government here at home and facing prison, and possibly death. All of the women political prisoners that we salute have made the decision to commit their lives to resistance. The risks THE INSURGENT 4 people has yet to be built to respond force­ fully. In the anti-imperialist political prisoners we see comrades who have seen that their futures are linked with the future of all humanity; that their liberation is linked to that of the most oppressed; that the terms and the timetable for the struggle for social justice are set by those who suffer most bitterly from injustice. They have looked to the national liberation movements, here in the u.s. and internationally, to find the leadership of the struggle against our common enemy, u.s. imperialism. In these sometimes frustrating times, this is a valuable example for all of us.

All political prisoners, men and women, provide us with examples of courage, but there is a particular lesson to be learned from our sister-comrades inside. They not only challenge our notions of what h~an beings can do--they challenge our not10ns of the possibilities of women. Women are taught that we are weak, that we cannot learn revolutionary ·theory very well, that we are too "sensitive" to fight on the front lines. We are taught to look for the protec­ tion of men and to have contempt for one another. We are taught to accept the insti­ tutionalized inequality and oppression that runs throughout this society: ecnomically, culturally, in every aspect. And yet, in the political prisoners and prisoners-of-war we can see women who are confronting these limitations and myths, and who are fighting as full human beings. We see women who, rather than holding back because they are responsible for children and family, have fully realized that to fight.for their children means to fight for a more Just society for all people . We see women who have committed themselves to learning to use the tools of struggle -- political theory, political princlples, and, in some cases, arms. Many are lesbians, women who have rejected the idea that only a man can "ful­ fill" emotional and sexual needs, and that women are "naturally" competitive and back­ biting. As · white anti-imperialists, we have a partic­ u~ar responsibility to and for the north­ There is a tradition in the women's and american anti-imperialist political prisoners. lesbian movements of support for politi­ Our movement, like every other movement in cal prisoners--and for women who choose the world, needs to defend our people who the path of illegal struggle--that we can be face repression because they struggle for proud of. We want to build on that tradition justice. The Committee to Fight Repression because it can strengthen our resistance. attempts to defend. all people who are attack­ ed by the government because they are fight­ In the early seventies, our communities ing . for freedom. We think that this has to resisted the FBI hunt for anti-war fugitives be a ·principle for all progressive movements. Susan Saxe and Kathy Powers, even to the point of some sisters going to jail for We . can also learn from the political prison­ refusing to collaborate with the grand jury. ers--in this period where there is relatively We hope that this resistance contributed to little mass resistance--what it means Kathy Powers' continuing freedom to this day. to hold on to revolutionary principles in a In the middle to late seventies, anti­ non-revolutionary time. As we hear each new imperialist white women responded to th~ u.s. atrocity on the news, from the support example of courage provided by Black freedom for "israeli" occupation and torture to its fighter Assata Shakur and joined the Black backing of the terrorist contras, to the movement's mobilizations to support her-­ devastation suffered by Third World communi­ came to her trials and then, in 1"979, saluted ties here at home, we share the frustration her liberation. NOw, ·we can share her joy of so •. many: that a · movement among white at her new life, free in socialist Cuba. THE INSURGENT 5 Yet, even as we celebrate Assata's freedom, • if we work on a women's newspaper or radio we need to remember that she was liberated show, we can interview them, solicit articles from prison--she did not escape all by from them, cover their trials and experiences herself--and several people are serving in prison. lengthy prison sentences, accused of being part of that political/military action. • if we have a skill--as artists, musicians, (These include New Afrikan POW Sekou Odinga; legal workers--we can offer our help to New Afrikan political prisoner Cecilio defense committees or ,other groups which Ferguson-EI; anti-imperialist political agitate in support of political prisoner~: prisoners Susan Rosenberg and Judy Clark; Italian national political prisoner Silvia • if we're part of an organization or a Baraldini; and, now on trial in New York women's center, we . can invite a speaker to City, anti-imperialist Marilyn Buck and talk about political prisoners. New Afrikan POW Dr . Mutulu Shakur.) They need our support. • We can lend our energies to the national campaign to shut down the ' Lexington coptrol unit, the Marion control unit and the new Support of political prisoners and POW's can political prison for women being built' at be integrated into whatever political work we Marianna, Florida. do, the lessons we learn from them into our own struggle for liberation as women and Integrating these sisters into our conscious­ lesbians . Some , ideas and sugg,estions are: ness and work will increase the power of 'our struggles. They can encourage us to make a • if we live in or near a city where total, radical' critique of this society, :what political prisoners are on trial or held' in is needed to change it and what we want a new jail, we can visit them, write to them, go .society to look like. They help us t~ dare to court dates. to struggle, dare to win. '

BUILD A REVOLUTIONARY RESISTANCE MOVEMENT: Communiques from the Northamerican Armed Clandestine , Movement, 1982-85

The Committee to Fight Repression has published this collection to make available the words of the organizations which have made a critical contribution to 'the development of anti-imperialist resistance. The 54-page book in­ cludes all communiques issued by the United Freedom Front, the Armed Resistan=eUnit, the Rev­ olutionary Fighting Group and the Red Guerrilla Resistance, which 'accompanied armed actions. It also includes a .foreward by political prisoner Dr. Alan Berkman. d $2.50; discounts on bulk orders THE INSURGENT 6 Message from the Lexington Control Unit By Susan Rosenberg, Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner and Silvia Baraldini, Italian National Political Prisoner

On IWD, 1988, revolutionary love and solidar­ the face of consistent divide and conquer ity to all the individuals and organizations tricks by the BOP. It is important since who have worked and supported the fight Alejandrina Torres is a member of the Puerto against the isolation unit at Lexington. Our Rican Independence Movement and has been a love and solidarity to all other political particular target of the U.S. government ~ The prisoners and prisoners of war inside the U.S. BOP refuses to recognize collective grievances and collective resistance, we refuse to be On this day we acknowledge the particular individualized and separated. An example is contributions, sacrifices and leadership that the original anti-unicor work stoppage. Our women have made to the struggle for human goal has been solidarity amongst us even when rights around the world. From Palestine to political differences have arisen. South Africa, from the Phillipines to Puerto Rico, from NY to Northern Ireland women have Building bonds with the movement outside fought against the barbarism of detaining children, against the vicious iron fist of ' We have suffered from the isolation imposed occupation, for the recognition of political by the government intensely (this is a condi­ prisoners, and in seeking justice for the tion that all political prisoners and POW's disappeared. In the past few years the face--Lexington is an acute example). Our demonstrations fo~ IWD have highlighted the only recourse has been to use our experience conditions of women political prisoners and to advance the political goals of the anti­ POW's. By doing so we are building in the imperialist struggle and national liberation U.S. a tradition of 'anti-imperialist resis­ movements: Rather than opting for individual tance to political repression. Our daily solutions, we have chosen a course of action resistance is part of this front. that promotes and highlights the demand of Puerto Rican Independence and the overall In preparing this statement we had many struggle against counter-insurgency. discussions to isolate what has allowed us to survive and resist the psychologic'al Internationalism assaults of HSU. We want to share some of our conclusions. Reading about Nelson Mandela and Walter sisulu be~ng held in small group isolation at Polls­ Fighting for our identity as political moor prison, reading of the experiences of the five Puerto Rican Nationalist prisoners prisoners in U.S. prisons, reading Assata Shakur's From the minute we were transferred here at autobiography, finding out about the exper­ ev€ry juncture and in every . interaction with iences of the German and Italian political the BOP personnel, we have emphasized our prisoners, and most important, the indomit­ political status, that being the reason for able resistance of all of them, has given o'ur special treatment and for the experiment. us solace and helped us to fight for our We assert it in team interviews, when we own dignity and to survive day by day. Our refuse to be evaluated monthly by their commitment to self-determination and the psychologist, and in our conversation with liberation of the oppressed nations has been . Quinlan when he toured the unit. We also deepened by this experience. Their advances stress this with the tours who have been have truely become our advances, and with sympathetic with our view. This in conjunc­ that we know victories are certain. Any tion with the work done on the outside has defeat of the U.S. government brings us joy forced the BOP to publicly engage in double- and a 'smile. , speak as to what they meant when they wrote about our political ideas and associations being the criteria for placement (letter from M. Quinlan to Rep. Kastenmeir, Jan. 6, 1:988) and locally when we refused to work because of Alejandrina's health, it was termed by an administrator as a "mutiny" and a "protest". Collectivity and solidarity amongst the 3 political prisoners Central to our survival has been the building of a cohesive unit, and of a united front in THE INSURGENT 7

"When you strike a woman you strike a rock" On the occasion of IWD we urge the northam,er- . ican anti-imperialist movement to examine. , " The psychological program to create a forced its practice towards the po1itic~1 p~ison~~s. ~ dependency, and to submit to the intended Without a unitary non-sectarian position in criminalization of us is failing. We have support of our recognition as political acquired through the course of years of prisoners, we are locked into a ~yc1e of participation in our struggles strong iden­ isolated defense committees and isolated tities as women. We spent years living a struggles over conditions. The lack of an different reality. A reality defined by the overall political framework makes every human need for justice and social transfor­ prisoner more vulnerable to attack and reduces mation, and for the liberation of women and the resistance to a moral position instead gay people : Our womanness is central to our of a political strategy. ' Being behind bars very beings, and in some ways it is this that should not end our contribution to the growth is most feared, and therefore attacked. The of the movement. The isolation of Lexington premeditated and vicious sexual assault has made us feel this acutely. Ultimately, against Alejandrina Torres, and Susan Rosen­ it is our identity and unity as' political berg at the Tucson prison is part of the prisoners that will allow us to overpome. special treatment against women political prisoners. Held . by 5 female guards, super­ "Only justice can stop a curse"* vised by Associate Warden Gibson, shackled and handcuffed, these sisters were forced Long Live International Women's Day to bend over while a male physician's assis­ tant rammed his fist twice up their rectums. Venceremos The women had demanded an x-ray examination and Gibson's response was "we can't get what Susan Rosenberg - northamerican anti:-imperialist we want from an x-ray." A precedent has been political prisoner set that can be repeated at any time. Every time we are strip searched, or pat down, we Silvia Baraldini - Italian national political live with the reality that they could do it prisoner again. This attack carries the same goal as HSU-FCI Lexington when the military rampages through the Ilopango women's prison raping women and children. Only our strength as women has * quote from Alice Walker, helped us corne back fighting. We carry In Search of my Mothers Garden within us decades of collective militant struggle for the liberation o£ women--it is our rock, they will never destroy it.

Nora Astorga ' 1948-1988

Nora Astorga, Nicaragua's UN Ambassador, died in Managua, on February 14 of cancer. She was only 39 years old. One of the heroic daughters of the Sandanista revolution" Nora Astorqa matured along with her nation's struqq1e into a revolutionary of international stature. It was a decade ago on International Women's Day that Nora Astorga set up one of Somoza's henchmen, Perez Vega, as a hostage for a priE?oner exchange -- an action in which Vega was executed. On this IWD, we join the millions who are remembering Nora Astorga, hearing and telling the stories of her life which become a legacy for us ,all. THE INSURGENT 8 Lexington Control Unit Update The National Campaign to Abolish the as a Prisoner-of-War does not recognize the Lexington Womens Control Unit has learned rights of the U.S. courts to determine her that con ~ truction for the new larger version situation, and so is not an actual plaintiff of "the living tomb" for women political in the lawsuit.) The landmark lawsuit is prisoners is well under way in Marianna, being prepared by the American Civil Liber­ Florida. Since last reported in Insurgent, ties National Prison Project, the Center for the situation in the Lexington control unit Constitutional Rights, and the women's has deteroriated for the women inside. At individual attorneys. The lawsuit asserts the same time, Michael J. Quinlan, Bureau of that the BOP has violated the women's human Prisons director, has displayed complete and constitutional rights through incarcera­ intransigence to the chorus of protests from tion in the "living tomb" and the use of' churches, human rights organizations, the psychological torture, because of their progressive legal community, women's groups, political views and activities. The lawsuit concerned Congressional members, represen­ will be effective in raising media attention tatives from national media, and community to the situation, in targeting the federal activists from around the country. Since Bureau of Prisons, based in Washington, D.C., November, Quinlan has asserted that the unit and in ,exposing the BOP's new plans for women at Lexington will be "phased out" of exis­ political prisoners in Marianna, Florida. tence as soon as the new maximum security prison for women is completed in Marianna. At the same time, interest continues to grow Located in a desolate part of Florida's among concerned members of Congress, as panhandle, just below the swamps of Georgia, family members, churches and others press ,the Marianna unit, which will be placed Rep. Robert Kastenrneier (Chair of the House within a larger federal complex for men Judiciary subcommittee that deals with (also under construction), is due to open prisons and human rights abuses) for a sometime in late Spring. . Congressional hearing on Lexington and the soon-to-be-opened Marianna unit. A "20/20" For the last month, within the Lexington (ABC news) team went to Lexington on Jan. 21 unit, a struggle has ensued between the 3 to interview the women prisoners and prison political prisoners, Susan Rosenberg, officials, in preparation for a planned Alejandrina Torres, and Si lvia Baraldini, segment on the show. and the prison authorities over the continu­ ally abusive treatment of Alejandrina, who For more information on the ongoing activi­ suffe~s from several heart ailments. She ties of the National Campaign, contact the has refused to work, cleaning and s'crubbing NCTATLWCU, 294 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY the unit, and has demanded a medical idle. 11201. The authorities, to this point, have not granted Alejandrina this. In solidarity INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY MARCHES & DEMOS with Alejandrina, Susan and Silvia have also refused to work. All three were placed in the hole, which under the already stark CHICAGO circ umstances, means complete lock-down, no cigarettes, no personal papers, no TV, Tuesday, March 8 no contact with ~ven each other, fewer phone calls. In other words, even more Starting at 12 Noon heightened isolation. While some resolu­ tion of the situation is pendi ng, and Gather at the Federal Building (Dearborn further medica l evaluation of Alejandrina & Jackson). ensue s, Susan and Silvia are convicted of SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA refusing "the order to work" by the prison, a serious charge. Saturday, March 5 Meanwhile, demonstrations on International Demonstrate at Pleasanton Federal Correc­ Womens Day , focusing on the demand to shut tional tnstitute (30 miles west of the Bay down the Lex ington control unit, are planned Area), at 2 p.m. for Chicago, New York City, and in San For more info on carpools and directiong, Francisco. The San Francisco demonstration call: (415) 420-7939. will take place outside the gates of the FCI Pleasanton, where currently 4 Puerto Rican SF Bay Area demo ,sponsored by Women Against women POvl's (Carmen Valentin, Haydee Torres, , Imperialism and IWD Coalition. Dylcia Pagan, and Lucy Rodriguez) and two women northamerican anti-imperialist polit­ NEW YORK CITY ical prisoners (Laura Whitehorn and Linda Evans) are imprisoned. Saturday, March 5 Starting at 1 p.m. As Insurgent goes to press, a federal lawsuit is about to be filed in Washington, D.C. Gather at Washington Sq. Park (4th Street federal court against the Bureau of Prisons and University Pl.). Women march to and the U.S. Justice Department by the women Metropolitan Correctional Center at 150 at Lexington for cruel and unusal punishment. Park Row. Rally for women and men in (Alejandrina Torres, because of her position front of the MCC at 3:30 p . m. THE INSURGENT 9 An Essay on Moral Courage By Alberto Rodriguez Puerto Rican Prisoner of War. FCI Lewisburg

With the phrase "La Patria Es Valor Y Sacri­ Alex's sacrifice of her personal liberty. a ficio" (The fatherland is courage and sacri­ life which encompassed an illustrious family fice), Don Pedro Albizu Campos revealed the and a rich participation in people's struggle. fundamental characteristic of the Puerto was never seen by her as a privation. She Rican revolutionary. Unfortunately the under­ viewed sacrifice for freedom as no sacrifice standing of this character has been simpli­ at all for a worse sacrifice is to live de­ fied and dis~orted. Courage is construed to prived of freedom. Alex taught and continues emphasize its physical aspect ignoring the to teach through example that courage and more important moral element, while sacrifice sacrifice is not something one does at spe­ is given a quasi-mystical attribute. I have cial occasions but something done every day. always felt uncomfortable with this inter­ It is an 3ttribute which guides the revolu- pretation. It took my experience of being . tionary's life in all aspects. Her commit­ imprisoned with the patriot, Alejandrina ment to the stiategy of people's war which Torres, in the Chicago M.C.C. t o witness vi­ she manifests in the finest manner through vidly the true meaning of the Albizuista the posi t ion of prisoner of war, is an exam­ · dictum ~ ple of moral courage greater than any in­ stance of physical courage. One's first experience with imprisonment floods the mind and senses with distressing Alejandrina Torres - woman, mother. wife, and perplexing impressions. This was aggra­ soldier, patriot and prisoner of war - is our vated by our isolation, being secluded in generation's contemporary demonstration of sensory deprivation cells. It was agonizing the Albizuista conception that the supreme knowing th~t Comrade "Alex" was confined in qualit of humanity is courage. an all men section and to compound this out­ rage in the infamous "box cars".

Over a month passed when a guard escorting me to the showers took me into the section that Alex was in. As I walked down the tier I peeked through the cell's porthole. Finally I saw this slight figure sitting on the bed, nose buried in a book. I tapped on the door and when Alex saw it was me she jumped up off the cot and ran to the door. We laughed, joked, conversed seriously and in less than five minutes shared a lifetime of love, hope and faith in the righteousness of our strug­ gle. At that moment her youthful smile, optimism and high spirits lifted me up and gave me the valor to continue. Now with hindsight I recognize that much of my special concern over Alex in those first few months in the "hole" was rooted in my own sexist perception of women.

Through the next two years we shared many ex­ periences. I saw her physically deteriorate due to the horrible conditions of her con­ finement along with the petty harassments she endured daily. I saw her after two brutal and vicious attacks by . prison guards, in­ flicting to her mind and body what the yankis have perfected in Chile and Argentina. We also shared intense. and emotional political struggles which brought anger, passion and tears to us~ But for Alex this was not a weakness but a strength, a reaffirmation of our humanity and courage. Drawing by Mary Patten THE INSURGENT 10 Poems By Marilyn Buck Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner MCC/NY

TO WOMEN WHO WORK

In the winds of whirling dust Old young whipping New Yorker streets women sitting 6n stoops Myriad women too young babies in arms tossed by the tangible singing strident sonatas of dreams which determines our lives dreams burdened by blues burning blues Young old in. eyes mirroring expectations lived by young women Old dancing dreams of vogue women sitting on stoops miss amerika stooped by lives of labor too much for too few bearing children in tenuous tenements while old women bent over assembly lines and young women sit on stoops cleaning washing cooking needing for old women . slaving in sweatshops in Savannah who whirl through Bloomingdales San Juan Seoul spending shopping searc~ing for spinning out the desires of chalices of youth and beauty old women young women of class obssessivedesperation over depreciation who need nothing and obsolescence and want everything. oblivious to value

"UNTITLED" Tawanna, young Black woman workers campesinos your people kidnapped raped enslaved you who bear the scars of too much and by men who proclaim manifest destiny too little to rape the world to reap millions crushed in riverbeds of bodies young and old from you children of Africa Some who breathed scarcely a moment whose nightmares built this empire some whose breath was tortured your dreams swallowed by ocean depths by a lifetime of Death Squads and duenos. you who arose from death beds of slave ships to cold chained captivity Yanira, young Salvadoran woman claimed by cotton kings and klansmer. fleeing ,nightmares of death to fight the deathly silence Tawanna, young Black woman your footsteps followed by' Death Squads born in Amerika cloaked in CI~ silence still you must flee to rape to torture klansmen carrying badges hiding to shatter dreams ,of justice. in back rooms of police stations ~ they rape they torture Rape torture recalling deadly nightmares of centuries can not kill to shatter dreams of justice the seeds of justice nurtured I by our tears rage resistance. Yanira, young Sa~vadoran woman your nation, raped tortured ransomed by men who proclaim they are saving you from 'you THE INSURGENT 11 Letter to Judy Clark

By Sara Kaplan

The Insurgent invited me to write about my experience visiting a political lprisoner, iPoems Le. you. In 500 words or less., How can I describe what it is like? Being asked by by Judy Clark the armed guard to show my I.D. ; "state my Northamerican Anti-Imperialist R:)lItical Prisoner business," leave my purse and newspaper in the locker, wait for him to call someone else FCI Tucson before they open the gate. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, show my I.D., give your name, empty my pockets, walk through the NOT YET A NEW YEAR POEM metal detector, and go into the jail. More guards, more guns, more waiting. I hear No way to write a poem your laugh before you come through the door. perched on a precipice, And then, you're here! Now that you're not suspended in a vacu~m in segregation we don't have to sit right in sealed waystation on a front of the guard station. You tell me they've doubled the population of Bedford journey charted by madmen and machines in the last 2 years but haven't expanded the When I find my way visiting room or visiting hours. I study to make it my own your face, getting used to seeing you again, Then, and listen to your wonderful Brooklyn accent. it will be a new year and I will write my poem So nu? How to share a year's worth of living in a few hours. Tears and laughter. We get 1-2-88 Judith Clark snacks from the vending machines and joke because last year I called you a cheap date and burned the popcorn in the microwave. Sometimes, deep in conversation, I forget The Sgt. said t ~ at I am sitting inside a prison. A guard "You're going on a trip." passes by. He makes a joke, and you laugh. My knees threatened to buckle Then you ask when you are going to the den­ as they clamped the black-boxed tist. You've Deen asking for 2 months. It's shackles round my waist and wrists. a good thing it's not too serious, you say, your voice rising. Another woman died yes­ No time to pack terday, due to lack of medical care. The I travelled light. guard shrugs and walks away. Yet heavy laden \vi th home Many of the women say hi to you as they walk - and the Box - to meet their visitors. One is getting out safely secured next week. You congratulate her and smile at where I can't be her daughter. So your mommy's coming home pillaged. soon! Amazing, you say, smiling a~ the woman. I look away, thinking about you and Harriet. 1-22-88 Judith Clark "Visiting hours are over in 5 minutes." You talk faster. We don't get up until the last minute. Hug goodbye again, trying to stop time. You walk away from me, stop and 'turn and wave and smile. I wave back. I try to keep from crying until I get out of the Judith Clark is a Northamerican anti-imperial­ building. I tell my lungs to breathe and my ist political prisoner who is serving life in feet to walk. Look back at the rows of chain prison. She had been at the NY prison for link fence topped with razor sharp barbed women at Bedford Hills for 4 years, the last wire. It's a beautiful day: blue sky, yellow 2 in solitary confinement for "conspiracy to and red leaves, green grass. Even the razor escape". Two months after her release ~rom wire glitters in the sunshine. Right now I the hole, she was unexpectedly transfe~red feel like it's wrapped around my heart. to the federal prison at Tucson, Arizona. THE INSURGEN,T 12 Assata: An Autobiography Excerpts

Assata, An Autobiography, opens with a vivid On the third or fourth day, most o f my trou­ description of the events of May 2, 1973. bles came to an end. We ll, not really, but On the New Jersey Turnpike state troopers the punch, bang, poke, and prod part of my pullover a car. Inside were three Black troubles ended. A nurse with a German accent revolutionaries - Assata Shakur, Zayd Malik carne to my aid .... Shakur, and Sundiata Acoli. There was a shoot-out. Zayd was killed. Assata was "Anytime you need me or need anything from wounded and captured. Sundiata escaped on the nurses, just press this button," she foot. said. "Don't be afraid to use it," she added, giving me a knowing look .... "There were lights and sirens. Zayd was dead. My mind knew that Zayd was dead. The air Two Black nurses were very kind to me. When was like coid glass. Huge bubbles rose and they were on duty, they would go out of their burst. Each one felt like an explosion in my way to make sure i was all right. They made chest. My mouth tasted like blood and dirt. frequent trips to my room, for which i was The car spun around me and then something especially grateful during those first days. like sleep overtook me. In the background i · could hear what sounded like gunfire . But i "If you need anything, just ring," they said was fading and dreaming. knowingly.

Suddenly, the door flew open and i felt my­ One night one of the nurses carne in and gave self being dragged out onto the pavement. me three books. I hadn't even thought about Pushed and punched, a foot upside my head, a reading. The books were a godsend. They had kick in the stomach. Police were everywhere. been carefully selected . One was a book of One had a gun to my head . .... Black poetry, one was a book called Black Wo­ men in White Amerika, and the third was a I felt myself being dragged by the feet a­ novel, Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse. When­ cross the pavement. My chest was on fire . My ever i tired of the verbal abuse of my cap­ blouse was purple with blood. I was con­ tors, i would drown them out by reading the vinced that my arm had been shot off and was poetry out loud. "Invictus" and "I f We Must hanging inside my shirt by a few strips of Die" were the poems i usually read. I read flesh. I could not feel it.

Finally the ambulance came and they moved me into it .....

The hospital is glaring white. Everybody i see is white . .. . Two detectives come in. I know they're detectives because they look like detectives ....

"I know you can hear me and I know you can talk, and if you don't hurry up and st3rt talking, I'm gonna bash your face in for you."

My eyes fly open in spite of myself. Immedi­ ately they are all in my face, throwing ques­ tion after question at me. I say nothing. After a whiie, i close my eyes again.

nOh, she doesn't feel good," one of th~m says in a sweet, mocking voice. "Where does it hurt ? Here~ Here? HERE?"

With each here comes a crash. I look around wildly, but no one is there. More thumps and punches, but none of them hurts as bad as my chest is hurting. I try to scream but i know immediately that that's a mistake. My chest erupts and i think i am gonna die. They go Watercolor by Tim Blunk on and on. Questions and bangs. I think Northamerican Anti-imperialist they will never stop .... Political Prisoner USP Marion THE INSURGENT 13 them over and over, until i was sure the information i was not privy to. I had three guards had heard every word. The poems were bullet holes. There was a bullet in my chest my message to them. (it's still there); an injured lung with fluid in it, a broken clavicle, and a 'pari­ When i read the book about Black women , i lyzed arm with undetermined damage to the felt the spirits of those sisters feeding me, nerves. I kept asking if i would be able to making me stronger. Black women have been use my hand again. One or two doctors said, struggling and helping each other to survive flatly, no. The others said, "Maybe yes, the blows of life since the beginning of time. maybe no." And when i read Siddhartha, a peace came over me. I felt a unity with all things living. Anyway, i was gonna live. The world, in spite of oppression, is a beau­ tiful place. I would say, "Om" softly to my­ 'ent self, letting my lips vibrate. I felt the birds, the sun, and the trees. I was in com­ STORY munion with all the forces on the earth that truly love people, in communion with all the revolutionary forces on the earth. You died . .ded, I was definitely getting better. They were I cried. even unchaining me so that i could hobble to And kept on getting up. A little slower. len the bathroom every now and then, with the And a lot more deadly. leir help of the nurse. I was still weak and when ,de i returned from the bathroom, i would flop on the bed as if i had just accomplished a 's . great physical feat. But at least now i knew what was wrong with me. During those first Excerpted by permission of Lawrence Hill & lid days i could barely ask, and when i did, they acted as if my condition were some top secret Company: Westport, CT.

Ive JUt had ) f Wo- Sister Mona Africa

I ­ by Mumia Abu-Jamal ) ­ Black Political Prisoner Ie 1St Huntington, Pennsylvania Id

Militant , fiery, foe of this system, Advocate of resistance, dead set against them; Sister Mona went to battle, No slave, yet free - Never chattel!

Fighting for freedom, Hers and others,

She sought freedom of MOVE Sisters/brothers;

For this they burned, framed, Gave her time,

Proving that, in America, survival is a crime.

January, 1988 ist

Drawinq by Mumia Abu-Jamal THE INSURGENT 14

From t.he Women of the Ohio 7 . Poems of Patricia Gros-Levasseur Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner Hartford FDC

On Getting Organized in Cayahcga County Jail International Women's Day 1988 By Fbtricia Gros. Barbaro Curzl-Laoman and Carol Mamlng Cleveland April, 1985 We send our love and solidarity to all of you here today on this International Women's Day . We wish to take this opportunity today to sa­ I was looking at you lute our beloved sisters and fellow politi­ Sister Braiding cal prisoners who are locked down behind the that ancient art walls of america's prisons. We extend our and all I could think of hands to you all - for you are us and we are was "Strange Fruit". you.

All that intelligence Of the three of us women from the ~hio 7. those wise eyes Carol Saucier Manning is already designated spent in card games to the Lexington Control Unit for poli tical undeveloped. prisoners. As political prisoners we ~ll re­ cognize that at any time anyone of us can You read about Jorge and will be re-designated to the control killed in his cell units of this country . you know how it happens - been happening . We continue to resist the insidious program Far as you know - of the BOP that has as its "mission" the 400 years isolation and destruction of our spirit our Hey - "I'm serious" unity and our commitment to Women's Lib~ra­ you told me tion and Socialism. Resistance for us has your cousin was meant REFUSING TO RELINQUISH: Beaten and OUR WILL TO FIGHT CRIMINALIZATION, Strangled and hung and OUR DIGNITY, OUR HEALTH, OUR SISTERHOOD Buried OUR SENSE OF HUMOR AND Quickly. OUR HUMANIT Y.

Ain't none of us suicidal - ,Thro'ugh our experiences as mothers and con­ sc r ous revolutionaries in our time, we have you organized me. a .great love and respect for the people of Makes me think of the world. We have hope that we can conti n­ "Strange Fruit". ue to contribute to the struggle towards a world of justice, where all people can devel­ op to their full human potential.

Been thinking of our last house We want real change in .our country, for all in clandestinity oppressed peoples. We feel a responsibility in Freedom - to work for that change. Responsibility-to it had a big porch and in the summertime effect the world our children must inherit . .. We would stay up late on Friday night. Mama would have some wine and sing Now as we begin our trial . in Springfield, Rocking with her girls. Mass., charged with Seditious Conspiracy. Traffic would race by RICO Conspiracy and substantive RICO, our ~hat dark highway - dignity and strength remain intact. We know We were so anonymous. we ~re not criminals but political prisoners The Fireflies and the stars. who have always stood for life affirming Now to capture the warm sweet caresses principles. Our spirits are stronger be­ Without the pain. cause we also know that you are all hete wi~ us. (excerpted by permission) July 11, 1986

Ed Note: Pat and Ray Levasseur, both Northamerican anti-imperialist political prisoners, and part of the Ohio 7, have On March 7, the Seditious Conspiracy trial three daughters. of the Ohio 7 will begin in Springfield, MA. THE INSURGENT 1S Mamere (Granqmother) By Raymond Luc Levasseur Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner Hartford FDC the blues say if you born under a bad sign when urban renewal flattened their apt you got trouble they built a small house in the country you born in the shadow of the mills that was pleasant for a spell till you born near a river • the mill caught up with pepere & and you got more trouble still he'd breath hard & shake & sometimes fall in the chicken coop mem~re walked thru that shadow then i'd come to lift him in my arms & to work at 13 put him in the kitchen to work you understand .where memEhe cleaned him up & as a child rolled a bull durham to breath that dust which she had to hold work that machine & cause his hands shook so much find her husband who'd been there since 13 she took him to the v.a. but neither could stand the shock an unluck~ 7 # you say? no of neglect french- canadian french-speaking catholic so he came home to die proud sensi ti ve loving hardworking & exploi ted the govt gave her the coffin flag & $22 a month pension 1 of 11 children not enuff for eye drops she'd say who had children then the little house was gone & wh o took in other children & to avoid the poor house on the hill' bro & i she moved in with her daughter, my rna when the next generation of women who worked 2 jobs to keep the wolf went into the mills and shoe factories from the door that alone should tell you something bout memere burned the holy candle strength when i was in 'nam & put it out with relief she read the cards & when i returned only told the fortunes to light it again for those with broken hearts the day i got out of prison dismal jobs & uncertain futures THE INSURGENT 16 she loved all her children before death she'd been sick holding each pf us with the feds at the docs to her bosom probing how much could she take over decades of time how many questions to ask thru 'each sickness an old mill woman celebration & of the doc bout with the blues who'd received their flyer with our kids on it her dream was that saying snitch if these kids we'd finish school come to you sick ("no quittin" she'd say) & make the great escape but all she said was from the mills "I hope I see him before I die" which some did & some didn't see - with fier eyes filled with back home where women still glaucoma & cataracts & cornea trouble hold up half the sky damn near blind but without unions pigs gone she'd retrieve on assembly lines her magnifying glass & that boss says is for look at the pictures "soft brains and nimble fingers" of underground children makin circuit boards 'stead a shoes i'd sent her with husbands more quick to split & incl her namesake where stamps help feed the kids simone eva that she'd never met she died while i was underground but loved the fbi hangin from trees cause we felt it at catholic cemetery cross the shadows & cause they knew i was close troubles to her mem'eres love helped hold us strong. but i wasn't ~here didn't even know she'd died till some pig laid it on me For more info on the Ohio 7, contact the Sedition Committee, P.o. Box 1418, Cathedr~l t~ying to pry out information Station, New York, NY 10025 Liberation By Dylcia Pagan Puerto Rican Prisoner of War FCI Pleasanton

I send a revolutionary ,embrace to all of you All genders feel celebrating today, International Womens Day. Men and Women cry My spirits are high knowing all of you out­ Men and Women can struggle together side continue to struggle against u.s. Men and, Women can fight together and Imperialism. Conditions here chan~e daily, create a new way of seeing. consistent with the inconsistency of prison life. Sometime in the not too distant Years of oppression have created a future, we will be moved to our new locale, separateness Marianna, Florida. Usually after years of that solely benefits the elite (those with imprisonment, eight for us,* conditions ~conomic power) improve, but not within the federal system. Liberation is about both of us together What awaits us is a new model "contol self~ being able tO , envision a new society contained unit." Ne,vertheless, we remain , and taking the responsibility to promote strong and extend a special salute to our change. dear comrades confined in the Lexington· control unit. I would like to share this Corne comrades, stand by each other poem I wrote with you. side by side, growing, sharing together Creating a human wall of Resistance Liberation relentless, prepared to fight, that leads to the beauty of Liberation. Liberation comes from within Long Live International Womens Day One must first realize oppression, Palestine Lives close ~ifferences Viva Puerto Rico Libre y , Socialista! the conditioning of both men and women.

I am because I ~ eel *Ed. note: Dylcia Pagan, is a Puerto Rican I feel because I am aware of the differences Prisoner of War, who along with 9 comrades, Yes we are equal, different but can grow was arrested in April 1980, in Evanston, IL to express - and convicted of Seditious Conspiracy. She the same emotions and commitment. is currently at Pleasanton FCI in California. THE INSURGENT 17

About my Sister LindQ Evans

By Susan Putter

Before I began visiting Linda at Pleasanton A~ain to you, my friend, my companera, my in California in the fall pf 1987, I perhaps s~~t7r: my commitment is lifelong. I am would have been able to write my "reflections ~m~l~ng up at you from your morning tea and on women political prisoners" as you sugges­ ~n some way always with you ... as you are ted. But now ... well, now that seems too always with me. . abstract and I can only write about this woma~~ political . prisoner: my friend,-my­ companera, py s~ster Linda.

Our comradeship has become so un-abstract! We talktalktalk for hours on end about our lives. And our lives are our work, our friends and lovers., the struggle of the Palestinians, Brian Wilson and the struggle in cen~r~l America, my clients, her quilting and wr~t~ng, our thoughts about everything big and little in our lives. We talk about my ne~ life about to begin in Texas with my boyfr~end and of how he and I will visit her in Pleasanton, in Florida, wherever we will be ab~e to see, and talk, and touch, and hug and k~ss each other. Wherever we will be able to share ourselves with each other.

That is what is different now than before I began visiting Linda every week: now it is all about o~r lives with no pretense that we can separate our loves and losses person­ ally from our loves and losses politically. We think together as equals, argue as equals, cry together ,as equals, and comfort each other as equal friends and comrades. I am blessed over and over with her involvement in my life and like to think that she feels the same about me. ·Equals.

Kn owing this woman, my friend and sister Linda Evans Linda, inside Pleasanton has helped me to become increasingly less disinterested in the passage of time and the need to take STATEMENT FROM LINDA EVANS full advantage of the gift of our friend­ ship. She has had to shelve alot of control Women political prisoners and POW's are very over her life; I am even less patient with much a part of this struggle, part of devel­ this aspect of prison than she appears to oping a revolutionary resistance. We all ~e ... perhaps becau~e I have the luxury of have a strong commitment to women's libera­ walking away from it all at the end o f our tion. We have come from the same movements visit. And yet a piece of me remains there that y ou, our sisters, are part of. The as I cook dinner and wish that she was decisions we made to dedicate our lives to sitting at the table, fork in hand ... or take the struggle for liberation is being made by a bath and think of her with so little pri­ thousands of women around the world. Every vacy ... or walk the beach and see the sunset time one of us makes this decision--to fight and long to have her at my side sharing the for freedom with her whole life--we all get moment. I am not a patient person and stronger, and victory comes closer. Women continually wonder at her ability to live a . political prisoners are in prison in every life with so many restrictions. And to have country where revolutionary struggle is to struggle so haEd for news and conversation occuring, yet prison has not stopped any of with those of us outside who can share with us from fighting. Instead, our resistance is her in such a way as to be a part of her renewed daily, and our commitment grows continuing life as a deeply political person. stronger--and hopefully will also strengthen y ou. (excerpted by permission) THE INSURGENT 18 By Marilyn Kalman I first went to see Linda Evans because a visit that's been incident free. Even though mutual friend kept bugging me to do it. I our visits are cl~ssified "atto~ney/client," contacted her, (I must admit reluctantly) they have cut them short, prevented me from offering my services as a local counsel. We giving her legal materials, admonished. her met for the first time shortly thereafter, for greeting other visitors, hassled her for (early Nov. '87) and have seen each other picking up my pens, and on one occasion almost on a weekly basis since. The new hassled her for not wearing a bra. The connection continues to have its profound prison officials have developed such expertise effects. in robbing power and dignity. Through it, Linda maintains the spirit of a revolutionary Before going to see Linda, I had never been woman; it's very inspiring. to a Federal Prison and never personally knew anyone who was a political prisoner. The Although I've been a political activist for experience has opened my eyes and my heart: many years, I feel like l've been "reorgan­ ized." My conscio~sness has been sharpened I found that the severe repression creates a so that in struggling against any form of sense of urgency that allows you to cut oppression I understand the need to support through all the bullshit and be openly com­ political prisoners. What the cops do to passionate. I'm acutely aware that she could political prisoners and prisoners-pf-war is be moved in the middle of the night without merely reflective of the general political advance notice, or denied access to visitors climate. We must stop them dead in their arbitrarily at any given time. So much tracks .... Linda Evans obviously continues to effort the cops expend in scheming on how to be an organizer~ . fuck with your head. We haven't had one· Sister By Larry Giddings Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner USP Leavenworth

January 24, 1988

Hello y' alU

Hope this finds you well. I'm enclosing a Your love singing poem for the Women's issue. I've been very through the qracks close to women that have been iri prisons, in cement blocks jails and detention centers since I was a teen. There is no doubt that our mutual I know you experience has helped to fuel our desire for and in this a more sane and healthful world. I find hope

The struggles of Palestinian women, Salvador­ Your song ean, Philippine, Native American, South reaches my ears Afrikan; the struggles of all women, are and I know known to me by way of those that are close that we share to my life. My love and regards to all the endless thought those that teach me. the hours of vision Siempre, Emotion and idea Larry Alive you struggle Sister to survive

Your voice I am filled A heart beating with your Your eyes wonder Reflecting on a future Movies on a wall I am startled A cell by in New York y<:)Ur joy in Kentucky in California Together in Arizona we are the wings in Viriginia of love in soaring THE INSURGENT 19

Puerto Rican Woman of Struggle By Carmen Valentin Puerto Rican Prisoner of War FCI Pleasanton

"A rosy-cheeked woman, here r am fighting side by side with you men, On my shoulders weighs the hatred that is common to us. The prison is my school, its mates my friends~ · The sword is my child, the gun my husband."

Minh Kai, executed by the French, Vietnam, 1941

My dear friends, comrades,

The best-kept secret in the Bay Area is being exposed today by your presence here. Yes, there are two anti-imperialist. political prisoners and four Puerto Rican Prisoners of ,I.' War being housed right here at FCr Pleasan­ miss an opportunity to feed opium to the ton. It is by design that the enemy has at­ masses. Most people here would gladly wel- ~ tempted to keep our presence and our exist­ come your presence instead, because they know ence a secret. We are living proof of the you have their interest -- freedom -- at conflicting situation of our country -­ heart. Puerto Rico. They consistently try to cover up the Puerto Rican reality, but the work of Nevertheless, in spite of all the obstacles~ . the revolutionary masses make this an impos­ raise all the freedom banners high, "Let the sibility. Their calculated plan is to put us Puerto Rican Flag Stand .Alone!" Let the . rev· ~ · away in their deepest tunnel, bury us alive. olutionary chants be heard, loud and clear. The most concrete example of the US govern­ We will be with you no matter the physical ment's plan of secrecy and destruction is distance. Presente! Lexington High Security Unit. We know that presently three women, who are cornerstones Every year, March 8th is celebrated and women of historical development -- Silvia Baraldini, are paid special tribute for all the contrib­ Susan Rosenberg and Alejandrina Torres -- lan­ utions in the struggle. In all corners of guish there. These women are the p~rsonifi­ the world, countless heroic women are cation of people's liberation struggles. The praised. I would like to mention some of the government response to daring to struggle is women that are the asource of my strength and destruction. Our own incarceration in this inspiration: Nora Astorga from Nicaragua; prison system is no more than a daily, clear Vilma Espin from Cuba; Comandante Nelida threat of destruction. Lexington, however, Anaya from EI Salvador; Rigoberto Menchu is a promise of death fulfilled. Some very from Guatemala; Winnie Mandela from South meaningful and creative actions must be taken Africa; Assata Shakur from the Republic of to bring our clear message across -- Shut New Afrika; and my own Lolita Lebron from Down lexington and Marianna Control Units! Puerto Rico. I salute them today! You must continue to work and reveal ~o the world all the imperialists' secrets of de­ I, as a Puerto Rican woman of struggle, am struction. proud of being a woman! r am proud of my en­ durance as a mother, as I am of my military The best way to salute women is by demon­ participation in the struggle. My pride in­ strating concrete support today, right here, cludes identifying with the victories of outside the very gates that keep our revolu­ these women all over .the world. tionary spirits caged away from you. Most of these women, as most of us, joined in . We cannot express to you adequately the grat­ the revolutionary struggles of our respective ifying effect of these types of concrete ac­ countries because we saw that our own survi­ tions. We are sure the enemy is well aware val and liberation depended on reachin~ the of its consequences and therefore will not two inter-related goals. We realized that in allow you to come any closer to the institu­ the grain of people's struggle everywhere is tions. They want to make sure that we don't interwoven the demand for women's liberation. get that direct charge of energy from you. Ironically, the same enemy allows a yearly We have also come to terms with the fact that sing-along of hundreds of religious fanatics when women are effectively working with those to come within close proximity of us, right that are struggling to defeat imperialism, to the first fence, to sign religious songs then and only then will our demands be suc­ to the inma,e population. They will never cessfully won. THE INSURGENT 20 I truly value the efforts of all women who Daily and allover the world we see the ac­ are engaged in the women's liberation strug­ tive participation of women increasing. Just gle: this is absolutely necessary. Yet I a few weeks ago the israeli authorities were will reiterate that it must be interrelated forced not to make any arrests of women 1n to the struggle against imperialism; other­ the current rebellion, partly because they wise it is definitely counterproductive. didn't h~ve the facilities to detain them, Years of traditional oppression exerted by but also because of the known sensitivity a­ generations cannot be wiped out until the mong Palestinians to such a tactic. Pales­ root of oppression is uprooted. In order to tinian women held marches, sit-ins, they also promote women's liberation, you need a real protected the children with their bodies, revolution that upsets the old social order held Palestinian flags during demonstrations, founded on male hegemony and contempt for interfered with arrests and beatings, and suf­ women. fered the most during the long curfews . Long Live the struggle of the Palestinian People! To think that the problem of equality between the sexes is a simple one is definitely a Women are destroying the bourgeois myth that mistake! Equality means a thoroughgoing rev­ we are weak and passive. We 'are taking our olution because contempt for women dates back destinies into our hands and helping to build thousands of years. ' It is deep-rooted in the n~iions. After eight years of captivity, I thoughts and attitudes of everyone. It can­ reaffirm my commitment to the liberation of not be done away with by coer·cion. This must my country and to the destruction of US im­ invo1 ve heart-searching b'y each one of us and perialism. I grow daily and only regret not must involve the whole. having had more time for military action in the name of my country's liberation and for That is why I take this oppoprtunity to con­ our liberation as humans. Life is not long gratulate the Movimiento de Liberacion Nacion­ enough to ever accomplish all our important a1 on their recently-adopted resolution on goals, but it is satisfying enough for me to the question of women. It has resolved "to have done my utmost. advance the joint struggle of women and men against submission and 'macho' tendencies." Long live the armed clandestine struggle! This is a very meaningful resolution and must Long live the FALN! now be put to work in the daily revolutionary Long live a free and socialist Puerto Rico! practice. Another resolution "reaffirms that Long live the many anonymous women combatants the struggle for liberation of women is not worldwide! separate from the struggle for emancipation Shut down the Lexington and Marianna Control and humanization of all people. We recognize Units! that the revolutionary process is the only vehicle to attain the emancipation of women." In Struggle Forever, I wholeheartedly support this resolution! As our movement advances, the fight for change Carmen Valentin within it .wi11 take on a richer meaning!

For Laura Whitehorn

Writing about you is like writing about I saw your hands, your eyes, your soul my life. Political Prisoner. The little things. Familiar. You cheered me up, telling jailhouse stories. Not all of us are poets words into pictures Our years of womanlove/comradeship floated us telling a story through those first years. Rebondi n g . I have lots of stories though. You always gave all to the Struggle. Now freedom. When we met "on the land"--D.C., Mayday 1971 And we never even thought we really had it. That first embrace "in public" on the Cambridge footbridge ... Freedom •.. if I could give you some of mine. Celebrating victory in Vietnam ... A small sacrifice, worth giving. So many years, so many struggles, marches, But it doesn't work that way. demos, leaflets, meetings, conferences. This is as real as staying up all those Companeras. nights. Boston. Black families' homes, Our love. We thought like no other. We waiting for the racists to attack. thought to grow ' old together . We thought. This is real. ' .

When we saw each other again Bringing us closer now, us and the other You were captured. comrades, to the rest of the peoples of Visiting you behind plate glass, we shouted the world. Fighting. Sacrificing. to hear the little things. Losing freedom. Winning it. Everything around us, unfamiliar. We will grow old together. Stronger. By Susie Waysdorf THE INSURGENT 21 To Fight for the Future By Laura Whitehorn Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner Fel Pleasanton

A year ago, as International Women's Day approached, I was at MCC-NY together witp Marilyn Buck, Susan Rosenberg, Pat Gros, Barbara Curzi-Lamaan, and Carol Manning. Yvonne Melendez and Lucy Berrios had recen­ tly (finally!) been bailed out. This year, I am with Carmen Valentin, Lucy Rodriguez, Dylci~ Pagan, Haydee Torres, and Linda Evani. The only good thing I can say about the BOP is that it has given me the opportunity to know all these amazing women . One thing that characterizes all the women political prison­ ·'·jr }'.' /'\ l . I. . .,r--"'". .,;.-" - ,. .. I f'' J' ers and POW's is that the fire that burns in ,j I:':'\ i f- l~ ' 1 I \\ their eyes--visible to all who meet them, j .. whether friend or enemy--is a reflection of I \L L_\-.J . i the future. The determination and vigor that makes women political prisoners and POW's seem "dangerous" to the BOP, FBI, judges, etc., stern from an unquenchable desire for LS liberation and justice, and from the demon­ strated willingness not just to sacrifice for the struggle, but to fight for the future. When women exhibit that level of revolution­ ONE ary ability, rejecting all the constraints we're expected to accept and obey, we become a big threat, both individually and collec­ tively . Not only don't we abide by the 'rules,' but I think the rulers themselves know that, despite all the layers of sexist brain-washing and conditioning, and, for white women, despite the material force of racism and white supremacy, women, as the most oppressed sector within the oppressed nations and the working class of the oppr.es­ sor nation, ultimately have more reason to looK at revolutionary women as their allies and potential comrades for examples, than as the "terrorists" the government wants to make us into. And if other oppressed women become our comrades, it will be in the context of growing revolutionary ant.i-imperia.list and anti-colonialist movements. Every day of experience I've had in jails and pricons for the past almost-three years has convinced me more that women of the u.s. and its colonies need r evolution.

I want to send love and special solidarity to my sisters in the Lexington HSU, and to all .. the POW's and political prisoners. Since we're not permitted to correspond with one another, I can't send my greetings more directly. To the comrades in the HSU, I want to say that I think your resistance and strength inspire all of us to take on the renewed struggle, harder and longer, to s hut down Lex and to fight the transplanting of the control unit to Marianna. I wa nt to send revolutionary greetings to Drawing by Laura Whitehorn , (Done from memory) sisters celebrating International Womens Day in clandestinity or in exile. . THE INSURGENT 22

IWD is a day to celebrate all women in strug­ gle for human rights and liberation, and so ' it makes me thing particularly about Black and New Afrikan women resisting the offensive of racism and white supremacy in New York and the Northeast--women under attack like Tawana Brawley, resisting racist depravity with courage and dignity. And of Palestinian women's resistance in the current uprising inside the occupied territories--like the ' -, women we saw on the TV news blocking the path of 'israeli' soldiers invading Palestin­ ian homes. Maybe this should be the place for some stir­ ring slogans about the revolutionary struggle for womens liberation--and there are many, because women in national liberation struggles around the world have forged the path and made heroic strides in overturning centuries of oppression. But, instead of slogans, I'd like to say the women political prisoners and POW's have been trying, in the midst of very difficult conditions, to study and struggle over the question of revolutionary strategy and women's liberation. I think that's im­ portant because, speaking as a northamerican anti-imperialist, our movement has a lot of work to do to develop revolutionary strategy and put it into practice. Those of us inside are continuing to be a part of that develop­ ment. Venceremos! Laura Whitehorn, Pleasanton FeI Sometimes it's the small things By Kathy Boudin Northamerican Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoner

She needs toilet paper and on top of his laughter and corduroy cap but you load tin cans, wet packages of cheese it's after 10:00 lock-in. and raw vegetables still The guard ' won't answer her call, with earth crumbling off-- She has' to beg him ... 20 pounds of groceries on a child's face for a piece of toilet paper. by you, who say, you're a mother, too. It's sunny outside How nice to share some broccoli and cheese Sometimes it's the small things with a friend in the yard that get to us. but it's not allowed. The guard stands with her binocular eyes Surviving the big things takes all the inner peering at each piece of joy strength that you can possibly find and · in order to burn it. develop. Outside support makes all the difference because it can change the Five to a table in the dining room-that's conditions. The support that International the rule. Women's Day can express will help change There'S 6 left at the tail of the line these conditions--for these sisters and for . so she says, "I'll sit with her." others who have experienced in other prisons The guard says, "5 at a table!" similar repression. But, needless to say, we and number 6 eats alone have each learned through hard experiences in the company of 5 empty chairs. that there is a relentlessness to the changing but continually appearing difficul­ And then there's you, a guard with a son ties facing political prisoners. Specifically, the same age as mine, 6 springs. while focusing on the present, the future, And you take a photo of my son Marianna, has begun to come into focus. Support and put it on the bottom of a brown will make a difference. paper bag and put it on the bottom of a brown International Women's Day Message by paper bag Kathy Boudin, Bedford Hills Women's Prison THE INSURGENT 23 Conviction in Chicagb ' "Conspiracy to Escape" Trial On New Year's Eve, the jury in the Chicago and "investigation" became even more blatant "Conspiracy to Escape " trial returned guilty towards the end of the trial. During jury verdicts against Puerto Rican independence deliberations, a piece of evidence against activists, J a ime Delgado, Dora Garcia, Dora Garcia which had previously been ruled Puerto Rican Prisoner of War Oscar Lopez­ inadmissible by Judge Hart, was slipped into Rivera and New Afrikan Political Prisoner the jury room "mysteriously." When this came Kojo Bomani-Sababu. Jaime Delgado~ a to light and the defense asked for a mistrial leaqer of the Puerto Rican independence the Judge refused. In another instance, the ' movement and the National Conunittee to Free FBI case agent, Michael Heard was shown to Pueito Rican Prisoners of Wa~, and Dora . have taken important defense notes, a blatant Garcia, a lso an active independence activist, ; violation of the defendant's rights. Yet, were convic~ed of three counts each , of when the FBI agent asserted that he only conspiracy and o ther charges related to an picked the notes out of a wastebasket. the FBI-enhanced escape plot to liberate Lopez­ Judge refused to question him fur~her or to Rivera and Bomani-Sababu from Leavenworth call a mistrial. Showing his collusion with federal penitentiary. POW Oscar Lopez­ , th~ prosecution and the FBI's counterinsur­ Rivera was convicted on 5 counts of conspir­ gency program against the Independence Move­ acy and related charges, and Kojo Bomani­ ment, Judge Hart denied a mistrial, say ing Sababu was found guilty of the general that if notes were in the trash, they didn't conspira6y charges. Delgado and Garcia face belong to anybody! a maximum 15 year sentence, Lopez-Rivera, a 25-year sentence, and Bomani-Sababu a maximum Despite the hostile atmosphere of the court, 5 year sentence. Both Lopez-Rivera and the extreme security measures taken out Bomani-Sababu are already serving lengthy against supporters who came to court, and federal prison sentences for revolutionary the a,ttempts at intimid'ation, the courtroom activities in the U.S. was full of spectators throughout the ten week trial. After the jury announced the Dora Garcia was allowed to remain out on bond verdi.ct, and the judge inunediately revoked pending their sentencing' on February 26, 19.88. Delgado's bond (he had been out on bond However, Jaime Delgado was imprisoned inunedi­ during the entire trial), the packed court­ ate1y after the New Year's Eve conviction. room of supporters rose up in unison to At a bond hearing held on Monday, January 4, sing "La Borinquena", the Puerto Rican Judge William T. Hart denied Delgado's national anthem. As Delgado, Bomani-Sababu request to remain out on bond pending the and Lopez-Rivera were led away to detention sentencing. As a result, Delgado continues by the federal marshalls, the throng ~f to be held in segregation at the Metropolitan singing, protesting supporters were herded Correctional Center in Chicago. out of court by the guards.

Government and FBI misconduct (see last issue Thanks to Libertad for the information of Insurgent) which marked the entire trial contained in this article.

Puerto Rico: ·Actions from Clandestinity

On January 12, 1988, offices of Citibank and Mexican Airlines we re firebombed in San Juan, Puerto Rico. These actions were claimed by the Pedro Albizu Ca mpos Revolutionary Forces. A communique wa s received by television sta­ tion WAP A. The communique,which was left in a public phone booth, took responsibility for this "military operation against the Mexican government and the Nor thamerican imperialist bank." The firebombings were to protest the decision of a Mex ican judge who ruled that t William "Guil lermo" Morales could be extra­ dited to the United States. Morales is a Puerto Rican POW from the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Naciona l (FALN), who escaped from a u.s. prison and was recaptured in Mexico. THE INSURGENT 24 Filiberto Ojeda Rios: \\lmmediate 'Tri-al or Immediate Releasell On Jan. 26, Filiberto Ojeda Rios stood before years of imprisonment before the jury could a Hartford courtroom overflowing with support­ render a verdict. Clearly this law is solely ers and contended that the u.s. federal court repressive. He pointed out the absurdity of has no jurisdiction over a Puerto Rican pa­ the government's contention that he was "a triot and that his prolonged preventive de­ danger to the community" and a "Cuban agent". tention was cruel and unusual punishment. He described his years living in Cuba where He is one of the Puerto Rico Independence 16. he was a teacher and said that the Cuban re­ Ojeda cited United Nations resolutions assert­ volution is a symbol of hope, dignity and ing the legitimacy of struggles against colon­ self-determination for other oppressed peo­ ialist domination and racist regimes by all ples. ' He expla ined how 1 i ving in Cuba gave means necessary, the right of self-determin­ him pride in being a Puerto Rican because he ation and the guaranteed release of all per­ saw a people learning the value of their own sons imprisoned as a result of these strug­ history and culture. As to being a danger to gles. He quoted the U.N. definition of in­ the community, he said, "I resisted arrest. ternational ' terrorism and the U.S. genocide There was a shoot-out. An FBI agent was convention and asked, "Who is acting as true wounded. This I will not deny. But am I a defenders of human rights, and who is destroy~ danger, to my community? No. In the first ing human rights and applies terrorism." He place I 'have stateci that when I assumep that lLsted u.s. actions from Hiroshima to the ag­ militant stand, I was exercising a right. gression in Central America. He described The home of a Puerto Rican familiy was at­ the u.s. colonization of Puerto Rico and the tacked by alien forces. This is a collective repression on P~erto Rican resistance. As he right - the strength came from a people who compared this history to the actions taken in have resisted for 89 years. I have no doubt defense of human rights by liberation forces my community is in no way condemning that. such as the Macheteros, the answer, became The only danger in my community are the main­ clear. "The United States is the greatest tainers of colonialism." terrorist on earth." Filiberto Ojeda Rios ,demanded immediate re­ In his argument against preventive detention lease or immediate trial. Oj~da noted that it will be at least five BO,P Abruptly Transfers Political Prisoners from sentencing, without a prior record of In the midst of the Chanukah and Christmas prison infractions (a BOP practice that, to season, several northamerican anti-imperial­ our knowledge, has only been carried out with ist political prisoners were transferred political prisoners). However, a legal and without warning. Judith Clark was taken from political campaign temporarily stopped the New York Sta~e custody into federal custody transfer. As we have reported in past is­ and is being held in FCI Tucson. One cruel sues, Alan Berkman, has Hodgkin's lymphoma, consequence of this unprecedented move is a cancer that is currently in remission. that Judy was abruptly separated from her 7- This disease- requires regular, thorough and ' year-old daughter, Harriet, who has visited often high-tech medical exams. Marion can her mother weekly from the time she was 10 not provide this necessary care. The BOP months old. The State claimed that the move doctors in Springfield rubber-stamped his was carried out to put Judy in higher secur~ transfer to the locked-down Marion. This be­ ~ty while the perimeter of Bedford Hills was nign neglect is a way to aid the possibility under renovation. The feds said the onca she that Alan Berkman will not leave prison alive. was in their custody, they were in charge and hinted to an eventual designation to Marianna. These transfers serve to remind us that the BOP/FBI strategists continue to implement a David Gilbert was moved from Auburn to Clin­ program for political prisoners at the highest ton on Dec. 22, in the middle of his son, levels. These tr,ansfers show some of the key Chesa's, holiday visit from Chicago. David aspects of isolation and denial: had been actively partic'ipating in a prison­ -- Isolate from the humanizing and strength­ er's project at Auburn to fight the AIDS epi­ ening relationships of families and others demic. (See p. 27) who love and visIt prisoners. -- Tsolate at times of heightened psychologi­ cal impact and vulnerability, such as the Alan Berkman was transferred to Marion Feder­ holiday season when loss and separation are al Peniteniary from the prison hospital at more acutely f~lt. Springfield, MO, on Dec.23, the day his wife -- Isolat~ and prevent political prisoners anJ daughter, Sarah, were scheduled to de­ from being effective organizers inside, such part for a holiday visit. He was initially as transferring David Gilbert in the midst of designated to Marion in October, directly his work and concern about the AIDS danger. THE INSURGENT 25 Trial of Dr. Mutulu Shakur and Marilyn Buck Continues

The RICO conspiracy trial of Dr. Mu tulu Sha­ Mutulu argued that these 1977 protocols are, kur and Marilyn Buck continues before Judge applicable regardless of the united states' Haight from Mon. -Thurs. from 9:30 to 4:30 in self-serving refusal to ratify the treaty b.e­ New York Federal Courthouse. cause they are part of a recognized interna~ tional body of law. The prosecution opened with their star wit­ ness, traitor Tyrone Rison, who tried to con­ The government refused to answer the motion · str'uct the framework of the conspiracy. To in written or oral form, saying that the de7 date the government has been presenting evi­ fense motion was frivolous, considering the ' dence concerning several armed robberies/ex ­ · stand of the u.s. congress. In response to propriations which they say were actions of Mutulu's motion, Judge Haight issued a deci­ a unit of the Black Liberation Army. They al­ sion ordering the government to respond to so presented evidence . about the daring prison whether the additional protocols of 1977 are liberation of Assata Shakur, which was claim­ applicable. This response is still pending. ed by the BLA. The defense will probably not begin its case until late March. Dr. Shakur made an additional argument to ad­ vance the recognition of political prisoner Early in the trial, Dr. Shakur's attorneys status. He analogized from the "political gave oral arguments for a Prisoner of War offense exception", which is well-recognized motion. Dr. Shakur is claiming P.O.W. status. in extradition law by the u.s. and other In a carefully documented motion, Dr. Shakur countries, to this case. According to this argued that Black/New Afrikan people in the certain offenses are purely political and not u.s. constitute a nation. Furthermore, he criminal. Dr. Shakur argued that the libera­ presented evidence that the united states has tion of Asiata Shakur clearly fit all the cri­ continuously waged war with this nation and terion in the "political offense exception" that people resisting this undeclared war are and should be recognized as a political act~ P.O.W.s.

Mutulu based his arguments on international statutes of law governing these issues. The Geneva Convention was signed in 1949 by the Update: Geronimo Pratt vast majority of nations, including the Unit­ A new effort on behalf of Black ROW Geronimo ed States. The protocols concerning P.O.W. Pratt requesting the U.S. Congress to hold status and treatment dealt with conventional Congressional hearings on Geronimo's case has warfare with regular, uniformed armies. In been initiated. Congress has the power to the ensuing era of unconventional, anti-co­ subpoena FBI witnesses and the voluminous lonial .guerrilla warfare, liberation move­ records which would expose the COINTELPRO ments and emerging Third World nat ions recog­ conspiracy against Geronimo which put him nized thG necessity to. revise these conven­ behind ba ~ s. As Insurgent reported in our tions. Algeria spearheaded this process and last issue, Geronimo's case is going before l in 1977 additional protocpls were proposed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the for the Geneva Convention. These additional very near future, but because of the past protocols addressed new standards that would history of the courts in his case, and their recognize status for guerrilla and irregular refusal to deal with the FBI attacks and armies. For example, a liberation/resistance targeting of Geronimo~ efforts have now been movement does not have to be formally recog­ turned towards Congress. nized by the power that they are at war a­ gainst in order to apply the Geneva Conven­ Express support for Congo Hearings by writing tion. Congressman Ronald Dellums from Oakland, CA and Congressman Don Edwards of California. The u.s. initially signed these additional The Honorable Don Edwards protocols in 1977~ this this had to be rati­ 2307 Rayburn House Office Building fied by Congress in order to be a forma l Washington, D.C. 20515 treaty. The Congress dragged its feet for a decade . Finally, in 1986 Reagan argued that The Honorable Ronald Dellums this treaty would pose enormous difficult~es 2136 Rayburn House Office Building to the imperialists, if signed. For instance, Washington, D.C. 20515 international bodies could recognize move­ Attn: Charles Stevenson ments, such as the Puerto Rican Independence Movement or Black liberation movement, who Please send copies of your letters to were fighting against u.s. colonialism wi thin Geronimo's lawyer, Stuart Hanlon, 241 its own territory. The Congress voted it Duboce Ave., San Francisco, CA 94103. down in 1986. THE INSURGENT 26 Plowshares Activist Goes Underground

Gregory Boertje, who was convicted last down to them. J give you a solemn warning September for his role in a 1986 Plowshares this day. that you will certainly be de­ disarmament . ~emonstration at the Willowgrove stroyed." Air Base in Pennsylvania, failed to appear at his sentencing November 17, 1987. Boertje ' Our country is destroying itself. We worship has announced that he has gone underground. the bloody god of military might. We are Boertje was found guilty of conspiracy to drunk on the blood that flows from Third damage government property, willful damage World intervention and nuclear war prepara- to government property and entry into a naval tion. military installation to damage property. Boertje, along with three others, Thomas In the Persian Gulf. our warmaking diverts McGann, Lin Romano, and Dexter Lanctot-- the accountability for the Iran-Contra scandal. Epiphany Plowshares--went through four trials War criminals reign in Washington and in the before getting convicted. The first two " military. They have plans to escalate Gulf ended with hung juries, and the third was war actions to a nuclear flashpoint. declared a mistrial after numerous courtroom disruptions by the defendants' supporters. ' In Central Ame~ica. we are responsible for Lin Romano was sentenced to two years plus the continued regional flow of innocent blood. 100 days. and she began serving time at the federal prison (not the control unit) in In Europe. the treaty on intermediate range Lexington, Kentucky on November 27. The Revs. missiles does nothing to alter the danger of McGann and Lanctot both pled guilty to tres­ plans for a 1st-strike attack. The interme­ ~ass after the second trial, had their felony diate range land idols are be~ng replaced by charges dismissed and served 100 days. nuclear cruise idols deployed at sea. Also. Star Wars research expan~s the current crisis by preparing for a 1st-strike from the heav­ Statement by Greg Boertje ens.

It is written. in the book of Deuteronomy. Although resistance can continue in prison. "When you have plenty to eat. and live in going underground is a direct way to say no fine houses bf your own building. when your to the criminal courts which safeguard the herds and flocks increase. and your silver bloody crimes of our government. In a short and gold and all your possessions increase while. I hope to witness by nonviolent direct too. do not become proud and forget the Lord­ action and will wait to be arrested. I be­ your God who brought you out oi Epypt; out of lieve that this course of action will ful­ the land of slavery. You must not say ,to fill the responsibility to resist death and yourselves. 'My Cwn strength and energy have to choose life. gained me this wealth.' For more information, contact, Epiphany "If you forget the Lord your God and adhere Plowshares Support; MCCPSJ; P.O. Sox 246, to other gods. worshipping them and bowing Ambler, PA 19002.

New Indictment of Sanctuary Movement i

On December 27, 1987 the federal government Glen Remer-Thamert, a Lutheran minister and renewed its assault against the sanctuary well-known Central American solidarity movement, by handing down indictments against activist was indicted along with a lawyer a New Mexico minister, a freelance writer and from San Salvador, Luis Ventura-Rivas. journalist, and a Salvadoran lawyer, allegedly Ventura-Rivas had helped Remer-Thamert and for their role in helping two pregnant his wife adopt a Salvadoran child last summer. Salvadoran women enter the u.S. These new At the time, two Salvadoran women had entered indictments are the government" s first major the U.S. to arrange adoptions for their legal action against the sanctuary movement unborn children. The reporter, Demetria since May 1986. when eight sanctuary workers Martinez, also indicted, became involved in were convicted in Tucson federal court. The the case while researching the sanctuary indictment is also the first to be handed . movement for the Alburquergue Journal and down in a "sanctuary state". The entire the National Catholic Reporter. She is the state of New Mexico was declared a sanctuary first journ91ist to be indicted in ' a for Central American refugees by its governor Sanctuary case. in 1986. THE INSURGENT 27 A Tale of Two Policies By Prisoner Education Project on AIDS Auburn Correctional Facility, New York

TO: News Media In August, DOCS rejected the PEP~ ?ropos~l ~ FROM: Prisoner Education Project on AIDS However, we were invited to part~c~p~te ~n a RE: Press Release (PEPA) tripartite liaison group that was be~ng DATE: January 17, 1988 formulated by the administration. In sub­ stance · the administration's group was A TALE OF TWO POLICIES design~d as a top-down approach with , little, if any, direction coming from the pr~son7rs, What kind of mentality would remain ipdiffer-" and the program had all of the charact7r 7s­ ent to the mounting casualties in prisons due tics of a placebo. We decided to part~c~pate to AIDS because those dying and at risk are so as to build on their proposal. At an basically poor, underprivileged, Black and August 27th meeting of the liaison group, Puerto Rican? Auburn Staff requested David Gilbert to , coordinate the prisoner aspect of the tr~­ AIDS is now the number one threat to the partite group. By al~ account~, David d~d, health and well-being of New York State pris­ a superb job and carr~ed out h~s respons~~~l­ oners. In 1986, 124 state prisoners qre ities with tact arid diplomacy. With amaz~ng listed as having died of AIDS, while all patience and understanding, David sought to other deaths that year totaled .62. (N. Y. reconcile the concerns of the administration Times, 3/5/87). Given the pattern in with the genuine needs of the prisoners. society-at-large, we can expect the number David always kept a level head and remained of AIDS related deaths in prison in 1987 to steadfast to his commitment; even in the face be considerably higher when the figures are of having numerous stumbling-blocks and released. bureaucratic red-tape placed in his path. Officially David Gilbert was praised for his Health professionals generally agree that efforts. Unofficially, he was punished. On the front-line defense to prevent the spread December 22, 1987, in the early morning hours, of AIDS--in prison as well as society--should prison officials came for David Gilbert and be education. The New York· Department of transferred him to the Clinton prison near Correctional ServiGes have made many public the Canadian border. His transfer was a statements affirming its commitment to AIDS serious loss to the PEPA initiative and his education. (See e.g., DOCS Today, 1:1; Star skills will be missed by many who sought the Gazette, 7/6/87). Yet, the actual policy implementation of a humane AIDS education in place is one of neglect, promotion.of program at Auburn. However, ~e dO,f~nd ~ome ignorance, and the utilization of var~ous consolation in knowing that h~s sp~r~t w~ll tactics to suppress prisoner initiative f~r touch others wherever he may be. education every step of the way. As a pr~s­ oner at The Auburn facility who has been struggling for effective AIDS education It once occurred to me that there is possibly programs, I speak from experience on the' some significance to the fact that "Copper latter policy. J~hn"--the sentry that has stood atop Auburn's administration building for over In June 1987, prisoners David Gilbert, Angel 100 years--has his back to the ya:d and , Nieves, along with myself (Mujahid Farid), faces the main entrance to the pr~son. Th~s submitted to the Auburn Administration a statute could be symbolic of the history o~ proposal for a Prisoner Education Project prison administrators' desire to ~eep publ~c on AIDS (PEP A). While the PEPA proposal scrutiny out of the prisons; a desire that has outlined a fairly broad area to be addres­ sometimes dwarfed security measures to keep sed, the crux of our proposal entailed a prisoners in. This perhaps, because the poli­ ~hree-pronged criteria that would , be neces~ . cies in place are not those that are written . sary for any program to be effect~ve: 1) That "Copper John", standing atop the Auburn the educational initiative be thorough, on­ administration building like the Roman god Janus, need to be confronted with the contra­ going and persistent; 2) That there ~e sub­ dictions. stantial prisoner-to-prisoner educat~on and counseling; and 3) That the educational initiative be sponsored by an outside (of At the date of this writing, an education DOCS) organization. Because we understo~d program on AIDS has yet to be established at that it would be an up-hill battle to ga~n Auburn. The initiators of PEPA are convinced approval of the program, we had do~ens of that prison adminis~rators will never will­ community-based groups and profess~onals ingly implement the necessary educational send enthusiastic letters in support of the programs ana must be forced to do so. We project to prison authorities. The Central urge all concerned qitizens to take up t~e New York AIDS Task Force also agreed to challenge to insure that the correct pol~c y sponsor. the PEPA proposal . of fighting AIDS is in place in the prisons. THE INSURGENT 28 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Friends at CFR: I agree with your point about how oppression dehumanizes the oppressor as well as violat­ I am writing in response to your editorial ing the human rights of the oppressed. And "Fighting White Supremacy! No Justice, No I respect the work and mourn the death of Peace." You say alot of important things: James Baldwin, a great radical Black gay about the struggle against white supremacy in writer. But I find it alienating to only NYC and nationwide, about Black power and read the quote about how we are all brothers leadership, and the issues/challenges we white and nothing about how we are also all people face in doing anti-racist organizing. sisters ; I would have included a quote from But something jarred me the first time I read a Black woman, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, who it, and I've been re-reading it to try and in a speech that is printed in Black Women in analy ze and share some of my thoughts with White America, addresses a white woman and you. I think the work you are dOing is says "her freedom is tied in chains to mine." important. As you say in the editorial, you are involved in trying to reach more white The whole analysis of the Houston conference people to fight white supremacy and to be and where the women's movement was before and anti-imperialist. has been since is complex. The Third World women saying that liberation means fundamental ___ There is- a -book--about-!3lack -Women's studies change in the economic and political order called "All the Women are White, All the included women from inside and outside u.s. Blacks are Men, BUT SOME OF US ARE BRAVE." borders. It's true that white women do opt That was part of the feeling I got from read­ for privilege. But it is much more than a ing the editorial. The pictures show Black parenthesis "You (or at least some of you) women and Black men demonstrating in NYC. can be a corporate executive ... " What is From what some of you have told me, and what usually called the women's movement in this I read in WomanNews, many of the Black stu­ country has been by, for and about predomin­ dents involved in the Columbia' protests are ately middle class, predominately white women . And of the white students who are women. That leaves out a great many women, participating in the anti-racist struggle, probably th~ majority of women in this many are women, and many of them are lesbians. country. But you don't talk about either Black or Sara Kaplan white womens' specific involvement, even Chicago, Illinois though you s~em to be making a particular argument to white women . The graphics of To the editor, The Insurgent: white people show a white woman and child and men in the klan, and white men demon­ I'd like to enter a rejoinaer to Alan Berk­ strating against the klan. man's letter on terrorism (Winter '86) and add my own thoughts. I think there are From your article and what I've read in questions pf both morality and political WomanNews and the Guardian, I understand strategy to be discussed here, as well as the that the white men who beat up the Black role of violence in a political movement. students are notoriously racist, sexist and anti-gay. As you say, "It's a package deal." First, the word "terrorism" has tremendous Who has made them an issue? If the reality power in our society in 1987, due in ma jor and struggle against their sexism isemerg­ part to the propaganda campaign of the US ing because of the struggle against their - government, of most media organs, and o f racism, this seems like a real live example international allies of the US, both priv ate of the leadership of Black people: women and and governmental. Under this campaign, all men, straight and gay, in challenging all major liberation and/or guerrilla movernents­ oppression. I don't know the situation the the ANC, the Sandinistas, the PLO, RAF, to way you do. From 1000 miles away it seems name just a few - are redefined as the source like a complex of racism and sexism, who is of violence. They become the excuse for targeted and who is fighting back. I'd be ~xtraordinary "security" measures, which interested in knowing more of the facts means everything up to massacres of tens of about this. thousands of people (e.g., Lebanon, 1982). When you say (as many people, including my­ No small part of this campaign has been aimed self say) that the Civil Rights Movement at criminalizing the Palestinian national "birthed" the women's movement, we are talk­ movement and has drawn on and perpetuated ing about and should specify Black men and racist images of Muslims and Middle Eastern­ Black women in the Civil Rights Movement. ers in general. So it is easy for any act of It was Black women in SNCC who started violence connected with the Middle East to be talking about Women's Liberation. And the labeled terrorism-whether it is an accurate label or not. leadership of Black women in standing up Most of what is labeled "terrorism" is simply saying "Won't take it no more" was and is not that, although it may be related to po­ very important. Both to Black people's litical violence. It is not my purpose to struggle and to showing white women the go into it. fully here, but where the targets possibility of change and the necessity of are clearly military, or involve only proper­ challenging white supremacist institutions and individuals that are also male suprema­ ty damage, or target specific political, m'ilitary, or industrial individuals, this kind cist. of violence is not terrorism. THE INSURGENT 29

The fact that in some cases it IS an accurate Dear Insurgent, label should not be surprising. Terrorism is a political strategy, and can be analyzed at As lesbian/gay liberation activists and that level. In the hands of a (relatively) anti-imperialists, we want to protest two of small group, it seeks to either (1) coerce the Insurgent's guidelines for "Prevention an authority to yield on certain demands, or of AIDS" which accompanied the excellent (2) instill enough social chaos so as to article "Prisoners Organize to Fight AIDS" bring about full-scale rebellion/revolution. (Fall 1987). In a well-intentioned effort

This is to be accomplished through (usuallY . Co 1 to" give cautious advice, the Insurgent clandestine) violence direct~d at arbitrary.' . adopts some of the most ill-conceived "warn­ groups of people, or people whose only point iri~s" put forward by the medical establish­ in common is being in a specific area at a ment and mainstream media. These statements specific time. (Terrorism in the hands of a do not contribute to AIDS prevention, but government, as in Chile or South Africa, has , could fuel an already rampant AIDS hysteria-­ much different goals and even means, having "" " ~ and the resulting racist, sexist and anti-gay a whole army and police force at its disposal. discrimination. As political strategy, terrorism thus seems · extremely weak to me. In the first case, it The Insurgent writes: "Don't have sex with is absolutely dependent on the ability to multiple partners or with persons who have coax morality from the state being opposed, had multiple partners." and "Avoid sex with i . e., how many deaths of innocents will it persons with AIDS, members of high risk take until the state gives in. A curious groups, or persons with a positive HIV test." position to be in for those who oppose the state exactly because it is so callous toward Like the government '. s line which they adopt, human life. The second case hinges on very these "warnings" fit perfectly into the right volatile factors: the response of the govern~ wing's anti-gay, anti-sex moral agenda. In ' ment to the terrorism; the response of people the name of health, people are urged to adopt in general; the possibility of other (right- monogomous (single-partner) 'relationships and wing) elements exploiting the chaos. " avoid sex with gay and bisexual men and IV­ drug users (members of so-called "high-risk On the practical level, I see very few armed groups"). The implication: for women is to groups whose strategy is built around pure wait to have sex, get married, .and stay that terrorism. The "Committee in Solidarity with way. And gay men are consigned to the inhu~ Arab and Near Eastern Political Prisoners", man burden of lifelong abstinence. Both are which claimed eight of ten terrorist bombing dictates promoted for centuries by the attacks in France in 1986 is one such group. church, the state, and the right wing -- and I do not think they have contributed to the long fought by the feminist and gay movements, world anti-imperialist struggle; I do not especially since the 1960s. see how they have effectively contributed to their own; and as Berkman said, their actions The Insurgent's guidelines make the mistake may validate some of the charges the enemy of focusing on who is safe or unsafe to have makes about all guerrillas. sex with, rather than what acts are safe or ~ unsafe. It's true that if you're having sex Some groups have engaged in terrorism and with any of the listed categories, you should criticized themselves. The IRA a few years assume -- to be on the safe side -- that they back, when they bombed Herrod's department may be capable of spreading AIDS. But that store in London, comes to mind. Another case doesn't mean having no sex with those people; not too well known this side of the Atlantic it just means practicing safer sex. Vaginal, is the RAF's execution of a US soldier anal or oral sex can be made safer by p'roper, (named Pimental) in order to secure an ID, use of condoms (or for lesbians, dental allowing them to plant a bomb in a US base dams). And "sex" is not limited to acts of near Frankfurt (1986?). There was serious penetration: there's also finger and hand criticism from parts of the pro-armed strug­ jobs, body rubbing, massage, · caresses, and gle left in Germany, namely that . it was not many other creative ways to make love. It's _ necessary to kill the soldier simply to get his ID (which the RAF admitted to doing) and not the nmnber of sex partners but the ~ that it exaggerated the current level of of sexual acts which increase the risk of confrontation to justify killing him simply sprei$ding AIDS. because he was a soldier. Such discussions are equally important in struggles in the . Gay/lesbian, Black and Latino communities industrial centers as in the Third World. have learned through years of hard work Critical analysis is called for, and we that the best tool in stopping the spread of should not shy away from discussing, debat­ AIDS is prevention education -- which the ing, and criticizing political lines, ten­ U.S. government and medical establishment dencies, or actions which hide behind a have criminally neglected. But the informa­ progressive name but have little or no tion we provide must be medically sound, revolutionary content. It is our responsi­ non-stigmatizing, and practical. Asking bility neither to give rubber-stamp approval anyone to give_ up sex forever is not only or blanket condemnation, or silence, but to unnecessary and discriminatory, it also take on the complex issues so that we can won't work. Even worse, some people may participate in a politically and morally become so distrustful of such. absurd rules sound strategy for the defeat of imperialism~ that they throw all prevention rules out the window. --- w. Kendall Bo ston, MA THE INSURGENT 30 For more detailed AIDS prevention guidelines P.S. One important addition should be made (in brochure form or by phone), contact: to the Insurqent's correct warning to IV-drug Gay Men's Health Crisis, Box 274, 132 W. 24th users not to share needles or syringes. If St., New York, NY 10011, phone: (212) 807- needles must be reused~ it is possible to 6655; AD.APT (Association for Drug Abuse Ie d~sinfect them by thorough soaking in bleach. Prevention and Treatment, a Black and Latino For exact procedure, contact ADAPT. ex-addicts group offering bilingual litera­ ture), 85 Bergen St., Brooklyn, NY 11201, [Editor's Note: Bob Lederer is the author of phone: (718) 834-9585; Women's AIDS Project, an investigative report on the controversy 8235 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 201, West i:!over what factors produced the AIDS epidemic. Hollywood, CA 90046, phone: (213) 650-1508. ., ·· His in-depth two-part article, "Origin and Spread of AIDS: Is the West Responsible?", In struggle, appears in Covert Action Information Bulletin, Summer 1987 and Winter 1988 issues, available Bob Lederer . 'ifor $6 each from CAIB, Box 50272, Washington, Marion Banzhaf .:\ D:C. 20004.) . •

WRITE TO THE PRISONERS OF WAR AND POLITICAL PRISONERS:

NORTH AMERICAN Larry Giddings Lin Romano #37168-066 POLITICAL PRISONERS USP Leavenworth FCI Lexington Linda Evans #19973-054 P.O. Box 1000 3301 Leestown Rd. Laura Whitehorn #22432-037 Leavenworth, KS 66048 Lexington, KY 40512 FCI Pleasanton Gilliam Kerley #01988-090 . Joe Gump 5701 8th St. FPC Leavenworth, Box 1000 FPC, P.D. Box 1085 Camp Parks Leavenworth, KS 66048 Oxford WI 53952 Dublin, CA 94568 Ohio 7 Jerry Ebner Tim Blunk #09429-050 FCI US.P. Marion Ray Levasseur #10376-016 P.O. Box 1000 Pat Gros-Levasseur #18212-053 P.D. Box 1000 Sandstone, MN 55072 Barbara Curzi-Laaman #18213-053 Marion, IL 62959 Jaan Laaman #10372-016 Katya Komisaruk Kathy Boudin #84-A-171 Carol Manning # 10375-016 clo The White Rose Support Collective Bedford Hills Gorr. Facility Thomas Manning #10373-016 . 1716 Felton St. 247 Harris Road . Richard Williams #10377-016 San Francisco, CA 94134 Bedford Hills, NY 10507 Federal Detention Center Jim Albertini #79564-032 Judy Clark #08627-054 P.O. Box 178 clo Ann Albertini FCI Tucson Hartford, cr 06101-0178 P.D. Box AB 8901 S. Wilmott Road . Curtistown, HI 96760 Tucson, AZ 85706 Plowshares Prisoners Vancouver 4 David Gilbert #83-A-6158 Jean Gump #03789-045 Ann Hansen P.O. Box B WFCI, Box A Prison for Women Dannemora, NY 12929 Alderson, WV 24910 Helen Woodson Box 515 Richard Picariello #05812 Kingston, Ont. , Canada K7L 4W7 Walpole State Prison c/o The Greenhouse Doug Stewart S. Walpole, MA 02071 622 Water Street Ashland, WI 54806 Kent Prison Alan Berkman #35049-066 Richard Miller #15249-077 P.O. Box 2000 US.P. Marion FCI Agassiz, BC, Canada VOM 1AO P.O. Box 1000 P.O. Box 33 Brent Taylor Marion, IL 62959 Terre Haute, IN 47808 Milhaven Maximum Institution · Marilyn Buck Fr. Carl Kabat #03230-045 Box 280 MCC FCI Bath, Ont., Canada KOH 1GO 150 Park Row Box 1000 IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS NY, NY 10007 Sandstone, MN 55072 Joe Dougherty #07792-054 Silvia Baraldini #05125-054 Larry Morlan #03788-045 MCC-9 South Susan Rosenberg #03684-016 FPC 150 Park Row HSU Lexington P.O. Box 1000 NY, NY 10007 P.O. Box 2000 Marion, IL 62959 Lexington, KY 40512

------THE INSURGENT 31 J WRITE TO THE PRISONERS -OF WAR AND POLITICAL PRISONERS: PUERTO RICAN NEW AFRIKAN/BLACK Mutulu Shakur #83205-012 PRISONERS OF WAR PRISONERS OF WAR AND MC~9 South Edwin Cortes #9215~-024 POLITICAL PRISONERS 150 Park Row Alberto Rodriguez #92150-024 Kalima Aswad sin Robert Duren #B24120 NY, NY 10007 Ricardo Jimenez #88967-024 Duell Correctional Facility Richard Mafundi Lake #79972 P.O. Box 1000 P.O. Box 600. 100 Warrior Lane Lewisburg, PA 17837 Tracy, CA 95376 Bessemer, AL 35023 . Elizam Escobar #88969-024 Mohaman Geuka Koti #80-A-808 Comrade Rikke Green #84244 FCI Albert Nuh Washington #77-A-1528 Oklahoma State Penitentiary Box 1500 Auburn Cor. Facility P.O. Box 97 . EI Reno, OK 135 State Street McAlester, OK 74501 Oscar Lopez #88765-024 Auburn, NY 13024-9000 Gary Tyler #84156 MCC Jah sIn Teddy Heath #75-A-0139 Louisiana State Pen. 71 W. Van Buren Abdul Majid #82-A-0483 Angola, LA 70712 Chicago, IL 60605 Attica Cor. Facility MOVE Prisoners Adolfo Matos #88968-024 P.O. Box 149 P.O. Box 1000 Attica, NY 14011-0149 William Phillips Africa #4986 Lompoc, CA 93438 Herman Bell #79-C-262 Edward Goodman Africa #4974 Basheer Hameed (sIn James York) PO. Box 200 William Guillermo Morales Camp Hill, PA 17011 Apto. 20-853 #82-A-6313 Col. San Angel Shawangunk Debbie Sims Africa #6307 Mexico 20-D.F. Box 700 Consusuella Dotson Africa Wallkill, NY 12585 Ramona Johnson Africa Dylcia Pagan #88971 -024 Alberta Wicker Africa Lucy Rodriguez #88973-024 Kazi Toure (sIn Chris King) Cecilio Chui Ferguson Sue Savino Africa Haydee Torres #88462-024 Janine Phillips Africa Carmen Valentin #88974-024 FCI, P.e. Box 1000 Lewisburg, PA 17837 Merle Austin Africa FCI Pleasanton Janet Holloway Africa 5701 8th St. Mark Cook #20025-148K P.O. Box 180 Camp Parks 3901 Klein Boulevard Muncy, PA 17756 Dublin, CA 94568 Lompoc, CA 93438 Charles Sims Africa #M4972 Alicia Rodriguez #N07157 Haki Malik Abdullah Delbert Orr Africa #M4985 PO Box C sIn Michael Green #C-56123 Carlos Perez Africa Dwight, IL 60420 Ruchell Cinque Magee #A92051 Drawer K Luis Rosa #N02743 Hugo Pinell #A88401 Dallas, PA 18612 Box 711 Folsom Prison Represa; CA 95671 Mumia Abu Jamal Menard, IL 60434 Michael Africa Alejandrina Torres #92052-024 Robert Seth Hayes #74-A-2280 . Drawer R HSU Lexington Jalil Muntaqin #77-A-4283 Huntington, PA 16652 P.O. Box 2000 Greenhaven Prison Lexington, KY 40512 Drawer B NATIVE AMERICAN Stormville, NY 12582 Carlos Alberto Torres #88976-024 . PRISONERS OF WAR AND FCI Kojo Sababu-Bomani (sin Grailing Brown) POLITICAL PRISONERS 902 Renfroe MCC ' Dick Marshall Talladega, AL 35160 71 W. Van Buren P.O. Box 55 Chicago, IL 60605 Sioux Falls, SD 57655 PUERTO RICAN Richard Thompson-EI Rita Silk Nauni POLITICAL PRISONERS P.O. Box 1000 Box 11492 Julio Veras y Delgadillo #O0799-069-E3 Marion, IL 62959 Mable Basset Cor. Inst. FCI P.O. Box 1000 Geronimo Pratt #B-40319 Oklahoma City, OK 73136 Petersburg, VA 23803 Charles Scott #C-19320 Leonard Peltier #89637-132 Flliberto Ojeda Rios #03167-069 San Quentin Prison P.O. Box 1000 Juan Segarra Palmer Tamal, CA 94976 Leavenworth, KS 66048 Federal Detention Center Dhoruba AI-Mujahid Bin-Wahail Standing Deer (sIn Robert Wilson) P.O. Box 178 #72-A-0639 #83947 H9-rtford, CT 06101-0178 Box A-G McAlister State Prison Fallsburg, NY 12733 P.O. Box 97 Sekou Odinga #05228-054 McAlester, OK 74502 Sundiata Acoli #39794-066 USP Leavenworth P.O. Box 1000 Leavenworth, KS 66048 CFR PUBLICATIONS SERVICE BULK RATE P.O. Box 1435 u.s. POSTAGE Cathedral S.tation PAID New York, New York 10025 NEW YORK, NY PERMIT NQ 7302