$ A B C F 2 U P D A T E Q UA R T E R LY P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E A B C F F a l l / Win 2008 "Any movement that does not support their political internees is a sham movement." - O. Lutalo Issue #51 Bashir Hameed: A Fallen Comrade Remembered In the 80s, however, the ABC began to gain What is the Anarchist Black Cross Federation? popularity again in the US and Europe. For years, the A B C ’s name was kept alive by a The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) began provide support to those who were suff e r i n g number of completely autonomous groups shortly after the 1905 Russian Revolution. It because of their political beliefs. scattered throughout the globe and support- formed after breaking from the Political Red In 1919, the org a n i z a t i o n ’s name changed ing a wide variety of prison issues. Cross, due to the group’s refusal to support to the Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confu- In May of 1995, a small group of A B C Anarchist and Social Revolutionary Political sion with the International Red Cross. collectives merged into a federation whose Prisoners. The new group, naming itself the Through the 1920s and until 1958, the org a n- aim was to focus on the overall support and Anarchist Red Cross (ARC), began to pro- ization worked under various other names defense of Political Prisoners and Prisoners vide aid to those Political Prisoners who but provided the same level of support as the of Wa r. were refused support by the PRC. other groups working as Anarchist Black Various groups have since merged in In the early decades, the organization had Cross. numerous networks throughout the globe chapters throughout Europe and North After 1936, the ABC expanded its aid to working on various prison issues. T h e America. These chapters worked together to places such as Greece, Italy and Spain. Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) provide assistance to prisoners only in In 1958, the organization collapsed but has continued its mission to focus on the aid Russia. Soon other groups, such as the r e e m e rged in 1967 in London, England. and support of Political Prisoners. We take Latvian Anarchist Red Cross, emerged to Once again ABC chapters spread throughout the position that PP/POWs demand our top provide aid in other Eastern European coun- the globe providing support for imprisoned p r i o r i t y. We strive to continue with the same tries. Armed with the ideas of mutual aid a n d comrades. Sadly, by the end of the 1970s dedication and solidarity to our fallen com- s o l i d a r i t y, these groups worked tirelessly to only a handful of ABC chapters still existed. rades as those before us have shown. Introduction: The ABCF is: “Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of this o rganization is the fact that Branch Groups and Support Groups Prisoner Committee are freely autonomous to take on whatever initiatives they can to further the Unity of Purpose of the A B C F. So long as these initia- BILL DUNNE SEKOU KAMBUI tives do not contradict any preexisting agreements (Ta c t i c a l #10916-086 (W. TURK) Unity) that have been made by the A B C F, it is not necessary for Box 2068 #113058 / Box 56 all groups to approve of and/or agree with programs, projects or work of other ABCF collectives.” [from the ABCF Constitution Inez, KY 41224 SCC (B1-21) and Structure] Elmore, AL 36025 OJORE LUTALO The following definitions are used to describe the below terms #59860 / Box 861 JAAN LAAMAN whenever they appear in the ABCF Update or any other A B C F Trenton, NJ 08625 #W41414 l i t e r a t u r e . BOX 100 MALIKI LATINE South Walpole, MA P o l i t i c a l P r i s o n e r ( P P ) : A person incarcerated for actions car- ried out in support of legitimate struggles for self determination #81-A-4469 02071 or for opposing the illegal policies of the government and/or its Box 51 political subdivisions. [Special International Tribunal on the Comstock, NY Violation of Human Rights of PP/POWs in U.S. Prisons and 12821 Jails, Dec. ’90] Federation Chapters P r i s o n e r o f Wa r ( P O W ) : Those combatants struggling against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes captured as ARCATA ABC NJ ABC prisoners are to be accorded the status of prisoner of war and PO Box 380 No Current Address their treatment should be in accordance with the provisions of the Arcata, CA 95518 Geneva Conventions Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of NYC ABC War of 12 August, 1949 (General Assembly resolution 3103) JAX ABC PO Box 110034 PO Box 350392 Brooklyn, NY 11211 Certain Days 2009 Calendar Jacksonville, FL 32235 PHILLY ABC 42 GORGEOUS FULL-COLOR PAGES OF LOS ANGELES ABC PO Box 42129 A RT AND WRITINGS! A G R E AT F U N D R A I S E R PO Box 11223 Philadelphia, PA 19101 FOR GROUPS! AN IMPORTA N T C O N T R I B U- Whittier, CA 90603 TION TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING! AND A TORONTO ABC M E A N I N G F U L G I F T ! ABC PO Box 97048 Certain Days - a QPIRG Concordia working group PO Box 42053 RPO Roncescalles Ave QPIRG Concordia Succ. Jeanne Mance Toronto, Ontario 1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, suite 204 Montreal QC M6R 3B3 Canada 514-848-7583 fax: 514-848-7584 H2W 2T3 Canada q p i rg c o n c o r d i a . o rg – qpirg @ q p i rg c o n c o r d i a . o rg www.abcf.net 1 ISSUE #51 FALL/WINTER 2008 NEWS FROM THE FRONT Harold Thompson Passes On Daniel McGowan Moved 1942 - 2008 Daniel McGowan seems to be on the move yet again. Currently he is at the fol- Anarchist prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, lowing address, but please be advised it can change at a moments notice: Harold Thompson, passed away on Daniel McGowan 63794-053 Monday, November 10th. According to his Columbia County Jail website he passed away after suffering a 403 Jackson Street Portage, WI 53901 heart attack. Those who knew and support- ed Thompson will surely miss his spirit and Ruchell Magee Moved determination. Ruchell Cinque Magee was recently transferred to a new location. His new address is” Herman Wallace Hospitalized RNC: DePalma Pleads Guilty Ruchell Cinque Magee Herman Wallace, incarcerated member In October, Matt DePalma, a Michigan # A92051 C-2 107L of the Angola 3, was hospitalized for a anarchist, has pleaded guilty in federal C S ATF/ State Prison Corcoran short time on 11/28 after passing out during court to possessing Molotov cocktails. P.O. Box 5242 a visit. Wallace is reported to be doing fine DePalma had made at least five Corcoran, CA 9 3 2 1 2 but the community still has a watchful eye Molotov cocktails by the time he was on his health. arrested on August 28 in a Minneapolis apartment. He had allegedly told an FBI Alberto Torres Hearing Date Chubbuck Has New Address informant he planned to attack the Xcel Carlos Albert To r r e s ’ parole hearing According to the BOP w e b s i t e E n e rgy Center in St. Paul, where the con- will be during the week of January 19th. C h u b b u c k ’s address has changed. His new vention was held. This is two months earlier than was origi- a d d r e s s . He faces a maximum penalty of 10 nally anticipated. Byron Shane Chubbuck years in prison. # 0 7 9 0 9 - 0 5 1 Mexican Anarchist Freed 501 Capital Circle, NE RNC: McKay and Crowder After 7 years, 3 months, and 21 days Tallahassee, FL 3 2 3 0 1 The case targeting two RNC protesters, behind bars in Mexico City, Carlos A l b e r t o McKay and Bradley Crowder, has Estrada Arroyo has finally been released. RNC: Man Sentenced for Act been postponed. He was released on Friday, September 5th. A 2 6 - y e a r-o ld man from Wa s h i n g t o n The two were allegedly part of an Carlos is an anarchist who was framed on state who slashed tires on a delegate bus Austin, Texas-based group that planned to false charges of robbery. It is believed that during the Republican National use Molotov cocktails to destroy property he was framed because of his participation Convention in St. Paul was sentenced on or injure police during the convention. in local student strike and other communi- December 12th to three years of probation Authorities gathered information by ty actions. and 100 hours of community service. infiltrating an Austin area affinity group as M. Robinson pleaded guilty far back as Feb. 2007. Olga Nevskaya is Freed Sept. 19 in Ramsey County District Court On August 21, 2008, St. Paul police Olga Nevskaya, the last imprisoned to first-degree damage to property. He was broke into a U-haul trailer rented by the defendant of the group, the New among 18 adults and one juvenile charg e d Austin activists without a warrants where Revolutionary Alternative (NRA), has been with felonies in connection with the Sept. they discovered homemade shields, hel- released after 6 years of imprisonment. T h e 1-4 convention and was the first to plead mets and batons. Police also uncovered N R A is an anarchist organization devoted g u i l t y. He was given credit for the 23 days eight Molotov cocktails at the crashpad to insurrectionary struggle in Russia. T h e he has spent in custody. being used by the activists. group surfaced in 1996 in protest of the While the makeshift riot gear was Chechen War and has targeted conscription RNC: 29 Charges Dropped deemed inadmissible, the cocktails will centers, military and police stations. In St. Paul’s city attorney’s office dropped remain admissible. They face a maximum 2003, Nevskaya and two other women c h a rges against 29 protesters arrested dur- ten years in prison. No trial date has been were convicted for the actions carried out ing the RNC. The cases consisted of 15 s e t . by the NRA. gross misdemeanor riot cases and 14 mis- demeanors involving unlawful assembly. RNC 8: New Charges Added Sherman Austinʼs New Baby The office is still processing 650 cases Lawyers for the RNC 8 have received a At 1:12 am on Saturday, November stemming from the RNC. Of those, 171 letter indicating that the charges against the 15th, Sherman Austin (Former anarchist have gotten prosecutors, are being eight have been amended. Besides the orig- political prisoner) and his partner had a reviewed or have been settled. Tw e n t y - inal charges of “conspiracy to riot in the baby boy. The baby weighed 8 lbs.14 oz. seven have been resolved with a guilty plea second degree in furtherance of terrorism” and was named Akinyemi Huehuetlahtoa, and/or fine; 72 cases have been declined or they have also added three new charg e s : a name that is both west african and indige- dismissed; 10 have warrants; and 62 are in 1. Conspiracy to riot in the second nous and means “fated/destined to be a p r o c e s s . degree (without terrorism enhancement) warrior” and “speaks like a drum.” It is no The 400 or so arrests from the last day 2. Conspiracy to damage property in doubt that Sherman will be an excellent of the convention have yet to be dealt with. furtherance of terrorism) dad. Sherman certainly has his hands busy Support networks have been formed to 3. Conspiracy to damage property raising our future revolutionary warrior. assist the cases and trials. (without terrorism enhancement)

2 Arcata ABCF Support Group Application This is a formal proposal for support several individuals interested in the work group status within the A B C F : we do, in particular people from the Black In June of this year we joined LA A B C F Student Union at Humboldt State and began doing work for the Free Chip U n i v e r s i t y. We wish to engage with the Fitzgerald campaign. We helped table at Indigenous populations up here that have the Summer Solidarity Festival and org a n- been actively resisting genocide and ize for Running Down the Walls. It was resource theft from the government and also at this time we began writing to Ojore corporations like Pacificorp. We also plan Lutalo and Marshall Eddie Conway. At the on visiting Hugo "Dahariki" Pinell, one of very end of August we moved to Arcata in the San Quentin Six, who is caged at Humboldt County and established a P. O . Pelican Bay State Prison. We will continue Box for the formation of Arcata A B C F - S G . sparking interest, recruiting members and Since moving here we have been working o rganizing support for political prisoners closely with the small but tightly knit radi- and prisoners of war. cal population of people of color. This is a In solidarity, group has worked with Noelle and Sonny closely in the last few years. We were able A rcata A B C F - S G to attend and table at the CR10 conference PO Box 380 and establish excellent contacts. We have Arcata, CA 9 5 5 1 8 Note: All groups at the October FC meeting approved Arcata ABC as a ABCF Support Group. "Angola 3" Member to Be Released On Bail After 37 Years Conviction Overturned, Judge Rules years…this Court GRANTS Mr. Wo o d f o x ' s prison in the US." Albert Woodfox Must be Free During motion for release pending the State's "This is a major victory in a case where Appeals or Re-trial a p p e a l . " justice is long overdue. Albert went into Lawyers: Ruling Brings Hope for Herman Wallace, who was also convict- Angola in his twenties, and he's walking Remaining Prisoner, Also Spent 36 Years in ed in the murder, remains in prison at out in his 60s. There is no conviction Solitary for Guard's Murder Angola. He has an appeal pending with the against him now, and the state should not Albert Woodfox, who has spent 37 years Supreme Court of Louisiana, which is sim- take another day of his life," said Chris in prison at Angola Penitentiary, must be ilar in content to Woodfox's successful Aberle, Woodfox's lawyer. released on bail, according to a ruling appeal. The two men were wrongly con- "In 37 years, Albert never gave up hope issued on November 25 by United States victed based largely on the testimony of a that someday he would walk out the gates District Judge James Brady. On September fellow prisoner, Hezekiah Brown, a serial of Angola. We continue to hope that 25th, Judge Brady overturned Wo o d f o x ' s rapist who was promised and received a Herman will join him soon. Neither of conviction for the 1972 murder of prison pardon in exchange for his testimony these men should have spent a day in guard Brent Miller. Though the State has against them. Brown was the sole professed Angola for this crime," said Nick announced its intention to appeal that deci- eyewitness to the murder, and none of the Trenticosta, also a lawyer in the case. sion, until such an appeal is successful, physical evidence put Herman or Albert at The case has attracted attention on the according to today's ruling, there is no con- the crime scene. state and national level. Last spring, US viction on which to hold Wo o d f o x . Woodfox's legal team is now working House Judiciary Committee Chair John In his decision, Judge Brady wrote: with the court to reach an agreement on a Conyers (D-MI) visited the men, along " [ Woodfox] is a frail, sickly, middle suitable release location and plan for with Louisiana House Judiciary aged man who has had an exemplary con- Woodfox; once they agree to a plan, Committee Chair Cedric Richmond (D- duct record for over the last twenty years. Woodfox will be able to leave Angola. T h e 101). Richmond has announced his inten- At the hearing before this Court on October lawyers anticipate the process to take sev- tion to hold hearings on the case, and 14, 2008, testimony was adduced that if eral more days. Conyers continues to monitor develop- released Mr. Woodfox would live with his Woodfox and Wallace were each held in m e n t s . niece and her family in a gated subdivision solitary confinement from the time of the The state had sought a stay of Judge in Slidell, Louisiana. Mr. Woodfox has murder until last March, after a federal Brady's ruling ordering a new trial until withdrawn that request because of fear of court concluded that their suit alleging that the appeal process plays out. Judge Brady harm to his niece and her family by neigh- such confinement for three decades consti- granted that request. The State must now bors in the community. This change was tutes cruel and unusual punishment could either win its appeals, or will need to brought about by counsel representing the go forward. A third man, Robert King either release or retry Woodfox within 120 State of Louisiana contacting the subdivi- Wilkerson, was held in solitary at Angola at days of the end of its appeals. sion home owners association and provid- the same time for a different crime; he was Judge Brady held an initial bail hearing ing them with information regarding Mr. released in 2001 after showing that he had on October 14th; he postponed issuing a Woodfox. The Court is not totally privy to been wrongfully convicted. The three are decision at that time to allow for addition- what information was given to the associa- known as the "Angola 3." All black men, al depositions to be taken from A n g o l a tion but from the documents filed it is they had been organizing nonviolently for Warden Burl Cain and from a doctor who apparent that the association was not told an end to gang-enforced sex slavery and for had examined Woodfox and his medical M r. Woodfox is frail, sickly, and has had a better conditions inside the prison. A n g o l a records. The State has now conducted clean conduct record for more than twenty at the time was known as the "bloodiest both of those depositions.

3 Detective Jack Swanson withheld stolen dynamite arrests from jury in 'Omaha Two' bombing by Richardson (a freelance writer from Boston) The jury that convicted Black Panther crime lab report on the tape recording of the leaders Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa phone call that lured Minard to his death (formerly David Rice) for the August 17, according to a written notation on a secret 1970 bombing murder of Omaha police off i- COINTELPRO memo made by lab director cer Larry Minard never knew that three men Ivan Willard Conrad. had been arrested several weeks earlier in the The court files of the three men Luther city with a cache of stolen dynamite in their Golden Payne, Lamont Mitchell and Conrad c a r. Deland Gray reveal little detail of the July Nor did the jury know the complaining arrests and there is no mention of the plea witness about the seized dynamite was the negotiations that resulted in dismissed same detective who later allegedly found c h a rge s. All three men were still in custody dynamite at the home of Mondo we Langa. at the time of the bombing that took Minard's Nor did the jury know that charges for illegal life and could not have directly participated possession of explosives would quietly be in the deadly ambush. However, the dyna- dropped against the three men caught with mite was believed by police to be the source the dynamite within a week of the conclu- of the explosive in the bomb according to lit- sion of the April 1971 murder trial against tle-known testimony before the U.S House the Panther leaders. Committee on Internal Security. Jack Swanson, a sergeant in the detective The committee was the successor to the division of the Omaha Police, was the star infamous U.S. House Committee on Un- police witness against the two Panthers at American Activities and was busy trying to Edward Poindexter trial with his claim of discovery of dynamite justify its controversial existence with an in the basement of Mondo we Langa's resi- investigation into the . was found in the home of one of the above. dence. Swanson's claim was supported by Although much of the testimony was on the It is believed it is part of the supply from fellow detective Jack Pheffer who testified national party structure and distribution of which the bombs were made." he first saw the dynamite when Swanson car- the party newsletter, one committee member, "On July 28, 1970, three young Negroes, ried it up the stairs from Mondo's basement. Rep. William J. Scherle from Council Bluff s , one who is an ex-Panther, were arrested with P h e ffer has since contradicted his own trial Iowa, lived just across the Missouri River 41 2x16-inch sticks of dynamite in the car. testimony and now claims under oath that he, from Omaha and turned the committee hear- This is also similar to the dynamite taken in not Swanson, found dynamite. ing room into his own soapbox against the b u rglary in Des Moines of Quick Supply. " The jury also never knew that the case Omaha Panthers. Scherle's interest led to the "I could not tell you what type of dyna- they were hearing was a part of Operation testimony of an Omaha Police captain, mite it was that exploded. I can tell you this, COINTELPRO, a clandestine operation Murdock Platner, about both the Minard that one of the suspects in this, Duane Peak, within the Federal Bureau of Investigation bombing and the dynamite seized by a 16-year old boy who was arrested, testified directed by J. Edgar Hoover to "disrupt" the Swanson in July, information kept confiden- in a preliminary hearing…he testified that and other domestic tial in Omaha. David Rice brought a suitcase filled with political groups he considered dangerous. Captain Platner's story, given under oath dynamite to his house or to somebody's Hoover had ordered the withholding of a FBI in Washington D.C., was never reported in house, I am not for sure just which place; Omaha and kept from the jury during the that they removed all the dynamite from the murder trial. Platner testified about several suitcase except three sticks; made the bomb, other bombings that had occurred in Omaha the triggering device, and so on, and put it and throughout the Midwest in the summer together; and then packed the suitcase with of 1970 when his Congressional questioners newspapers and that he left with this suit- turned to the dynamite seized by Swanson c a s e . " and the dynamite used in the Minard killing. "Now I am a little hesitant to go into the "Investigation revealed this bomb con- rest of this because there is a trial yet to be sisted of three 2x16 inch sticks of dynamite, held. I don't know what I should say. " a battery, a blasting cap and was triggered by But Platner had already said too much, a clothespin type switch. The string attached mis-stating Peak's preliminary hearing testi- to the wedge was passed through a hole in mony where Peak testified he was given the the suitcase when the bomb was detonated." dynamite by 23-year old Raleigh House. " A 16-year old Black Panther [Duane P l a t n e r, familiar with House, told Scherle's Peak] was arrested for the murder and impli- committee that "Rawleigh Bryant House" cated the Deputy Chairman, Edward was a "Negro male" and the deputy minister P o i n d e x t e r, and Deputy Minister of of finance of the Omaha Panther group. Information, David Rice [Mondo we Langa], Raleigh House, the named supplier of of the NCCF party, who were arrested and dynamite used in the Minard bombing have been ordered to stand trial in district according to Peak, had a curious get-out-of- court for murder. Dynamite similar to that jail-free luck that netted him only a single Mondo we Langa (aka D. Rice) stolen from the Quick Supply in Des Moines Continued on page 13

4 Ojore’s Release Not So Certain as Hoped Long time New Afrikan A n a r c h i s t ing isn't an immediate pressing matter, Political Prisoner, Ojore N. Lutalo was set giving him the needed time to readjust to to max out after 26 years of imprisonment the streets, that he hasn't seen or experi- at State Prison. And while enced since 1982. supporters received the date of December As many former prisoners and their 25th as his release date, celebrations have supporters know, coming back home after currently been put on hold. a doing a long stretch in prison is diff i c u l t News has been sent that he may not be and without a support base it will be even released as soon as we had hoped. more difficult. The A B C F, anarchists and Currently the NJ DOC site has his max many PP/POW activists who have main- date as October 23, 2009. tained contact and supported Ojore over Supporters believe this may be an the years, have benefited immensely from attempt to exclude his good time/work the example that he's set as what it means credits he has earned despite his NJ to be a revolutionary. His untiring Superior Court victory in 2007 over this advice/criticism to us has helped many of very issue. The case overturned a charg e us and our organizations grow politically the prison convicted him of in 2005. T h i s and deepen, not only our commitment to c h a rge/conviction took away around a the struggle to free political prisoners and year of good time/work credits. T h i s prisoners of war, but to that of building a process is still ongoing and we will update revolutionary movement people with any changes. We encourage all activists to org a n i z e In the meantime, the Anarchist Black fundraisers or donate whatever they can Cross Federation (ABCF) is initiating a towards Ojore's release fund. fundraising drive to support Ojore, once All funds, by check or money order, he is released, in order for him to transi- payable to TIM FA S N A C H T, can be sent tion back to the streets. Money is needed t o : to help Ojore secure housing, food and clothing. This financial assistance will Philadelphia A B C F allow Ojore to make the transition more P.O Box 42129 s m o o t h l y, knowing that money and hous- Philadelphia, Pa 19101 SF8 Defendant to Make Court Appearance on Bogus Drug Charge Harold Taylor was arrested last December in Florida on a baseless charge of “attempted purchase of cocaine.” Several people were swept up in a neighborhood sweep and sting operation at that time. Haroldʼs case has coincidentally received unusual attention by the Florida court which is now fast-tracking his prosecution after many months of inactivity. He is scheduled to go to trial on October 23rd at 8:30 am at the Bay County Courthouse - 300 East 4th Street in Panama City, Florida. As you can read in the letter from his San Francisco lawyer that follows, this prosecution is a result of a new judge and prosecutor taking over, not upon any substantial or new evidence. Friends, News of his arrest spread quickly and he was bailed out shortly after he It is clear from the arrest and all the appeared in a Florida court. surrounding circumstances that the Just days earlier he had appeared on c h a r ge against Harold in Florida is total- "Democracy Now" with host A m y ly baseless. A thorough search of his per- Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, and attend- son and his van resulted in NO seizure of ed a press conference held by the Wo r l d any substances, legal or illegal. Further, Council of Churches at Riverside Church NO allegation is even made that any announcing international support for the money was produced. Harold was swept SF8 launched by Archbishop Desmond up in a sting operation in which numer- Tutu and other Nobel Laureates. ous individuals were arrested. All except Harold has every intention of fight- Harold were alleged to have actually ing the charges in San Francisco and made a purchase. None of them were Florida. In light of the torture he suff e r e d with him when he was arrested. He has in New Orleans in 1973, his strength and NO drug history!! In short, Harold was in character in the face of this latest ordeal the wrong place at the wrong time. He are amazing. The stress this has caused had gone to this neighborhood to thank for him and his family is overwhelming. some of the people that had written let- Randy Montesano, ters of support for him when he was seek- Harold Ta y l o r ’s attorney in the San ing release on bail in San Francisco. Francisco 8 case

5 NYC ABCF Report from 10/10 In the Summer of 2007, munity-based component. To that end, it ing them connected to their communities. Anarchist Black Cross (NYC A B C F - S G ) was decided that a second event, on Statements from current political prisoners initiated a series of summits with the inten- October 11th, should be organized. Te n - t e n were also read. tion of bringing together all political pris- became a weekend of resistance, with Whereas NYC ABC took responsibility oner support groups in the metropolitan October 10th including the delegation to for the bulk of the organizing for 10/10, we area. Eventually encompassing over 10 the United Nations, a march, and an played a more supportive role on 10/11 , groups, the coalition chose to focus their evening concert/fund raiser and the 11 t h which took place in Harlem and targ e t e d first energies on commemorating the 10th including a rally and street march. African-Americans and Puerto Ricans anniversary of the Jericho Movement. Eventually it became evident that it made from those communities. The exception to October 10th was chosen as the date for a the most sense for NYC ABC to bottom- this was NYC ABC's role of providing march on the United Nations to demand line organizing the rally and street march child care for this days events. 10/11 freedom for political prisoners and prison- on October 10th. included two spirited rallies, the first at the ers of war, and to draw international atten- On Friday, October 10th over 200 folks Harlem State Office Building and the sec- tion to their plight. gathered at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, ond at Morningside Park. Between these For the next several months, the groups directly across from the United Nations in rallies was a permitted street march that made connections with a diverse range of midtown Manhattan. Organizations and drew in folks from the neighborhood and o rganizations in order to get their endorse- individuals showed up energized and with helped remind folks that members of their ments and participation in 10/10. NYC their flags, banners, and posters to draw communities are in prison for political ABC and other members of the coalition attention to political prisoners and prison- beliefs and actions. tapped both personal and political relation- ers of war. Included in this mix were 45 The October 10th weekend of resistance ships to make as broad a base of support as folks holding letters that spelled out "free- helped recharge a movement that does not possible. This effort also served to get dom for political prisoners and prisoners of get to celebrate that many victories. o rganizations to prioritize political prison- w a r." After a short and spirited rally and Marching, unpermitted, through New Yo r k ers and prisoners of war where they hadn't simultaneous picket, groups poured into City's streets brought people from dis- been before. A d d i t i o n a l l y, bridges were the street. 200 strong and with no permit, parate movements together and reminded built between movements that hadn't previ- midtown Manhattan traffic was snarled as us of the power we have when we come ously worked with each other. While the the group held entire streets and avenues, t o g e t h e r. Seeing New Afrikans, animals focus for 10/10 was mostly regional, it was covering about 25 blocks and ending at rights activists, anarchists, former Black an international event with folks traveling Madison Square Park. Bike scouts radioed Panthers, mem- from Canada and Denmark. to a base unit inside the march to report bers, former political prisoners, and mili- As organizing became more grounded police movements, which were minimal. tants & revolutionaries of varying stripes and groups & individuals not initially a As the march neared its end, two NYPD marching together (while understanding part of the coalition became more involved cruisers attempted to slow and stop the that there are overlaps across those move- in the organizing for 10/10, the focus group, to no avail. A smaller group was ments as well) was powerful and a strong became broader, into something both inter- waiting at the park to welcome the first project for this coalition to have national and local. The coalition decided marchers and had information tables and a undertaken. Certainly more will come that having a delegation meet with digni- sound system set up. At the rally following from this coalition and you will be among taries in the United Nations was useful, but the march, former political prisoners spoke the first to hear about it. needed to be complemented with a com- to the importance support played in keep-

ABCF Represented Freed PP/POWs Attending the March

Sara (Trnto) Speaking out!

6 Tribute to Comrade Bashir Hameed On the evening of August 30 2008, BLA POW, Bashir Hameed, passed away. Over the last year, aided by the consistent denial of adequate medical care, Bashirʼs health had been slowly deteriorating. While public pressure seemed to have had some success getting the prison administration to provide the medical care, it seems the care did not come quickly enough to improve Hameedʼs health. Bashir Hameed was born and raised in New Jersey. In 1968, Bashir Hameed joined the Black Panther Party while residing in Oakland CA. Once he returned to New Jersey, he became Deputy Chairman of the New Jersey Chapter of BPP. Bro. Bashir Hameed was currently serving a sentence of 25 years to life. For those who may not know: FBI documents obtained during the 70's reveal that during this time Bashir Hameed [born James D. York on 1940-12-01 – 30 August 2008] was a member of the Black Panther Party and the . He became a COINTELPRO target. He was charged and convicted of the murder and the attempted mur- der of two police officers in April 1981. This conviction came as a direct result of his political activity. Bashir Hameed and his co-defendant, Abdul Majid, aka Anthony LaBorde, were tried three times. There first trial ended in a hung jury divided along racial lines, The second trial was declared a mistrial by the judge immediately after the jury rendered a decision that acquitted Bashir on the murder charge. At a third trial, they were eventually convicted for murder. ABCF’s Statement on Bashir Hameed’s Passing The Anarchist Black Cross Federation them in the telephone conversations that A Political Memorial to Bashir Hameed, regrets to report that Freedom Fighter made him present in their lives during the held by the Jericho Movement and others, Bashir Hameed (AKA James York) passed long incarceration. Long-time political will took place on December 13, 2008 from away on the evening of August 30th 2008. o rganizers remembered the guidance and 1 to 5 p.m. at the House of the Lord We extend our sympathy to his family, collaboration they received from him over Church, 415 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY. friends, and comrades, in and outside of the the decades. During the spring and summer, Bashir w a l l s . On September 22nd the New Black Hameed had been physically suffering and A service was held on the morning Panther Party held a New Jersey Peoples’ was continuously denied any kind of med- September 4th, 2008 at Dar Ul Islam of Tribute to Bashir Hameed at Wa s e t ical attention or care. After he continued to Elizabeth and was well attended by family, Kommuniversity at 271 So. 9th Street in s u ffer medical neglect through the month friends, and by people from various Black Newark, New Jersey with speakers from of May despite support and agitation, the Liberation, Muslim, and Political- the New Black Panther Party as well as the ABCF was able to assist the Hameed/Yo r k P r i s o n e r / P O W support communities which original Black Panther Party. family and comrades from had been touched by his life and work. T h e Imam explained that the first tenet of Islam is to take care of one's well-being. Bashir, like other freedom fighters, took that prin- ciple to mean taking care of other people as well. He saw his own life as inextricably connected with the lives and well-being of other people, especially the oppressed. After a simple service, the community proceeded to the nearby cemetery. Appropriately enough Bashir Hameed was buried with care through the collective work of family and community members, taking turns and passing the shovels to one a n o t h e r. Some folks gathered afterward to share food and then take turns sharing memories of the man’s life. Family mem- bers shared memories of his guidance to Comrades Gathered at Brother Bashir Hameedʼs Resting Place

7 Commemoration Committee, Malcolm X sent get-well cards and waited. Others vis- result of his political activity. Bashir Grassroots Movement, and Jericho ited as often as they could. Hameed and his co-defendant, A b d u l Movement by coordinating call-in days In September 2008 NYC A B C F Majid were tried three times. Their first during the month of June to supplement received a card from the family saying, trial ended in a hung jury divided along the existing campaign targeting NY “Thank you for all of your help during my racial lines, The second trial was declared a Governor Paterson and others and demand- b r o t h e r ’s struggle. He is ‘free’ n o w. ” mistrial by the judge immediately after the ing immediate medical attention as well as Bashir Hameed was born and raised in jury rendered a decision that acquitted a transfer back to Sullivan Correctional New Jersey. In 1968, Bashir Hameed Bashir on the murder charge. At a third F a c i l i t y. By early July, though he was never joined the Black Panther Party while resid- trial, they were eventually convicted for transferred out of Great Meadow, Hameed ing in Oakland CA. Once he returned to m u r d e r. Bashir received a sentence of 25 was receiving the requested care and test- New Jersey, he became Deputy Chairman years. During his time behind bars he never ing thanks to consistent agitation from his of the New Jersey Chapter of BPP. FBI stopped organizing towards community family and supporters. Bashir Hameed and documents obtained during the 70's reveal empowerment both inside the prison and his wife and family sent words of appreci- that during this time Bashir became a through his family and comrades outside. ation out to the community and get well- COINTELPRO target. He was charged and He is present in the ongoing struggle and cards came into the prison in response. In convicted of the murder and the attempted will not be forgotten. (this paragraph adapt- August, Bashir Hameed was diagnosed murder of two police officers in A p r i l ed from the Malcolm X Grassroots with pancreatic cancer. Again supporters 1981. This conviction came as a direct Movement webpage) Russell Shoats on Bashir Hameed’s Passing For over 40 years, Bashir Hameed, dedicated his life to the struggle for Black Liberation and the uplifting of humanity in general. As a former member of both the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation A r m y, and later a long held political prisoner, he NEVER tired in giving his all. Every day across the globe thousands die without ever having struck a blow against oppression. Not Bashir! For decades he remained a lion against those who strive to keep us oppressed. An example of the type of dedication that will one day seize the masses of downtrodden and propel them to sweep away all manner of injustice Until then, we will remember the Martyr Bashir Hameed and draw strength and courage from the selfless example he set. LONG LIVE THE MARTYR BASHIR HAMEED! Marie Mason Accepts Plea Agreement On September 8, 2008, Marie Mason, an otage actions. Mason refused this off e r o ffered. Because of the cooperation of her I W W member and environmental activist, since it required her providing information former husband , there is no accepted a plea bargain offered by the fed- against other activists and prepared to go to expectation that Mason would win a jury eral authorities. t r i a l . trial. Part of this decision is also the long Mason was arrested in March 2008 and On September 5, two hours before the sentences handed to the very few Green c h a rged with four felony offenses, which deadline, federal prosecutors relented and Scare arrestees who have gone to trail, such were related to two 1999 actions of eco- o ffered a new deal, which required Mason as Eric McDavid, as is the intense financial sabotage in which no one was hurt. only to name Frank Ambrose in her plea and emotional strain that this process is M a s o n ’s arrest was based on information b a rgain. No information that Ambrose had taking on Mason’s immediate family. provided by Frank Ambrose, Mason’s for- not already provided was required from Mason thanks her supporters for all their mer husband, who unbeknownst to her had h e r. A d d i t i o n a l l y, the plea bargain included e fforts. She understands that some of them been cooperating with authorities for a clauses that do not require her to perform will be unhappy with her decision to accept number of years, and who entered his own any debriefs (as other non-cooperating a plea bargain which names only Frank plea bargain in March of 2008. Green Scare arrestees did) and did not Ambrose, even though no additional infor- Mason has been an activist in the envi- require any additional testimony. mation is provided about him which he has ronmental and labor movement for 25 Mason consulted with several diff e r e n t not already divulged by him, and that her years, and has resisted cooperating with attorneys concerning this off e r, including own predicament is because of his choice authorities in a number grand juries. Since Lauren Regan of the Civil Liberties to cooperate with authorities. her arrest, Mason and her lawyer have been Defense Center in Eugene, Oregon. T h e i r H o w e v e r, after holding out for six pushing for a non-cooperating agreement conclusion was that, despite the fact that months in hope of a full non-cooperating of the kind that other “Green Scare” Mason would be required to name A m b r o s e plea, and preparing to go to trial despite the arrestees have been able to get from west in her deal, no activists would be hurt by impact it will have on her family and her coast prosecutors. this agreement, including Ambrose him- future, she has decided to accept this off e r. H o w e v e r, federal prosecutors in self. The likely reason that Mason is In the spirit of full transparency, the plea Michigan have refused to offer her a simi- required to name Ambrose is because one b a rgain will be made public shortly. lar deal. The only plea-bargain offered was of the four charges against Mason is “con- (Mason will be sentence on February 5, for 15-20 years but which required her to spiracy”, and another person is required to 2 0 0 9 ) implicate other activists by name. be named for the charg e . Marie is currently held at the address Additionally it was stipulated that if Mason After holding out for six months and listed below. Please send her a letter. did not accept this offer by Friday, preparing to go to trial rather than compro- Marie Jeanette Mason September 5, prosecutors were going to ask mise other activists, this is not the deal that Newaygo County Jail for Life at the trial, and also indict her on Mason would like to accept, but it is the P.O. Box 845 new charges relating to two other eco-sab- only option that federal authorities have White Cloud, MI 49349

8 Victory for Zolo Agona Azania On the eve of his third death penalty stressful 27 plus years. I see things quite trial the State of Indiana finally abandoned d i fferently now than in that early stage of their 27-year campaign to execute Zolo my life. A z a n i a . Dismissing all the death penalty I still resolutely maintain my innocence. c h a rges , the State agreed to have Zolo sen- By this agreement the State gives up the tenced on his 1982 murder and robbery death penalty request. My next course of c o n v i c t i o n . Under the sentence imposed, action will be to go on into the federal with good time credit, Zolo will now be court system to expose the many injustices. released from prison in 7 years. He will be I will continue to contest my innocence in immediately released from death row. A l s o , the murder. I am angry over the numerous under the terms of the agreement he will be ways that I’ve been mistreated by the judi- allowed to challenge his 1982 convictions cial sanction system. I was illegally placed in federal habeas proceedings. in this untenable position by the Indiana This is a real victory for all Zolo’s sup- Supreme Court when they took back my porters and all of those who oppose the dismissal of the case for fast and speedy death penalty. trial violation, and authorized the prosecu- Below is a statement released by Zolo: tion to retry me for the death penalty for I am glad that the State has finally the third time! Nonetheless, I will continue o ffered me this opportunity to plan a life on to contest my innocence in this murder. I the outside. I can use that freedom to work am angry over the numerous ways I’ve for justice for others, and, of course, to been mistreated by the system that some establish a way of sustaining my life on my call justice—a term of relativity. T h e r e f o r e , o w n . the protracted struggle continues! I feel that God has given me many gifts; Thank you. and with these gifts then I would be able to Zolo Agona A z a n i a # 4 9 6 9 take care of myself and do good for others. P.O. Box 41 I have matured in many ways over these Michigan City, Indiana 46361-0041 Independentistas Face Continued Harassment The independentista organizations that years. This pattern has included, among political interests of the powerful. comprise the Table of Solidarity A g a i n s t other things, the fabrication of cases, sur- The Table of Solidarity A g a i n s t Repression denounce the ongoing persecu- veillance, searches, and imprisonment for Repression formed in December of 2007 to tion by the FBI and other repressive agen- his refusal to accept the jurisdiction of the support three young Puerto Rican residents cies of the United States government federal Grand Jury. of New York who were subpoenaed to a against compañeros who struggle for the The Table of Solidarity A g a i n s t federal Grand Jury to testify in an investi- independence of Puerto Rico. The pattern Repression states that compañero Norberto gation of the Popular Boricua of harassment of independentistas since the Cintrón Fiallo is not alone. He has and will Army–Macheteros. Since then it has con- assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos on have our solidarity and support in every tinued to meet, doing unitary work and September 23, 2005 has not stopped, but sense of the word. We call upon our people, work in solidarity against repression, and r a t h e r, has increased. who have also received the impact of inter- with the participation of a broad sector of Early morning on October 28, 2008, ventions from this same repressive agency the independence movement. Since several vehicles full of FBI agents pene- of the intervening government in our December of 2007, the Table has org a n i z e d trated the neighborhood where the well homeland, to stand in solidarity with com- several activities to protest and to inform known independentista Norberto Cintrón pañero Norberto, who has dedicated his the people about repression, especially Fiallo lives, and waited until he left his life and struggle for the well being of and about the anti-democratic institution of the house for work. During most of the morn- justice for the Puerto Rican people. Grand Jury. ing, four vehicles follow the compañero The Table of Solidarity reminds you The Table of Solidarity A g a i n s t while he carried out his work as an investi- that we must not let the FBI provoke us. Repression invites independentista, social- gator for the Legal Assistance Society. T h e Instructions are not to be intimidated, not ist, community, environmental and union compañero detected them and headed to answer questions, to remain silent, to o rganizations and our people to unite in the toward the central offices of his employer phone your attorney as soon as possible, activities of solidarity with compañeros in Río Piedras. From there he phoned his and don’t fall prey to provocation. Every and compañeras who are persecuted for our attorneys and several media outlets. T h e act of persecution by the repressive agen- work for our homeland and in massive four FBI vehicles parked strategically cies of the U.S. should be denounced. T h e repudiation of the repressive agencies. We around the offices of the Legal A s s i s t a n c e people must be on the alert to mobilize and say no to repression, no to the Grand Jury, Society and stayed there, surveilling the denounce every attack against compañeros and we will allow not even one more polit- area around the building, until mid-after- and compañeras who struggle for true sov- ical prisoner. n o o n . ereignty and freedom of Puerto Rico. Be TABLE OF SOLIDARITY A G A I N S T The Table of Solidarity denounces this aware of the agents’ movements. Make REPRESSION new act of repression against an indepen- note of the license plate numbers of their C o n t a c t : dentista which, in this case, follows an vehicles and call the news media. We must Liliana Laboy 787 406-1838 established pattern against compañero all protect ourselves from this monster who WAKE UP, BORICUA, DEFEND Norberto Cintrón Fiallo for more than 30 interferes in our homeland to defend the YOUR OWN PEOPLE!

9 Tarnac 9 - Raids Lead to Arrests of Anarchists On Tu e s d a y, November 11, French arrested had links to anarchists in Belgium, terrorist intentions. The only evidence police and members of the anti-terrorist G e r m a n y, Italy, Greece and other non- against the accused known thus far consists brigades engaged in raids in several cities, European countries. of train schedules and a ladder. arresting at least 10 anarchists. The raids While 10 anarchists are being held, One of the nine, Julien Coupat, is took place in response to a series of sabo- police admit that more than 20 had initially accused of being the leader of the anarchist tage attacks on the country’s high-speed been detained in raids conducted in Paris, gang. Coupat is a young philosopher, who rail network. Those arrested are accused of Tarnac and the northern city of Rouen. once helped published Tiqqun. Recent being part of an anarchist cell, known as One of the towns, Tarnac, has become in news reports have not only connected “anarchist-autonomous gang.” recent years a sort of “libertarian” commu- Coupat with the attacks in France but also The government has claimed that is has nity made up of young anarchists and the army recruitment center attacks in New been investigating an “ultra-left anarchist autonomists from all over France. Yo r k . movement” for several months and acted Four days after the arrests, 9 anarchists According to the Telegraph, published following the weekend’s disruption of train were accused of criminal conspiracy with in the UK, Coupat and his girlfriend services. Yldune L., were stopped allegedly trying to Those arrested are accused in taking enter Canada from the US illegally in part in acts of sabotage where steel rods January of 2008. It was claimed that they were jammed across overhead power were carrying anarchist text in English and cables on three high-speed lings between photos of an army recruitment center in Paris and London, Brussels and the French New York. While they left before the attack regions. They are also accused of a separate on the recruitment center in New Yo r k ’s incident that took place in the southwest of Time Square in March, they supposedly the country, where a high-speed train were spotted at an anarchist meeting in rammed a pair of concrete blocks place on New York. This is the alleged connection to the lines. the incident! The government raised concern over the The raids and targeting of Coupat were growing relationship taking place within initiated, according to the Telegraph by a the anarchist movement, stating those tip off from the FBI. FREQUENTLY USED Acronyms/ Terms ABCF: Anarchist Black Cross Federation - anti-authoritarian feder- PP/POWs: Political Prisoners and/or Prisoners of War. ation of ABC groups who support and defend PP/POWs. (See page 1.) ABC-BG: Branch Group - ABCF group with more responsibilities Self-Defense: The legal act of protecting one’s life or the life of than a SG. another with the idea/purpose of self-determination and independ- ABC-SG: Support Group - ABCF group with fewer responsibilities ence. Armed self-defense is relative to the ABCF, specifically in the than a BG. U.S., in that as the organization grows, so too grows the need to pro- AIM: American Indian Movement - above ground revolutionary tect ourselves from the armed aggressor of the state, right wing, and organization of Native Americans. other ideological opponents. (Firearms training as preparation for Anarchism: Free or libertarian socialism. Anarchists are opposed to self-defense are legal activities within the confines of the U.S.) government, the state, and capitalism. Therefore, simply speaking, Self Determination: The right by virtue of which all peoples are anarchism is a no government form of socialism. Types of anarchists entitled freely to determine their political status and pursue their include: Anarcho-Communist, Anarcho-Syndicalist, A u t o n o m i s t , economic, social, and cultural development. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources Collectivist, Individualists, and Mutualists. without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international eco- BLA: Black Liberation Army - revolutionary Black clandestine for- nomic cooperation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit and mation formed to defend the Black community and the BPP, inac- international law. In no case may a people be deprived of their own tive since the ’80s. means of subsistence. BPP: Black Panther Party - above ground Black revolutionary SDS: Students for a Democratic Society - left student group found- group seeking Black political power, disbanded in the mid-’70s. ed in the ’60s. FALN: english translation: Armed Forces of National Liberation - The Update: This is a quarterly publication of the ABCF. revolutionary clandestine group fighting for Puerto Rican independ- WUO: Weather Underground Organization - first the Weathermen, ence. later known as the WUO, evolved out of the SDS as an underground FC: Federation Council - decision-making body of the ABCF. formation of primarily white anti-imperialist revolutionaries from M O V E : Not an acronym, the name of an organization based in the student movement. Philadelphia whose members are committed to the teachings of John (The A n a rchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) produces the Africa. Their belief is in “life.” R e v o l u t i o n a ry Po litical Dictionary with these and other expanded def - PC: Prisoner’s Committee - rotating body of 5 PP/POWs on the initions of political terms. Available from Los Angeles ABC for $1 and ABCF’s FC. two 41 cents stamps.)

10 Anything We Do is a Threat to the System by Joaquin Cienfuegos On November 16, 2008, the planning meeting for the Los Angeles Bookfair was raided by police. The rea- son stated for the raid was that a beer run has taken place down the street. Several people including Joaquin Cienfuegos, a local anarchist were arrested. Cienfuegos has been the target of ongoing police harassment for his work in copwatch and because of his close ties with the Black Writers Liberation Party, who were also present at the planning meeting. Below is Cienfuegosʼ account of the raid and his arrest. “ I t ’s a war between city blocks and They try to push my head into some steel c h a rges were reduced to infractions (equiv- cops.” -Psycho Realm bars outside while they put handcuffs on alent to a ticket) “disturbing the peace.” I was released on Tuesday November me, but I held my head back, so I wouldn’t When I talked to the public defender he 18th after spending about 3 days in police get my head smashed. At this point there told me the police didn’t have a case and custody for “resisting/obstructing police.” were over 10 cop cars filling 6th street, and the police report didn’t make sense and was First I want to start by apologizing, because a helicopter circling the warehouse, which full of holes and lies. We pleaded No I feel like the police caught us off guard on included more than 15 cops (high ranking Contest, to be released that day, and fines Sunday November 16, and I personally o fficers as well). were waived due to time served. W h a t could have been more prepared or should Someone talked to the police from upset me was the waste of time, and I felt not have put myself in that type of situa- behind the door. People stuck out some bad for all the people who were arrested on t i o n . This political repression was made cameras from the doorway to film my Sunday as well. I’ll repeat what I told the clear to me when the arresting off i c e r s wrongful arrest and detention. While the pigs Cervantes and Cho, “this isn’t over.” were cracking jokes to the “watch com- arresting officers Cervantes and Cho were While in prison we talked to many peo- mander” about how thy had “shut down an yelling at me and putting their hands into ple and we definitely had an effect on peo- anarchist party.” my pockets, I told them I did not consent to ple in custody. We told everyone we The event was a fundraiser for the first my pockets being searched. Cho (39259) talked to that we were in there because of ever Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair told me I didn’t have a choice, and that they our politics and that we were revolutionar- ( w w w. a n a r c h i s t b o o k f a i r.com), the d i d n ’t need a warrant to go into the ware- i e s . Many people were surprised at the Revolutionary Autonomous Communities’ house, that we were trespassing. T h e y real Black and Brown unity and solidarity, Defense Fund, and to support a traveling draw their guns and grabbed one of my but also were inspired by the work that is revolutionary hip hop group from New comrades who was filming, and continue to being done in the community, and wanted York called the X-Vandals, held at a ware- try to push the door to the warehouse open. to support some of the community pro- house space collectively rented out to They told me I was being arrested for 148 grams in Los A n g e l e s . I would say 99% of artists from Los A n g e l e s . Part of the prob- (A) (1) PC Resisting/Obstructing a Police people in custody were people of color, and lem is that this space is isolated in an indus- I n v e s t i g a t i o n . One of the arresting off i- felt they were there because of the injustice trial part of the city with no traffic, so it cers, Cervantes was upset because I was s y s t e m . We have to continue to fight off made it is easy for the police to surround us letting them know that they were breaking these attacks on our people and our com- t h e r e . Their intentions were clear, they an entry and told me that we didn’t know m u n i t i e s . wanted to shut down the event, and accord- the law, and pushed me into a police car. The show before it was raided was a ing to several accounts, it seemed like they The Black Riders Liberation Party came rare mix of people, which I think is why it had specific targets for arrest. Their main out from inside along with other people was shut down as well. There were punks, excuse was that some youth allegedly stole who just wanted to leave the scene, and hip-hop heads, revolutionaries, artists, and beer from a liquor store, but they were also told the police that they did not do anything o t h e r s . The police attack serves as a learn- asking people to show them proof that we and that they wanted to leave. The police ing experience for me. Anything we do is w e r e n ’t “trespassing.” They were also then put handcuffs on Comrades Nadia and a threat to the police and to the state as a saying that they needed to go in because Kambui and started to put everyone from whole, so if we don’t take our enemies seri- they “smelled something.” inside the warehouse onto the wall. T h e y ously then we are going to suffer defeats The police had been patrolling and also spotted two people on the rooftop of c o n s t a n t l y. We have to know when to watching the event. People say they the warehouse and arrested them as well, strategically retreat and have protocols in thought there might have been undercover along with Nadia, Kambui, Ulises from place to deal with state repression. We police there as well. I was walking outside Los Angeles Food Not Bombs who tried have to understand that the reason they are to talk to some of the artists who needed talking to the police about the space, and attacking us is because they take us seri- directions and I was waiting for some one young person who was id’d for o u s l y. They also wanted to scare the youth sound equipment. Inside we had a DJ allegedly stealing some beer from a liquor that were there, so they won’t come out to spinning some hip-hop, but we hadn’t even store. any political events. It is our responsibili- started the show. The police pulled up and We were taken to Central Division on ty to let youth and other community mem- ask me to go talk to them. People who 6th and Wall in Downtown L.A., where we bers know about the seriousness of these were outside were walking into the show. were booked, and taken to Parker Center. events, and defend our people as well. The police asked to speak to the person in The white artists bailed out that same night. This will not stop us, or intimidate us. c h a rge of the event, I walk in to find My main concerns were the Riders who I We will continue to fight, and be strategic someone to talk to them. I was telling felt were targeted because they wanted to at all times. someone to find one of the people in charg e get them back into the system to do some of the space when the police kick the door time for their org a n i z i n g . They are now As always, in struggle, open and tell me to go over to them, they out on bail and pending their court case on Joaquin Cienfuegos then grabbed me and pull me to the outside. December 6th at Bouchet St. Court. O u r (RAC, CWLA-GC)

11 NYC ABCF Report Since we joined the Federation in marches and demonstrations in support of R e c e n t l y, two of us were able to visit January 2008, NYC ABC has been busy our warriors. The marches on October 10th with Ojore Lutalo in Trenton, NJ. Only a with many diverse projects. In solidarity and 11th had a large draw of diverse com- window visit this time, we had an hour to with "Running Down the Walls", we coor- munities both from in state and out, as well discuss everything from personal politics dinated a benefit bike ride with the Freegan as having created an ongoing delegation to to his upcoming fundraising weekend. bike workshop called "Rolling Down the the United Nations to spread the message Last, but not least we are pleased to Walls" which engaged activists in a leisure- to all sympathetic countries and non-gov- share we are now two members stronger ly 5 mile ride from our anarchist communi- ernmental organizations. We are starting to thanks to one local recruit and one A B C F ty space in Brooklyn, to St. Mark's Church make connections with prison reform transfer from LA! in Manhattan. We also had the pleasure of o rganizations around issues of NY s t a t e coordinating, with the help of the NYC and federal parole reform as well as the Until all are free! prisoner support coalition, a weekend of new Communication Management Units. -NYC A B C F CR-10 Report from Arcata ABCF Arcata ABCF-SG attended CR10 (the and Ronald Freeman. the criminal justice system, families of tenth annual conference of Critical Notable organizations included: Incite!, prisoners, political prisoners, justice for Resistance, a prison abolition movement) Jericho, All of us or None, Barnone, CA women, regional caucuses and where to go which took place September 26-28 in Prison Focus, Malcolm X Grassroots in the next ten years. O a k l a n d . Movement, Human Rights Coalition, A K Performances included everything from Notable attendees included: Pam and Press and PM Press, the New Black art installations, poetry, spoken word, Ramona Africa, Ashanti Alston, A n g e l a Panther Party, and the New A f r i k a n dance and indigenous drum circle. Davis, Barbara Becnel (Tookie Wi l l i a m s ’s Liberation movement. The workshops we attended were excel- advocate/co-author), Lucy Rodriguez, We tabled on Saturday, passing out liter- lent, the performances were riveting, and Susan Rosenberg, Harold Taylor and ature and engaging many people in dialog. the discussions sparked were informative Richard Brown and attorney Soff i y a h We exchanged contact info with Barnone and very motivational. About 3000 people , Robert King, Cynthia McKinney, and the AIM United Nations liaison. attended over the span of the three days. Elliot Monteverde (NY Puerto Rican The workshops covered topics such as The atmosphere was one of hospitality and Grand Jury resister), Hank Jones, Linda building community-based alternatives, inspiration. Overall it was a beautiful gath- Evans, (via recorded mes- death penalty abolishment, transgender and ering of diverse people for a unified pur- sage), Yuri Kochiyama, Jr, queer justice, immigrant justice, navigating p o s e . Los Angeles ABCF Report Since the last issue of the ABCF Update Buttons and Catalog not stop until these comrades quit, are the LA chapter has some changes in our L A ABCF has also been busy working imprisoned or worse. We stand by these collective, which has resulted in the forma- on producing free political prisoner buttons comrades and encourage the rest of the tion of a new ABCF chapter in A r c a t a , C A . that are available through the ABCF web- community to follow suit. Please review We would like to take a moment to express site. The buttons vary in subjects from spe- the article written by Joaquin Cienfuegos our excitement that our friends in A r c a t a cific prisoners to broader liberation move- about the harassment and arrests. We will have continued their work in support of ments. Buttons come in either 1-inch to update the community as thing progress as political prisoners. Their energy and deter- 1.75 inches. Currently we have around 40 far as how people can support those being mination will certainly show in their work. to 50 designs and are trying to design but- t a rg e t e d . Thank you for all that you did when in LA. tons for each prisoner the ABCF supports. Please contact us if you are interested in Running Down the Walls obtaining any of these items. On Saturday, August 23, LA A B C F We are also trying to re-establish the hosted Running Down the Walls in ABCF catalog to raise funds for the org a n- Whittier Narrows Regional Park. We had ization and the prisoners we support. We roughly twenty participants in the day’s will update folks as we progress in this event and raised just under $1,000 for the e n d e a v o r. ABCF Warchest and the community center, El Centro. As part of the RDTW s o l i d a r i t y Recent Raids in LA runs took place in throughout the country We wanted to take a moment to address including Tucson, Phoenix, A r c a t a , the recent raids that have taken place here Western Massachusetts and many other in Los Angeles. For several years now the locations, ten in total. From our under- Black Riders Liberation Party and the peo- standing a healthy amount of donations ple from Copwatch have been facing seri- were raised throughout the country for the ous harassment. They have been constantly ABCF Warchest and other local projects. under surveillance and have been arrested All prizes for the LA event were donated and charged with trumped up charges time from AK Press, so special thanks to them. and time again. We know that the state will 1.75 inch button for Shirosaki

12 " Two and a half by 16-inch. This is Red nile detention for his implication of the two Continued from page 4 Cross du Pont 50 percent strength dyna- Panther leaders. The anonymous caller who night in jail before being released on his own mite….[W]hen these individuals were set the lethal trap was never identified or signature by Douglas County prosecutors arrested in July, I called back and talked to apprehended following J. Edgar Hoover's after being arrested for conspiracy to commit the owner and the manager of Quick intervention in the case and Peak was m u r d e r. House never was formally charg e d Supply and described the dynamite….He allowed to claim he made the call without a for his role in providing dynamite to Peak said if this was 2 by 16-inch sticks, he was voice analysis to substantiate his claim. and is a suspected police informant. almost positive it had to be their dyna- Vocal expert Tom Owen has since conclud- Upon further committee questioning, mite….Quick Supply ordered a thousand ed that Peak did not make the fatal call. Platner returned to the dynamite discovered pounds of dynamite on a special order from The four men with dynamite, Raleigh in July and described the bust that Swanson the du Pont Company specifying 16 inches House, Luther Payne, Lamont Mitchell and would later not tell the jury about. "We long and 2 _ inches in diameter. This, as I Conrad Gray all ended up with their received information from a party that had understand it, is an unusually large size of c h a rge s dismissed. been approached to buy dynamite. We had dynamite to be used in quarries for blasting Mondo we Langa denies having any him buy it and he bought 10 sticks. It was purposes. Sergeant Gladson checked back dynamite in his basement and both he and 2x16-inch sticks. He came back later and with the manufacturer of the dynamite, and Ed Poindexter continue to deny any said he could buy more of this dynamite. they told him that was the only shipment of involvement in Minard's murder. Both men So we set up for him to buy and then we that size dynamite in the year 1970." are imprisoned with life sentences at the were going to move in before it was deliv- Larry Minard, father of five young chil- Nebraska State Penitentiary. Poindexter ered. We did move in and arrested three dren, was buried on what would have been has a new trial request pending before the young men in a car. In their possession his 30th birthday. Nebraska Supreme Court over withheld they had 41 sticks of this same type of Duane Peak, the confessed bomber, evidence and conflicting police testimony. d y n a m i t e . " walked free after a couple of years of juve- No date for a decision has been announced. The Anarchist Subsistence Program The Anarchist Subsistence Program seeks to pro- program. All U.S. supporters also take turns sending vide material aid to those PP/POWs who come from the stamps directly to Philadelphia A B C . our own anarchist/anti-authoritarian community. Listed here are the monthly check documentation As with the Warchest, this program is designed to and rotation of groups sending stamps. If you want to aid PP/POWs who receive little financial aid. support this important program and help us expand H o w e v e r, it is unique because it exclusively assists the number of Anarchist Subsistence Program cam- those from the anarchist/anti-authoritarian communi- paigns we run, contact Philadelphia ABC. Make t y. checks or money orders out only to: TIM FA S- Over the last few years there has been an increase N A C H T. Funds should be sent in the last week of the of anarchist/anti-authoritarian PP/POWs. Most of month before the month the funds will be used (i.e., these new prisoners have support committees who send March funds in the 3rd week of February). raise awareness and funds on their behalf. Long held anarchist/anti-authoritarian PP/POWs have had their support overshadowed by these new cases. This pro- Stamp Schedule gram is designed to ensure that support for them remains consistent. Jan- Philadelphia The two functions of this support campaign include a monthly financial assistance and forty 43¢ Feb- Los Angeles postage stamps per month. Supporters of the March- Philadelphia Anarchist Subsistence Program send whatever funds they can to Philadelphia ABC (who facilitates the April- Los Angeles program) who in turn distributes the funds among anarchist political prisoners who participate in the Send a check or money order to Philadelphia ABCF made out to Tim Fasnacht for forty 43¢ stamps in the last week of the month before the month for which JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC NY ABCF 0 0 0 20 20 0 75 0 50 25 30 30 you are responsible. LA ABCF 0 0 0 160 0 0 0 85 0 0 0 0 TOR. ABCF 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 Philadelphia ABCF JAX 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 EZE, NJ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 50 0 0 P.O Box 42129 RYAN, OREGON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 RYAN, AK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 Philadelphia, PA 19101 TOTAL 0 0 0 180 20 50 125 85 160 80 30 30

Name: Ph: Send cash,checks or mos Street Address: made to TIM FASNACHT to: Philly ABCF City/State/Zip: P.O Box 42129 ONE TIME DONATION MONTHLY SUPPORTER Philadelphia, PA 19101 Monthly supporters, please check one of the following: [email protected] I’ll commit to 6 months I’ll commit to 1 year Amount:$ toll free (877) 673-2658

13 SUPPORT THE ABCF WARCHEST The ABCF has initiated a program designed to send monthly checks to PP/POWs who have been receiving insufficient, little, or no financial support during their imprison- ment. PP/POWs requesting funds complete an application of financial questions. When the ABCF has collected sufficient funds to send out another monthly check, the applications are reviewed by a rotating body of PP/POWs called the Prisoner Committee, who make a judgement on which applicant is in the most financial need. There is also an emergency fund designed to immediately send checks to those PP/POWs in need of one-time or emergency assistance. Founded in 1994, the Warchest has provided consistent and reliable financial aid, serv- ing a much- neglected comradely function. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised over $54,000 with just this one program. All funds raised go directly to the political prisoners, for which the program is designed. Despite our success, our comrades are still in dire need of funds. Endorse this program by giving a monthly or one-time donation to increase the number of prisoners being supported monthly. A financial report is published that documents all money received and the prisoner it was sent to. The prisoners’ addresses are also printed so that endorsers may write and hold us accountable. Send cash,checks or mos made to TIM FASNACHT to: Philly ABCF • P.O Box 42129 • Philadelphia, PA 19101 • [email protected]

FUNDS IN JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FUNDS IN LA ABCF/RDTW 0 0 0 0 500 0 0 100 760 0 0 0 1994 351 PHL ABCF 20 0 0 20 20 0 20 20 20 20 20 20 1995 3860 EZE, NJ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 50 0 0 1996 4143 TORONTO RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 0 0 1997 3544 TORONTO ABCF 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 40 0 0 40 1998 7643 JAX ABCF 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 1999 5814 NYC RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 2000 3514 NYC ABCF 0 0 0 20 20 0 201 0 0 25 30 30 2001 5290 RYAN/ALSKA 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 2002 2873 RYAN/OREGON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 2003 1785 PROPAGANDI 0 0 0 0 0 115 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 UNACC* HOBART 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 JUSTIN/CLEV 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 4439 WEST. MASS. RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 143 0 0 2006 3268 ANON 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 4312 RDTW/ARIZONA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 243 2008 3448 SHARON SHOATZ/NJ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 360 0 0 TOTAL 54284 TOTAL 45 0 0 40 540 190 271 120 1489 470 50 233 FUNDS OUT 1994 120 FUNDS OUT Jan-08 FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1995 2796 SEKOU KAMBUI 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1996 4308 RUSSELL SHOATZ 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1997 4588 JOSEPH BOWEN 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 HANIFF BEY 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1998 6412 HERMAN BELL 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1999 5191 SEKOU ODINGA 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2000 4544 RUCHELL MAGEE 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2001 4637 ALVARO HERNANDEZ 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2002 4320 MALIKI LATINE 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2003 1300 TSUTOMU SHIROSAKI 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2004 UNACC* OJORE LUTALO 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 2620 ROBERT SETH HAYES 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 2006 2880 TOTAL 300 300 300 300 400 300 300 300 300 300 350 300 2007 3471 2008 3750 FUNDS REMAINING: $3114.50 TOTAL 50937

(*Funds unaccounted for due to unreported funds from Jacksonville ABCF) 14 “Your ABCF Guide to PP/POW Support is great, PERIOD!” - New Afrikan POW Sundiata Acoli

“You can see many of our concerns addressed in this pam - phlet.” - former Puerto Rican POW Carmen Valentin

“It is extremely well thought out and put together.” - Anti-Imperialist PP Tom Manning

W h a t ’s the ABC? What’s the ABCF? Who are Political Prisoners? Who a re Prisoners of War? Where are they? Why make a criteria? What do you mean by ‘documentation’ and how do I get it? What kinds of sup - p o rt do Political Prisoners need? How should I go about my work? What can PP/POWs get in prison? What do I need to know if I want - ed to visit? Can I bring them food packages? What about clothes? What do you mean by ‘principled support’? How do I get involved?

This is a practical guide compiled by Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War themselves, based on concrete history and work experience. It will help answer all of the above questions and more. The ABCF guide to PP/POW includes definitions that were demo- cratically agreed upon at an international tribunal, specific proce- dures for obtaining documentation on PP/POW’s, information on visiting, phone contact, food/clothing packages, and the working policies of the ABCF in our work to support PP/POW’s. Send $1 and two stamps to:

A B C F - L A • PO Box 11223 • W h i t t i e r, CA • 90603

LA-ABCF Branch Group PO Box 11223 Whittier, CA 90603

“This work is not done for glory, but because we believe in mutual aid.”