PLAIN WORDS An Anarchist Black Cross Federation Publication Fall 2009 "Give flowers to the fallen rebels with a glance turned toward the new dawn"- (old anarchist hymn) Issue #1 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 organization is the fact that Branch Groups and Support Prisoner Committee Groups are freely autonomous to take on whatever initiatives BILL DUNNE SEKOU KAMBUI they can to further the Unity of Purpose of the A B C F. So long as these initiatives do not contradict any preexisting #10916-086 (W. TURK) #113058 / agreements (Tactical Unity) that have been made by the Box 2068 Box 56 A B C F, it is not necessary for all groups to approve of and/or Inez, KY 41224 SCC (B1-21) agree with programs, projects or work of other ABCF col- Elmore, AL 36025 lectives.” [from the ABCF Constitution and Structure] MALIKI LATINE #81-A-4469 JAAN LAAMAN The following definitions are used to describe the below Clinton C.F. #W41414 terms whenever they appear in the ABCF Update or any PO Box 2000 BOX 100 other ABCF literature. Dannemora, NY 12929 South Walpole, MA 02071 P o l i t i c a l P r i s o n e r ( P P ) : A person incarcerated for actions carried out in support of legitimate struggles for self deter- mination or for opposing the illegal policies of the govern- ment and/or its political subdivisions. [Special Federation Chapters International Tribunal on the Violation of Human Rights ALBUQUERQUE ABC PHILLY ABC of PP/POWs in U.S. Prisons and Jails, Dec. ’90] PO Box 27662 PO Box 42129 Albuquerque, NM 87125 Philadelphia, PA 19101 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 ARCATA ABC TORONTO ABC captured as prisoners are to be accorded the status of pris- PO Box 380 PO Box 97048 oner of war and their treatment should be in accordance Arcata, CA 95518 RPO Roncescalles Ave with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions Relative to Toronto, Ontario the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August, 1949 DENVER ABC M6R 3B3 Canada (General Assembly resolution 3103) C/O P &L Printing 2298 Clay Street 4strugglemag Issue 14 Out Now! Denver, CO 80211 Check it out at http://www.4strugglemag.org LOS ANGELES ABC Help keep this project going! Paper copies of each PO Box 11223 issue are sent to over 200 prisoners, at no cost to Whittier, CA 90603 them. Get a “solidarity subscription” - one year of NYC ABC issues for yourself and for a prisoner for only $30. PO Box 110034 Donate online or contact : [email protected] Brooklyn, NY 11211 www.abcf.net 1 ISSUE #1 Fall 2009 Solidarity Action in Germany News From Greece NEWS FROM THE FRONT On Oct. 13, a police station was attacked by persons unknown in Chilean Anarchists Arrested L i c h t e n b e rg. According to a communique Bonanno Arrested in Greece In the early hours of September 27th, posted online, the attack was done in sup- On Oct. 1, Anarchists Alfredo Bonanno Chilean Police (the Carabinieros) Special port of political prisoners in Germany and and Christos Stratigopulos were arrested Operations (GOPE) and Criminal G r e e c e . in Greece on suspicion of having carried Laboratory (Labocar) Investigation teams out a bank robbery. The two were arrested raided a squat in the center of Santiago. Mexican Eco-Anarchist Held a few minutes later at a road block. According to corporate media reports On Oct. 27, Diego A. a 16-year old the Carabinieros arrested six individuals, 5 anarchist was held for ELF activities. Group Attacks Near PM Chileans and one Spaniard. A u t h o r i t i e s Police tried to stop him while he was riding On Oct. 2, the group, “Conspiracy of claim that the arrested squatters are part of his bike. The young man attempted to dis- the Cells of Fire,” set off a low-intensity an anarchist network who are responsible pose of his backpack and his bike. Despite explosion a few meters away from the for rioting and molotov attacks during the his attempt to elude the police, they cap- podium where PM Karamanlis was deliv- past few months after the student uprising tured him and discovered 4 incendiary ering a speech. In their communique they and protests commemorating the anniver- devices a molotov and other questionable sent a revolutionary greeting to Bonanno sary of Pinochet’s US backed military coup i t e m s . and Stratigopulos. September 11th, 1973. Police suspect the young man in six According to media reports, authorities actions between March 22 to September Banks Attacked in Solidarity found “subversive material” as well as 26. According to the press, he admitted On Oct. 8, a group of people attacked “materials to fabricate molotovs”. participating in the actions as well as being banks and corporations in central Athens in It is important to keep aware of develop- an anarchist and also part of the ELF. broad daylight. The attacks were solidarity ments and to support these prisoners as well with three anarchist prisoners, Masouras, as anarchists in Chile who will undoubtedly Belgrade Anarchists Held Hadjimichelakis and Yospas. The three be facing repression in the weeks to come. On September 3, 6 anarcho-syndicalists were charged with participation in the were arrested in Belgrade and are being “Conspiracy of the Cell of Fire” group. Anarchists Attack in Chile tried for international terrorism. They are On November 3, an anarchist group accused of having connection with Black Anarchist Squats Attacked known as the Efrain Plaza Olmedo Elijah (Crni Ilija) and participation in a Two squats in the center of A t h e n s Explosives Band attacked a branch of molotov attack on the Greek embassy last came under attack in the first week of Banco de Credito e Inversiones inside a August 25th. They face 15 years in prison. N o v e m b e r. The first incident occurred in Marriott hotel. The attack left windows The six accused have denied any the early hours of Nov. 2. Several molotov shatters and a security guard injured. involvement in the incidents. The anar- cocktails were thrown at Lelas Karayianni Chile has experienced 101 such bomb- chists, Ratibor Trivunac, Tadej Kurepa and No. 37 causing serious damage. On Nov. ings since 2004, most of them involving Ivan Vulovic, are members of the Union 3, Villa Amalias was attacked. This was l o w - p o w e r, homemade explosive devices. Confederation A n a r c h o - S y n d i c a l i s t second time in the last two months. T h e r e No one has died in the incidents. Initiative, which is affiliated to the was no damage at this location. Responsibility for the blasts is usually International Wo r k e r s ’ Association (IWA - claimed by anarchists or anti-globalization AIT). Trivinac is currently a delegate to the Anarchist Say, “Party Over” groups, some of them linked to Chile’s dis- duty of IWA - A I T General Secretary) On Oct. 27, an anarchist group called gruntled Mapuche Indians. L a w y e r s ’ fees will obviously be “Council for the Deconstruction of Order” Efrain Plaza Olmedo was an anarchist extremely high, so anyone who wishes to claimed responsibility for a bomb attack militant who gunned down two upper- c l a s s contribute financially to solidarity eff o r t s outside the party offices of a minister and youths on a Santiago street corner in July can send a check made out to the CNT A I T, deputy minister in northern port city of 1912. Sentenced to 40 years in prison, he with the words “Solidarité Belgrade” on T h e s s a l o n s k i . was paroled in 1925 only to be found dead the back, to the following address: in the capital a few days after his release. Greek Anarchists Wanted Authorities never determined whether he C N T A I T Greek authorities are off e r i n g was murdered or committed suicide. 108 rue Damrémont $900,000 reward for information leading 75018 PA R I S to the arrest of three anarchists and sus- Anarchist Ends Strike pected robbers who have eluded capture After 100 days, Spanish anarchist, Chicago: Action for 6 Held for three years. Amadeu Casellas, has called off his On September 30, six people were Simeon Seisidis, Marios Seisidis and hungertrike. Casellas was on hunger strike c h a rged with mob action for allegedly Grigoris Tsironis are accused of being from July 15 to October 24. He began his damaging property at an anti-olympic members of the anarchist group, strike in protest to oppression he faced for protest in Chicago. Revolutionary Struggle. The group is best communiques he had written. Jeremy Hammond, Jason Hammond, known for an attack against the US Casellas has spent more than 25 years in Jeremy Sorkin, Johnathan Clark, Rocky embassy in Athen in 2007. The org a n i z a- prison due to his participation in dozens of Mount and Anna Stafford have each been tion was added to the list of foreign terror- bank robberies during the 1970s. Funds c h a rged with mob action - a class 4 felony. ist organizations by Sec. of State Clinton. expropriated were given to support work- In response to the arrests, a group The three anarchists took part in the ers struggle. Last year he was on strike for attacked the Chicago Community Bank bank expropriation at the National Bank in 77 days over prison abuses and the State’s taking out seven windows. “One for each Athens in January 2006. During this action refusal to release him despite laws mandat- of those arrested and one more for the bid.” Yiannis Dimitrakis was arrested and is ing the release of prisoners who have Windows of a cop car were also taken out. serving 25 years for his part in the action. served the same amount of time.

2 Plain Words: A Rebirth of Resistance We wish to welcome our readers to the first issue of Plain Words, a publication of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF). Plain Words will replace our previous publication, the ABCF Update. The changing of the name of our publication is an attempt to give a nod to our past, as a movement and as an organization. It is an attempt to give recognition to the ideas, groups and individuals who have influenced this organization. We hope that by using this name, our history and our martyrs will not be forgotten. We will remember the names of Andrea Salsedo, Carlo Valdinoci, Sacco and Vanzetti and others who have died in the name of Anarchism. In May and June of 1919, a series of In late April 1919, approximately 30 suspicion, the U.S. government was unable bombings aimed at government and corpo- booby trap bombs destined for a wide to prove Galleani’s involvement in the rate elite rocked cities throughout the coun- cross-section of prominent politicians, jus- bombings. No one was ever tried for the t r y. The elite who had caused so much pain tice officials, and financiers (including bombing campaign of 1919. from a safe distance, were now finding John D. Rockefeller and Attorney General themselves face-to-face with the hatred they A. Mitchell Palmer) were sent through the A New Generation had created. Discovered at several of the mail. Most of the packages were intercept- In 1991, a group of anarchists came bombing was a flier entitled “Plain Wo r d s . ” ed after a couple of the packages were together to form the Paterson A n a r c h i s t These fliers were a declaration of war d e l i v e r e d . Collective (PAC). The organization began by a group calling itself, “The A n a r c h i s t s In June of that year, the Galleanists con- to organize around issues that impacted the Fighters.” The fliers promised that anar- tinued their campaign, setting off eight working class community of Paterson, chists will not be silent in the face of bombs simultaneously in several diff e r e n t including police brutality. Having such a oppression. Anarchists would seek revenge U.S. cities. The targets included the homes rich history of anarchist militancy at every for the abuse suffered at the hands of the of judges, businessmen, a mayor, an immi- c o r n e r, the Paterson anarchists naturally State. In Plain Words, anarchists declared gration inspector, and a church. At every became influenced by the early Italian its refusal to live as slaves to any master. location where the bombs were exploded, anarchist movement. The attacks were believed to be the leaflets on pink paper, entitled “Plain In October 1992, PAC opened the Right work of Italian anarchists, who were fol- Words” was discovered. to Existence bookstore, named after a lowers of Luigi Galleani, an insurrec- Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer’s Paterson anarchist group active in the early tionary anarchist and the editor of several house was targeted again during the June 20th Century. Members of the group anarchist newspapers, including as attacks. However, as Galleanist, Carlo included Luigi Galleani, Errico, Malatesta C ronaca Sovversiva and La Questione Valdinoci, approached the front door, the and Gaetano Bresci, the anarchist responsi- Sociale. It is believed that the Galleanists bomb prematurely exploded, blowing him ble for the assassination of King Umberto initiated their campaign in response to to pieces. Valdinoci worked on C ro n a c a in Italy in 1900 and who the Bresci Group Congress passing the Anarchist Act, a law S o v v e r s i v a with Galleani. Two years prior was named after. aimed at resident aliens. to the bombing, he was in Mexico with But before the Right to Existence book- Yet disciples of Galleani had already Sacco and Vanzetti. It is believed that they store was to open, the police raided the become involved in direct action as early as too had participated in the bombing cam- shop. Police arrested and physically 1914. Members of a Galleanist group in paign, but that has never been confirmed. assaulted members of the org a n i z a t i o n . East Harlem, known as the Bresci Group, Investigators attempted to discover Later that week, police shot up the store, hatched a plot to kill J.D. Rockefeller in clues based off of the remaining pieces of leaving eight bullet holes in the door. retaliation for his involvement in the Valdinoci, but it was the ‘Plain Wo r d s ’ f l i e r Due to articles printed in local and radi- Ludlow Massacre. Also involved in the plot that gave them insight to who was respon- cal newspapers, PAC was soon contacted were members of the IWW and the Latvian s i b l e . by Ray Luc Levasseur (Ohio 7 political section of the Anarchist Red Cross. Based off of information received from prisoner) and Ojore Lutalo (anarchist New H o w e v e r, the plan was foiled when the raids in Paterson, NJ, the FBI discovered Afrikan Prisoner of Wa r.) Out of this initial bomb exploded prematurely killing two the printing shop that produced the fliers. contact, the New Jersey Anarchist Black members of the Anarchist Red Cross and a Police brought in several suspects includ- Cross was formed. member of the IWW. The explosion ing a man named Andrea Salsedo. During During this period of time, the PA C / N J destroyed several levels of a tenement on his interrogation, Salsedo, a known mem- ABC also began to produce a CopWa t c h Lexington Avenue. ber of the Galleanist group, was thrown n e w s p a p e r. After the first issue the newspa- Galleanists continued for the next few from the 14th floor of the Department of p e r ’s name was changed to Plain Wo rd s. years to engage in ‘propaganda of the deed’ Justice Building. The name was obviously taken from the committing acts of violence against anyone The Galleanist would continue their G a l l e a n i s t ’s document. The publication they deemed to represent the government attack on the U.S. elite for more than a was produced for a brief period of time or the elite. The campaign ceased only decade, including the bombing of Wa l l before it ceased production. when the Galleanist fled to Mexico to Street. The bombing, done in retaliation of We attribute this period to be the birth of avoid the draft. the conviction of Sacco and Vanzetti, killed the Anarchist Black Cross Federation. On October 16, 1918, Congress enacted 38 people and injured 400. It is believed While others may have helped to form the the Anarchist Act of 1918. This act led to that a comrade of Sacco and Vanzetti and Federation, it was the Paterson chapter that the arrest of 4,000 radicals and the eventu- Galleanist, Mario Buda was responsible for helped to form the strong principles and al deportation of 556 people. Galleani the act. deep political insight that was necessary to would also eventually be prosecuted under As for Luigi Galleani, he was deported lay the foundation of this organization. It is this very law. He, and his disciples, two weeks after the June 1919 bombings this strong foundation that has continued to responded to the war being waged on them. under the Anarchist Act of 1918. Despite make the ABCF successful.

3 Reprinting of the Plain Words Flier The powers that be make no secret of masses by the wholesale; it has been the There will be bloodshed; we will not their will to stop, here in America, the history of every day in your regime; and dodge; there will have to be murder: we world-wide spread of revolution. The pow- now all prospects are even worse. will kill, because it is necessary; there will ers that be must reckon that they will have Do not expect us to sit down and pray have to be destruction; we will destroy to to accept the fight they have provoked. and cry. We accept your challenges and rid the world of your tyrannical institutions. A time when the social question’s solu- mean to stick to our war duties. We know We are ready to do anything and every- tion can be delayed no longer; class war is that all you do is for your defense as a class; thing to suppress the capitalist class; just as on and can not cease but with a complete we know also that the proletariat has the you are doing anything and everything to victory for the International proletariat. same right to protect itself, since their press suppress the proletarian revolution. The challenge is an old one, oh “demo- has been suffocated, their mouths muzzled; Our mutual position is pretty clear. W h a t cratic” lords of the autocratic republic. We we mean to speak for them the voice of has been done by us so far is only a warn- have been dreaming of freedom, we have dynamite, through the mouth of guns. ing that there are friends of popular liberties talked of liberty, we have aspired to a better Do not say we are acting cowardly still living. Only now we are getting into world, and you jailed us, you clubbed us, because we keep hiding, do not say it is the fight; and you will have a chance to see you deported us, you murdered us whenev- abominable; it is war, class war, and you what liberty-loving people can do. er you could. were the first to wage it under cover of the Do not seek to believe that we are the Now that the great war, waged to replen- powerful institutions you call order, in the G e r m a n s ’ or the devil’s paid agents; you ish your purses, and build a pedestal to your darkness of your laws, behind the guns of know well we are class-conscious men with saints, is over, nothing better can you do to your bone-headed slave. strong determination, and no vulgar liabili- protect your stolen millions, and your No liberty do you accept but yours; the t y. And never hope that your cops, and your usurped fame, than to direct all the power working people also have a right to free- hounds will ever succeed in ridding the of the murderous institutions you created dom, and their rights, our own rights, we country of the anarchistic germ that pulses for your exclusive defense, against the have set our minds to protect at any price. in our veins. working multitudes rising to a more human We are not many, perhaps more than you We know how we stand with you and conception of life. dream of, though but are all determined to know how to take care of ourselves. The jails, the dungeons you reared to fight to the last, till a man remains buried in Besides, you will never get all of us and we bury all protesting voices, are now replen- your Bastilles, till a hostage of the working multiply nowadays. Just wait and resign to ished with languishing conscientious work- class is left to the tortures of your police your fate, since privilege and riches have ers, and never satisfied, you increase their system, and will never rest until your fall is turned your heads. number ever day. complete, and the laboring masses have Long live social revolution! Down with It is history of yesterday that your gun- taken possession of all that rightly belongs tyranny! men were shooting and murdering unarmed to them. THE A N A R C H I S T F I G H T E R S . 74 Years Later, Plain Words Still Calls for Resistance This article was originally published in the Plain Words (1993) published by the Paterson Anarchist Collective (PAC) and the New Jersey Anarchist Black Cross (NJ ABC.) In 1919, radical anarchists all over the and thick anarchist history, was one of the sion. We too print this paper calling to all country staged a nation wide protest that many cities in which a bomb exploded on people to take action and fight back was to show the authorities of the time that that night of the people’s justice. against the unjust beast called government. the people were fed up with their tactics, The pamphlet plainly stated that the We don’t call for bombings and procedures, justice, and basically, their conditions in which we were forced to live, destruction as the original Plain Words did e x i s t e n c e . under the fist of government, were intoler- for several reasons. (One of them being These anarchists planned to plant able. It went on to say “you jailed us, you that such a call would be illegal and would bombs at the homes and offices of leading clubbed us, you deported us, you murdered end in arrests and imprisonment.) political officials and bosses. The bombs us whenever you could.” And now “The However this publication pleads with were hand delivered by the anarchists on powers that be… will have to accept the all of its readers to get involved in whatev- June 2, 1919 and all exploded within an fight they have provoked.” er way they can. We plead with all people hour of each other (12 midnight) in a mas- In this same spirit of revolution, we to work together and to cooperate with sive demand for justice. bring the Plain Words back to the people of each other in order to build a free society At each site that a bomb was to be P a t e r s o n . of al nationalities. placed, numerous copies of a pamphlet We can not agree more with our broth- Plain Words hopes to be the revolution- entitled “Plain Words” were also to appear. ers and sisters of the past who called out ary voice of a people who are yearning to Paterson, which has a truly inspiring for freedom in an environment of oppres- smash the chains of capitalism, and to wake up a new dawn of true freedom. “Do not expect us to sit down and pray and cry. We accept you challenge and mean to stick to our duties.” : We are not many; perhaps more than you dream of, but all are determined to fight to the last… we will never rest.” “ You will never get us.”

4 Tortuga: Arrests, Raids and Grand Jury On October 1, 2009 at 6am, the Joint and posted bail. Many in the radical com- ing through the belongings until they Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) raided an munity viewed the arrests as simply returned to court. anarchist collective house in Queens, NY, absurd; only to have the level absurdity After the raid, it became known that that known as the Tortuga house. According to raised a level higher with the raids. a grand jury investigation was taking place the warrant, the reason for the raid was that The JTTF, FBI, and all the rest of the against members of the Tortuga house. It residents had violated the federal riot laws. government acronyms, wanted to prove was this investigation that lead to the raid For 16 hours police searched the home, that these two anarchists caused a riot in of the house. The reason for the investiga- tearing apart the home in search of any and P i t t s b u rgh. By providing the locations of tion will remain sealed until the indict- all material deemed to be worthy of confis- police, street protesters were able to avoid ments are announced. cation. What items did the police deem arrests, thus On November 3, Pennsylvania authori- w o r t h y, you may ask. Items included but This is not the first time the federal riot ties dropped charges again the two mem- were not limited to: law was used by the government to sup- bers of the Tortuga house. Instead of oral Curious George plush toys, artwork, press the radical movement. It is the same a rguments regarding the defense motion to correspondence with political prisoner law used during the prosecution of the unseal the secret 18-page affidavit author- Daniel McGowan, birth certificates, pass- Chicago 7 (Bobby Seale was actually the izing the arrests of the two anarchists in ports, the entire video archive of a local 8th defendant but was tried separately.) Let P i t t s b u rgh, the prosecutor abruptly dropped media collective, tax records, books, com- us remind you that this was the same trial all charg e s . puters, storage devices, cell phones, Buff y where Bobby Seale found himself gagged While at first glance this may be viewed the Vampire Slayer DVDs, flags, banners, and bound for participating in his own as a victory, more than likely what we are posters, photographs defense. Five of the defendant were even- seeing is the Pittsburgh DA stepping aside While we recognize the danger of all tually found guilty of the law, but were to allow the federal prosecution to take plush toys, especially those considered to later thrown out on appeal. o v e r. We are seeing an escalation in the be curious in nature, we know that the real Under the federal anti-rioting statute, it prosecution of our dear friends at the impetus to the raid was the arrest of two is a felony to “organize, promote, encour- Tortuga house. residence of the Tortuga, Elliott Madison age, participate in, or carry on a riot; or [...] Just a few months ago, our government and Michael Wa l l s c h l a g e r, during the G-20 to aid or abet any person in inciting or par- praised Iranian protesters who used Tw i t t e r p r o t e s t s . ticipating in [...] a riot.” By that token, sim- to direct marches and to communicate with The two men, both anarchists, were ply telling a person fleeing cops with the world. To d a y, the same act is viewed as arrested on September 24 in the suburbs of batons which way to run makes you a terrorism when done by American citizens. P i t t s b u rgh. They were arrested for assisting f e l o n . In the US, free speech is only free, until the G-20 protesters avoid arrests by police The day after the raid, the attorneys for you chose to use it. The attack on the via communication on Tw i t t e r. The two defendants filed an injunction against the Tortuga house and its residence is proof of were released after 36 hours on detention State forbidding the authorities from fish- t h i s . New York ABCF Statement on Tortuga On October 1st, 2009, at 6:00 am, the quish our networks, physical and other- that supports political prisoners and prison- Joint Terrorism Task Force kicked down wise, we must develop ways to counteract ers of war, many coming from these very the front door to an anarchist collective t h i s . movements, we believe that their input can house in Queens, New York, aff e c t i o n a t e l y provide insight and inform our evolving known as Tortuga. This much you know. strategies while also helping to keep them And while we of the NYC Anarchist Black tied to the streets. With the number of polit- Cross slept, our comrades were being sub- ical prisoners increasing– the majority of jected to the type of humiliating treatment Over the last decade, two of our main those most recently arrested are anarchists– that is typical from the state. The cops strategies have been organizing in our this need to communicate with them should claimed to be searching for evidence relat- neighborhoods and organizing in the be evident. ed to rioting. We know better. T h e s e streets. It is fair to say, we’ve gotten better We stand with the anarchists in Queens, Federal rioting charges are not new to us, at both. Unfortunately, divergent currents not only out of solidarity with their ideas, they were used to target the Chicago Seven of thought have led many to think that we but also because they are our friends and in 1968. They beat the charges then and must focus on one or the other, that the two comrades. We realize that the state is we’ll beat them now. are in some way mutually exclusive. In attacking during a sensitive time – a time in This raid was a fishing expedition r e a l i t y, these two are often composed of the which we are primed to put another chink intended not only to intimidate public anar- same people. Even when they aren’t, they in its armor while understanding we also chists, but also to gather information for compliment each other; stronger ties in our face increased risks. We can work together future prosecutions. It occurred in the con- neighborhoods creates support in the and tear this motherfucker down and now text of a growing repression, the likes of s t r e e t s . is the time to focus on strategy, stay ahead which anarchists have not experienced in If we look to recent history, there are of the cops, and support our friends, com- the last decade. What does it mean? If noth- movements that did not see the separation rades, and allies when they most need it. ing else, it means we’re doing something between building stronger neighborhoods For the worlds we’re building, against right. Apart from that, it means we need to and militancy in the streets. There is plenty those that must come down, intensify our capacity for effective strate- to learn from these movements, especially gizing. If the state is spending untold dol- from those most affected by and entangled A B C F - N Y C lars and labor hours devising ways to van- in the state’s repression. As an org a n i z a t i o n October 13th, 2009

5 Ojore Lutalo Released On August 26, Anarchist, New A f r i k a n drug dealers. political prisoner Ojore Lutalo was finally Ojore spent a few week in Philadelphia recently released from prison after 26 getting reoriented and is planning to move years. Ojore spent most his time served in back to New Jersey. isolation, or “the hole,” due to dedication To make a donation without selecting an to the revolutionary movement. item from the gift registry, checks or Ojore was serving a parole violation money orders payable to Tim Fasnacht can sentence stemming from a conviction for a be sent to: bank expropriation to finance revolution- ary activity and engaging in a gun battle Philadelphia A B C F with police in December 1975. He was also Post Office Box 42129 serving a forty-year sentence for a 1982 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101 gunfight with a drug dealer in an attempt to expropriate funds and rid communities of Lynne Stewart Ordered to Prison On November 19, Lynne Stewart turned ters, and that she purposely made extraneous it until November 19 at 5PM to let her attor- herself in at the Lower Manhattan federal comments in English that would mask and ney file a motion for reconsideration. It was courts to begin her 28-month sentence. In conceal the Arabic conversation. denied, so Lynne Stewart turned herself in to 2002, the United Stated Government indict- She was also accused of violating US begin her sentence. ed Stewart for conspiring to defraud the US, Bureau of Prisons Special Administrative The situation remains fluid, dire, and conspiring to provide and conceal material Measures (SAMs) that included a gag order complicated by Stewart’s battle with breast support to terrorist activity, providing and on her client, Sheik Abdel Rahman. When c a n c e r. She has surgery scheduled for concealing material support to terrorist imposed, they prohibit discussion on topics December 7, unlikely now, but if done in activity and two counts of making false the Justice Department (DOJ) rules outside prison or where authorities direct, it won’t statements. of “legal representation,” so lawyers can’t be the quality she deserves. S t e w a r t ’s real crime? For 30 years, discuss them with clients, thus inhibiting In its ruling, the three judge panel (John Stewart worked heroically to defend their defense. Walker, Guido Calebresi and Robert Sack) A m e r i c a ’s poor, underprivileged, and Her 2004 - 2005 show trial was a mock- was firm, hostile and belligerent in uphold- unwanted, never afforded due process and ery of justice with echoes of the worst ing the lower court’s conviction. Judge Sack judicial fairness without an advocate like McCarthy-like tactics. Inflammatory terror- accused Stewart of lying and called for a her. Where others wouldn’t go, she defend- ist images were displayed in court to preju- longer sentence. “We think that whether ed controversial figures like David Gilbert dice the jury, and prosecutors vilified (she) lied under oath at her trial is directly of the Weather Underground, Richard Stewart as a traitor with “radical” political relevant to whether her sentence was appro- Williams of the United Freedom Front, views. In addition, days before the verdict, priate,” he wrote, and directed District Court Sekou Odinga and Nasser Ahmed of the the militant pro-Israeli Jewish Defense Judge John Koeltl to re-sentence her “so as Black Liberation Army, and many more like Organization put up flyers near the court- to reflect that finding.” Judge Walker was them. house displaying her address. It threatened even harsher, calling the original sentence The charges and conviction of Stewart is to “drive her out of her home and out of the “breathtakingly low.” Judge Calabrese said: based around her former client Sheik Abdel state,” and said she “needs to be put out of “I am at a loss for any rationale upon this Rahman. At former US Attorney General business legally and effectively.” record that could reasonably justify a sen- Ramsey Clark’s request, Stewart joined him It was part of the orchestrated scheme tence of 28 months’ imprisonment for this as part of Rahman’s court-appointed defense inside and outside the courtroom to heighten defendant.” team. In his 1995 show trial, he was con- fear, convict Stewart, and intimidate other They all said Stewart was “convicted victed and is now serving a life sentence for lawyers to expect the same treatment if they principally with respect to (her violating) seditious conspiracy, solicitation of murder, dare represent unpopular clients effectively. measures by which (she) had agreed to solicitation of an attack on American mili- On February 10, 2005 (after a seven abide,” namely SAMs. They rejected her tary installations, conspiracy to murder, and month trial and 13 days of deliberation) she “argument that, as a lawyer, she was not conspiracy to bomb in connection with the was convicted on all five counts. Under bound by (them), and her belated argument 1993 World Trade Center attack despite evi- New York state law, she was automatically collaterally attacking their constitutionali- dence proving his innocence on all charges. disbarred, and the state Supreme Court’s ty.” They also: In addition to charging Stewart, the DOJ Appellate Division denied her petition to “affirm(ed her conviction) of providing also charged a number of others: resign voluntarily. On October 17, 2006, she and concealing material support to the con- Mohammed Yousry, the Arabic language was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment, spiracy to murder persons in a foreign coun- interpreter for communications between but remained free on bond pending appeal try (and) of conspiring to provide and con- Stewart and Rahman; Ahmed Abdel Sattar, a before the US Court of Appeals for the ceal such support....We conclude that the resident of Staten Island, New York and Second Circuit. charges were valid (and) the evidence was described in the indictment as a “surrogate” sufficient to sustain the convictions. We also for Rahman; and Yassir Al-Sirri, currently in Stewart Ordered to Prison reject Stewart’s claims that her purported custody in the United Kingdom. On November 17, the Appeals Court attempt to serve as a ‘zealous advocate’ for The indictment alleges that Stewart revoked Stewart's bond, upheld the verdict, her client provides her with immunity from allowed Yousry to communicate with ordered her surrender forthwith, but stayed Rahman in Arabic regarding nonlegal mat- Continued on page 12

6 Running Down the Walls 2009 Statements by our Imprisoned Comrades Phil Africa Statement LONG LIVE JOHN A F R I C A’S REVO- being held hostage by this system for dar- with every step and fill you with the L U T I O N ing to survive this system’s attempt to mur- strength and motivation to carry on this Ona Move! der us on August 8, 1978 and the list goes struggle until the battle for Justice & on and on. For those of you running for Freedom for A L L is won and a reality for My revolutionary best to all at A B C F Justice for All, I truly hope that your foot- ALL! To quote JOHN A F R I C A “ S O L I- and all those involved in the work of Tr u e steps are heard around the world and D A R I T Y IS UNITY. W I T H O U T U N I T Y Revolution! Much respect to all those shakes the brittle bones of All oppressors! YOU CAN’T H AVE REVOLUTION.” active in the serious work needed to gain Let each foot step, each voice heard, be a LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA! Let us the release of all PP/POWs! I truly hope all strong statement to this system, that no one always find that Common Ground to work are strong and on THE MOVE in the work it has and is still doing an injustice to, will in harmony, work in solidarity in and in needed to Completely Eliminate this rotten ever be forgotten! Let each foot step be a unity help build that better world for all. reform world system that imposes its Demand to this system to release Chip destructive ways on A L L LIFE. Fitzgerald, Herman Bell, Sundiata A c o l i , Again my love & solidarity to A L L ! As always I’m sure that RDTW w i l l Mumia Abu Jamal, Hugo Pinell, Robert Take care, stay strong and keep ON T H E again be the great success it has been in the Seth Hayes, David Gilbert, Marilyn Buck, M O V E . past. I speak for THE MOVE ORGANIZA- The MOVE 9, Veronza Bowers, the Cuban Ona MOVE! TION in saying that we are in solidarity 5, and the unending list of others, too many Your Bro in Revolution with this event and all those who support it. to name at this time, but are Not forg o t t e n Phil A f r i c a Just heard the news of this system’s contin- just because their names were not men- ued attack on Leonard Peltier. Everyone tioned. FREE THE MOVE 9! should be up in arms about the vulgarity of Those who have been Unjustly denied FREE MUMIA ABU JAMAL! the 15-year hit given Leonard by the parole their release from these hell holes for way FREE A L L P O L I T I C A L P R I S O N E R S ! board! Like with the SF8, this system’s far too long, Let the run ring loud to this FREE A L L S O C I A L AND CLASS hatred for those with the courage to stand system, that these folk of strong committed WAR PRISONERS! against it in defense of what’s right, is his- reflections of Justice and Freedom are not NEVER FORGET M AY13TH, 1985! t o r i c a l . and will never be forgotten and that their LONG LIVE JOHN A F R I C A’S REVO- Run-a-way Slaves were hunted down release is being Demanded! LUTION AND DOWN WITH THIS ROT- for daring to be in the Free as GOD Let every foot step remind this system TEN REFORM WORLD SYSTEM! M A M M A N ATURE intends A L L LIFE to that all of those who have given their lives be. The Native Peoples were Slaughtered to this struggle are Forever Loved by us all! William Phillips A f r i c a for daring to hold to their Right to live and That they are, as all Good Soldiers of this # A M - 4 9 8 4 the land MOTHER NATURE made them Revolution, missed but Never Forg o t t e n ! Follies Road, Drawer K caretakers of! Let everyone feel their strong dedicated Dallas, PA 1 8 6 1 2 31 years later THE MOVE 9 are still spirits flow through your hearts & souls SCI Dallas Sekou Cinque Kambui’s Statement Dear friends, comrade in struggle: Running Down the Walls with you here at shares. We, in SCDG are also fighters for As a Political Prisoner held hostage for staton C.F. under the organization of social justice and a part of the over forty years now by the slave manufac- SCDG Chairman Sekou Kambui. “International Prisoner’s Human Rights turing state of Alabama. Your sacrifice and We feel that to run with you, even Liberation Struggle” movement. diligent efforts in solidarity and support of removed as we are from the forerunners Stay strong! Keep the struggle A l i v e Political Prisoners and Prisoners of war is outside, we are demonstrating our solidari- and the faith in the righteousness of the deeply appreciated. Keep up the good ty and support of the principles by which cause you have embraced in the forefront w o r k ! you were guided and motivated to org a n i z e of your endeavors. Your Missive advising us in the Social R D T W on behalf of PP/POW’s . I am, I remain, In solidarity and struggle Consciousness Development Group September 6th is the birthday of Sekou (SCDG) about Running Down the Wa l l s Kambui the chairman of SCDG and so he Sekou Kambui (W. Tu r k ) event that you have organized arrived safe- is proud to be able to give a celebration in # 11 3 0 5 8 l y. All concerned are in solidarity with you dedication to his fellow PP and Vi rg o P.O. Box 56 SCC (B1-21) and though incarcerated we will be Leonard Peltier whose birth month he Elmore, A L 3 6 0 2 5 - 0 0 5 6 Sebu Kessa Saa Tabansi’s Statement Anarchist Salutations and revolutionary My words- For you all, the struggle is a My solidarity- “Struggle! Free all polit- g r e e t i n g s ! continuum, “Unified we stand and divided ical Prisoners and Prisoners of Wa r ! ” Comrades I am unable to run except for we fail.” in segregation, but there is NO exercise My knowledge- “A journey of one thou- Sebu Kessa Saa Tabansi (A. Pew) yard on September 12th 2009. However I sand miles begins with one step.” # B T – 7263 / Box A will pace the cell in circles to be there in My encouragement- “never quit, run Bellefonte, Pa 16823-0820 s p i r i t ! free or die”

7 Janine Phillips Africa’s Statement I Love yall’s Running Down The Wa l l s ted to this revolution and we’re still inno- ize this. event! It’s a good way to bring people cent! This is why it’s so important for peo- Thanks again for yall’s dedication to together and focus on the cause. I know it ple to show their support in any way they the fight for justice! will make Leonard Peltier feel good, it will can, no matter how small it may seem ON THE MOVE! make all of us Political Prisoners feel good because there is no justice in this system. to see the support and care yall have for us, They got one set of laws for the rich and Janine Phillips A f r i c a # 0 0 - 6 3 0 9 THANK Y O U ! another for the rest of us. The power is in 451 Fullerton Av e We are still strong, we’re still commit- the people though, people just need to real- Cambridge Springs, PA 1 6 4 0 3 - 1 2 3 8 Bill Dunne’s Statement Salutations and felicitations to all the sible freedom to attain their full human Leonard! Vote for freedom for all political comrades participating in Running Down potential. He has never wavered despite prisoners! Vote against oppression! My the Walls 2009! being among the longest held political pris- vote may be cast in relative isolation but I This year September 12th is a particu- oners in the U.S. gulag archipelago and this will feel the walls trembling to the cadence larly meaningful day to let the peoples’ f e e t year he was attacked by the federal parole of our collective foot falls. shake the apparatus of oppression, commission, that agency of repression September 12th is Leonard Peltier’s birth- inflicted yet another 15 year hit on Leonard Bill Dunne # 1 0 9 1 6 - 0 8 6 d a y, he is a strong comrade in the struggle for no other reason than that he is such a P.O. Box 2068 for the most equitable social reality in strong comrade, a powerful symbol. So let Inez, KY 4 1 2 2 4 which all people will have the greatest pos- us vote with our feet! Vote for freedom for U S P Big Sandy Jaan Laaman’s Statement I want to send a big shout out to every- running with them. And I want to send a reports on how the various runs went. one Running Down the Walls today - satur- salute out to all my Jericho people and all Today also happens to be our long held d a y, Sept. 12th, 2009. This is Jaan Laaman the runners rolling with them. I want to Native political prisoner brother, Leonard and I’m speaking to you from inside the salute every person and all the groups who P e l t i e r ’s birthday. Leonard has been in u.s. penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona. Yes, I are running today. While long miles and prison for 33 years and he just got a 15 year myself and a multinational group of solid high walls separate us, today we run as one hit from the parole board —-You are in our prisoners will be Running Down the Wa l l s , l a rge collective, growing in numbers, thoughts bro - we are running for you and behind these walls in the Sonoran desert understanding and solidarity in support of for A L L of us. So enough talk, lets get to with all of you this saturday morning. political prisoners and A L L prisoners in our sweating and running down these walls —- I’m very pleased to hear we have 12 out- struggles for justice and survival. Running for Justice - side runs, taking place from Los Angeles to We are young and old, women and men, Running for Human Dignity and Rights Boston and places in between, and we have many nationalities, running in prison yards some runs in other countries too. I also and city parks and streets. All of us should Jaan K. Laaman know we have a lot of runs going on inside take added strength and commitment from 1 0 3 7 2 - 0 1 6 prisons from coast to coast as well. this solidarity as we sweat out one more lap P.O. Box 24550 I want to send out a salute to all my and one more mile in our run today. I’m Tucson, AZ 85734 ABC Federation folks and all the people sure we all are looking forward to hearing U S P Tu c s o n Oso Blaco de Aztlan’s Statement Brothers and Sisters, he who can survive in Nature survive. Let Free Veronza Bowers! Yes run down the walls! he who knows only the artificial world Everyday I pray for Revolution and return to the spirit. L o v e , Freedom. But this is no small matter. T h e No occupation of A z t l a n Oso Blanco de A z t l a n . Animals-Earth Mother-Natives and all peo- No prisons- No research labs (Byron Shane Chubbuck) ples need a break to cleanse from this No Reservations- No zoos # 07909051 destructive civilization. So for 8 years I’ve Free Leonard Peltier! P.O. Box 1000 been praying for the economy to crash. Let Free Tom Manning! L e w i s b u rg, PA 1 7 8 3 7 Akili Castlin’s Statement Revolutionary greetings, due to the unprecedented changes taking racism, the prison industrial complex, the Friends, we send our deepest gratitude, place within the hearts and minds of aver- military industrial complex, homelessness, love and support to you all there, who’ve age everyday citizens. hatred and lack, in all the forms capitalism gathered on all of our behalf. As we lace-up our tennis shoes and pre- has implemented it. Please know, we are one in “running pare to run down these walls, know every We, the short corridor few, are a class of down the walls” – whether here within the step of these five miles, every breath we prisoners being held in California’s ultra- kamps such as Pelican Bay’s newly imple- expend is done in solidarity with one secret and torturous section of the SHU, mented, illegal and highly secret section of another and all victims of imperialism in which further restricts our communica- its infamous draconian sensory deprivation all its hideous terms. With every mile, we tions, movement and associations. T h i s c h a m b e r, the Security Housing Unit (SHU) grow closer in mind and spirit to each other tactic appears to be modeled on the federal – or there within the less visible walls of a and the reality of an anti-authoritarian, p r i s o n s ’ “Communications Management parasitic capitalist social system. egalitarian, free society. Together we run Units.” We have been classified without This year’s run is especially important down the walls of gender-bias, hierarchy, due process of any kind as “threats to the

8 internal safety and security” of the prison be running 315 or more laps individually now share techniques under the Dept. of industrial complex and subjected without within this cold gray cage where even sun- Homeland Security, we can expect more of court hearing or justification to extraordi- light dies. We’re allowed 90 minutes on the same in our state institutions. nary communication and sensory restric- the yard, one man at a time, so we will be For a more in depth discussion on the tions. All this, for no other reason than our running throughout the day on Saturday state system, or to find out more about the political beliefs, ideologies and willingness September 12, 2009. state system, I can be written to at to do more than talk. Again, we send our deepest gratitude, We will be running the 5 miles with you love and loyalty. Please check out 4strug- Akili Castlin J - 9 9 4 0 2 all there. The yard in which we are able to glemag.com, issue 13, or D-1-210 PBSP run is 26 x 10 feet with 20 foot high walls w w w.freejaan.com for insight and com- P.O. Box 7500 and security cameras. Its perimeter is mentary on CMU prisons at the federal Crescent City CA 9 5 5 3 2 about 72 feet or 24 yards. Each of us will level. As both federal and state prisons LA ABCF’s Report Back on the RDTW We are pleased to report that the Los only slight modifications. Rather than put- Brigade or the Peltier’s Birthday Bash) was Angeles run was a success. Despite ting up the ABCF banner and anarchist running right under their noses. attempts to halt our activities, the event flags, we traded them in for black, red and After the run was over, LA ABCF pre- continued as planned. We came together as yellow balloons (colors of AIM) and red sented prizes to the first and second-place one – shook the ground – sending the mes- and black streamers (color of anarchism.) runners, as well as, the person who raised sage that we will not stop until our com- From the outside, we looked like a birthday the most money. We proceeded to eat cake rades are free. party not an anarchist event. Rather than and flautas, talk politics and interact with We would like to say that the event hanging signs for the run, we hung signs old and new friends. began without a hitch, but to make that for “Peltier’s Birthday Bash.” At the end of the event, we managed to claim would certainly be a lie. Less than 48 Folks who arrived for the run were raise $900, which will be split between the hours prior to our event, LA A B C F quick to figure out where to go. Police on ABCF Warchest, Chip Fitzgerald received an email from the Department of the other hand were none the wiser. W h i l e Homecoming Fund and the Ojore Lutalo. Parks and Recreation informing us that we patrol passed our event, the birthday cake, Overall, we are pleased with the day. could not have the event at W h i t t i e r festive atmosphere and broad diversity of The attempt to disrupt the event only Narrows Regional Park. The excuse given attendees – must have given them the strengthened our determination to make was that despite our event being smaller impression that we did not fit the typical this event happen. There was to be no than most family gatherings or sporting group of anarchists they were looking for. excuse for failure. Turning back was not an events held at this location – we must have After a few words from LA ABCF mem- option. Not with our imprisoned comrades a permit. One of our members contacted b e r, Mapache, the group listened to state- running behind the barbed wire. We must the department in an attempt to resolve the ments from prisoners – including an audio move forward. It is only through our resist- issue but they were adamant that the event message from Jaan Laaman. Everyone ance that we are able to show our solidari- will not continue. came together to take a group photograph t y. In the end, we figure what would a run After much discussion, the chapter and then the run began. be without a few hurdles – it certainly agreed that canceling the event was not an It wasn’t until people were on the course w o u l d n ’t be Running Down the Wa l l s . option. We had prisoners running in prison for the run, did we truly understand that the L A A B C F yards and even in their cells. To quit would police presence was much larger than what fly in the face of everything the event we even thought. Police were stationed stands for – solidarity and resistance. throughout the park riding horses, in When we arrived to set up, we noticed Bronco truck, undercover vehicle and stan- an unusual number of park employees and dard patrol cars. Patrols were driving on police patrols. We have been to this park on the pathway forcing families and runners numerous occasions and have had only a o ff the course and occasionally giving sus- few sightings of police. This said we were picious runners the stink-eye. At one point, still uncertain if this was a case hyper- one of the runners overheard a police off i- awareness or whether our concerns were cer inquire to the whereabouts of the anar- j u s t i f i e d . chists. Little did they know that Running We prepared for the run as usual with Down the Walls (AKA Anarchist Birthday Arcata ABC’s Report Back on RDTW In Arcata, CA we had a small but good has been a run scheduled in the forest the we started our event. We talked about the run. We had a total of 9 runners/walkers. public still had access as long as they did importance of RDTW and of supporting Our run took place at the A r c a t a not interfere with the runners). They also P P / P O W, then read some of the statements Community Forest where we ran slightly had a police car parked at the entrance of from the political prisoners, took a group over 5k up and down the trails in the forest. the parking lot, when there never is any photo then started the run. We hung out for Like some of the other RDTW we had ours police, and as reported by some of the run- a while after then run then parted ways. scheduled for 10am-2pm, but had a 2 ners for our event there was also police In the end we raised $210 dollars. Some HOUR delay because there was another 5k patrolling in front of the parking lot. other people have contacted us and said run scheduled for 10am-12pm, and for We used the two hours to talk to people they would like to donate more money, so some reason which was not told to us, they in the park who came up and asked us what there might be more money to throw into had the only two entrances to the actual it was that we were doing. Some people the pot for RDTW. trails CLOSED OFF by the fire department who were just at the park donated some (even though every other time that there m o n e y. Once the 2hour bulls**t was over, -sinapu (Arcata A B C F - S G )

9 Daniel McGowan’s Report Back To d a y, on a muggy day at USP M a r i o n , wood burning stove, I finished the 5K in I feel is really an illusion—that there are I ran 5K to coincide with the A n a r c h i s t 33:04. I have to disclaim that time though! many others out there that struggle against Black Cross Federation’s annual “Running You should know that our yard’s path is this cruel and unjust system. My thoughts down the Wa l l s ’ benefit run in Los A n g e l e s only 1/18th of a mile requiring me to run are with all of you out there struggling for (with other runs & bike rides around the 55 laps and make a fairly hard turn 220 a better world and my fellow political pris- continent). Because of this year’s timing, I times! It was a great day to run and I start- oners (and all prisoners for that matter). I did it solo (more than 2/3 of the men here ed my run at 12PM so that I would be run- hope all of the runs were successful today fast during the Muslim month of ning at the same time as the folks in LA. I and that a lot of funds were raised to boost- Ramadan). Despite an allergy flare up and thought a lot today about all the others par- er the important work the ABCF does. an absurd amount of smoke from a nearby ticipating in the run and how this isolation - Daniel Jaan Laaman’s Report Back Here in usp Tucson, we had a morning before we took off as one large group, this being Leonard (Peltier) birthday and run — 33 brothers , Black, white, Latino reminding everyone that as we ran many the 15 year hit the parole board recently (Cubano,Boricua, Mexicano, Nica), one many others behind other walls were run- gave him - we ran for him and for all of us. wheelchair Bostonian and few old heads ning, as well as people in 12 cities across Everyone took some inspiration in this who walked some and ran some, rolled, the country - separated by miles and walls, unity and solidarity and everyone felt posi- walked and Ran Down the Walls here in the but united in our efforts for Justice and tive after finishing the 13 laps we ran, Sonoran desert. We had a few words Freedom. We also said a few words about which was just over 5k. -Jaan Toronto ABCF’s Report Back Congratulations, LA, for holding it it went at PBSP in a couple weeks (mail is down - very impressive! The To r o n t o - slow). I am sore and walking like a fool. P B S P run raised $500, though money may - k e still trickle in. I’ll let you know how how 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 Political 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 Boston Jericho’s Report Back More than 20 people came out on n i t y, who talked about the struggle of jus- Lets work together to make it bigger next Saturday 9/12, in spite of sometimes tice for Leonard Peltier and drummed in his y e a r ! heavy rains, to run our 5K for political h o n o r. -Jericho Boston prisoners at the Jamaica Pond. We set off We raised $500 from the run and will be with an inspiring message from Jaan matching this with Jericho funds, allowing FREE A L L P O L I T I C A L P R I S O N E R S Laaman, recorded from inside the US pen- us to send $500 each to the Leonard Peltier AND PRISONERS OF WA R ! itentiary in Tucson Arizona, where he D e f e n s e / O ffe nse Committee and to Ojore Jericho Boston o rganized more than 30 prisoners to run Lutalo, a New Afrikan Anarchist prisoner PO Box 301057 this year of war who has recently been released. Boston, MA 0 2 1 3 0 After the run, we were joined by mem- Thanks to all who came out on Saturday J e r i c h o b o s t o n . o rg bers of the Mashpee Wampanoag commu- for helping to make a successful event. J e r i c h o _ b o s t o n @ y a h o o . c o m Akili Castlin’s Report Back It's the 12th and today we run down reminders of missteps and past failures. encompassing love and unity, that will these walls - walls invisible to the Today i will run down the beauty of my make this race, this human race, worth- untrained eye. Today i will be running own true self, and our own truest selves, while and a true champion of all the beauty down depression, dejection, self-depreca- stolen and bagged by capitalist self-pro- and grace this planet gives us. tion, disbelieve in our greatness, our right- claimed rulers of our lives and i will once eousness. I will run down this ever- p r e s e n t and for all, from within my own, our own, Love and Loyalty, nagging procrastination which floats selves, release that great momentous, all- A k i l i Jalil Denied Parole Robert Seth Hayes Married We have received news from Seth’s Jalil Muntaqim had a parole hearing Jalil thanks everyone who wrote letters daughter that Robert Seth Hayes was Tu e s d a y, November 17 and was informed of support and says he will appeal the recently married in October. the following day that he was denied d e c i s i o n . We in the Anarchist Black Cross p a r o l e . Jalil is a Black Liberation Army prison- Federation wish to extend a congratula- In a brief report from him by phone he er who was convicted as one of the New tions to our friend Seth. We are happy for noted that the board was courteous, saying York 3 and was recently part of the San you and wish you all the happiest and that his record showed improvement and a Francisco 8 case. love in the world. We hope that with love good attitude. They noted his exemplary His next scheduled parole hearing will comes liberation! record, but still, they denied him parole. be in June 2010. Denver ABC’s Application for Support Group Status Denver Anarchist Black Cross formed in parole hearing. Monthly letter writing din- on in the area. June 2009 with the goal of contributing to ners have also begun at a local church. We In August our collective’s goals and the defense of social movements, both participated in the annual Running Down skills were tested here at home when fellow internally and externally, working against the Walls 5K where we raised $500 and got anarchist Ariel Attack was charged with oppression and for self-determination. some much needed exercise. breaking the windows of the Democrats’ Since we’ve formed, we have started South of Denver is the Supermax Prison party off i c e . Denver ABC worked with several projects, tabled at events, and in Florence, CO. Many of our imprisoned many other dedicated friends of Ariel to o rganized some key events. While still comrades are housed there, so we’ve started quickly raise the $5,000 bail and also bring modest steps in the fight for liberation, to begin there with direct political work. people out to the courtroom for her arraign- we’re excited about the work done so far From our letters, we have struck up a corre- ment. and the work ahead. spondence with Mutulu Shakur. He has a In addition to working around defense Some of the highlights include starting a lot of wisdom to share and he also a lot of against external forces such as state repres- blog (denverabc.wordpress.com) with daily areas in which he needs support. We ’ v e sion, we’re also looking at ways we can updates on state repression, announcements decided to send $30 a month for his com- contribute to the internal health and of events and campaigns in support of polit- missary and we are finalizing the other resiliency of the social movements we are a ical prisoners, prisoners writings and more. ways in which we’d like to support him, part of. Within our collective, we’ve start- Through the anarchist website and tech making sure to be generous but also ed regular discussions and activities around service Raise the Fist, we also set up an dependable and realistic with what we can an anti-white supremacy praxis. We’ll be E m e rgency Response Network for the o ff e r. starting a publication in the late fall to high- Denver area which sends time sensitive Antonio Guerrero of the Cuban Five was light the cases of political prisoners and oth- developments on the status of political pris- also imprisoned in Florence until just ers caught in the cross wires of government oners and activists in trouble to people’s r e c e n t l y. We’ll be promoting and support- backlash as well as resources internally that cell phone and/or email address. Also on ing an art showing on September 22nd in folks can use to continue the fight for jus- the website is a list of political prisoners Boulder of his A n t o n i o ’s artwork being tice. T h e r e ’s a few other ideas kicking and their updated contact information, o rganized by the National Committee to around in our heads and there are also a lot which we have also released as a print pub- Free the Cuban Five. of great organizations and individuals here lication for people. West Denver Copwatch is another proj- in Denver that we can learn from and possi- We’ve organized a few events, such as a ect that is springing up out of our collective. bly collaborate with in the future. screening of Incident at Oglala- T h e We’re beginning with outreach to neighbors Love and Solidarity, Leonard Peltier Story in the lead up to his and hope to soon have regular patrols going Denver Anarchist Black Cross

11 Continued from page 6 They redirected her case to District Court she said its timing “on the eve of the arrival Judge Koeltl for re-sentencing. The DOJ of the tortured men from offshore prison in the convictions....” wants 30 years. Koeltl originally imposed Guantanamo” suggests that lawyers “Finally, we affirm Stewart’s convictions 28 months, let Stewart remain free on bond appointed to represent them may face the for knowingly and willfully making false pending appeal, implied his decision might same fate as she. “If you’re going to lawyer statements....when she affirmed that she be overturned because of a gross miscar- for these people, you’d better toe very close intended to, and would, abide by the SAMs. riage of justice, effectively rebuked the to the line that the government has set out In light of her repeated and flagrant viola- Bush administration at the time, and handed (because they’ll) be watching you every tion of (them), a reasonable factfinder could it a major defeat. Her fate is now in his inch of the way, (so those who don’t) will conclude that (her) representations that she hands, but justice has already been denied at end up like Lynne Stewart. This is a case intended to and would abide by the SAMs a time we’re all as vulnerable as she if we that is bigger than just me personally (but were knowingly false when made. We reject dare resist state policies, unchanged under she added that she’ll) go on fighting. the remaining challenges to the convictions. an administration no different from its pred- Please write to Lynne: (We) affirm the district court’s rejection of ecessor. Stewart’s claim that she was selectively In a November 17 news conference, Lynne Stewart #53504-054 prosecuted on account of her gender or Stewart said: MCC-NY political beliefs....We therefore affirm the “I’m too old to cry, but it hurts too much 150 Park Row convictions in their entirety.” not to.” In criticizing the Court’s decision, New York, NY 10007 Modesto Anarchist Arrested in UC Protest In response to a combination of budget restaurant, where Gilbert proceeded to the courtroom. His charges have been reduced cuts, fee hikes and union busting tactics, restroom. Police entered the establishment to carrying a weapon on school property. students, teachers and workers called for a and violently confronted two of Gilbert’s He was released later that night just before strike throughout University of College comrades. They entered the restroom midnight. campuses. For three days, November 18- arresting Gilbert. Doug Gilbert is a solid class-conscious 20, thousands of students and allies Berkley CopWatch filmed the arrest. anarchist. He – along with the others in the protested on campuses, occupied buildings When they inquired as to the reason for the Modesto Anarchist Crew (MAC)- have and held meetings to discuss the concerns. arrest, the police responded, “he can tell been developing some solid programs that Students throughout the state were you later.” CopWatch also reported that are guided less by what is popular in the arrested for various charges, including tres- they saw a student activist talking to police, anarchist ghetto and more about what is passing and failure to disperse. And while specifically pointing out several individu- needed in the community of Modesto. these arrests are a concern to us, there is als, including Gilbert. The student activist Gilbert is one of those anarchists that we one specific arrest that we wish for people later denied pointing out Gilbert, but are proud to support and encourage others to take notice of. admitted talking to police. Bystanders also to stand by him. His arrest and the allega- During the protests in Berkley, a reported to CopWatch that they overheard tions attached with it, is simply ridiculous. Modesto anarchist, Doug Gilbert, was the police say something to the effect of, Gilbert has the support of the Los A n g e l e s arrested and charged with “Inciting a Riot.” “ t h e r e ’s that anarchist.” Anarchist Black Cross Federation. We Gilbert was leaving a rally, when police on Doug Gilbert was arraigned on encourage all within the ABCF and the bicycles followed him down Te l e g r a p h November 19th with a packed court of 40 l a rger anarchist and political prisoner sup- Ave. Gilbert and a few comrades entered a to 50 supporters with more outside the port community to support him as well.

Oso Blanco Campaign Report by Mapache On October 14, I received word from The campaign was initially started by ting wind of the event through other groups Yona Unaga (Oso Blanco) in usual fashion, Citizens In Action, and made public on and people we had no ties with. Joaquin several letters with lots of info, love, and w w w. o s o b l a n c o . o rg. The A B C F from RAC informed me that a compañero an undying spirit for the self-determination (U.S./Canada), Jericho Movement, and of his had called in to the prison and was of indigenous people. It brings me great joy Revolutionary Autonomous Communities redirected to the out of town manager of to write this overview regarding the Oso (RAC), and many Autonomous A B C ’s in “Z” unit instead of the warden, throwing Blanco National Call-In and Letter Wr i t i n g the US and Mexico immediately got many of us off . Campaign that was carried out on October involved and a joint action was coordinat- On October 5th I called in at approxi- 5th, 2009. ed for October 5th 2009. mately 9:04 am, and was greeted by a staff Most of you reading this may already The October 5th action was planned by member who cut me off when I mentioned know about Oso Blanco aka Byron those of us on the outside as a nation-wide Byron Chubbuck’s name, angrily asking Chubbuck, but for those of you who do not, day of calling in to the warden of USP me “Did you just call!?” I replied that I had he is a member of the Cherokee Nation L e w i s b e rg, which as Oso Blanco describes not and continued speaking to her as she ( Wolf Clan) who was sentenced to 80 years is “another Marion” with its 23 hours lock- muttered several comments under her for expropriating funds to send to the downs, staff abuse, poor conditions, and so breath before hanging up on me. I got in Zapatistas in Chiapas, with the intent of forth. The call-in time was to be between 7- contact with my comrade Lane and a few funding their actions and especially, feed- 9am Pacific although anytime on October others immediately after who mentioned ing Mayan children. Oso has been trans- 5th would be fine. similar experiences of having staff mention ferred, harassed, denied religious items, In the days leading up to October 5th previous calls, transferring them to other beaten, gassed, subjected to other types of Oso Blanco released a statement and unrelated phone lines or to the manager of psychological and physical abuse, and still encouraged everyone to get involved, and Z Unit who was on vacation on the 5th and to this day, his Indian ethnicity absent from soon after Oso Blanco’s support group and would be returning the next day. the prison database. ourselves here at the ABCF reported get- What this did however was create a

12 buckshot of support through the prison the Oso Blanco action as well as detailing part of, the older generations paved the phone lines where one caller was being some of the torture he and other indigenous way so we could carry out their ideals. transferred 3-4 times and leaving 3-4 mes- prisoners have undergone, I will see if I can They are in there FOR us, we are out here sages to 3-4 different people. While there is get permission to type some of this up and FOR them. no way for us to find out an accurate esti- relay it out. This is beyond prisoner abuse Let us never forget that! mate of how many callers there were, our and clearly racial as the Red brothers are suspicions were confirmed when Lane struggling for spiritual reasons and being Statement from Oso Blanco: called the manager of Z Unit the next day denied religious items, instead being “Everything seems to be the same- No (October 6th) to continue the support for shackled and beaten (72 hours for this harassment yet. Its what they did June 23 Oso Blanco. He reported that the Z unit b r o t h e r ) . and June 24 that ticks me off. IF I did that manager had just returned from vacation First: This action and the end results are to them- I’d get 15 years for assault. But that day and that there was a “flood of clear indicators that our Native A m e r i c a n they can do that crap to us and it’s no big calls, letters, and other correspondence brothers in the struggle are being singled deal- they hide our complaint- they lie- regarding Mr. Chubbuck” on the 5th. out and there needs to be more work done what ever, and return out complaint so it After this, I sent Oso two typed letters to support Indigenous political prisoners, will be considered late and rejected. letting asking him how his conditions were. and Indigenous prisoners in the belly of the I think the captain and housing unit I let him know that if we did not hear back b e a s t . manager are acting odd- they ran like two from him we would assume that he was Second: Oso Blanco needs support, and crazy people to my door today to stop me being punished for the 5th and would be lots of it. Write him and more importantly from getting a newspaper under my door. o rganizing another action. I received word he requests that we send him any zines or Like he and the captain just made a military from Oso Blanco yesterday, here wrote a publications that can be used to pass a c t i o n . . . ” statement in which he references two cases around to the brothers inside. Contact me if Good Work People! of beatings, one in response to a false accu- you are interested in I ain’t been hurt. sation that he “threw feces at guards”: h e l p i n g . ( M a p a c h i n A B C @ g m a i l . c o m ) But time will tell. Sumner Gray who has been doing sup- Third: At the moment Oso is pleased Stay Strong Everyone, port for Oso Blanco for years has reported and has received no abuse, which is all - Yona Unaga receiving 3 letters from him in the days fol- good news. But we cannot be naive enough Support Yona Unaga! lowing the action. While no correspon- to assume that we have “won.” While we dence has been received from Oso Blanco cannot expect the prison system to give BYRON SHANE CHUBBUCK by the support group since the 5th it would Oso a hug and an apology, we also cannot # 0 7 9 0 9 - 0 5 1 appear that his mail is flowing again. let the support for A N Y political prisoners P.O. Box 1000 I also received a letter from a brother dwindle. We did not think up the politics of L e w i s b u rg, PA 1 7 8 3 7 from the Yakama Nation sending thanks for these movements we consider ourselves a

“We Are All Alex!” by Mapache Sisters and brothers, months back when we first met. While both them, they let the world know that A l e x About 200 people showed up today at commented that they were happy with the Sanchez would not be forgotten, and his the rally for peace activist Alex Sanchez in turnout, they each said the same thing on community lose hope. There was a prayer downtown Los Angeles. The rally was held d i fferent occasions: this is bigger than gang and then final words from Oscar Sanchez as the court was once again going over peace treaties and Alex Sanchez as an indi- who said “There are many people today A l e x ’s bail hearing, and the community v i d u a l . who could not be here on a Monday morn- was very anxious to hear the end result. I Oscar spoke about how they believed ing due to work. Thank you all for coming, was greeted with smiles and warm gestures that all the repression was over after A l e x and remember that each of you represents by A l e x ’s brother, another organizer from won asylum and emerged victorious from twenty other people who are unable attend. Homies Unidos, and both familiar and the 1990’s Rampart Scandal in which A l e x Alex does not just represent immigrant unfamiliar faces. exposed the LAPD harassment against him rights or gang peace, he represents us as a The atmosphere was very peaceful, and ultimately, the corruption of the divi- c o m m u n i t y, this is a multiracial movement, relaxed, and extremely friendly. It was easy sion. It is sadly apparent that the LAPD is a diverse movement, but we are all A l e x to make conversation with any stranger less concerned with justice and more con- Sanchez!” The crowd cheered and many today and the environment seemed more cerned about maintaining a vendetta people began shouting “I am A l e x like a family gathering than a political against Alex that is over a decade old. A s Sanchez!” as the crowd applauded and event. For some however, it was. A s i d e stated in the past, instead of playing eventually moved away from the center to from A l e x ’s brother Oscar Sanchez who is revenge politics the LAPD and the city socialize and await the court’s decision. always present at these events, there were should be giving Alex an award for curbing I left early and asked Oscar to get in several family members who made the gang violence, being a peace-maker, and touch with me regarding an updates on the journey from Northern California to sup- community builder in one of Los A n g e l e s ’ case. At 3:26 pm Oscar Sanchez contacted port Alex. The Youth Justice Coalition, poorest neighborhoods. The Homies me. I called several people and gave them C o p Watch Los Angeles, Anarchist Black Unidos organizer mentioned, “this isn’t the bad news: once again, Alex Sanchez Cross Federation, Busriders Union and just about Alex. Today it’s him, tomorrow had not been granted bail. Once again, the many other groups showed up to give their it could be you, I hope not, but if we don’t courts decided to deny Alex a fair trial and love and support to Alex, many wearing support Alex there will be no one to sup- the right to see his family. The people I paper Alex Sanchez masks and “WE A R E port us if that does happen.” The feeling spoke with had similar reactions: although ALEX” shirts. was shared by many of the people at the this was a sad day for the people of Los I spoke with Oscar and was very happy r a l l y, it could be anyone. Angeles, we continue to have hope as we to see him in high spirits. I also spoke with After there we gathered in the center of remind ourselves that we are still A l e x another Homies Unidos organizer who sur- the plaza a few people got up to speak and S a n c h e z . prisingly still remembered me from a few with several media cameras pointed at

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 $60,000 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]

ABCF WARCHEST 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 FUNDS IN Funds Sent In JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTALS ALBEQURQUE-ABCF 10 5 5 10 0 0 0 0 54 0 0 0 84 1994 351 ARCATA-ABCF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 3860 JAX-ABCF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1996 4143 LA-ABCF 1100 0 300 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 700 0 2110 1997 3544 MTL-ABCF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NYC-ABCF 60 75 75 80 0 0 160 60 60 60 60 0 690 1998 7643 PHL-ABCF 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 0 550 1999 5814 TOR-ABCF 0 140 0 60 0 60 0 0 120 0 60 0 440 2000 3514 Anonymous 25 0 30 20 40 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 135 Chris S /IN 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 2001 5290 Jim M/Philly 15 15 0 30 15 0 32 0 0 0 0 0 107 2002 2873 Eze/NJ 0 200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 2003 1785 Ron/Philly 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Shane Andrews 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 2004 UNACC* Dan Shelley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 30 2005 4439 Suzy Subways 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 100 2006 3268 Angel Castro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 50 Henry/Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 35 2007 4312 Western Mass RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 107.5 0 0 0 107.5 2008 3448 Pelican Bay RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 0 0 0 250 2009 6278 NYCABCF RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 650 0 0 0 650 TOTAL 60562 LA ABCF RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 310 0 0 0 310 Portland RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 175 0 175 PAC/Phoenix RDTW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 140 0 140 Enrique/Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 0 36 FUNDS OUT Total 1284 485 460 255 155 130 242 110 1826 110 1221 0 6278 1994 120 1995 2796 FUNDS OUT JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV 1996 4308 SEKOU KAMBUI 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1997 4588 RUSSELL SHOATZ 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1998 6412 JOSEPH BOWEN 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1999 5191 HANIF BEY 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 - - 90 2000 4544 HERMAN BELL 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2001 4637 SEKOU ODINGA 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2002 4320 RUCHELL MAGEE 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2003 1300 ALVARO HERNANDEZ 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2004 UNACC* MALIKI LATINE 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2005 2620 TSUTOMU SHIROSAKI 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 2006 2880 VERONZA BOWERS 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 3471 TOTAL 350 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 270 270 360 2008 3750 2009 3350 FUNDS REMAINING: $5978 TOTAL 54287

(*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.”