~--- ~ ?-4'. =-:;::--~,.~ ~~ ~ "'-~,';;-'--::=-...::........;....-~ - _..!cc,,. :;::-,,,,, -=- -~·c:;,-~ ........ ,,,___ ··=== =. _: ·-~~~=--~..::::.~-..,,.,....,., ~~:__.~-' l Published Monthly by The Commemoration Committee for The Black Panther Party VOLUME 3 NO. 5 ·· March 1993 Con1n1unit Tensions High Photo ~I ~.:~e:L!t'!f~~ A Close Look.At Famine The phenomenon of famine in the world today American soldiers currently invest­ ing portions of Somalia under the ban­ ner of famine relief are entering a coun­ try listed as one of three prime markets on the international cocoa exchange, with an abundance of untapped uranium deposits as well as petroleum and many other outside interests. Like many African nations suffering famine - defined by Webster's Second Un­ With four officers-on reasonable bail- being tried for violating Rodney King's civil rights, and a second .trial abridged Edition as "an acute and - of three black youths unable to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars - about to start,judicial rulings ap- general shortage of food in a popula­ . perar designed to preclude the possiblitly that institutional racism in Los Angeles might be proved in court. tion" - Somalia's agriculture has for many decades prioritized export com­ Los Angeles (USA) modities first. Famine exists in areas in this state and in this country, right now, here in the United States as well as around the world. "Somalia is a drop ,in the buck­ A Call for Justice et," said March Cohen, one of the Defense manipulation began to hit the case. They dwelt on how the LAPD Did a black jury woman contaminate authors of "Hunger 1993." Out of a home early in the face of passive plain­ police were placed at the edge of the her would-be jury mates by repeating world population, according to the tiff passages au contraire. Judge John ghettos in an overt attempt to entrap criticism of the previous jury's racial U .N. 's Food and Agriculture Organiza­ Davies began by announcing that US v. those who had done their homeboy make-up, as alleged by a part-time tion, of 5 .5 billion people, "2 billion are Classic( which ruled that racial bias did drinking and now were headed for policeman who somehow gained ease­ malnourished in some way. not have to be proven in order to town, pre-identifiable by low-rider ment to the jury itself? By that time, 3 "The numberof poor American chil­ prosecute in a civil rights case) would vehicles and bumper stickers as well as out of 4 of the defense had selected the dren is larger than the entire population stand as the final ruling toward recog­ their cars' locations and their safety unusual and totally overburdened of Somalia," as recently reported ·by the nition of racism as a motivating factor violation status. provision of summary dismissal of the . U.S. Children's Defense Fund. in the hands of the officers. Accordingly, an immense volume of present case. In conjunction with an ·international Organizational amicus curiae briefs; intense work redefined the terms of the The defendants' hastily selected study by the United Nations, the Chil­ including a group from San Francisco's test in US v. Classic which Judge position of solidarity, which appeared dren's Fund report reveals how hunger Coalition of Concerned Legal Profes­ Davies was free to interpret for the in the wake of the 4th King defendant in this country is also on the rise. Ac­ sionals, asserted that racism entered in­ entry of defense on other issues of less beginning-his original defense by at­ cording to the first study. one in every to the picture long before the body of general or more subjective strength. tempting to :withdraw from the claims four black American children goes to King became the motivating thing in of the rest, only to be pulled back by a bed hungry each night. defense meeting on the strategic trap, According to Kevin Shelley, Presi­ now seems ready to collapse again. dent of the San Francisco Board of INSIDE: The worries of the King crowd of Supervisors, the infant mortality rate • Pan-Islamic Movement ................... Page 4 the 3-:to-nothing formulation the among black children of San Francisco is higher than in thirty countries in the • BPP Archives .......................... Page 13 defense has so far set in pre-trial mo­ tions leaves King advocates in other world. • Garment Workers' Labor Action ........... Page 15 cities ready to address the situation There are 14.3 million poor children in the U.S. today. The United Nations ConJinued on page 5 ConJinued on page 7 2 THE COMMEMORATOR MARCH 1993 Speak Out For Change by Tony Love Editorial We spend too much time fighting the flock to victory or change. If they are wrong people. We go after the drug called by God, they will not fear death, lords but we are not at the root of the but will fear . the One who gives problem. The problem is the system life ... who is God Almighty. Church and the way the system is functioning. leaders must be a voice for the people So Much for We need a better school system. and speak out. People want to know Our children need a better education. how you are going to help solve these Teachers need to be paid more money problems that the American people are to teach a better education to our facing. children.We need better payipg jobs, · We want to know when you are Justice going to stop talking and do something and we need jobs that _reach every per­ son.If you can give a parking space to . about this dying world. "Pardon Me, but ... " someon~ who is handic.apped, We spend too much time fighting the whatabout a job to those handicapped wrong people. We go after drug lords; President Bush's pardon of former the hands of this illegal action, but to Americans who don't have a job to take but we are not at the root of the prob­ defense secretary, Casper Weinberger give the impression to the American care of themselves. If you cannot take lem. The problem is the system and the and five other government officials and public that the justice system is fine and care of yourself, you are harid-. way the system is functioning. CIA operatives, in the 1986 Iran-contra well. icapped.We need better assistance in If there are not church leaders who mega-scandal holds no surprises for Mr. Walsh is said to be a person who our need, in this city where the poor are will stand up for you and me, I will use many people, but it does give us a will go to great lengths to prove a point, being oppressed.We need more money the knowledge that I have and go as far blatant case of a cover-up on top of a even if the point is "pie in the sky." This for our medical needs. · as I can with it; but I need your support. cover-up! When one compares this to case reflects the same corrupt legal sys­ We need more honest police "to pro­ I'm ready for change. How about the many instances where justice for tem as last April's Rodney King ver-' tect and serve" our community and to you? I want to help better our com­ members from the low-income com­ diet, the upcoming trial of the four protect our children as they go to ·and munity condition and our condition. I munities are concerned it becomes black men charged with beating truck­ · from school...some don't make it home. need other organizations who want to really telling. Who does the American driver Reginald Denny, and the federal The government needs to fund jobs work hand to hand to make a change. civil rights case against four officers system of "justice" serve? that pay a living wage for all the people We need all churches who are will­ As second in comµiaild on former video-taped participating in the beating who choose to work. We deserve the ing to get together in this world and of King. The objective of both hearings president Ronald Reagan's watch, Mr. right to work, but the government took march for change and equal rights.If Bush denies know ledge of the "Iran is to perserve the illusion that the Ame­ that right when it snatched the jobs the gang members can come together, deal" where U.S. weapons were sold rican justice system works for all Ame­ from our community. what about you and I? for the release of American hostages. ricans alike. Because justice, on the People who live in the low and mid­ .. ·. ·, We ca:11 ourselves ministers. This is This was brought to light during the local level, failed for Rodney King, the dle income bracket are not incluc;led in the time that the people need you the November, 1986 Congressional hear­ federal government, in an effort to try this system when it comes to sharing most. They are looking for someone ing which found that the administration the pie. However, we are included who God has led to th~ front line to lead illegally diverted money from the sale when it com~s to paying the bills, the His people, so that they can make it of weapons to Iran (a nation classified The government taxes, and too, police brutality we don't through the oppression and struggle. by the U.S. government as "terrorist") even get justice. We always.want to attack the dead­ to the Nicaraguan Contras ( a CIA force needed to give the We are still fighting racism, when beat daddies, but we don't want to give attempting to overthrow the constitu­ impression that the we should be fighting for change.We the deadbeat daddy a job.