Update on Mumia from Lawyer Robert Bryan

If you’re FedUp! and You Know it Lend a Hand

--Voiced from Red Onion--

                    When FedUp! was founded in 2005, the starting members had a pretty good vision of what the originating organization should be; it’s goals, strategies and most importantly, who would make up its membership and support base. 

                    FedUP! would be us prisoners linked up with those on the outside who genuinely cared about our treatment and living conditions, namely our loved ones. 

                    The courts don’t care about how we’re treated, nor do the higher-ups at DOC headquarters in Richmond, who deliberately avoid exercising any oversight over these remote prisons, or acknowledging or even hearing our complaints of mistreatment.

                    The legislators’ outright swallow the fantasy images portrayed of prison officials and the demonic images projected of us the prisoners. Like all enslaved people past and present, we had and have no political voice, and subject to unchecked power of officials while stripped of any power ourselves (not only to act but to even be heard) we stood to be continually vilified and victimized by those corrupted by unchecked power. 

                    Before founding FedUp!, we searched around for organizations in VA that were willing and able to exert some effective pressure on our behalves. We found none. So we created FedUp!

                    For those who were confined at these remote prisons back then, brutality was going on and has been going on for years. So, on its founding and word being spread, FedUp! received numerous complaints and accounts of prisoner abuse and mistreatments at these prisons.

                    One of the organizing goals we envisioned was to build up a mailing list of loved ones of prisoners and build reports of abuse and then send these reports as well as updates of the group. This would allow the loved ones to be informed about the actual conditions under which we are confined and also show loved ones of prisoners that such abuses were a common occurrence at these prisons and often not the ‘fault’ of the victims.          

                    The collection of loved ones contact info didn’t go as well as hoped, in large part because many prisoners for whatever reason didn’t provide contact info of their loved ones. Regardless, the small outside group was concentrated in Pennsylvania (etta’s home state), compiled the newsletters and reports and contacted various activists and ranking government officials with the reports and increased protests. 

                    The devoted efforts to assist us, by a small group of people with no blood ties to anyone locked up here in Virginia generated enough exposure and pressure on ranking government officials who in turn exerted pressure on ranking government officials who in turn exerted pressure on the prison administrators. Quite a few positive changes came about in our physical treatment, although some abuses still occur. 

                    I remain largely disappointed at the lack of prisoner and especially outside loved ones involvement and participation. Because I knew what could really happen to our benefit if we had a mass assembly of aware and outraged FedUp! folks right here in Virginia pushing our ticket. 

                    Just look at what was accomplished by the small number of people operating way away in Pennsylvania. 

We the prisoners need to get our loved ones right here in VA on board. Fedup! needs to be a joint effort of those who care about us working together with us, rather than us sitting by idly allowing our fates to lie in the hands of political ‘professionals’ who make a career of painting false angelic images of themselves while vilifying and demonizing the powerless victims of their and their subordinates mistreatments 

                    When the ideas were first proposed to people in here, pursuing the FedUP! agenda, in response to the brutalities and abuses we were being subjected to, most were skeptical. Many argued that complaining never produced any results, whether it be to prison administrators, the courts or to outside organizations.

                    True indeed. But that’s because those were not people who genuinely cared about us. Government officials answer with the most concern to those who affect their careers. Furthermore, politicians care about nothing like they do their public images. 

                    With broad consistent outside protest by folks who genuinely care about our treatment, it would be impossible for these officials to maintain their false self-serving images or continue alienating the pubic against us so to keep the public unconcerned about how we are treated. 

                    The VADOC like all government and corporate agencies maintains a well greased and tightly knit public relations operation. To counter its false images we need to reach the public with our truth to answer and contrast their un-truths. Unless we did and do, their PR outfit will continue to fill the public mid with stereotypes, images and ideas about us that generate pubic hate and insensitively towards us.

                    To do this we need to get FedUP! going in Virginia in a big way. We need to get our loved ones actively involved and build our base right here in VA where it can be most effective, to give us some leverage to really struggle to better our living conditions and treatment. These officials are eye-ball deep in illegality – it needs to be exposed! Look what was accomplished by a tiny group living up in PA. What can’t we accomplish with a mass of committed outside folks right here in VA!

Let’s get our people involved. Power to the People!

Empower to Change

-Voiced from SCI-Greene

                    When your family begins to take you seriously they will get more involved in activism on your behalf. In order for that to happen you must take yourself and this struggle seriously. Your family must observe a change in your attitude, consciousness and perspective. When they observe that they will take notice. For the first years of my bid my family was supportive of me and would visit and send me money but they were unwilling to get involved in prisoner activism. The reason I learned was because they didn’t take me seriously on that level because all they were observing was me going to the hole for fighting, gang wars, drugs and a whole lot of nonsense that comes with embracing petty prison politics that have real consequences. Why get involved in prisoner advocacy, they felt, when I didn’t even practice it?

                    It was only when I changed my mentality and perspective and they observed the change through my writings and actions that they got involved in activism. When they observed me abandon the prison politics and nonsense and begin to develop into a more mentally mature and politically conscious prisoner they recognize I took this seriously and they got on board. When my people recognized my commitment they were willing to attend a meeting. If they didn’t have time they were willing to send letters make a phone call, send an email, sign a petition. How many of us have asked our people to do that? How many of us have asked our people to send a book of stamps to HRC/Fedup! to help with expenses? Not everyone has the time to attend a meeting but sending a letter or making a phone call should be possible. Simplicity goes a long way, simple things count. HRC/FedUP! unfortunately is not a rescue service, it cannot get any of us out of the hole or better medical care. It can only advocate and raise awareness. It is up to us to empower ourselves, then our families. When we do that we empower HRC/FedUp! It all starts within that cell, when people define their actions as real they understand their actions are real in there consequences. Change starts within. 

“Change the (hu)man, change the environment!”—Comrade George L. Jackson

Movement to Save Kenneth Foster Wins Historic Victory

-- August 30, 2007--From the Save Kenneth Foster Campaign

                    Family members and supporters of Kenneth Foster, Jr. are jubilant in the reaction to Texas Governor Rick Perry's today's announcement today that he would commute the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted under the controversial "Law of Parties" for a 1996 murder in which he had no actual involvement. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had recommended clemency by a vote of 6-1. Foster's execution had been scheduled for tonight.

                    In a statement announcing the commutation, Perry said, "I am concerned about Texas law that allowed capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously and it is an issue I think the Legislature should examine."

                    Reaction among Foster's family and friends included both joy and disbelief. “We felt a bit of disbelief because Perry’s decision was so unprecedented.” said Dana Cloud of the Save Kenneth Foster campaign. “But everyone is so

happy that Kenneth will be able to touch his wife and daughter and that we have a chance of seeing him free. Anything is possible when you are alive.” 

                    Claire Dube, a close high-school friend of Kenneth’s and an active member of the Save Kenneth Foster Campaign, broke into tears when she heard the news. “We don’t even know what to say. It’s incredible.” 

                    Keith Hampton, Foster’s attorney, also expressed relief and happiness at winning his client’s life. Hampton thanked the activists of the grassroots movement that started in Austin and spread around the world for putting the necessary pressure on the Board and the Governor to win. “Extra-legal means work,” he said. 

                    “Governor Perry once said that there was no hue and cry against the death penalty in Texas,” commented Lily Hughes of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty. “Well, here was your hue and cry.” 

                    Foster’s family and other supporters will continue to work to free him from prison. “It seems like ten years on death row under 23-hour lockdown could amount to time served for any crime that Kenneth ever committed,” Cloud said. 

                    Perry’s decision is historic. Not only has the Board of Pardons and Paroles rarely recommended clemency (by one count, 3 times since 1982), but Rick Perry has overseen more executions than any Governor of the State of Texas, including George Bush. 

                    “This case demonstrated to the world just how arbitrary and capricious capital punishment is,” Cloud said. “It gives people pause when someone who killed no one could come this close to being executed.” 

                    “Public sentiment has been turning against capital punishment,” Hughes said. “We’ve seen a lot of states stop executing people. Winning Kenneth’s life might be a real turning point in the history of the death penalty in Texas.”

The following is excerpted from Kenneth Foster’s Journal Entry from August 30:

And Right On it has been.  After a 10 year battle of fighting the death penalty I can finally sit back and breathe a bit.  I can finally let off a small sigh.  I've said if from the beginning that as long as the battle was on that I couldn't do that.  And though the war isn't over a huge battle has been won and I can finally sit back and exhale and even let go a few tears of joy joyous tears that say that I'm going to continue to have the fuel to do positive and great things.  I have so many to live for so many that didn't get the chance to carry on that greatness they attained while on death row. I can't speak for the men that have gotten off death row before me, but I know that I'm ready to do something phenomenal.  This will not be a wasted opportunity.  So many people stood by my side, supported me and believed in me and I owe them something.  I owe them 100% effort and dedication to the struggle we merged in on.

I can't help but to think about those I left behind - the others that now sit on death watch.  This has been such a traumatic journey and there are so many pains and scars.  I hope that my fight has given some new hope to the struggle showing that the impossible can be done.  And if it ever happens once it can happen again - and it must!
History was made on August 30, 2007 and it's this day that I pray HOPE was resurrected amongst our fighters in an otherwise grim minded people where over 400 murders have brutalized us.

Today is a new day and we're taking Texas by the horns and we're not letting go.  We can't let go until we break the beast and I can't help but to end in the same way that I ended my almost prophetic poem  "The Final Call":

"These words are a prose of focus on death row... of letting go of the fear and hate of Selves... let's take it off the shelves and activate the way... the way today is leaving the gates... and the
point I was trying to make it -- I'M COMING STRAIGHT OFF DEATH ROW!" 

Where You At?

--Voiced from Wallens Ridge

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” –Albert Einstein

          Imagine you are a prisoner in a state penitentiary in the custody of state officials who have taken a sworn oath to protect the life, liberty (within certain bounds of course), and property of people who are in prison under their care and supervision.  Imagine you are in segregation and your toilet has overflowed after you flushed it as a result of being clogged up from an accumulation of waste in the pipes.  Water is partially covering the floor of your cell and has run under your cell door out into the hallway.  Two c/o’s come to your door in response to your having been trying to bring to their attention the fact that your toilet is stopped up and has overflowed.  The c/o’s cuff you up and remove you from the cell in order to go in with a snake (a plumbing tool) and unclog your toilet.  After unclogging your toilet the c/o’s place you back in the cell and before leaving say to you “that’s gonna cost you your lunch.”  Aware of the seriousness of this threat based on your experiences with the prison staff you intentionally flood your cell this time in an effort to garner to attention of higher ranking staff who you think may, because of their higher ranking, deter the c/o’s from depriving you of your food as well as carrying out a number of other abuses against you.  You flooding the toilet intentionally are a desperate call for help aimed at achieving some actual security against mistreatment in the hands of abusive correctional officers.  

         Two higher ranking officers, a captain and a sergeant, come to your door and you explain that you feel like your safety is in jeopardy.   Under the pretext of placing you on strip cell the higher ranking staff orders you to turn around and submit to being placed in handcuffs.  You comply.  The two c/o’s that first threatened you go in your cell while the captain and sergeant stand with you outside you cell.  Once in your cell these two c/o’s begin to take your mail, your legal mail, your pictures of family and friends and toss all these possessions of yours into the water on the floor.  They also take your CD player and throw it into the toilet.  You are standing with the captain and sergeant in front of your cell – all three of you witnessing this.  You protest verbally and both the captain and sergeant turn their heads and pretend that nothing is wrong.  Other prisoners are standing at their cell doors silently watching with disapproval, but silent nonetheless.  After the c/o’s have destroyed and damaged a large portion of your property you are then placed back in the cell with nothing but your underwear on.  At lunch time the c/o’s give the appearance of feeding you just like they’ve fed everyone else by placing a tray on your slot that you don’t find out is empty until after you grab the tray and the c/o’s have quickly shut the tray slot closed, ignoring your cursing and shouting while moving on to actually feed the next prisoner, snickering with sadistic glee.  

          You are angry but confused about what to do.  Who will aid you? 

Murder Charges Against Former Black Panthers Based on Confessions Extracted by Torture

From the Committee for Defense of Human Rights

Eight former Black Panthers were arrested January 23rd in California, New York and Florida on charges related to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer. Similar charges were thrown out after it was revealed that police used torture to extract confessions when some of these same men were arrested in New Orleans in 1973.

Richard Brown, Richard O'Neal, Ray Boudreaux, and Hank Jones were arrested in California. Francisco Torres was arrested in Queens, New York. Harold Taylor was arrested in Florida. Two men charged – Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim – have been held as political prisoners for over 30 years in New York State prisons. A ninth man -- Ronald Stanley Bridgeforth – is still being sought. The men were charged with the murder of Sgt. John Young and conspiracy that encompasses numerous acts between 1968 and 1973.

Harold Taylor and John Bowman (recently deceased) as well as Ruben Scott (thought to be a government witness) were first charged in 1975. But a judge tossed out the charges, finding that Taylor and his two co-defendants made statements after police in New Orleans tortured them for several days employing electric shock, cattle prods, beatings, sensory deprivation, plastic bags and hot, wet blankets for asphyxiation. Such "evidence" is neither credible nor legal.

SF8 Court Update: Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007

 

20 students from Met West high School in Oakland joined jubilant and now released SF 8 defendants Richard Brown and Richard O'Neal and dozens of supporters in the hallway of the SF Courthouse. Many warm embraces were exchanged between the two Richards and supporters who had been corresponding and visiting them at the jail through glass and over jail phones.

Ray Boudreaux will be released Tuesday evening and bail arrangements are in the final stages for Harold Taylor, Hank Jones and Francisco Torres. All are expected to be released in the coming days thanks to numerous supporters who have offered to post property to ensure their future appearances.

Unfortunately, neither Herman Bell nor Jalil Muntaqim is eligible for bail even though they are both parole eligible in New York State. Both have served over 30 years in various prisons for their political ideas, commitments and their participation in the Black Liberation Struggle.

Court today was largely procedural and focused on discovery issues. Herman Bell's lawyer, Stuart Hanlon, noted that the courteous discussion about the government turning over discovery belied the fact that the defense is no better off today than it was in January when the eight were arrested and charged. Discovery documents are yet to be fully organized, indexed or turned over to the defense.

All the voluminous documents relating to DNA samples taken from the eight proved to be negative and other forensic evidence regarding fingerprints and ballistics have yet to be fully turned over to the defense for examination or may be missing altogether. Federal Grand Jury transcripts regarding this case are still incomplete.

The next court date for the SF 8 case is set for Monday, September 24th at 9:30 am in Department 23, 850 Bryant Street, 3rd floor.

Outstanding issues regarding discovery, pre-charging delay and demurs will be calendared. A motion on behalf of Harold Taylor called a collateral estoppel, is scheduled to be argued. This motion argues for the exclusion of statements made by Harold in New Orleans in 1973 after several days of torture. Defense arguments will suggest that issues of double jeopardy also exist as these statements were excluded in another 1970s case which led to Harold's acquittal.

Be there to support the brothers in court and please consider scheduling events and speaking engagements in your homes and communities to get the word out about the case.
About the Committee for Defense of Human Rights

The mission of the Committee for Defense of Human Rights is to draw attention to human rights abuses perpetrated by the government of the United States and law enforcement authorities which were carried out in an effort to destroy progressive organizations and individuals. By building coalitions with organizations and groups that advocate for human and civil rights, CDHR hopes to bring an end to these abuses. CDHR's basic principles are set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention against Torture.

Committee for the Defense of Human Rights   P.O. Box 90221 Pasadena, CA 91109

(415) 226-1120  E-mail: freethesf8@riseup.net

         What’s Inside?

Letta From the Etta-der--------------à 1

Letters From Lizzie and Erika------à 2

StopMax Conference ----------------à 3

Awareness Day Rally in Richmondà4

Update on Mumia---------------------à5

Voices from Red Onion----------à5&6

Voices from SCI-Greene-------------à7

Kenneth Foster Victory----------à 7&8

Voices from Wallens Ridge---------à8

Update on the SF 8 ------------------à 9

!Get Involved!

Want to get more involved in the prisoner rights movement?

The following organizations may be in need of volunteers, core members or financial contributions. Many of them have public meetings or organize community events that would love to have your participation. Contact them to learn more

HRC-Philly- 215-387-6155 www.hrcoalition.org HRC/Buried Alive; Against Solitary Confinement--- info@hrcoalition.org.

RIHD – Richmond http://www.rihd.org    (804) 562-2123  PO Box 55 - Highland Springs - VA 23075 AFSC-STOPMAX -215-241-7137

nblack@afsc.org--1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 Pgh Committee 2 Free Mumia- 412-361-3022 – pghfreemumia@gmail.com

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