I !' PRISONERS NEWS national lA^fVERS GUILD (1J„Y.CHAPTER) g)*»5 ■Sf^ ,c: ,-jy; JPBC//H_ ■'■■5. .-,v January ms 5 ^ ISTERS FIGHT ON rs at Bedford Hills Prison h;^\/p arms faces and hands wprp larpratpH ^ Twenty-eight sisters at Bedford Hills Prison have ^ssed a Section 1983 Civil Rights suit against the taken before the adjustment coimlttee. haup hofrh"®t have exposed cases in which the sisters harrassed. as well as numerous occasions where sisters have been held in segregation oJt^*f»i ”"h°^ Bedford Hills administration with out a fair hearing. On Dec. 17th, the hearinqs were S?S-s decis"?on!'' ‘ "''^ isfisg?l=-!r tion being Was I willing to die for my struggle " ^ answer being, "that I must die for my struggle for !! struggle is all I live for." I realized ni„« awakening that when I, as Woman , i 7 later.(because and robbed) the oppessor can take ^e life of my child and give it to someone else. has made me a slave to his injustice and I refiicp me into becoming his robot, and LlklniL programmed, and then, because of my awakening. I get harassed, threatened, beaten and ®" ‘ * S'^thers my name is Amina ^tullah (slave nam® marsha podella) I was charged Tt herifnri^Mi ’ / ^ incarcerated at bedford hills concentration camp, they stole six Mnu* Tr” " '"fv'nychild. my body, and they have stolen Mlf kidnapped for what they ne witnessed the inhuman treat- «rol lister Jermilia (slave name 3 (iragged. beaten bloody, bruised, filfl!^ ®^^ °ne sister with no rime ’ ll r '^Jjnce against 20 male watch dogs. This be came a cruticial era in the lives of many sisters and comrades at the "camp" We could no longer allow and prevent the pigs wl^e taken ana?® »®''®'"S ^^tions. And the actions that fhl V® trying to save a life was hoftfr®'" 2^ unmerciful death- We too then were beaten, cut, punched, bones were broken, stomachs. arms faces and hands were lacerated. Noses were broken head were clubbed, blood was severely shed, yes, com rades this was done to twenty-eight women bythree hundred men. But this was only the begining of their slow torture. We were then put in cages, within cages with wounds that needed immediate medical attention. We were left in tombs, to be so near death, only sur viving threw "strength" and "unity" Many casulities of this war are still not able to return to thier mental or physical health. We were kidnapped and tot ally isolated, letters of pleas were never mailed, food was deliberaty left to be contaminated and in- digestable, no water was given, no beds, no heat. Sisters and Brothers this was done for ninety days, but our goal was to pull threw- we became stronger Although we are recooperating slowly from the phys ical attacks of the enemies, we rapidly find strength to tell you of these tortures. We want to show that our actions have not ended, we want your love, and we need your HELP.' they are not finished with us. they still use their Robots and ofgs to attack us, but we still fight from every angle that we can. We must fight the oppressor, the mechanical enemies. Any way that our comrades can help, contact Jan 993- 8200, Afeni 9938200 or Steve 9936250- Comrades these three are the only coalition that we the bedford 28 have. Be aware of our Struggle and we will keep in contact. L ^ m / SISTERS FIGHT ON-CONT'D P ^ The conditions at "Bedford Hills Camp" are still the same — In reality, they've gotten worst. They say that things have to get worst before they get better. The nroblem is "Uhen?" They say next to Politics, Money and Power, then follows Women and Children." The problem is when are the people gonna open their eyes and realize that "Prisons" are not what's qoin' on! In reality, the names have been changed to protect the guilty -- War dens want to be called Superintendent's, They want Inmates to be called residents -- Then they change Prison to Facility; Is this a trip, or is this a trip?; Correction meass daily degradation and humilia tion. It means that all of our activities are regula ted, standardized, and monitored for us by prison authorities, and our opportunity to exercise free choice is practically nonexistent. For officers, "Cor rection" means a steady but monotonous 4(l-hr-a-week job, with a oension after 25 years service. It means maintaining custody and control over an inmate population which has increasing numbers of young men and women. Flacks, Puerto-Ricans and Whites. It does not mean for most officers, helping inmates to solve our problems or to become citizens capable of returning to society. For the "Correction officers" who are always outnumbered by inmates, there is a legitimate concern about security. According to "Pri son" statistics, the least amount of money is spent on medical treatment, education and food; Is this "Logic" or is this slow "Genocide"?; Prominent people like "Spiro T. Agnew" can be dri ven to court in "chauffer-driven limousine's, with secret service agents protecting him'; and Richard Nixon can receive clemency for his crimes, exploiting the poor people. New Gerald Ford wants flaniioyant Rocky as his right-hand man. Mow I ask you, is this what "Capi talistic Amerikka" regards as Justice??? He are the bottom people on the "Totem Pole"; Someone tell me that, "I'm dreamin', please wake me when it's over'". Once again, I implore the people's assistance for the Bedford # 28 's plight in obtaining Justice! We We're about Evolution . . Revolution FREEDOM are still being detained in the "Maximum Securi^." er# re part of Bedford Hills Camp. Those of us who wer leased have been constantly harassed, provoked and intimidated. How many times must we pay for being human "Human"? It's ouite evident that "Attica" was noir enough; Any help readefied will be appreciated Respectfully awai^,reply's of acknowledgement, concern and assistance. Let all of the Brothers and Sisters confined in "Amerikka's Concentration Camps" know that we, the Bedford #28 are with you in your struggle. Sisters in the Struggle, Bedford # 28 / The revolution is not words spoken with the pretext of actidfi^ The revolution is action through growth . . it is moments spent soul searching . . . . Educational evolution The revolution is the mental.as well as the physical war, for if your mind is not with your body the struggle is all but lost;; The revolution is not rapping crap on the idiot box, nor rewriting old additions about your new found emotions. The revolution is not poetry, for the poet writes of what must, has been done . . . The revolution is comprehending, evaluating what was done in an effort to complete what must be done. The revolution is not about fight and die, but fight and survive . . . It's not about walking bad . . downing your fault, neither is it about mass producting martyrs The revolution demands you acknowledge its sister . . . evolution . . we must grow mentally strong or perish physically weak. I came, I saw, I conqured was the birth of th& revolution. Evolution s&^ I came, I studied, revolution say then I reconstructed for my peoples betterment;; The revolution did not begin in the jails, nor in Harlem, Georga, but in you the day you began to tire of poverty - usless deaths. The revolution began the day you realized that you were somebody . . . not just ^ voting card number 000. The revolution began in your mind, but it is not all about you or me, for revolution is the road to freedom . . Evolution, revolution_ - - - - FREEDOM . . . freedom is a million movements in one body. We are but a small part of the body, so don't let your ego override the true exspendability of the minor part you and I play. Freedom is a word only the imprisoned can define. Let me say bars don't make a prison....to cage a mans mind, to, put chains on his dreams, to imprison his desires is the most brutal types of bondages. Freedom is a constant battle . . . first with self, then for self. ^ To be free from a society which canot comprehend your needs , our goal , but who will we become? Be free with your mind - - - open it, scope yourself. Will we trade a chain for a yoke ........... educate yourself. Look' at the brother or sister next to you . . . do you like him (her)? You don't have to, but respect them. We as a nation of people will never think alike think exactly alike, but we must as a nation blend in/to, with each other, or perish victims of Genocide. Evolution - - - Revolution - - FREEDOM is what we.are about, and we need you as much as you need us - What are you about Elizabeth Powell Bedford Hills 'M /htica Brothers Support Bedford (tills, Women We, the Attica Indicted Brothers, are saddened at the news of recent brutal and repressive dev- e^opln^nts at the Bedford Hills Flesh Pit (Prison) for women it, Westchester, New York. We protest the inhuman and vicious attacks, es pecially those administered against Sister Carol Crooks, because of her determination to withstand and resist the maleficent treatment against her and our fellow sister prisoners. We wholeheartedly join in solidarity with the Buffalo Women's Prison Projects call for a forma tion of a state-wide commission to investigate con- ditions at Bedford Hills. But. we are also cognizant of the formation of various comnissions to invest igate the issue of police brutality, whether in inutil ’ e'"' which have been proven We protest the move by the State of New York for sending in male riot squads equipped with clubs and tear gas on or about August 29th with its con tingent of 300 or more, which was uncalled for We abhor Sister Carol Crook's situation in pun- itive segregation as she bore witness to such dep rivations as 'toilet papers, showers, and personal hygiene articles, corporal punishment, confinement to cells which are dark or too small to permit normal posture, blows and all cruel or degrading treatment are naturally prohibited in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." We the Attica Brothers have suffered much of the same kinds of oppression as our Sista Crooksie and despite the vicious assaults, 43 deaths and hundreds of criminal acts leveled against us by the US government, we will remain ever resolute. Our support of Carol, our Sista's in Bedford Hills as well as all political prisoners enslaved in the many flesh pits throughout the US is uncon ditional and jjnequivocal FIGHT ONWARD TO VICTORY.' ALL OUR FREEDOM OR DEATH!, We the Attica Brother Indictees embrace you all in a revolutionary ferver. The Attica Brothers Fhr /issaia. This is an outcry of injustice which is being done to Assata Shakur; her slai«e name is known to many as Jo Anne Chesimard.^<^ Assata is currently being detained on Riker's Island for Women. Assata is being made to live on a floor known as 2 Main. This floor is known for housing women who have severe psychological pro blems: which in return is dealt with by therapy groups, and heavy diagnostic medication, none of which Assata is part of. Assata has a psychological problem which is this: "She has stated she is a Black Revolutionary who has declared war on the rich who gain from the oppressed's poverty!" If the ad- minstration feel as though because they have her housed on 2 Main, and require an escort for her every move, that she will forget her fight for jus tice for all oppressed people; then they are as Nixon, Ford and the rest of the "Super Pigs" of Araerikkka are! Assata has been made an attention piece as if she was some new household product or something worse. An all out total degradation of her womanhood and pride has repeatedly tried to be enacted. Assata is only one Black Women, who has taken great pride in trying to raise the oppressor's off the oppressed. Her fight for justice for all oppres sed people needs everyone's constant dedication and undivided attention. If yi§ have an ounce of human ity in your heart for the l»ride she has taken for the injustice being done contact the following: National Conmittee for the Defense of Jo Anne Chesimard & Clark Squire P.O. Box 1352 Harlem, New York 10027 In Struggle Freedom & Power To ALL Oppressed Brothers & Sisters Bedford Hills, N.Y. 7 Hay the Spirit be fit Led I would like to first ask that the Spirit deli ver this message, from the heart, to the love and understanding of those who recognize their oppres sion, be it physical, mental or spiritual — I am Dacajeweiah (english translation'"Splitting the Sky") indicted under the name of John Mill, on trumped up charges stemming from the 1971 Attica Prison Uprising. I am of Native American descent (Mohawk and blackfoot Indian), born on the lower West Side of Buffalo and raised in foster homes, reform schools, prisons and various ghettos. In January of 1970, I was arrested for an attempted robbery, an effort to maintain a drug habit. The reason for ir|y use of drugs was to relieve the pain of physical, spiritual and mental oppression 1 felt, in trying to endure the environment of poverty and the confusion of being a loner, without any roots, including family or identity for 17 years. The State of New York has held me confined in a total of 15 institutions, such as reform schools and prisons. It was the prison experience that finally awakened me to what this system is all about. I found out that the white man was full of greed for riches, lust and power, that this greed caused the development of a very angry, distrustful and deathly being. Do not get me wrong, I don't put all white people in this category, but instead, a particular segment- those who run and control our lives, like the Nixons and Rockefellers. This same breed of lost souls are the ones respon sible for the genocide of my Indian people-12 million were murdered by the 19th century, our ancestors were denied the right to roam the Mother Earth, restrict ing us to reservations. At the same time, they ensla ved our Black and Brown brothers and sisters, begin ning a process of exploitation which is carried on to this day. After the start of the so-called industrial era, the greedy men used much tricknology to institute their multi-mil 1 ion dollar industries, all done in the name of Amd ’ rica the free. Through the use of rac ism, and competition, the white man was successful in dividing all humankind. Thus the class structure was instituted, fi-om the rich and the superrich-down to the poor. The reality of prisons is that the rich began to oppress millions of people by exploitation, and the iirtbalance of opportunity in this competitive society has forced millions of people to obtain their basic necessities of life (food, clothinn and shelter) by stealing. After a while, I realized I was a victim in the greedy man's society and forced to do 4 years of igy life behind walls for practically nothing. It is easy to see that the laws were made to protect the in terests of those with great wealth and property. Attica is a perfect example of the American way. An instiutuion built for people who violate the laws of this land are denied years of their lives for pet ty charges, while Nixon gets an unconditional pardon for any crimes he may have committed out of Watergate by Gerald Ford, your leader. Attica was a twin to the average ghetto. The only difference is that the people who controlled your life were free to racially harass, attack, and murder you because you were behind walls and the public woujd never hear a sound. September 9 - 13th', 1971, a new nation was bom, a time when all foiH^walks of this earth came together to make a change for social and human dignity, at any cost even if it meant our lives. After four days of negotiating with our demands were met with M-16's, sub-tommies, shotguns and dum-dum bul lets, brutal assaults - 43 dead and many brothers wounded and maimed for life. The State of New York or Rockefeller and Co., tried to justify their murdering 43 human beings (including 11 of their own) by lying to the people (through the mass media) saying that we had sliced hostages throats, castrated them, sexually abused one and buried him alive. Two days later, an official pathologists' report proved that they had died from gunshot wounds and that the State had lied to the public. Throughout the white man's history, we have been able to witness mass attempts (by this corrupt govern ment) to cover-up their acts of wrong-doing, such as Kent State killings by National Guard, the My Lai mur ders 1890 Massacre and Wounded Knee killings 1973 of two Indian Brothers. • Attica is no different. Rockefeller and his hench men have coerced, drugged and beaten priioners into making false testiiBpny to an all white grand jury, making 61 BrotheY^^capegoats for their killings. They also gave prisoners doing life sentences early parole dates if they would testify against us, we being chos en scapegoats because of our political and religious beliefs. If the State thought that Charly Joe Pernasalice and myself were as dangerous as they have pronected, then why were we given a ten thousand dollar bail on a capi tal punishment crime? In closing, I want to express my feelings pertaining to the upcoming trial of November 18, 1974. The State is not going to be trying Charley Joe and myself in the name of justice, but rather in an attempt to railroad us as fast as possible. To make us an example to all oppressed people who are fighting for change, and at the same time, giving Ex-governor of New York State, Nelson Rockefeller an excuse for ordering the Attica Massacre. After a while I will be able to show you 1. We are innocent of these trumoed-up charges 2. An inside look at the whole systdm 3. What it means to be a Native American in the white man's society. Hay the Spirit be filled. Dacajpv/oiah a/k/a John Hill IWTIVE /*ERICAt( W0:iAN PROTESTS AT WOUIIDEH KHEE. / , messages of solidarity TO: NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION OF OCTOBER 27 AT 'lADISftN SQUARE fiARDEN IN SUPPORT OF inOEPENDEriJE Z PUERTO RICO. COMRADES/SUPPORTERS/FRIENDS: pressive prison complex near the Canadian border- 1 r^acn out to extend my revolutionary greetings and spiritual and political participation in this massive act of Unity in behalf of freedom. Arthur U. Tavares, another resister of the sa distic behavior modification program of Rockefeller and Governor Wilson also sends his revolutionary greetings and wholehearted support. Arthur is the only other prisoner besides rnyself who refuses to submit to the dehumanizing and degrading rectal examinatibn. For his resistance he has been vici ously beaten five times by 7 guard goon squad^. He IS a sincere revolutionary who by his deeds has proven his courage and determination not to have his spirit broken as has been done to the other prisoners here in solitary confinement who coop- erate in their own dehumanization, I mention this struggle in solitary confinement to show that the struggle for human dignity knows no boundaries nor, 1 may add, is limited to any particular people or race. The struggle for the in dependence of Puerto Rico is a constituent part of the same struggle for freedom being waged by diverse peoples in Asia, Africa, Mideast, Latin America, Ireland, Cyprus a,id right here in the United States. It is astruggle against the same members of the oppressive ruling class who through their state ap- paratus rob us of our freedom and human dignity. wnat IS the struggle for freedom if it is not the struggle for human dignity? And human dignity as Pedro Albizu Campos stated in 1932, "is priceless to pose persons of conscience who cannot accept the pet of being denied the right tn self-determine their destinies." Tp December 1973 United National resolution re- pqnlzing "the inalienable right of the people of PuertoRico to self-determination and independence" stems dpectly from the revolutionary consciousness pd deps of patriots like Don Pedro, the five Puerto Rican Nationalist political prisoners, and the many otpr freedom fighters and supporters who followed and are following the revolutionary tradition of courage and sacrifice." Therefore, let's escalate the liberation struggle pd objectify into reality the independence of Puerto Rico through unity of action "courage and sacrifice " QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO LIBRE! Your Companero in struggle Martin Sostre Dannemora, N.Y. 12929 / MESSAGE TO THE AFRO-AMERICAN UNITED FRONT Revolutionary Greetings, It wasn't until recently that we received your message of solidarity to us and others fighting against American imperialism, our common eneigy. First, let us apologize ’ for not having better control of our communication as it would've made our resnonse more prompt. Your message itself is a clear example of why need better communications, with all progressive forces. Living in a highly technological society where mass communication is open to the public, we can only criticise ourselves for not having better commumication. Your message of solidarity and support is a great inspiration to us, particularly in a day where those who resist with arms find little, or no support from the left. We like millions, witnessed the murder of our S.L.A. comrades. And were unable to help them. He remember the murders in Attica, the murder of George Jackson. We saw a few come out and voice their out rage at these murders. In the words of Malcolm X: "It seems that people don't want us to stop suffering, just suffer peace fully." Martin Sostre who is waging a relentless struggle against the fascist department of corrections is one of the few who came out in support of our fallen S.A. L. comrades. Ills criticism's pointed out that'there is a glaring contradiction between the rhethoric of- the left and its practice. We've been weighing and analysing your suggestions and withoj^ doubt we recognize the need for a nation al conference to stop police murders and massacres. A conference made up of grassroot people and not just as you so well stated, "movement celebrities." We also agree that there must be a mobilization of the masses of people across Amerika in order to take on the task of dismembering the beast. Again, we'send our sincerest revolutionary greet ings, solidarity and intercommunal respects. Unidos Venceremos, Francisco. Torres Alberto Washington Herman Bel 1 Anthony Bottom Gabriel Torres - ' __ ^ __ ; A uburn I ncident ; November 4th, 1974 Dear Ma: As always I trust my letter finds you and the ‘ family in the best of health. As for myself. I'm just thankful for beinn alive this morning, but be lieve me this is one night (approx. 1:30 a.m.) in the penitentiary I won't ever in my life forget. Its about 1:15 a.m. and everyone is "locked-in" within their cells. I'm in my cell in a semi-conscious state of mind (just half sleep, which has automati cally become a part of roe since mV incarceration) laying on my cot. All of a sudden I hear a lot of inmates screaming Fire, Fire (at first 1 thought I was dreaming becuase of my state of mind) then every one started yelling and screaming fire, fire and started banging on the walls, I jumped out of bed and the next thing I knew Smoke was everywhere (that thick black-soot smnkel at the same time I'm inhaling the smoke and I'm begining to feel somewhat diziy and I notice the damn windows are closed, that when I got excited and almost paniced, my partner next door tells me to lay on the floor and to put a wet towel on itv face. Whosoever the officer on duty was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, cause everyone was screaming about fire and that fact that the windows were closed, the officer is yelling (ask ing) where's the fire, when he finally gets a reply as to where the fire is exactly, he gets a positive and negative answer, (someone yells out that the fire is on six (6) company, then another person yells out that the fire is on five (5) comoany) (everyone is still yelling and screaming to let them the fuck out of the cells and to open up the goddam windows) So he doesn't know what the hell to do. (You see every tier of company consist of approx. 48 cells, that would be equivalent of walking from our iiouse up to Barney's Grocery Store) So you know the officer was confused, it just so happehCTkthat the fire was not on my com pany (which is 6 Co.) but on 5 company, so he had to first run down and locate the fire which was in one of the last cells and then run back and call for help. (Furthermore after we are locked in for the night, the Keys ape automatically taken up front to the adminis tration building and locked up for security reasons- Not even the Officer on Duty can get the Keys) Ma, by this time I know damn well that brother had burned alive, cause ain't noway he could run when locked-in a 5 by 7 foot cell. While all of this is happening the fire is still going and most of the fellows start ed breaking windows to get air. Bottles and Canned- Goods started flying (I heard that brother Scream two more times, those Spine Tingling, chilling horror screams) towards the window, approx. 1:45 a.m. the police, inmate nurse had finally opened the brother's cell (he was dead) (We are still locked-in) (The in mate who locked next door his cell was opened by sheer accident) (The fire was in cell 47 so the fellow next door must lock in cell 46, he took the body out wrap ped up in what I don't know, 1 suspect a blanket. At approx. 2:00 a.m. those jive outside firemen showed on the scene, we are locked in, screaming, yelling, cursing, bottles flying and police, firemen and doc tors running around like fools and we can't breath) It's approx. 2:15 everyone is coughing & screaming and these fools finally decided to let most of the guys out of their cells (I did not leave my cell be- / cause the smoke ha^leared), this is after the body is removed, to the yard or into the media cen ter (library & gym combined) to obtain fresh air and from what-I've felt from the windows just being open ed it was cold as hell outside. (Not all of the in mates left their cells) Now to top all of this off they (the news) broadcasted the next morning on the bulletin that the Auburn Firemen Branch batt ’ ed the fire in Auburn Correctional Facility for 2 hours Ma, they didn't arrive until after the fire was Denmnshed ! 1:; 1, now how in the hell could they bat tle some fire when there was nothing but smoke left? Yes, I'm puzzled becuase first of all, 1. there is supposed to be one or two fire extinguishes on each comoany, 2. the nite officer in charge of the entire block (approx. 384 inmates in the block) is Suppose to make a Hour and Half hourly rounds (checks) to make sure everything and everyone is alright. All of us know if you become ill in the night while lock ed in, you may as well wait 2 hours before the doctor gets to you (this pertains to all illnesses unless there is a sho-nuff emergency) (or you just die wait ing) Furthermore .you can only get sick at a specific time:I Now why in hell weren't the keys in this block where they should have been instead of the Administra tion Building???? , This momli^ it is rumored that more inmates have died as a resijTt of this incident, either from bums or direct inhalation of smoke. How I've found out that the heat from the fire was so intense that it "MELTED THE TOILET BOWL AND SINK, PLUS BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE STEEL SHEETED WALL and the Exploision blew out most of the windows in front of the cell which the fire was in (company 5 - cell 47), I will never forget the horrified screams of that Brother;!! That brother was burned so intensely that when he was removed from the cell, his hands were melted to the bars of his cell and his body looked like a piece of "Red-Charcole-Clay" I believe the brother could have been saved if the keys had been in their proper per spective. Well the institution will be burying him after the second sunset because he is a "Sunni Muslim. " .CASE CLOSED DUKE - HENRY P. MORRIS #65887 P.S. HOW MANY MORE SHALL I WITNESS DYING WHILE I'M WALKING AMONGST THE DEAD!! I snu. hear s (M ms r.... Karim did not have to die, all that was ne cessary for the officers to do was to open his and other ajoining cells and let the men out on the locked gallery for their own safety to escape the fire and smoke, but no, this wasn't done, they re mained in their cells throughout this time and for about 45 minutes, then were releases after all the dimag# was done, all because of a stupid silly rule that no cell is to be opened after the main count the previous day. ... ....... This is not the first time an accident of this sort happened in prison, men have died for the lack of medical treatment which was heeded immediately, and which could not be given because the cell door wasn't allowed to be opened until an official showed on the scene and he gave his permission to do so, and thct (Cont on p.7) ■:r- M urder O r uon't. ttofn pb) door would not open until someone did showl 1 1 1 ' .* I ! I ....... The origin of the fire has absolutely nothinr to do with what happened causing the death of Harris, and injury to numerous others, if proper precaution and care was taken in such a case, none of this would have happened. There have been other fire's in the cells and they were properly extinguished by the of ficers, why couldn't this be done this time, becai se the offices were apparently sleeping, and figured that some guys were breaking chops, so they took their time investigating the yelling and screamino. I still hear that man screaming, and I will always hear it, this could have happened to anyone, and 7 hope that each of you, or collectively will do sore- thing about it itimediately ....... ....... Letting a man out of his cell when there is' f fire is no big thing, if ar\yone thinks that he cai 'escape' that is oure nonsenceilll Even if a man tot out of his cell, he must leave the gallery, then the block, then the yard, then get over the wall or stme- thing, the officer can open any cell and still th.t man will be confined to that particular gallery, so this cannot be used as an excuse. Security comes 1 e- fore everything else here, just like in all the other prison camps throughout the State, a man's well b(ing and life is secondary __ ....... Guys are bunged up at all that happened, and clicks are being formed, anything can/may jump of' now, and everyone is on edge here not knowing wha'. to Expect. The Sunni Muslims are in particular an noyed, and I agree with them, color has nothing to do with wiiat happened, this could have happened tr anyone, but it is played down and facts are disto-t- ed becuase Harris was Black and a Sunni Muslim, n-it- urally the prison will try and absolve themselves of any blame, and figure out a way to put the blame on us prisoners like they always do in such a easel Everyone, Black, White and Latinos are angered, a;,d the sad part of the whole thing is that the orisoi pawns, the rats and snakes who go along with the 'ri sen system will attempt to further their personal be ing by rumors, and agreeing with what the prison wants them to say, in their attempt to absolve themselvos of any blame ....... Lorenzo L.J. Catanzaro #65'I58 Auburn State Prison A NOTHERS AN6ER ...In his last years, Karim was profoundly conce*n- with the cruel and Inhuman conditions he and his people were forced to live in, he thought of us >s being victimized by a capitalist society. He begin to preach revolution. The typewriter was his weanon, he believed "the pen is mightier than the sword. ' Karim became involved in various political ac;i- vist groups. Donating his copy-machine, his time and his knowledge, he was alw^^ys eager to help 1 1 any way he could (he constantly wore a black arm- band in remeihbrence of his fallen brethem in Attica). Outspoken and outraged at the horrendou; society in which he grew, even that didn't parallel what he experienced in prison. When Karim returned from Comstock in 1971 (after serving two years) I no longer recognized iry son as my son. He seemed to me like some disembodied -sfc'7. shell. I had to show him all over again how to na- gotiate the buses & subways because he was so dis- lorientated. Karim related to me many times the si- distic measures used in prison to dehumanize men. Especially the dominant ones, the outspoken and outraged men who dared speak out against the op pressive, degrading conditions of prison.life. Tiey tried to silence the spirit of revolution in him, but there was only one way to do that, they would have to silence the man. His last year in prison he was raised by becoming a Sunni Muslim, in Islam he found the peace of mind he had never known. Karim found a new direction in which to focus hi; views. He believed a government based upon the laws of Islam was the only one that would bring Peace S Brotherhood to all mankind. And so, again with his typewriter he started to write another book. His theme? The same as before, to bring about a chanie in this society inxhich we live. To bring a libir- ation from a blind, mute deaf, lame, ugly, subtli, twisted, bent, perpetual system which decends with the infants spirit from the spacious firmament iito the home of mis®i|f, where need lives by ignoranc ’ and humiliation resides beside desoair and the children grow as miserable and live as criminals and die as despised and rejected non-existents. Umm M.A. Hakim N egligence ? The editors of the Attica Hews Presents a good/ vivid analogy between an Attica indictee Brother — Omar Sekou Toure (Otis McGaughy) and Karim Abdul Hakim: Both of these piysterious happenings took place in the month of Hovember. Both of these Brothers were of the Islamic orientation. The gruesomeness of these incidents are as fol lows: 3ro. Omar was in Special Housing Unit (S.H.U.) at Auburn being held there illegally. It was Thanksgiving day of 1973 whep the inci- dent happened to Bro. Onar, but the only thing we had/have to be thankful for relative to that day is that he Is alive. If it wasn't recreation time-that day the author- tie'srwould have left him there to die or if all of us weren't alreatly in the yard for recreation. He was only able to get the proper type of medi cal attention he needed when he was allowed to go to the county hospital in Buffalo. Yet the doctor at Auburn Correctional Facility refused to get him to an outside hospital when the injury first happened! Tills,-plus the claim by the Auburn officials about the shortness in ength of the fire-extinguish er exemplifies the gross negligence of/many of the problems that exist in the prison system. Bro. Karim was in a cell and burned to death as an outcome of some stupid policy that says "no cell is to be opened after the main count the previous day. Akil (Herbie Scott Dean) Erie County Jail 10 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, N.y. 14202 ■f ms ' K 'I I?' - IP PAr\DEmor\iunr\ H ui * o -J ub 4) o , gobbledygook, crunch, sputter and grind... Insecurities and Uncertainties always find my mind Confusion^added to Confusion manifest through Illusion resulting in DELUSION... Complexity and Perplexity inhibit Mental Dexterity in searching for IDENTITY... Images in celluloid making me Paranoid turning me info a schizoid ; Why am I'Mad and alternately Sad? My mind is boiling over so why is it frozen? What is this something-everything-nothing I know? enough ; T oo much threatens to engulf __ What is this stuff? Plastic Space behind my face beginning to erase Tape played in Reverse __ The End comes First My mind's Appearance is one of Disappearance... chaos ; noise : interference : As my Abilities-Sensibilities fade ’ away into Total Decay Does anyone hear what I say? WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE _ ^HOLO IT UP! I ask you again, What is this stuff? In this Vacuum is it safe to Assume or is it too soon for my mind to be DOOMED? Manic. Depression seems to Loom outside the adit to The Room of my brain AM I INSANE? IS SANITY OR VANITY CHARACTERISTIC OF HUMANITY? Mumbo-jumbo, gobbledy gook, crunch, sputter and grind... Insecurities and Uncertainties alway? find my mind Confusion added to Confusion manifest through Illusion resulting in DELUSION... Complexity and Perplexity inhibit Mental Dexterity in IDENTITY... Images in celluloid making me Paranoid turning me into a ' schizoid : Here: No There: Wow it's Everywhere: This...tFTs REAL/UNREAL that I FEEL/UNFEEL Like a blind mind--a Nuerotic Psychotic flying a Space Rocket into the Brain Socket A-a-ah...The Mood is moving to it's Conclusion Confusion is Fusing into... pandemonium ; pandemonium : p-p- pande - e - emo - o - oni - i - iahh : McAlister, Okla. 9f y Feedbacic Revolu4'ion or Survival Parvlin^ fi£W2lyii2il (?) A Critical Response to "A Question of Tactics" What we hope will happen through this exchange of constructive criticism and ideas, is that, we will all be able to find something of a practical nature,which we can all draw from. Revolution or Survival Pending Revolution (?) To begin with "A Question of Tactics" should really be; How well prepared are we to deal with any area of STRUGGLE where-ever we might be? Are we READY? When a 'revolutionary' begins to acheive the qualitive standards necessary to any person who ®' ’ 9a9e in a protracted STRUGGLE for FREE DOM, LAND, and BREAD. He/She begins to understand the real value of people, they learn the value of being humane and in so doing learn the value of LIFE. They also learn that they are integral parts of a growing process', constant, consistent, where the most profound lessons are not learned from isolative study' but rather from experience through practice. Revolutionaries' learn to be unselfish and that our STRUGGLES are EVERYWHERE, on many fronts as well as many levels. In accordance with this axiomatic truth we must then gear up to wage a arduous STRUGGLE on ALL fronts ; Where-ever we happen to be, where-ever there^are institutions or ideals which contradict the righteous applications of the PEOPLE opting for the fruits of socialism, pan-afrikanism et. al ., instead of "production by many, profit by a few" rule. Comrades all over the globe are at this very moment in situations which are approximately the same as the situations with which we are confronted with, varying in degrees beginning with 'bad' and ranging to 'extremely bad'. Since we are dealing primarily with the question of STRUGGLE within the confines of maximum security Lamps rather than that of the streets in this specific case, we will try to stick as closely to this premise as possible... What we now face in the Lamp system is a micro cosm of what we will inevitably find in the streets (Should we ever hit the 'bricks" again). There are no small number of comrades who through the imposition of outrageous sentences cannot hope to ever breathe a breath of 'free' air, or occupy some 'free' space, unless, they liberate themselves in the very essence of the word. Do you suggest that they lay back and wait for some-one to come and get them out? We certainly do not advise this, it is unrealistic. We think that a real "QUESTION OF TACTICS" should evolve from this particular point: IS IT NOT THE DUTY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY TO MAKE THE REVOLUTION? transiti^^^f meaningful purpose. A tn ? fi-oni consenting to their own oppression ^f resisting those who represent the organs artna?? oppression. To deal with reality as it ^ actually affects our lives! ... ^ realize that the task of organization Strletl will hB i-e The ' of th^kaJ^J monumental one, exceeding even that and their negative ideas will be enhanced by the Illusions of getting over to cop a Hog etc., there hB realities of flesh to peddled, dope to effectively then you must ultimately begin from where you are, since this is all relative. CHAIRMAN ^0 tells us that; "Idealism and meta- oeoDlB%Bl% because people can talk as much nonsense as they like without basing it on objective reality or having it tested against reality. Materialism and dialectics on the be based on and tested by objective reality. Unless one makes the physics idealism and meta- Intrbductory note to "Material on the Hu-Feng Counter-Revolutionary Clique" (May 1955) the comrade's words not peculiar to the flut' bhe afrikan who toils and sweats blood through forced labor which ultiTOt