mNK^ PRISONERS NEWS LiC.QA IIY ^ 10 r -:-! i h :;Tcn cAL cociETy Cr v,;;cdjN3i, ‘ j ^EC/Ai^ PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD '(N,Y.CHAPTER) February 1974 » vol.4 no. 2 ’ S Vv A ' V ''■ \r< • »'C V, '■*3.,.. *•» 14::.' PS^:r -li I- w i*. 'H / ' ... Daisy, Carolyn, Women's House, Rikers Island A- Slaves or Prisoners ■ -f. i In this day and time you see all on T.V., hear on the radio, and read in the various papers of the tremendous struggles going on in prisons all accross the nation. All talk of the unwavering efforts of prisoners to secure their "prisoner's rights." At Parchman plantation-prfson located in the delta of Mississippi, this is not the case. For while others are fighting to have their "prisoners rights" recognized, we are fighting for the "right to be recognized as prisoners." In my last letter to the MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, I spoke of how Parchman is basically a plantation devoted to the growing of cotton, soybeans and other crops as well as livestock, swine, poultry, and the operating of a dairy. The administration have considered themselves as slave masters in its literal sense, and us prisoners as slaves in its literal sense. Slaves have no rights, no manhood, no ideptity, and live only to serve their masters. And so it has long been the tradition at Parchman plantation-prison. We who have been made captives of the State for political, religious, or social seasons, have always been looked upon as objects to make the State a profit. In fact, the boast has been made on several occassions, that Parchman will MAKE a profit "at all costs." True enough, they do make a profit "at all costs." A cost which has meant we've had to live under deplorable conditions .. .'On Dec. 19 Gov. Bill Waller boasted in one of his weekly news conferences of how Parchman plantation netted the State $1.3 million dollar profit. He spoke of how Parchman had produced a total cash value of over two (2) million in crops. He admitted that there was "required" (forced) free labor, but that it was mostly done during peak periods. He did not admit tho, of the cruel and inhuman reatment his workers were subjected to. He did not admit to the meger food ration and all but nonexistent medical attention, or the killings, brutality and terror tactics that exist here. But he justified his profit by saying that since 20% of the inmates have come from agriculture related jobs in the free world that, "It's only fitting that they continue doing and improving the skill that they were engaged in." Thus these 20% who were victemized into slavery on the outside plantations, must set the trend for the majority to be victemized in here. What twisted logic! So it has been for almost a century until little over a year ago. Federal Judge William C. Keady ruled that the Parchman-plantation-prison was unconstitutional in its opperations .. Judge Keady's ruling was made possible b^use I and many of my fellow prisoners fought against the way we were being exploited and killed ... We won our class action suit against the State. Judge Keady ordered Parchman officials to make the necessary drastic changes from a plantation to a prison. .. A major battle was won, true enough, but our struggles are far from being over. A massive political & individual campaign has been launched ''against us prisoners in a frantic effort to at least keep us slaves in some respects if not in its entirety. The State's main contention in prolonging the implimentation of the judge's order, is that it is impossible to make such drastic changes in the immediate future due to lack of funds and trained personel. Lack of funds, t^e enough, because the administration has Been -'under investigation for misappropriating several million dollars throughout the years. A shortage of trained personel because very few want to work for, such meger pay and under such abominable working conditions. In the past two years many of us prisoners have been subjected to numerous forms of personal antagonism. The most outstanding of which happened July 10, 11, 12th where a roving security "goon" squad went around to the various camps premeditatedly and maliciously beating and torturing HUNDREDS of prisoners. This could not hardly be tolerated and with the help of prison doctors, several night watchmen, several statesmen, prisoners rights lawyers, and a multitude of affidavits we took them to court so that contempt charges could be brought against them. For months these officials have successfully avoided prosecution. Hopefully now they have been run into a corner, and the truth will be made manifest once and for all, for public observation ... The Mississippi Prisoners Advisory Committee (IMPAC), The Prisoners Referral and Advisory Program (RAP), and the Musljm Brotherhood (under the spiritual leadership and guiOence of the Honerable Elijah Muhammad), has been established with the hopes of activating, educating and organizing all prisoners towards effecting a concrete survival program, and to self-implinapht the objective of total rehabilitation. Yet these too have had to face massive opposition in the forms of wicked strategies and dirty tricks, whereas IMPAC and RAP have been watered down and been rendered practically ineffective. The Muslim Brotherhood, by its very existence and maintenance is successful, yet is nevertheless subjected to subtle tricks and evasive tactics which keeps the program from giving us prisoners the maximum of its services One thing that can and must be done, and that is to establish a stable form of communication with concerned people outside Parchman ... As Salaam Alaikum Louis X (Holloway) 35073 Camp Two Parchman, Miss. 38738 BLACK BACKS Here ccsties death Riding down the street In it's official car (owned by the N.Y.P.D.) Radio talking about two tall Black robbers (always black robbers) Tall/short Black and/is robbers... Two pair of eyes Looking Seeing and not seeing Two brains Thinking but'can't think... Gas moving death's car Hate moving the brains , The eyes see two backs Tall back/short back... Black backs Father's back/son's back. Eyes see Hate hates Gun shoot. .death moves officially*- Across the distance Touching the back, a short black back, A ten year old back. Write it on the walls and in the hal Is... A black is a black back is a black back Is a black back _ and watch your back. back Richmond , Virginia Fight Liberalism REMEMBER ATTICA! We write you this letter on behalf of several Attica Brothas. We realize that the follovving are internal-contradictions, however, we feel it necessary to express and expose the following contradiction which are affecting the Attica Brothas, so an understanding can be achieved by you. Re-examining our struggle, we have corhe to the conclusion that some of the Attica Brothas feel that Politics shouldn't be focused upon their trials because they feel that they aren't political prisoners. Because of this position, the defense groups have been turning out "watered down" propaganda to satisfy the (apolitical) Attica Brothas — the Liberal Element! (3UR position is that each Brotha is entitled to his own opinion regarding the method with which to achieve freedo'm. However, they can't negate the fact that they are victims of POLITICAL REPRISALS (because then, we wouldn't have had Rockefeller & co. hand pick ''Special prosecutors," or a "special grand jury" or have a "special legislative allotment" of THREE MILLION DOLLARS for the prosecilting staff to indict/persecute us, where ordinarily millions of dollars aren't available to use for housing, education programs, community-based programs, etc....) 'The motto of the Attica Legal Defense is: "To Free the Attica Brothers" and 1) Drop all the Attica Indictments; 2) Indict the Real Criminals (Rockefeller, Nixon, etc.); 3) Impliment the "28" Demands of tFfe "33" made in D Yard!!! We want to be free too! But we're talking about freeing ALL oppressed peoples in all the Atticas of Anierika (in the ghettos, prisons, work-foundries, etc.) and not specifically confined to the Attica Brothas per se, ATTICA IS ALL OF US!!! How realistic is a demand to Indict the real criminals (Rockefeller & Nixon)? What the hell good will it do to the people to see them indicted? They aren't going to get indicted and much less they aren't going to do a day in jail. Look at S.T. Agnew-the only criminal I know of that was "indicted, convicted and sentence" (to PROBATION and FINE) all in less than 12 hours! So they got rid of a ► vice-president and what else? Another one took his place, that's what! Look now at the "28" demands ... what demands? Those demands have taken, on the tokenism of "reform." We aren't for reform of the physical plant-we are for liberation from repression and oppressive racist capitalism! Furthermore, prison reform is not going to avoid massacres like Attica. Those are 28 demands that the state agreed to impliment. But what about the ones that they refused to acknowledge, like Amnesty, Federal jurisdiction of the Attica prisoners. Transfer to a non-imperialist country, etc.? 1) immediate flight to a non-imperialist country; 2) The federal jurisdiction over state prisons; 3) the amnesty demands. These are the demands that we support!!! They are the ones that were immediately quashed by the state. Have we all forgotten about them? Of course not-just those liberal elements who have coopted the ReformisTvfews. Why should we look at our struggle narrowly (i.e., in terms of getting acquitted)? What about those of us who are STILL serving time, w?iU we see prison population again? What about the Comrade-prisoners (nationwide) who the D.O.C.'s (Department of Corrections) are trying to make docile-robots, by the use of FORCED lobotomies and medicinal therapy. What of maxi-maxi? Those are the issues/problems that we are concerned about. Remember, before Atticaisome of US WERE! In spite of Attica, some of US ARE! After Attica, WE WILL BE! Altho, those of us Attica Brothas who express these views are in a "minority" of the total Attica Brothas, we must keep in mind that: It isn't necessarily true that the minority should support the majority. The reason lies in consciousness. Remember that "the vanguard element in the people's struggle are only a minority, and yet, we do not support the majority of the people." Why??? Because ophression, but not yet the we are conscious of our op majority of the people (unconsciously) efect and support their own oppression governmental administrators, etc. Moreover, we find it necessary to convey said analysis because we aren't^tting the support of the vanguard forces in minimum security. Altho we are aware of the fact that many positive organizations are moving in the interest of the people and are "turned off" by what they see/read/hear about the Attica struggle, i.e., the overwhelming cup of liberalism that has watered down our struggle. We are not refusing the support of any of the people because of class-status; however, we're merely endeavoring to express that there are "Attika Brothas" who view our struggle on an international level and within the spectrum of a people's Liberation towards socialism. As Eugene V. Debs said: "As long as there is a criminal element, I am of it; as long as there is a soul irt prison, I am not free"! So, too,\he Attica Brothas are fighting against class struggle, racisnfv criminality and seeking freedom from the Prisons of Repression. In unyielding struggle, Bro. Dalou (Mariano Gonzales) Herbert X. Blyden (On behalf of the Attica Liberation Faction) Page 3 1 \ .'V. In the Dec. issue of the M.S. we ran a call for a Christmas Fast in support of the indicted Attica Brothers from prisoners in Walpole, Mass. We do not yet have a complete over-view of how the call was received all over the country, but we did get many replies, some of which we are reprinting here. The fast was observed in prisons in at least 20 states (including Mass., N.H., Vt, Maine, N. Y., Pa., Ohio, Calif, Ky., Okla., Ga., and Miss.), in some prisons that means a majority of prisoners participated in a fast; in others a much smaller number fasted. We got some letters from places'suchjas Attica, Lucasville, Ohio, and Eddyville, Ky., that were very pessimistic about being able to organize more than a few people to participate, it seems that people's ability to use the call for a fast as a too! to organize depended on the general state of the struggle in each place. To; The Walpole Chapter of National Prisoners Reform Association, Prisoners Against Poverty, Racism and War. From: The Indicted Attica Brothers We, the indicted Attica Brothers, extend our heartfelt greetings of g^uine solidarity to you brothers at Walpole, wariniic rJri<a^n ramn? all Over Amerikkka. and the jiccUMys Ul ucj lull ic aul luai i ty yww the various prison camps all over Amerikkka, and the Brothers and Sisters out in the streets who took part in the Xmas Fast as a means of debunking the myth perpetuated by the bloodsuckers of the Poor (The Capitalists) for us. ~ Attica and all places whereTRe poor and oppressed are trampled upon is injustice and inequality. ' Attica is William 1. Simon telling the American people that they should voluntarily purchase ten gallons of gasoline, which is barely enough to last the car owner five working days, to and from work., Attica is the freezing of gasoline on weekends to the people, while Standard Oil, Texaco, Tenneco, Gulf Oil, Shell and Exxon, etc., profit from the labour of the workers on the week days. Attica is the oppressive and dehumanizing working conditions that Farah, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler forces their workers to contend with. • Attica is former Vice-President Agnew who is verbally the chief proponent of Law and Order, but in reality the opponent, who recently pleaded with the Court to suspend him rather than disbar him. from the legal profession. The temerity of the callous and nitwit-bum! The controllers of the prison/propagators of inhumanity never conceived that such support and solidity/solicitude would come to and for us, much less from behind the very walls! All Praises and Power To Those Who Struggle! That which is just shall n^t be prevailed upon, because it is through the inspiration of people like you who cause all struggles (positive) to move on towards their objectives. Much is expected from us and we hope that that which is right and exact we can live up to and deal a telling death blow t6 inhumanity, repression, oppression, injustice, capitalism, racismTafid neo-colonialism. Xmas is a Capitalist Myth!!! Towards Liberation! J The Indicted Attica Brothers To MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (and the Attica Brothers) Peace through Struggle: This letter is just to inform you that we here at Pittsburgh went through with the traditional Christmas meal boycott with an overwhelming success. Only 150 out of 800 prisoners ate. Ifwas a taste of real victory. So this is just to inform you and the Attica Brothers (whom it was done for) we all are in solidarity and support you 100%. Please print thisdn your MIDNIGHT SPECIAL so it may serve as an inspiration hopefully to other p.o.w.'s and political prisoners. Yours in the Struggle The Prisoners at Pittsburgh Penitentiary Twenty prisoners in the infamous solitary confinement at the Federal prison, Springfield, Missouri, in full solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in other prisons refused to partaketpf our Xmas meal in mourning for the victims of the Attire massacre both living and dead. And to symbolically protest' the frame-up charges brought against the remaining Attica survivors. We urge people to demand all charges brought against Attica survivors be dismisse^^and to support with financial help their legal struggles. We could not rejoice by partaking of this meal while there is so much suffering. Our sacrifice is small compared to the blood and beatings shed and sacrificed at Attica in order to bring justice for their Brothers and Sisters. 20 Springfield Brothers Springfield, Mo. People of the World Unite ...!!! We the undersigned incarcerated in Illinois State ' Penitentiary declare that Christmas of 1973 be a day of fasting and mourning. We will not eat the Christmas meal — in solidarity with the prisoner's movement throughout Amerika's Koncentration Kamps. We mourn the deaths of the Attika brothers; Brother Lawerence Lampkin killed by officials of ISPMB on April 12, 1973; Comrade George Jackson; Comrade Zayd-Malik-Shavr and all Freedom Fighters. "We shall have our manhood. We shall have it or the earth will be leveled by our attempts to gain it" — Eldridge Cleaver. Signed by 51 Brothers Menard, III. "If we should fail thru tear and lack of aggressive' imagination, then the slaves of tomorrow will curse us, like we sometimes curse those of yesterday." ^ - Comrade George Jackson Xmas Fast Our Xmas meal boycott was a success about 300 POW's refuse to accept the little bag of Xmas goodies on the 24th, Xmas day about 150 refuse the meal, I call this a very important victory. I have just arrive hereebout 30 days ago and it was dead and is still dead. I'm going to try and educate first, will need your help later. The establishment news "media" did not hel0, the "Bird" carried the leaflet and several Black media carried an article that I written. Station WRA.s read an open letter to Norman Carlson [Federal Bureau of Prisons Director] that I \Airitten. Do so all in all we didn't do bad. Let me know how things were overall later. Unity, Atlanta, Ga. Page 41 ¥m}i ■ _ '^n'3L ■l^f VI' W v'M-- V' I: ,J *Jz « V -' • V Peace and Greetings. Dig this. On the 21st, Massa is going to pass out buck and a half canteen teckets to the slaves. In order to receive this munificent gift each must line up and pass in review before Massa and make his mark upon the book. The slave ■ owners mentality is quite apparent in this little fiasco. It is also reminiscent of the holiday scene that was enacted on the plantations in the odtl South, the slave getting his Christmas goodies from Massa at the big house. I'm afraid that they are going to be left with some spare teckets this year, I for one refuse to be a part of this sick scene. After smoking those statutes over ^ou can jeally see what we were being confronted with on this rip-off to Mule country. The political prisoner is a threat to the perpetuation of the penal system as we know it today. Therefore we are subjected to the type of oppressive legislation that is contained in the statutes that I have sent to you. There is only one rational response to be made to this type of legislation, and that is to resist, resist, resist. Resistance can be accomplished in several ways, by forming agitation and propaganda groups within the prison, solidarity of actions, putting the Pigs business in the streets, by massive letter writing to media and other spheres of influence, just to name a few. I am also-e staunch advocate of litigation,'as long as you , have a REAL cause of action that has a chance of success before the courts. The non-frivolous complaint is something that they cannot combat with any measure of success. Like you said. Comrade, it's a real heavy scene, I believe that our primary goal is to first educate the prisoner, give he/she the insight to recognize and identify their enemies, then and only then do I think that the'polarization of a workable political entity within the prison can be effective. To do this there must be discipline of.mind and discipline of action. Anything less than complete solidarity is doomed to failure, the cause is here, only the group cohesion is lacking. I might mention that one thing that we do have going for us here anc^that is that for the most ot us, "we are color-bfmd^" we are comrades in struggle, we know who our enemy is. To know your brother is truely beautiful. vj Your Comrade in Struggle Eddyville, Kentucky ste V wj ; Sing Sing ATTICA IN GREY the grey stone walls/ desecrating the sky line in an obsene gesture/ reflecting decayed mentalities while grey faced men in gun towers/ holding extensions of their madness at the ready clutched tiglstly in anticipated hands/ mirroring the desiccated souls and minds beyond/ that people the grey landscape in unbroken interlocking monotony/ peer ghoulishly down at their life/ How can my poetry flow/ sing/ when all of my streams/ songs have dryed up/ Monotony stone grey/ dawn corridors that once resounded/ with the voices and firm tread of purposeful me Tiert7\nc stly he reveal to shameful light/ ghostly hen by/ in terror/ who flit silently an occasional burst of hollow laughter ring out in self deluding spirals of helplessness/ the grey air pounding and stifling the senses/ take away the breath and give birth to despair/ How can i, write of love/ when my heart only beat i-n anger/ hear/listen to the stilted voices of the programmed/ and/ smell the stink of human defeat/ broken spirits x factors denoting the nothing of existence/ and/ yet the miracle of some who walk proud/ striding through the grey mind-sets and mindless with pureness of conviction/ the will to stand/ the courage to die/ for the right to live as the grey dawn moves reluctantly to reveal a promising morning sun/ futurity/ revolutionies/ Attica , New York Page 5 r- On Nov. 30, 1973 California's prisons were put on 24 hour lock-up. The immediate reason given was the death of a guard at Tracy and the general reason was the general level of violence in the State's prisons The lock-up is still in effect in San Quentin, Soledad and Tracy, and in Folsom where it has been somewhat eased the following repressive changes have already been instituted: Gun rail coverage in the dining room, 3 showers a week instead of daily, library hours have been cut and exercise time has been halved. AH political prisoners, all those who agitate for change, all those who don't cooperate with the administration are being isolated from population. They will be denied all access to rehabilitation, education and training programs. They will not be allowed to work and will be "isolated" from recreational activities. The following article is from a brother in San Quentin. It is an open letter to a reporter on the San Francisco CHftQNICLE who had written an article about the lock-up. Some of us had occasion to read your article in Tuesday's CHRONICLE. Since you only had the expressions of authorities to assist you in reporting to the public about the problems in the prisons, it is no surprise that it was biased and distorted. Do we get the opportunity to state views on these problems that exist as seen by us? -- First, by virtue of our convictions^ and the trust placed in officials, we have automatic credibility problems. But we are not asking that we be believed over them. Rather, that both sides be looked at. Recognizing the limitations of a letter, we would suggest that you and others come inside. After all, we're not Cambodia, South Vietnam, Laos, or Watergate, so we're not "national security." Or are we? We have nothing to hide and recently San Quentin officials stated on KQED-TV they have nothtng to hide — so there should be no problem there. Except, of course, the administrators of Quentingate will not allow any investigation into its operations from the viewpoint of prisoners. You are expected to just take their word there is nothing to hide, and everything is cool. As for the so-called "conspiracy", those of us in San Quentin who deem ourselves brothers of George Jackson all the accusations completely false; that the only people who know anything about the Black Liberation Family or Black Guerilla Family here are the officials themselves. And their knowledge is just what they say it is — RUMOR! Our position is that an INVESTIGATION by those not in the employment of the state would show the "conspiracy" to be false. So we totally reject that black prisoners are in any way responsible for the current state of affairs in Quentingate, We say, rather, that prison administrators seek to gain the maximum publicity they can to influence the public mind into accepting the things administrators wish to implement. These "things" fit into two main groups: 1) seeking money to buildTievy prisons (huge "adjustment centers"); and 2) seeking public approval for putting the scalpel, electricity and drugs to "legal" use. But there are other benefits for officials as well. One, to take the public mind off the other very serious problems that exist in society^ Two, psych the public mind regarding the death penalty being put back kito operation January 1, 1974. Three, provides excellent poisoning for the upcoming trial of the San Quentin Six by fabricating revolutionary group labels, use of George Jackson's name and "conspiracies." Speaking of the Six and "nothing to hide," perhaps officials mean by that, that they are ready to reveal why it is they told defense attorneys there was nobody on the second and th/d floors, northside, of the Adjustment Center Building 8-21-71. Maybe those were more cattle they had up there being fattened for the gas chamber slaughter. Four, possibility of some high court ruling ot legislative enactment coming up in the very near future. You are acquainted with a friend cd mine who pointed out to me that just prior to the last\egislative body's (Assembly?) vote on restoration of th.e death penalty, something happened that produced news favorable to the CDC position. Perhaps that is a eoincidence, but someone just might want to^^eck it out and see how many other actions CDC w^ts happen to coincide with newsmaking events. They My they have "nothing to hide." How is it they have successfully and forcefully kept themselves, as "public servants," above the people they claim to serve? How is it they are not answerable to or responsible to the people, and refuse to let the people see things as they really are inside? It has recently been shown elsewhere what happens when government gets above the people. Quentingate is no different from the "gates" in other places. Authorities are claiming to the public they have fears about the safety of other prisoners and personnel. We are very concerned that they are now creating the very coljiditions whith will bring about the things they claim they fear. And who can know better than those FEELING the crunch of arbitrary power? They themselves concede it as a dangerous move they're' making. But they are letting themselves off the hook at this early stage for what they know must happen eventually, by saying: "We don't know how it will turn out, but we're doing it anyway.'A* When it happens, of course; they'll be seeking public sympathy for the things they caused and cry out for more money — again. But so what? They will have "proven" a '■conspiracy" won't they? We commend officials for their desire to rid the prisons of weapons, but hasten to add that it could have been done long agorYvithout all the publicity and fanning the flames; that the moves now being made by officials are both undesirable and unnecessary; and that the building up of hostilities between guards and prisoners is a dangerous and shameful thing. We suppose that an investigation into the OPERATIONS of CDC and the various prisons will reveal much to explain the deep problems that exist inside. And we suppose that people will be astounded by the degree of positivity that is suppressed by the "keepers of the public will." As stated earlier, we do not expect that this simpfe letter will be believed over the much-trusted authorities, so we invite the outside to come in and check things out for themselves — without interference or intimidation by CDC or other state agencies. I sent a copy of this letter to attorney Richard Doctoroff several days ago. I thought it unwise, for "health" reasons, to put it in the open mail to you.' Enclosed is a copy of a "response" to the 12-2 article in the EXAMINER. Tamal, California Page 6 I ■ -T*. : 1 3 Prisoners Against Rape Position Paper, Primarily, Prisoners Against Rape is a unique educational project under the auspices of the _ A.L.E.R.T.S. The Alerts is the Associated Library and Educational Research Team for Survival, which encompass a broad range of social, political, cultural, and other activities involving prisons and the general community. Prisoners Against Rape was conceived as a necessary community based program, to effectively deal with the rape epidemic concerning the general public and v/omen in particular. This project is concerned solely with the political environment aspects of rape, which has been greatly ignored by community leaders from all facets of society. We intend to combat some e^ential avenues of rape from a political perspective as former rapists who have experienced and know the intricate behavior patterns that induced us to participate in these activities. Hence, ’ we are about total involvement in helping to alleviate the cause which created the effect (social condition). Our project then is fundamentially concerned with attacking the historical, political, social and economical ingredients that produce rape from a social criminal perspective. We recognize thq, necessity for community support — consequently Rape Crisis Center, P.O. Box 21005, Washington, D.C. 20009 is working with us and we will work with anyone who is interest in assisting us in this. Standing on the principle and conviction that RAPE is not only illegal, but a Chronic social, political and economical handicap we "Prisoners Against Rape" who are ourselves" incarcerated for RAPE, have set out to expose ourselves to the public with a meaningful solution to this crisis that effect one third or more of American women alone. This is a, rough estimation based on conservative figures. \ After exhausting our mentalities in personal hindsight on what motivated us to commit the act of rape, we are prepared to go on record as fully aware of the rape syndrome. We are further prepared to explain the mechanics of our mental functions at the time — not as a moral redress of grievances with regard to regret and remorse per se. But rather we are sincerely prone by a desire to help preverit the causes that induced us to perpetrate these offensS|f. We believe that RAPE is like cancer-it spreads and grows into the community with the speed of a passionate thought, consuming any innocent woman, because she happen to be a victim of circumstances beyond her control. W^iew RAPE as you, in society would view cancer — we consider it an epidemic which must constrained as every man is a potential RAPIST. Incarceration may checkmate it, but not necessarily prevent the symptoms. As society carries this epidemic in its cultural, social and political institutions like all other crimes. Primarily, our first step is to secure excursions into the community (schools, colleges, homes, etc.) where we can communicate to the public our program. • Seize the Time William Fuller No. 146423 ' Larry Cannon No. 158569 Box 25, Lorton, Va. Revolution is not in this institution. Tell me is revolution gettin up every morning puttin your name on sick call, or is revolution playing handball, is revolution standin in the rain, sleet, snow, waitin to go to a filthy mess hall, or is revolution lifting wieghts. is revolution workin like a slave for thirty cents a day. or is revolution talking about this and that young man is fine, no revolution is not in this institution, is revolution goin to the movie once or twice a week watchin folks make love on the screen, or is revolution walking the yard tryin to be cool, talkin about L.Ds., Mark 3s, and long shoes, how could there be revolution with eight basketball courts in the institution, or is revolution lockiji in your cell every night, listin to T.V. and radio, or is revolution walkin the yard without no soul, or did revolution make parole, no revolution is not in this institution Attica, New York Page 7 lifting weights - Sin,g Sing t ' n,: t I 1 O ; c y three poems by Elizabeth Powe PUNISH SEVERLY AFTER / ANYTHING Boredom scared walls Names written - - Deeds forgotten Smiles painted. .Times a word realities forgotten Windows - - tall and slim Screened with wirean attempt to confine even souls within A mattress - - plastic/ stripped-clings to the floor I must be punished I think/ I mcve I have done wrong A sink smiles - - gleaming its proslin Whites at me No. water will he give - - clean/? wash? Just a thought The sink smiles playing games of drought I must be reformed - - Filth will most surety teach me/ Tolit wish you were clean- - scentV arise torching my nostrils Piss/shit-exareated by me. No tolit paper or i/ might/ smother ra^. I play his game/ I plea tolit flush just once for me! It's no use/ He glows with glee...A lazy object that tolit they gave me. Reform gray walls they be - - this is a good lesson \ She'll learn to be a slave to injustice I She's, a criminal - - * She must pay Three X Times three T , 15 DAYS FAST Again time for nourishment of this body 1y soul has feed on thoughts of my peoples freedom Food - - ? Do i need this! - - I don't beleive so Weak - - ? No/my bddy has feasted on the Extermination of two pigs Purlieri 15 days later Hungry/ famished I must feel more shades of loving soft pinks - - - - I love you blues/ yes yellows Satan smooth So/no- - \ I'm blinded I see red/ Ruby red — not pink i see blood; We must survive No blues* — black/ powerful hungry black Yellow/ Satan smooth...so smooth - - - - No - - Hell no - - Green Soothing green. S— o—o soothing to my heart as does the laughter of my child - - insights my rebirth -------- oppressions ------- ruinination. Pink? ---------- Blue? ------- Yellow? ------- Yea — a cloud/ a misty c loud/ dreams A promise shaded with White Bones: ASSUMING Assuming? ^ we Am i to assume in God yo^u Trust? How do you judge me/ judge How do you say/ feel?/ For in god i trust You listen- — but do you hear You see- - but have you looked You must -assume? No - - No - - ^and i repeat . . . Do you assume - - Death or is it stated fact Is there reason in life and death - - - or do we - - - assume! Riker's Island, New, York Pages I: -- s , -r Lady in Wood, Barbara, Rikers V ’ Resistance women prisoners receive same treatment as men prisoners On October 28, 1973, there was an uprising-by the women at Alderson Federal Prison. Pigs from numerous Koncentration Centers were called in to repress the uprising. Several days following the uprising Pigs were stilt in full riot gear. There was a rumor that forty (40) women were to be transferred, however, only nine (9) women were handcuffed and shackled then transfered to Cabell County Jail in Huntington, W. Va. without being given the opportunity to gather any of their personal property. The day after they arrived at Cabell County Jail the women were viciously attacked by male Pigs. One woman was dragged out of her cell and another was grabbed around the neck and was beat in the face and about the head causing numerous injuries,JSlone of the women were permitted to have a Doctor examine the extent of their injuries and were held incommunicado. By Nov. 18, they, managed to contact the National Prison Project in D.C. and charges are being filed against the Bureau of Prisons and Alderson. Shortly after contacting N.P.P. four women were transfered to other Koncentration Centers, but, it is unknown where. On Nov. 26, three women arrived at Pewee Valley, Ky. which is a State Prison with a Federal contract. The whereabouts of the other two women is unknown at this time. On Nov. 28 the three wometi were again transfered, this time to a County Jail in Louisville, Ky., where they were immediately placed in isolation. They do not know how long they will remain there or where their final destination will be. The tremendous harrassment that these women are being subjected to, no doubt is typical of the treatment administered to women prisoners even though they are innocent of any wrongdoing. Due to the attention that has been given to male prisoners, women prisoners seem to be left in the background. More coverage must be given to our counterpart for their plight is no less than ours. For more information on what is happening to these women, please contact; Naomi W. Cohen, Rt. 1 Box 319, Hurricane, W. Va. 25526; Nancy C. Crisman; Barbara Milstein; Suite 404-1424, 16th St. NW, Washington DC 20036. All three women are attorneys involved in the case. Que Viva La Revolucion-Long Live the Revolution Antonio (Loco) Almanza State Farm, Va. 9 (Continued on Page 10). RESISTANCE tlie people ’ s will 1; f revolutionary justice On the 27th of Dec. Gen. Comrade Jomo Levee went to Hederal Court in order to bring'to light the existihg dehumanizing conditions up here in Special Housing Unit. What was the result? Gen. Jomo could not bring witnesses to verify his testimony about the July 4th gassings. The state, however, brought a whole parade of circus clowns (especially Pig Coveny) ( ) to refute Gen. Jomo's story. .. On Jan. 3, 1974 Comrade/God Zackary (Abdullah) Morgan went to court for the same purpose ... What was the result? Another parade of fajse pig witnesses and Comrade/God Zackarv (Abdullah) Morgan was also threatened with perjury charges by the legal bureaucrats that run our legal system ... It is about 8:00 p.m. right now. Early this morning revolutionary justice was carried out as planned. All Power to the People! Starting the year on the good foot! Today the pigs were trying to abduct Gen. Comrade Jomo & Comrade/God Abdullah from their cells, but the people resisted this attack with light-bulbs, soaps, shoes, etc. People/prisoners threw what they could. When the pigs saw that they could not take Gen. Jomo &' God Abdullah, they backed up. Then after the pigs held their piggery (meeting) a pig came up to the gate & said "last chance. Let us take them out the cells or we ’ ll gas the place down." The pig spokesman for the head pig Smith was met with more light bulbs, soaps, shoes and revolutionary justice. When the pigs returned they were fully armed with tear gas, sickening gas, smokesgas, riot control-military gas. At this juncture a pig stepped on the Special Housing Unit gallery fully dressed in riot gear. He threw two gas canisters down the tier of West side of HBZ. They covered the front door with blankets in order to keep the gas on the tier. Then, down came Smith's Pig squad, shooting gas all over. Gen. Jomo who is kept in the last cell stood on top of the bed and gave the Sargeant who was wearing a gas mask a bucket-full of "Revolutionary Justice." The Sargeant screamed "goddamnit, the nigger is still fighting!" After saying this, they sprayed.Gen. Jomo with three gas guns. We could not see much after that because the whole gallery was flooded with gas. However, the pigs just took all Comrade/Gen. Jomo's property out of his cell, stripped him and threw him back into a stripped cell. The same happened to Comrade/God Abdullah. Everybody required medical attention-however, revolutionary justice has been issued out to the pigs who thought we prisoners forget. No! We don't forget & neither shall we forgive on Revolution Day! By any & all means necessary & available! All Power to Third World People! Power to the Black Liberation Army! Ministry of Propaganda, Attica. s/. »^10 The following is a statement written by three of the brothers who have been indicted for the rebellion which erupted at Leavenvmrth, Kansas last July 31, 1973. Sixteen of the brothers filed a suit challenging the unconstitutional conditions in the hole where they were held after the rebellion. On Oct. 30 Judge Brown dropped the suit but the lawyers are appealing. To the People: In an attempt to repress the rising storm of political dissent gusting through Washington's dispersed galley ships, the Capitol's international pirates has commanded its bucaneers aA Leavenworth to concoct "mutiny" charges against us and force us to "walk the plank." Allow our thunderous voices of righteous indignation to this egr