Sunday, May 22, 2011

The National Conference of Black Lawyers Calls on Obama Administration to Free All U.S. Political Prisoners

The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) urges the U.S. to apply international human rights standards to protect, and ensure the rights of political prisoners. NCBL presented the plight of the political prisoners in the United States to the United Nations' Human Rights Council in a cluster report as well as an individual report documenting the human rights violations related to U.S. political prisoners. NCBL welcomed the U.S. participation in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process as an important step toward protecting human rights at home. In addition to human rights violations of the political prisoners, there are many areas that need significant improvement in the U.S. As part of the UPR process, dozens of human rights groups submitted reports documenting the scale and extent of human rights violations in the U.S. In preparation for a November meeting before the HRC, the U.S. submitted a report in August to the Human Rights Council ("HRC") on its efforts to strengthen human rights commitments and to comply with international human rights standards. The U.S. failed to mention the plight of political prisoners who have languished in U.S. prisons for decades. In the compilation of civil society reports submitted to the HRC in October, the U.S. was urged to free its political prisoners.

On November 5, 2010, the U.S. appeared before the HRC and engaged in an interactive dialogue with other countries of the HRC, as well as other member states in a review of the United States' human rights compliance. During this interactive review the political prisoner issue was raised by member states. After the review the HRC adopted a report with 228 recommendations, including recommendations concerning political prisoners, for the U.S. government to improve the status of human rights in the country. On November 9, 2010, the U.S. published its "Response to Recommendations" of the HRC. Again, the U.S. neglected to address the human rights violations committed by its FBI that resulted in the wrongful imprisonment of dozens of African-American political activists and others.

While the United States consistently denies the existence of political prisoners, these individuals were ensnared in the grips of the United States' repressive Counter-intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) operation as activists who dared to challenge the status quo of America's harsh treatment of black people. Many of these activists were members of organizations such as the Black Panther Party, and were not content to remain silent in a system of de facto slavery, but demanded human rights in many areas, including quality education, healthcare, and an end to rampant police violence against black people. Groups such as the Black Panther Party were targets of government surveillance under COINTELPRO and members were harassed, beaten,
falsely arrested and prosecuted in a system bloated with contempt for them and their righteous causes. They were sentenced to unreasonably lengthy prison terms. In cases where death sentences were not imposed, the parole boards, through their actions in repeatedly denying parole, are making certain that they will die in prison. Hence this well-oiled machine continues to operate against political prisoners in America.

A Congressional subcommittee, popularly known as the "Church Committee", was formed to investigate and study the FBI's covert action programs. In its report, the Church Committee concluded that the FBI had "conducted a sophisticated vigilante operation aimed squarely at preventing the exercise of First Amendment rights of speech and association, on the theory that preventing the growth of dangerous groups and the propagation of dangerous ideas would protect the national security and deter violence."

Even if one were to grant credibility to the FBI's stated reason for its violations of these prisoners' constitutional and human rights, there exists no justification for their continued incarceration.

These political prisoners are now elderly. There is overwhelming statistical support for the fact that the rate of recidivism for elderly prisoners is virtually nonexistent. Also, several have died while incarcerated due to lack of health care. Governors across this country are unwilling to grant clemency to political prisoners. Parole boards reserve "special treatment" for them, no matter how exemplary their institutional adjustment and impressive the evidence is for successful re-entry into society once released. The United States' failure to recognize them does not make their existence any less real. The United States' continued refusal to acknowledge the evidence of their existence is itself a violation of their human rights. These prisoners' human rights were not only violated by the operations of COINTELPRO and their subsequent arrests and convictions. Their human rights continue to be violated as prisoners with convictions for crimes of the same or less seriousness are released on parole. Given this evidence coupled with their exemplary records while incarcerated, it is absolutely beyond dispute that their treatment stems from the fact of their past political association. This treatment of political prisoners is prohibited by the Convention to End All Forms of Racism and Discrimination (CERD).

The United States has no moral authority to chastise other governments for human rights violations until it addresses its human rights violations including the atrocious treatment of political prisoners. In March, 2011, the HRC will hold its regular session for the formal adoption of the U.S. outcome document. Thus, the U.S. still has an opportunity to address this critical issue.

The National Conference of Black Lawyers in coalition with other organizations will continue to expose this national shame until the United States acknowledges it and takes steps to address it.

Saturday, May 07, 2011

5/13 & 14 Take Action to Free the MOVE 9 - Events in Philadelphia & London

Ona MOVE for the MOVE Organization

“...it is time to put what I have learned into practice; freedom will only be won by the sweat on our brows” —Safiya Bukhari

Four years ago, as a junior in college in Virginia, I met this Elder named Leroy who was the janitor at the school library. After about five minutes of conversation, he asked of my origins. I replied “home of the moonshine, Franklin, Virginia”. After turning the question back on him, he responded―”I am from Philly, home of a Black mayor throwing a bomb on some Black folks house.”

That was my first piece of information about MOVE.

Three Years ago, I moved to Philly and I was surprised to see the light being dimmed on the MOVE 9’s case. It was one of the biggest cases of injustice in Philadelphia, and people had seem to forget that not only one, but nine of their own political prisoners were doing a 30-100 year bid in prison.

I remember watching the gritty, Black and White, documentary, “MOVE: Confrontation in Philadelphia” and feeling the outrage of the community after the August 8, 1978 incident. People were in the streets cursing and exposing the corruption of Philadelphia police and rallying together for the MOVE 9. Fast Forward thirty years later and while engaging in dialogue with people around the MOVE 9 case, I hear time and time again, ―”they are still incarcerated?”, “Hold up, you mean to tell me there are people in prison right now who are apart of MOVE?”

This type of brain drain is very devastating to an important case such as this one that needs support in the form of people power in demanding the MOVE 9’s freedom!


Everyday, I am making more of a personal commitment to the MOVE 9, while working towards enlightening my community about this case and putting out the information in order to ensure that our brothers and sisters of the MOVE 9 will make it back to us as well.

Even if you do not agree with the principles of the MOVE organization, or support their stance, we can agree on as a community that our political prisoners must come home! We must take the initiative to enlighten one another about the MOVE 9 and strategize on how we can get Chuck, Mike, Janet, Janine, Debbie, Delbert, Phil, and Eddie home (and justice for Sis Merle as well). Along the way, hopefully we can enlighten others to find it in their conscience to make a MOVE for the MOVE 9!

Ona MOVE,

Iresha Picot, MOVE Supporter


Never forget 1985! Now is the time to free the MOVE 9!

PHILADELPHIA

Friday May 13


Watch “August 8, 1978” to understand the unjust incarceration of the MOVE 9 and how the battle for their release lead to the bombing of MOVE in 1985.

6:00 - 9:00 pm
L-13 Gladfelter Hall, Temple University
1115 W. Berks Street, Philadelphia

Saturday May 14

Join us for a rally
at Broad & Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
12:00 - 3:00 pm


From Ramona Africa:

To this day no official has been held accountable for the murder of our MOVE family which the whole world witnessed. Meanwhile,the MOVE 9 still sit in prison 33 years after being falsely accused of a murder officials know they didn't commit and nobody can say they saw anyone of them commit. In fact, at the end of the trial the trial judge stated publicly that he didn't have the faintest idea who killed Officer Ramp on August 8,1978. Officials can't give us back our family that they murdered on May 13th 26 years ago but they can give us back our innocent family members that they have behind their prison walls despite their innocence.

Ona MOVE!
LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA!




LONDON

Friday 13 May

MOVE Demo Outside London US Embassy
5:00 - 7:00 pm

From Emma Lewis:

Demonstrate Outside the US Embassy
Grosvenor Square, London

For Justice for the MOVE family

Murdered by the criminal US state by bombing their commune and killing 11 people including five children

CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF OUR MARTYRS

Down with US Imperialism
Justice for the MOVE 9

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS
FREE MUMIA