Tag: Black Panther Party

The call to act is urgent to free Mumia Abu Jamal, Russel "Maroon" Shoatz, and all political prisoners, with sustained mass movement of collective energy to accept nothing less than unconditional compassionate release for our fellow brothers and sisters held by the U.S.

Families of U.S.-held Political Prisoners, and all prisoners, suffer their own traumas along with their caged loved ones. The carceral state systematically inflicts the pain of super oppression, often succeeding in fracturing the bonds of the family unit. The father and son Shoatz unit however, through love and commitment, has only become stronger.

MAAFA 2020 weaves ritual, honoring, spirit, drumbeat, heartbeat, veins and bone marrow in dance, joy, tears and love through the very essence of the fabric of African descendents in the infinite circle of rememberance with footthrob on Ocean Beach, absorbing the 401-year history, blood and pain of the Old Fort Comfort English Slave Trade – not forgetting 100 years prior, the slave trade brought by the Spanish.

Racism reaches its ugly tentacles into any crack available to it, as proven on multiple levels by the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the U.S. Forced to resort to technology with apps like Zoom to communicate with each other and enable some form of education for our children, it is increasingly evident that racism via “Zoombombing” against Black people has emerged nationwide.

We await release of imprisoned political leader Baba Jalil Muntaqim, hold honor for new ancestors, explore the road to reparations, bestow condemnations and congratulations on those who have earned such, reminder to Register and Vote, and wish for everyone safety and healing in the midst of capitalistic health rationing.

Socially and politically charged labels have long been used – or misused – by officials as a cover for abusing and discriminating against Black and Brown people and suppressing political views that challenge or question the status quo. This tactic is deeply imbedded in the prisons caging our community members resulting in intentionally perpetrated pain and suffering.

Lynette Gibson McElhaney, as District 3 Oakland City Council member, continues to drive a relentless and passionate laser focus on her collaborative work, which is manifesting her vision for a vibrant, safe Oakland across the community spectrum – regardless of race, age, gender or socioeconomic standing.

“We are marching in solidarity and trying to make change. My first march was on the school system. We were protesting Berkeley High school, because we don’t have enough resources for Black students,” said Shayla Avery, a 16-year-old Berkeley High senior due to graduate this upcoming school year.

As we prepare for “Mario Woods Remembrance Day,” I had the opportunity to interview iconic Elaine Brown, former leader of the Black Panther Party. Join us to hear her and others speak Wednesday, July 22, 4:30-7:00 p.m., at Third & Fitzgerald, SF.

Today, June 24, the Oakland School Board will be voting on the George Floyd Resolution calling for police-free schools in the Oakland Unified School District by eliminating the Oakland School Police Department. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. Watch it live at https://www.ousd.org/Page/17023, and make comments at https://ousd.granicusideas.com/meetings/1997-board-of-education-on-2020-06-24-4-00-pm/agenda_items.

The Bay View is serializing the introduction to “Annotated Tears, Vol. 2,” by Talib Williams, who is currently incarcerated in Soledad, California, and has written the history of that storied place. In the spirit of Sankofa, we learn the past to build the future. Part 2 begins with the continuation of a letter written by George Jackson to his lawyer, Kay Stender, from his book, “Soledad Brother.”

Sacred prayers to everyone sacrificing and organizing to serve those who have lost their jobs, sources of income and housing. And, to those who have tested positive for the covid-19 virus, suffered from other illnesses, had loved ones become ill or, worse, suffered the ultimate tragedy of death from the corporate-state violence of impoverishment, torturous military-police and white racist terrorism. Asé.

Jalil Muntaqim, world renowned for peace and justice initiatives over 49 years in prison, fights for his life, his parole-eligible sentence threatening to become a death sentence. On April 27, Judge Schick granted his release. But New York Attorney General Letitia James appealed the judge’s decision, preventing Jalil’s release.

“American prisons are death traps. They are the places with the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the world. Incarceration in the time of COVID skirts the genocidal cruelty of death by disease of the Nazis.” J. Fernandez

“I can say, first of all, we really need to take care of ourselves and stay home. Stay off the streets. Stay away from gatherings. This is really serious,” said the highly regarded visual artist Tarika Lewis, known historically as the first woman to join the Black Panther Party.

Asante Sana to the dedicated nurses, techs, housekeeper, doctors, food service and support staff at our hospitals and clinics for their extra-special care for me and all patients.

One morning we wake up and find ourselves in the middle of something that is killing people worldwide. It feels so strange, so unbelievable. Many of us are in shock, angry and depressed.

We can’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone to save us. We need to link arms and remember that all we have is each other, and we’d better get organized to take housing, to take land, to take back a future for ourselves and our children.

We are writing in support of Mr. Romaine Fitzgerald’s (B-27527) petition for release. He is now 70 years old and has been incarcerated for over 50 years. He has demonstrated deep remorse for his actions and is no longer the person that he was a half a century ago. In the interest of justice, I entreat you to grant his release.

We call on you again to organize the communities from Aug. 21 – Sept. 9, 2020. In the spirit of Attica, will you be in the fight to dismantle the prison industrial slave complex by pushing agendas that will shut down jails and prisons like Rikers Island or Attica?