Prisoners speak out about the assassination of Hugo Pinell

Guards seemed to be in a celebratory frame of mind

by Paul Sangu Jones

Written “B.A. (Black August) 12, 2015” – By now the world should know that Hugo “Yogi” Pinell was stabbed to death in New Folsom. The guards seemed to be in a celebratory frame of mind.

At 3:15 p.m., a female guard got on the intercom and instructed the prisoners in C building, “Look at Channel 3,” an NBC affiliate. They had “breaking news” about a deadly prison riot in B facility on the air.

They had a helicopter on the scene. Their cameras seemed to be focused on the canteen area – looked like it was taped off with red tape.

I suspect that he was targeted.

By now the world should know that Hugo “Yogi” Pinell was stabbed to death in New Folsom. The guards seemed to be in a celebratory frame of mind. I suspect that he was targeted.

Send our brother some love and light: Paul Sangu Jones, B-26077, CSP Sacramento C7-121, P.O. Box 290066, Represa CA 95671

Since prisoncrats could not break him, they set him up

by Brian Keith Barnett

Written Aug. 15, 2015 – On Aug. 12, 2015, I was listening to the California Report on NPR-PBS out of Calexico FM 97.7, on which it was reported that Hugo “Yogi” Pinell was stabbed in a riot that was said to have involved over 100 prisoners. The stabbing, according to the California Report, was gang retaliation, which does not make any sense.

More likely it was another instance in which an agent provocateur was promised some drugs or a cell phone to create a situation in which Yogi would be attacked, since the obvious fact is that the only people who would want Yogi murdered are correctional staff who resent the fact that Yogi was one of the San Quentin 6.

The only people who would want Yogi murdered are correctional staff who resent the fact that Yogi was one of the San Quentin 6.

It is obvious that since prisoncrats could not break him by locking him down for 30 years (actually, 50 years in prison, 45-46 in solitary – ed.), they set him up. And I note that CDCR spokeswoman Terry Thornton was very quick to claim that the incident was gang related, when anyone with common sense knows that Yogi was not into petty tribalism.

Anyone with common sense knows that Yogi was not into petty tribalism.

Then the said spokeswoman claimed that Yogi supposedly had some sort of safety concerns, which, if any, were the malevolence of correctional staff. In my own opinion, based upon all that prisoncrats have sought to put him through and failed to turn him, it’s only obvious.

Send our brother some love and light: Brian Keith Barnett, AS-7182, Calipatria SP A2-104L, P.O. Box 5001, Calipatria CA 92233.

Hugo Pinell was locked up longer than any other SHU prisoner

by John Clutchette, Soledad Brother

Written Aug. 17, 2015 – If you saw the news about the riot at Folsom Prison, then you heard that Yogi, Hugo Pinell, one of the San Quentin 6, was murdered.

Mr. (Keith) Wattley (my lawyer) was his attorney also, instrumental in getting him released from the SHU. He had been locked up since 1968, longer than any other SHU prisoner.

If you saw the news about the riot at Folsom Prison, then you heard that Yogi, Hugo Pinell, one of the San Quentin 6, was murdered.

He was the only San Quentin 6 member who never got out. Fleeta Drumgo was killed in Oakland.

Yogi was Nicaraguan, but he aligned himself with the Black revolutionary struggle that existed during that time. He was a good brother.

Send our brother some love and light: John Clutchette, C-23857, CSP Solano B7-139L, P.O. Box 4000, Vacaville CA 95696

This is a revolutionary time; the pig is in a panic as prisoners show humanity, restraint and intelligence

by Ikemba Mutulu

I’d like to offer my condolences to the Pinell family and all the supporters of Hugo Pinell mourning the loss of this beautiful brotha, the same as I. There is no surprise or shock at the ignorance which took this revolutionary man’s life, though I am deeply saddened and disgusted that some clowns would allow themselves to be paid by these pigs to murder an elderly man who gave so much of his life, his blood and soul to the struggle for all oppressed peoples.

At the same time, I want to offer my humble word and insights to those in position. I know tensions are high.

The pig wants chaos. The pig wants you to lose your head so he can more easily argue for the enslavement and ultimate destruction of your body. Protect your body.

Hugo-Pinell-SQ-6-228x300, Prisoners speak out about the assassination of Hugo Pinell, Abolition Now!
Though Hugo “Yogi” Pinell had his freedom stolen from him 50 years ago and endured incessant torture in solitary confinement for 45-46 years, he used the last several decades of that time, as he said, growing and evolving to become the New Man. He embodied the spirit of the California Prison Movement. May his spirit guide us to the goal of unbreakable solidarity among prisoners and ultimately prison abolition.

The pig is in a state of panic. Who else would seek to assassinate an elderly man? They see the revolutionary work you are doing to cease Black and Brown hostilities, expressing your humanity in the peaceful, tactical demands for release from the torture chambers at Pelican Bay, Corcoran, Tehachapi etc.

Their atrocities are being exposed in mass out in the free world. This is a revolutionary time, and the pig is in a panic.

Please understand that you have reached a level of struggle beyond what is readily seen. And you have done this by showing your humanity, restraint and intelligence, capturing the hearts and minds of the people.

On the verge of victory, the pig will employ all manner of Machiavellian tactics in attempts to manipulate you. Remember COINTELPRO and the red and blue revolution – all the dirty shit them pigs did to kill the truce.

The pig will try to make you believe victory is impossible. But human beings have been doing the impossible since the beginning.

The pig will try to make you believe you’ve already won everything you could possibly hope to gain. But anything short of complete freedom for all oppressed peoples and self-determination over our own lives is unacceptable.

And finally, in complete desperation, the pig will feign surrender. Anything to get you to stop organizing, slow down or hesitate just long enough to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

So please, all of you beautiful brothas and sistas, comrades and soujahs, do not be distracted. Do not give up your humanity in a fit of emotion. It’s in our humanity that we’ve gained ground – ending hostilities, working and organizing together.

The pig and his flunkies will react in desperation, and we know their bag is filled with dirty tricks. Never forget, true enough, in a fair fight they have no win. But our true strength is in our humanity; the thinking man shall prevail.

Official identity withheld

These are letters recently received from the writers by the Bay View.