This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
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THE MAOIST INTERNATIONALIST MOVEMENT
MIM Notes 100!
May 1995
Electronic Edition
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Get MIM Notes 100 from the Maoist Internationalist
Movement (MIM), and get the latest in Maoist news
and analysis - put a revolutionary weapon in your
hands.
This issue features reports on police repression
and mass resistance from the CIA to state
execution to youth repression, as well as news
from Turkey, Ireland, Palestine and Peru. Plus
culture reviews, news, and MIM's monthly prison
news from prisons and prisoners, Under Lock & Key.
MIM Notes speaks to and from the viewpoint of the
world's oppressed majority, and against the
imperialist-patriarchy. Pick it up and wield it in
the service of the people. Suppor it, struggle
with it and write for it.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
*+*+*+*+* Send $150 for your full *+*+*+*+*
*+*+*+*+* set of MIM Notes 1 to 100 *+*+*+*+*
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
MIM Notes 100! includes:
CONTENTS:
1. COPS TARGET YOUTH IN W. MASS.
2. CIA ASSASSINATIONS EXPOSED - SOMETIMES
3. AMERIKAN KNOWLEDGE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
4. LETTERS TO MIM NOTES
5. RAIL IS LED BY A MAOIST PARTY
6. DEFEND MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
7. TURKEY ATTACKS S. KURDISTAN; PKK FIGHTS BACK
8. IRISH GUERRILLA ARMY RECEIVES SETBACK
9. PALESTINIANS TO FOREIGNERS: AND STAY OUT!
10. PSEUDO-ELECTIONS IN PERU: FUJIFRAUD
11. 25 YEARS AGO: STUDENT ACTIVISM (not in this
edition)
12. UCLA ACTIVISTS DEFEND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
13. KWAME TOURE CALLS BLACK STUDENTS TO ORGANIZE
14. BLACK/WHITE TV GAP
15. FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST, INDEPENDENT POWER
16. NO REST FOR WICKED: CIA WON'T LEAVE UCLA ALONE
17. RALLY FOR WOMEN'S LIVES FORGETS MOST WOMEN
18. PORNOGRAPHY INDUSTRY BOOMS
19. PUERTO RICAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS REMEMBERED
20. NATIONAL PHONE-IN CAMPAIGN TO FLORENCE PRISON
21. MOBIL OIL PROMOTES SUPERSTITION, INDIVIDUALISM
22. DRUG USE SPREADS IN REVISIONIST CHINA
23. REVIEW: STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE
24. REVIEW: SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE
25. UNDER LOCK & KEY
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* * *
COPS TARGET YOUTH IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
In response to an increase in gang-related
violence in the past month, state and local police
departments in Western Massachusetts are poised to
receive almost two million dollars for new anti-
gang efforts. At the end of February, three young
men were killed in Springfield, MA. Attributed to
gangs and gang violence, their deaths are being
used by city and state officials as an excuse to
shore up the already heavily armed pigs.
New, draconian measures that would be funded with
the proposed money include a "gang suppression
unit" which will implement a new "... 'stop and
frisk' policy, meaning that information the police
gather on gang members and suspected illegal
activity will be used as 'reasonable suspicion' to
allow officers to frisk suspects." There are also
calls to make membership in a gang illegal. Since
the February murders, police have arrested about
100 suspected gang members, and these new measures
threaten to allow officers to randomly search
young Blacks, Latinos and Latinas who look
"suspicious."
Instead of attacking the root of the problems
which compel oppressed youth to organize, namely a
system which requires that some people live in
poverty while others dwell in excessive wealth,
the state favors armed suppression. And with the
help of its lackeys in the bourgeois media, the
state has been able to generate support among some
Black and Latino residents of Springfield for more
cops. But people who seek an end to gang violence
in their communities cannot trust the cops, whose
job it is to protect private property and enforce
national oppression. The solution lies in
destroying imperialism - the system ultimately
responsible for the violence on Amerikkka's inner
city streets....
COPS OF ALL STRIPES TARGET
WESTERN MASS GANGS, YOUTH
by a member of the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist
League (RAIL)
Western Massachusetts has seen an increase in
violence associated with gangs in the past month.
In a three day period from February 25-28, three
young men were killed and several more injured.
All killings took place in Springfield, MA. The
dead end solution being proposed is more pigs.
On February 25, Miguel A. Rivas, a 19-year-old
from Holyoke, MA was shot and killed in a Pizzeria
in Springfield's North End. On February 27, Daniel
J. Brassil, 16 of Springfield was shot and killed
on his front porch on Wilber Street - it is
speculated that he was mistaken for a gang member.
Carlos D. Falcon, 18 of Springfield was shot dead
in a KFC parking lot; no proof that this killing
was gang related has been found.(1) Another youth,
16-year-old Mardio Washington of Springfield,
survived a shot fired from a gun held to his cheek
at a rap concert in Holyoke. Several other youths
have been injured.(2) The cops estimate that gang
membership in the region has grown from 50 members
to 2,000.(3)
In response to the violence, there has been a call
from segments of the communities, pigs and city
and state officials alike, for more money to be
spent on local and state pig presence. The total
funds being considered add up to $1.2 million for
state police, District Attorney William Bennet's
office, and four local police departments
(Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and West
Springfield). The breakdown of figures includes
$398,000 for Springfield, $230,805 for state
police, $149,500 for Bennett's office, $4,300 for
probation officers, $184,300 for Holyoke, $132,678
for Chicopee, and $107,571 for West Springfield.
Most of this money will go to overtime for pigs
"familiar with" gang operations. In addition,
$600,000 in state grants has been approved for
immediate use.(3)
Springfield's $398,000 will go to fund a newly
formed "gang suppression unit" which will
implement a new "... 'stop and frisk' policy,
meaning that information police gather on gang
members and suspected illegal activity will be
used as 'reasonable suspicion' to allow officers
to frisk suspects."(4) This ambiguous statement
might be interpreted as allowing officers to
randomly search young Blacks, Latinos and Latinas
who look "suspicious". In the first six days of
the gang suppression unit, police have arrested
around 100 suspected gang members.(6) Laws which
want to make membership in a criminal gang itself
illegal are also being considered. Why people join
gangs or what gangs do is not the issue to the
lawmakers, rather they want to target the
oppressed *merely for being organized.*
The recent rise in violence has roused both
officials and local residents who fear these type
of incidents will become more and more common. Yet
one must ask the question why the $1.8 million
dollars being put into the hands of the cops would
never be given to these communities to create jobs
for youth or to give educational support. The
irony is even apparent from within a reformist
discourse. It's not just that the money could be
better spent; it's that increasing the cops will
only make life worse for the Latinos and Blacks of
Holyoke and Springfield.
GANGS AN EXTENSION OF CAPITALIST SOCIETY
In discussing gangs and gang violence, let's not
forget that the most powerful and violent gang of
all - the U.S. government and its protection
agencies - is the same entity doing the labeling
of who is a "gang" and who is not. It might be
said that the "Amerikkka gang" serves as a model
for the smaller and less powerful, less violent
street gangs. The similarities are obvious; both
defend the territory they claim as their own -
often ruthlessly, both participate in the illegal
drug and weapons market as a means of making a
profit (and for the street gangs, protecting
themselves), and both have little regard for the
life of an enemy. The difference is street gangs
and its members often have no other options, the
government engages in these activities as a matter
of policy to ensure hegemonic control over the
Third World and also as a leisure time profit
venture. In addition, the government is allowed to
continue.
The irony is that the government officials are
fighting against an outbreak which represents a
logical extension of U.S. settler society - values
and all. Power, violence, and greed are all the
Amerikan way. Thus it makes sense that instead of
attacking the root of the problem, officials will
only favor armed suppression of the youths. To
truly address the problem one must address the
nature of society as a whole and attack the model
of the street gangs - the U.S. government and
military.
Any decrease in gang activity due to mass arrests
and/or increased pig presence will only
temporarily quiet the problem and perhaps push the
gangs to less policed territory (some argue that
the increase in Western Massachusetts is due to a
crackdown on gang activity in Hartford and New
Haven, CT). Any real solution to street violence
and crime must include the abolition of the system
which requires that some people live in poverty
while others dwell in disgusting, excessive wealth
and then blame the poor for not trying hard
enough.
The prevalence of power inequalities are a
necessary condition for capitalist/imperialist
society. The solution is about ending this
oppressive system which gets angry when the weak
adopt its own methods too effectively. For those
who seek a more immediate solution to social
problems such as gang violence, which effects
their communities, tactical short term goals
should be implemented into the larger strategy of
destroying the system. However, a community will
lose by making increased pig patrols a priority.
Again and again pigs and the "justice" system have
been proven an enemy to oppressed nationalities.
The pigs' response to gangs in Western
Massachusetts is really clear as they all fight
each other to get the largest share of cash to go
out and fight the gangs. But there has also been a
diversity of response from Black and Latino
residents in Springfield and Holyoke. A
substantial number desire an end to the most
visible violence (the gangs, not the police) and
are siding with the cops against the gangs. This
is to be expected for a number of reasons,
including the cozy relationship between the pigs
and the media.
One community based social justice organization
has been clear to distance itself from the
reactionary blame-the-gangs movement: saying that
they do not oppose the gangs and instead call for
an analysis of the oppressive system and why
people join gangs.
Most missing from the debate is the words of the
gangs and their supporters themselves. After all,
can the gangs really trust the media to not use a
press conference as a cop trap, or to print their
words accurately? The gangs and their supporters
are wise to stay out of the mainstream spotlight
on this issue and instead should use other means
to build public opinion in their defense. This is
yet another reason why the oppressed need their
own media. Gang members and others are encouraged
to write for MIM Notes, Notas Rojas and here in
Massachusetts, MASS RAIL, the newsletter of the
Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League.
A booklet compiled by Escuela Popular Nortena
describes "the relation in Latino communities
between gangs and economics", and addresses the
implications of oppressed communities siding with
the cops against gangs quite accurately: "When we
declare a war on gangs, we are the tools of our
own extermination."(5)
NOTES:
1. Springfield Union News 3/12/95 p. 1.
2. Springfield Union News 3/14/95, p. 4.
3. Springfield Union News 3/16/95, p. 18.
4. Springfield Union News 3/1/95, p. 14.
5. "Gangs and the Barrio", Escuela Popular
Nortena; Cuaderno De Trabajo #3.
6. Springfield Union News 3/9/95, p. 1.
* * *
CIA ASSASSINATIONS EXPOSED - SOMETIMES
Democrats in Congress and President Clinton
recently exposed the CIA role in the killing of
some Guatemalans, including Efrain Bamaca
Velazquez, a guerrilla leader and the husband of
U.S. lawyer Jennifer Harbury.
In a power-play against past CIA leaders, "Rep.
Robert G. Torricelli (D-N.J.), a member of the
House Intelligence Committee, said in an angry
letter to President Clinton that the CIA knew
about the killings for years, but the
Administration deliberately misled the leftist
leader's American wife as well as members of
Congress."
After covering up tens of thousands of murders for
decades in Guatemala's war, the most brutal in
Central America during the 1970s and 1980s, the
media quickly followed suit, giving the story all
kinds of press. Clinton ordered an investigation.
"Torricelli ... demanded that Clinton fire any
government officials with knowledge of the
killings. ... The White House denied any cover-up,
saying it learned the details of the deaths only
this year and \ that it moved quickly to inform
Jennifer Harbury, the U.S. lawyer who was married
to Guatemalan guerrilla leader."(1)
On March 12, Harbury spoke to a crowd of several
hundred people in Lafayette Park, across the
street from the White House, publicizing her
hunger strike on behalf of her disappeared husband
to get his case, and the many others like it,
investigated. The rally was organized by the
Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA.
Harbury and her backers urged the U.S. government
to "take steps to pressure the Guatemalan
government to resolve the case," and called for
prosecution of human rights "violators" that
remain "one of the greatest barriers to a durable
and just peace in Guatemala." They also protested
"U.S. complicity" in the "tens of thousands of
killings and human rights violations ... in recent
decades" in Guatemala.(2)
To their credit, the rally's endorsers did not
paint Harbury's husband's case as an isolated
incident, the way most of the media did. But in
calling for the U.S. to "pressure" Guatemala, and
calling out U.S. "complicity" they papered over
the dominant role of Amerikan imperialism in the
Guatemalan "civil" war.(2) The U.S. government led
the Guatemalan military throughout the war,
trained the death squads and funded the military,
which remained essentially under its control. The
call for investigations and prosecutions simply
reinforces the game of good cop/bad cop
perpetrated by Clinton.
If you are a Guatemalan killed by a Guatemalan CIA
agent, and your spouse is an Amerikan professional
who is willing to starve herself on your behalf,
you can expect a minority faction of the U.S.
government to admit complicity only three years
down the line. Of course, if you are a Guatemalan
killed by a Guatemalan CIA agent, and you do not
have an Amerikan spouse, you're shit out of luck.
NOTES:
1. Los Angeles Times 3/23/95, p. A7.
2. "Break the Wall of Impunity in Guatemala!"
Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA flyer,
3/12/95.
* * *
UNWITTING SELF-EXPOSURE:
U.S. KNOWLEDGE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Although most of the U.S. public belongs to
classes allied with imperialism, it is also true
that the capitalist media fosters the usual
ignorance and mythology that contribute to false
consciousness. At the end of February, The New
York Times reported on the U.S. public's knowledge
of U.S. foreign aid. As it turns out, the U.S.
public knows very little.
In a survey of 801 U.S. citizens, the mid-point
guess of what percentage of the U.S. government
budget goes to foreign aid was 15%. The actual
figure is 1%. Another poll conducted in 1993
showed that the public thought it was more like
20%.
With that view, the public also thinks foreign aid
should be cut, but said it should be cut to about
5% of the federal budget, which in reality is five
times more than it is now. The labor-aristocracy
dominated public has a self-satisfied and arrogant
image of itself. It imagines itself to be hard-
working and generous to numerous peoples begging
it for money.
The imperialist media such as the New York Times
fails to rid the public of this inaccurate view
because it serves the imperialists seeking an ally
in fighting the masses of the Third World. This
view only becomes a nuisance to the main faction
of imperialists when people such as Ross Perot and
Patrick Buchanan arise and give the multinational
corporations a hard time for not putting Amerika
first.
In actuality, much of foreign aid is U.S. military
aid to its puppets serving U.S. interests. Even
the food aid is a form of pork-barrel spending for
U.S. agricultural corporations with many
destructive consequences detailed in books such as
*How the Other Half Dies* by Susan George.
The polls remind MIM of polls in the 1980s that
showed that fewer than 1 in 10 U.S. residents knew
which side the United States supported with
military aid in the civil wars in El Salvador and
Nicaragua. That level of ignorance is partly the
class interests of the labor aristocracy to leave
foreign affairs to the imperialists in exchange
for a bourgeois lifestyle, but it is also partly
the failure of the major media outlets to inform
the people in a beneficial way.
NOTE: New York Times 2/27/95, p. A6.
* * *
LETTERS TO MIM NOTES
CHALLENGING MIM ON WELFARE
To the Editor,
In your January issue of MIM Notes, you state
that, "MIM does not fear the Republican efforts to
cut welfare and hence MIM does not urge votes for
Democrats." You also mentions that "if the
Republicans cut welfare, the masses will engage in
more revolutionary struggle." My first response to
you is an instinctual one ... wouldn't it be nice
if your words could feed, house and clothe all my
friends who are on welfare. Your comments show me
that you're a bunch of ineffectual intellectuals,
and it is brilliant ideas like yours that
destroyed the relevance of the Left in this
country years ago. [...]
As far as "fearing" cuts to welfare are concerned,
I suggest that you better be afraid. Most people
are going to do what it takes to survive; they
aren't going to wait for revolution, they are
going to feed themselves, and their families, any
way they can. (Eating is a pressing need for most
people.) Unless Maoists are somehow immune to
crime, then I suggest that you, like the rest of
us, will be exposed to an increase in criminal
activity. This is something I don't look forward
to because, like most people, I want to be safe
and not become a victim of crime. Nor should
people have to be backed into a corner, where
crime becomes a viable option in order to survive,
for any reason. I would like to know, based on the
above mentioned quotes, what makes you any
different than the Republicans?
I know I am talking to a wall, but perhaps you
could stop babbling and suggest something concrete
like: civil disobedience; boycotts; student
strikes; infiltrating right wing political and
corporate organizations; starting your own radio
stations in order to counter the right wing radio
talk shows; throwing pies at the faces of
politicians at press conferences or while they are
talking in front of a TV camera. I mean, the list
could go on and on. Who knows, it might even work!
We need to organize now to fight the Radical Right
agenda and not wait for the "revolution" to
materialize out of some mysterious vacuum.
My last point is probably my most important one.
In case you didn't know, Maoists have less than
zero power in this country. While the Left spends
most of its time fighting amongst itself, the
Right has learned from our mistakes (unfortunately
for the rest of us). I contend that the Right
deliberately wants to turn the United States into
a Third World country. By doing so they will give
the Radical Right the excuse to declare martial
law, suspend the constitution, overthrow what's
left of the government, and put into power a
"Christian" police state. I don't know about you,
but I would rather have the current system than a
"Christian" run police state and I hope you do,
too!
- an East Coast reader
MIM RESPONDS: In the opening of your letter, you
sound like a truly concerned leftist, interested
in the needs of oppressed people. However, when
you whine about how cutting welfare will increase
your (and you assert our) "victimization" by
crime, MIM would point out that the real crimes
are those committed by the imperialists against
the oppressed. We're not talking about robbing a
liquor store; we're talking about keeping people
in poverty and beating them down with pig
brutality and prison. Your focus here feeds the
Republican/Democrat agenda of one-upmanship on who
can be toughest on "crime" while imperialists
never face justice. MIM would never fear the
lesser harms that bourgeois-defined crime would
inflict.
This is not to say that MIM likes bourgeois-
defined crime, or thinks it is a good thing.
However, we recognize it as inevitable no matter
what the welfare policy is as long as Amerika
maintains its hegemony over internal colonies.
MIM's strategy is to focus on the grossest crimes,
those of the imperialists, and work toward a just
socialist society in which crime will be
eliminated.
You misunderstand the implications of saying that
"if the Republicans cut welfare, the masses will
engage in more revolutionary struggle." You assume
that we don't care whether the masses suffer. On
the contrary, MIM is devoted to the cause of
alleviating that suffering. However, we have great
confidence in the people and know that they are
fully capable of recognizing that begging the
Amerikan government to play nice will not get them
the justice self-determination will. You go on the
assumption that "the masses are asses" and cannot
gain real power, but MIM looks to the experience
of the Third World revolutionaries to back up its
argument that the oppressed can take power and
reach justice.
That you recommend using the radio is interesting.
MIM does think that propaganda work is important,
and this is why we publish a newspaper and other
literature. If FCC-control limits our access to
the radio, we are doing all we can within this
context to get the message out. Most of the other
strategies you mention have been tried before and
left inequalities in place - why should MIM get
involved in civil disobedience and get even more
of our comrades in prison? Why should we boycott
companies and plead with them for justice rather
than creating independent power?
Finally, MIM is fully aware that revolution does
not "materialize out of some mysterious vacuum"
and is not just waiting around. MIM is actively
organizing in the only way that has successfully
brought self-determination for oppressed nations:
working for communism. We reject your choices of
"'Christian' police state" versus the current
oppressive Amerika. The masses want better than
that. They will fight for better. And they will
win.
ANTI-IMPERIALIST SPEAKS OUT
Hi, I saw your flyer for "Hungry for Profit" a day
too late, but I'd like to find out more about your
group and future activities. I am a senior at X
university and I'm not exactly a communist or a
socialist or a Maoist or any other kind of -ist
except an Anti-Imperialist. Please call or write
with more info.
Thanks.
- A friend in the East
February, 1995
MIM responds: We print this letter to give people
an idea of who should be working with the
Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League (RAIL). RAIL
was formed by MIM a few months ago as an
organization for anti-imperialists who do not
consider themselves Maoists but who want to do
anti-imperialist work with an organization that
benefits from national scope and organization.
In Massachusetts RAIL put out a four-page
newspaper called MASS RAIL that focused on crime
and prisons and which included a calendar of
events for the state. RAIL is led by the Maoist
Internationalist Movement, but RAIL has the
autonomy to decide what work it wants to do and
what topics it wants to focus on. Anyone can join
or work with RAIL and there is no commitment
required or ideological agreement necessary.
If you are like this letter writer and not sure
where you fit in but are sure that you want to do
anti-imperialist work, get in touch with your
local RAIL chapter, or if one does not yet exist,
write to MIM for help forming one.
FILIPINOS WORK FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR
*** Statement of BAYAN and KARPATAN on the lifting
of the hunger strike of political prisoners,
February 12, 1995. ***
On this day, we close a chapter in the struggle
for freedom of the political prisoners, and open a
new one.
The hunger strike led by the political prisoners
of the National Bilibid Prisons is the biggest
triumph in their successive bids for freedom since
1986.
The hunger strike gained the widest support, not
only of the human rights groups and other
progressives and individuals, but also to the
general public, here and abroad. As a result, the
Ramos government was pressured to release a
significant number of political prisoners.
Favorable conditions for the release of the
remaining political prisoners were also created.
The Filipino people and the world were thereby
given notice through the hunger strike that there
are political prisoners in the Philippines, whose
existence the Ramos government tried to obscure by
asserting they were common criminals. The
government's dastardly practice of making
criminals out of political dissenters, especially
those involved in revolutionary struggle, was
exposed.
We in the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan [BAYAN] and
the Alliance for the Advancement of People's
Rights (KARAPATAN) salute the militant political
prisoners, for the gains of the struggle were
realized through their tremendous sacrifice, as
they took the initiative to decisively lead the
fight.
It was meaningful that the hunger strike was not
tied down to the legal technicality of expanding
the presidential guidelines on amnesty, and
instead it became a political issue, proving
correct the central call of the campaign:
*Free all political prisoners.*
The political prisoners were also correct in using
the peace process to press for their freedom. It
should not be underplayed that the peace talks
between the Ramos government and the National
Democratic Front gave the impetus for the two
waves of releases of political prisoners.
Our struggle for the freedom of all political
prisoners continues. Let us not forget that there
are still more than two hundred political
prisoners, and so long as arrests of political
dissenters continue, their number may not
diminish.
We in BAYAN and KARPATAN will continue to uphold
the one consistent call of the political
prisoners: Free all political prisoners in the
Philippines!
MOVE NEWS
Update #6
... Nov. 3rd I was in federal court, the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for oral
argument on my appeal of the U.S. District Court's
decision in my civil suit on the May 13th bombing
of me and my family. The lower court (Judge Louis
Pollack, specifically) decided that I had *no*
grounds to sue the government for bombing me.
Pollack ruled that it was *not* excessive force to
bomb us, he ruled that officials did what any
"reasonable" person would have done.
I appealed that ruling to the Third Circuit Court
of Appeals and oral argument was held on Nov. 3rd
before a three judge panel - judges Scalia, Lewis
and Greenberg. Their attitude was very hostile,
particularly Greenberg's. He didn't let me say
*anything*, he would only hear from my back-up
counsel and he kept saying things like the cops
were "trying to make a *lawful* arrest pursuant to
*legally* issued warrants" and all we had to do
was "come out of the house and everything would
have been avoided."
These comments are clear indications of exactly
how prejudiced these racist misfits are, because
any *fair-minded* person can clearly see that
those cops came out to Osage Ave. to *kill* MOVE
members, *not* to merely arrest us - they could
have arrested us *anytime* without bombing us.
Secondly, a "legally issued" warrant means
absolutely nothing to MOVE and should *not* be so
easily and conveniently accepted by a Jewish judge
(Greenberg) whose Jewish sisters and brothers were
also exterminated *"legally."* Hitler's S.S.
Gestapo storm troopers had all the necessary legal
paperwork to exterminate six million people, so is
Greenberg ready to accept *that*? And say that
Jews should have walked voluntarily to gas ovens,
firing squads, etc., like he's saying MOVE people
should have accepted extermination and walked
voluntarily into Goode's Gestapo gunfire - all
based on legal paperwork, a concept called legal
invented by this system to *oppress* and
criminalize resistance.
There's legal papers to establish and maintain
slavery - but does that make it respectable,
acceptable or right? There's plenty of legal
paperwork called *treaties* that this government
made with Indians, so if government is so adamant
about honoring and respecting legal paperwork,
then when is government gonna start honoring all
them legal treaties it made with Indians?
Thirdly, to say that all we had to do was "come
out of our house and everything would have been
avoided," completely ignores the fact that we were
confronted with *hundreds* of cops armed with a 50
caliber machine gun, M-60 automatic rifle, 30.06
sniper rifles *with silencers*, 9mm uzis, M-16's,
a 20mm armor-piercing anti-tank gun, explosives,
including but not limited to C-4 and a
bloodthirsty attitude. To blame MOVE for that
massacre is like an armed robber blaming the
murder of his victim *on the victim* by saying he
shouldn't have resisted, he should've given in to
the robber and he would not have gotten killed.
It's like a rapist blaming his victim for getting
beat up by saying that she should have just
submitted to the rape and she would not have
gotten beat up.
The bottom line is that this government came to
*kill* MOVE on May 13th, [1985] *not* to arrest
us, and it's obvious because we walked the
streets, sometimes alone, carrying out MOVE
activity. We could have been arrested at any time
and those judges *know* this. This three-judge
panel delayed making a decision on whether or not
to restore the issue of the bombing to my lawsuit.
The issue was taken under advisement, so we're
awaiting a decision....
We're asking people *now* to block out May 13th on
your '95 calendars and plan to attend our *Ten
Years* Since the Bombing Program. It will be here
in Philadelphia. We must *not* let the government
hallucinate that people *agree* with, *don't care*
about or have *forgotten* about the bombing and
massacre of MOVE babies, women, men and
animals....
- Ramona Africa,
Minister of Communication for the MOVE
Organization
Feb. 3, 1995.
* * *
RAIL IS LED BY A MAOIST PARTY
Dear Comrades,
Although we don't have a formal leadership
structure within X, I have assumed a leadership
role within the organization. This has been
detrimental to X's ability to recruit new members
and in allowing other members to develop their own
politics and leadership skills. Because of this
and a serious line difference based on politics,
I've decided to relinquish my leadership role
within the organization.
You will recall that when X was initiated, we
attracted a large number of youth. After a few
months, the number of participants rapidly
declined. Many reasons were suggested as to what
may have caused this decline. The most credible
reason, I believe, is expressed in the pamphlet:
"What is the Maoist Internationalist Movement?" on
pg. 15:
"All too often experienced leaders serve to
disempower new members. The intimidation of a
clique of experienced and knowledgeable leaders
drive many away after their first meeting, feeling
as though they have nothing to contribute."
MIM has a policy of not working in leadership
roles in mass organizations such as X because of
the negative effects it has on these groups. It
should be pointed out here that I am an associate
of MIM, not a member. I help circulate the
literature and ideas of MIM and increasingly look
to its political line for leadership. Obviously, I
am just beginning to comprehend MIM's political
line. MIM members have quit leadership positions
after helping to initiate mass organizations
because as expressed in the pamphlet cited above:
"It is very important for radicals and
revolutionaries to look out for incipient leaders
and to get out of their way.... MIM members have
quit leadership positions in many mass
organizations. None of the mass organizations
collapsed afterwards."
The significance of MIM's position is its
seriousness of empowering future
revolutionaries. Mass organizations are for the
use and benefit of young radicals for gaining
experience and leadership.
For me personally, I want to accept MIM's
leadership on pertinent political questions. My
political thought has changed since X's founding.
At that time I thought that organizing opposition
to imperialism was enough. But for the anti-
imperialist movement to make practical advances,
it needs the leadership of a vanguard party based
on Marxist-Leninist principles. In fact, the only
successful anti-imperialist revolutions, past or
present, were and are led by communist vanguard
parties. The significance of Maoist leadership is
the recognition that class struggle continues
*after* the revolution. This is expressed in every
edition of MIM Notes on pg. 2 as one of the three
main principles:
"1) MIM holds that after the proletariat seize
power in socialist revolution, the potentia
exists for capitalist restoration under the
leadership of a new bourgeoisie within the
communist party itself..."
This explains why many of the anti-imperialist
revolutions have reverted back to capitalism and
are now under the yoke of neo-colonialism.
Presently, the most successful anti-imperialist
revolutions are led by Maoist parties in Peru and
the Philippines. Their respective vanguard parties
have put political power into the hands of the
people in many areas of their nations. That is why
the governments of those nations spend so much
time, money and manpower attempting to crush these
revolutions. (With the help of u.s. imperialism of
course).
I've thought about this for a long time. That's
why I proposed that X affiliate with the
Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League (RAIL) which
accepts MIM's leadership. I appreciate the honesty
of X comrades who sincerely objected to this
proposal based on political principles. Likewise,
I hope you will appreciate my honesty in wanting
to relinquish my role in X to work within RAIL. It
would be more comfortable for me to continue on as
I have in X, but I am making this decision based
on politics and not on what's more comfortable or
popular.
Relinquishing the leadership role I have assumed
in X should not rule out continuing to cooperate
as co-sponsors of events, campaigns, etc. I want
to continue to work with X in the future as long
as it is understood that having accepted MIM's
leadership, I will always approach events and
campaigns from the vantage point of the Third
World proletariat. Without compromising this
perspective, I look forward to continue working
with X in the future.
In Struggle,
- A former member of X
April 2, 1995
* * *
DEFEND MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
MIM has published several articles on the case of
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a revolutionary death row inmate
facing execution at the hands of Penn. Gov. Thomas
Ridge.
After receiving criticism from activists working
to defend Mumia's life, we want to clarify that we
unequivocally support all demands for Mumia's
release and/or a stay of execution. He is a true
friend of the people and his life and work are of
great value. His case is also a potent example of
the worst political persecution that Amerika
foists upon those who would lead the oppressed
nations to their liberation.
We also believe that in imperialist society
"crime" is defined to meet the needs of the
oppressors, and thus the prisons are jammed with
political prisoners. They are not all (yet!)
revolutionary leaders such as Mumia, but our years
of prison organizing demonstrate conclusively that
prisoners of Amerika's gulags are a powerful force
for revolutionary leadership. We want to clarify
that our resolve in defense of Mumia is complete,
but we stand by our position that all prisoners
are political prisoners and we will not compromise
that correct position.
HERE'S HOW TO WORK DIRECTLY TO HELP
DEFEND MUMIA ABU-JAMAL:
Contribute to: Black United Fund/Mumia Abu-Jamal
Accounts, 419 South 15th St., Philadelphia, PA
19146 - (215) 732-9266
Join the emergency response network. (215) 476-
8812. Leave phone numbers, fax numbers & e-mail
addresses for updates and info on what to do now
and what to do if/when the warrant is signed and
daily activities planned *now* and if/when that
occurs.
Write, call or fax: Governor Thomas Ridge, Main
Capital Bldg., Room 225, Harrisburg, PA 17120 -
(717) 783-1198; fax (717) 783-1396 and demand
freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Subscribe to The Jamal Journal, P.O. Box 19709,
Philadelphia, PA 19143 and/or take out an ad. Call
(215) 476-8812 for rates.
E-mail Mumia at Mumia@aol.com for questions and to
show support.
Order Mumia's soon-to-be-released book of essays
"Live From Death Row," or cassette from Equal
Justice USA, P.O. Box 5206, Hyattsville, MD 20782
-Tel: 301-699-0042/Fax: 301-864-2182. All proceeds
go to the MAJ Defense Fund.
* * *
TURKEY ATTACKS SOUTH KURDISTAN;
PKK FIGHTS BACK
On March 20, more than 50,000 Turkish troops
invaded South Kurdistan (northern Iraq on most
maps) in a desperate attempt to strike at the
Kurdish national liberation movement. The troops
have principally targeted the civilian population,
bombing and forcibly evacuating villages -
sometimes taking the inhabitants back to camps in
Turkey. Although the United States and the United
Nations have cautioned Turkey against "excesses,"
both have given support to the invasion in word
and deed.
GUERRILLAS OUTMANEUVER TURKISH ARMY
The invasion did not surprise guerrillas led by
the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)(1), who had
been observing Turkish troop movements in the
area. The Turkish government claims to be having
great success with the operation, but the
guerrillas say that the invading Turkish forces
have suffered heavy losses because they are
unfamiliar with the terrain and they cannot cope
with the guerrillas' hit and run tactics. The
guerrillas' mobility has also reduced the
effectiveness of Turkish ground-support
aircraft.(2)
A press release from the People's Liberation army
of Kurdistan (ARGK) says: "Unlike the 'good' news
which is emanating from Ankara, the Turkish
soldiers are unable to fight a guerrilla war. Many
of the soldiers are displaying clumsy behaviour.
They are still doing what they are best at:
killing Kurdish civilians and telling the world
that these are 'terrorists.'"(3) The Turkish Army
claims to have killed over 1800 guerrillas; the
ARGK says less than 20 guerrillas have died in the
struggle so far.(4)
The Turkish army has been unable to defeat the
guerrillas directly, and has adopted the strategy
of "draining the pool to kill the fish" - that is,
attacking the civilian population and destroying
natural resources in order to remove the
guerrillas' support. (See MIM Notes 95, December
1994, for a report on Turkey's infamous "Operation
Rome.") The Turkish army has burned over
30,000,000 acres of forest and destroyed over
2,000 villages in the past several years.(5)
U.S. COMPLICITY
The United States and the United Nations gave
their explicit Ok to Turkey's invasion of northern
Iraq. U.N. planes, which flew every day before the
invasion, were grounded in order to get out of the
way of the Turkish air force.
The United States has been directly involved in
northern Iraq since the Gulf War - ostensibly to
ensure the rights of the Kurds who live there. But
it has merely wagged its finger at its Turkish
ally for implementing genocide. The U.S. fully
supports Turkey's war against the "terrorist" PKK.
It gave its support to the recent invasion as long
as the invasion was focused only on the PKK -
knowing full well that the Turkish army attacks
the PKK by attacking civilians.
Abdullah Ocolan, General Secretary of the PKK,
recently released the following statement: "We
want to emphasize that the United States
government is secretly supporting this massacre by
the fascist Turkish government. We want the United
States government to withdraw its support from
this dirty war and provide opportunities for a
political solution to this problem. It is
incumbent on the part of the mass media to bring
out the truth behind these developments. These are
the facts; the news that is emanating from the
Turkish army does not dovetail with our
observations. The occupation forces have not
targeted our areas. The members of the Turkish
armed forces have entered Zaxo, a city of
civilians and Kurdish peshmergas. They have also
surrounded the camps of Kurds who had fled Turkish
state terror back in Turkey. These people are
being terrorized. Those who are saying 'the
operation is limited in scope and will not harm
civilians' are misleading. These are double
standards."(6)
The U.S. has mouthed pretty phrases about
protecting the Kurds in northern Iraq for some
time (e.g. "Operation Provide Hope," "Operation
Provide Comfort," etc.) while winking at Turkey's
genocide of the Kurds living within its borders.
The U.S. only cares for the Kurdish people when
they are available for use as political pawns.
"LONG-TERM GUERRILLA WAR" ADVANCES
The ARGK currently controls 70-80% of North
Kurdistan.(7) In March, the European
representative of the National Liberation Front of
Kurdistan (ERNK) said that "the war being waged in
Kurdistan has reached the stage of the seizure of
power."(8) Turkish fascists and Amerikan
imperialists make a lot of hollow noise about the
PKK terrorizing people into following them, but
MIM sees that the PKK-guerrillas' tactics depend
on the active support of the people.
The PKK has made it explicitly clear which
individuals are military targets: "to end any
doubt, the PKK regards the following groups as
part of the Turkish security forces and,
therefore, legitimate targets for attacks:
a. members of the Turkish armed forces;
b. members of the Turkish contra-guerrillas;
c. members of the Turkish Intelligence Service
(MIT);
d. members of the Turkish gendarmerie;
e. village guards. The PKK does not regard
civil servants as members of the security
forces, unless they come within one of the
above categories."(9) The PKK recently
offered an amnesty to village guards
(villagers impressed by the Turkish army to
fight the PKK), asking that they lay down
their arms and refuse to fight.(10)
The PKK's strategy of "long-term guerrilla war"
seems to have much in common with Mao's
"protracted People's War." The PKK's strategy
emphasizes self-reliance and fighting winnable
battles (using hit-and-run tactics, for example).
More importantly, PKK-guerrillas spend much of
their time studying and teaching politics, and
undertaking painstaking mass work.
After anti-Turkey, pro-guerrilla demonstrations
broke out in South Kurdistan, a guerrilla noted:
"This is exactly what we wanted to happen, to win
the hearts and support of the Kurds of South
Kurdistan. What we wanted to do was taking us
time, but the Turkish invasion acting like a
catalyst, proved to our compatriots that salvation
was through armed struggle and that what we
offered surpassed other alternatives."(11)
NOTES:
1. The PKK describes itself as a Marxist-Leninist
organization working for "real socialism" and
is often described as "Stalinist" by the
bourgeois press. Frankly, MIM does not have
enough information to know exactly what the
PKK's line on crucial questions of state power
is. If you have access to PKK theoretical
documents, please contact us.
2. Kurdish News, the Kurdistan Committee of
Canada, 4/30/95.
3. Kurdish News, 3/30/95.
4. Kurdish News, 3/30/95.
5. Kurdish News, 3/15/95.
6. Kurdish News, 3/30/95.
7. Kurd-A News Agency, 10/8/94.
8. Kurd-A News Agency, 3/10/95.
9. Kurdish News, 3/30/95.
10. Kurd-A news Agency, 3/3/95.
11. Kurd-A News Agency, 3/13/95.
* * *
IRISH GUERRILLA ARMY RECEIVES SETBACK
On April 4, the Chief of Staff of the Irish
National Liberation Army (INLA) was arrested along
with three comrades by armed Gardai (Southern
Irish police) near Balbriggan, County Dublin. The
operation was carried out by crack members of an
emergency response unit, using stun grenades to
stop two cars carrying the men towards Belfast, in
the occupied six counties. The cars were found to
be carrying a total of ten weapons, mostly
handguns. Detectives were allegedly acting on a
tip-off from an unknown quarter. The four were
detained in Bridewell Garda station in Dublin
city, capital of the colonial Southern Irish
Republic.
The INLA - unlike the IRA and British State backed
loyalist paramilitaries - has never called a
ceasefire. Its line has been not to endanger the
current peace process. The fact that it has
continued to operate on a war footing however may
be seen as a pointer to its analysis of the
situation.
While the IRA and Sinn Fein have in recent times
claimed to follow a socialist programme, the INLA
was genuinely under direct control of its
political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist
Party (IRSP) - effectively, the Party controlling
the gun. With the IRA, the control was reversed.
The War with the British State apparatus and its
proxies, together with a vicious internal feud
towards the end of the 1980s led to the
destruction of the IRSP and the near destruction
of its armed wing.
At the time of this writing, the Gardai was
officially refusing to comment on the arrests.
However according to the Irish Daily Mirror, a
source had claimed that "these men were about to
do something that might jeopardize the whole
Northern Ireland peace process and that's why
they've been arrested in such dramatic fashion."
- a friend in Ireland
NOTE: Daily Mirror, Ireland, 4/5/95.
* * *
PALESTINIANS TO FOREIGNERS: AND STAY OUT!
Everyone from "left" to "right" of the Amerikan
political spectrum condemns the "terrorist"
attacks by Palestinian guerrillas on Israeli
targets in Palestine. So it's worth reminding
people: All seven Israelis killed in the April 9
car bombings in Gaza were soldiers, members of an
occupation army on foreign soil. They were
legitimate military targets.
The Amerikan who died, Alisa Flatow, was a college
student vacationing in Gaza, on her way to a
Jewish-settler beach resort. Members of oppressor
nations have no "right" to vacation in oppressed-
nation territory without the consent of the host
nation. She was as "innocent" as any other
colonial tourist or voyeur ever killed by
"natives" in history.
- MC12
NOTES: New York Times 4/11/95.
* * *
PSEUDO-ELECTIONS IN PERU:
MORE FRAUD FROM FUJIMORI
The people of Peru know that they cannot trust the
electoral credentials of a dictator that disbanded
congress three years ago to seize supreme power,
and the elections in April further justified this
distrust. Even conservative sources concede that
the elections were "marred" by widespread fraud:
vote tampering schemes by Fujimori's coalition
officials were discovered, a dozen people in
Huancuo fraudulently filled out vote-tally sheets
representing thousands of votes, and so on.
What the bourgeois press does not disclose, of
course, is that the people of Peru have an
alternative to the electoral game of picking their
imperialist puppets.
The Communist Party of Peru maintains strategic
equilibrium and continues its offensives against
the Fujimori regime. Power comes from the barrel
of the gun, and right now Fujimori has his
Amerikan-supplied arms pointed at the people. When
the masses themselves achieve power, we will be
able to speak meaningfully of democracy in Peru.
NOTE: Wall Street Journal 4/10/95, p. A16.
* * *
UCLA ACTIVISTS RALLY TO DEFEND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
On March 16, hundreds of students marched and
rallied at the University of California at Los
Angeles (UCLA) in support of affirmative action.
The protest was called by the UCLA African Student
Union and was timed to coincide with a meeting of
the UC Regents, some of whom have followed the
lead of settler-tailing politicians like Pete
Wilson and Bob Dole in calling for the elimination
of affirmative action programs.
Affirmative action is part of Amerika's neo-
colonial way of minimizing the threat of rising
national liberation struggles among Amerika's
internal colonies. It allows small numbers of
people of oppressed nationalities to "integrate"
more easily with their national oppressors, while
the majority in the internal colonies remain
colonized.
MIM sees the protesters' defense of affirmative
action as progressive, but severely limited. Real
affirmative action requires reparations from the
oppressor nations to the internal and external
colonies and neo-colonies. And that requires that
the imperialist U.S. bourgeois dictatorship be
overthrown through armed revolution and replaced
by a dictatorship of the international
proletariat. The anti-affirmative crowd was
progressive and quick to snap up MIM fliers.
"Many carried masks made out of white paper plates
- to remind the regents, as one student explained,
'what the university used to look like.'"
And the enemy was nervous: "Nearby, 75 campus
police officers stood at the ready - about one for
every three protesters. UCLA Police Chief Clarence
R. Chapman said he had bolstered his 35-member
police force with 40 additional officers from six
other UC campuses because he had 'received
information that people may attend and attempt to
disrupt the meeting. We wanted to take
precautions.' Usually, Chapman said, seven
officers work the day shift at UCLA. Chapman
estimated that it was costing the university
$42,000 to pay, transport and house the 68 extra
officers.")
NOTE: LA Times, 3/17/95, p. B4
* * *
KWAME TOURE OF A-APRP CALLS
BLACK STUDENTS TO ORGANIZE
On March 30, hundreds of people gathered at the
University of Maryland in College Park to hear
Kwame Toure, formerly known as Stokely Carmichael,
of the All-African People's Revolutionary Party
(A-APRP). While MIM has much unity with his call
for liberation of the Black nation and ending
imperialism in Africa, MIM takes issue with his
failure to make distinctions among various groups
or to make a consistent materialist analysis.
Toure said that the first thing that
revolutionaries must do is "change the thinking of
our people." In this vein, he described the
"Columbus mentality" that considers 1492 to be the
beginning of history, both for Amerikans and for
Blacks. Countering this, he brought up the great
contributions to history that have come from
Africa such as the first nation state and the
beginning of monotheism. Toure condemned European
finger-pointing that derides Africans as
fratricidal and pointed out that Europeans have
engaged in more wars. He asserted that "Africa is
going to be the first unified continent," and
would be unified by now had the kidnapping of 300
million of Africa's finest followed by the looting
of Africa's riches not interrupted this goal. This
is all fine as an argument to right-wingers who
think that people of African descent are
genetically incapable of doing monumental things,
though MIM does not care much one way or the other
who came up with monotheism first and points out
that Europeans are murderous because they are
imperialists, not because they are from a given
part of the world.
Less attention was given to the history of Blacks
as a nation. He did point out the debt to the
First Nations who were the only ones to harbor
slaves and mentioned names like Harriet Tubman and
Huey Newton, and said vaguely that Black students
present had a great debt to their people for
fighting for their place in the university.
Criticizing those who denounce revolutionary
violence in principle, Toure pointed out that
Blacks have shed a lot of blood for reforms: "If
revolution is bloody, we've got lots of practice."
Taking non-violence as a principle, rather than a
tactic, pacifists have failed to realize that
there has been no qualitative advance for Blacks
between the L.A. riots of 1965 and those of 1992.
There was a quantitative advance, but those in
power knew that because Blacks had not made the
qualitative advance of getting organized, all they
had to do was sit out the riots.
Catering to the metropolitan DC crowd, Toure
addressed his old comrade Marion Barry, now the
mayor of Washington DC. He urged Barry to mobilize
the people, not administrate them. Actions he
advocated included blocking the streets of DC to
bring the government to a halt and filling the
jails with protesters. Barry has gone comprador,
and MIM does not think he's likely to do any such
thing. For Toure to give "advice" without
identifying Barry as an enemy is to mislead the
masses.
Toure is harshly critical of non-revolutionary
women who offer no alternative yet complain that
revolutionary organizations oppress women. He said
that women are oppressed because they are
unorganized, and that groups working against
oppression must create mechanisms to challenge
sexism within them and create an environment in
which abuse is not tolerated.
Zionism was a particular focus of the talk. Making
very clear that he makes a distinction between
Judaism the religion and Zionism the political
ideology, Toure calls the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) the "African Death League."
Toure's greatest strength was that he called on
students to organize. He spoke of the need to get
over the "super-man/rambo" concept and to work
with other people. This is a message that the
youth in Amerika, bombarded with messages
promoting individualism, need to hear again and
again.
Even while Toure kept emphasizing that the A-APRP
is a revolutionary organization "fighting for
power, not influence," he told the students that
it did not matter which organization they joined,
as long as they worked with some group working on
behalf of Blacks. The distinctions between, say,
the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) and the Nation of Islam
were not mentioned as he listed a litany of groups
young Blacks should join.
Toure's most fundamental difference with MIM is
that he believes you should not judge an ideology
by its practice, but by its principles alone. MIM
calls this idealism. He said "you don't judge
Christianity by its practice," which he concedes
has included chattel slavery, so you also should
not judge socialism by its practice. Thus he can
praise a wide variety of leaders from Castro to
Qaddafi without defending any particular nation's
socialist path. MIM is materialist and does judge
both Christianity and socialism on their practice,
finding that national liberation is won with only
socialism.
After the speech, masses came forward with
questions. One indignant Amerikan student thought
he would really trip Toure up by pointing out that
he was not non-violent and accused him of
supporting violent means. Toure again clarified
that non-violence is a tactic, not a principle,
and that he believed Malcolm X was correct to tell
the people to get their freedom "by any means
necessary."
One Black student asked why Toure was only talking
about Africa. Toure replied that all people of
African descent are African and that the struggle
of Blacks depends upon the struggle of Africans in
Africa. While the point of internationalism is
correct to a point, Toure's failure to really
analyze the situation of the Black nation as it
came to exist and continues to exist within the
borders of the U.S. prevented him from satisfying
the student or MIM.
Another Black student came forward and told of
being beaten down by pigs when she participated in
a demonstration against environmental racism. She
wondered if there was anything she could do
without getting beaten down again. Toure responded
that all she could do, if she really wanted her
freedom, was to learn to defend herself and get
with a group of people so that someone could watch
her back.
MIM hopes that those who hear Kwame Toure will
grab on to his calls to organize while developing
a scientific method to move the best way forward.
The A-APRP is a friend of the people because it
can play a role in a united front against
imperialism, but it is not the best way forward.
We hope that his emphasis on joining a political
group will get students struggling over line which
will help bring them to revolutionary
consciousness.
* * *
BLACK/WHITE TV GAP
Black and white TV audiences favor very different
shows, according to new ratings. Although MIM
doesn't cheer for any of these programs, we are
always interested to see how much the different
nations within North America differ in their
cultural habits. At some levels even the more
economically and geographically integrated
internal nation members resist cultural
integration.
Variety magazine reports that the three top-rated
prime-time programs among Black viewers are on the
Fox network on Thursday night: "Living Single,"
"Martin," and "New York Undercover." These shows
rank 95th, 96th and 98th in white homes. Only
three of whites' top 20 shows are in the top 20
among Black homes: "Roseanne," "Home Improvement"
and CBS's Sunday night movie.
- MC12
NOTE: Variety cited in Don Fitzpatrick Associates'
Shoptalk, 3/23/95.
* * *
GOP TARGETS SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAMS:
MASSES NEED INDEPENDENT POWER
"WASHINGTON - A Republican-dominated House
committee Thursday rebuffed a Democratic effort to
preserve the school lunch program that has fed
tens of millions of children since it was created
after World War II." The Republicans call this
"welfare reform."(1)
"Over five years, states would receive $2 billion
less for school meals and more than $5 billion
less for other nutrition programs for poor women
and children than under current law, according to
an estimate by the Clinton Administration."(1)
This is an example of why we are confident that
imperialism will be overthrown. The imperialists
constantly demonstrate their ability to create new
groups of anti-imperialists.
Posing as friends of the people, "the Clinton
Administration warned that the changes could
result in permanent physical and intellectual
setbacks for American children.... By the end of
this year, if the GOP plan becomes law, 275,000
people would have to be denied access to the
[Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children (WIC), which is used by 6
million women and children], the Administration
said."(1)
The Democrats, however, are no friends of the
oppressed. They use food and other welfare
programs as a means of pacifying North American
proletarians. The Democrats are a key part of the
system of imperialism, which starves 14 million
children every year in the capitalist Asian
countries alone.(2) They are also enforcers of the
Amerikan empire's system of internal colonialism.
For example, Clinton promised voters that he would
put 100,000 new pigs on the streets to occupy
Amerika's internal colonies. Clinton also supports
the racist death penalty. Clearly, tailing the
Democratic Party is no way to fight the
Republicans' latest attacks on the people.
The Maoist Black Panther Party (BPP) used the
issue of hunger in Amerika to demonstrate both the
need for socialism and the meaning of socialism.
The BPP's Serve The People Programs, including the
Free Breakfast for Children Program, were
independent institutions of the oppressed. In
other words, these programs were not dependent on
such enemies of the people as the U.S. Congress.
MIM's principal tasks in this strategic stage are
to build public opinion for revolution and to
build independent institutions of the oppressed.
The BPP's Serve the People programs were
successful on both scores, which is why they
earned the wrath of the FBI.
It is a sad fact that MIM has not yet had the
resources, particularly the labor, with which to
implement Free Breakfast Programs. We do have more
low-visibility Serve The People Programs, such as
our Free Literature for Prisoners Program and our
various types of political education work. All of
our media outlets - MIM Notes, MIM Theory, Notas
Rojas, Maoist Sojourner, pamphlets, fliers,
posters, talks and video showings - are
independent institutions of the oppressed.
MIM seeks to expand its practice to a new level.
The oppressed need independent institutions to
provide food, clothing, shelter, health care,
education, justice and peace for the oppressed
nations. If you agree, what are you waiting for?
Work with MIM to continue the Black Panthers'
Maoist legacy of Free Breakfast Programs. With
your help, we can work with the masses to create
independent institutions which can lay the basis
for the greatest independent institution of all -
a self-reliant socialist government.
- MC49
NOTES:
1. Los Angeles Times 2/24/95, pp. A1, A18.
2. Ruth Sivard, World Military and Social
Expenditures, 1987/8.
* * *
NO REST FOR THE WICKED:
CIA WON'T LEAVE UCLA ALONE
Last month, MIM Notes reported on the March 1
ouster of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
recruiters from the UCLA campus by progressive
activists. Some reactionaries criticized MIM for
disrespecting the CIA's "right" to use "free
speech" to build its genocidal organization. These
reactionaries should rest assured that the CIA has
many more resources than progressives (let alone
MIM). With their greater resources, they have the
ability to purchase wide audiences for their
"free" speech.
So MIM is not surprised to see that the CIA is
still recruiting at UCLA - this time in the form
of an 8"x10" ad on page 23 of the April 3 UCLA
Daily Bruin. The ad's largest slogan is, "Our
Business Is Knowing The World's Business." The
ad's first sentence reads, "The CIA's task is
twofold: to coordinate the intelligence efforts of
the U.S. government, and to collect, evaluate,
analyze, produce, and disseminate foreign
intelligence."
This is the Big Lie about the CIA. Despite its
name, the main purpose of the CIA is to wage war
on the world's oppressed nations by means of
covert operations involving economic warfare,
rigged elections, assassinations and genocide. Its
goal is to gain and maintain U.S. control over
Third World peoples and economies. In short, the
CIA is an agent of U.S. imperialism and an enemy
of the people. For more on this point, see *The
CIA's Greatest Hits*, by Mark Zepezauer. You can
get this from MIM for $6.
MIM is not surprised to see the CIA's self-serving
lies appear in a large ad in the UCLA Daily Bruin
(just as we saw the same lies by a CIA
spokesperson go unrebutted in the Bruin's coverage
of the CIA's March 1 ouster). Nonetheless, MIM is
critical of the Daily Bruin's decision to run the
lying CIA ad. Progressive members of the UCLA
community should now see all the more clearly
which side the Daily Bruin's bread is buttered on.
The oppressed need institutions which are not
dependent on ads from their oppressors. The
oppressed and their allies should struggle with,
write for, finance and distribute MIM Notes, MIM
Theory, Notas Rojas and Maoist Sojourner.
* * *
D.C. RALLY FOR WOMEN'S LIVES FORGETS MOST WOMEN
On Sunday April 9, 50,000 to 100,000 people
(depending on your sources) gathered on the Mall
in Washington, D.C. to "rally for women's lives"
and protest violence against women in Amerika.
This primarily meant violence against abortion
providers, as well as domestic violence and child
abuse. The National Clothesline Project was on
display; similar to the AIDS quilt, each T-shirt
hanging on a clothesline chronicles the story of a
woman's or a child's abuse at the hand of a family
member or stranger.
There was no march on the capitol, but in order to
get to the rally to hear the speakers you had to
walk through the display. The mood there was
somber and reflective. A tent was set up by the
organizers as a "safe place to talk" where women
could make their own t-shirts. MIM's analysis of
the t-shirt display and its message is that its
focus represents a singularly First World
perspective on violence in women's lives, ignoring
the imperialist violence that bombards the women
and men of the Third World daily. Some of the
placards and signs focused on the plight of poor
women in Amerika and welfare cuts, attacking
Gingrich and the Republicans as the principal
enemies of women. This liberal attack dismisses
the fact that Democratic presidents and
congresspeople implement the same Amerikan
policies that leave most of the world's women as
the most oppressed people on the planet.
While there is some difference between Republicans
and Democrats in terms of abortion laws from state
to state, access to legal abortion is not the
primary rallying cry of Third World women. The
speakers and most of the participants left out the
fact that most of the world's women (and men)
struggle to eat and stay alive, and that having
children often supplements the family income and
support system. The much-criticized Contract with
Amerika is really a Contract on the Third World.
The organizers of the rally preserved their place
as oppressors by disregarding that fact.
The speakers included Jesse Jackson, some famous
women actors, and the son of Dr. David Gunn, the
Florida abortion provider who was shot to death in
1993. The latter speakers focused on the problem
of domestic violence and the need for safe access
to abortions. Jackson opened his speech by
commemorating the assassination of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., and asking for a moment of
silence. His remarks concluded with chanting
"Racial Justice, Gender Equality" and "Keep Hope
Alive." MIM says: "Keep hope alive: break with the
Republicans and the Democrats, for real!" But
other than Jackson's brief and tame remarks, the
plight of Blacks and other oppressed nations was
not addressed in an organized way.
*If rallies like this leave you politically empty,
struggle with MIM. Start with MIM Theory 2/3
"Gender and Revolutionary Feminism." $5 cash or
check payable to "MIM Distributors."*
* * *
PORNOGRAPHY INDUSTRY BOOMS
In patriarchal society, the mainstream cultural is
decadent and degrading, and in the commercial
culture rape and sex are one. Nevertheless, MIM
calls out the explicit pornography industry for
not only depicting and normalizing sex relations
that are even worse than most, but for the brutal
nature of its profiteering, including physically
forced rapes, slave-like conditions and murder.
So we note that the "adult film" industry had its
best year ever in 1994, with rental and sales
receipts totaling $2.5 billion. That's about $10
per person in the United States. That's also more
than twice the Gross Domestic Product for Burundi
in 1990. "Adult" films are 27.5% of the U.S. video
market, up from 17% in 1985.
Pornography does not create patriarchy from
scratch, but as sex industries profit from the
commodification of rape, the strength of
patriarchal ideas increases, to the detriment of
patriarchy's victims.
NOTE: Don Fitzpatrick Associates' Shoptalk
3/24/95; 1994 World Almanac and Book of
Facts.
* * *
PUERTO RICAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS
REMEMBERED AT BOSTON TALK
In April, events throughout Amerika and Puerto
Rico were held in commemoration of the 15th
anniversary of the arrest of 11 Puerto Rican
freedom fighters accused of seditious conspiracy
for working with the Armed Forces of Puerto Rican
National Liberation (FALN). MIM attended events in
Boston that included an inspirational musical
performance, the showing of a short CNN
documentary on the conditions in the supermax
prisons, and a captivating talk given by Lourdes
Lugo Lopez, national coordinator for the National
Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of War
and Political Prisoners.
The theme of the event in Boston was well
summarized by a statement from a member of the
national committee speaking about the arrested
freedom fighters "They are not terrorists or
criminals, they are patriots." Throughout the
talks, people stressed the importance of
understanding that the U.S. government is the real
terrorist organization and that people who take up
arms to fight for their right to self-
determination should not be viewed as criminals by
the people. The woman who gave the musical
performance said it well: "We ought not to permit
the government to define who are the terrorists
and who are the heros."
Lourdes pointed out that these eleven prisoners
were not arrested for arms possession, or for
carrying out any acts of violence, they were
arrested and charged with the crime of opposing
the U.S. government: seditious conspiracy.
The way that these people were arrested merits
mention. It was an accident of racism in the
virtually all white town of Evanston, Illinois. A
woman saw two "spics" in a van outside her house
and called the police to report this suspicious
situation. The police showed up and arrested the
"spics" only to later discover that they had
happened on some Puerto Rican freedom fighters
that the FBI wanted. Lourdes pointed out how this
goes hand in hand with the latest big push for
community policing and police watches. What this
means, as she noted, is that "communities,
particularly whites, are becoming snitches."
Usually this means calling the police because non-
whites (who by just being in their community are
considered suspicious) are in their town.
The freedom fighters took the position of
prisoners of war because they would not recognize
the U.S. jurisdiction over them. MIM agrees with
this stance, and would go further to say that we
don't recognize the U.S. court jurisdiction over
people of any oppressed nation because even by
Amerikan standards, a fair trial by a jury of
one's peers is not offered. And more importantly,
the Amerikan nation that stands for white
supremacy had no right to judge the actions of
members of the nations that it colonizes.
The Puerto Rican people are fighting a struggle
for national self-determination against their
Amerikan colonizers. Lourdes pointed out that
Johnson and Johnson take $6.1 billion in profits
out of Puerto Rico every year and Eli Lilly takes
$4 billion out of Puerto Rico, producing about 90%
of the contraceptive pills consumed by Amerikan
women. With all this money, there is still 31%
unemployment on the island. Puerto Rico is one of
the clearest cases of direct colonization by
Amerikan imperialism: the profits are taken out of
the island for use by the well-off Amerikans while
the Puerto Ricans live on the island and in
Amerika in poverty.
As Lourdes said "We are entitled to defend our
country and fight colonialism by any means we feel
necessary." MIM agrees with her and supports the
just struggle of the people of Puerto Rico,
including the political prisoners and prisoners of
war held behind bars by the Amerikan colonial
oppressor.
* * *
NATIONAL PHONE-IN CAMPAIGN TO FLORENCE PRISON
*** Want to do something about the torture and
oppression of prisoners in Amerika? The best way
is to join MIM to help end the system. In the
meantime, while we are building public opinion
and organizing for revolutionary change, you can
also take smaller actions that may help some
of the prisoners in Amerika. ***
The National Committee to Free Puerto Rican POW's
and Political Prisoners-Boston Chapter is issuing
an urgent call to action. Call the Florence,
Colorado Federal Prison at (719) 784-9496. Ask for
Warden William Storey or his assistant. Once he or
his executive assistant is on line, tell him you
are calling about Puerto Rican POW/Political
Prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera (#87651-024), Thomas
Manning (#10372-016) and Raymond Levasseur
(#10376-016). Demand an end to sleep deprivation
and strip searches immediately. Demand freedom for
all Puerto Rican political prisoners
unconditionally. Demand the closure of the ADX
Florence Gulag for torture and sensory
deprivation.
Callers should be aware that prison personnel have
denied the torture. The following answers are
recommended to such statements from prison
personnel:
1. They are lying and we won't believe them.
2. They shouldn't speak as if they were friends,
they are their jailers.
3. They should refuse to participate in the
torture as some U.S. soldiers refused to
massacre Vietnamese in the Vietnam war.
The dates for the calls are all Mondays: May 22,
June 26 and July 24.
* * *
MOBIL OIL PROMOTES SUPERSTITION AND INDIVIDUALISM
It is in the interests of the oppressed masses and
their allies to think scientifically and to combat
selfish individualism. Likewise, it is in the
interests of the oppressors to promote
individualism and unscientific thinking. The
oppressors usually leave this propaganda task to
the churches and the media, but from time to time
the oppressors are more bald-faced.
Such is the case with an ad from the multinational
Mobil oil corporation. This ad sells "Your
Personalized Horoscope" and ridiculously states
that, "All astrologers appear united in the idea
that there is a connection between the heavens and
the Earth.... The astrologer can reveal the many
ways and many levels that TWO people relate with
each other.... [Y]our chart is interpreted to
produce your in-depth Astro Profile report about
your inner and outer self including the way you
come across to others as well as your character,
career, love life, challenges, and much, much
more. Your Astro Profile report will also include
an overview and close-up of what's happening right
now! Find out what you're all about - Order
Today!"
Instead of telling individuals, to "find out"
about themselves, MIM says people should find out
more about imperialism, capitalism, patriarchy,
and the best way forward to defeat all three -
Maoist revolution. Obviously, such study is not in
the interests of an imperialist corporation, so
Mobil prefers to promote such distractions as
superstition, individualism, romance culture and
psychology.
- MC49
* * *
DRUG USE SPREADS IN REVISIONIST CHINA
Recently the China News Digest published an
article titled "Drug abuse hits Chinese school
children." The article deals with China's drug
epidemic that "...has become so serious that
secondary, even primary school children are
involved...."(1) The drug problem is among one of
the many social ills that accompany capitalism. As
people grow poorer many take on the parasitic
nature that is inherent in capitalist societies.
When China was socialist under Mao Zedong the drug
epidemic was virtually wiped out along with other
social ills. After capitalist restoration led by
Deng Xiaoping the drug problem returned along with
other social ills such as prostitution
homelessness, etc. etc.
This is very important and the oppressed
nationalities and their allies should take note of
the difference in the two systems and realize that
the only way to solve our social ills that plague
us in Amerikkka is via Maoist revolution and
successful Cultural Revolutions against our own
Deng Xiaopings.
- New York prisoner
Note: China News Digest 2/28/95.
* * *
REVIEW: STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE
FALSE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN ART AND COMMUNISM
The latest gay movie out of Cuba, *Strawberry and
Chocolate*, tells the story of an improbable
friendship between a young somewhat dogmatic
Marxist student and a gay artist in Havana in
1979. Amid pleasant humor and good directing, the
story is clear: beauty is persecuted in social
progress. While Maoists do not uphold the Cuban
revolution as a model and makes some of the same
criticisms the movie does, we also criticize this
fundamental dichotomy of artists vs. the people.
MIM also recognizes that the characters who
represent both these societal roles in the movie
misunderstand socialism.
David, the student, has been recently dumped by
his girlfriend when Diego tries to pick him up.
The only reason David plays along is that he hopes
to find out about the smuggling he suspects Diego
of. He continues to meet with him, while
clarifying that sex is off-limits, in order to
find out about some involvement Diego has with
foreign embassies who might help him exhibit his
work. As they get to know one another, the self-
described revolutionary learns about art and music
from the only "faggot" he has ever known.
Diego is of course not much swayed by the younger
man's political ideals and only maintains that he
loves Cuba passionately and is deeply saddened
that Cuba won't accept his insipid religious
sculpture display. In the end, Diego leaves Cuba
and David goes to bed with a woman in Diego's
building who is doing all the smuggling. No big
surprises there, so MIM does not feel bad about
messing up the ending for readers who have not yet
seen the flick.
*Strawberry and Chocolate* poses interesting
questions amid the sexual tension and cinema
graphic style about the role of the artist in
socialist society and the goals socialism strives
for. In one compelling exchange, Diego
passionately declares that he always has opposed
Amerikan domination and believed that revolution
would free him to reach his full human potential.
Now, he says, he realizes that society does not
want his creativity and feels banished from it.
David counters with a description of his own
situation, more interesting to communists: he is
the son of a peasant and studying at the
university. The suggestion is that if restricting
depressing religious art is the price to pay for
the education of peasants, then socialists should
pay that price.
What Diego never seems to realize is that his
creativity is in no way being restricted, it is
simply being denied public space. His own
apartment is crammed full of religious icons while
artists in service of the people have their work
displayed. Rather than question why his art might
not be useful to society, he accuses
revolutionaries of dogmatism. He says "if you
don't want to think, listen to the radio." So he
agrees that his art is not just images of no
import, but rather is mystical and superstitious,
and wants the government to allow him space to try
to get people thinking like he does. The young
revolutionary, David, unfortunately seems swayed
by this idea of "if it ain't depressing, it ain't
art." David asks Diego to read some of his
writings, accepts the latter's criticism of
"dogmatism" and then concedes to the bourgeoisie
that revolutionary themes are not such a great
idea after all.
The movie paints a reasonably fair portrait of
Cuba at the time: significant progress for the
peasants coupled with growing contradictions among
the people as a new bourgeois takes Cuba's reigns
away from the United States and hands them over to
the Soviet Union. The heterosexism in the film
does not seem to be any worse than heterosexism in
Amerika and is recognized by the film as not the
exclusive property of revisionist "socialism".
David is dogmatic when he refuses to look outside
the revisionist status quo to find solutions to
Cuba's problems and sees the whole debate as
Amerikan ideas vs. Soviet and Cuban ones. For all
his dialectical pretensions, David cannot come up
with any ideas for Cuba to combat this problem.
Neither character presents a path to take Cuba
forward. Diego is too caught up in his
individualistic passions to care about the good of
the people and David is too unquestioning of Cuban
revisionism. The supposed dichotomy of their
positions is not real; neither challenges the
status quo of Soviet colonization. Neither the
artist who does not create anything worthwhile nor
the "revolutionary" who can only follow the state-
capitalist system work in the interests of the
people.
- MCB52
* * *
REVIEW: *SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE*
The Rise and Fall of Huey P. Newton
by Robert Alexander
BY A MIM ASSOCIATE
Playwright Robert Alexander wrote that he hoped
this play "will be received as an act of love."
*Servant* is not only an act of love but also a
politically oriented and thought provoking work.
"May this play caution all who come to witness,
the haves and the have nots are still the same,
and the all knowing controller is still standing
at the gate."(1)
Inside the program provided by the St. Louis Black
Repertory Theater is the Black Panther Party ten
point platform and program along with a list of
suggested readings including *Seize the Time* by
Bobby Seale; *Agents of Repression* by Ward
Churchill and Jim VanderWall and *Quotations from
Chairman Mao* by Mao Zedong.(2)
Judging this play on its theatrical merits is
simple; it is excellent, and the acting is
outstanding. The story is narrated by the
character Lumphead, portrayed by A.C. Smith. This
fictitious character represents the lumpen
proletariat. Lumphead is a pimp recruited to the
party by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. One scene
depicts a discussion between Lumphead and Newton.
Huey convinces Lumphead that pimping exploits
women and perpetuates capitalism which is the
source of Black people's oppression. Handing him a
copy of Mao's little red book, Huey tells him that
the answer to oppression is socialism. Lumphead
gives up pimping and joins the BPP.
"The end is the beginning and the beginning is the
end" exclaims Lumphead as he snaps his fingers and
suddenly Tyrone Robinson appears, played by
Clifton Williams. He aims a pistol at Huey Newton,
brilliantly portrayed by David Alan Anderson, at
the other end of the stage. Tyrone fades to black,
lights shine on Huey as a crowd gathers and Huey
speaks: "The source of our oppression is the
source of the Vietnamese people's oppression. We
stand in solidarity with the Viet Cong against
U.S. imperialism ... all power to the people." The
crowd responds with fists raised "power to the
people."
The rest of Act I is a positive look at the
building of the Black Panther Party. The
demonstration at the Alameda County courthouse -
guns openly displayed and the Party's proclamation
for self defense and self determination read to
the people. The violent response of pigs arresting
Panthers follows. Bobby Seale, played by J. Samuel
Davis, agrees to serve a 6 month sentence for
carrying concealed weapons in exchange for the
dropping of trumped up charges against other BPP
members.
Internal struggles within the Party's central
committee are intensely portrayed. One such scene
is an argument between Newton and Eldridge Cleaver
(Erik Kirkpatrick). Newton emphasizes the survival
programs. Cleaver charges reformism and emphasizes
guns and military training. Newton responds:
"First we have to serve the people's needs, then
they'll pick up the gun." The majority votes with
Huey and decides to fund the Free Breakfast for
Children program by pressuring grocery stores. A
pig provocateur suggests that any store which does
not comply be bombed sky high. The rest of the
Panthers respond by chasing him out of the
meeting. At one point he reads FBI director J.
Edgar Hoovers' directive to infiltrate, disrupt
and destroy the BPP. Act I ends with Newton
imprisoned for supposedly killing a pig during a
shoot out.
Act II begins with Huey's release from prison and
the subsequent degeneration of both Newton and the
BPP. The playwright believes that the California
penal system applied psychological warfare to
unravel Huey's mind. From his incarceration until
the end, Huey is never the same. Upon his release,
some of the Party cadre provide Newton with an
Oakland penthouse. He becomes infuriated: "We are
supposed to serve the people, what will the rank
and file think? What will the people think?" After
being told that it's for his own safety and being
given cocaine, he succumbs.
The rest of the play shows a strung out Huey
Newton snorting coke and brutally beating comrades
over the most trivial matters. The narrator
comments that the Party cadre no longer read
Chairman Mao but instead were reading *The
Godfather*. (From revolutionaries to gangsters?).
Tackhead, the pig provocateur explained his
mission of murdering vanguard leaders: "Fred
Hampton, Mark Clark, Bobby Hutton, George Jackson,
[etc.] You can run, but you can't hide from the
FBI. If I don't kill you, I'll get you somehow
(laughs) like Geronimo Pratt."
The play ends with the tragic murder of Newton in
1989 (flashback to 1st scene). Huey owed Tyrone a
petty debt for crack. The pig provocateur explains
that "whether Tyrone knows it or not, with his
rap, crack, and beeper, he is a government agent.
You see, we had to make it so that when Huey died,
you wouldn't give a fuck." Lumphead snaps his
fingers, looks at the audience and says "but you
did. Huey took me out of darkness and showed me
the real world. Looking back I have no regrets. I
know that what we did was truly revolutionary.
Rest in peace Huey."
Despite its emphasis on one individual, this play
is definitely political. If you get the chance,
see it, learn from it and build on the lessons.
All power to the people!
NOTES:
1. The Black Rep program, p. 22.
2. Ibid, p. 23.
* * *
UNDER LOCK & KEY
PELICAN BAY CENSORS MIM NOTES
Greetings,
I'm writing to inform you that your 1/95 issue of
MIM Notes is being returned due to its being
deemed "a threat to legitimate penological
interest" by prison authorities.
Even after literally a lifetime of constant
surprises by the California Department of
"Corrections," they still continue to amaze me
with their rhetoric. But, believe it or not, this
censorship isn't half as amazing as their claim
that there is an actual legitimate penological
interest here at Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP).
PBSP is designed for the sole purpose of breaking
the minds and spirits of those literally buried
alive here, but who are not (yet) "the worst of
the worst" as they proudly boast to the public.
As I wrote last month when requesting your
publication, I'm not totally familiar with your
principles, but I do agree that we are all world
citizens who are inherently equal with a say.
So I'm not sure what's these people's problem, but
I'll be appealing this issue and will keep you
informed because it's an important issue and can
and does affect a lot of people. I would
appreciate if you could notify me of the return of
your publication for my records. I've even
enclosed a SASE for your convenience. I'm far from
discouraged, because every time such barriers are
placed before me - which is almost daily - I
realize that I must be on the right path to
enlighten and even though I can be physically
caged, my mind and spirit have no bounds.
In struggle,
- a California prisoner, 2/12/95
INDIANA'S RULING ELITE WAGES GENOCIDE
The colonial criminals of the state of Indiana
have waged a mass scale of colonial oppression on
and against the people throughout the Department
of Corrections who have declared themselves
revolutionary teachers and New Afrikan cadres.
1995 will bring a lot of successful struggles for
the people and the fascist colonial forces will
turn up its fire under our feet. On December 8,
one of our New Afrikan revolutionary comrades lost
his life at the hands of the racist, most
diabolical system of murder - the Indiana State
prison's electric chair. The innocence of our
brother was evident. These colonial murderers
killed the brother because he was a strong Afrikan
man.
Now comes yet another trick by the
colonial/repressive state. On December 13, the
criminals lost one of their agents of repression
due to the conditions/contradictions existing
throughout D-cellhouse. Justice the people's way
hit home.
That night, the author of this letter was escorted
from his cell location to the oppressors' colonial
guards' hall. It took ten officers to handcuff one
man, once I was made to remove all my clothes,
shoes, jacket, etc. They wanted to beat me down,
but I kept my composure. For about two and a half
hours, they kept me naked in a holding cell.
I was given a red jumpsuit and escorted to their
racist investigators' offices. They attempted to
interrogate a brother, but the code of New
Afrikan/revolutionary silence was victorious. Due
to my no-rap policy, they took me to a blue van,
shackled me up with chains and transferred me to
the Indiana Maximum Control Complex at Westville.
No advisement of being on investigation was
issued, yet on January 31, I was charged with the
murder of a pig at the Indiana State Prison. They
have taken the liberty to say I killed this man
due to the death of our comrade. Revolutionary
justice stands without fault; justice must prevail
at all cost. The death of that pig and all those
to follow could never be paralleled to one of our
comrades.
It happened because it was destiny to get what
they got coming. It is clear that anybody
oppressed and repressed by a colonial system shall
rise up. We as the new men and women of the
oppressed nation must begin to define our reality.
Dialectically, the power must change hands sooner
or later. When they turn up the volume of genocide
and oppression, we turn up the resistance and
political and ideological struggle. Objective
reality, that's what we are dealing with. We are
dialectical materialists; we deal with what really
is, whether we like it or not.
I write this notice to ask you all out there who
acknowledge our oppression and are willing to aid
and assist in its demise to wake up and rise up. I
need your help, all of you who can help me in
waging this struggle for my life against genocidal
extinction. I don't have a chance going up against
these parasites alone. I seek the support and
assistance of Afrikan oppressed nations.
Allah is Great.
Uhuru Sasa (Freedom Now).
- an Indiana prisoner, 2/7/95
USE YOUR HEAD
The story in the January 1995 Under Lock & Key,
"Guards get a taste of their own medicine," was
righteous by me, because a brother like that will
not accept anything. But MC49's reply was correct
to my belief in using your head! I close this
letter till next time.
Stay strong and sweet,
- a Texas prisoner, 2/8/95
INDIANA LAWMAKERS VS. PRISONERS
Uhuru SaSa! [Freedom Now!] Comrades, here in the
state of Indiana, the lawmakers are trying to pass
a law where no prisoners get any good time. (If we
get 20 years, we do the 20 years). If the law
passes, if we the prisoners have good time, we
will lose that good time, too. Uhuru SaSa!
- a New Afrikan revolutionary on a Disciplinary
Segregation unit in Indiana, 1/23/95
PRISONER DESCRIBES WESTVILLE'S
MAXIMUM CONTROL COMPLEX
I have received the 1/95 issue of your newspaper.
I love the way it's written. I enjoyed reading the
letters the prisoners wrote and sent in plus your
answers. I hope to keep reading your paper and
hope you keep sending them to me. I probably will
be out of prison by September 1995. I've been
locked up since October 1992.
This is a Maximum or SuperMax prison. We're only
allowed an hour or half hour out of our cell or
closet cellbox a day. Plus they have the goon
squad or the extraction team. They come in your
cell and beat you up and strap you down to your
bed if you act like the man you are or don't want
to make your bed up or kick on the door - little
things like that. You can't get out of your cell
unless they let you out. Everything here works by
electricity.
If a person caught a heart attack or something
serious, he can hang it up because you have to be
handcuffed behind your back before you can leave
the cell. Plus leg shackles. And they're so scared
of you that they get all suited up before they
come get you.
That is just a bit of what's going on at this
concentration camp. If you ever truly want to know
what's going on down here, let me know.
- an Indiana prisoner, 2/9/95
1994 EXECUTIONS - IN MEMORIAM
31 people were executed by state governments in
the U.S. in 1994. 257 people have been executed
since the U.S. moratorium on state murders ended
in 1976.
1/6 Keith Eugene Wells, ID
2/2 Harold Barnard, TX
3/3 Johnny Watkins, Jr., VA
3/31 Freddie Lee Webb, TX
3/31 William Henry Hance, GA
4/4 Richard Beavers, TX
4/22 Roy Allen Stewart, FL
4/26 Larry Norman Anderson, TX
4/27 Timothy Spencer, VA
5/3 Paul Rougeau, TX
5/10 John Wayne Gacy, IL
5/11 Jonas Whitmore, AR
5/11 Edward Charles Pickens, AR
5/17 John F. Thanos, MD
5/27 Stephen R. Nethery, TX
5/27 Charles R. Campbell, WA
6/14 Denton Alan Crank, TX
6/15 David Lawson, NC
6/23 Andre Deputy, DE
8/2 Robert Drew, TX
8/3 Hoyt Clines, AR
8/3 Darryl Richley, AR
8/3 James Holmes, AR
9/2 Harold Lamont Otey, NE
9/16 Jessie Gutierrez, TX
9/20 George Lott, TX
10/5 Walter Williams, TX
11/22 Warren Bridge, TX
12/6 Herman Clark, TX
12/8 Gregory Resnover, IN
12/11 Raymond Carl Kinnamon, TX
- reprinted from the 2/95 issue of the Coalition
for Prisoners' Rights Newsletter (CPRN). CPRN
can be reached at P.O. Box 1911, Santa Fe, NM
87504-1911.
PETITION FOR SUPPORT
I am a prisoner at the Maximum Control Complex
(MCC) in Westville, Indiana. I have been confined
since June 13, 1991. I write this petition with
deep gravity to call upon aid and support from
concerned and loving people, churches and
organizations of Indiana and this country to
assist in stopping the atrocities that are being
inflicted upon prisoners daily at this control
unit.
The Maximum Control Complex (MCC) in Westville,
Indiana is a supermaximum prison which was first
opened in May of 1991. The MCC was claimed by the
Indiana Department of Corrections to be designed
especially for extremely dangerous prisoners, but
the real truth behind this lie is most prisoners
being permanently placed in the MCC are jailhouse
lawyers, politically active, or believers of the
Islamic or Hebrew-Israelite religions.
85% of these permanent-status prisoners are of
African descent, which is also the majority of MCC
population. It is obvious that racism is the key
factor as to why Black males are heavily
concentrated within this control unit. MCC is a
deliberately designed facility which subjects its
prisoners to punitive isolation, violence and
terror. These conditions of confinement cause
prisoners to:
# endure two 37-day hunger strikes - the longest
hunger strikes in U.S. history
# self-mutilate themselves, and
# consume their own feces.
MCC prisoners are confined to a single-man cell
that has a solid steel door with a small
plexiglass window for 23 to 24 hours a day, unless
they have an attorney or family visit that day,
which is non-contact. A prisoner at MCC never gets
natural sunlight inside his cell or on the outdoor
recreation yard. No fresh air is ever circulated
through the central air system.
Each MCC prisoner eats, recreates, showers and
sleeps alone. No prisoner at MCC is ever removed
from his cell without handcuffs and leg-irons. MCC
prisoners who are confined to disciplinary
isolation (AKA segregation) are not allowed to
enroll in educational courses, can't listen to a
radio, are prohibited from calling their families,
friends, girlfriends, etc., on the telephone. MCC
prisoners are not allowed to purchase food items
from the prison commissary, are being denied
physical access to the satellite law library to do
their legal work, and are being denied legal
materials to work on their legal matters by
Paralegal Sharon Hawks.
The sensory-deprivation and punitive isolation
being imposed upon the small number of prisoners
who are currently housed in disciplinary isolation
(AKA segregation) is affecting and threatening
their mental health.
I am presently suffering from vision
deterioration. I believe this is caused by the
contaminated water supply at MCC which was
declared by the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management in February of this year
to have high levels of lead. Lead contaminants, if
consumed for a period of years, cause brain,
kidney and red blood cell damage. The MCC water
supply is also suspected of having a toxic
chemical in it called polychlorinated biphenyl
(PCBs). I have been trying to get eyeglasses for
almost two years now, but the notorious Warden
Charles E. Wright is giving orders to the medical
staff not to treat my serious medical needs. I
have even been prohibited from taking a blood test
for the detection of lead contaminants and PCBs by
Warden Wright himself.
I have been a primary target of Warden Wright's
sadistic mistreatment from the day I entered MCC.
For the last six months I have been forced to wear
a mask over my face each time I am removed from my
cell, because a racist white guard falsely accused
me of spitting. This facial masking has been a
common practice by Warden Wright and his prison
lackeys. Their intent is to inflict severe
psychological torture upon prisoners. I have been
the subject of Warden Wright's retributive
attitude. The people must not stand by and
continue to allow such indignities to occur, and
must demand that they cease immediately!
Another prisoner is being subjected to extreme
human rights violation. He is mentally unstable.
He is on strip-cell status, virtually naked - he
is allowed only a pair of boxer shorts. His
plumbing is shut off and is only cut on once a day
to flush his toilet. Most of the time, he is
forced to lay dormant in his cell and smell the
vile stench of his feces settled in his toilet.
Each day at 7:00 a.m., this prisoner's bedding is
removed from his cell, and he is forced to lay on
cold steel until 9:30 p.m. When his bedding is
given back to him, numerous prisoners have
inquired about why his bedding is being deprived
each day. Some guards claim he won't make his bed
or he tore a mattress, which is ludicrous. This is
just another excuse that Warden Wright and his
lackeys are attempting to use to justify their
actions.
The prisoner is without shoes, and is forced to
take showers and recreate barefooted. He has no
hygiene items. It's also documented that he has
consumed his own feces. He is mentally ill and
shouldn't be at MCC. Something must be done to see
that he is transferred out of MCC to a place where
he will get the proper help he needs.
The Indiana Department of Corrections [sic] (DOC)
is under a court order to implement condition
changes at the MCC. A settlement in a class action
suit, Taifa, et. al. vs. Bayh, et. al., #3:92-Cv-
429, was reached and was approved by Chief Judge
Allen Sharp of the United States District Court in
South Bend, Indiana on 2/15/94. The settlement
between the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ICLU)
and the state is only ten months old and the
conditions at MCC have done nothing but
retrogressed.
It is clear that the reason for the ICLU and the
Indiana DOC engaging in a settlement was to put
the concerned taxpayers under the illusion that
the courts and attorneys were going to improve the
conditions at the MCC; so they could relieve
public pressure. This document entitled "Agreed
Entry" is hype and is nothing but a disguise to
hide the hidden terrors that are daily occurring
in this control unit. The "Agreed Entry" is the
settlement contract reached by the ICLU and the
Indiana state's attorneys. The people must demand
that Warden Wright and his lackeys and the Indiana
DOC cease the human rights violations.
I am presently on disciplinary isolation along
with nine others. It's obvious my placement on
this status is out of retribution. The small
number of prisoners on this status is amazing,
especially when MCC currently has a population of
over 100 prisoners, it's clear that Warden Wright
is using this disciplinary isolation measure in an
arbitrary and insidious manner. He is picking and
choosing who he wants to give privileges and who
he wants to mistreat.
We must not allow Warden Wright to continue using
me and the nine other prisoners on the
disciplinary isolation unit at the MCC as guinea
pigs. The ten of us are the only prisoners not
allowed to call our families, friends,
girlfriends, etc. We are not allowed to listen to
radios, order food from commissary, enroll in
educational courses or gain access to the law
library. This is in fact discrimination and must
be stopped immediately!
- an Indiana prisoner, 12/28/94
TOO COLD FOR RECREATION, BUT NOT FOR PUNISHMENT?
Revolutionary greetings. This letter is not going
to be long. Just to let you know that I am still
receiving MIM Notes, and I thank you very much for
your time. Nothing new is going on in this
SuperMax. Just the same old shit.
The pigs here will not let us go outside for our
one hour walk. We have not been outside for over
five months now. When we have it, the outside one
hour looks like you are in a dog lock-up. The pigs
are telling us that we cannot go out for our one
hour walk because it is too cold. Bull. The pigs
still put us in the hold or the pink room, where
it is ice cold. But all is well; life goes on,
right? I am going to end this letter for now. But
I will write again real soon. So you all keep up
the good work.
Yours in revolution, I remain,
- a Maryland prisoner, 2/9/95
PRISONERS' TESTICLES IRRADIATED IN 1960S AND 1970S
A decade-long research project was done on
prisoners in the 1960s and into the 1970s in
Oregon and Washington State Prisons. It was funded
by the Atomic Energy Commission (now the
Department of Energy) and NASA, and was supposedly
designed to help determine how much radiation U.S.
astronauts could bear during spaceflights.
One hundred thirty-one inmates "voluntarily"
participated in the experiments in which they lay
down in a coffin-like box and had their testicles
lowered into water. Then the "researchers" exposed
their testicles to a dose of radiation stronger
than 20 modern diagnostic X-rays. Many inmates
went through the experiment many times. Some of
the prisoners were exposed to as much as 640 rads,
an amount that is potentially fatal if spread over
the whole body.
For participating in the experiments, the
prisoners received a $5-a-month stipend. They were
told that they were performing a patriotic duty
for their country.
Today more than half of the 131 participants have
died. Many complain of major groin pains,
persistent rashes and painful lumps on their
testicles. One participant reported one of his
testicles became attached to his scrotum as a
result of the biopsies after the experiment.
The experiments were to aid the space program, in
the U.S.'s attempts to colonize outer space before
the Soviet Union. But the actual effect of the
experiments on the prisoners was to make them
sterile or unable to reproduce - in effect,
genocide. In fact, the prisoners who participated
in the experiment were "encouraged" to get
vasectomies afterward.
These experiments of the 60s and 70s show that
historically prisoners are seen as less-than-human
by the U.S. government, and are fair game for
"medical experimentation" as cruel as that
performed by the outright fascist states in the
1930s. These types of experiments are always
performed on groups of people that are seen as
"expendable" by the government, and in the U.S.
that has typically been prisoners, racial
minorities, and people with disabilities.
While some rules passed by the NIH in 1978 bar use
of prisoners "in any medical experiments that do
not benefit them," the state continues to treat
prisoners as less-than-human, and continues to
find new and more devious ways to commit murder of
genocidal proportions against people in prison.
SOURCE: Washington Post, 11/20/94
- reprinted from Claustrophobia-Anarchist Black
Cross' Claustrophobia #4, Winter 94/95.
Claustrophobia-ABC can be reached at P.O. Box
77432, Washington, DC 20013.
New Michigan KKKoncentration KKKamps since 1985:
1985:
Western Wayne "Correctional" Facility (Plymouth)
Ionia Temporary Facility (Ionia)
Lakeland Correctional Facility (Coldwater)
G. Robert Cotton Regional Corr. Facility (Jackson)
1986:
Scotts Regional Corr. Facility (Plymouth)
1987:
Thumb Corr. Facility (Lapeer)
Muskegon Temporary Facility (Muskegon)
Ionia [Super] Maximum Facility (Ionia)
Carson City Temporary Facility (Carson City)
1988:
Chippewa Temporary Corr. Facility (Kincheloe)
Charles E. Egeler Corr. Facility (Jackson)
1989:
Hiawatha Temporary Corr. Facility (Kincheloe)
Adrian Temporary Corr. Facility (Adrian)
E.C. Brooks Regional Facility (Muskegon)
Carson City Regional Facility (Carson City)
Chippewa Regional Facility (Kincheloe)
1990:
Standish Maximum Facility (Standish)
Mid-Michigan Temporary Corr. Facility (St. Louis)
Alger Maximum Corr. Facility (Munising)
1991:
Ryan Regional Corr. Facility (Detroit)
Gus Harrison Regional Facility (Adrian)
1992:
Oaks Maximum Facility
1993:
Baraga Maximum Facility (Baraga)
Macomb Corr. Facility
1994:
Mound Regional Corr. Facility (Detroit)
Saginaw Regional Corr. Facility (Freeland)
- from The Freedom Network's Afrikan Prisoner
Bulletin, 1/95. The Freedom Network can be
reached c/o MCM 17365 Annott St., Detroit, MI
48205-3103.
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