MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.
Under Lock & Key is a news service written by and for prisoners with a focus on what is going on behind bars throughout the United States. Under Lock & Key is available to U.S. prisoners for free through MIM(Prisons)'s Free Political Literature to Prisoners Program, by writing:
MIM(Prisons) PO Box 40799 San Francisco, CA 94140.
Here is an example of choosing a small winnable battle by utilizing a
United Front theory in practice among prisoners of Arkansas Department
of Corrections (ADC), organized to overcome the oppressive penal system
about the human right to wear facial hair. In January 2015, the U.$.
imperialist supreme court ruled that ADC could not prohibit prisoner
Gregory Holt from growing facial hair for religious reasons. Prior to
this ruling prisoncrats argued that prisoners could hide contraband in
their hair or beards. With the above court ruling, prisoners had to
apply for a religious accommodation script in order to sport a beard. In
the spirit of revolutionary change, the prisoners within Arkansas
collectively organized and filed 5,600 applications requesting a
religious accommodation. Also there were 607 grievances that protested
that all prisoners should be allowed to wear facial hair. Because of the
surge of prisoner requests and grievances ADC asked the board to remove
the restriction, allowing all ADC prisoners to wear beards. Beginning 14
January 2016 all ADC prisoners were allowed to wear facial hair. It just
goes to show the power of a United Front, when prisoners put their
differences aside to accomplish a common goal.
MIM(Prisons) responds: This is a good example of the power of
united action, even in prison where the people have so little power. One
element of a United Front that is critical to anti-imperialists is
revolutionary leadership. While it is possible for people to come
together under even reactionary leadership to effect change, it is
revolutionary leadership that makes it possible to consolidate the
lessons of the organizing work and push forward from a basic unity
around one issue to a broader unity to build a movement that can take on
the criminal injustice system. This comrade’s example of the fight to
wear a beard is a very good starting point. It is an issue that unites
many, and beard restrictions are generally religious repression covering
for national oppression, disguised as a security issue. We can expose
how this repression fits into the broader problem of national
oppression, which the Amerikan prison system reinforces. As people see
their power to come together to effect change, and understand the system
behind the individual problems they are fighting, we can gain more
supporters and activists in the anti-imperialist struggle.
I am reaching out to you all out of sheer respect. There is not enough
of this in our (Black folk) community. Secondly, shout out to the entire
USW, MIM, the conscious Blood, Crip, Gangsta Disciple Black Guerrillas,
Chicano and global prison movements for y’all efforts to advocate and
assist in the struggle. You all, I view as brethren, you who are not
amongst the delusional.
Our (Damu, Cuz, Gangsta Disciple, Black Guerrillas, etc.) war shouldn’t
be amongst or against each other because none of us, the above factions,
didn’t arrive out of happenstance. Poverty, disfunctional homes, no
fathers, Willie Lynch syndrome, ignorance, oppression, the need for
camaraderie and illegal/legal servitude created the machines we operate.
Our mission is to teach the youth and uneducated people around us the
real cause of the revolution. Whether it be just transforming itself. We
have to educate our brothers; not just with codes, hand language (gang
signs), and crime; but knowledge, wisdom and understanding, to actually
fight for a purpose.
The upper class black folk has lost their fire and direction. Since the
oppressor’s foot has been raised from their necks to their backs, they
no longer “care” to fight or contribute to our cause. Dissension is the
beast that no longer bothers them. It is going to take for us all to
inspire, infuse and move the masses. And it starts with those of us
within these quasi asylum institutions and concentration camps our
oppressors hold us captive in. I am not talking about making an
alliance, I simply mean coming together in solidarity. Jessup
Correctional Institution and other prisons around the world are the way
they are because we all, who have the power to control ourselves and
inspire others, won’t take a stand and we continue to accept being in
separation.
I can’t say all the things I really want to because the administration
might place on me the Mumia Gag Act like they have Mumia Abu Jamal.
Snitches, rats, informants, toms and division dictates the quarters we
are all confined to. Divide and conquer has ruled over us far too long.
We know the problem, enemy and war waged against us, so now we have to
help solving it.
I work to inspire all brothers to act in the revolution. No matter your
banner, you all have many soldiers who look up to you and men who will
follow you, the leaders of the lumpen organizations, to the fiery depths
of hell. Why not compel education upon them? Self destruction has ruined
us for years, and in turn we become enforcers of the government when we
continue to let the men and youth we all call our so-called homies, cuz,
and comrades rep with a destructive state of mind. Take much time to
ponder what I said. Remember, blood makes us related but loyalty makes
us family. I leave as I came, in struggle.
MIM(Prisons) adds: This writer’s call for unity amongst lumpen
organizations fits well with the United Front for Peace in Prisons.
There is tremendous potential power in this unity, as is demonstrated in
the California
Agreement to
End Hostilities and series of hunger strikes to fight long term
isolation and group punishments. We hope others in Maryland will step
forward to build unity with this comrade and the various groups behind
bars.
I write to inform the internation community of comrades that select
comrades and myself currently held kkkaptive within Georgia’s prison
system have finally amassed enough mutual support amongst ourselves to
come to the position of forming what we call the Red Confederation
(“red” as in anti-imperialist, anti-police state), comprising a body of
politically conscious prisoners affiliated with various lumpen
organizations, i.e. prisoner/street organizations.
Individually we’ve come to realize that regardless of our organizational
affiliations/differences, we all stand on common ground as to our
repressive confinement conditions, our degraded and demeaning treatment
by the pigs, and, ultimately, who our oppressors – the real enemies –
are. Thus, we recognize collectively the need to build unity,
solidarity, organization, and informed resistance amongst ourselves
statewide against the ever-increasing repressive tactics being employed
by the Georgia Department of Corruption in their efforts (“efforts”
being synonymous with “subtle war”) to suppress lumpen organizations and
all politicall conscious/active prisoners in general.
Accordingly, we are not unmindful of the State’s underlying impetus for
their actions – their compulsory need to oppose the ascension of lumpen
organizations of the oppressed in an attempt to maintain the current
social order of their oppressive regime. We recognize that the State is
in reality acting out of fear and self-preservation, as they foresee the
end of their control of us – the diminishing of their power – within our
unity.
All that is to say that, by virtue of this letter, we consciously join
the United Struggle from Within, and, in so doing, we incorporate into
our “Protocols of Consideration” the five principles of the United
Front. We are of the opinion that upholding them is essential to begin
organizing for effective, efficient resitance by building bridges along
common interests of the oppressed both nationally and around the world.
We adopt the fundamental political line of MIM(Prisons) as the official
guiding philosophy of our own organization. And as we continue to
struggle together internally so as to disclose ways in which we could
more accurately serve the interests of the movement particular to the
objective reality of our current confinement conditions, we will strive
to develop a more comprehensive peace treaty amongst ourselves with the
intent of sending it in for others to study and possibly use or modify,
as may be needed given a group’s unique objective conditions.
Moreover, in light of the multifarious (many and diverse) human rights
violations being perpetuated – and actually propagated by the State – in
its recently implemented statewide Tier II long-term isolation program
we, as an organization, have taken it upon ourselves to revive the
campaign to end solitary confinement in Georgia. For we are of the
opinion that the plaintiffs in the Ashker v. Brown case “sold
out” and ultimately betrayed the entire prison movement by “settling”
the way they did.
Our class action (Nolley, et al. v. Bryson, et al.;
5:15-cv-00096-LGW) was commenced on or about December 1st, 2015.
We’ve since then forwarded letters to both the ACLU of Georgia as well
as the Southern Center for Human Rights, seeking the representation of
their respective organizations. And i am currently drafting a similar
letter with intentions of forwarding it to the Center for Constitutional
Rights, which, in my understanding, was the lead attorney organization
in the Ashker v. Broen case. We will keep you updated.
Finally, we ask that you send us any and all material you have in your
possession concerning California prisoners’ Agreement to End Hostilities
that may be useful in providing us with somewhat of a guide to kick
start the Agreement to End Hostilities amongst Georgia prisoners.
[A comrade in the Virginia prison system sent us a proposal for a United
Front among lumpen organizations in that state. When we sent some
feedback on the statement we got this response explaining that so far it
has been difficult to build support for the united front. The author
also explains why this statement is focused on New Afrikan lumpen
groups. MIM(Prisons) did not substantively edit the peace treaty except
to remove one point of conduct prohibiting sagging pants. In discussion
with the author we agreed that this is divisive on a point that is not
critical to the united front. - MIM(Prisons)]
The inspiration for this peace agreement is the Agreement to End
Hostilities that the imprisoned comrades put together in California back
in 2012. Unlike the California prison system, there isn’t a legacy of
revolutionary formations in the Virginia prison system. There is
virtually no code of conduct, no guidelines of discipline, etc. amongst
the general population and even within the lumpen organizations here.
Pretty much “anything goes.” So the peace treaty is an attempt to
establish a “Central” code of conduct or guidelines of discipline that
all organization affiliates could accept and embrace, which will then
establish unity and have us all moving in one accord.
When I say “us”, I am referring to New Afrikans because as Huey Newton
stated: “there can be no black-white unity until there first is black
unity.” And as it presently stands, there is virtually no black unity in
the Virginia prison system as it pertains to the “struggle.” So, before
we can work towards black-white/black-brown unity, we first have to
establish black-black unity.
I am sad to inform you that it was not a success on a large scale,
although a few individual members from various lumpen organization
embraced the peace treaty. I grant you permission to modify the peace
treaty as you see fit. It is only an idea, and as with all ideas, they
evolve over time and blossom into something transformative and
revolutionary.
The United Lumpen Front for Peace & Unity in Virginia Prisons
The basis of any real and lasting unity amongst all lumpen “tribal” or
“street” organizations inside Virginia prisons requires an agreement on
the following points and guidelines. We must hold each other accountable
if any one of our comrades fail to uphold these points and guidelines.
Points of Unity & Peace
Peace: We organize to end the needless and petty disagreements,
conflicts and violence between ALL lumpen organizations in the Virgina
prison environment. Our captors (the pig administrators) use Willie
Lynch style divide-and-control tactics so that we fight, oppose and
oppress each other instead of using our time and energy on challenging
and changing unjust and inhumane prison conditions. If we want to change
our conditions, defend ourselves from racist oppression and regain
control of our own lives and destinies, we must establish lasting peace
in all Virginia prisons and organize across lumpen “tribal” and “street”
organizational lines for our own survival.
Unity: We must achieve power by uniting, bonding, and struggling side by
side with people in other lumpen organizations who face the same
oppression, the same genocide, and the same enemy for our own common
interests and survival.
To maintain lasting unity, we must establish a mutual love and respect
between all lumpen organizations, and maintain an open line of
communication so that we can peacefully and strategically handle any
conflicts or disagreements that may arise. This is especially needed in
Virginia prisons because of how our captors (i.e. pig investigators) use
snitches/informants to pass rumors that divide us and keep us oppressed.
The reactionary pig administration uses such tactics because they see
the end of their control within our unity.
Proposal of Guidelines to Achieve Peace and Unity Amongst Lumpen
Organizations in Virginia Prisons
We must establish a committee made up of two people from all lumpen
“rival” organizations. This committee will facilitate an open line of
communication and networking between all lumpen organizations, and at
all times work to maintain peace and unity in the event conflicts and/or
disagreements arise. Therefore, those people appointed to this committee
must have considerable respect and influence within their respective
organizations. This committee shall meet once a month (or as needed) to
address grievances, resolve conflicts and disagreements, and discuss
strategies on how we can best fight oppression and improve our living
conditions in a collective manner. In addition to the above, in order to
create structure in our prison environment based on discipline and
militancy, and draw a clear line of distinction between us and our
common enemy, this committee should establish the following rules for
all lumpen organization members:
People from different lumpen organization should strive to eat together
in the cafeteria, walk the yard together, work out together, study
history together and smile and show love and respect for each other at
all times. This will allow us to build a bond based on Black-on-Black
bulletproof love and unity, and allow us to see each other as allies and
comrades instead of rivals and enemies.
Stop laughing, joking, playing, and engaging in casual conversations
with ALL prison staff members. Don’t initiate any conversation with them
unless it’s for the purpose of trying to get personal matters taken care
of. If prison staff members speak, then it is up to that individual
prisoner to choose to speak back out of courtesy, or not. This draws a
clear line of distinction between us and our common enemy and will cause
our oppressors/captors to take us seriously and have much more respect
for us than at present. This also builds unity because it will give us
the sense that we are doing something collectively.
Stop throwing your hoods up, peacing each other up, stacking, etc. in
front of (or in clear view of) all prison staff members. The wise should
always move in silence and we should never expose who we are, what we
are, or who our comrades are to the pig administration.
No one should engage in the creation or passing of any rumors or gossip.
The pigs use rumors and gossip to sow seeds of dissent and distrust
amongst the oppressed. If a comrade attempts to create or pass any
rumors or gossip it must be immediately reported to a committee
member.
Every accusation made against a comrade should be backed up with true
facts and not based on assumptions or poor intelligence, information, or
understanding.
Everyone who has a minimum of ten years left to serve must attend the
law library, study and learn the law, and work on their own case, or
assist another comrade on their case.
Workouts (exercises) at least three times a week should be mandatory for
everyone with Black lumpen hood/tribal organizational ties. All Black
lumpen hood/tribal organizations were birthed out of the Black struggle
and the need to protect and defend our neighborhoods, ourselves and our
communities. We must be in the best physical condition to effectively
defend ourselves, our comrades, our people and our communities from
racist oppression and white supremacy.
These guidelines are a work in progress, therefore they can be
amended/modified to fit your specific environment or area for maximum
effect as long as they adhere to the two points of peace and unity.
“Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the reality of our
situation, understand that fascism is already here, that people are
already dying who could be saved, that generations more will die or live
poor butchered half-lives if you fail to act. Do what must be done,
discover your humanity and your love in revolution. Pass on the torch.
Join us, give up your life for the people.” - Comrade George Lester
Jackson
by a North Carolina prisoner November 2015 permalink
I am writing to inform you of the work that I have been doing here at
Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City, North Carolina. I am
currently housed on Intensive Control (ICON) and I’ve been spreading the
word to a few people in my block. One of the brothers in my block was
the real confrontational type who would try to start arguments with
different guys simply because the block was too quiet. Usually I would
ignore his antics because I understood his cry for attention and fear of
having to look in that proverbial mirror, i.e. being alone with his own
thoughts. One day after hearing him verbally attack another comrade as
well as just cursing out officers without cause I reached to him by
calling him on his childish and misguided ways. At this time he told me
he never got involved in the conversations that myself and a few others
often had because he didn’t know anything about it. I then told him the
easiest way to learn about it was to ask questions, which led to me
sending him two issues of Under Lock & Key. Now this same
young brother is a part of these conversations about the various degrees
of prison struggle. He is also a member of the Soldiers of Revolution
(SOR).
I founded the Soldiers of Revolution (SOR) while housed on ICON. I did
so after witnessing the relentless ongoing cycle of gang violence within
the North Carolina prison population. I became a member of the Bloods
organization in 1998 and in 2015 I renounced my position as a member of
that organization to found the Soldiers of Revolution.
I founded this organization because of the gang violence but also
because of the constant oppression the prison population endures with no
one to teach them how to go about overcoming the oppression. I saw that
while many gang members claimed to battle oppression they failed to do
so because they were perpetuating it. I understood that they didn’t know
how to begin the fight against oppression because they were never
educated on the many levels of oppression. So SOR was created to educate
the masses as well as to be the voice and vanguard of the politically
ignorant prison population in North Carolina.
SOR is a political organization founded on the principles of mass
political education of all oppressed nations, the battle to end
oppression, and peace within the prison population to end gang violence.
We stand united in the face of oppression and fully understand that the
first step to breaking the cycle is to initiate proper political
education. Since we understand the importance of political education in
regards to the struggle to liberate the oppressed nations, we have study
groups and issue class assignments to further the desire to be
politically conscious and active.
SOR is not a gang nor gang-affiliated, though some members are former
gang members. As we are primarily a non-violent organization we do not
condone or support gang bangin’ in any fashion. We do not wish to
perpetuate the lifestyles and stereotypes that plague many oppressed
nations. We do not adhere to the doctrine of oppressing others to
further our own cause. We will offer our assistance and stand united
with other political organizations of the oppressed nations but we will
not be ruled or governed by anyone but SOR.
MIM(Prisons) responds: SOR is doing important work pushing
forward the political education and unity of oppressed nations, and
underscores a point that is important for activists: oppression and
violence are learned behaviors and we need to work hard to help humynity
unlearn these terrible habits. We can’t expect this change to happen
overnight. In fact we know from the experience in China and the USSR
that even after a socialist revolution a new group of people (many of
whom were oppressed before the revolution) will attempt to take power
for personal gain. This is not surprising since the individualist
elements of the culture of capitalism will not be wiped out overnight.
The Chinese initiated a mass fight against the ongoing idological
holdovers of feudalism, which they called the Great Proletarian Cultural
Revolution, as they worked to create a culture of socialism. Everyone
was encouraged to study politics and freely criticize their leaders.
This vigilance is the only way we will eventually eliminate the culture
of oppression and violence which permeates every aspect of society and
pulls the lumpen into anti-people activities like bangin’.
Each individual who belongs to a lumpen organization needs to assess
your own situation to decide whether it is best to stay in that
organization and struggle from within to build the anti-imperialist
movement, or if you need to leave your organization to push forward your
revolutionary organizing. There is a place for all of these
organizations in the United Front for Peace in Prisons, where we can all
come together to oppose prisoner-on-prisoner violence and build unity
among lumpen organizations.
I would like to say thank you for the support you guys put out for us in
prison. As much as we don’t want to give leverage to these parasites, we
have to realize what we’re up against. By analyzing current events and
the possibility of change to happen, we have to accept failures in order
to gain grounds. The path we choose now will determine where we’re
headed. It can be seen everywhere that the old system ain’t working. As
much reforms are placed on the table, the crumbs are repacked and tried
again. No matter how different it’s made, it’s the same old ideas. The
boiling point has been exceeded and riots are getting more intense. This
will happen when the people decide their own fate. A hero is not needed,
only the spark which will light the way for others.
I emphasize decolonizing ourselves and making the connections between
our oppression and imperialism. Being a person of color, I know where I
stand. Therefore I do agree on the five pillars of the United Front for
Peace in Prisons. I’m an anarchist and belong to a First Nation. The
liberty tree branches touch certain ideas we agree upon. By coming
familiar with other struggles outside our own lines we can connect the
dots that lead to a common enemy. By placing the teachings of resistance
in several minds, we can prevent it from being destroyed by placing it
in one basket, which will help us prevail into the unknown future.
MIM(Prisons) responds: We welcome this comrade into the United
Front for Peace in Prisons, especially as an anarchist and a member of a
First Nation. We aim to unite all who can be united against imperialism.
Sectarianism (prioritizing your group over the entire people) leads to
divisions between Maoists and anarchists, which are unnecessary in our
fight against our common enemy.
We also agree with this comrade’s emphasis on educating many people
rather than building up single ideological leaders. Building up the
political competency of all of society is one of the keys to success of
our revolutionary struggle. If we rely on a single leader, or a single
party, for guidance, then we will inevitably be led astray when that
leader is no longer around, whether by natural death or assassination.
Spreading political study to as many people as possible helps protect
our struggle and helps people to be masters of their own future.
One hundred years since the hystoric Plan de San Diego took place does
yet another monumental and hystoric event develop; the publication of
Chican@ Power
and the Struggle for Aztlán. Chican@ Power and the Struggle
for Aztlán is a revolutionary nationalist book that focuses on the
revolutionary struggle of the Chican@ nation against Amerikan
imperialism. This book is in the service of all oppressed Raza within
Aztlán and should be studied by those who are interested in liberating
the Chican@ nation from U.$. imperialism, especially Raza who are
interested in establishing a Chican@ People’s Republic in what is
currently occupied and oppressed Aztlán, i.e., California, Texas,
Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
Chican@ Power and the Struggle for Aztlán sheds light on the
darkness that is national oppression, a darkness that has shrouded and
enveloped Aztlán, by directing its luminous rays onto the shining path
that has been paved for us by all the great people’s struggles the world
over. People’s struggles in which the heroic Third World masses continue
to prove not only their bravery in the face of disastrous imperialism,
but the validity and effectiveness of People’s War and the revolutionary
ideology from which it sprung: Marxism-Leninsm-Maoism, principally
Maoism.
Chican@ Power and the Struggle for Aztlán enjoins us to
vehemently attack national oppression and criticize the proponents of
national oppression whoever they may be. This means that as
revolutionary nationalists and the advanced detachment of the Chican@
nation it is our duty to be the first to openly criticize our own
sell-out political and reformist leaders. It does no good to go about
praising oppressors just because they have a Spanish surname, speak
Spanish, or are Raza by birth, as doing so only confuses the issue for
the rest of the Chican@ masses who look to us for theoretical and
ideological guidance. As revolutionaries we must constantly blaze the
trail in matters of political outlook and awareness and must never give
in to complacency which inevitably brings about political degeneration.
We must put an end to Chican@ nationalists masquerading as Maoists who
in the name of Aztlán would raise the red flag only to oppose it.
Communists from the Chican@ nation should therefore take a hard and
uncompromising stand against these national chauvinists who with their
sophistry would only set back the Chican@ movement for liberation and
independence.
That said, real Maoists believe in uniting all who can be united in the
struggle to free the nation. This is in accordance with United Front
theory and practice as developed by Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR
during the Soviet people’s struggle against German fascism, and Mao
Zedong in the Chinese people’s war of liberation against Japanese
militarism and imperialism. As such and in making this statement it is
recognized that there is a contradiction between uniting all who can be
united and struggling not only against erroneous tendencies within the
Chican@ movement and nation, but outright deviations and revisionism
within the Chican@ communist movement as well. Maoists from the Chican@
nation should seek to resolve these differences and contradictions now,
starting with the more advanced elements of the Chican@ masses, through
the method of unity-struggle-unity. We should not wait for the national
liberation stage to be completed before taking up this ideological
struggle. This should not preclude our breaking with other Chican@
organizations on the basis of principled stands of scientific dispute as
“the struggle bursts forth continuously.” We should recognize that in
such instances what we must do is not unite two into one, but struggle
to divide in order to liberate Aztlán and make revolution.
We should also recognize that before the movement can really take shape
through the power and strength of the Chican@ masses there must first be
a consensus among all the revolutionary elements of Aztlán so as to
consolidate the Chican@ national liberation movement; whether that be
within a loose united front of various Chican@ and Mexican@
organizations, or under one united flag with a single program, cannot
possibly be determined at this time. What should be acknowledged however
is that the revolutionary forces within Aztlán must begin the process of
consolidation so as to continue to move the struggle forward. The
principal way of doing this at this current stage of the struggle
undoubtedly revolves around Under Lock & Key, the voice of
the anti-imperialist movement behind prison walls. It is thus the
revolutionary duty of Maoists and other anti-imperialists from the
Chican@ nation to unite in order to begin the long and arduous process
of liberation and decolonization de toda la gente.
The Chican@ revolutionary nationalist movement should be in firm unity
with all genuine Maoist forces the world over as well as all
revolutionary forces fighting imperialist backed regimes and lackeys.
Clenched fist salute! A clenched fist salute is also extended to all
Raza and camaradas currently locked in Amerikkka’s prisons who have
taken the qualitative leap towards gaining freedom and liberation for
our people by engaging and struggling with Maoism; the third and highest
stage of revolutionary science.
Comrades should also seriously study the ten point program of
MIM(Prisons) as well as the six cardinal points of the Maoist
Internationalist Ministry of Prisons before attempting to create their
own Maoist organizations as they can help to demarcate between real
Maoism and phoney communist organizations. These programs should serve
as a general guide to the type of organizing and organization we should
aspire to. Revolutionary cells claiming both the mantle of Mao and
Aztlán should be open to all Chican@s and should not be contingent on
past street or prison organization, but on the deep seated belief that
Aztlán is a territory of the Chican@ nation which must be liberated!
On that same note Chican@ Maoist organizations should have very strict
admission policies as revolution is not a game or a lifestyle, but a
matter of life and death and so only the most committed revolutionaries
should be recruited. Comrades should also seriously study the Leninist
concept of “better, fewer, but better” for this stage of the struggle.
Lastly, comrades should enjoin the oppressed prison masses, in
particular imprisoned Raza, to take up struggle and begin working with
other lumpen organizations amiable towards revolution in the spirit and
practice of the United Front for Peace in Prisons, as this is not only
the most effective way of establishing peace in prison but of sustaining
it. Peace amongst the lumpen is not only a precursor, but a prerequisite
to victory on a strategic level.
The Chican@ and other prison masses must realize that Amerikan
imperialism grows increasingly weaker every day, both on a domestic and
international level because of its extended, hegemonic over-reach.
Instead of gaining the imperialists a greater grasp on the far off and
distant periphery this presence is instead met with fierce resistance
and hate on the part of the resolute Third World masses. The masses must
know that Amerikan imperialism is a paper tiger and on a strategic and
long-term level its’ show of strength amounts to nothing more than
shadow boxing strictly for the benefit of those it would wish to
subjugate and oppress; it is a concrete monster with feet of clay and
wherever it chooses to plant its feet it gets attacked.
“No rewriting of history can change the fact that it has been the
national liberation struggle which has handed imperialism so many
military defeats” (“The National Question and Separate Vanguard Parties”
in MIM Theory 7: Proletarian Feminist Nationalism)
I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high
spirits. I received the information on how to form a study group and a
copy of Fundamental Political Line of MIM(Prisons) you sent.
Thank you. It has been very helpful. I also received Under Lock
& Key No. 45.
The study group I started only has three people involved so far. It’s
difficult because we are currently being housed in administrative
segregation, so we basically have to yell back and forth to one another.
But it’s not all bad. Having to yell to one another might get others
involved in our discussions because they might hear something that
touches base with them.
The comrade in the article did some good things, like setting up a “poor
box” and doing tournaments, but we feel that he stopped making progress
when he waged a war against officers and a lumpen organization (LO). The
comrade said that by a member of one LO breaking into the boxes of two
other LOs, somehow his treaty was broken. I’m curious, did the comrade
investigate the incident to determine whether the theft was sanctioned
by the leadership of the one LO? If the theft was just an isolated
incident then it should not have had any effect on the treaty. That’s
assuming, of course, that the treaty in question was a peace agreement
reached between the leadership of each LO in that particular barracks or
at that particular unit.
We believe that if it was just an isolated incident then the comrade
should have let the leadership of the LO the thief belonged to hand down
punishment. However, since the comrade is the leader of the UFAO, he
could have called together a “committee” to determine how the situation
should be handled. We feel that if the comrade would have just prevented
the thief from participating in, or benefiting from, UFAO function, he
would still be in population pushing the cause forward.
We’ve learned from the comrade a lot of positive things we might try out
in the future, like the poor box, but we also learned to never rush a
decision, especially one that could possibly result in a “war.” We
believe that all decisions made should be in line with the progress of
our cause, and any decision reached should be a collective effort to
ensure the best path forward is taken.
MIM(Prisons) responds: In our response to the UFAO article that
this Arkansas study group is responding to from ULK 45, we
asked others to share tactics for how to handle a breach of a peace
treaty without resorting to violence if possible. Everyone’s conditions
will be different, and what works in some facilities might not apply to
others. This writer’s suggestion of approaching the leading members of
the treaty-breaker’s organization is one potential option.
Even though the specific agreements you adopt will vary, it’s a good
idea for everyone forming a peace treaty to discuss this question in
advance, before an actual breach of the treaty happens. That way you’ll
already be in agreement about how to handle a situation like the one
explained by UFAO in ULK 45 where the peace treaty was thrown
out the window, a “war” was initiated for retribution, and the leader of
the peace treaty ended up in solitary confinement.
We hope to continue this discussion of how to make our efforts to build
the United Front for Peace in Prisons as fruitful as possible. Send in
tactics that have worked in your peace-building efforts to maintain
course when it seems to be going off the tracks.
9 September 2015 marked the fourth annual Day of Peace and Solidarity in
prisons throughout the United $tates. This is an opportunity for us to
commemorate the anniversary of the Attica uprising and draw attention to
abuse of prisoners across the country. The demonstration was initiated
in 2012 by an organization participating in United Front for Peace in
Prisons (UFPP) and has been taken up as an annual UFPP event, with
people committing to participate in prisons across the country.
Activities vary, from peaceful resistance and fasting to study groups
and educational events. Some observe the event alone due to their
confinement conditions and some take this opportunity to organize with
others.
This demonstration is focused on the
UFPP
principles of peace and unity: We organize to end the needless
conflicts and violence among prisoners, and we strive to unite with
those who have a common interest in fighting the oppression of the
criminal injustice system. On this one day we call on all prisoners to
take up these principles and cease all prisoner-on-prisoner hostilities,
and use the day for solidarity building and education.
While we don’t organize for just one day of peace and unity, this day of
action expands awareness and broadens our base of support to build for
peace and unity year round. In this way we build from smaller campaigns
to broader goals and ultimately to a movement that can stand up against
the entire criminal injustice system.
We have already received reports from a number of September 9
participants, which are summarized here. Look for more reports in
upcoming issues of Under Lock & Key.
Comrades in Arkansas commemorated the day by joining USW and committing
to stepping up their work in the coming year:
“Happy Day of Peace and Solidarity! Today my comrades and I
celebrated by eating a chili spread and discussing the many ailments
that plague prisoners as a result of our confinement. We also discussed
the ways we might non-coercively combat the prison establishment from
within. That is no easy task because at the first sign of unity the pigs
are quick to lock us up and separate us. Not that we have much to lose
considering we are being housed on administrative segregation (23 hour
lock down).
“We decided to name our study group CRASH or Crazy Revolutionaries
Against Social Hierarchy. We thought it fitting to name ourselves on
this day to commemorate Attica. We would also like to join USW. We
absolutely agree with all 6 points of MIM(Prisons) and would like to
join other like-minded individuals and take a more active role in
helping unify the oppressed against imperialism. All power to the people
and let burn the renewing flames of the communist revolution!”
In Louisiana a new comrade devoted the day to serious study and fasting:
“I am writing to inform you that because of knowledge I received by
reading Under Lock & Key I participated in my first
commemoration of the September 9 Day of Peace Peace and Solidarity
movement. Six months ago I was unaware such a movement even existed,
especially since I was first exposed to the tragedy in, or rather at,
Attica in the late 90s - the same time I was first introduced to the
Souljah George. The organization I was/am a part of already in our
protocols recognized Black August. But the September 9 movement was
unknown to us.
“Even though I hadn’t heard of the movement I still responded to your
call to arms. I fasted from solid food the entire day and only had one
cup of water after sundown. I also, after each prayer (as I am a
conscious and conscientious Muslim), reread articles from ULK and
expounded upon them to my neighbor who, incidentally, is the guy who was
involved in the failed judicial lynching attempt of Lil Boosie.
“I also revisited The Wretched of the Earth by Fanon with particular
emphasis on the preface written by Jean-Paul Sartre. And although it is
a scathing denunciation of European imperialism/colonialism and a
concise treatise advocating, or rather understanding, the use of
violence to uproot that system, I still believe it was appropriate
reading for the commemoration of this day. For as we know, the overall
goal you wish to achieve and those I am aligned with will not be a
peaceful act in the traditional sense of the word. The forces of
capitalism will not go quietly into that good night.”
In Michigan one organizer is spreading information about this history of
Attica and the September 9 Day:
“I’ve been talking to a lot of prisoners about the September 9 Day
of Peace and Solidarity but a lot of prisoners knew nothing about the
Attica uprising by the comrades against the injustice department of
corruption of the DOCs across the country. I myself fasted on September
9 for the remembrance of the fallen comrades, but the majority of
prisoners in the Michigan DOC played games, watched TV, and talked shit
about the ‘new private food services trinity.’ But they aren’t for peace
and solidarity.”
While this comrade found most prisoners wasting time, the seeds of
discontent are there with their discussions about the food service.
These seeds can be nurtured with education and organizing to build a
core devoted to peace and solidarity.
A comrade at the California Health Care Facility wrote in advance of the
date about plans:
“For September 9 this year my comrades and I are organizing a hunger
strike to make the pigs start cleaning our unit. We live in a controlled
unit that doesn’t allow porters, leaving the cleaning up to the pigs or
custodians. But they never do it so we are forced to live in filth.”
On September 10 we received the following update from this same comrade:
“Update on my September 9 hunger strike. The pigs conceded and cleaned
the unit. On top of that I had 15 copies made of the grievance campaign
petition and had two comrades join me in flooding the listed offices
with them. I provided the postage for them all since they are stingy
with the indigent envelopes here. I also led a small group in which we
went over the history and importance of September 9 and enlightened a
few who were unaware of the struggle. I broke my fast at midnight a few
minutes ago so now I’m going to spend some time in contemplation and get
some zzz’s.”
Another California comrade wrote about organizing at California
Correctional Institution:
“For September 9 I attempted to raise the level of consciousness
amongst the inmates here on a few issues:
“1) I spoke on comrade George L. Jackson’s untimely death at San
Quentin, and his particular struggle transforming the colonial and
criminal mind into a revolutionary mentality. I talked about how he vied
to unify the blacks and other groups. But, the reactionary system wasn’t
having it one bit. So as a result of his struggles in prison he was
assassinated.
“2) I also spoke on
Hugo
Pinell, who was also slain unfortunately during Black August, and
what he stood for in terms of solidarity amongst progressive people. I
also spoke on Attica’s uprising. Mao said, ‘one spark can light a
prairie fire.’ And it definitely did.
“3) I spoke on how it is vitally important to end all hostilities
amongst all groups of prisoners and beyond. In spite of the fact that
hostilities will be fomented by the reactionary state. We must continue
to vie for peace, harmony and love amongst each other no matter what.
The enemy will stop at nothing to foil our efforts. It’s part of the
struggle to continue moving forward until our goals can be realized, and
at that we can set more.
“Also, I spoke to them about the importance of maintaining a study group
here even after my departure from prison. And that each and every one of
them have an inherent obligation to conduct and maintain a study group
amongst themselves so that they can continue raising the social and
political consciousness of prisoners as a whole.
“I did what I could to commemorate September 9. The discussion was for 2
hours. It turned out pretty well. Most of the participants didn’t have a
clue about these historical events and about the prison movement in
general. And of course, some had questions. About 12 people attended the
group. Also, I did a thousand burpees myself to commemorate September 9.
It was exhilarating and refreshing at 53 years of age, to continue to
push forward in my 34th year incarcerated. Pamoja tutashinda uhuru
sasa!”
Also from California at High Desert CF we received a preview of
September 9 plans from the organization Abolitionist From Within:
“As the leading member of the Abolitionist From Within (AFW) I do
support MIM(Prisons) and embrace as a group the five core principles of
the United Front for Peace in Prisons. While AFW may not agree with
every political issue MIM(Prisons) advocates, it is the issues that we
both support that bring us together in this revolutionary struggle. AFW
recently had our first demonstration at High Desert State Prison (HDSP),
bringing together a cohesive front in reflecting, fasting and uniting to
honor those nameless and faceless men of Black August and Attica (1971)
by coming together in solidarity. We brought up the issues of the day
affecting us and we all offered solutions from each individual’s
perspective. It was a beautiful and righteous energy as we synergized,
listening to each other, and offered the best of ourselves during this
time. We will meet again on September 9 and try to agree on the best
solutions in attacking and combating the issues that are inflicting us
today from the first meeting.”
These comrades followed up with a report on their September 9
activities:
“It’s been a blessing to learn and grow from each comrade who has
engaged in a solidarity demonstration with the movement, Abolitionists
From Within (AFW). We came together for all the lost comrades and those
that continue to struggle and unite to break the chain of injustice.
“We fasted September 8 to September 9 in a show of solidarity. Also we
studied together reading books with study questions and we also read
material from Under Lock & Key No. 45 and the September 9
Day of Struggle Study Pack. After reading, we came up with questions
from the material and off we went back to our cells. We also shared the
word with anybody who was willing to listen. Back in our cells i heard
the comrades feeling like freedom revolutionary fighters and that’s
what’s up! We stand in solidarity with the comrades who fought and died
in the uprising at Attica. Continue to struggle with peace on our
tongue.
“Here on ‘D yard’ there was nothing but peace today in solidarity with
the movement and with the Attica freedom fighters. The movement
prevented many young men from being swallowed by the prison culture and
that’s how I feel about the MIM(Prisons) movement helping us comrades
who want change, so I say stay struggling and thank for your continued
struggle with us prisoners. Revolutionary Greetings!”
In California Pelican Bay also represented this September 9,
“Today was a good day. No one had any canteen or nothing to make food,
but we had good conversation about Yogi’s death and how it was a benefit
to the state. The hunger strike was brought up and I talked about how
our hunger strike was a continuation of the struggles of Attica.
“It was hard to speak of peace when we are so close to the tragedy at
Folsom, but folks here with me want peace; we have all voiced peace and
how it helps us all in our own struggles. Doing the state’s bidding by
oppressing other prisoners is not coming from anyone housed around me.
We know that the real contradiction lies in prisoners vs. the
state. Hopefully other circles come to realize this or are weeded out
because Attica gave us a concrete example of what us vs. them looks
like. So did the San Quentin Six and the California hunger strikes.”
This spring we sent out a request to all California USW supporters to
give us updates on the status of the Agreement to End Hostilities (AEH)
at their prison, and to send us a follow up report following the
September 9th Day of Solidarity. This status report has been
overshadowed by the murder of Hugo “Yogi Bear” Pinell on August 12 at
New Folsom Prison. Here is a report on the incident from one comrade:
“Today at around 1:00 p.m., with the help of police provocateur agents a
riot ignited on B-Yard with numerous inmates involved and I regret
deeply with anger and rage to inform you all that a true Black man by
the name of Hugo Pinell was murdered by not only white inmates, but
police as well. It was stirring up for weeks before the incident
occurred that violence was to take place and Hugo was definitely the
target! Due to disrespectful gestures of a white woman during visiting
hours in the visitors room, which was supposedly settled verbally.
“No matter how old, Black lives do matter. The prison officials
mockingly placed information directly to reporters/media about Hugo’s
past as far back as the 1970s, and how he dealt with pigs or whatnot.
He’s a human being who was (unjustly and spinelessly) murdered by agents
and their spies. Only two warning shots were fired and while numerous
stabbings were taking place no officers were hurt. Despite being
attacked, Black inmates have been assassinated for assaultive gestures,
not to mention actual violence.
“I know that Babylon and their stool pigeons been waiting to take down
someone of Hugo’s caliber, so it’s not a secret. These cowards murdered
this man. We must make our society aware of the fact that as
incarcerated warriors of the struggle, we as a people are subjected to
every form of torture, rape, mental anguish, murder/assassination at any
given moment still to this day.”
Another comrade at California State Prison - Sacramento (aka New Folsom)
wrote more recently to explain his interpretation of what happened:
“The most profound and logical explanation is the most evaded and
overlooked, and that is the whole situation is said to be orchestrated
by Correctional Officers in retaliation for the animosity that they
(COs) had towards the brother over historical incidents dating back to
the days of Convict vs. Tyrant COs. The hostilities are fueled by
institutional propaganda, some may claim that after all these years the
white”Aryan Brotherhood” finally got revenge. However, that theory is
ludicrous, due to the fact that they no longer really have loyal and
active subjects. As hard as it is to foster a thought, that the guards
are the bad guys amongst the bad guys (civilian thinking about
prisoners) it is the actual, logical and only real answer.”
The comrade goes on to describe a series of abuses being faced at New
Folsom.
A couple weeks before Hugo’s assassination, a third comrade at New
Folsom told us,
“I see prisoners pass through here for needed medical attention who come
from other yards. One of the”primary” signatories to the AEH, one of the
primary leaders, has been released from the dungeon some time ago who
has been here in the facility, and yet, despite his presence and
authority, I have seen a semi-steady flow of camaradas pass
through here after having been viciously stabbed. The latest one was
both stabbed and sliced up with a box cutter.”
This comrade called on politically conscious prisoners to acknowledge
that the success of the AEH as it is being portrayed does not correlate
with concrete reality, and that we must address this reality.
Despite this reality that there was a series of conflicts leading up to
Hugo’s murder, the outpouring of calls for both justice and continuing
to build unity among all prisoners are coming in from across the state.
This is a disciplined response, where the prisoners in California are
thinking strategically about how to react to this tragedy. That in
itself is no small feat, which should be recognized.
We received a call from a comrade of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party
- Prison Chapter down south, who represented some older brothers there.
We also heard back from a comrade we quoted in our last update on the
AEH in ULK 42, from January 2015. His story of O.G.s building
with youngsters in a bus ride from Pelican Bay caught many people’s
attention. He wrote on 13 August 2015,
“I had written to you in October 2014 about… how the Agreement to End
Hostilities project was going so well, and now this… We have achieved so
much with methods of non-violence amongst the prisoner population… The
core reps must meet at the round table to find a solution.”
A comrade writing from Calipatria had a similar analysis to those above,
with a more or less positive spin on the status of the AEH,
“Having been around the system and noting that the same process of
targeted assassination via drone strike or other means, people whom
correctional staff feel that they can use to try and spark a breakdown
in the Agreement to End Hostilities are used and in this case it is only
obvious that prisoncrats had involvement in selecting a target of such
renown that it was figured that riots would occur all across the state.
The idea was kicked around and so far in most cases sobriety of
consciousness have been maintained.
“Isolated incidents have occurred that could have blown up into mass
conflicts, which it has been becoming obvious to some prisoners in
recognition of plots by agent provocateurs who consistently strive to
have us going at each other in manufactured proxy wars so that
prisoncrats could justifiably perform acts that cannot otherwise be
officially sanctioned.
“The significance of the murder of Hugo (Yogi) Pinell is not lost on
prisoners of conscious whose main question tends to be: With all the
history, how was the plot allowed to be accomplished when there should
not have been a single prisoner unaware of his presence and of his
significance to all prisoners? Men of consciousness can reflect on the
teachings of Sun Tzu relative to knowing the tactics and practices of
the enemy…
“Prisoncrats without a doubt recognize that the introduction of
non-violent protests by other means have opened the eyes of prisoners
who assumed that the only way to obtain results were by violent means. I
suspect that “race” is not as viable an instrument of power among the
prison population as a result of the AEH, throwing a wrench into the
works of the prisoncrats. So we must be aware that they will not limit
themselves to one tactic to try to create new conflicts along various
divisions.”
So while the reaction to Hugo’s death could have been a lot worse, there
is a lot of work ahead to learn from this, as we address the injustice
that occurred and strengthen the prison movement moving forward.
Other than New Folsom, we got reports from several other prisons on the
status of the AEH, and we hope comrades keep sending in their reports.
From Corcoran, we received:
“I’m here in the COR SHU 1L building, which is considered the short
corridor. We New Afrikan Revolutionary Nationalists (NARN) have placed
our ads in the many news outlets (SF Bayview, Turning the
Tide, Prison Focus, The Rock, PHSS
Newsletter) informing all that the NARN Collective Think Tank in
Corcoran SHU’s mission statement is the agreement to end all
hostilities, and as far as we know it’s being honored everywhere that’s
received its message. It is our only hope at obtaining our political
objectives in this struggle if we all come across the racial lines and
bring about a mass united front as we did with the hunger strikes to
show our solidarity hasn’t changed. On the 4B yard (where I am) we hear
that all the building’s inmates are programming together, as in
exercising on the yard in the cages and looking out for one another with
basic necessities, as much as we can do in the SHU.”
A newer comrade, from a different building in 4B at Corcoran had just
got information about September 9 organizing and jumped into action.
However, he laments,
“we are the ones who divide ourselves in this place. In this SHU we are
integrated with general population (GP) inmates as well as those in
protective custody (PC). By in-house politics, GP inmates are not to
communicate or interact with those on PC status and needless to say the
limitations of being locked down only limits our conversing with those
few in our pods.”
This just demonstrates that even getting the full picture of what’s
going on at one prison requires more reports from the ground. But it is
safe to say that there are still divisions preventing basic
communication, which is a barrier to the goals of the AEH. No one
expected a declaration of peace to just be verbally accepted and
automatically translate into action. Building peace is a process, and
the first step is crossing barriers that have no useful basis. Then we
can expose the more serious contradictions that require more effort and
creativity to really address.
Pelican Bay represented this September 9th,
“Today was a good day. No one had any canteen or nothing to make food,
but we had good conversation about Yogi’s death and how it was a benefit
to the state. The hunger strike was brought up and I talked about how
our hunger strike was a continuation of the struggles of Attica.
It was hard to speak of peace when we are so close to the tragedy at
Folsom, but folks here with me want peace, we have all voiced peace and
how it helps us all in our own struggles. Doing the state’s bidding by
oppressing other prisoners is not coming from anyone housed around me.
We know that the real contradiction lies in prisoners vs. the
state. Hopefully other circles come to realize this or are weeded out
because Attica gave us a concrete example of what us vs. them looks
like, so did the San Quentin Six and the California hunger strikes.”
Another comrade there reported on the status to the Agreement to End
Hostilities,
“As we’re all aware, in order for an end to hostilities to become a
reality, all prisoners should promote it or encourage it to other
prisoners who are just arriving to the system. In my location (Pelican
Bay SHU), all have adhered to ’ending hostilities” even though it’s been
evident the pigs have tried to crack it by putting certain prisoners in
compromising circumstances, such as opening the wrong cell when one
comes back from yard. It’s done in a manner that’s obvious. I’ve
witnessed this happen at least 3 times in a year, but with no incidents
as all are adhering to the AEH!
“Although September 9 is a historical day in California prison history,
we now have July 8 which we can reflect on to see our efforts transcend
expectations.
“To sum up, in my area the AEH is adhered to and a lot of class
conscious conversations are constantly being addressed. Everything
pertaining to prisoner rights and the abolishment of solitary
confinement is a hot topic where ideas are matched, and debates and
polemics are welcomed with respect. Our lives are affected by all our
actions. It just helps more when we’re all on the same page. I cannot
say that a grand meeting will be held on September 9 or anything else.
We do have class consciousness, but not all are receptive to
political/revolutionary discussions. Being that my unit is very small, I
will probably be the only one participating in a solidarity fast on
September 9. My revolutionary solidarity goes out to all other USW
comrades.”
Leading up to September 9 we received a joint statement from the United
KAGE Brothers and the Prisoners Political Action Committee out of
Pelican Bay, which was a pledge to end hostilities on the inside and
out.
From California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, one of the
comrades who has spent more than 10 years in SHU reported in July,
“Yes, the Agreement to End Hostilities campaign has been popularized in
my area. I’m aware of it based on observation and active participation
in our class struggle to abolish solitary confinement, which has me
directly engaged with the people involved. Therefore, I’m able to
confirm, there hasn’t been a single issue of violence on the group yards
here at Tehachapi SHU, which have been in effect for over a year now.
“The Agreement to End Hostilities is being reinforced on the issues that
we’re organizing around and what it will take for our efforts to not
only be sustained, but being successful. The understanding of this, is
realized by prisoners on several fronts, such as, individuals from
various formations exercising together and aiding one another on the
political, social and economic contradictions that manifest.
“On a final note, we prisoners at CCI Tehachapi have been boycotting
CDCR’s ‘How to make a slave’ step-down program since May 11, 2015.
Please be sure to publicize this fact!!”
In Kern Valley State Prison we received reports of active building
across different groups in the spirit of the AEH. In particular the
Nation of Gods and Earths and the Rastafari groups there have been
leading progressive efforts. One God reported on a 30-day event
including many lumpen organizations (LOs) called Project Build. He
states,
“The People/masses/folks support the Agreement to End Hostilities based
on the fact that in this particular facility there are 20 (currently)
self-help groups as well as Bakersfield College… As for development of a
sort of treaty, that has not been put into effect due to the
individualists who will rat to the pigs for an extra phone call or to go
out to a ‘Regular Day Off’ yard. Those who are aware of the need to end
hostilities are toeing the line. Those that aren’t are socially
condemned by those who do not fully comprehend, and slowly re-educated
by those who see them for the unconsciousness they give off.
Communication is key.”
This reinforces the sentiment that lumpen organizations (LOs) are on
board for the AEH, and those who violate it are isolated individuals, or
individuals with connections to the state. At the same time the LOs are
not monolithic organizations and we must not be idealistic about
declaring “Peace achieved!” We have much to celebrate as we mark 3 years
of ending hostilities in California this October 12. But there is much
work to be done to address the existing contradictions that are lurking
beneath the surface. As comrades above acknowledge, it is not just agent
provocateurs creating trouble, though they are very real, and easily
influenced and bribed. To believe that it is just agent provocateurs is
to idealistically ignore the contradictions among the people that must
be addressed. There are antagonistic contradictions among the imprisoned
as well, especially in a situation like California where some LOs have
very entrenched economic and power interests. Addressing both types of
contradictions must continue in order to see another 3 years of peace
and achieve the goals of the prison movement in improving the lives of
all prisoners.