Correction: This article was originally published with Bcde. Abdul Jabbar Caliph as the author, when it was written by Bcde. Akili Shakur. We apologize to the Bcde. Akili and to our readers for the mistake.
In
October 1966, under the auspices of founders Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton,
the Black Panther Party was formed. Due to the conditions surrounding the time
period; Police brutality, unsuitable housing, mass incarceration of the
impoverished and the limited education provided to minorities (sound
familiar?), there was and remains a necessity for change. The men and women of
the African community began this struggle immediately following our capture and
subsequent displacement at the hands of our European oppressors many years ago.
Conditions continued to deteriorate despite the efforts of our ancestors. Yet,
it was in their spirit that Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and other comrades picked up the
mantle and moved forward constantly
reminding us that the struggle continues……..into this atmosphere came the likes
of Marshall “Eddie” Conway and George Wright.
Eddie
Conway, our comrade and brother has been unjustly incarcerated since 1970. I
say “unjustly” because the fact remains that there is no legitimate evidence
supporting his conviction. In 1971 he was convicted of the murder of a
Baltimore city police officer. He was sentenced to life as a result of this
conviction. The statement of his alleged accomplice was recanted, his alibi not
even considered and the word of police officers with prior knowledge of Mr.
Conway was tainted at best. The officers claim to have had no knowledge of Eddie
Conway (except having seen him on their patrols) and identified him in a photo
shoot. However, records indicate that there were Baltimore city police
detectives listed as founders of the Baltimore chapter of the Black Panther
Party (of which Eddie Conway had become Minister of Defense). Also, based on
information obtained by these personnel, the FBI had launched an investigation
into the activities of Comrade Eddie. These facts support the likelihood that
not only was the police aware of who Eddie Conway was but in fact targeted him.
Despite the confirmation from his boss that he was working when the shooting
took place, he remains in the Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI) in
Maryland. There have been numerous
requests to address this gross miscarriage of justice yet to no avail. The last
major effort culminating in the Baltimore City council requesting a pardon from
the governor in 2002.This invoked an outcry from Baltimore police officers.
Why? One would ask. How could this happen and not be corrected? The answer
would be what the FBI has termed “Seditious Conspiracy”.
During
this time period, another young man by the name of George Wright had escaped
from prison where he was serving 15-30yrs for a murder (that again could hardly
be proven) in 1962. After he and others escaped, they went to Detroit and joined
the Black Liberation Army, the military arm of the Black Panther Party. In
1972, he and 4 other comrades hijacked a plane and consequently embarrassed the
FBI. They were forced to strip down and give the comrades 1million dollars in
exchange for the passengers. Afterward, they had the crew take them to another
airport where they picked up a navigation expert en route to their destination,
Algeria, where Comrade Eldridge Cleaver was in hiding. It is important to note
that none of the flight crew or the navigator was harmed during this event.
Upon arrival in Algeria they were granted asylum, but were asked to give back
the money by the Algerian government under pressure from the American
government. Some of the BLA members eventually fled to France and were tried
and convicted in a French court. However, the French declined to extradite them
as this excerpt from the associated press reveals:
“The group eventually made their way to France, where Wright's associates were tracked down, arrested, tried and convicted in Paris in 1976. France refused to extradite them to the US where they would have faced much longer sentences. According to news reports at the time, the defense hailed the light sentences they were given as "a condemnation of American racism" after the jury found "extenuating circumstances" in their actions, apparently agreeing with the defense’s assertion that the hijacking had been motivated by "racial oppression in the United States"
Yes,
extenuating circumstances motivated by racial oppression in the United States.
A French jury acknowledged the issue of racial oppression in the United States
in 1976. This issue has not subsided. In fact, despite the appearance of
improvement, the condition has worsened. This depleted condition was instigated
by the beefed up internal military of the government, the police, and its
investigative espionage branch, the FBI. So, why do we continue to fight for
justice? What gives us the right? Why is the government wrong for its treatment
of these two men in particular? For the answers, let’s examine a time tested
American document, The Declaration of Independence.
IN Congress, July 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of AmericaWhen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —
Let
us examine, for a moment, the last statement in this portion of the
declaration. “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute
Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government,
and to provide new Guards for their future security.” This statement is in bold
print when listed in the 1966 Party Platform and Program as an explanation for
the 10 programs’ last point;
10. We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace. And as our major political objective, a United Nations-supervised plebiscite to be held throughout the Black colony in which only Black colonial subjects will be allowed to participate for the purpose of determining the will of Black people as to their national destiny.
The aforementioned statement, is the
statement that legally entitles us, as a people of separate and equal station
to which the laws of nature and nature’s God entitles us, to the right of
self-determination. A right long denied by the oppressive system established as
a byproduct of Capitalism here in the United States. American is guilty of greater offenses against Africans here in these United States than any listed in the
Declaration toward England! They have even gone as far as to subvert their own
laws to quell what they deem “Seditious activity”. An example would be the current
attempt to extradite George Wright. George Wright was granted political asylum
by the government of Portugal. As a result, NO government should be entitled to
request his extradition. This fact has not stopped American from pursuing its
campaign to track down as many former BLA and BPP members as possible and
subject them to incarceration or worse! If a government engages in a long train
of abuses and usurpations, like abusing its power and forcing another
government or institution to heed their demands, and pursuing invariably the
same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, what
should happen to such a Government? It is imperative that we never relent in
our struggle to throw off the yoke of capitalism and its son, oppression. This
country has murdered men in violation of its own laws, as in the case of Troy
Davis, when the Supreme court acknowledged there was doubt, albeit “minimal
doubt”. I’m quite certain that falls within the scope of “beyond a reasonable”.
They have held Eddie Conway for over 40yrs with no valid evidence. They are now
attempting to extradite George Wright, outside the scope of their authority.
They have even gone as far as to attempt to open conversations with Cuba by
requesting the return of Assata Shakur. They pursue our elder comrades that
dared to struggle against them more diligently than they pursue the old German
soldiers responsible for the atrocities against the Jews and WE are the
victims! War with this system is necessary. It was then and continues to be
now. The time for superfluous rhetoric is over the time for action is now!
During
this month, the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Black
Panther Party, let us not forget the comrades that fought for our liberation
and died or are currently incarcerated. Although the list is long, I will be
brief and mentioned just a few; George Jackson, Huey P. Newton, Eldridge
Cleaver, Stokely Carmichael, Albert Nuh Washington, Kuwasi Balagoon, Fred
Hampton, Mark Clark, W. L. Nolen, Cleveland Edwards, Alvin Miller, Khatari
Gaulden, Billy Christmas, James McClain, Jonathan Jackson, little Bobby Hutton,
Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter, John Huggins and this year Donald Cox and Geronimo
ji jaga Pratt have all passed. There a host of others and a salute them all
with the fist of power. There are a host of comrades that remain incarcerated;
Russell Maroon Shoats, Jalil Muntaqim, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Sundiata Acoli,
Herman Bell, Ruchell Magee, H. rap Brown, Hugo Pinell, Mumia Abu Jamal, Eddie Conway
and currently George Wright. Again there are many others and I salute them all
with the fist of power. Let us not forget those exiled such as our sister
Assata Shakur and the many that are still among us! Revolutionary love to you
all!
All
Power To The People! Uhuru Sasa na Diama! Lasima Tushinde Mbilashaka!
Bcde. Akili Shakur
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