ABCF UPDATE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE ABCF Winter 2008 "Any movement that does not support their political internees is a sham movement.”- O. Lutalo Tssue #49 WHAT IS THI The Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) began shorly after the 1905 Russian Revolution. It formed afer breaking from the Poliical Red Cross, due to the group's refusal to support Anarchist and Social Revolutionary Political Prisoners. The new group, naming itself the Anarchist Red Cross (ARC), began to pro- Vide aid to_those Politcal Prisoners who were refused support by the PRC In the carly decades, the organization had chapters. throughout Europe and North America. These chapters worked together to provide assistance o prisoners only in Russia. Soon other groups, such as the Latvian Anarchist Red Cross, emerg provide aid in other Eastem Etropean coun- tries. Armed with the ideas of mutual aid and solidarity, these groups worked tirelessly to provide support to those who were suffering because of thei political belicfs. In 1919, the organization’s name changed tothe Anarchist Black Cross to avoid confu- sion with the_International Red Cross. Through the 1920s and until 1958, the organ- ization worked under various ofher names but provided the same level of support a the other groups warking as Anarchist Black Cross, After 1936, the ABC expanded it aid to places such as Greece, laly and Spain. In 1958, the organization collapsed but reemerzed in 1967 in London, England. Once again ABC chapters spread throughout the globe providing support for imprisoned comrades. Sadly, by the end of the 1970 only a handful of ABC chapters still existed. T the 80, however, the ABC began (0 gain popularity again in the US and Europe. For years, the ABC's name was kept alive by a Bumber of completely autonomous groups scattered throughout the globe and support- ing a wide varicty of prison issues. In May of 1995, a small group of ABC collectives merged into a federation whose aim was 1o focus on the averall support and defense of Politcal Prisoners and Prisoners of War. Various groups have since merged in numerous networks throughout the globe working on various prisonissues. The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) has continued its mission to focus on the aid and support of Political Prisoners. We take the position that PP/POWSs demand our top priority. We strive to continue with the same dedication and solidarity to our fallen com- rades as those before us have shown. Introduction: The ABCEF i “Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of this organiza- | | PPy prp—— tion is the fact that Branch Groups and Support Groups are fieely autonomous to take on whatever initiatives they can to further the Unity of || Q4ORE LUTALO BLL DUNNE Purpose of the ABCE. So long as these initiatives do not contradict any pre- || Tremon. N 08625 Box 2088 existing agreements (Tactical Unity) that have been made by the ABCE. itis || sexou kamul Inez, KY 41224 not necessary for all groups to approve of and/or agree with programs, proj- || 113056 /60X 56 5CC HANIF BEY (B1-21) Emore, AL 36025 296933 Box 759 ects or work of other ABCF collectives.” [from the ABCF Constitution and B Sione o UA Structure] 2219 JAAN LaaAN ‘The following definitions are used to describe the below terms whenever || 1415147 Box 160 they appear in the ABCF Update or any other ABCF literature. ooy reTan ABCF GROUPS Political Prisoner (PP): A person incarcerated for actions cardied outin | | K218 N ABC support of legitimate struggles for self determination or for opposing the illegal policies of the govemment and/or its political subdivisions. [Special International Tribunal on the Violation of Human Rights of PP/POWS in U.S. Prisons and Jails, Dec. *90] PO Box 350392 Jacksonville, FL 32235 No Current Address but group remains actie, LOS ANGELES ABC PO Box 11223 Whiter, CA 90603 NYC ABC 123 Tompkins Ave. Brookiyn, NY 11208 PHILLY ABC PO Box 42120 Phiadelphia, PA 19101 Prisoner of War (POW): Those combatants strugeling against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes captured as prisoners are to be accorded the status of prisoner of war and their treatment should be in accordance ‘with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August, 1949 (General Assembly resolution 3103) Urgent Medical Report on Joe-Joe Bowen MONTREAL ABC P05 42053 SUCC Jeanne Mance Montreal GG W 273 Canada Philly ABC received news from Black Liberation Army (BLA) Prisoner of War, Joe Joe Bowen, that he was diagnosed with coro- nary heart discase. Doctors informed him main artery was blocked with plaque build up. The problem was discovered when Joe-Joe began to receive ehest pains. He was transferred 10 a hospital outside the prison here he took some tests. The doctors informed him that if he did Rt receive a heart operation he would die. However, there was serious danger with the surgery iself and he could also die because i there were any complications. Joe-Joe was transferred back to the prison, where he contacted the Philly ABCF to inform them of what had transpired. Several days later, Joe-Joe was again transported to the outside hospital where he had a stent inserted into the blocked artery. After the surgery Joe-Joe reported to the Philly chapter that he was doing okay and is recuperating from his sugery. We are asking for people to take a moment out of their day and send Joe-Joe a get well card. Let him know there are people that are rooting for him. Contact him at; Joseph Bowen AM4272 1 Kelley Drive Coal Township, PA 17866-1021 NEWS FR M THE FRONT Anti-Fascist Activist Jailed German antifa activist, Andrea Nefr, has been jailed for four months for merely hav- ing pepperspray on her (something which is actually LEGAL in Germany!) She now faces additional prison time for breaching probation conditions imposed on her after she attended an anti-nazi rally with some egas full of pepper. Please send urgent leters of support to: Andre Neff, Bar: 746/072 Justizvollzugsanstalt Tur Frauen in Berlin Arkonastrasse 56 13189 Berlin Germany Mexican Activists Freed On Jan. 25 seven adherents of the People's Front in Defense of the Land (EPDT) from the central Mexican village of San Salvador Atenco were liberated from the Mexico State prison at Molino de. Flores, after a federal judge cleared them of charges of kidnapping and attacking communications_infrastructure. They had been in prison since their arrest in violent confrontations with the police in May 2006. Charges were also dropped against 53 other FPDT followers who had been Treed on bail. A collective of "Zapatista lawyers" announced plans 1o bring criminal chars against Judge Jaime Maldonado, for having "arbitrarily” ordered the 164 FPDT followers imprisoned. Fifteen of the 21 police officers facing chanss in the May 2006 violence were also exonerated. Spanish citizen Cristina Valls, who was injured by police in the confrontation, has announced that she will bring suit charging the Mexican autharities. with "orture.” Veronza Bowers Transferred eronza Bowers was snatched up from ECI Coleman, FIL and shipped to Atlanta, Ga. (Federal Prison Locator)on his way to E.C.1 Bennettsville,So. Carolina. He was able o get a call out but was not allowed to return 1o his cell to pack up his gear. Hopefully he will get his gear with in 60 10 90 days. Bennettsville is about 70 miles West of Myrtle Beach and 75 miles SE. of Raleigh/Durham, No.Carolina. Veronza has been kept illégally in prison since his mandatory release date in April 2004 His new address will be: Ve ronza Bowers 35316-136 PO.Box 52020 Bennettsville, So. Carolina 25912 Pannell Will Face Extradition Former Black Panther, Joseph Pannell (also known as Gary Freeman) has decided 10 end his appeal 1o stop extradition to the USS. from Canada. He will soon return to Chicago to face attempted murder charzes for the incident. In 1974, Pannell fled to Canada after being accused of the 1969 shooting of a Chicago police officer. He has lived under the alias of Douglas Gary Freeman. He married, started a fami- Iy and worked 25 a library rescarch assis- tant near Toronto. He was arrested in 2004 after the Chicago police cold-case squad, with the help of the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, tracked Pannell through fingerprint records. His prints maiched those of a man -- Freeman -- stopped at the Canadian border in 1983 for smuggling a He will be held in the Cook County Jail uniil the legal process plays out Court Sides with Al-Amin On January Tth, a_ federal appellate court has ruled Georgia prison officials may have improperly opened convicted Killer Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin's mail out- side of his presence. Al-Amin is the former 1960s militant formerly known as H. Rap Brown, who was once the chaimuan of the Siudent Nonviolent Coordinating Commitice and the justice minister of the Black Panther Pary. He is serving a lfe sentence for killing Fulion County sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and_ wounding another, The AtlantaJournal-Constitution reported Monday. In 2005, while incarcerated in Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Al-Amin sued prison officials for opening mail from his wife Karima, an attorney, without him present. In its decision Monday, the 11th US. Circuit Court of Appeals found the prison's mail practice interferes with protected atiorney-client communications and impinges on free-speech righs, the news- paper reported. Since filing the lawsuit, Al-Amin was transferred to Supermay, the nation'’s most secure federal prison in Florence, Colo. Tom Manning Surgery It has_been reported that in carly Freedom Fron(UFF) had surgery on his bip. His surgery took place in Boston but e now back in Springheld: He is cumently going through rehabiltation and is sing a alker to get around. He is still awaiting Surary on'his right knce. The surgery was Schedul for January but has yet 10 happen Yu Kikumura Free in Japan LA ABCF members have received information that Yu Kikumura was released from prison in Japan on October 25th, 2007 Yu' contacted Mo Nashida from Asians for Jericho soon after his release with the great nows. Kikumura, an alleged member of the Japanese Red Army, was released from US prison early last year and was extradited o Japan, His fate in Japan was uncerain but ‘after 22-years in prison he is now a free Coronado Takes Plea On December 14th, 2007, Rod Coronado entered a guilfy plea 1o one count of distribution of information related 10 the assembly of explosives and weapons of mass destruction. Coronado has fought this case for near- Iy two years. As part of the plea agreement, the USS. government will ask for a one- year prison sentence. They will drop pend.- ing charges in Tucson for his possession of raptor feathers as well as any possible indictments for speech he made in D.C. Arrest of Los Macheteros On February 7, 2008, state agents cap- tured Avelino Gonzalez Claudio, a member of Los Macheteros. He was detained while driving in the northern town of Manati in Puerto Rico. Los Macheteros were suspected of car- rying out a series of bombings and attacks in the 19705 and 19805 aimed at gaining independence for Puerto Rico. In 1983, the group engaged in the robbery of West Hartford, CT Well's Fargo armored car depot where they got away with more than S7 million. A federal warrant was issued for Avelino Gonzalez Claudio for his connec- tion with the robbery, which resulted in Gonzalez Claudio going further under- ground. In September 2005, the US. govern- ment assassinated Filiberto Ojeda Rios, leader of the group. Within the last month, U_S. government has issued grand jury subpoenas against Puerto Rican activists in New York, but were postponed at the last minute. It is believe the amrest of Gonzalez Claudio and the recent harassment of the Puerto Rican community are connccted. The government is siill looking for Norberto Gonzalez Claudio, Avilno’s brother, and Victor Gerena, both accused of being part of the Hartford robbery. Reports are_coming out that Avelino Gonzalez Claudio is being tortured by the US. government in attempt o retrieve information sbout the other two wanted men and for additional informational about Los Macheteros. EPR Responds to Repression in Oaxaca Oaxaca, Mexico - Prominent police offi- cer Alejandro Barrita Ortiz was assassinated yesterday morning. The incident appears 10 e linked to the fact that he played a key role in the reptession of the Oaxacan anti-govern- ment uprising of 2006 that saw control of the sute capitol fall into the hands of the Oaxacan People’s Popular _Assembly (APPO). An anonymous phone caller claimed responsibility for the killing on behalf of the Marsist-Leninist guerrilla group the Popular Revolutionary Aemy (EPR). The caller explained that Barrta Ortiz was the first, and that there were “two more left 1o g Numerous activists were shot and killed by paramilitary goon squads of plain clothed palice, state employees and their supporters including American journalist and anarchist activist Brad Will. Once the uprising had been violently put down, dozens of actvists were dissppeared, brutalized and raped by police forces. Barrita Oriiz, director of the Auxiliary, Industrial, Banking and Commercial Police. had been’identified a5 having played a key role in the police operations during and in the aflermath of the 2006 uprising. He was alleged to have been responsible for coordi- nating illegal detention of activists, as well as extra judicial paramiltary operations during the uprising. “The assassination took place in the “El Tequio® sports park near the inernational air- port. Accounts vary. One reports that the asassins used a 3%0 and 9mm handguns Another purports that AK-47s were the Weapons of choice. According to the sccond version, the assassins fled the scene in a red pickeup and a black Dodge Stratus Former Anarchist Political Prisoner has Case Dropped A major victory ook place for former political prisoner Matt' Lamont. Matt received the news in court that his case has been thrown out- officially erasing his conviction. Matt Lamont was arrested on April 20, 2002, aceused of trying to blow up a whité power show in La Habra, CA He was found guilty and sentencéd to three years in prison. Since his release Matt has faced constant harassment by local police and federal agents- including imprisonment for parole violations, raids of his home and continued threats and harassment. As late as November, Matt was threat- ened by FBI agents to either provide information or face possible arrest for parole violation. He refused to cooperate despite not_having any information regarding ‘criminal” activities Last month, another case was thrown 6 out because of the illegal manner in which the police searched the car. Because of the decision in this case, evidence against Matt was also thrown out. With no evi- dence against Matt, his conviction fell apart. Earlier this woek Matt was released carly from his parole- this was a good indicator that today’s court hearing was going o go in Mart's favor. Matt is extremely relicved about the decision and looks forward to the oppor- tunities he now has by no longer having & criminal record. He has had hard time finding and keeping jobs with a criminal record and continued harassment by police and the federal government. He no longer has to live under the shadow of this Matt will soon be joining the Los Angeles chapter of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation- working for the support of political prisoners, something he has a ‘oreat deal of knowledge about. Thanks for everyone that has helped Matt during his on-going battle over the last six years Without your support all this would not be possible. Matts victory is a victory to all of us in the Anarchist movement. Free the Black Riders! The Black Movement is Under Attack! By Nefertari Shakur, Black Riders Liberation Party On November 26, 2007, the leader of the Black Riders Liberation Party, General TAC.O. (Taking All Capitalists Ou), was armested in a roll-up raid on our Black Power van by police officers in Pinole, CA (a city near Oakland). When asked for the cause of this illegal scarch and raid, Pinole offcers claimed that, "Pinole doesn't have any Black Panthers in the area.” General TA.C.O. was then arrested and snatched by local police based on a Los Angeles arrest wartant on charges of “conspiracy to possess a machine gun,” in an alleged plot to'shoot up Los Angeles police stations. He is now being held under a “keep away” order in solitary confinement in the “high power” security section of the L.A. men's jail on $1.000.000 (one million dollars) bail. BRLP Chief of Staff Nadia Shakur was also arrested in Pinole, and sent t0 jail in San Bernardino, CA. This was based on a previously-dropped charge of illegal weapons possession, (connected 10 an ille- gal raid in August of a home in Highland, CA, where San Bemardino County sher- WS deputies, Los Angeles sherifl’s deputies and federal agents showed up with armored_personnel carriers, a_battering ram, SWAT. (Special Weapons and Tactics) team, ‘bomb squad and enough cops to seal off four square blocks around the house). She is now being held in San Bernardino with bail set at $75,000, and has a court date of January 9 for sentenc- ing, on a plea bargain, to 180 days in San Bernardino County Jail. Simultaneously in Los Angeles, Comrades Stress and Aryana Shakur were also arrested on the Same charges as General TA.CO., with bail also set at $1,000,000 for Siress and $500.000 for ‘Aryand. Comrade Aryana, our Minister of Information and a hard-line Black Rider soldier who has served the people for the past 11 years, has been through severe repression over the years due to her com- ‘mitment to making revolution possible for all people in the world. In-the illegal August raid, her son Jacori was kidnapped by the police and placed in foster care for the second time in three years. Instead of laughing innocently and freely playing like Continues on page 12 Conspiracy Count Dropped against Five of the San Francisco Eight! Eight former Black Panthers were arrested on January 23rd in California, New York and Florida on charges related to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer. Similar charges were thrown out after it was revealed that police used torture to extract confessions when some of these same men were arrested in New Orleans in 1973.Two of those charged are part of the New York Three. On January 10, Judge Philip Moscone offcially accepted an amended complaint by the prosecution in the San Francisco § trial — in effect completely dropping chars against Richard O°Neal, who was only charged with conspiracy. While he faces no further legal prosecution in the case, Richard was immediately served with a subpoena to testify at the preliminary hearing scheduled for April 21 Conspiracy charges dropped Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Hank Jones, and Harold Taylor are now _only accused of the alleged murder in 1971 of SF Police Sergeant John Young. The con- Spiracy counts were dropped against all five brothers when defense motions cor- rectly challenged the charges on the ‘rounds that the statute of limitations on changs of conspiracy in California (three years) had expired. The conspiracy allega- fions include several acts alleged 1o have taken place from 1968 to 1973. Next court date February 7 A new court date was scheduled for Thursday, February 7th when aguments will be made to drop the remaining con- spiracy charges against Herman Bell, Jalil Muntagim_ (Anthony Botiom) ~and Francisco Torres. The prosecution claims that because the three men were not in California, the statute of limitations does not apply. “This is a ridiculous agument,” according to_defense attorney Stuart Hanlon, "as these men were forcefully removed from the stae against their wil by being imprisoned. Following his acquittal on charges in New York State, Cisco Torres was living in New York City. All three were consistently available to Califomia State proseutors.” Formal pleas a year later Almost a year after they were charged and arrested, all eight of the brothers for- ‘mally entered NOT GUILTY pleas to all of the charges. ‘This same case dropped in 1975 Former San Francisco District Attorney ‘Thomas Norman was not available to testi- fy at this hearing due to health issues. He was originally sought to explain why this same case was dropped in 1975 when he decided that there was insufficient evi- dence 1o prosccute the case. So-called “confessions” made when several brothers were artested, tortured, and forced (o sign police-scripted statements were deemed Inadmissible in the 1970s. Attempts to secure Norman's complete notes and files will be made in time for the February 7th hearing. Harold Taylor remains frec on b California. prosecutors resurrected a request to increase bail for Harold Taylor. Florida prosccutors filed charges in December against Taylor for the alleged purchase of a controlled substance. Judge Moscone was clear that although this was the case, the dropping of the conspiracy chanss against him in San Francisco can- celled out the seriousness of the Florida matter - so bail will remain the same. Growing support Alarge crowd of San Francisco § sup- porters had to wait outside in the hallway of the San Francisco Courthouse today after police officers were given carly access to seats in Judge Moscone's court. The courtroom was nevertheless over- whelmingly packed with supporters and high energy as this major unraveling of the prosecution’s case unfolded. All of the brothers felt positive about the legal devel- opments and the growing level of public support for them. The government's case is falling apart “This is a major victory in this case which rests on statements coerced under torture. "This s the first step in the govern- ments case falling apart," Hanlon said. Embassy Attack May be Related to Brad Will’s Death At approimately 3:50 am on October 26h, 2007, two homemade explosive devices were thrown at the Mexican Consulate on East 39th Stweet in Manhattan. Police found fragmens of the explosive device and minor damage to the exterior of the building- including three broken windows. The devices were very similar 1o the two_thrown at the British Consulate on May 5, 2005 Police released the video footage of the 2005 incident, which showed a young man in his 205 bicycling away from the con- sulate after the grenade exploded. It also showed the individual scoping out the loca- tion before the aitack. According to the media, similar devices were used in both of the attacks. The 2005 attack used a plastic grenade filled with unpowder and a fuse similar to those found on M-80s. “The recent attack used training grenades or “dummy” grenades - perhaps purchased from a novelty shop - that had been hol- lowed out and filled with volatile black powder and attached to a fuse or a charge. One of the metal grenades was smooth on its surfuce, to replicate those used by the military in the Vietnam era. and the other was scored, like a pineapple, and is more common to the type used during the Second World War. Media_connected the attack to the anniversary of the death of Brad Will, one of those killed in the repression that took place in Oaxaca. Will was in Oaxaca taking Video and reporting on the state-wide pop- ular uprising that the teacher strike that fucled in June 2006. Three others were Killed along with Will but there was an ou- ery about bis death by the U.S. anarchist movement because he was one of our own. 1t is important o note that while the media drew a connection between the recent attack and the anarchist community, no anarchist group claimed responsibility for the action. Until then, connecting the two is nothing more than allegations. International Campaign for Spanish Anarchists In the months of September and October, the anarchist move- ment came alive with a series of actions carried out in support of the José Fernandez Delgado and Gabriel Pombo da Silva. Known, as part of the Aachen 4, the two anarchists had a variety of actions carried out in support of them from South America to Switzerland. ‘These actions were carried out in response to a call put out by International Anarchist Black Cross, making September 29th a day in Solidarity of José Femandez Delgado and Gabricl Pombo da Silva. Jose and Gabriel are two Spanish anarchists who escaped from Spanish prisons. Pombo da Silva spent 20 years in prison of which 14 were spent in the infamous FIES isolation units. He escaped in October 2003. Delgado escaped after serving 24 years in prison. The tivo men were arrested on June 28, 2004 along with Begoia Pombo da Silva (Gabriel's sister) and Bart De Geeter, a Belgian anarchist active in Gent Anarchist Black Cross. The four were stopped in a car just beyond the German border at a gas sta- tion on the way to Aachen. Police stopped them for a drug check and insisted on searching the car During the stop, one of the four in the car pulled out a gun and shot in the air. In the next moments, the three men took a couple with another car. Finally the three hid in a garage, where they were surrounded by the police, and afler some time the three gave in “The three men were charged with attempted murder (9 times), hostage taking (twice), armed robbery, planning of a robbery and serious traffic violations. On September 25th 2006, the Aachen 4 were convicted. Jose Ferenadez Delgado was sentence to 14 years. Gabriel Pombo da Silva was given 13 years. Bart de Geéter received only 3 112 years and was released in January 7, 2007. Begona Pombo da Silva was sentenced to 10 months with delay (other repors state 13 months with 3 years probation) but was soon released The German Siate refused to look at the evidence of torture within the Spanish prison system, a clear motivating factor behind Jose and Gabriel's actions. After they serve their time, it is expected that Germany will return the prisoners to Spain, to more torture, brutality and isolation. "The anarchist community has dedicated themselves to a build up of militancy in support of the two imprisoned anarchists. We ask that anarchists and supporters of political prisoners to support these comrades and take 2 moment to write them. Gabriel Pombo Da Jose Fernandez Delgado ha as hostages and fled with a car; Bégoa was jumped upon and arrested by the police. A shootout took place while the police chased after the three men. When their car broke down they let the hostages g0 and fled International Communiques in Support of Jose and Gabriel VA Rheinbach Aachenerstrasse 47 53359 Rheinbach, Germany JVA Aachen Krefelderstrasse 251 52070 Aachen, Germany This mormin, we demonsirated ur hared towards the German Stte that has Stte and al the prsoners ofthe world Revolionary Back Cell Kurt Gusiay Wichens Brigade Bunos Aies, A entina: October 9th 2007 "Windows of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC} af Hastings and Nanaimo werd| elieved of theirstructural integrity by a small group of anarchists in the late evening \with the help of fst-sized stones. This action was done in solidarity with anarchists (Gabriel Pombo da Silka, Jose Femandez Delgado, Marcos Camenish, who were on| hunger strike in European prisons. As well as to contribute o the actions taking| place worldwide on this intemational day of action. REC was hit because it is 4| bank. A fundamental institution which reproduces Capital. The very system (at the| service and profit of a bunch of vultures) that exploits people world-wide and| destroys life in general; as it simultaneously creates spectacular events of repres:| sion. Such as the 2010 Olympics, which is conveniently sponsored by RBC. (Capitalism, with its prisons and banks, like RBC, exist worldwide. Let the road tol the Olympics be litered with the wreckage we leave in their place! Anarchists.” Vancouver, Canada- September 29, 2007 “Today the 20th of Sepiember is an international day of solidarity with prisoners| in struggle, and more particularly for Gabriel Pombo da Silva and Jose Fernandez, Delgado, anarchist prisoners in Germany. (more info on ‘whew.escapeintorebellion.info). Prison is the clearest expression of this society| lbased on money, collective stupidity and the imprisonment of deviance (psychiatic isocial, sexual). W struggle from the inside and outside to conquer the freedom| ‘which is ours. NOR GUARDS NOR PRISONS WILL STOP OUR REBELLION! INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!" Spanish F.LE.S. Units The Spanish FLES. isolation units are a method to control, isolate and torture prisoners that resist or struggle against the prison authori- ty. ELES. units are prison within the prison where the prisoner is kept isolated with no con- tact whatsoever with the rest of the prison popu- lation, even exercise is done in complete soli- tude, all visits are monitored and the number of| letters received is strictly limited. The prisoner is stripped of all his/her personal belongings and kept in a bare cell where even the matiress is taken out during the day. ELES. units are an experiment of different degrees of psychological torture and_dehumanization of the individual together with regular and constant physical tor- ture, beatings and insults. At least 20 prisoners have died or been killed since 1991 in ELES isolation units. Prisoners and support groups are fighting for 1. Eficient/efietive medical attention 2. Free all prisoners with terminal illnesses 3. Abolition of these units and an end 1o the Isolation units F.LE.S system 4. End of dispersion of prisoners (they should stay near their place of origin) 5. End of slave labor in prisons 6. End to sexual abuse in prisons and sexism 7. End to psychological and physical torture 8 An independent investigation of every death in prison 9. Against long term prison sentences (the longest people can spend in prison is 40 years at present) Timeline for Actions in Support of Gabriel and Jose September 16- Switzerland & Germany - Anarchist prisoners Marco Camenisch (Switzerland), Gabriel Pombo da Silvaand Jose Fernandez Delgado (Germany) start a hunger strike il 929 September 18- Zurich, Switzerland - A few persons occupy Radio Lora and read 2 communique in solidarity with anarchist prisoners Gabriel, Jose and Marco. Three persons go on hunger strike in solidarity with Gabriel, Jose and Marco. September 28- Castellon, Spain - The imprisoned anarchist comrade Joaquin Garces Villacampa goes on hunger strike tll the 30th of September for the following reasons: "- As a protest against the aberrant repressive practices against the anarchist comrades Gabriel Pombo da Silva and Jose Femandez, prisoners of the German State. - For the abolition of State-Capital, privilege and domination in the broadest meaning of the word. LONG LIVE FREEDOM - DESTROY PRISON - FREE ANARCHIST PRIS- ONERS" September 28- Leuven, Belgium - Several banners with slo- gans like 'Against the jails of the State’ and "Freedom for All' were hung at bridges around Leuven. Pupils put out a banner in solidar- ity on ‘their’ school building where prisoners of Leuven can see it September 28- Montevideo, Uruguay - Locks of the Goethe Institute (German cultural nstitution) and Iberia (Spanish Airlines Company) were sealed. On the side (of the building) ‘Solidarity with Gabriel and Jose’ and an encircled A was written. September 28 Bilbao, Euskadi - About thirty individuals gath- er at the German Consulate and distribute pamphlets in solidarity with Gabriel, Jose and all prisoners in struggle. Some enter the Consulate to make them send a fax to the German Ambassador in ‘September 29- Ghent, Belgium - About 70 people take the strects and demonstrate through the city centre in solidarity with Gabriel, Jose and all prisoners in struggle. The demo ends in front of the prison of Ghent. In Brussel several slogans of rage appeared on building like ‘Death to prison and its world' at the Hallepoort, “Let’s burn prison' at the Justice Tribunal. Two banners were hung. on the big roads around the cenire of Brussels. ‘September 29- Madrid, Spain - Three real estate offices in the neighborhood of Prosperidad get their locks scaled in solidarity with Gabriel, Jose, Marco and all other prisoners in struggle. September 29- Zurich, Switzerland - In front of the Bezirksgericht sbout seventy persons gather in solidarity with Marco, Gabriel, Jose and Mehmet Esiyok. Pamphlets are distrib- uted. ‘September 29- Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory, (Canada) Windows of the Royal Bank of Canada were smashed in solidarity with Gabriel Pombo da Silva, Jose Femandez Delgado, Marcos Camenish. October 1- Brussels, Belgium - Attacks on German consulate and BMW dealership. The German consulate in Brussels was attacked with paint bombs in solidarity with Jose and Gabriel and all the prisoners in struggle. October 2- Brussels. Belgium - A BMW dealership in Brussels was attacked with Molotov cocktails in solidarity with Gabriel and Jose. At least two vehicles were consumed by flames. October 9- Buenos Aires, Argentina- Kurt Gustav Wilckens Brigade attacks Volkswagen dealership in support of Gabricl Pombo Da Silva and Jose Fernandez Delgado. Madrid and the German minister of Forcign Afairs. American Anarchist Charged in Spain as Terrorist On April 23rd, Virginia activist and writer Peter Gelderloos was arested by Spanish police at a demonstration on Las Ramblas, Barcelona. Peter was acting as a witness for the arrest of Xavier Mazas, when he was detained by police under sus. picion of setting off a petardo - a firework used to scatter flyers into the air. Police accused Peter of being a "terrorist” and both Peter and Xavier were charged with illegal demonstration and public disorder, the later carrying a prison sentence of between six and three years because it was. allegedly commited with explosives. Peter Gelderloos is an activist and author from Virginia. He is active support- ing prisoners and participating in the movement for prison abolition. He works with groups such as Copwatch, Anarchist Black Cross, Food Not Bombs, and the local infoshop. He has written a number of articles and pamphlets, and two_ books. How Nonviolence Protects the State, and Consensus: A New Handbook for Politcal, Environmental, and Social Groups. On April 25th, Xavier was released pending tial, and Peter was given 2 30,000 euro bail and sent to Modelo prison. Local community activists raised the bail in only o days and Peter was released. However, Peter must remain in Spain, checking in ai court every two weeks until his court date. which could take up to two years. The gov- ernment also nitiated deportation proceed- ings against Peter, along with a 7-year ban from Europe, on fulsified grounds, while suppressing evidence that he had & legal status in Spain. I they succeed, this would separate Peter from several close friends. On_June 26, 2007, friends in the US o rganized a call-in day 1o let the Spanish Embassy know that Peter has a large base of support in the U.S. who will not sit silent while the Government of Spain attempis o push these charges against Peter. The impact of this and similar actions altered the tone the Barcelona police’s exaggerated shetoric, no_longer describing Peter and Xavier as terrorists. Peter has attempted to appeal the depor- tation case against him but has not had much headway. Despite this he s continu- ing the process. On January 12, friends in Spain organ- ized a benefit show for Peter. The event raised enough money 1o pay the lawyers with some exira money to 20 to the groups. that put up his bail money. Spain's economy i dependent on tourism and thus on their public image. Solidarity actions give hope to a movement facing repression and let the repressive government know there are consequences Tor their attacks. This is not the first such case of some- e being framed by the Barcelona police. As agents of a violent process of genirifi- cation that is remaking the city of Barcelona, the police have frequently false- ly arested, beaten, and tortured immi- grants, squatters, and anarchists. Amnesty International repeatedly cites the Spanish police for torture, and even the abuse-blind European Union commission cites them for systematically violating speedy-trial rights. ‘Continued pressure on the Embassy or protests discouraging tourism or spreading Information about the repression of anar- chist and squatters movements in Spain will help Support is needed from U.S. based activists to pressure the Spanish Embassy 10 let them know this injustice will not be tolerated For information on other Spanish politi- cal prisoners see presosalacalle.net. Writings by Political Prisoners Available at: www dstrugglemag.org ‘email: montrealabof@gmail.com also available at: 4strugglemag PO. Box 42053 Suce. Jeanne Mance Montreal QC H2W 2T3 Canada Two of the Barcelona 4 Released Before Verdict “Tw of the "Barcelona 4 February” pris- oners charged with injuring a cop two years ago were released on bail on January 15, pending the verdict which will be delivered at the end of the month. Unfortunately, the third prisoner being chrged has not been released. Juan and Alex have been released fol- Lowing their trial and the trial of Rodrigo and 6 others (on lesser charges) which hap- pened between the 7th and 11th of January. None of the aceused has received a verdict or sentencing ye. The three facing the most serious charges have been in pre-trial detention for the last two years. The prosecution last week demanded 11 years of prison for the three detainees and 4 to 8 years for the other 6 comrades, despite medical opinion in favar of the defense stating that there was 10 way the three could have been responsi- ble for the injury sustained by the cop. In the carly morning hours of February 4th, 2007, a group of young peaple left the house of Some friends after a night of cel- ebration. Some were on their way 1o the metro, others to another party that was being held in the closeby street of Sant Pere Mes Baix. Once in Sant Pere, they saw a group of people having a discussion with the Guardia Urbana (one of the many police forces in this area) outside of the Anarko Penya, the squat where the other party was taking place. As the group approached this discussion, the police charged without warning, beating people severely, The young people tried 1o leave the area, but could not escape the police blows. In the midst of this, all kinds of abjects were being thrown from the bal- conics of the Anarko Penya. When the ini- tial chaos of the situation had passed, seven people had been arrested and & policeman was in a coma. ‘Two more people were arrested later in the hospital. They had not been in Sant Pere Mes Baix at all that night. They were simply arrested due to their “squattarlike" appearance and the fact that they had injuries. Allof the nine who were arrested were beaten and tortured at the moment of their arrest and continuously in the police sta- tion, hospitals and police vans.They suf- fered multiple injuris all over their bod- ies, blows 1o the head, black eyes, and two have broken arms. ‘The first "official” press release said a flower pot, thrown from the balcony of the Anarko Penya, had hit the policeman. It also claims the three people stil in prison had supposedly thrown stones at the police from the street with the intention to kill. We will report any further news as it comes out Raids Throughout Italy Target Anarchist Groups ‘The ltalian government has engaged in a series of repressive measures against the anarchist community. On October 23, 2007, lalian police arrested § anarchists they claim were part of a lotter bomb campaign fargeting oficials including Prim Minister Romano Prodi. “The raids took place in a central town of Perugia. Police claim the anarchists are members of a group called “Coop/FAI” an acronym that stands for “Against all political order/Informal Anarchist Federation. Further allegations state they are responsible for letter bombs sent 10 Prodi, then president of the European Commission, 1o the president of the European Central Bank and other European Union Institutions. Apartments have been raided and computers confiscated by the police. Allegedly, documents were found related to this FAI cell indicating that there has been various talk about the struggle against the TAV (high velocity train), as well as, other projecs, which put the environment in danger, with a declaration "towards the acceleration of the revolutionary guerilla and of the ecologi- cal armed struggle in Umbri On January 25th, 2008, 8 additional raids were ordered in the cities of La Spezia, Livomo, Pisa and Roma “The raids targeted mostly anarchists, who are being accused of attempted murder with the aggravation of terrorism. During the raids, materials useful to catalogue DNA were taken following European directories intended to create a databank for prisoners and social rebels. No names of those arrested have been reported. “The raids are in response to an explosive attack against the Folgore (military corpse) station of Via Vannucei in Livoro, September 2006. This station hosts those who have partiipated in the so-called “mission of peace” in Somalia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and now in Iraq, Here the addresses for those arrested in October 2007: Michele Fabiani, Andrea Di Nucci, Dario Polinori, Damiano Corrias and Fabrizio Reali Roscini /o casa circondariale di Perugia Capanne strada Pievaiola km.11+800 06100 PERUGIA, ITALY. Philadelphia ABC’s Chapter Report 2007 started off with an expansion of membership when the local ABCN chapter merged into the Federation bringing with it several dedicated activists, who had put on a successful and strong wibute to the late New Afrikan anarchist, Kuwasi Balagoon The event received positive coverage in & local Philly newspaper and brought togeth- er many veterans from BlackNewA frikan Liberation strugle with younger activists We soon established working relationships. with Philly's PPIPOW activist community. In August we hosted the Tom Manning art show in West Philly, which also turned out a mix of activists similar to the Kuwasi event. Again we received a supportive write up in the local press. Philly ABCF continued to operate the Warchest Program and was mildly success- ful in raising funds for the Warchest. We set up literature tables at many political cultural events around Philadelphia throughout the year. We had many pro- ductive meetings where we_discussed PP/POW history and current situations of PP/POW along with other topics relevant 10 today's struggle. Members were able to visit with Ojore N. Lutalo several times and one visit with Maliki Shakur Latine Unfortunately, as in the past with many political groups, intemal contradic- tions arose within the group which eventu- ally lead to two of the core group members departing. This situation was mainly due to the inability of members to maintain group_discipline and resolve conflict through criticismiself criticism. We also learned a hard lesson in accepting people into the group without proper vetting process. We allowed an activist with a long history of mental instability and distuptive behavior to continually tie up the group in their personal/past group baggage leaving the group in a constant state of tension through the latter part of the year. Despite this set back Philly ABCF con- tinues to maintain good working relations with Philly's broad PPPOW support com. munity and will take these lessons learned from 2007 into 2008 Solidarity and Struggle! Tim J. Edgar Hoover informed by Omaha FBI of cover-up of evidence in Black Panther case during COINTELPRO and took no action By Michael Richardson The Nebraska Supreme Court is hearing the appeal of Ed Poindexters 1971 convic- tion for the bombing murder of Omaha police officer Larry Minard. Poindexter was head of the Omaha chapter of the Black Panthers, called the National Commitiee to Combat Fascism, when Minard was killed in an ambush bombing while answering a call about a woman screaming A fifieen year-old, Duane Peak, con- fessed and was convicied of planting the bomb. However, in exchange for testimo- ny against Poindexter and his co-dfen- dant, Mondo we Langa (formerly David Rice), the young murderer was given a deal and sentenced as juvenile, walking free in 1974, At the time of the bombing, the Black Panthers wre the targets of a secret, and illegal, operation of the FBI ordered by Director J. Edgar Hoover to disrupt the group. COINTELPRO agents in the field, eager (o please Hoover, engaged in a wide variety of dirty ricks, including illegal acts, and dutifully notified Hoover Poindexter and Langa were already tar- gets of COINTELPRO when Peak commit. ted his crime and the Omaha Pol ice went o work to make a case against the two Panther leaders working closely with feder- al agents. Peaks testimony against Poindexter and Langa was critical to obtaining their con- viction, and his_credibility was crucial However, the police had one big problem: the voice on the emergency call that lured Minard to his death did not sound like Peak. If Peak had an accomplice who made the call then his testimony against Poindexter and Langa was suspect. In exhibits now before the Nebraska Supreme Court, the COINTELPRO com.- ‘muniqués are under review and tell a dis- turbing tale of withheld evidence and Hoover's knowledge of the withheld infor- mation. On the day of the bombing, August 17, 1970, the Special Agent in Charg of the Omaha FBI office sent an Airtel message to Hoover. "Enclosed for the laboratory is one copy of a tape recording obtained from the Omaha Police Department.” "The enclosed tape was recorded from an existing tape (the original) recording used by the Omaha Police Department in their normal emergency telephone calls for the period of 8/17/70 between the hours of 12:00 Midnight and 9:00 a.m." "[Name redacted] inquired into the pos- sibility of voice analysis of the individual ‘making the call by the FBI Laboratory. He was advised the matter would be consid- ered and that if such analysis were made and if subsequent voice patierns were transmitted for comparison, such analysis would have to be strictly informal, as the FBI could not provide any testimony in the matter; also, only an oral report of the resuls of such examination would be made 1o the Police Department.” " Any assistance rendered along the lines. mentioned above would greatly enhance the prestige of the FBI among law enforce- ment representatives in this area, and 1 thus strongly recommend that the request be favorably considered.” “In view of the forgoing, it is requested that the FBI Laboratory examine enclosed tape recording and make the appropriate voice print 1o be retained for comparison against other tape recordings of suspects to be submitted at a later date.” Tio months later on October 13, 1970, after Peak's preliminary hearing and testi- ‘mony that he made the emergency call, the Omaha Special Agent in Charge again noti- fied Hoover of developments in the case and passed along the request 1o ignore the tape, “Assistant COP_ GLENN GATES, Omaha PD, advised that he feels that any use of tapes of this call might be prejudicial to the police murder trial against two accomplices of PEAK and, therefore, has advised that he wishes no use of his tape unil after the murder tials of Peak and the two accomplices has been completed.” UACB, no further efforts are being made at this time to secure additional tape recordings of the original telephone call” The recording of the emergency call was withheld from defense lawyers and jurors in the case never got to hear the Voice that set the lethal trap. The original tape was destroyed in April 1978, Later, a copy made at the order of George Winkler, head of police communications in Omaha, surfaced. Poindexter’s ~ co-defendant, Mondo we Langa, raised the matter on appeal. In 1983 the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that there had been no "expert in voice analysis” to support the claim that Peak's voice was not on the emergency call tape and denied Langa's appeal. _In 2004, Poindester tried again and in 2006 a vocal expert, Tom Owens, subjected the fape to 3 series of scientific tésts concluding that 1o a high degree of certainty it was not Peak's Voice on the withheld tape. Now, twenty-five years after Langa's appeal about “the tape, the Nebraska Supreme Court will again review the mat- ter, this time considering both expert test- mony and with knowledge about J. Edgar Hoover's role in the withholding of excul- patory evidence. A date for a decision has Rot been set. Greek Anarchists Rise Again Anarchists in Greece have been espe- cially active since the start of the New Year. An Athens-based anarchist group claims responsibility for the first attack against a capitalist institution of 2008, as recorded by the Athens police. At 4:43 am on January first, a branch of Geniki Bank, a subsidiary of the larger Kyprou Bank, was firebombed in the Kypsel area of central Athens. No one was injured, but the entrance to the building was damaged. Throughout the month of January and into February, actions continued. In the first week of January, anarchist roups in Gireece targeted police and police stations. On one occasion, police standing guard outside the Socialist Party headquar- ters were attacked. On another, ten hooded motoreyelists attacked the entrance of a police station with Molotovcockiails Chanting anarchist slogans, “perpetrators’ destroyed a total of 12 cars in the center of Athens in one night, On January 36, police station was attacked with firebombs. Multiple vehicles were destroyed. At the end of the month, various luxury cars in Athens were set aflame in apparently coordinated attacks across the capital. The Greek police’s anti- terrorism unit has taken up the case. Anarchism in Greece has a long and vibrant tradition that began in 1860, when the first libertarian documents were pub- lished: the ideas were in accordance with the beliefs of anarchist thinkers in Europe at the time. Anarchist organizations like the “Demotratic Association” maintained libertarian socialist principles throughout the rest of the 19th century and well into the 20h, In the years that followed, from about 1910 to 1945, at the close of World War I, while_anarchists were not involved in explicitly anarchist groups, they played a role in various socialist and communist Iabor unions, pushing those aganizations to more libertarian positions. The Greek anarchist movement was galvanized in Continuing Trend, Ricardo Palmera, a senior peace nego- tiator for the Colombia Revolutionary Armed Forces People’s Army (FARC) was arrested in 2004 and extradited to the United States to face trial for, among other alleged offenses, responsibiliy in the kid- napping of thrce American contractors held by the FARC. The three American con- tractors were flying over rebel territory when their plane crashed and they were taken prisoner by FARC forces. Throughout the trial, Professor Palmera, whose nom de guerre is Simon Trinidad, maintained that his role was as negotiator in prisoner exchange talks with the Colombian government, Dr. Palmera’s trial, which ended in November, resulted in 4 hung jury on all changs except “conspiracy 1o kidnap." of which he was convicted. Jeremy Miller of Students for a Democraic Society said, “He is being punished simply for being member of an organization fighting back against the oppression in his country.” On January 28, 2008, Simon Trinidad was sentenced to'sixty years in federal prison without possibility of parole. While this case is of special signifi- cance considering Palmera’s alleged high- ranking status in FARC, the US govern- ment has been actively involved in the dis- integration of the movement for decades, through the use of military aid to the Colombian government s well as other means, like infiltration of various cells of FARC. As recently as December 9, three Colombian nationals pleaded guilty to “conspiring to support the FARC and Alien Smuggling Charges.” Victor Daniel Salamana, 64, Carmen Maria Ponton Caro, 38, and Edizon Ramirez Gamboa, 40, had beén infiltrated by federal informants and were subsequently brought to. trial in Miani In a case that serves as yet another example of the consistency of American 1967, when the Greck military junta con- solidated power. Students who considered themselves autonomists and anarchists played an instrumental role n resisting the ppression of the military government In 1980 the anarchist movement was deflated when a socialist government —in alliance with Greek communists —took power and offered enough concessions to the people to sway many away from the dircet class war of the previous decades. Small cadres of extremely militant anar- chists continued the fight against the gov- ernment until 1991, when new generation of anarchists was bom. The 1991 high school uprising saw resurgence in anar- chist groups who spearheaded the occupa- tion of about 1500 schools. In part this was U.S. Sentences Key attacks against the Colombian radical lefl, Anayibe Valderrama, AKA Sonia, was extradited to the United States in March of 2004 on drug charges. (She was arrested by the Colombian military in & raid meant 1 root out the FARC members who had participated in the kidnapping of the three American contractors). She was success- Rully prosccuted in the summer of 2007 and convicted of exporting cocaine 1o the United States to finance the rebels Presenly she is serving a sixteen and a half. year sentence in a Texas penitentiary. Without a sense of irony, President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe said that the arrests and convictions should serve as a warning “that no young person should foin a terror - st group:. that all_young people should seek the right paih The FARC is a loftist militant arganiza- tion of about 12,000 members that has been struggling for a just, peaceful Colombia against ruling liberal and conser- vative governments for more than four decades. The US government considers FARC 4 terrorist organization and a drug cartel In'his final words to the courtroom afier the sentencing, Palmera was quoted as say- ing: “Latin America is a region of great eco- nomic disparity. The FARC supporls the basic human rights that everyone needs to lead a dignified life, including access to a result of the murder of the ultra-left teacher Nikos Temponeras by members of the ruling New Democracy Party. a right wing political organization. In this decade, ‘many who honed ther politics in the stu. dent uprisings took part in attacks against police stations, banks and media conglom.- erates. Most recently, on February 2, a fa right group called Golden Dawn in_ Athens Staged a march through the city with about sixty members. They were met by approx.- imately four hundred anarchists, who blocked the street and hurled stones at the neo-fascist extremists. A police officer sated, “The situation has calmed down, but we are stil on alert for any escalation.” 'ARC Negotiator nutrition, education, potable water, clec- wicity, dignified living conditions, recre- ation and rest. Some 54 percent of Colombians, or 24 million people, live below the poverty line on just one o two dollars a day. “Avariely of fertile lands and climates would permit the harvesting of crops in Colombia 12 months a year, providing enough for al Colombians as well as a sur- plus for export. Colombia is also rich in mineral resources, including gold. nickel, coal, salt and oil. Colombia’s biodiversity, in flora and fauna, the fish in is rivers, and a wealth in human resources make Colombia a very rich country able to pro- vide for all of its inhabitanis. “Nevertheless, a small group of people, the petty governing class, has monopolized these resources, taken the best lands, con- trolled the economy, and kept the rést of Colombia in poverty. Leaders of both Liberal and Conservative parties have legalized these monopolies for the benefit of the rich, and by the same token, handed over Colombia’s resources to foreign capi- talsts for their own enrichment, “The oligarchy’s policy of violence uti- lizes murder, torture and disappearances as tools against their opponents 10 keep them- selves in power. Examples range from the genocide of the Gaitanista movement in the 19405 to the extermination of the Union Patriotica in the late 1980s. The three branches of power in the government have granted themselves impunity for all of their crimes, as well a5 those of the mil- itary and paranilitaries.”™ Professor Palmera ended his speech with a raised fist and the shouted Words: “Long live Manuel Marulanda! Long live the FARC! Love live Simon Bolivar, whose sword of freedom continues 10 advance throughout Americal” (No_ address has been Palmera) listed for LA ABCEF: 10 Years of Solidarity and Resistance January 2008 marks the tenth anniver- sary of the Los Angeles chapter of the Anarchist Black Cross. We are proud and honored to be the longést running self-pro- cd anarchist group in the Los Angeles. 7/ LAABC was formed by members of the Black Sur Collective, Aliernative Gathering Collective and Whittier Food ears //)/y/)r Va4 strong relationships with current and for- mer political prisoners, working day and night on their support and freedom. We have been honored to know some rades, such as Rich Williams, who enriched our lives prior to having lives taken in struggle. Members of LA ABC have also focused on trying to rediscover the history of the have their Not Bombs. The group was formed by sey- eral anarchists who wanted to engage in concrete work based on the ideas of mutu. al aid and solidarity - two major tenets of anarchism. Many of the carlier contributors had directly been affected by the prison system ‘and thus was a natural nterest in their pol- iries. Afler a chance meeting with Lorenzo Komboa Ervin (former anarchist political prisoner) in San Francisco, it became clear o the anarchists that politcal prisoner sup- port was a necessary part of the anarchist ‘movement; we began to build the founda- tion for the ABC chapter in LosAngeles. During the firstyear, the strugle to stop Anarchist Red/Black Cross movement Over the years, we have created an archive of the ABC, with some material dating as far back as 1913, We are proud to have reached this benchmark and look forward to- another decade of resistance and support. This Statement about our 10th anniversary would be meaningless if we did not ask in closing for people to take 2 moment out of their day to write at least one of our impris- oned comrades. You can view their addresses and short biographies on our site: www.abefnetla. straight into a campaign of utmost impor- tance. In March of ‘98, members of the LA ABC met with several Anarchist Black Cross Federation chapiers during. the Jericho march in Washington DC. Six ‘months after the march, LA ABC joined up with the ABC Federation, Since its inception, the LA ABC has continued to work diligently for support of political prisoners in Norih America. As part of the ABCF, we have collectively raised over $50,000 through the Warchest program (a program designed 1o provide Support to political prisoners in financial need). We have developed campaigns for several local political prisoners- including In Solidarity Mumia Abu-Jamal's exceution was gaining ‘momentum, allowing for LA ABC to jump FREQUENTLY U Romaine Chip ED Fitzgerald Lamont. More imporiani and Matt we have built LAABCF Acronyms/ Terms ABCE: Anarchist Black Cross Federation - anti-authoritarian feder- ation of ABC groups who support and defend PP/POWS. ABC-BG: Branch Group - ABCF group with more responsibilities than a SG. ABC than 3 BG. AIM: American Indian Movement - above ground revolutionary organization of Native Americans. Anarchism Free o libertarian socialism. Anarchists are opposed to ‘government, the state, and capitalism. Therefore, simply speaking, ‘anarchism is a no government form of socialism. Types of anarchists include: Anarcho-Communist, Anarcho-Syndicalist, Autonomist, Collectvist, Individualiss, and Mutualiss, 'BLA: Black Liberation Army - revolutionary Black clandestine for- mation formed to defend the Black community and the BPP, ina tive since the "80s. BRP: Black Panther Party - sbove ground Black revolutionary ‘group seeking Black politcal power, disbanded in the mid-'70s. FALN: english translation: Armed Forces of National Liberation - revolutionary clandestine group fighting for Puerto Rican independ- FC: Federation Council - decision-making body of the ABCF. MOVE: Not an actonym, the name of Philadelphia whose members are commitied o the teachings of John Aftica. Their belef is in “lfe. BC: Prisoner’s Committee - rotating body of S PPPOWS on the ABCF's FC Support Group - ABCF group with fewer responsibilties PRIPOWS: Politcal Prisoners and/or Prisoners of Wa. (See page 1) Self-Defense: The legal act of proteting one’s life or the life of ‘another with the idea/purpose of self-determination and independ- ence. Armed self-defense is relative 1o the ABCF, specifically in the USS. i that as the organization grows, 50 (00 grows the need o pro- tect ourselves from the armed aggressor of the state, right wing, and other ideological opponents. (Firearms training as preparation for self-defense are legal activities within the confines of the U.S.) Self Determination: The right by virtue of which all peoples are entitled freely to determine their political status and pursue their economie, social, and cultural development. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international eco- nomic cooperation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of their own means of subsistence, SDS: Students for a Democratic Socicty ed in the 60s. The Update: This is a quarterly publication of the ABCF. WUO: Weather Underground Organization - first the Weathermer Tater known as the WUO, evolved out of the SDS as an underground formation of primarily white anti-imperialst revolutionaries from the student movement, (The Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) produces. the Revolutionanvlitcal Dictionary with these and other expanded def - initions of poliical terms. Asailable from Los Angeles ABC for $1 and o 41 cents stamps.) e student group found- New York City ABCF Application Dear comrades, We are the newly formed NYC Anarchist Black Cross and we are interest- ed in joining the Federation. Below is a report on our progress as an ABC collec- tive, So far we are four members. We are sceking more members as the needs and apporunities for our work are great. Prior to the formation of the ABC, three of us were personal friends and comrades of Daniel McGowan, so naturally at the fime of his arrest in December 2005, we found ourselves in_his core support commitice and began to take our commitment to polit- ical prisoner suppart more seriously. All of us had some relationship to political pris- oner support and had done secondary or sporadic work prior to 2005. Our experi- ence as anarchists is varied from IWW/class-struggle organizing, to radical- acceptance feminism, to military counter- recruitment and community organizing, ant-racist activity, and environmental and animal rights struggles. The four of us came together out of a shared interest in making support and liberation of political prisoners and prisoners of war 4 priority. We also share an interest in bridging gener- ation, movement, and tendency divides between social justice communitis. In February 2007 we began our work as an ABC collective. We began holding Poliical Prisoner Leter- Witing Dinners in which we provide vegan dinner, followed by 4 presentation about a featurcd pp/pow or group. We educate and encourage people on writing prisoners with the supplies we provide. We continue 1o host such an event every other Tuesday. Having began in peo- ple’s houses, these nights are now hosted in the 123 Community Space in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn where we are a member agani- zation involved to varying extents in other mutual-aid and community-based pro- grams, This fall we began to assemble monthly calendars of upcoming pp/pow and anti- repression_events in New York Cily. Through this and by cross-promoting events among various communities we have been able to publicize and encourage virtually all of the pp/pow support activity in the city in coalition with our alles. This past summer we called for a sum- mit of virtually all general pp/pow support groups in NYC and we met in October to share resources, encourage cooperation, and assess what needs are going unmet o that our work could become more focused. We are working on a list o pp/pows held in New York or New Jersey or from New York or New Jersey and assessing the levels of support each reccive. Through this process we were able to identify Malik Shakur Latine a5 not receiving local support and have begun a correspondence and potential support relationship with him. With help from Matt Hart of LA ABCF we learned about him and also his co-defendant Jose Saldana who is not ya listed. We plan to contact him and assess his sittion as well. Our second summit was held in October, and it focused on coordinating our cforts for the San Francisco § benefit held on November 30. This second meeting did & ‘2ood job of solidifying our connections to ‘one another as part of 4 single struggle. The SF & benefit on November 30 that S0 many groups worked on was a huge suc- cess, bringing hundreds of supporters together and raising thousands for the . We, along with all of the other sponsoring groups, provided money and were able to bring 4 of the § out to New York for the event. The event was sort of a test to see how differing pp/pow groups can work together. We feel very positive about the results. Much of our work so far as an ABC has been in providing assistance to direct sup- port_commitices such as those of Danicl McGowan, Andy Stepanian, Eric MeDavid, as well as small favors and cor- respondence with Russell Maroon Shoats and Sundiata Acoli. For the former three we have organized fundraisers and for Daniel McGowan in particular we have experience in virtually every aspect of pppow support. Further, we are now tak- ing a leading role in Andy Stepanian’s sup- port,and are hoping to bring more atiention 10 his case in the coming year We sce greal need among some groups of prisoners including the New Afrikan prisoners who requite reinvigorated sup- port movements so that they can hope not 10 live out the remainder of their lives in prison, as well a the Green Scare prisoners whose support is often sporadic and inex- perienced. It is our hope that we can per- sonally fill in the gaps left by existing political prisoner support while also agitat- ing and organizing for increased sirategic efloets on the part of activist, social move- ments, and concerned people toward free- ing movement prisoners. Our vision involves providing reliable support where it is most needed and generally working in coalitions to encourage social_justice ‘movements and communities to integrate PP support into all of their goals and work. We have spent a considerable amount of time discussing whether or not we are interested in affiliating with the ABCF. We are interested in working toward the Federation changing some of the language in the materials. We think that the Constiution Bylaw #7 should be changed, as the Federation should not mandate indi. vidual behavior. We would not want to be expected to inform other Federation mem.- bers if we suspected a Federation member of using illegal drugs because such a com. ‘munication could unnecessarily make peo- ple vulnerable to law enforcement. In addi- tion, we think that the ABCF's definition of political prisoners and prisoners of war can be interpreted to include some Earth and Animal prisoners. We believe that the Federation should not exclude Earth and Animal prisoners but rather, should consid- er them for political prisoncr and prisoner of war status using current definitions on a case-by-case basis. That said, we would much rather be part of the Federation than not. We think that the standards put forth in the ABCF Guide are a very solid foundation for revolution- ary work and we would be honored to be part of the organization that lives by them. We wan to be part of an organization that is greater than the sum of its collectives and we see this opportunity in the ABCF. We want to contribute to the Warchest and the Anarchist Subsistence Program. We want to be accountable to the Prisoner Committee and the Federation Council And we want the opportunity to benefit from and contribute to the efforts of the Federation. In Solidarity, The NYC Anarchist Black Cross (Editor’s Note: The Federation Council of the ABCF met the monday afler the application was sent out. The vote was unanimous in favor of accepting the NYC ABC into the Federation. We wish t0 wel- come the NYC chapter 10 their new home.) Montreal ABCF has been busy expanding our empire, with Karen, Emily and Sara now living in Toronto. For the nex litle while we'll continue 1o work as part of the Montreal group, but we plan to form a separate Toronto branch group within 3 few months. Our major project for the past few months has been the Certain Days: 2008 Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar (wwiw.certain- days.org), in collaboration with PPs David Gilbert, Robert Seth Hayes and Herman Bell. This year' edition, themed "The Legacy of Black Riders article continued from page 7 Montreal ABCF Update the Panthers," s a fundraiser for the SFS. We're also proud to have just published Issue 10 of 4strugglemag (www dstrugglemag org), our zine of writings by political prisoners and their supporters. We are now warking with Vancouver's A Poverty Committce to send hundreds of free copies 10 prisoners in North America. Together with our editor, anti-imperialist PP Jaan Laaman, we'l make it an even stronger voice in our movements in 2008, other kids his age, Jacor has had (0 suffer pounding on the door in the middle of the night by the police, screams of terror, the repeated arrest of his parents, not to men- tion S.W.AT. team fircarms pointed at his small seven-year-old_body. Although Aryana’s motherhaod has been viciously Stripped from her once again, she will remain strong for her people and continue to empower and defend all mothers and children against this heartless enemy. Al this has been done by the racist pig power structure in order to try o stop our organization’s revolutionary expansion and influence in Amerikkka. General TA.CO. is a former_gang member who created the Black Riders Liberation_Party in 1996 in the Youth Training Service’s prison college class along with other prisoners. He has worked hard to bring about Black self-determina- tion and African pride 1o people who have been robbed of most of their dignity and identity by racist white people and the pig power structure. Because General TACO. has successfully transformed some of the most violent and self-destruc- tive youth into full-blown revolutionary consciousness under the teachings, values and practices of African inter-communal- ism, he has suffered numerous raids, llegal searches and arrests, brutal confrontations, time in prison and jail, and the kidnapping of family members. This has all been in an attempt to stop his revolutionary leadership from resurrecting the spirit of the Black community. ‘General T.A.C.0. has sarificed every- thing to make revolution a possibility and realty in the poverty-stricken gang injunc- tions of Amerikkka. He alone has dared to believe that he could offer the community a permanent political vehicle, which would serve their needs and advocate their inter- ests. General TA.C.O's charge for con- spiracy, or basically a “thought crime.” has been 4 plot by this racist government’s anti-human USA PATRIOT Act and fake Homeland _Security counter-terrorism plans, in order to silence the leader of the Black Liberation Movement. This plot will never suceeed. ‘Other comrades have also been trgeted ‘and arrested on trumped-up charges by the LAPD. Comrade Kambui Sadiki, our Minister of Defense, was brutally jumped on by the LAPD. while politically edu- cating the community on Rodeo and Crenshay. He is now doing time for “tres- passing.” Many other comrades are also zoing to trial for numerous charges made up by the pigs ‘The Black Riders have proven o be a sign of Black empowerment in their will- ingness to die defending the people against police terrorism. The BRLP stands against white racist laws and threats in the commu- nity. In pushing our “Watch-A-Pig” pro- ram, our soldiers and organization have zone through severe repression. The pro- ‘zram consists of patrolling the police with Taw booklets, video cameras, Black karate skills, military uniforms and berets, and other legal weapons, while educating the people ontheir self-defense rights, and o ffering our services to people who need a witness against the police in a lawsuit A Black Rider has to cope with the life- threatening reality of being hunted and spied upon by federal agents, and being illegally threatened, searched and arrested by racist police officers every day, in order 1o defend, politically educate, empower and unite our community. Black revolu- tionaries have always been the most doomed men and women and have always. received the most repression. Look at the assassinations of Fred Hampton, Bobby Hutton, Bunchy Carter and John Huggins, 10 name just a few. Look at the targeting of the Black Panther Party as “the greatest threat to the internal security of the U.S." ‘The whole idea of the Watch-A-Pig pro- aram s to show the people that resistance is possible. We patral the pigs at random and link it with our other daily movements doing other dangerous political work like trying to educate and raise the Affican con- sciousness of young Black people on the street-corners. The goal is o stop trbalism and black-on-black violence, and create a Black commune where young brothers and sisters can be fed, clothed, educated, mili- tarily trained. There they can be surtound- ed in a revolutionary African environment, away from the brainwashing capitalisi institutions that prey on our youth and trap them into self-destructive mentalities, behaviors and practices. The racist LAPD. and media have atempted 1o discredit our aganization's efforts by labeling us as a “black terorist gang,” and claiming that we promote vio- lence and racism and disturb the “peace” of the community. But they won't tell you that the first black gangs were created in self- defense against white racist violence in the northern and western states that didn’t want to aceept the new integration laws. Update: The pre-trial hearing sched- uled for January was pushed back for February 15, Anti-fascist Killed by About_one thousand people gathered on 19 January, 2008 in Pilsen, Czech Republic, to remen- ber the victims of nazi terror: 66 years ago, Jows from Pilsen were deported 1o concentration camps, butnobody knew that another victin of current ey Nazi violence was a the very same time fighting for his lfe n a hospital. On 18 January in Pribram, a town 50 km south- west of Prague, 20-year-old neo-nazi Jiri Fous stabbed 18-year-old Jan Kucera in the groin and backat 11 pm, Young local neo-Nazis were provoking a group of anti-fascists with Nazi salutes in a pub, A con- frontation broke out and reports claim that Jiri Fous- a known fascist- followed the group of ant-fascists when they left the pub. It was at this time when Jan was atiacked. Other reports claim the fascist was wearing a SS Nazi uniform when the attack took plac “Afer the attack, Jan's friends tried fruitlessly to stop the bleeding from his femoral artery and c normal boy fascist O will s The Anarchist Subsistence Program The Anarchist Subsistence Program seeks o provide material aid to those PP/POWs who come from our own anarchist/anti-authoritarian community. As with the Warchest, this program is designed o aid PP/POWSs who receive little financial aid. However, it is unique because it exclusively assists those from the anar- chist/anti-authoritarian community Over the last few years there has been an incre anarchist/anti-authoritarian PP/POWSs. Most of these new prisoners have support committees who raise awareness and funds on their behalf. Long held anarchist/anti-author- itarian PP/POWS have had their support overshadowed by these new cases. This program is designed to ensure that support for them remains consistent The two functions of this support campaign include a monthly Hnancial assistance and forty 41¢ postage Stamps for an ambulance. Neither the paramedics nor Jan's fiends realized that Jan had also been stabbed in the back. By the time they found the wound, it was too late. Jan had lost massive amounts of blood and fell unconscious. He was rushed 1o & nearby hospital, but even though he was in the hands of profession- al doctors, he died on Sunday morning. Jan Kicera was an anti-fascist skinhead from Pribram, and he was never afrid (o express his apinions. In his Internet profile, he wrote: nd I consider myself- head. I don’tcare who my friends are - don'tjudge peaple because of thei or the color of their skin. | judge people by what they do. Anybody can write io me. I hate nazis, the bourgeoisie, communisis and sinilar seum! Ani- He stood by his opinions uniil the very end. He forever in he hearts of his family, friends, and all people with similar anti led Honor to his memory. e of Neo-Nazi SHARP skin- musical tase, their clothes scist atttude. Photo of Jan Kucera ABC (who facilitates the program) who in tum distributes the funds among anarchist political prisoners who partici- pate in the program. All US. supporters also take turns Sending the Stamps directly to Philadelphia ABC. Listed here e the monthly check documentation and rotation of groups sending stamps. If you want to support i important program and help us cxpand the number of Anarchist Subsistence Program campaigns we run, contact Philadelphia ABC. Make checks or money orders out only to: TIM FASNACHT. Funds should be sent in the last week of the month before the month the funds will be used (i.e., send March funds in the 3rd week of February). (" Stamp Schedule per month. Supporters of the Anarchist Subsistence Jan- Philadelphia Program send whatever funds they can to Philadelphia Feb- Los Angeles Subsistence Report for 2007 March- Philadelphia AN FEB MAR APR WAV 3UN JUL AUG vy P ROTHAVES 10 o o0 0 0 0 o April- Los Angeles RVAWASGA 0 150 0 0 o 0 o Syais 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0| Senda checkor money order to Philadelphia ABCF made S &8585 |outto Tim Fasnachtfor forty 41¢ stamps i the last week of Tonvis O 2 o ‘o o o o o |themonth before the month for which you are responsible. crris/n 0 ‘0 10 10 w0 o w0 o § RYAWAASKA 00 15 15 15 15 15 is Philadelphia ABCF | ANNE/JERICHO 00 [ [ 00 160 0 P.O Box 42129 TOTAL 0 50 25 45 45 115 185 15 _ Philadelphia, PA 19101 Name Ph Send cash.checks or mos | Streot Address made to TIM FASNACHT to: | City/State/Zip. Philly ABCF | ONE TIME DONATION [] Pl commit to 6 months || Tll committo 1 year || MONTHLY SUPPORTER [ ] Monthly supporters, please check one of the following: Amount:s Box 42129 PA 19101 Philadelphia imABCF@aol.com toll free (877) $ $50,000 Raised Through the Warchest Program SUPPORT THE ABCF WARCHEST ‘The ABCF has initiated a program designed to send monthly checks to PPPOWSs who have been receiving insufficient, littl, or no financial support during their imprison- ment, PPPOWs requesting funds complete an application of financial questions. ‘When the ABCF has collected sufficient funds to send out another monthly check, the applications are reviewed by a rotating body of PP/POWs called the Prisoner Committee, who make a judgement on which applicant s in the most financial necd. There is also an emergency fund designed to immediately send checks to those PP/POWS in nced of one-time or emergency Founded in 1994, the Warchest has provided cor ing a much- neglected comradely function. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised over $50,000 with just this one program. Al funds raised go directly to the political prisoners, for which the program is designed. Despite our success, our comrades are stil in dire need of funds. Endorse this program by giving a monthly or one-time donation to increase the number of prisoners being supported monthly. A financial report is published that documents all money reccived and the prisoner it was sent to. The prisoners” addresses are also printed so that endorsers may write and hold us accountable. Send cash,checks or mos made to TIM FASNACHT to: Philly ABCF e P.O Box 42129 e Philadelphia, PA 19101 ¢ timABCF@aol.com FUNDS IN 2007 8-Jan FUNDS IN FUNDS OUT LA ABCF/RDTW 1850 0 1994 351 1994 120 DAN D./ LA RDTW 75 [ 1995 3860 1995 2796 PHL ABCF 292 20 1996 4143 1996 4308 JAX ABCF 110 [ 1997 3544 1997 4588 NJ ABCF [ ) 1998 7643 1998 6412 CHRIS/N 245 [ 1999 5814 1999 5191 EZE/N) 100 0 2000 3514 2000 4544 RYAN/ALSKA 375 25 2001 5290 2001 4637 PROPAGANDI 192 0 2002 2873 2002 4320 JUSTIN/CLEV 120 0 2003 1785 2003 1300 ANON 10 [ 2004 UNACC* 2004 UNACC* JIM/PHILLY 10 ) 2005 4439 2005 2620 TONY/KS 25 [ 2006 3268 2006 2880 ALEJANDRO 15 [ 2007 4312 2007 3471 SHEILA/LA 35 ) 2008 45 2008 300 SHARON SHOATZ 360 ) TOTAL 50881 TOTAL 47232 BEN B/UK 10 0 DEMIAN S 60 ) FUNDS OUT 2007 Jan-08 PAC (PHOENIX) 80 0 SEKOU KAMBUL 561 30 W. MASS. RDTW __ 372.5 0 RUSSELL SHOATZ 360 30 TOTAL 4312 45 JOSEPH BOWEN 360 30 T HANIFFBEY 360 30 HERMAN BELL 360 30 SEKOU ODINGA 360 30 ) RUCHELL MAGEE 360 30 FUNDS REMAINING: $3031.50 "ALVARG HERNANDEZ 360 30 MALIKT LATINE 200 30 TSUTOMU SHIROSAKT 90 30 THOMAS MANNING 100 30 TOTAL 4312 300 (*Funds unaccounted for due to unreported funds from Jacksonville ABCF) % “Your ABCF Guide to PP/POW Support is great, PERIOD!" - New Afikan POW Sundiata Acoli “You can see many of our concerns addressed in this pam - phiet.” - former Puerto Rican POW Carmen Valentin “Itis extremely well thought out and put together.” - Anti-Imperialist PP Tom Manning What's the ABC? What's the ABCF? Who are Political Prisoners? Who are Prisoners of War? Where are they? Why make a criteria? What do you mean by “documentation”and how do 1 get it? What kinds of sup - ‘port do Polltical Prisoners need? How should 1 o about my work? What can PPIPOWS gt in prison? What do I need o know if I want - ed 10 visit? Can I bring them food packages? What abour clothes? Wit do you mean' by ‘principled support”? How do I get involved? This is a practical guide compiled by Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War themselves, based on concrete history and work experience. 1t will help answer all of the above questions and more. The ABCF guide to PPPOW includes definitions that were demo- cratically agreed upon at an international tribunal, spet dures ini bl P PP et o T i o " proce- ob ‘documentation on PP/POW's. information on visiting, phone contact, food/clothing packages, and the working policies of the ABCF in our work to support PPPOW's. Send $1 ‘and two stamps to ABCF-LA « PO Box 11223 « Whittier, CA + 90603 LA-ABCF Branch Group PO Box 11223 Whittier, CA 90603 “This work is not done for glory, but because we believe in mutual aid.”