A Draft Proposal for an
Anarchist Black Cross
Network

Lorenzo Kom’'boa Ervin

1994
Contents

Preface to the Second Edition
An Introduction

Purpose of the Movement
Policy

Conclusion

1
1
Preface to the Second Edition

This pamphlet is dedicated to all those suffering in the dun-
geons of North America and all those revolutionaries who have
lost their lives in prison anywhere in the world. I first wrote it
in 1979 in hopes that it would raise the issue of political pris-
oners and lead to the building of a prison support movement
which could save those prisoners who followed me into the
prisons of North America from a fate of living death like I suf-
fered (15 years in jail), or from a violent death like comrade
George Jackson, the Attica prisoners, scores of whom were
murdered by State pigs at the orders of billionaire Governor
John D. Rockefeller during the revolt at that camp in 1971;
Black revolutionary Andaliwa Clark killed in New Jersey dur-
ing an escape attempt; or the brutal assassination of Anarchist
political prisoner Carl Harp, founder of the Anarchist Black
Dragon Collective in Washington State prison, who was killed
in 1981

Ojore N. Lutalo, who describes himself as a New African
Anarchist political prisoner, and is confined at the New Jersey
State penitentiary at Trenton, has been quoted as saying that
“any movement that does not support its political internees is
a sham movement” I obviously agree with this, and it s clear
that we must turn the Anarchist Black Cross into a united mass
movement, instead of just a number of isolated collectives who
want to help particular prisoners. As one who went through
this process myself, as a political prisoner (1969-1983), I know
first hand that this piecemeal support structure will not work
‘Whatalso will not work s sectarian support, and by that I mean
not working with others because of ideology or refusing to
support prisoners because of ideology. This is the antithesis of
class war defense, and is really sellout opportunism. We must
work with all those who believe in the democratic principle of
class war defense, regardless of political disagreement
Our objective is to build a mass movement strong enough
to firee all political prisoners, and to raze the prisons to the
ground. Prisoners like Ojore rate our highest priority. We can
and must free these prisoners, those imprisoned or tortured
because of political beliefs or revolutionary activity. And if we
had a strong movement we could free them today! This was
proven in the case of the Anarchist prisoner Martin Sostre. He
was framed and imprisoned in the 19605, and was freed because
of a mass movement made up of all kinds of radicals, prison
supporters and others persons of conscience.

Not all can be freed by mass movements, but most can. We
must also recognize that some will have to be freed through
military action. The state simply has swom not to release
some persons while they stilllive because they represent such
a threat to state security. George Jackson was obviously one
such person, but there are others still alive and in the dungeon.
‘The Anarchist and other radical movements in North America
must build an underground struggle capable of taking action
like the freeing of Assata Shakur in the late 19705, and getting
those persons to safe haven. It is not easy to do this, but
it must be done. Prisoners must appreciate the difficulty
involved in taking such military actions, while the comrades
outside must appreciate the dire threat to life of those stll left
inside. This is not an easy issue, it a matter of life and death
on both ends of the spectrum. Such a movement cannot be
built overnight, but the problem is that we are no closer to it
now than when I was in prison asking the same question this
group of internees have asked themselves many times: have
they forgotten about me? Must I fight this battle alone? This
should not be the case, but it is. Here is the deal for all to see:
if our revolutionary movements outside are weak, then we
cannot build a movement capable enough to free prisoners or
fight for social change
An Introduction

‘The Anarchist Black Cross is an international network of au-
tonomous groups of anarchists who work to ensure that Anar-
chist, class war, and other prisoners aren't forgotten.

‘The Anarchist Red Cross was started in Tsarist Russia to or-
ganize aid for political prisoners captured by the police, and
to organize self-defense against political raids by the Cossack
Army. During the Russian civil war, they changed the name to
the Black Cross in order to avoid confusion with the Red Cross
who were organizing relief in the country. After the Bolsheviks
seized power the Anarchist movement moved the ABC offices
to Berlin and continued to aid prisoners of the new regime, as
well as victims of Italian fascism and others. The Black Cross
fell apart during the 1930s depression due to the incredible de-
mand for its services and a decline in financial aid. But in the
Iate 19605 the organization resurfaced in Britain, where it first
worked to aid prisoners of the Spanish resistance, which had
notin fact died after the civil war and were fighting the dictator
Franco’s police. Now it has expanded and works in several ar-
eas, with contacts and other Black Cross groups in many coun-
tries around the world. The North American section started in
the early 1980s.

The ABC hopes to bring attention to the plight of all prison-
ers including, psychiatric prisoners, with an emphasis on An-
archist and class war prisoners; and, through contact with and
information about Anarchist prisoners, inspire an Anarchist re-
sistance and support movement on the outside. Although we
aren't able (except with a few exceptions) to send regular fi-
nancial aid to our comrades in prison, we do keep in regular
contact with as many prisoners as possible, make visits and do
whatever we can to prevent prisoners from becoming isolated.
‘We fund-raise on behalf of prisoners or defense committees in
need of funds for legal cases or otherwise, and organize demon-
strations of solidarity with imprisoned Anarchists and other
prisoners

We believe, as most Anarchists do, that prisons serve no use-
ful function (except for the benefit of the ruling classes) and
should be abolished along with the State. We differ from lib-
eal prison reformists and groups like Amnesty International
in two main ways: firstly, we believe in the abolition of both
the prison system and the society which creates it, and we ini-
tiate all our actions with that in mind; secondly, we believe
in direct resistance to achieve a stateless and classless society.
Groups like Amnesty International balk at supporting anyone
aceused of so-called violent acts, thus insinuating that anyone
who resists oppression and takes up arms in self-defense, or
during a revolutionary insurrection, is not worthy of support.
‘The message is clear: do not resist. Our message is exactly the
opposite, and this is what we work to support, We share a com-
mitment to revolutionary Anarchism as opposed to liberalism
and individualism or legalism.

Outside of prison work, the ABC's are committed to the
wider resistance in which many of these prisoners are engaged.
We see a real need for Anarchists to be militantly organized
if we are o effectively meet the organized repression of the
State and avoid defeat. What is also needed is commitment
to revolutionary politics. We see the setting up of Anarchist
defense organizations, such as the ABC, as a necessary part
of the growth and development of an Anarchist resistance
movement, not divorcing ourselves from the revolutionary
struggle and then just fighting for prison reform.

As Anarchists we believe in the promotion of direct action
and collective organization in the workplace, the schools, the
community and the streets, as a means of regaining power over
our own lives and creating a society based on mutual aid and
cooperation.

Raze the prisons, free the prisoners!
Purpose of the Movement

‘The stated purpose of the Anarchist Black Cross Network
s to actively assist prisoners in their fight to obtain their civil
and human rights, and to aid them in their struggle against the
State/Class penal and judicial system. The prison system is the
armed fist of the State, and is a system for State slavery. It is
not really for “criminals” or other “social deviants and it does
not exist for the “protection of society”

Itis for State social control and political repression. Thus it
must be opposed at every turn and ultimately destroyed alto-
gether. The abolition of prisons, the system of Laws, and the
Capitalist State is the ultimate objective of every true Anar-
chist, yet there seems to be no clear agreement by the Anar-
chist movement to put active effort to that anti-authoritarian
desire. We must organize our resources to support all political/
class war prisoners if we truly wish to be their ally, and we
must give something more than lip service.

Organizing against the enemy legal and penal system is
both offensive and defensive. It s carried on with individuals,
groups and among the masses in the community. We must
inform the people on a large scale of the atrocities and inhu-
‘manity of the prisons, the righteousness of our struggle, and
the necessity of their full and support. We must organize our
communities to attack the prison system as a moral and social
abomination, and we must fight to free all political/class war
prisoners.

Defensive work involves meeting the needs of the prisoners:
whether those needs stem from the daily oppression of the
prisons, police, courts, or the intensive repression by State/
Class authorities of prison organizers. The prison support
group meets these needs in two primary ways:

1. by educating the community about the class/racist na-
ture of the prisons and the legal system and how to fight
against it;

2. by forming outside support groups on a local and na-
tional basis in order to ensure prisoners’ defense and sur-
vival from enemy attack and from inhuman prison con-
ditions. There should be Anarchist Black Cross Groups
all over the continent,

Offensive work means directly challenging the existence

of prisons and this work also involves actively campaigning

ag:
of

ainst prison conditions, and propagandizing the actual cases
‘political/class war prisoners (i. prisoners jailed for specific

political reasons and those who have become politically aware

of

the reasons for their oppression while in prison, as well as

vietims of frame-ups) to the largest possible audience.

We must do this in order to expose, embarrass, isolate, con-

fuse and demoralize the enemy’s legal and penal system, and

also to win community people over to support prisoners’ strug-

gles.

10

Some of our protest activities include this 15 point program:

1. Organizing Political Prisoner Defense Committees on be-
half of prisoners framed or railroaded through the Capi-
talist courts for their political and social beliefs or prison
organizing, For a prisoner in the hands of the State on po-
litical frame-up charges, the Defense Committee is the
most effective instrument to fight for their freedom!

2. Holding protest rallies, marches and street demonstra-
tions in support of prisoners’ rights and against the re-
pressive actions of State/Class authorities. Such protests
can be held in and around prisons, Departments of “Cor-
rections.” Courthouses (where political prisoners’ cases
are being tried or prisoners’ rights lawsuits are being
heard), at the White House, US Congress, State Legisla-
tures, Governors’ Mansions and other symbols of class
rule and prisoner oppression.

Writing press releases and holding news conferences
for the Black, alternative and radical news media (and
sometimes the Capitalist news media) appearing on
television and radio news and/or talk shows to discuss
prisons. Priority should also be given to starting a
Prisoners’ newsletter or newspaper with an Anarchist
focus . In fact, the old Black Flag, formerly the organ of
the anarchist Black Cross Group in London, England
(which has stopped publishing), should be started up
again. (I remember what the HAPOTOC newsletter and
the Black Flag did to publicize and politicize my case
when I was in prison.)

Securing Anarchist and other revolutionary materials
for prisoners to read, and fight for their right to receive
this literature if prison officials try to ban or prohibit
such literature for any reason.

Sending the prison officials and other State/Class author-
ities all over the continent a flood of telegrams, letters
and petitions about the mistreatment of prisoners, and
especially political prisoners and prison activists (who
are ‘dangerous’ in the eyes of the prison officials). Let
them know that there is someone who is watching their
every move and that the prisoners are not alone!

Organize a_telephone brigade to continually call
“corrections” and other authorities about the treatment
of prisoners. This is especially important if there is an
enemy attack upon a political prisoner or an ongoing
prison protest.

1
12

10,

11

Organize a Legal Defense Fund to raise funds for legal
flees and to secure the services of an attorney, where nec-
essary, to assist prisoners with criminal or disciplinary
cases growing out of their prison organizing or the ha-
rassment by prison officials

Organizing and/or participating in coalitions with poor
people’s movements, prison support, Black, Women's
rights, Gay, Church, Left-wing, and other diverse
groups, so as to win them over and to integrate the
prison struggle into the general movement for social
change in North America.

Assist prisoners in getting parole, probation or a pardon
by securing them a place to stay, a job, some references
or names on a petition demanding their freedom when
they become eligible for parole or are seeking executive
clemency. It may be necessary to hold demonstrations
and other protest actions to compel the release of cer-
tain prisoners whom officials are continuing to hold even
though they should have been legally released.

Organize a Correspondence Committee of people to
write to prisoners and find out about prison conditions
and to show their solidarity and human concern. Also
to write protest letters to prison officials, politicians,
the news media, prison support groups, professional or
legal organizations and other persons, about prison con-
ditions. Also have the ABC’s to function as an Observer
Committee to go into the prisons, visit the prisoners,
investigate their complaints, question the officials and
monitor the prison for violation of prisoners’ rights

Work against the death penalty and expose it as an in-
strument of racial genocide and class and political repres-
sion. Never forget the Haymarket martyrs, Sacco and
12

13

1,

15,

Vanzetti, and so many others put to death “legally” by
the State, as well as those like Mumia Abu-Jamal, who
have been sentenced to death.

Expose the fallacy of the Capitalist system of cops, laws
and prisons being for the protection of society or as a
social necessity. We should hold community forums on
crime, the prison system, racism and Capitalism, to ex-
posethe system itselfas the crime, and to show that there
is another way to social peace and harmony: the Anar-
chist way.

Set up Black Cross Amnesty Committees all over the
Continent to demand the freedom and amnesty of polit-
ical/class war prisoners, and the abolition of prisons. Es-
pecially demand the immediate release of prisoners who
have served unnecessarily lengthy sentences

Demand the immediate closing of all Control Units in
federal and state prisons. We should have mass marches
at the prisons, in front of politicians offices, and at the
“corrections” offices. We should make the issue of Con-
trol Units in North American prisons an international
human rights issue, and in addition work to try to free
all such prisoners on a strict timetable.

‘Those outside the prison support movement (and espe-
cially in underground units) must be willing to engage
in armed support actions. Where the lives of political/
class war prisoners are in immediate jeopardy, they must
be forcibly liberated. This is an extreme measure for ex-
treme conditions of repression. It cannot be taken lightly
and without full understanding of the consequences. But
because of the State’s bloody war against innocent vic-
tims it must be considered and done.

13
Policy

We have to be non-sectarian when it comes to fighting for
the rights and freedom of the victims of prison state slavery.
Our policy must be that we will work with and for any pris-
oner and prison support group, if they will work in sincerity
and unity with us. We do this so as to obtain the widest pos-
sible mobilization on the part of the people in support of the
prison movement and the cases of political/class war prison-
ers. However, we will not subordinate our ideals and identity
as anti-authoritarians and Anarchists to any other struggle or
group. And we will not sustain attacks or make apologies for
our beliefs in a Libertarian world, rather than a State Socialist
or Western Imperialist one. We won't moderate our struggle or
still our tongues concerning any injustice we see anywhere, in
order to accommodate anyone, friend or foe.

Conclusion

The American State in the past has murdered and impris-
oned far too many of our Anarchist comrades: Alexander Berk-
man, the Haymarket martyrs, IWW members (such as Joe Hill),
Sacco and Vanzetti, Martin Sostre, Carl Harp and so many oth-
ers. Also many Anarchist prisoners are in prison today such as
Ojore N. Lutalo, Shaka Shakur, along with other political pris-
oners like those in the Black Liberation Army or formerly with
Black Panther Party, like Herman Bell, Sundiata Acoli, Marshal
Eddie Conway. We must organize to ensure that these com-
rades (and others now in prison) are freed and that further re-
pression of our movement by State/Class rulers is prevented.

Therefore, we must talk about making the Anarchist Black
Cross into a mass movement against State repression, one
which can counter the drive of the State Capitalists towards a
police state, along with our work in the anti-prison struggle.

1
We cannot free any of the prisoners without building a mass
movement which links up with all those in favor of demo-
cratic rights. That is why I said we cannot engage in sectarian
politics. The case of Martin Sostre in the 19705, who although
an Anarchist, did not refuse the aid of Liberals, Communists,
Christians, Muslims or anyone else who believed in the injus-
tice of his frame-up conviction, should be a perfect example.
‘The only reason he was freed was because of a mass ferment
and agitation by a large sector of the population demanding
his release. The governor of New York granted his pardon. It
i political suicide for a political prisoner, and the movement
which supports him or her, to take a sectarian position and
refuse to work with others, even though we may vehemently
disagree with them on a whole host of other issues. This is a
matter of life and death, where the usual rules do not apply.
‘The only issue here is the freedom of the prisoner. We have
to work with all other political prisoner committees who will
work with us.

This is not 1979, the time when I first wrote this pamphlet.
‘There was no real ABC movement in North America like there
is now. There may be fifty ABC units now worldwide. We must
unite them into a powerful tendency, with its own press, polit-
ical orientation and agenda. T hope we can formalize the group,
while not necessarily centralizing the movement. We need to
build an ABC Federation of groups so that we can raze the pris-
ons and free all class war prisoners. We can build a powerful
international revolutionary prison movement, since we now
have activists in many countries which agree with the ABC.
Many others would join with us, if they can find out what we
are doing

The ABC Network must strike out on its own at this stage,
since there is no consensus among Anarchists about pris-
oner support generally, and revolutionary political prisoners
specifically. No one else will take up this fight in either
the Left or the Anarchist movements, and the inside prison

15
movement cannot be effective without the outside active
support. The ABC's must join with the Black Cat Collective
of the Black Panther movement, and with other political
prisoner movements to make a mass coalition. I propose
the convening of an ABC conference to unite the ABC's
and discuss the building of a mass political prisoner defense
movement. It will have to have be a large conference to gather
the forces needed to make this a real thing. This conference
also should include the other movements as both observers
and participants. Some of these groups are political prisoner
defense committees and have been working on the cases of
political prisoners for many years, such as those for Geronimo
Pratt, Sundiata Acoli and other political prisoners. They have
been very isolated and with few resources. But there are
also groups like the Communist party-dominated National
Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which for
years has had a questionable reputation in its dealings and
with it tepid support of political prisoners, though it has
tremendous resources to bear, legal and financial. Either they
must support the liberation of prisoners in a real way or be
exposed in the most ruthless fashion. We can no longer brook
sell-out or opportunist groups in this struggle.

We can build this revolutionary ABC movement if we will
but commit ourselves both prisoners and the movement out-
side. There is much we both must o, this is no cakewalk and is
very serious. But the alternative of doing nothing is even more
dangerous: more will suffer and die. Let us make a difference
with a powerful Anarchist Black Cross Network.

We shall have our freedom, or we will level the Earth
in our attempts to gain ith!

16
‘The Anarchist Library
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Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin
A Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network
1994

Retrieved on 15 November 2011 from www.spunk.org
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Self-Education Foundation of the Industrial Workers of the
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