New Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network
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A New Draft Proposal Jor an Anarchist Black Cross Network * Introduction Former Black Panther, poliical prisoner and a long-time anarchist revolutionary named Lorenzo Komiboa Ervin wrote *A Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network’ in 1979. The ABC movement was one of those organisations instrumental in helping see Kom’boa free, and Kom’boa spoke passionately for the development of a united movement around issues of incarceraion and prisoner support. In the 1990s, these ideas were a catalyst in helping many ABC groups find focus. His ideas, while writien years ago, embody principles that define our movement ‘The stated purpose of the Anarchist Black Cross Network is to active- Iy assist prisoners in ther fight to obtain their civil and human rights, and o aid them in their struggle against the State/Class penal and Judicial system. The prison system s 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 existfor the "protection of society.” Its for State social control and poliical repression. Thus it must be opposed at every turn and ultmately destroyed aftogether. The abolr tion of prisons, the system of Laws, and the Capilalist State s the ult mate objective of every true Anarchist, yet there seems (0 be no clear agreement by the Anarchist movement to put active effort to that antr authoritarian desire. We must organise our resources o support all politicallclass war prisoners if we truly wish 10 be their allies, and we must give something more than Ip service. Organising against the enemy legal and penal system is both offen- sive 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 inhumanity of the prisons, the righteousness of our struggle, and the necessity of their ful partiipation and support We must organise our communities to altack the prison system as a moral and social abomination, and we must fight 1o free all politicallclass war prisoners. Since Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin wrote those words, he has stated in recent lectures support for uniting with all prisoners, understanding the profound gults of race and
Page 2 A New Draft Proposal class as they relate to incarceration, and of anarchists taking a stronger role in put ting prison abolition, incarceration and criminalisation on the global agenda of resist ance. “The network proposal is the result of several dialogues over the last six months. Among the questions that arose was perhaps the most crilical one, ‘in considering criminal injustice, rates of incarceration, racial disparites, the spiit and nature in which laws are applied and, of course, our collective analysis as people concemed about increasing repression, class warfare of haves against have-nos, and for a freer, more just soclety... whal s poliical? And arent we waging a common strug: gle, despite the ‘single issue’ work?" What is poliical about the injustice system, how laws are applied, who goes o Jail and how bias factors into that? What is politcal about the factors that play into "erime" and how sanction is applied? And are we, as revolutionaries, litle more than collaborators in genocide f we do not stand up? ‘This understanding is not so much a crique of terms such as "poliical prisoner,” but of analysing the politics of prisons, sacial control, law, sexism, racism and power. For years, the ABC and anarchist movements have grasped how each of these issues profoundly affects the lives of people, and have acted in the interests of free- ‘dom by buiding resistance. This must continue. From country to country and state o state, figures are staggering, but the facts remain the same: Third Worldiindigenous/peaple of colour and the working class and poor are forced nto existences in which communites are gentrified; in which they are. targeted over race and class or worse if they are “illegal” immigrants or refugees; health care, child care, food and rents go out of reach in cosis; and their “choices are nothing more than set-ups to lock them away. Public policies target youth i sys- tematic and insttutional ways that hinder the realisation of human rights. Racist and discriminatory instituions and organisations, such as the police, prisons, and border controls and police target people, particularly Third World/people of colour and imi grants, via public policies. Revolutionaries who speak out and fight against the con: ditions of soclety are imprisoned or kiled. And we are expecled to stand by unti they ‘come for us. i they haven’t done it already. ‘What follows s a new proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network. It recon. siders and adopts many of Kom’boa’s old ideas, as wel as makes practical sugges- tions for building an anarchist network of independent groups united in fighting incar- ceration, repression and injustice worldwide. Many of the European ABC comrades have already taken the initative 10 start the building process of this network, 5o the idea is not new. This effort s merely to put an explanation o a tendency thal is already developing and wil continue 1o grow.
for an ABC Network Page 3 * Purpose The Anarchist Black Cross Network should be a decentralised and egaltarian network of organisations commitied 1o the original ideals of the Anarchist Black Cross movement - of seeing prisons and the poverly, racism and genocide that ‘accompanies them 1o be symploms of a social order whose last days are near. The proposed purposes of the ABC Network are: “To unite the many autonomous prisoners, activists and organisations work- ing for prisoner support, defence and freedo in a decentralised, anti-author- itarian fashion. There has been some fractionalsation of the struggle, fo various reasons, over the years. Gertan groups defended certain prisoners, while paying ip service 10 others. Gertain actvists stayed focused in a parlicular issue. but ddn’t have the resources to gel involved eisewhere. The purpose of the ABG Network Should not be one of waging batties over diferences, but of finding ways to unite us in a way thal is stil decentraised and antrauthorltarian. Whether you do work around earth iberation prisoners, social prisoners,” those recognised infernational- Iy as poltical prisoners. anti-colonialindependence prisoners, juvenile injustice, refugeefimmigrant criminalisation, the roots of prisons (.c. poverly. capitl, racism, et al) should only be important 16 an ABC Network as far as how the unity of many groups that truly see ‘an njury 1o one is an ijury to alf can help your work. The job of a network, cearty. is nol 1o change group’s current work, but {0 be a compliment o the work already being done. *To serve as a clear and easy-o-use communications tool for activists, pris- oners, organisations, families and supporters around issues related 1o the movement. If it is to be effective, the ABC Network must primarily serve as a com- munications and working base for prisoners, communily people, aclvists, groups (i.e. autonomous ABC groups and anarchist, prisoner, liberation, freedom, justice, anti-colonialindependence and/or issue-oriented community groups, etc.) and oth- ers who engage in activiies consistent with the basic spirt and vision of the ABC movement. So often, groups and organisers change, prisoners are transferred, new campaigns start and old campaigns end. This would be an effort to facitate com- munication around varied issues - from the latest transfers, to disbanded collectives to international support effots and so on *To support, discuss, learn from and engage one another around the Defence and Freedom activities we engage in. As state repression increases, more and more activists are facing fines, prison time, detention without charge, etc. for speak- ing out. Refugees/immigrants are being criminalised over race and class. Prisoners who were incarcerated for explicily poliical acts are being denied parole again and again. Prisoners who went 1o prison for *social crimes" are coming lo consciousness ‘abou the true nature of incarceration. And prisans will continue to be buit in the
Page 4 A New Draft Proposal name of law and order. These are issues regular’ people are aware of and which activists are often fighting around in a regional, sometimes isolated, way - not nec- essarlly by choice, but because all-around support needs to improve. As those faril iar with anarchist prisoner All Khalid Abdullah’s "Where Was the Support for Lorenzo Komboa Ervin and the Chaltanooga 37" will recall, one of our major issues is around unity. The ABC Network is aimed at getiing prisoners, community people, aciivists, groups (i.e. autonomous ABC groups and anarchist, prisoner, iberation, freedom, justice, ant-colonialindependence andior issue-oriented community groups, elc.) and others learing from each other, communicating and working logether around the various campaigns, and finding ways of educating each other with our experi ences in a clearer, yet anarchist, way. *To connect with a movement that understands the "single issues™ are part of ‘amuch larger movement for freedom, and to work actively to see that struggle grow globally and in all communities. On the surface, fighting for poliicaliclass war prisoners, supporting earth liberation prisoners, challenging juvenile injusiice, politcal repression, dealing with criminalisation of communities marginalised by the state (such as refugees/immigrants, the homeless and the working class/poor), the death penalty and racelgender disparities in incarceration seer like a mix of issues. In reality, most anarchists and others see these as part of a campaign by the state o attack communities and people. The ABC Network shouid be par of a movement that understands we all wage a common struggle. Clearly, a network could take on more goals, but these are merely a start. *Goals The ABC Network should serve to support collectives around the work they cur- ently do rather than co-ordinate a set of tasks for collectives in which to participate. Tasks that most community people, activists, groups (i. autonomous ABC groups. and anarchist, prisoner, liberalion, freedom, justice, anti-colonial/independence ‘andior issue-oriented community groups, etc.) and others engage in already, and which affates of the ABC Network should serve o help wih via strength in numbers. include: Defence and Freedom Work of the Network Defence work involves meeting the needs of the prisoners: whether those needs stem from the daily oppression of the prisons, police, courls or the intense repres- sion by Stale/Class authorities of prison organisers. Prison support by ABCS meets. these needs in many ways: 1. Forming outside support groups on local and national basis in order to ensure
for an ABC Network Page 5 prisoners’ defence and survival from enemy attack and from inhuman prison condi- tons. 2. Organising defence commitiees on behalf of prisoners framed or railoaded through the Capitalst courts for their poliical and social beliefs or prison organising. 3. Organising support for activists jaled for their outside work andior repression by authorites. 4. Securing Anarchist and other revolutionary materals for prisoners 1o read, and fightfor thei right to recelve this iterature ifprison offcials try to ban or prohisit such Hterature for any reason. 5. Organising emergency response call, letters, faxes and email o continually con- tact "corrections” and other athorilies about the treatment of prisoners. 6. Organising legal defence funds 1o raise funds for legal fees and to assist prison- ers and outside activists and groups. 7. Organising correspondence for people to write to prisoners and find out about prison condilions and to show their Solidarity and human concern, and observers to o into the prisons, viit the prisoners, invesligate their complaints, question the offi- cials and mornitor the prison for violation of prisoners’ rights. Froedom work means directly challenging the existence of prisons and this work. also involves actively campaigning against prison conditions, and propagandising the actual cases of politicaliclass war prisoners (L. prisoners failed for specific poli ical reasons and those who have become politcally aware of the reasons for their oppression while in prison, as wel as victims of frame-ups) to the largest possible. audience. Some protest activilies many prisoner support, anti-prison and ABC groups engage in today: 1. Linking up the struggles against criminalisation and imprisonment with associated social ills: poverty, homelessness, hunger, gentification, racism, racialicultural pro- fiing, anti-refugee/immigrant actions, privatisation, globalisation, the drug war and many other issues. 2. Exposing the fallacy of the Capitalist system of cops, laws and prisons being for the protection of saciely or as a social necessiy. 3. Educating the community, prisoners and others about the classracist nature of the. prisons and the legal system and how to fight against i; 4. Holding protest rallies, marches and street demonstrations in supportof prisoners’ rights and against the repressive actions of State/Class authorites. 5. Writing press releases and holding news conferences for the Third Worldipeople. of colour, altemative and radical news media (and sometimes the Capitalst news media) appearing on television and radio news and/or talk shows to discuss prisons. 6. Organising and/or partcipating in coalitions with poor people’s movements, prison support, Thid Worldpeople of colour, Women’s rights, ‘GaylLesbian/Bisexual Transgender, Church, Left-wing, and other diverse groups, so as {0 win them over and to integrale the prison struggle into the general movement for social change.
Page 6 A New Draft Proposal 7. Assisting prisoners in getting parole, probation or a pardon by demanding their freedom when they become eligible for parole or are seeking executive clemency. 8. Working agains! the death penaly and exposing it as an inslrument of acial geno- cide and class and politcal repression. 9. Demanding the freedom and amnesty of poliicaliclass war prisoners, and the abo- Ition of prisons. Especially demand the immediate release of prisaners who have served unnecessarly lengthy sentences. 10. Demanding the immediate closing of all controlisolation/supermax units in pris- ons. Any ABC Network that forms, should encourage, but not mandate, a diversiy of tactics as suggested here and more. The network’s proposed communications pur- pose could certainly also be utiised 1o help buid unily around regional cases and tactics (ie. demonsirations at consulates, etc). *Structure and principles The ABC Network should foremost Intended to accomplish the goals above ‘among the many autonomous groups that are doing the grassroots, day-to-day work ‘around campaigns, prisoners, criminalisation and liberation. What unites us are the principles mentioned by Kom’boa - of struggling to expose injustice, corruption and oppression; supporting prisoners who (consciously or nconsciously) are combat anis against the state; providing advice and suppor to aclivisis who put their bodies. on the fine in defence o freedom and revolution; and seeing our continued activism, ‘campaigns, etc.in the larger picture of prison abolition and revolutionary change - as. well as our own experiences in crealing conditions for change. ‘There should be no *party line” of the ABC Network. As anarchists, we believe in buiding a culture of resistance rather than legislating it. How you or your group ‘conducts your effort must solely up 10 you, although you may want to ink up to some activists and resources, work through ideas, learn together and help in others’ cam. paigns. But regardless, how you organise your group must stll be up to your local conditions and membership. ‘The ABC Network should do its work in a broad, non-sectarian manner. You should not have to be explicilly named an ABC group to join. Conformily to certain naming, uniform moral"security” codes, focus, etc.,all correctly criicised in previous work, cannot be part of a successul nitative. This is a fundamental difference between the proposed Network and previous inilatives - having the involvement, input, comments, critcisms and effors of local organisers, prisoners and groups is a necessity and privilege for an ABC Network to take shape. It is not a necessity or privilege for a network to form and communicate with activists... lbose, unannounced networks are already happening. This is merely an effort to make it stronger and unite many around the ideas we’re already struggling toward,
for an ABC Network Page 7 Prisoners should be involved in discussions and with area collectives or those collectives supporting the particular prisoner. In many cases, collective-prisoner relations are already buif, and everyone should ek to learn how those communi- cations are co-ordinaled and developed among groups. How prisoners feel about the development of the Network is citcal 1o ts success and they should be consult- ed about all of is facs. Issues of racism and sexism are crilical 1o deal with in the movement as a whole, and all groups should take genuine measures lo involve women and Third Worldindigenous/peaple of colour in campaigns and, as often as possible, local groups - not only by having their bodies around, but engaging minds and seriously taking those ideas/comments and critcisms 10 heart. Too often, male- and white- dominated groups have not made the eforts to broaden and involve other commu- ities, or women’s input has not been taken with the consideration and seriousness needed. Add 1o this the need to build sironger ties with women prisoners. This must be improved, and, ideally, an ABC Network can dialogue around strategies groups are utiising to be more egalitarian in approach. If we are to improve an ABC Network, hearing comments and criicisms should be a regular part of discussions. About every six months, affiated groups with the ABC Network, activists, prisoners and others should be asked 10 give their com- ments, cilcisms and suggestions for how to make the Network better, stronger and more helpful 1o each others’ needs. While the purpose of this s not to develop "leg- islation." it is intended 10 get people regularly thinking about how we work together ‘and how the Network stays relevant to our unity. However, please know that the fioor should be always open to raise comments/ideas/critiques, etc. We must welcome these ideas, because discussion, debate and joint resolutions are how we become more effective. *Conclusion In June 2001, Anarchist Black Cross groups from around Europe met in Ghent, Belgium. _People from lialy, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Luremburg, UK, Holland, Germany and Belgium agreed that a network of autonomous groups would be formed o further the aims of the ABC. I their post-conference statement, atten- dees concluded: “We believe in the aboliion of the prison system, but not only that, but the destruction of capitalism and all kinds of authority. We believe the struggle against the (in)justice system, as it is against capitalism, is international. Therefore recent allempts by European governments (e.9. Europol in Spain 2001) to criminalise the anarchist movement must be opposed by all revolutionaries. We respect the variely of ways people resist goverment violence and terrorism, and will sup-
Page 8 A New Draft Proposal port those incarcerated by the state. We strive to provide practical and material aid for class struggle prisoners and to encourage suppor for them.” The groundwork s already laid for an interational ABC network to unite ‘autonomous groups. In Europe, this network has already come into being. Itis a network that respects the autonomy of each group to act within the different circun stances of their own local situations. I is a network urging support for politcal pri- oners. And it is one that understands that support is only one part of our true strug: gle - for freedom, revolutionary change and anarchy. Over the last 15 years, the Anarchist Black Cross and anarchist prisoner support movements have inspired new awareness in repression, of the need 10 work with those criminalised by society in an effort to build a more iberated world, and to devel op tactics and strategies addressing prisons, law and social problems. The ABC movement was buiding on these efforts long before these issues got attention from the mainstream media. Nevertheless, our struggle can continue to grow and see more victories. Many of these ideas restate Lorenza Ervin’s original craft proposal, although many ideas presented therein are worth supporting, such as an ABC conference (o potentially unite the North American section of the network, since a European con ference happened in 2001) or a newspaper that reaches out 1o people in incarcera- tion. Uniting the many prisoner-written zines into "news service” of information could also be helpful. In addiion, working with various forces to create ABC-orient ed radio/intemet programming could also come together. Uniling our organising to develop theory and strategy around crime, class and liberation is another possibilty. * Comments/Criticisms/ Interest It you have comments, (any kind o) criticisms andior suggestions 1o improve this proposal or are interested in dialoguing locally and possibly building a group or aff- iating your own group, get in contact with the iniiating group (Antiprison, Austin ABC, Houston organising group) via emal at abc-nel@anarchistblackcross.org or via post at PO. Box 667233, Houston, Texas 77266-7233, USA. All comments, citcisms and/or suggestions received by by January 31, 2002 will be compiled (we won’t use your verbatim statements unless you ask) and an pdate sent 1o those interested. Get In touch. New Draft Proposal issued on 5 November 2001
for an ABC Network Page 9 Anniversary of the 1862 death sentence for 303 Santee Siou for tak- ing partin a Minnesota uprising. US President Abraham Lincoln com- mutes many sentences, but 38 chose to hang at Mankato, singing their death song on their scaffold. Anniversary of the 1928 banana workers’ sirke in Colombia against the United Fruit Company in which 1,000 workers were killed. Anniversary of the 1916 Everett, Washington, Massacre, in which ‘seven Industral Workers of the World (IWW) labor acivists are mur- dered by Everetts police as part of a campaign to suppress working class resistance. Revolutionary love and solidarity!
Page 10 A New Draft Proposal Summation of Politics and Positions Following the Comment Period for “A New Draft Proposal Jor an Anarchist Black Cross Network” * Introduction Inthe fall of 2001, *A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network” was released for public comment and feedback. The objective of this proposal was. o create a new network of autonomous antrprison/prisoner support organisalions. At the end of that dratt proposal, organisers requested comments by January 31, 2002, What follows below is a summation of issues related to the 2001 release of *A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network," as well as broad explanations of the poliical tendencies that can generally be said to unite ‘autonomous anti-prison/prisoner support groups and potentially an Anarchist Black Cross Network. Former Black Panther, poliical prisoner and a long-time anarchist revolutionary named Lorenzo Komboa Ervin wrote *A Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network” in 1979, In the 1990s, these ideas were a catalyst in helping many ABC groups focus their efforts. And it is with the growth of the autonomous Anarchist Black Cross movement worldwide over the last five years that *ANew Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network" was infroduced. During the comment period, there were many thoughtful, honest and forward- thinking replies 10 the idea of creating an ABC Network. And many ABC collectives, prisoners, prison organisers and olhers came out 10 sign on to the creation of an ABC Network. This effort would not be possible without the broad support "A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network” received, and our heartfelt thanks are owed 1o the many people who look time to make their perspectives known, and for all the expressions of support.
for an ABC Network Page 11 *Summation Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin, who has since stated his unily with the creation of an ABC Network, outined the ideas that united the cantemporary ABC movement in his original "A Dratt Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network " Kom’boa, in fact, made a number of clarifications and statemens of beliefs that should guide the con- temporary ABC movement. Some of these are paraphrased, in whole or in part, below. We hope these positions help 1o articulate the ABCN’s direction to interest. ed parties We want freedom for all class war prisoners locked down, and freedom for all prisoners held in state, city, county, juvenile and federal facilities. Class war prisoners are generally defined as those initally non-polficised prisoners who have been radicalised by their incarcerations to commit themselves 1o the revolutionary struggle. We recognise the importance of tapping into and bringing the voices of class war prisoners into wider revolutionary circles and making them a vital part of our movements. Whie the release of all prisoners opens up a number of ethical and community questions, we raise this demand because of the understanding that the current state, buit on the bodies of working-ciass and oppressed people, cannot mete out justice, and such maters should be handled on a community level. Clearly, how we deal with anti-social crime and violence requires a broad-based discussion, yet we need o be clear that our solution cannot be to turn that role over to the hands of the state. We honour the just and righteous struggles of all political prisoners, and support the full and unconditional freedom of all political prisoners. Many movements use varied definitions of politcal prisoners. Regardiess of definitions, we recognise that all prisoners, in whole or in part, are products of a war waged by the state, in the service of capitalism, colonialism, imperialism and genocide, against the people. We support these prisoners’ fights for Ireedom, justice and liberation, affirm the correctness of their resistance and actively work to see all are free. We want to bring attention to the plight of all prisoners, and through con- tact with and information about these prisoners, inspire an anarchist resist- ance and support movement on the outside. While we send regular financial aid to our comrades in prison, we also keep in regular contact with as many prisoners as possible, make visits and do whatever we can (o prevent prisoners from becom- ing isolated. We believe in support as a strategic and tactical expression of our anti- authoritarian poliics, and to reduce our efforts solely 1o fundraising, terature, etc. makes prisoner support activiy litle more than social service. As the Crossroad Support Network notes, "What determines the character of an issue is the poliical perspective thal people bring to it the class that leads the struggle around it; the class interest that the issue uliimately serves; whether the people become polifcal-
Page 12 A New Draft Proposal Iy educated, develop revolutionary consciousness, and create revolutionary unity and instiutions as they pursue the issue.” We believe that the police and the prison system are tools of the state, and a system for state slavery. Prisons, police and incarceralion have become the panacea for all our social ils. Where once the U.S. looked to the welfare state to alleviate social problems, today the U.S. looks to prisons, prisons and more prisons. Likewise, police brutaliy s not the case of "lew bad cops.” bul of a system based on exploitation, colonialism, racism and oppression. Prison is ot really for "crimi- nals” or other “social deviants,” and it does not exist for the *protection of society.” Prisons serve the ruling classes and their colonial inferests against all working-class ‘and oppressed people. More than hold these beliefs, we believe the autonomous ABC movement should be actively engaged in exposing these issues and agitating for revolutionary salutions. We are committed to the wider resistance in which prisoners are engaged. We see the setting up of anarchist defence organisations, such as the ABC, as a necessary part of the growth and development of an anarchist resistance movemen, ot divorcing ourselves from the revolutionary struggle or simply fighting for prison eform. We don’t treat the slruggle on the siree as separate or secondary. Our effort is to buid a movement in which the revolutionaries fighting for liberation from the belly of the beast, have support, camaraderie and people who identiy their struggle as key to freedom for all of us. "Today we pay homage to the revolutionary spiri inside prisons,” says former San Quentin Six poltical prisoner Luis Talamantez. “Understand that there are thousands of other George Jackson’s in prison foday just tike him." We want to make the Anarchist Black Cross into a mass movement against state terror and repression, one that can counter the drive of the state capital- ists towards a police state, along with our work in the anti-prison struggle. We want to directly challenge the existence of prisons and this work also involves acive: Iy campaigning against prison conditions, and propagandising the actual cases of politcaliclass war prisoners (.. prisoners jailed for specific politcal reasons and those who have become politcally aware of the reasons for thelr oppression while in prison, as well as victims of rame-ups) to the largest possible audience. We believe in direct resistance to achieve a stateless and classless socle- ty. Some balk at supporting anyone accused of so-called violent acts, thus insinu: ating that anyone who resists oppression and takes up arms in sell-defence, ‘engages in economic sabotage agains! the state or capitalists, o rebels during a rev- oluionary insurrection is not worthy of support. The message s clear: do nol resist. Our message is exactly the opposite, and this is what we work [0 support. We share ‘a commitment to anarchism as opposed to liberalism and individualism or legalism; self-defence as opposed to dependence on the state; and solidarty as opposed o
for an ABC Network Page 13 sectarianism in struggling for a more just world. We affirm our common politics in expressing solidarity. The new ABC Network should be based primary in, with and among ABC/anarchist groups (with inclusion of others as consented to by all collectives involved in the network). What was forwarded in the “New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network" was a vision for our potential. With increasing repression, the need for organisers in many communilies 1o find ways to work together is becoming more important. At the same time, i is essential that any organisation purporting to be an Anarchist Black. Cross Network be based primarily among ABC and anarchist formations, with inciu- sion of others, as affiated groups deem necessary or helplul We affirm that organisations that profess anarchist/anti-authoritarian poli- tics or use the word ’anarchist’ in their names should make among their top priorities the defence of anarchists/anti-authoritarians in prison. A fow fecl suich a position is sectarian; reality reveals many of these prisoners, by virtue of their polics, ace extreme forms of repression and harassmen. Even for prisoners who may not expressly identify as anarchists, but organise in an anti-authoritarian man- ner, repression is a constant threal. It is the duty of the aforementioned organisa- tions to work with and in support of anarchist prisoners. At the same time, we believe in the principled support of all evolutionaries behind the walls, and all revolutionary prisoners are owed our honest efforts in solidariy. ‘Generally, we must be able work with all revolutionary prisoners and prison sup- port groups, if they will work in sincerity and unity with us. However, we willnot sub- ordinate our ideals, nor will we sustain attacks or make apologies for our belifs for an anarchist world. We wont moderate our struggle or sil our tongues concerning any injustice we see anywhere, in order to accommodate anyone, friend or foe. We support autonomy of collectives in their efforts. We support the autono- my of each collective to make their decisions of who they support and how on a case-by-case basis. We agree tha the local efforts of organisers 1o aid prisoners in their regions and globall is where our strength lies; we should not uphold the ABC Network or creation of such to be a higher priority than the grassroots work going on today. We support collective ecision-making in working together, whie respecting our differences. We do not seek the creation of a vanguard, but ather the cultiva- tion and support of resistance and organising all over the United States and the world. We believe that decentralised resistance can only help our movement grow; we strive “for one, two and many more Chiapas,” in the words of Chicano prisoner of war Alvaro Luna Hernandez. We support accountability. Many questions have emerged about how an ABC Network would be structured. We believe in accountability to our comrades, the pris- oners with whom we are engaged, and 1o the broader anarchist movement. We believe in actively involving all prisoners in our work, and in working with all sectors
Page 14 A New Draft Proposal of the prisoner support movement. We affirm that all collectives should abide fully ‘and completely with the wishes of prisoners pertaining 1o support work, as well as. when engaging in non-supporl-specific activiies which could directly or indireclly impact the nature of support. In addition, persons or groups who take funds or mate- tials from prisoners or comrades should be fully accountable (L. able to document where money is going; crediling a prisoner’s writing or art; saving receipls; elc.) and never use such ilems for personal gain. We believe al parties should seek joint res- olutions to conflics We strive for new paths. The purpose of the Anarchist Black Cross Network is ot to recreale the Anarchist Black Cross Federation in a different form. Clearly, our explicit poliical and organisational differences - especially the autonomous ABC movements dally grassroots work In supporting prison organisers, poliical prison ers, class war prisoners and anarchist caplives: its support for, and advocacy of, rev- olutianary change and resistance; and its work in movement defence - sel our organ ising apart. We acknowledge the many correct criicisms of ABCF, as well as the efforts many of ifs chapters have made. Regardiess of opinions of ABCF, we feel prisoners and ther freedom is key above and beyond various differences. We dis- courage the spreading of false rumours or misleading information regarding any movement. * Conclusions Based on the feedback received, we feel the initition of an Anarchist Black Cross Network is not only necessary. but also supported by many prisoners and out side supporters. As a resull, Auslin ABC will be hosting the frst autonomous. Anarchist Black Cross conference 10 be held in the U.S. since 1994. This event, ‘which will take place in Austin, Texas, in July 2002, wil seek to unite many tenden: cies and empower interested people to organise their own local ABC groups via a series of discussions, workshops and more. Please contact Austin ABC at the ‘address below. While this summation reflects responses to the majority of comments and con. ‘cens raised regarding "A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network,” more questions have been and wil be raised. We welcome the opportunit 1o dia- logue and netwark, so please get n touch.
for an ABC Network Page 15 * Acknowledgements “The following individuals and organisations are owed thanks for their feedback, ‘support and ideas during this provisional period of network efforls: Lorenzo Komiboa Ervin; Gumby Cascadia; Chris Plummer; Al Khalid Abdullah; Khalfani Khaldun; Syd Hawk Byrd; Eric Wildcat Hall; Robert Thaxton; Wille Milton; Jerome White-Bey; Yero Chaka (aka Bruce Cummings); Makis and New York City Anarchist Black Cross; Rabid and Noel M. of the North American and UK sections of the Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Netwrk, respectively: Tod (Portiand); Heather; Northwest Anarchist Prisoner Support Network; International Campaign to Free All Khalid Abdullah; Anarchist Prisoners’ Legal Aid Network, Poliical Prisoners of War Coalition; Crossroad Support Network; and many others who are notlisted, but with- out whose support this project would ot be possibe. -Ernesto Aguilar on behalf of the network organising group Conference contact: Austin ABC P.O. Box 19733 Austin, TX 78760-9733 austinabc_@hotmail.com The website of the Anarchist Black Cross Network can be found at: hitp/www.anarchistblackcross.org
Page 16 What is the Anarchist Black Hammer? *What is the Anarchist Black Hammer? As a result of the escalation of illegal pre-emptive arrests of Social Movement Indaba activists (some 72 from the landless people’s movement, 98 from the soldier’s forum, etc...) @ group of Johannesburg-based anarchists today launched a new class war prisoner support group, the Anarchist Black Hammer (SA). The Anarchist Black Hammer (Southern Africa) is a new support group for Jalled class war_prisoners, including revolutionaries, activists, dissidents, Workers, peasants and the poor formed today In response to the dirty tricks campaign of the SA authorities. The ABH will draw on almost a century of proud history, starting with the formation of the Anarchist Red Cross in Russian-controlled Poland during the 1905 Russian Revolt. The ARC spread around the world and renamed itself the Anarchist Black Cross in 1919 follow- ing the Russian Revolution and ever since has worked for the relief and release of prisoners jailed for their political activities. We decided to adopt the name, Anarchist Black Hammer, both to remove any possible religious bias that could be Inferred by the word "cross” and to symbolise the demolition of all pison walls. Our aims are to: 1) publicise the plight of class war prisoners; 2) support them in jail to the extent we can; 3) network with other concerned organisations to try and win their release; and 4) demonstrate anarchist mutual aid in action. News releases from the ABH will be filed to the Indymedia SA site at hitp:/isouthafrica.indymedia.org/ or will be filed to the anarchy_africa list. **** For the liberation of our comrades from the Soldiers’ Forum, the Landless People’s Movement and the Anti-Privatisation Forum / Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee and the defense of working class organisa- tions against state repression! - ABH ad-hoc organising committee Post: c/o ZB, Postnet Suite 116, Private Bag X42, Braamfontein, 2017, Johannesburg, South Africa E-Mail: anarchoblackhammer@yahoo.com Website: wwiw.zabalaza.net/abh

‘While there is a working class I am of it, ‘While there is a criminal element, Then I am in it, And while there is a soul in prison, Then I am not free. S “Knowledge is the Key to be Free” Post: Postnet Suite 116, Private Bag X42, Braamfontein, 2017, Johannesburg, South Africa : zabalaza@union.org za ‘www.zabalaza.net/zababooks

A Nevyy Drafi
Proposal for an
Anawrehist Blael

Cross Networl

SR,
"?.fi, BLACK“
% CROSS
S

R —
A New Draft Proposal
Jor an Anarchist Black
Cross Network

* Introduction

Former Black Panther, poliical prisoner and a long-time anarchist revolutionary
named Lorenzo Komiboa Ervin wrote *A Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross
Network' in 1979. The ABC movement was one of those organisations instrumental
in helping see Kom'boa free, and Kom'boa spoke passionately for the development
of a united movement around issues of incarceraion and prisoner support. In the
1990s, these ideas were a catalyst in helping many ABC groups find focus. His
ideas, while writien years ago, embody principles that define our movement

‘The stated purpose of the Anarchist Black Cross Network is to active-
Iy assist prisoners in ther fight to obtain their civil and human rights,
and o aid them in their struggle against the State/Class penal and
Judicial system. The prison system s 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 existfor the "protection of society.”

Its for State social control and poliical repression. Thus it must be
opposed at every turn and ultmately destroyed aftogether. The abolr
tion of prisons, the system of Laws, and the Capilalist State s the ult
mate objective of every true Anarchist, yet there seems (0 be no clear
agreement by the Anarchist movement to put active effort to that antr
authoritarian desire. We must organise our resources o support all
politicallclass war prisoners if we truly wish 10 be their allies, and we
must give something more than Ip service.

Organising against the enemy legal and penal system is both offen-
sive 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 inhumanity of the prisons, the righteousness
of our struggle, and the necessity of their ful partiipation and support
We must organise our communities to altack the prison system as a
moral and social abomination, and we must fight 1o free all
politicallclass war prisoners.

Since Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin wrote those words, he has stated in recent lectures
support for uniting with all prisoners, understanding the profound gults of race and
Page 2 A New Draft Proposal

class as they relate to incarceration, and of anarchists taking a stronger role in put
ting prison abolition, incarceration and criminalisation on the global agenda of resist
ance.

“The network proposal is the result of several dialogues over the last six months.
Among the questions that arose was perhaps the most crilical one, ‘in considering
criminal injustice, rates of incarceration, racial disparites, the spiit and nature in
which laws are applied and, of course, our collective analysis as people concemed
about increasing repression, class warfare of haves against have-nos, and for a
freer, more just soclety... whal s poliical? And arent we waging a common strug:
gle, despite the ‘single issue’ work?"

What is poliical about the injustice system, how laws are applied, who goes o
Jail and how bias factors into that?

What is politcal about the factors that play into "erime" and how sanction is
applied?

And are we, as revolutionaries, litle more than collaborators in genocide f we do
not stand up?

‘This understanding is not so much a crique of terms such as "poliical prisoner,”
but of analysing the politics of prisons, sacial control, law, sexism, racism and power.
For years, the ABC and anarchist movements have grasped how each of these
issues profoundly affects the lives of people, and have acted in the interests of free-
‘dom by buiding resistance. This must continue.

From country to country and state o state, figures are staggering, but the facts
remain the same: Third Worldiindigenous/peaple of colour and the working class and
poor are forced nto existences in which communites are gentrified; in which they are.
targeted over race and class or worse if they are “illegal” immigrants or refugees;
health care, child care, food and rents go out of reach in cosis; and their “choices
are nothing more than set-ups to lock them away. Public policies target youth i sys-
tematic and insttutional ways that hinder the realisation of human rights. Racist and
discriminatory instituions and organisations, such as the police, prisons, and border
controls and police target people, particularly Third World/people of colour and imi
grants, via public policies. Revolutionaries who speak out and fight against the con:
ditions of soclety are imprisoned or kiled. And we are expecled to stand by unti they
‘come for us. i they haven't done it already.

‘What follows s a new proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network. It recon.
siders and adopts many of Kom'boa's old ideas, as wel as makes practical sugges-
tions for building an anarchist network of independent groups united in fighting incar-
ceration, repression and injustice worldwide. Many of the European ABC comrades
have already taken the initative 10 start the building process of this network, 5o the
idea is not new. This effort s merely to put an explanation o a tendency thal is
already developing and wil continue 1o grow.

for an ABC Network Page 3

* Purpose

The Anarchist Black Cross Network should be a decentralised and egaltarian
network of organisations commitied 1o the original ideals of the Anarchist Black
Cross movement - of seeing prisons and the poverly, racism and genocide that
‘accompanies them 1o be symploms of a social order whose last days are near. The
proposed purposes of the ABC Network are:

“To unite the many autonomous prisoners, activists and organisations work-
ing for prisoner support, defence and freedo in a decentralised, anti-author-
itarian fashion. There has been some fractionalsation of the struggle, fo various
reasons, over the years. Gertan groups defended certain prisoners, while paying ip
service 10 others. Gertain actvists stayed focused in a parlicular issue. but ddn't
have the resources to gel involved eisewhere. The purpose of the ABG Network
Should not be one of waging batties over diferences, but of finding ways to unite us
in a way thal is stil decentraised and antrauthorltarian. Whether you do work
around earth iberation prisoners, social prisoners,” those recognised infernational-
Iy as poltical prisoners. anti-colonialindependence prisoners, juvenile injustice,
refugeefimmigrant criminalisation, the roots of prisons (.c. poverly. capitl, racism,
et al) should only be important 16 an ABC Network as far as how the unity of many
groups that truly see ‘an njury 1o one is an ijury to alf can help your work. The job
of a network, cearty. is nol 1o change group's current work, but {0 be a compliment
o the work already being done.

*To serve as a clear and easy-o-use communications tool for activists, pris-
oners, organisations, families and supporters around issues related 1o the
movement. If it is to be effective, the ABC Network must primarily serve as a com-
munications and working base for prisoners, communily people, aclvists, groups
(i.e. autonomous ABC groups and anarchist, prisoner, liberation, freedom, justice,
anti-colonialindependence and/or issue-oriented community groups, etc.) and oth-
ers who engage in activiies consistent with the basic spirt and vision of the ABC
movement. So often, groups and organisers change, prisoners are transferred, new
campaigns start and old campaigns end. This would be an effort to facitate com-
munication around varied issues - from the latest transfers, to disbanded collectives
to international support effots and so on

*To support, discuss, learn from and engage one another around the Defence
and Freedom activities we engage in. As state repression increases, more and
more activists are facing fines, prison time, detention without charge, etc. for speak-
ing out. Refugees/immigrants are being criminalised over race and class. Prisoners
who were incarcerated for explicily poliical acts are being denied parole again and
again. Prisoners who went 1o prison for *social crimes" are coming lo consciousness
‘abou the true nature of incarceration. And prisans will continue to be buit in the
Page 4 A New Draft Proposal

name of law and order. These are issues regular’ people are aware of and which
activists are often fighting around in a regional, sometimes isolated, way - not nec-
essarlly by choice, but because all-around support needs to improve. As those faril
iar with anarchist prisoner All Khalid Abdullah's "Where Was the Support for Lorenzo
Komboa Ervin and the Chaltanooga 37" will recall, one of our major issues is around
unity. The ABC Network is aimed at getiing prisoners, community people, aciivists,
groups (i.e. autonomous ABC groups and anarchist, prisoner, iberation, freedom,
justice, ant-colonialindependence andior issue-oriented community groups, elc.)
and others learing from each other, communicating and working logether around
the various campaigns, and finding ways of educating each other with our experi
ences in a clearer, yet anarchist, way.

*To connect with a movement that understands the "single issues™ are part of
‘amuch larger movement for freedom, and to work actively to see that struggle
grow globally and in all communities. On the surface, fighting for poliicaliclass
war prisoners, supporting earth liberation prisoners, challenging juvenile injusiice,
politcal repression, dealing with criminalisation of communities marginalised by the
state (such as refugees/immigrants, the homeless and the working class/poor), the
death penalty and racelgender disparities in incarceration seer like a mix of issues.
In reality, most anarchists and others see these as part of a campaign by the state
o attack communities and people. The ABC Network shouid be par of a movement
that understands we all wage a common struggle.

Clearly, a network could take on more goals, but these are merely a start.

*Goals

The ABC Network should serve to support collectives around the work they cur-
ently do rather than co-ordinate a set of tasks for collectives in which to participate.
Tasks that most community people, activists, groups (i. autonomous ABC groups.
and anarchist, prisoner, liberalion, freedom, justice, anti-colonial/independence
‘andior issue-oriented community groups, etc.) and others engage in already, and
which affates of the ABC Network should serve o help wih via strength in numbers.
include:

Defence and Freedom Work of the Network

Defence work involves meeting the needs of the prisoners: whether those needs
stem from the daily oppression of the prisons, police, courls or the intense repres-
sion by Stale/Class authorities of prison organisers. Prison support by ABCS meets.

these needs in many ways:
1. Forming outside support groups on local and national basis in order to ensure
for an ABC Network Page 5

prisoners' defence and survival from enemy attack and from inhuman prison condi-
tons.

2. Organising defence commitiees on behalf of prisoners framed or railoaded
through the Capitalst courts for their poliical and social beliefs or prison organising.
3. Organising support for activists jaled for their outside work andior repression by
authorites.

4. Securing Anarchist and other revolutionary materals for prisoners 1o read, and
fightfor thei right to recelve this iterature ifprison offcials try to ban or prohisit such
Hterature for any reason.

5. Organising emergency response call, letters, faxes and email o continually con-
tact "corrections” and other athorilies about the treatment of prisoners.

6. Organising legal defence funds 1o raise funds for legal fees and to assist prison-
ers and outside activists and groups.

7. Organising correspondence for people to write to prisoners and find out about
prison condilions and to show their Solidarity and human concern, and observers to
o into the prisons, viit the prisoners, invesligate their complaints, question the offi-
cials and mornitor the prison for violation of prisoners' rights.

Froedom work means directly challenging the existence of prisons and this work.
also involves actively campaigning against prison conditions, and propagandising
the actual cases of politicaliclass war prisoners (L. prisoners failed for specific poli
ical reasons and those who have become politcally aware of the reasons for their
oppression while in prison, as wel as victims of frame-ups) to the largest possible.
audience.

Some protest activilies many prisoner support, anti-prison and ABC groups
engage in today:
1. Linking up the struggles against criminalisation and imprisonment with associated
social ills: poverty, homelessness, hunger, gentification, racism, racialicultural pro-
fiing, anti-refugee/immigrant actions, privatisation, globalisation, the drug war and
many other issues.
2. Exposing the fallacy of the Capitalist system of cops, laws and prisons being for
the protection of saciely or as a social necessiy.
3. Educating the community, prisoners and others about the classracist nature of the.
prisons and the legal system and how to fight against i;
4. Holding protest rallies, marches and street demonstrations in supportof prisoners'
rights and against the repressive actions of State/Class authorites.
5. Writing press releases and holding news conferences for the Third Worldipeople.
of colour, altemative and radical news media (and sometimes the Capitalst news
media) appearing on television and radio news and/or talk shows to discuss prisons.
6. Organising and/or partcipating in coalitions with poor people’s movements, prison
support, Thid Worldpeople of colour, Women's rights,
‘GaylLesbian/Bisexual Transgender, Church, Left-wing, and other diverse groups, so
as {0 win them over and to integrale the prison struggle into the general movement
for social change.

Page 6 A New Draft Proposal

7. Assisting prisoners in getting parole, probation or a pardon by demanding their
freedom when they become eligible for parole or are seeking executive clemency.
8. Working agains! the death penaly and exposing it as an inslrument of acial geno-
cide and class and politcal repression.

9. Demanding the freedom and amnesty of poliicaliclass war prisoners, and the abo-
Ition of prisons. Especially demand the immediate release of prisaners who have
served unnecessarly lengthy sentences.

10. Demanding the immediate closing of all controlisolation/supermax units in pris-
ons.

Any ABC Network that forms, should encourage, but not mandate, a diversiy of
tactics as suggested here and more. The network's proposed communications pur-
pose could certainly also be utiised 1o help buid unily around regional cases and
tactics (ie. demonsirations at consulates, etc).

*Structure and principles

The ABC Network should foremost Intended to accomplish the goals above
‘among the many autonomous groups that are doing the grassroots, day-to-day work
‘around campaigns, prisoners, criminalisation and liberation. What unites us are the
principles mentioned by Kom'boa - of struggling to expose injustice, corruption and
oppression; supporting prisoners who (consciously or nconsciously) are combat
anis against the state; providing advice and suppor to aclivisis who put their bodies.
on the fine in defence o freedom and revolution; and seeing our continued activism,
‘campaigns, etc.in the larger picture of prison abolition and revolutionary change - as.
well as our own experiences in crealing conditions for change.

‘There should be no *party line” of the ABC Network. As anarchists, we believe
in buiding a culture of resistance rather than legislating it. How you or your group
‘conducts your effort must solely up 10 you, although you may want to ink up to some
activists and resources, work through ideas, learn together and help in others' cam.
paigns. But regardless, how you organise your group must stll be up to your local
conditions and membership.

‘The ABC Network should do its work in a broad, non-sectarian manner. You
should not have to be explicilly named an ABC group to join. Conformily to certain
naming, uniform moral"security” codes, focus, etc.,all correctly criicised in previous
work, cannot be part of a successul nitative. This is a fundamental difference
between the proposed Network and previous inilatives - having the involvement,
input, comments, critcisms and effors of local organisers, prisoners and groups is a
necessity and privilege for an ABC Network to take shape. It is not a necessity or
privilege for a network to form and communicate with activists... lbose, unannounced
networks are already happening. This is merely an effort to make it stronger and
unite many around the ideas we're already struggling toward,
for an ABC Network Page 7

Prisoners should be involved in discussions and with area collectives or those
collectives supporting the particular prisoner. In many cases, collective-prisoner
relations are already buif, and everyone should ek to learn how those communi-
cations are co-ordinaled and developed among groups. How prisoners feel about
the development of the Network is citcal 1o ts success and they should be consult-
ed about all of is facs.

Issues of racism and sexism are crilical 1o deal with in the movement as a whole,
and all groups should take genuine measures lo involve women and Third
Worldindigenous/peaple of colour in campaigns and, as often as possible, local
groups - not only by having their bodies around, but engaging minds and seriously
taking those ideas/comments and critcisms 10 heart. Too often, male- and white-
dominated groups have not made the eforts to broaden and involve other commu-
ities, or women's input has not been taken with the consideration and seriousness
needed. Add 1o this the need to build sironger ties with women prisoners. This must
be improved, and, ideally, an ABC Network can dialogue around strategies groups
are utiising to be more egalitarian in approach.

If we are to improve an ABC Network, hearing comments and criicisms should
be a regular part of discussions. About every six months, affiated groups with the
ABC Network, activists, prisoners and others should be asked 10 give their com-
ments, cilcisms and suggestions for how to make the Network better, stronger and
more helpful 1o each others' needs. While the purpose of this s not to develop "leg-
islation." it is intended 10 get people regularly thinking about how we work together
‘and how the Network stays relevant to our unity. However, please know that the fioor
should be always open to raise comments/ideas/critiques, etc. We must welcome
these ideas, because discussion, debate and joint resolutions are how we become
more effective.

*Conclusion

In June 2001, Anarchist Black Cross groups from around Europe met in Ghent,
Belgium. _People from lialy, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Luremburg, UK,
Holland, Germany and Belgium agreed that a network of autonomous groups would
be formed o further the aims of the ABC. I their post-conference statement, atten-
dees concluded:

“We believe in the aboliion of the prison system, but not only that, but
the destruction of capitalism and all kinds of authority. We believe the
struggle against the (in)justice system, as it is against capitalism, is
international. Therefore recent allempts by European governments
(e.9. Europol in Spain 2001) to criminalise the anarchist movement
must be opposed by all revolutionaries. We respect the variely of
ways people resist goverment violence and terrorism, and will sup-
Page 8 A New Draft Proposal

port those incarcerated by the state. We strive to provide practical and
material aid for class struggle prisoners and to encourage suppor for
them.”

The groundwork s already laid for an interational ABC network to unite
‘autonomous groups. In Europe, this network has already come into being. Itis a
network that respects the autonomy of each group to act within the different circun
stances of their own local situations. I is a network urging support for politcal pri-
oners. And it is one that understands that support is only one part of our true strug:
gle - for freedom, revolutionary change and anarchy.

Over the last 15 years, the Anarchist Black Cross and anarchist prisoner support
movements have inspired new awareness in repression, of the need 10 work with
those criminalised by society in an effort to build a more iberated world, and to devel
op tactics and strategies addressing prisons, law and social problems. The ABC
movement was buiding on these efforts long before these issues got attention from
the mainstream media. Nevertheless, our struggle can continue to grow and see
more victories.

Many of these ideas restate Lorenza Ervin's original craft proposal, although
many ideas presented therein are worth supporting, such as an ABC conference (o
potentially unite the North American section of the network, since a European con
ference happened in 2001) or a newspaper that reaches out 1o people in incarcera-
tion. Uniting the many prisoner-written zines into "news service” of information
could also be helpful. In addiion, working with various forces to create ABC-orient
ed radio/intemet programming could also come together. Uniling our organising to
develop theory and strategy around crime, class and liberation is another possibilty.

* Comments/Criticisms/
Interest

It you have comments, (any kind o) criticisms andior suggestions 1o improve this
proposal or are interested in dialoguing locally and possibly building a group or aff-
iating your own group, get in contact with the iniiating group (Antiprison, Austin ABC,
Houston organising group) via emal at abc-nel@anarchistblackcross.org or via post
at PO. Box 667233, Houston, Texas 77266-7233, USA.

All comments, citcisms and/or suggestions received by by January 31, 2002 will
be compiled (we won't use your verbatim statements unless you ask) and an pdate
sent 1o those interested. Get In touch.

New Draft Proposal issued on 5 November 2001
for an ABC Network Page 9

Anniversary of the 1862 death sentence for 303 Santee Siou for tak-
ing partin a Minnesota uprising. US President Abraham Lincoln com-
mutes many sentences, but 38 chose to hang at Mankato, singing
their death song on their scaffold.

Anniversary of the 1928 banana workers' sirke in Colombia against
the United Fruit Company in which 1,000 workers were killed.

Anniversary of the 1916 Everett, Washington, Massacre, in which
‘seven Industral Workers of the World (IWW) labor acivists are mur-
dered by Everetts police as part of a campaign to suppress working
class resistance.

Revolutionary love and solidarity!
Page 10 A New Draft Proposal

Summation of Politics
and Positions Following
the Comment Period for

“A New Draft Proposal
Jor an Anarchist Black

Cross Network”

* Introduction

Inthe fall of 2001, *A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network”
was released for public comment and feedback. The objective of this proposal was.
o create a new network of autonomous antrprison/prisoner support organisalions.
At the end of that dratt proposal, organisers requested comments by January 31,
2002, What follows below is a summation of issues related to the 2001 release of
*A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network," as well as broad
explanations of the poliical tendencies that can generally be said to unite
‘autonomous anti-prison/prisoner support groups and potentially an Anarchist Black
Cross Network.

Former Black Panther, poliical prisoner and a long-time anarchist revolutionary
named Lorenzo Komboa Ervin wrote *A Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross
Network” in 1979, In the 1990s, these ideas were a catalyst in helping many ABC
groups focus their efforts. And it is with the growth of the autonomous Anarchist
Black Cross movement worldwide over the last five years that *ANew Draft Proposal
for an Anarchist Black Cross Network" was infroduced.

During the comment period, there were many thoughtful, honest and forward-
thinking replies 10 the idea of creating an ABC Network. And many ABC collectives,
prisoners, prison organisers and olhers came out 10 sign on to the creation of an
ABC Network. This effort would not be possible without the broad support "A New
Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network” received, and our heartfelt
thanks are owed 1o the many people who look time to make their perspectives
known, and for all the expressions of support.
for an ABC Network Page 11

*Summation

Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, who has since stated his unily with the creation of an
ABC Network, outined the ideas that united the cantemporary ABC movement in his
original "A Dratt Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network " Kom'boa, in fact,
made a number of clarifications and statemens of beliefs that should guide the con-
temporary ABC movement. Some of these are paraphrased, in whole or in part,
below. We hope these positions help 1o articulate the ABCN's direction to interest.
ed parties

We want freedom for all class war prisoners locked down, and freedom for
all prisoners held in state, city, county, juvenile and federal facilities. Class war
prisoners are generally defined as those initally non-polficised prisoners who have
been radicalised by their incarcerations to commit themselves 1o the revolutionary
struggle. We recognise the importance of tapping into and bringing the voices of
class war prisoners into wider revolutionary circles and making them a vital part of
our movements.

Whie the release of all prisoners opens up a number of ethical and community
questions, we raise this demand because of the understanding that the current state,
buit on the bodies of working-ciass and oppressed people, cannot mete out justice,
and such maters should be handled on a community level. Clearly, how we deal
with anti-social crime and violence requires a broad-based discussion, yet we need
o be clear that our solution cannot be to turn that role over to the hands of the state.

We honour the just and righteous struggles of all political prisoners, and
support the full and unconditional freedom of all political prisoners. Many
movements use varied definitions of politcal prisoners. Regardiess of definitions,
we recognise that all prisoners, in whole or in part, are products of a war waged by
the state, in the service of capitalism, colonialism, imperialism and genocide, against
the people. We support these prisoners' fights for Ireedom, justice and liberation,
affirm the correctness of their resistance and actively work to see all are free.

We want to bring attention to the plight of all prisoners, and through con-
tact with and information about these prisoners, inspire an anarchist resist-
ance and support movement on the outside. While we send regular financial aid
to our comrades in prison, we also keep in regular contact with as many prisoners
as possible, make visits and do whatever we can (o prevent prisoners from becom-
ing isolated. We believe in support as a strategic and tactical expression of our anti-
authoritarian poliics, and to reduce our efforts solely 1o fundraising, terature, etc.
makes prisoner support activiy litle more than social service. As the Crossroad
Support Network notes, "What determines the character of an issue is the poliical
perspective thal people bring to it the class that leads the struggle around it; the
class interest that the issue uliimately serves; whether the people become polifcal-
Page 12 A New Draft Proposal

Iy educated, develop revolutionary consciousness, and create revolutionary unity
and instiutions as they pursue the issue.”

We believe that the police and the prison system are tools of the state, and
a system for state slavery. Prisons, police and incarceralion have become the
panacea for all our social ils. Where once the U.S. looked to the welfare state to
alleviate social problems, today the U.S. looks to prisons, prisons and more prisons.
Likewise, police brutaliy s not the case of "lew bad cops.” bul of a system based
on exploitation, colonialism, racism and oppression. Prison is ot really for "crimi-
nals” or other “social deviants,” and it does not exist for the *protection of society.”
Prisons serve the ruling classes and their colonial inferests against all working-class
‘and oppressed people. More than hold these beliefs, we believe the autonomous
ABC movement should be actively engaged in exposing these issues and agitating
for revolutionary salutions.

We are committed to the wider resistance in which prisoners are engaged.
We see the setting up of anarchist defence organisations, such as the ABC, as a
necessary part of the growth and development of an anarchist resistance movemen,
ot divorcing ourselves from the revolutionary struggle or simply fighting for prison
eform. We don't treat the slruggle on the siree as separate or secondary. Our effort
is to buid a movement in which the revolutionaries fighting for liberation from the
belly of the beast, have support, camaraderie and people who identiy their struggle
as key to freedom for all of us. "Today we pay homage to the revolutionary spiri
inside prisons,” says former San Quentin Six poltical prisoner Luis Talamantez.
“Understand that there are thousands of other George Jackson's in prison foday just
tike him."

We want to make the Anarchist Black Cross into a mass movement against
state terror and repression, one that can counter the drive of the state capital-
ists towards a police state, along with our work in the anti-prison struggle. We
want to directly challenge the existence of prisons and this work also involves acive:
Iy campaigning against prison conditions, and propagandising the actual cases of
politcaliclass war prisoners (.. prisoners jailed for specific politcal reasons and
those who have become politcally aware of the reasons for thelr oppression while in
prison, as well as victims of rame-ups) to the largest possible audience.

We believe in direct resistance to achieve a stateless and classless socle-
ty. Some balk at supporting anyone accused of so-called violent acts, thus insinu:
ating that anyone who resists oppression and takes up arms in sell-defence,
‘engages in economic sabotage agains! the state or capitalists, o rebels during a rev-
oluionary insurrection is not worthy of support. The message s clear: do nol resist.
Our message is exactly the opposite, and this is what we work [0 support. We share
‘a commitment to anarchism as opposed to liberalism and individualism or legalism;
self-defence as opposed to dependence on the state; and solidarty as opposed o
for an ABC Network Page 13

sectarianism in struggling for a more just world.

We affirm our common politics in expressing solidarity. The new ABC
Network should be based primary in, with and among ABC/anarchist groups (with
inclusion of others as consented to by all collectives involved in the network). What
was forwarded in the “New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network"
was a vision for our potential. With increasing repression, the need for organisers in
many communilies 1o find ways to work together is becoming more important. At the
same time, i is essential that any organisation purporting to be an Anarchist Black.
Cross Network be based primarily among ABC and anarchist formations, with inciu-
sion of others, as affiated groups deem necessary or helplul

We affirm that organisations that profess anarchist/anti-authoritarian poli-
tics or use the word 'anarchist’ in their names should make among their top
priorities the defence of anarchists/anti-authoritarians in prison. A fow fecl
suich a position is sectarian; reality reveals many of these prisoners, by virtue of their
polics, ace extreme forms of repression and harassmen. Even for prisoners who
may not expressly identify as anarchists, but organise in an anti-authoritarian man-
ner, repression is a constant threal. It is the duty of the aforementioned organisa-
tions to work with and in support of anarchist prisoners. At the same time, we believe
in the principled support of all evolutionaries behind the walls, and all revolutionary
prisoners are owed our honest efforts in solidariy.

‘Generally, we must be able work with all revolutionary prisoners and prison sup-
port groups, if they will work in sincerity and unity with us. However, we willnot sub-
ordinate our ideals, nor will we sustain attacks or make apologies for our belifs for
an anarchist world. We wont moderate our struggle or sil our tongues concerning
any injustice we see anywhere, in order to accommodate anyone, friend or foe.

We support autonomy of collectives in their efforts. We support the autono-
my of each collective to make their decisions of who they support and how on a
case-by-case basis. We agree tha the local efforts of organisers 1o aid prisoners in
their regions and globall is where our strength lies; we should not uphold the ABC
Network or creation of such to be a higher priority than the grassroots work going on
today. We support collective ecision-making in working together, whie respecting
our differences. We do not seek the creation of a vanguard, but ather the cultiva-
tion and support of resistance and organising all over the United States and the
world. We believe that decentralised resistance can only help our movement grow;
we strive “for one, two and many more Chiapas,” in the words of Chicano prisoner
of war Alvaro Luna Hernandez.

We support accountability. Many questions have emerged about how an ABC
Network would be structured. We believe in accountability to our comrades, the pris-
oners with whom we are engaged, and 1o the broader anarchist movement. We
believe in actively involving all prisoners in our work, and in working with all sectors
Page 14 A New Draft Proposal

of the prisoner support movement. We affirm that all collectives should abide fully
‘and completely with the wishes of prisoners pertaining 1o support work, as well as.
when engaging in non-supporl-specific activiies which could directly or indireclly
impact the nature of support. In addition, persons or groups who take funds or mate-
tials from prisoners or comrades should be fully accountable (L. able to document
where money is going; crediling a prisoner's writing or art; saving receipls; elc.) and
never use such ilems for personal gain. We believe al parties should seek joint res-
olutions to conflics

We strive for new paths. The purpose of the Anarchist Black Cross Network is
ot to recreale the Anarchist Black Cross Federation in a different form. Clearly, our
explicit poliical and organisational differences - especially the autonomous ABC
movements dally grassroots work In supporting prison organisers, poliical prison
ers, class war prisoners and anarchist caplives: its support for, and advocacy of, rev-
olutianary change and resistance; and its work in movement defence - sel our organ
ising apart. We acknowledge the many correct criicisms of ABCF, as well as the
efforts many of ifs chapters have made. Regardiess of opinions of ABCF, we feel
prisoners and ther freedom is key above and beyond various differences. We dis-
courage the spreading of false rumours or misleading information regarding any
movement.

* Conclusions

Based on the feedback received, we feel the initition of an Anarchist Black
Cross Network is not only necessary. but also supported by many prisoners and out
side supporters. As a resull, Auslin ABC will be hosting the frst autonomous.
Anarchist Black Cross conference 10 be held in the U.S. since 1994. This event,
‘which will take place in Austin, Texas, in July 2002, wil seek to unite many tenden:
cies and empower interested people to organise their own local ABC groups via a
series of discussions, workshops and more. Please contact Austin ABC at the
‘address below.

While this summation reflects responses to the majority of comments and con.
‘cens raised regarding "A New Draft Proposal for an Anarchist Black Cross Network,”
more questions have been and wil be raised. We welcome the opportunit 1o dia-
logue and netwark, so please get n touch.
for an ABC Network Page 15

* Acknowledgements

“The following individuals and organisations are owed thanks for their feedback,
‘support and ideas during this provisional period of network efforls: Lorenzo Komiboa
Ervin; Gumby Cascadia; Chris Plummer; Al Khalid Abdullah; Khalfani Khaldun; Syd
Hawk Byrd; Eric Wildcat Hall; Robert Thaxton; Wille Milton; Jerome White-Bey; Yero
Chaka (aka Bruce Cummings); Makis and New York City Anarchist Black Cross;
Rabid and Noel M. of the North American and UK sections of the Earth Liberation
Prisoners Support Netwrk, respectively: Tod (Portiand); Heather; Northwest
Anarchist Prisoner Support Network; International Campaign to Free All Khalid
Abdullah; Anarchist Prisoners' Legal Aid Network, Poliical Prisoners of War
Coalition; Crossroad Support Network; and many others who are notlisted, but with-
out whose support this project would ot be possibe.

-Ernesto Aguilar
on behalf of the network organising group

Conference contact:
Austin ABC

P.O. Box 19733

Austin, TX 78760-9733
austinabc_@hotmail.com

The website of the Anarchist
Black Cross Network can be found at:
hitp/www.anarchistblackcross.org
Page 16 What is the Anarchist Black Hammer?

*What is the Anarchist
Black Hammer?

As a result of the escalation of illegal pre-emptive arrests of Social
Movement Indaba activists (some 72 from the landless people’s movement, 98
from the soldier's forum, etc...) @ group of Johannesburg-based anarchists
today launched a new class war prisoner support group, the Anarchist Black
Hammer (SA).

The Anarchist Black Hammer (Southern Africa) is a new support group for
Jalled class war_prisoners, including revolutionaries, activists, dissidents,
Workers, peasants and the poor formed today In response to the dirty tricks
campaign of the SA authorities. The ABH will draw on almost a century of
proud history, starting with the formation of the Anarchist Red Cross in
Russian-controlled Poland during the 1905 Russian Revolt. The ARC spread
around the world and renamed itself the Anarchist Black Cross in 1919 follow-
ing the Russian Revolution and ever since has worked for the relief and
release of prisoners jailed for their political activities. We decided to adopt the
name, Anarchist Black Hammer, both to remove any possible religious bias
that could be Inferred by the word "cross” and to symbolise the demolition of
all pison walls.

Our aims are to:
1) publicise the plight of class war prisoners;

2) support them in jail to the extent we can;

3) network with other concerned organisations to try and win their release; and
4) demonstrate anarchist mutual aid in action.

News releases from the ABH will be filed to the Indymedia SA site at
hitp:/isouthafrica.indymedia.org/ or will be filed to the anarchy_africa list.

**** For the liberation of our comrades from the Soldiers' Forum, the

Landless People’s Movement and the Anti-Privatisation Forum / Soweto

Electricity Crisis Committee and the defense of working class organisa-
tions against state repression!

- ABH ad-hoc organising committee

Post: c/o ZB, Postnet Suite 116, Private Bag X42, Braamfontein,
2017, Johannesburg, South Africa
E-Mail: anarchoblackhammer@yahoo.com
Website: wwiw.zabalaza.net/abh

‘While there is a working class I am of it,
‘While there is a criminal element,

Then I am in it,

And while there is a soul in prison,
Then I am not free.

S
“Knowledge is the Key to be Free”

Post: Postnet Suite 116, Private Bag X42,
Braamfontein, 2017, Johannesburg, South Africa
: zabalaza@union.org za
‘www.zabalaza.net/zababooks