Is Time Running Out For U. S. Political Prisoners?

By Michael Z. Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Aug 10, 2016 - 11:48:25 AM

PHILADELPHIA—The Democratic National Convention was the backdrop for an informational forum of critical importance; the freedom of political prisoner held in prisons across the United States. The forum was titled “Free All Political Prisoners” and was sponsored by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“As the attention of the world is fixed on Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention, political prisoners incarcerated in the United States, the so-called land of the free, need to be front and center,” program moderator Eugene Puryear stated during opening remarks. “Political prisoners can no longer be a side issue but must be front and center,” said Dr. Anthony Monteiro, of the Black Radical Organizing Collective and W.E.B. DuBois scholar.
Ralph Poynter read from a very compassionate letter from controversial human rights defense attorney Lynne Stewart who was disbarred, tried and convicted of a number of charges under what many of her supporters call “questionable circumstances,” in the early 2000s. She was released in 2009. Mr. Poynter is leader of the Justice for Lynne Stewart Organization and is a long-time activist fighting on behalf of political prisoners.

In the letter, Ms. Stewart informed the audience that now is the time to “achieve a higher ground.” Pressure must be brought to bear on the legislators and bureaucrats who have the power to assure the freedom of our political prisoners, her letter stated. She was unable to attend the program due to health issues.

Dr. Anthony Monteiro, of the Black Radical Organizing Collective and W.E.B. DuBois scholar

Additional speakers at the forum included Pam Africa, founder and leader of International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Eddie Conway, a political prisoner for 43 years and Minister of Defense of the Baltimore chapter of the Black Panther Party; Theresa Shoatz, daughter of Russell Maroon Shoatz, member of the Human Rights Coalition and founder of Families and Communities United, Noelle Hanrahan, journalist with Prison Radio and producer and co-writer of “Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary.” The event was held July 24, at the William Way LGBT Community Center on the eve of the Democratic convention.

What became clear as the forum continued was concern for the advanced age and health challenges of many of those being held. Ms. Shoatz noted that her father is now 72 years old. He was in solitary confinement for over 22 years. Ms. Shoatz said her father was treated as such because he was a “leader of men.”

“He is doomed to die in prison unless support for his cause is found,” she said.

Pam Africa in her remarks noted that famed journalist and former death row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal is battling the disease Hepatitis C. At age 62 his fate is the same as Mr. Shoatz and others. The cost for one pill to treat the illness is $1,000. “This in and of itself is criminal,” she said. Ms. Africa encouraged young people in the audience to sign up and do the work. “We have to rise and fight for what is right and get on the move.”

Another overarching theme was addressed by social activist Matt Myer who pointed out the bogus nature of parole hearings for political prisoners. “They amount to nothing more than resentencing to the death penalty, assassination in slow motion,” he said.

According to Dr. Monterio there is light at the end of the tunnel. “This movement is greater than any we have ever had,” he said. People are no longer interested in identity politics but rather politics of political change and revolution as seen through the two insurgency movements of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. As for Hillary Clinton she called for Black youth to be hunted down. “Now the tables have turned and the call is for her to be locked up,” said Dr. Monterio.

Former Black Panther member Eddie Conway who was jailed for over 43 years as casualty of charges that were a result of the F.B.I.’s infamous government Cointelpro program brought strategy to the forum when he pointed out the need to control the narrative through savvy media use. He stated a media narrative was painted of him and fellow Panthers as angry Black men with guns. “We must control our own narrative,” he said.

Hassan Shoatz, son of Maroon Shoatz, summed up the forum best when he asked the question, “What would a world with holistic justice look like? How hard is it for us to open our minds for hurt people who hurt people? The so-called worst of the worst. We want freedom for all political prisoners.”

As the forum concluded Jasmine Heiss with Amnesty International noted that it is within President Barack Obama’s power to grant clemency to all the political prisoners incarcerated in federal prison, and exert huge pressure on state officials to do the same.

As his second term comes to a close, it is crucially important to build pressure around the demand that he do just that, she explained. Many political prisoners are now elders, and movement icons like Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier are being denied adequate medical care. As Native American activist Leonard Peltier wrote in an open letter to his supporters at the end of June, “As the last remaining months of President Obama’s term pass by, my anxiety increases. I believe that this President is my last hope for freedom, and I will surely die here if I am not released by January 20, 2017.”

The Final Call