As most of you know, august 8th marks 34 years of unjust imprisonment for The MOVE 9. We are pushing for as many radio programs as possible and as many newspapers as possible focus on The MOVE 9 on or as close to August 8th as possible. The prison radio project has recorded a statement from Mumia Abu Jamal and is working on recordings from Janine Africa & Mike Africa (2 of The MOVE 9). These statements can be downloaded and played on radio programs. For our supporters that are not affiliated with a radio program, you listen to these statements and/or download them to CDs. The prison radio web site www.prisonradio.org Look for updated info as we get closer to August. In the meantime, take care and be well----Ramona
Letter
from Janine Africa of the Move 9 (political prisoners of the MOVE
Organization) for the Sao Paulo Forum held July 4-6 2012 in Caracas,
Venezuela
On the MOVE
This is Janine
Africa, one of the MOVE 9 who were sentenced to 30-100 years for a crime
we didn't commit. We've been in prison since 1978 and have been denied
parole 3 times so far because we refuse to lie and say we're guilty.
My thoughts on
ending the U.S. Blockade of Cuba is this… I feel the U.S. condemnation
of the Cuban government is like calling the kettle black! The u.s.
government is doing the same things they're punishing Cuba for. The u.s.
prisons are full of political prisoners, people like the MOVE 9, who
dared to tell the truth about this country's corrupt practices. This government has innocent people in prison, have executed people
that was proven to be innocent because they were a minority, money poor
and seen as worthless. Police shooting people down, hand-cuffed and in
the back and unarmed and getting away with it, just like other police
states.
The economy is set to protect the rich. The majority in this country is struggling, living in cars, subways, alleys, eating out of trash cans. The conditions here are the same
as the conditions in Cuba. Cuba is a poor country so the conditions of
the majority are harsher. The u.s. blockade is only affecting the poor
who are already suffering. This blockade isn't out of concern for the peopleor
to "protect democracy". This is being done for political advantage, its
an attempt to bend the Cuban government to the u.s. rules. The u.s.
only gets involved in other countries affairs when its something in it
for them. If the u.s. was truly against injustice, persecution, crime- it would show here in their
own country. There is no equality, justice in America. The u.s. need to
clean up its own backyard first before trying to control other
countries.
On the MOVE Janine Africa
------------------
By Michael Davis Africa
On August 8,
1978, the Move organization's headquarters was attacked in a pre-dawn
raid by several hundred Philadelphia cops and officials. Under cover of
smoke, tear gas, and thousands of gallons of water from water cannons,
the cops fired thousands of bullets from all directions. During the
assault one cop was killed, and several other cops and firemen were
wounded, all from police fire. However, Move members were charged for
the assault we all miraculously survived.
We were all given
a sentence of 30-100 years in a railroad trial. That 30 year minimum
was up as of August 2008, and we were given our first parole denial. The
parole board has denied us our freedom four more times, making it
perfectly clear to all those that didn't understand their role that they
fully intend to finish up where the cops and city officials left off.
While there has
always been some debate about the guilt of the men, one fact that has
never been disputed is the innocence of the women. Police on the scene,
the D.A., and the courts all collectively agree that none of the Move
women could possibly be guilty of the death of that cop. Yet, they are
still languishing in prison. Victimized by the same cops and officials
that dropped a bomb, brutally murdering their children on May 13,
1985. A heinous attack broadcast live nationally captured the cops
murdering babies, unarmed Move women and men. Not a single cop or
official was even charged.
Debbie, Janet,
and Janine have spent the last 34 years of their lives in prison for a
crime city officials know they could not possibly be guilty of. However,
the parole board, at the insistence of Philadelphia officials,
continues to deny their release. Even worse, the parole board actually
gives the Move women longer sanctions than they do even men.
The issue is not what the parole board will do on the 5th or 6th
time around. Anyone claiming to be conscious knows full well that the
"decision" they claim to be contemplating in 2012 was already decided
back in 1978 when we survived their murderous assault.
So the issue ain't what the parole board will "decide", the real issue is what the people will allow. The parole board, like all public officials, make those decisions in the name of the people, and when the people demand justice, it will happen. Look at Sanford, Florida. Look at L.A. in the wake of Rodney King. It's the people that have the power to effect real change.
If people want to
know just how the government can get away with giving Marissa Alexander
a 20 year sentence for simply trying to protect herself in 2012, it's
because the people were silent as the cops attacked in 1978.
If people want to
know why Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, and countless other
Black, Latino, and poor whites continue to be caught on film being
brutalized and murdered with impunity, it's because the people seem to
forget 1985, and every other atrocity, until it becomes their turn.
All those that
sit back in the face of the oppression of your brothers and sisters,
remaining silent as poor folks' children are murdered and sent away like
slaves to the many prisons scattered through-out this country, refusing
to support those whodo resist and fight, only further encourage the system to keep assaulting. Because finally, people's apathy and silence is their permission.
People have to
demand justice not just from the 1%, but also from the masses in the
ranks of the 99% who will never fight to occupy anything other than jobs
that exploit on behalf of the 1%. Cops, parole agents, prison guards,
judges, and all of the many others feeding from the bottomless trough of
the law enforcement budget, comes directly from the ranks of the 99%.
They feed their families by enslaving yours.
The army that
enforces hegemony for the U.S. industrialists is made up of the 99%. The
workers that foreclose on your home, that cut off all your utilities in
mid-winter, that dispense poison chemicals into your food and water at
the behest of the 1%, come from the 99%.
So finally, how
is the person that takes a job executing people any different than the
person that legislated the racist policy. Try to make that distinction
to the person being executed.
A just person would refuse to carry out an unjust order.
The People must close its ranks to all agents of repression and demand justice for all our sisters and brothers.
Free our Move sisters!! Free all of our soldiers!! Free all political prisoners!!
On the Move!
Michael Davis Africa
The Move Organization
Long Live John Africa!!!
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