PA DOC Secretary Wetzel is set to make decision on RELEASE FROM SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR MAROON

Campaign to Free Russell Maroon Shoatz

July 8, 2013 Update/Action Alert

Campaign and Maroon himself learns that PA DOC Secretary Wetzel is set to make final decision on POSSIBLE RELEASE FROM SOLITARY CONFINEMENT; DEMAND an end to Maroon's decades of torture and call for his immediate release to general population!

July 8: On July 3, long-held Black Panther political prisoner Russell Maroon Shoatz was informed by prison officials at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Mahanoy that SCI Mahanoy has formally recommended that Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary, John Wetzel, authorize Maroon's release from solitary confinement. Only 90 days after his transfer to a lower-security prison, and two months after a federal lawsuit was filed on his behalf, Secretary Wetzel is set to make the final decision any day now as to whether Maroon’s 22 consecutive years in solitary confinement are to come to an end.

On the eve of the possible release from solitary confinement calls supporting this action have been coming from around the globe. Nobel peace laureate and former President of East Timor Jose Ramos Horta just added his name to the Campaign, noting the "absolutely crucial leadership role" played by political prisoners in his own nation's successful struggle for independence.

Maroon provided the following statement to supporters: "I saw the leadership of SCI Mahanoy, and they gave me a green light to be released from isolation after 22 years. But now the Central Office staff is holding up traffic, and I'm calling on you all to remove that final roadblock."

The Campaign is encouraged by the positive actions helping move this process forward, and taken by officials at SCI Mahanoy and the offices of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections; we hope and expect that Secretary Wetzel will do the right thing, and end these decades of gross injustice. We recognize, however, that until the moment that Maroon is out of solitary, we must keep the pressure building as we strengthen the movement against solitary confinement and to free Maroon Shoatz!

The Campaign to Free Russell Maroon Shoatz is asking that the dozens of organizations and thousands of supporters who have joined the call to release him from solitary confinement take action now by demanding that Secretary Wetzel follow the recommendation of SCI Mahanoy and authorize Maroon's immediate release into the general prison population.

Twenty-two consecutive years in solitary is more than long enough!

DEMAND that Maroon be placed in general population IMMEDIATELY! Keep the calls coming all week!

Call/Write to: PA DOC Secretary John Wetzel, 1920 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050; Phone number: 717-728-4109; Fax: 717-728-4178

Campaign to Free Russell Maroon Shoatz, freemaroonshoatz@gmail.com,
c/o WRL/Matt Meyer, 339 Lafayette Street, New York NY 10012; 412-654-9070
http://russellmaroonshoats.wordpress.com/ • #30Days2FreeMaroon • #FreeMaroon

--
SIGN THE JERICHO COINTELPRO PETITION!

Free All Political Prisoners!
 www.jerichony.org