The following two letters were written in remembrance of Ziyon Yisrayah (slave name(s/n) Tommie Smith) who was legally murdered by the State of Indiana in the early hours of July 18, 1996.
On December 11, 1980 the police made a pre-dawn raid on the home of Ziyon, Ajamu and Kondo Nassor (s/n Earl Resnover). As a result, one police officer was killed and Ziyon was wounded. Ziyon, Ajamu and Kondo were politically active, and had a history of exchanges with the local police because of their stand against social injustices perpetrated against Blacks in the community.
Both Ajamu Nassor and Ziyon Yisrayah were sentenced to be executed, even though there is strong evidence that the police officer was shot by someone else. Ajamu Nassor was legally murdered by the State of Indiana on December 8, 1994 and Ziyon Yisrayah was legally murdered by the State of Indiana on July 18, 1996.
IN DE STORM
*July 18th, 1996, 12:00 midnight*
There came a storm. A storm that rocked de tombs of Michigan City Prisons disciplinary segregation unit and "X-Row" (death row) that was so profound and so heartfelt that mere words are too inadequate to express de electricity that flowed throughout de dark cave.
Convicts, particularly Afrikan men, expressed our Black rage in solidarity against de racist murder of our Brotha and comrade Ziyon Yisrayah by de neo- kkkolonialist state. As it stormed inside de tombs, so too did it storm outside. [É] i recall wondering as i kicked and shook de bars, if Ziyon could hear or feel us. Diz made me put all my energy into it, b'cuz i wanted him to hear and feel us, in spite of distance between Us and de murder room. i remembered comrade Ajamu Nassor, Ziyon's rapy, whom de fascist pigs had murdered in December of 94, and de storm grew. You could feel de pain from de westside of seg. and even from beneath us in X-Row. It was as if We were trying to send a message out to Ziyon and We were all writing with de same pen. De message read: "We luv you Bro. and We will continue to struggle for liberation. Your blood and de blood of those before you will not go unavenged! For diz is de day of de guerrilla -- de final call!"
Ziyon was pronounced dead at 1:21 A.M. by de imperialist state, but de people pronounce him forever alive. There is no doubt in my mind that Ziyon got our message or felt our luv for him. Nope, no doubt at all.....for it was written in de storm.
'In remembrance of Ziyon Yisrayah' Let his last words forever be written upon our hearts: "All that is necessary for evil to prevail, is for man to do nothing"
Abolish de death penalty. Free all P.P./P.O.W.'s Uhuru Sasa!!! --An Indiana Prisoner, July 18th, 1996
REFLECTIONS
Today is the day that a comrade, a brother and friend name Ziyon Yisrayah is scheduled to be murdered. As i sit at my make ship desk of cardboard, sitting a top a folded mattress drafting motion after motion in an attempt to defeat the bogus charges of conspiracy to riot and threatening, my head is filled with thoughts of my brother, friend and comrade.
[É]
As i sit here i gaze through the bars at the many filled sack lunches strewn across the floor, thrown and rejected by approximately 104 men of all nationalities housed on this lock up unit, who refused to eat for the next 2 days in protest of premeditated murder. i think about the sacrifice these men are making who have been on total lockdown for 47 days only receiving two cold sack lunches a day. And then any thoughts return back to my/Our brother, friend and Comrade Ziyon and the larger sacrifice he has made. [É]
As i sit here reflecting with simmering rage i listen to the silence of the unit and the whisper of oppression. Quiet because approximately 104 men refuse to speak for the next 2 days in protest of premeditated murder. Hearing nothing but an occasional shout/alarm of "One time!" warning others that a kop, a potential murderer is in the area on patrol.
As i sit here thinking and observing this New Afrikan womyn kop who goes out of her way to be liberal rationing out toilet paper, she seems so far removed from today's scheduled events. As she leans over with a smile to place two rolls of toilet paper in the cell door, her eyes show she does not overstand why i do not acknowledge her, do not acknowledge her smile. In my mind i ask her what if it was your brother, friend and comrade who just two floors below was scheduled to be murdered? Would you be so quick to smile, to flirt? Would you be so far removed from this reality in which you find yourself?
i often think about the kops who try to befriend Us and yet are a part of the death squad/execution team and you never knowing it. Imagine being on death row and befriending a kop who secretly belonged to the death squad, who was secretly conspiring to help murder you and you never know it until the last night of your life when he approaches the cage you in with handcuffs in hand and says "It's time". How would that make you feel And yet they charge me and my brothers with conspiring to riot! Conspiracy to stop a premeditated murder!
[É]
i think about this saturday on July 13th as i sat in a 2 by 3 foot sweltering non-contact visiting booth, visiting with a comrade from BCAC [Brew City Anti-Authoritarian Collective] through bullet proof glass with thick steel bars across the front of it. This sweltering booth with the solid steel door with slit window and 6 by 6 inch hole set in the middle of it and red telephone. In my minds eye i see the symbolism of this day as 40 to 50 friends, comrades, allies and supporters demonstrated at the front prison gate demanding the re-opening of Ziyon's case and the dismissal of the bogus charges filed against myself and a total of 12 others. [É]
Damn!
People the price of our lives must increase. Burning candles have never saved any of Us and burning candles over Our corpses have never stopped the next one from being murdered. As you sit in the comfort of your homes and return back to you "normal" lives, put yourself in Ziyon's place and ask yourself if it was you what would you want someone on the streets to do for you?
Just as comrade Ajamu Nassor's, murdered by the state on 12-8-94, spirit continues to live and inspire Us so shall comrade Ziyons. Brother, friend and Comrade from those of Us who cared and gave a damn may you rest in peace.
The Struggle Continues!! --An Indiana Prisoner, July 17, 1996
PRISONERS SENT TO SUPERMAX FOR SILENT PROTEST
Dear Friends, The National Campaign to Stop Control Unit Prisons/Midwest Region is asking that as many of you as possible respond to the following and participate in our emergency response network:
Recently, 150 prisoners organized a silent mealtime vigil at the Indiana State prison in Michigan City, Indiana. The vigil was to protest the upcoming execution of Ziyon Yisrayah (Tommie Smith). Ziyon Yisrayah was subsequently murdered by the State of Indiana on July 18, 1996. Shortly after this vigil, ten New Afrikan prisoners were transferred to the supermax prison in Westville, Indiana and charged with a variety of serious offenses, including conspiracy to riot, threatening a guard, and physically resisting a guard.
These trumped up charges were clearly an attempt by Superintendent Al Parke to show he's boss and break the spirit of solidarity growing in D Cell House. It is also a classic case of how the more political prisoners get sent to the supermax. At issue is prisoners' rights to protest the death penalty. In addition, the fact that all ten prisoners charged are black reveals the racist nature of the Indiana State Prison system.
Of these ten prisoners, six were found guilty in an internal prison hearing and sentenced from one to five years in the cruel torture chambers known as supermax prisons in Indiana.
The National Campaign to Stop Control Unit Prisons asked people to call or fax Supt. Al Parke at (219) 874-7256 (phone) and (219) 874-9001 and demand that the charges be dropped against the Indiana 6.
CALL FOR PRISONERS TO BECOME POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
*"...If we Afrikan Men do not get ourselves together NOW by preparing for battle then, the destruction and annihilation of our people will be our doing." -- Che (Hopp X) Assari*
The powers of racist amerikkka within the state of michigan, are determined to 'destroy' the encaptured Afrikan male/female, who are languishing within one of these states many death kkkamps. New psychological warfare is being applied (daily) to oppress and repress those of us under this yoke.
Recently the m.d.o.k. [Michigan Department of Corrections] has been implementing a lot of "self- righteous" (illegal) policies in which to continue sadistic measures of control, but in reality, 'punishment'. The m.d.o.k. have instituted a so- called "gang coordinator/monitor" for purposes of identifying those who are considered "leaders" within the death kkkamps. Or those who are political agitators and jailhouse lawyers. This blatant attack against the prisoner-klass is one that has no substance other than to cause psychological pain and emotional damage and aggression. Aggression which these nazis and uncle toms know will increase prisoner on prisoner violence.
It is time that we (as prisoners within the state of michigan) stop the violence among ourselves and become violent with our captors. It is time that we become serious about wanting to make change and stop merely talking about it among our respective groups and/or friends. It is time that we look at the examples left to us from other rades, e.g., rade George Jackson; Malik El Haqq Shabazz (aka: Malcolm X); JiJu (aka: Geronimo Pratt); Leonard Pelter; Mumia; John Africa and countless others.
The pig governor and his grand shit-head piglet kkklansmen, are out to destroy us whether we are willing to believe/accept it or not.
The prisoner-klass within michigan must become politically motivated and stop being pacified with cheap tokenage hurled at us with such things as basketballs, baseballs, weights, various catalogs in which to order gym shoes and other clothing items. Its cool to do these things, but in proper perspective. We aren't in a fashion ballroom so the need for that shouldn't be priority. And no one is walking out of here becoming the next Michael Jordan, Darryl Strawberry, or Mike Tyson...so the perspectives should be put into its rightful place. We are in war, and in war you fight and learn from your commanders on the application of warfare.
Until this is done we will continue to suffer (as collective prisoner-klass) within the kkklans death kkkamps.
In the trenches, --A Michigan prisoner, June 29, 1996.
RCG1 responds: This letter clearly shows how prisons are used as a form of social control. It demonstrates how prisoncrats attempt to "divide and conquer" prisoners especially by singling out the leaders, old heads and jailhouse lawyers.
We agree that prisoners should be politicized and not pacified. Their focus should be on building a revolutionary party. We also agree that prisoners should stop violence among themselves. It is destructive to revolution and is how the pigs want prisoners to act. Prisoncrats benefit when prisoners fight each other because then prisoners can not organize against the principle problem: the imperialist system.
MIM disagrees with the above letter in that we not advocate prisoner violence against their captors at this time. Violence against prisoncrats only leads to more repression of prisoners. We suggest that prisoners look at historically revolutionary figures such as George Jackson, and Malik El Haqq Shabazz (aka: Malcolm X) and learn from history of the FBI's COINTELPRO war against the Black Panther Party.
MIM argues this is the time to organize, study and expose the atrocities of the imperialist system that oppresses people. Help MIM build a strong revolutionary party that will eventually overthrow the oppressive capitalist government.
UPDATE OF MASSACHUSETTS PRISONERS IN TEXAS
Thanks for the good reading and information your newspaper offers. I usually read it right away and pass around its good news to other inmates.
We are no longer allowed to write letters or send any correspondence to other Massachusetts prisons. This was started last month. All our mail is stamped on the back that the contents are from a prison and the Commonwealth is not responsible for is contents....The Department of Correction doesn't want anyone having long time commitments and friendships. This is unfair. Your paper helps me keep in touch even more as I write to as far as Texas to some of my friends.
On October 31, 1995, 299 inmates were kidnapped from Shirley, Massachusetts. Most are still there. About 60 have returned for health or similar reasons. They were supposed to be sent because of overcrowding. Most of the minimums are half filled. They just want more mediums and maxes, but most of these people here belong in a minimum.
The move was all a publicity stunt to get the public to want more prisons built. Enclosed is what was sent to the guys who got sent to Texas [The document describes the effects of the transfer on participation in the sex offenders program which is "voluntary", but if a prisoner does not participate or confess to some crime they will not be eligible for phase IV of the program, which will transfer them back to Massachusetts.-ed]. They were supposed to stay one year but they renewed the contract for another year. When I was in the service I thought the government wasted taxpayers dollars more than anyone else. Now I know the Department of Corrections wastes the most. Half of the staff work double shifts, and the benefits are the best ever for them. Well thanks for listening. Keep up the good work.
-- A Massachusetts Prisoner, July 15, 1996
PRISONER RECEIVES LONGER SENTENCE FOR MAINTAINING INNOCENCE
Dear MIM Notes, I'm writing to you from a Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution. I have just received your June 1st and June 15th issues. I just read an article in the June 15th issue in which I find to be very interesting.
First let me say that your paper is not being screened here at this Institution. And I wish that a lot more of my fellow inmates would write to receive your paper. I show your paper around every time I receive one and a lot of the guys write down the address, but I'm not sure on how many people receive your paper.
What caught my interest is the article in the June 15th paper, It was called "Boston Globe Fuels Crusades Against Sex Offenders". I'm in search of as much information I can find and any cases and case law if any pertaining to this so called Megan's Law. I'm serving a 6 to 36 month sentence for an indecent assault charge, in which I have now served 28 months on because of the DOC [Department of Corrections] and the PA parole boards refusal to parole me.
I was told by the Parole Board to Max my sentence out for refusal to complete a SOP [most likely stands for sexual offenders program -ed] they have here, because I refuse to sign papers admitting my guilt. I pleaded not guilty in a jury trial and was found guilty. Now I have an appeal pending in court in the form of a (PCRA) Post Collateral Relief Act, which is being dragged out by the courts for the last two years.
I'm being told by the DOC that upon my Max date I must sign this so called Megan's Law in order to be released on my Max date. I was sentenced in April 1993 before this law was passed. So how can I be forced to sign these papers if I wasn't sentenced under this law? Any info or case you may refer me to or print in your paper will be a great help to me and my family. Thank you.
--A Pennsylvania Prisoner, July 9, 1996.
RCG1 RESPONDS: Megan Kanka was killed in 1994 by a convicted sex offender in New Jersey, who lived across the street from her. The Kankas did not know their neighbor was a convicted sex offender(1). After Megan's death, New Jersey passed Megan's Law, and Congress passed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994(1994 Fed Act). Both laws require states to inform communities when convicted sex offenders move into the area(1). The 1994 Fed Act requires people convicted of a sex offense to register with the state for ten years after their release from prison. This law requires states to punish people who do not register(2).
In addition, state law enforcement agencies must transmit a copy of the convict data and fingerprints to the FBI. Failure to do so would result in the state's loss of 10% of special federal grant money(3).
Clinton signed the 1996 Federal Megan's Law which requires states to inform the public when "convicted sex offenders" are released and to establish a system of warning the public by September 1997 or states may lose federal "anti- crime" money(1). Fifteen states already have these warning systems in place(4).
This legislation focuses upon the release of convicted sex offenders, it is unclear whether people convicted before the signing of Megan's Law are required to register with states. If anyone has more information please write to MIM.
NOTES: 1.CNN/Time, http://allpolitics.com/news/9605/17/clinton.sign/ 2.Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, http://gopher.usdoj.gov/crime/crime.html 3.Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994: Substantive Criminal Provisions, http://gopher.usdoj.gov/crime/crm_brf.html 4. CNN/Time, http://allpolitics.com/news/9605/08/sex.offenders/i ndex.shtml
PRISONER EXPOSES THE CREATORS OF DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS
Dear MIM, I recently received your letter informing me of the censoring of some materials you sent me. I did receive MIM Notes in May and the administration didn't give me notice barring anything. However it should come as no surprise that these "pekkkerwoods" will interfere with anything they see as a threat to the state of ignorance they have founded here in Texas prisons.
I see Playboy, Penthouse and Playgirl ... coming in faster than the speed of light. These publications are unhindered due to the effect is serves upon an already brain dead mass of ignorance.
Recently I was watching a film with "Clinton the Crookkk" and he was expounding on how the gangbangers were/are such cowards for doing drive- by shootings. And the "all-white but never right" audience was agreeing lock stock and barrel.
First of all most non-European ethnic groups have been continuously drilled and indoctrinated by the white owned media and societal fads into living the "Amerikkkan" way. In other words the evil, wicked lifestyle of the whiteman.
Incidentally white-folks invented the drive-by shooting. A drive-by is no more than an unsuspected surprise attack on a person or persons. I am sure if we ask the Indians and Afrikans of this country about this issue they will readily confirm that the whiteman has been driving-by on them for hundreds of years.
The funny thing is when black gang-bangers (who need guidance and who will play a major role in the armed struggle) commit a drive-by, they are thugs and cowards. But white-boys in the 20's and 30's who drove-by and gunned other humans down unsuspectingly, are hailed as heros in the whitemans gangster movies. And white-boys who unsuspectingly burn down black churches only need to be caught to add that extra edge to some devils political career, but are not cowards or thugs, is simply the "Amerikkkan Way"....
2 STRONG, 2 BLACK, 2 BE BULLIED.
--A Texas Prisoner, July 1,1996.
LOUISIANA FORCES PRISONERS TO PAY FOR MEDICAL CARE
**The following policy memorandum was sent to MIM by a prisoner who wanted to see more news about his state. This demonstrates the repression against prisoners that extends even into their health care. Charging prisoners for health care when they have no source of income (or are working for the prisons earning slave wages) forces them into debt and means that any money they are sent from the outside will be confiscated by the prisoncrats.**
As of August 1, 1996, medical co-payments will be applied to all new medical incidents occurring after the implementation of date of revised Department Regulation No. b-06-001, "Health Care". ...Inmates will be charged a $3.00 fee for each unscheduled, self-initiated request for medical, dental and mental health service. ...After release from care for an injury or illness, subsequent unscheduled, self-initiated requests for treatment for that injury or illness, may be chargeable.
No inmate will be charged for any contact that is scheduled by the Warden or designee (medical/mental health personnel). Additionally, no fees will be charged for any contacts that are mandated by departmental or institutional policy [or]...When the fee is waived by the Warden or designee.
...Inmates will be charged a sum of $2.00 for each new prescription written and dispensed with the exception of psychotropic medications. There will be no charge for refills of prescriptions where the effects of the illness or injury are chronic or long-term.
...Indigent inmates will be assessed of all current funds available in their account, and will owe the balance. The account will then be placed on "hold" pending future receipt of funds.
--Michael L. Phillips, Warden, June 7, 1996