Mail addressed to inmate X is in violation of the  Department of Corrections Rule governing Mail  (Inmate). The material has been rejected because  it:

# Contains Inflammatory material. # Contains items prohibited from receipt by mail.

Specific article(s) and page number(s) or  material(s), considered objectionable: MIM Notes

 - Oregon State "Correction" Institution, 12/22/94

MC49 RESPONDS: And imprisonment and censorship  aren't inflammatory?

 TED KOPPEL INTERVIEWS HANDPICKED PRISONERS IN PRETTIFIED PRISON

Comrades,

I must apologize for not writing more. I've been  through a lot. This letter is to let you know I've  received the Dec. issue of MIM Notes. I've passed  it on for others to read.

As you know, Ted Koppel came to prison here.  Everything was cleaned up and prisoners were  handpicked to be interviewed. A class act!

Now we have to put up with the new oppressive  moves being made against us. For instance all  large radios (with speakers) are being taken up.  Meals on lock-down are cold. And to add insult to  injury, we prisoners can't come together on a  common stand.

The law library was taken before I came to this  prison. And from what I'm told, it was taken  without a fight. Not that it would be much help,  but learning to use the weapons of the enemy is  always useful.

I am a Muslim and I'm working hard to unite all  the Muslims first, then maybe the others may see  some light. Your newsletter is always helpful  because it shows how others, the world over, are  standing against oppression.

My friends are three: my friend, my friend's  friend and my enemy's enemy.Death is promised to  all, so die with valor and resistance against the  New World Disorder!

A brother in the struggle,

 - a North Carolina prisoner, 12/94

MC49 ADDS: See MIM Notes 96, 1/95, for a review of  the Nightline prison series mentioned above. Back  issues of MIM Notes are available from MIM for $1  each.

 BROTHER IN THE STRUGGLE EXECUTED

Revolutionary greetings! I am sorry it has taken  me so long to write you back, but I am one little  person trying to do everyone else's work in this  death camp. Mostly I am deeply involved in my  legal work of trying to get out of these death  camps and get some resources on the side for  future use.

Now before I go off into our conversation  concerning conscious/unconscious people working or  supporting the imperialist empire of the united  snakes of amerikkka, let me report some happenings  around here for your information. Just a few days  ago, on 12/8/94 at 12:01 am, these pigs forcibly  murdered an extremely strong Afrikan brother of  the struggle. It is a bad time! His name was Ajamu  (slave name Gregory Resnover), age 43.

This was the first murder (i.e., forced execution)  via the electric chair in this neo-colonialist  state Indiana since the united snakes of amerikkka  reinstated the death penalty. He was convicted in  the 1980 slaying of a pig during a house raid.  What is so bad is that everyone knows that he was  not the triggerman. Even though I salute whomever  shot the pig! Now that he was murdered, these pigs  will no doubt also murder his comrade who is  blamed for being the one who allegedly shot the  pig....

 - an Indiana prisoner, 12/11/94

 INDIANA MURDERS AJAMU NASSOR-RESNOVER

The state of Indiana has committed the first  involuntary execution of a death row prisoner  since the 1960's. The highly controversial case of  Gregory Resnover, now Ajamu Nassor Resnover, had  the state claiming that Resnover shot and killed a  pig who was crashing through his front door in  Indianapolis a number of years ago. Ajamu has sat  on death row ever since, and on December 8th,  1994, was murdered in the state's electric chair.

In September, Ajamu was moved to a segregated  housing unit, only a few short months after his  brother Kondo was moved from the same prison as  Ajamu down to the brutal supermax at Carlisle,  Indiana....

The rest of the death row at Michigan City, which  had been on lockdown since [an] escape attempt,  was transported en masse to the MCC at  Westville...,leaving only Ajamu Nassor Resnover on  the Row. Meanwhile, prison officials tightened up  security and reinforced cells and bars all over  the death row unit.

On November 23rd, the Indiana Parole Board, after  a clemency hearing held in Indianapolis court,  rejected Ajamu's bid for clemency, leaving the  matter in the hands of Governor Bayh.

Ajamu's attorney, Robert W. Hammerle, spoke to the  board, pointing out the extremely poor amount of  evidence against Ajamu in the killing of Indy  detective Sgt. Jack Ohrberg. Hammerle displayed a  letter from former chief deputy prosecutor David  Cook, the lead prosecutor in Ajamu's original  trial, who said that there was "a masterful  misrepresentation of facts" in the case. He also  quoted Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith who  said "Gregory Resnover is not the person who  killed Jack Ohrberg."

Also on hand to testify was Ohrberg's daughter,  Cindy Shoudt, who seemed to feel that killing  Ajamu would bring back her father, and certainly  didn't seem interested in whether Ajamu was guilty  or not. She pleaded with the board to deny him  clemency. They denied it, leaving the matter in  Bayh's hands, and no one was surprised that Bayh  refused. As the date drew nearer, the NAACP sent  petitions with thousands of signatures on them in  support of Ajamu's life (something he said he  "appreciated," before he died).

Desperate, last-minute attempts to save Ajamu's  life were made by his attorneys and many others.  His supporters pointed out, among all the other  discrepancies in the case, that a white man  convicted of killing a cop (supposedly a "capital  crime" in Indiana) was freed after seven years in  prison less than 15 years ago, while Ajamu was on  his way to death. But on Wednesday the 7th, as the  sun set, police and press began to flood the area  around the prison in Michigan City. Police were  everywhere, blocking off many roads to the area,  and TV trucks could be seen from Ohio, Kentucky,  Illinois, and all over Indiana, not to mention all  of the newspaper and other reporters.

The press swooped on anyone they could find, and  one of the first people they found was Eric  McCauley and Virginia Burns of South Bend's Human  Rights Coalition, who were there to witness the  execution, at Ajamu's request. The two were  interviewed extensively until Bill Pelke, head of  Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation (MVFR,  an anti-death penalty group) called to order the  9:00 press conference that had been scheduled. He  spoke briefly, as did Ajamu's brother and cousin,  Kevin, who attacked the press, calling them  "unjust and unGodly" and holding them responsible  for their role in Ajamu's death.

Ajamu's family spoke in his defense before the  press and were hounded with every move they made  before finally entering the prison walls.  Meanwhile, large crowds of protesters continued to  cover the area, holding signs and chanting, "Not  in our name!" and "The death penalty has got to  go!"

Shortly a crowd of death penalty supporters  gathered in the area, holding signs like "Justice  is 50,000 volts through quivering, cop-killin'  flesh" and other barbaric and uninformed slogans.  These people, many of whom were cops and none of  whom seemed to care that Ajamu was innocent (by  the state's own admission - governor Bayh, in his  explanation of letting Ajamu be murdered, said  that, though Ajamu DID NOT kill Ohrberg, he  probably did kill a Brinks' guard he was accused  of killing as well, so Ajamu was a "criminal" and  should be put to death). The pro-death crowd began  to become more and more violent, pushing and  shoving anti-murder demonstrators; a fierce verbal  debate ensued, which finally calmed down only  after the anti-murder demonstrators put a stop to  it.

At 11 p.m., the witnesses were allowed to enter  the prison. Besides McCauley and Burns, other  witnesses included Ajamu's 18 year-old son, a  Goshen minister, an Indianapolis Star reporter,  and other members of Ajamu's family. Governor  Bayh, Indy mayor Stephen Goldsmith and prosecutor  Jeff Modisett all refused Ajamu's invitation to  witness the murder to which they sent him.

Ajamu's father and many other members of his  family who were not witnesses held hands and  offered a prayer for him as the moment drew near.  Ajamu was led out of the "waiting room" he had  been in since that afternoon (he had refused the  last meal and shower they offered him) and  strapped into the chair. His face was covered with  a black hood, which the state required him to wear  even though he asked not to. He had given his  final statement to his lawyers several hours  beforehand, so he made none. At 12:01 a.m. on  December 8th, the execution began; Ajamu Nassor  (Gregory Resnover) was pronounced dead at 12:13.

Outside, protesters, who had been chanting loudly,  were quieted as Ajamu's family, shaken and  weeping, cut through the crowd and left. Some  witnesses, many of whom were asked to witness so  that they might report what they saw to others and  create a movement to end the death penalty, did  indeed tell the press graphically of the sights  they saw. Eric McCauley and Virginia Burns  reported that Ajamu was still even before the  switch was pulled and remained so, even as they  saw "sparks shooting out of his head" and final  jerking motions, and smelled burned flesh. The  Star reporter wrote something of a riveting  account of the execution in the Star of the 8th;  we print even the brief description above only in  hope that it might make the People who don't  already know aware of the barbaric reality of the  "death penalty."

Ajamu's attorney Hammerle, who was stopped by the  press on his way out of the prison (he also  witnessed the murder), was quite visibly shaken  and outraged, calling the whole thing "barbaric"  and stating that "we don't even know who we are"  here. A Dept. of Corrections [sic] spokeswoman  came out and made the official pronouncement of  death to the press; she was choking and weeping,  which did not stop angry protesters from calling  her a murderer and saying "You all are going to  burn in hell for this!" and "You'll have to answer  to God for this!"

Ajamu's supporters vowed that his death would not  be in vain, and of course it won't. The funeral  procession carrying his body journeyed to  Indianapolis on the afternoon of the 8th, with  many cars stopping at the governor's mansion in  Indianapolis, honking horns and waving signs as  the press looked on. It was clear that Bayh will  be held accountable for the premeditated murder he  committed (one he committed strictly for political  gains). As we go to press, we have heard that  someone (unidentified, but not affiliated with the  procession) fired a gunshot at Bayh's mansion on  the 9th, though no one was injured.

Ajamu Nassor-Resnover touched many lives while he  was alive; no one who knew him well was in favor  of his death. Even the prison warden at Michigan  City choked up on the phone with him during the  last week of his life, and guards there sat up  nights crying as they spoke to him in those final  weeks. He was a warrior for the cause of justice,  especially justice for Afrikan people, and he knew  that his death was a racist move, a political move  and a move put forth by a brutal state and  country. He died calmly, having said earlier that  if the state did kill him, it must be the will of  Yahweh. Again, however, his death will NOT be in  vain.

Next issue we will certainly have a proper tribute  to Ajamu from the many people who knew him and  whose lives he touched, and we encourage those who  knew and loved him to send in a few words (or  pictures, or whatever) of tribute. This issue, we  will simply close by saying that those here who  knew Ajamu Nassor-Resnover loved him and we will  never forget him, nor will we let his memory die.  His spirit lives within us all, and we know the  Creator will guide him on. We also know that he  will Rest in Peace.... but will his killers?...

 - excerpted from The New Freedom: The Voice of  Indiana's Liberation Struggle, Winter 94/95, P.O.  Box 14, Culver, IN 46511.

 TIT FOR TAT

I received a paper from you about my last issue.  I'd like to continue receiving your paper.

Here's a little more input on what's taking place  on this location: if you're not familiar, this  prison put a brother in the electric chair on  12/8/94. They locked us down on 12/6/94 or 12/7/94  so they could kill him. They let us off lock-down  on 12/10/94, two days after the murder. But here's  the catch. On 12/13/94 at 5:30 pm, my cell house,  DCH, was going to our last chow for the night. On  our return, around 5:45 pm, a pig (hired killer)  got stabbed in the chest (left side, heart) and  the neck. The pig (hired killer) died about 6:07  pm. So, now the whole prison is on lock-down. And  word around this camp is we'll be down a long,  long, long-ass time, because one of their boys in  blue bit the dust.

The prison administration is telling the papers  they believe it was in retaliation for the  electrocution of a real down-to-earth comrade  convict. So far they got two convicts for it. One  is a Moslem. They shipped them down to that  hellhole at Westville, the Maximum Control Complex  (MCC).

They also are saying they think it was a gang hit.  They're just guessing, and don't know any facts.  They say it was People, Bloods, El Rukns, Vice  Lords that had something to do with the hit.  They're saying that because of these groups'  unity. It's strong. That Moslem brother they got  charged used to be a member of one of them gangs.  Then he became a Black Dragon and incorporated  Islam in his life. So, I'm going to close this for  now, so I can get back into my Islamic studies.

I close in peace. Power to the people.

In struggle,

 - a Californian prisoner in Indiana, 12/19/94

P.S. They won't let us get any visits from our  loved ones either. They ain't gonna wash our  underclothes or anything for about a month, from  what people are saying.

 MODERN SLAVERY IN FULL EFFECT

Over the last decade, government and prison  officials nationwide have intensified their  campaign to criminalize Blacks and Hispanics.  While slowly establishing and solidifying code  words and phrases which will be used and are being  used to further perpetuate this state of modern  slavery.

The rationale may be to make society safe, under  the guise of the right wing's law and order, but  the de facto truth is the enslavement of a race  and nation of people. Rehabilitation is a code  word for turning young Black men into old ment  before they are released from prison, if ever. It  is a diabolical scheme that is well-disguised, but  nevertheless a grand and wicked conspiracy. It  will not come as a surprise to learn that prisons  are the number one growth industry in this  country, a lucrative business. Reminiscent of days  passed when our beloved ancestors were held in  chattel slavery. I contend that the crime bill and  imprisonment of New Afrikans is no more than the  process of legally perpetuating slavery actually  backed by the United States Constitution. The 13th  Amendment states: "Neither slavery nor involuntary  servitude, *except as a punishment for a crime*  whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."  (emphasis added)

This same surreptitious process was witnessed by  our sister Sojourner Truth as she struggled to  establish reparation for those who had built this  country. After the abolition of slavery, the  United States set out to re-enslave Blacks by  refusing to give them land or any means of self- support after releasing them from the plantations,  causing many to participate in unscrupulous  activity as they were systematically imprisoned.  Just as they are doing it today. We are faced with  the same forced labor and the same brutal  treatment given the chattel slave; it is now given  to those prisoners who demand fair treatment and  justice.

The prison guard, the street cop, the FBI, judges,  Congress, from the Big House to the White House  are all viscous players in this complex conspiracy  and billions have been earmarked to keep the  modern slave imprisoned. Understand that none of  the monies are for vocational or educational  programs. Like our ancestors who were not allowed  to read or write, we must be kept ignorant because  they realize that education is knowledge, and  knowledge is the beginning of freedom.

There are presently over one million people locked  behind these plantation walls, "duly convicted."  In essence there are over one million slaves. The  entire prison plantation is overcrowded. But so  were the slave ships. And that didn't stop the  haul. More and more white over-seers are being  hired who are equipped with the sadistic  mentalities and licentious demeanor. They are  hired to keep the prison-plantation running  smoothly and trouble-free. They organize like a  paramilitary militia, composed of racist whites  armed with all of the slave-controlling apparatus:  guns, nightsticks, shackles, mace, full riot gear  and protection which can be used on the slave at  the pleasure of the overseer.

Because of the racism that bubbles from beneath  the surface of this nation's psyche, the whole  criminal network - cops, courts, the executive and  legislative - will remain wicked. And they will do  anything to the modern slaves to keep them  stigmatized, desocialized and brainwashed into  believing they are inferior so as to keep them  "penally" subservient.

We have to unite against this war upon us. We are  limited in our choice of weapons. But universal  law dictates that a closed fist, symbolic of  unity, is stronger than an open hand, symbolic of  division. We must struggle to understand the  necessity for a united front.

 - a Connecticut prisoner, 12/27/94

 PRISONER CRITICIZES INDIVIDUALISM

Excuse the delay in my writing. But it's hard for  me at times, fighting for my rights and the next  man's, when there's always one inmate to mess  things up. I am maintaining as best I can. And I  hope things are well there.

I hate to say it, but I seriously think that the  prisoners here in Michigan are really getting  soft. Those of us who do fight all and any unjust  treatments are getting fewer by the day. I myself  have been put in Administrative Segregation  (control unit) for not telling on the next  prisoner, and a lot of good brothers are locked  away in these control units for false charges.  What can I do to rise the level of awareness or  consciousness - without the goon squad gassing me  and sticking me back in the hole for X amount of  years?

There is little outside community help. I have  personally written over 250 letters to every  organization for which I could get an address to  write to. Nothing! And I'm tired of reading about  the fool treatment of imprisoned comrades all over  the country.

It seems as though it is easier to sell out the  cause and join the "I'm all for self now" club.  Because the things these prisoners do around here  would make you just downright sick. But I'm  grateful that I have two brothers in my corner  fighting just as hard as I am, with no funds or  outside help....

The MIM Notes have been getting through. Though  staff has been reading them before I get them, I  still get them. I'm closing for now, in struggle  and remaining strong.

 - a Michigan prisoner, 12/30/94