Prisoner suggests 'amnesty' platform plank Greetings ... to one-and all What this particular correspondence pertains to is the matter of providing MIM a good issue(s)which can be used and focused on to, as y'all say, "Grab the masses attention and which comrades on the inside can really use, make use of". Well, I have been seriously pondering this question and even eliciting fellow prisoners' opinions on the matter, and thus far what I personally came up with, which is actually a matter that as been on my mind for some time now, is the issue of an all out 'AMNESTY' Campaign organized and pursued on behalf of those referred to as the "Under-class" or "Lumpen Element". What I was thinkin' about is how in the case of my community, New Afrikan's; many of us are incarcerated for being involved in activities related to the 'Gang Phenomenon' and 'Drug-Culture'. For the most part our "Criminal" acts were in reality directed and perpetrated on one another i.e., those who were/are affiliated with or played in either of these "Games" of street survival. Yes, there were definitely and most unfortunately, 'Innocent' people whose lives' were detrimentally impacted by our negative and self-destructive actions, however, I would venture to say that overall it was and is those of us who played in these sub-cultures whose lives' were and are most affected by such negative activities, feel me? For example, it is those of us who are affiliated with certain urban "Gangs" who suffer from our self- destructive and "self- inflicted" "Gang Warfares" or "Drug Wars" transpiring in the ghettos of amerikkka, amongst so-called rival" gangs or "criminal organizations." It is US ... who are either in prisons, YAs, etc., etc., for our involvement in these sub- cultures., or who are in premature graveyards for playin' in either of these games. There are literally hundreds of thousands of New Afrikan men and women, and our youth as well, who are currently incarcerated in County, State and Federal penal institutions for having been involved in those activities associated with these two sub-cultures. I am here surrounded by many who have been sentenced to punishments that cannot possibly be served in one damn life-time. My cellmate, and many of my young "Homeboys" from the "Blood" and "Crip" sub-cultures have been sentenced to "Life Without the Possibility of Parole".... I'm referring to brotha's who caught their cases at the age of sixteen and seventeen. Many of them were profoundly influenced by the "Gang" or "Drug" sub-cultures, and did not know any other reality. Also, many in the gang sub-culture are actually motivated by a strong sense of loyalty towards their particular gang, and hence are motivated by values which inform them that the things that they do with regards to their supposed "rivals" isn't at all wrong in the context of the gang sub-culture. I know that for many middle class or bourgeois minded folks, this reality might come across as strange and even appear to be insane. Nevertheless, being a product of this particular sub-culture, I relate to and profoundly understand the "Gang Bangers" or "Drug Dealers" psychology. To assault, beat, retaliate or even eliminate ones perceived gang "rival" or "competition," in the context of these particular urban sub- cultures, is "normal" thinkin' and behavior, or as is said by many, "It's game, baby, the game." The philosophy of those who play in either of these games is that when you play in these games there are possible and serious consequences that come with them. Everyone involved knows of these severe consequences, but many feel as though they really do not have any other choice, meaningful opportunities available to them, due to livin' in this racist ass country which oppresses them. At any rate, my point is I believe and feel in my heart that 'AMNESTY' for "Gang Bangers" and "Drug Gangsters" should definitely be an issue which organizations such as MIM and others MUST focus their Attentions on, and that at the same time this particular issue will attract, in time and with our patience, the attention of those incarcerated for having been involved in gang type activities or the drug sub- culture, and work to 'mobilize' the concern and participation of not only our families, but I personally believe such a campaign will capture the interest and attention of even those whose lives' have been negatively impacted by those of us incarcerated for such -self- destructive activities in our communities. Through a systematic and consistent educational campaign the New Afrikan community can be educated into understanding and recognizing the definite connection between poverty, unemployment, racism and national oppression which is in the final analysis is actually responsible for the existence of "Gang Bangers" and "Drug Pushers"; and the crimes--survival acts-- associated with these particular sub-Cultures. Both the New Afrikan and "Hispanic" communities must come to understand the link between poverty, joblessness, racism, national oppression and the 'Gang Phenomenon' i.e., the deplorable socioeconomic conditions which drive many of us into the street sub-cultures for purposes of survival and due to developing a hopelessness mind state .... When we reflect on matters for a moment, what we have to realize is that those involved in the New Afrikan independence Movement and the Anti-Imperialist Movement simply cannot up-hold either of these struggles, in a genuine sense, if they fail to realize that fundamental to the question of Self- Determination; is the matter of the principle of not allowing an external nation to Intervene in or Impose its laws or systems of social and political regulation on your distinct and sovereign nation against that nation's will. Am I right, on this question? I mean, isn't the fact that those of us who are targeted by the State apparatus for allegedly -- since I personally ascribe and understand that there are really other more 'politically' based reasons for the States' actions against us -- being involved in "criminal" activities in the form of both the "gang" and "drug" sub- cultures; a definite INVASION of our communities, and an example of JUDICIAL INTERVENTION in the SOVEREIGN and PRIVATE affairs of a distinct nation? So, as we should be able to see on an tactical and ideological level, this particular issue can operate to heighten and crystallize the existing and unresolved contradictions between the New Afrikan National Reality; and the North Amerikkkan White Supremacist/Imperialist U.$. Empire.... This particular issue can be exploited and organized around in order to educate the New Afrikan masses of the reality of our Colonial -- Neo-Colonial -- status, and at the same time be used to galvanize literally hundreds of thousands of New Afrikan families whose lives have been affected by consequences and realities of both the gang and drug sub- cultures. Amnesty is regularly and historically granted to Soldiers throughout the world upon the establishment of either a treaty or truce between Warring Factions; or upon the termination of the War by one faction winning over its rival or competing military -- political -- force.... There is and has been a definite WAR goin' down in New Afrikan communities amongst those gangs who have traditionally been raised up in a sub-culture which informs them that this or that gang is their arch-rival or deadly competitor. It is these "Warriors" who are doing most of the suffering and who are dyin' due to playin' war games in the urban battlefields known as the Ghetto Streets. It is these "Warriors" who the State is purposely and calculatively targeting for repression .i.e, the imposition of their system's law and punishment on New Afrikan teens and young adults... under the Pretext of helping the New Afrikan community, but in reality to weaken it ... The AMNESTY campaign will of course encompass certain specified CRITERIAS, required PROGRAMS and OBLIGATIONS which those falling into this particular category of concern will have to satisfy before any decision is made as to their release or parole from whatever penal institution they are incarcerated in. Also, the way I envision matters a Review Board will be established which is made up of people from the New Afrikan communities through-out the U.$.; who will be 'qualified' to gauge whether or not this or that person -- New Afrikan -- is prepared in terms of viable skills, education and the appropriate level of moral conscience to be able to return back to the New Afrikan community in a healthy frame-of- mind, and equipped to help aid in the protection and development of New Afrikan community. Our folks, NEED their "WARRIORS" home ... to teach, organize and firmly resist our Colonial i.e., National and Class oppressors. It is my opinion, in time, that this particular ISSUE will generate massive interests and attention by forces PRO and CON. The result of such a systematically pursued campaign is CONSCIOUS raising and MASSIVE mobilization.... Let me know what y'all, THINK?? --a California prisoner MIM responds: We thank this comrade for h excellent and timely article. MIM is currently drafting a Party Platform, containing our specific demands and projects, including both reforms in the capitalist system and programs to be implemented after a successful socialist revolution. It is true that oppressor nation has no right to judge and imprison alleged criminals from the oppressed nations. The fact is that oppressed semi-colonies inside u.$. borders do not elect their own officials, control their own resources, or control those who police and judge them. An essential part of the revolutionary struggle inside Amerikan borders is for the oppressed nations to take control of their self- government; this is part of what we mean when we talk about "New Democracy." What the comrade talks about here -- setting up tribunals to re-evaluate convictions by the Amerikan injustice system, setting up programs to re- integrate prisoners into society -- are all tasks which can and must be implemented once we seize state power and set up a dictatorship of the proletariat. There are also some aspects of the "amnesty" demand which could be struggled for and won even under capitalism. For example, harsh federal guidelines for drug possession -- partly responsible for the united $tates leading the world in per capita imprisonment - - have recently come under widespread criticism. Points 8 and 9 of the Black Panther Party platform made similar demands. "8. We want freedom for all black men held in federal, state, and county jails. 9. We want all black people when brought to trial to be tried in court by a jury of their peer group or people from their black communities, as defined by the Constitution of the United States." We agree with the comrade that the conditions for the existence of the lumpen as a class and the drug economy are created by the imperialists themselves. The imperialists are the ones who creates chronic unemployment in the oppressed nations. They are also often the ones supplying the drugs (making big drug dealers in oppressed nations like "Freeway Rick" (2) a form of comprador bourgeoisie). We encourage readers to do as this comrade suggests, and send us articles detailing the complicity of the imperialists in creating the drug economy, "gang wars," etc. We also agree with the writer that the lumpenproletariat ("gangbangers," prisoners, the chronically unemployed) -- although they are among the most revolutionary classes -- need to go through ideological remolding in order to become staunch revolutionary fighters, just as members of imperialist-country petit-bourgeoisie must. Because their existence on the edge of the capitalist economy is so tenuous, the lumpen often have to adopt a hardcore "me-first" ideology to survive.