by B. C. Zeller
For Susan Rosenberg, a lesbian and political prisoner, the months before the celebration of Gay Pride 2000 were marked by enormous challenges. While escalating her efforts to obtain freedom, Susan completed a master's degree program in creative writing from Antioch College and taught the Black History curriculum for the women at Danbury Federal Correctional Institution. Susan was also facing a medical ordeal. In April, a doctor advised she needed a mastectomy. Susan was put on alert she would be immediately transferred to Carswell, Texas for surgery. Susan and her support committee sprung into action to try to prevent the transfer, while trying to obtain a second medical opinion. In fact, a few days later the written pathology report had a different diagnosis of "lobular carcinoma-in-situ". This condition is a "marker" for a greatly increased risk of developing cancer in one or both breasts. This diagnosis was confirmed by the second opinion. The political and legal pressure brought to bear prevented the transfer for the unnecessary surgery at the last minute. Susan will need very careful medical monitoring to detect cancer if it develops - a necessity that is virtually impossible while incarcerated.
Since January, Susan has been escalating her campaign for release. In 1999, the U.S. Parole Commission determined that after 14 years in prison she deserved immediate parole based on the New Jersey possession of explosive charges. However, at the same time, the Commission, relying solely on a letter from the federal prosecutors in New York, determined that Susan was guilty of previously dismissed Brink's conspiracy charges and therefore should serve an extra 15 years in prison. In essence, Susan was sentenced to another 15 years in prison based solely on the government allegations that she was guilty of the very charges that the government had dismissed in 1985. Susan's lawyers filed a motion to challenge the extra 15 years. In May, Judge Haight, who originally granted the dismissal of the Brink's charges in 1985, ruled that there were grave injustices in her case, but provided no remedy.
With this defeat, Susan once again squared her shoulders and resurrected her sense of humor as she has done so many times before. She is now beginning a campaign for sentence commutation addressed to President Clinton, a strategy for release that is being attempted by many of the federally-held political prisoners over the next 6 months.
For more information and ways to help, write to:The Committee to Release Susan Rosenberg, 78 Bank Street - Suite 6, NY, NY 10014.
Have a great Gay Pride Day!
Wasn't the origin of this celebration based in resisting our oppression as lesbians and gay men, building a movement to win Gay Liberation? More than just to show our "visibility," the first of these marches made demands about our community's needs. Gay men and lesbians were proud not only of our unique culture and community - we were proud to be allies of people fighting for freedom, both inside the US and around the world.
Have we given up this vision of liberation by fighting for assimilation into mainstream America. Does the commercialism, consumerism, and apathy so increasingly dominant in the gay community mean that we have become the blind allies of globalized capitalism, instead of allying with those who fight to stop it? Can we hold on to our vision of liberation as an urgent and real goal, not just a nostalgic memory of yesteryear?
All the political prisoners and POWs in US prisons were captured struggling for revolutionary changes that could transform our world. Although we come from different communities, we are united by our determination to build a world where all are free to develop their potential, where nations have the power to safeguard the future of their people.
Many of you have been our allies through these hard years of imprisonment and isolation - I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. By continuing to build a resistance movement that has radical values and makes no compromise with racism, sexism, and class exploitation, you have supported the political prisoners the best way possible. Out of Control and LAGAI have stood strong on the side of liberation fighters and for prisoners' rights. Rainbow Flags for Mumia is working nationwide to rally support in the gay community for Mumia Abu - Jamal and to abolish the death penalty. We all need to unite to keep our hopes and energies strong - and to remember that GAY LIBERATION is not an abstract concept, but an urgent necessity. Linda Evans, Lesbian , Anti- Imperialist political prisoner
Eddie Hatcher is a two spirit Indigenous man who is also HIV positive and he lives in north carolina. He has been charged with a murder. The evidence is more than strange; like ballistics errors and prosector misconduct. The state is seeking the death penalty. Robeson county, north carolina is notorious for its mishandling of cases. The state supreme kourt keeps appointing judges to come there to help out with the incredible backlog. These judges keep throwing up their hands after 6 months or less and leaving; unable to accomplish much of anything.
Eddie Hatcher has a long history of resistance to the criminal corruption in robeson county. He is acting as his own attorney and has won some recent battles concerning his conditions and availability to legal materials, etc. It has been more than 1 year now and 3 judges later and still no trial has been scheduled.
To learn more about how to support this gay brother write: Eddie Hatcher Defense Committee, box 2702, pembroke, n.c. 28732 or check out the website at www.eddiehatcher.org ...You can send reading materials & letters: Eddie Hatcher, robeson co.jail, 122 legend rd., lumberton, n.c. 28358
Albert Nuh Washington
Nuh Abdul Qayyum
Revolutionary, Political Prisoner, Imam
Albert Nuh Washington (Nuh is Arabic for Noah), a devout Muslim, an active member of the Black Panther Party and later a member of the Black Liberation Army, died on April 8, 2000 in the long-term care unit at Coxsackie Correctional Facility, NY. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and many comrades. Nuh will be missed and remembered by many for his strength, compassion, courage and life long commitment to the struggle against racism and injustice.
In 1975, during the FBI's infamous COINTELPRO (COunterINTelligence PROgram) operations, designed to neutralize and eliminate revolutionary Black leadership, Nuh, and his two co-defendants, Herman Bell and Jalil Abdul Muntaquin, were convicted of the murder of two New York police and sentenced to life in prison. Several campaigns to overturn the sentences have been unsuccessful and information which could have exonerated the "New York Three" has been quashed repeatedly.
Many thanks to those of you who wrote letters of support, fought for Nuh's transfer to Coxsackie, attended the tribute to Nuh's life and work on April 22 in Oakland and donated generously. Contributions are still needed to help Nuh's family defray the costs of his funeral and burial. Please send donations to: Jericho/IFCO at Jericho, PO Box 650, New York, NY 10009.