Herman Bell

Editor's Note: This statement was read at "A Benefit Honoring Black Political Prisoners" in February 1995, sponsored by Prairie Fire Organizing Committee and Crossroad Support Network and held at DePaul University in Chicago.

GREETINGS AND SOLIDARITY BRUTHAS AND SISTAS,

Although I greet you from behind prison walls, I am as here with you today as I have been since the birth of my political consciousness and commitment to the liberation struggle. My commitment to the liberation struggle did not end when I was captured, nor when I was sentenced and imprisoned. I knew the authorities were creeping around corners looking for me before my capture, but I did not run. I merely moved down the block so to speak, and then across town, still being just one more fish in that big ol' social pond you live in out there which made it more difficult for them to discern one fish from another.

Unfortunately, not all people share the same dream. As much as they might claim otherwise, it's simply not so. Betrayal and treachery are what ensnared me. Only when you find yourself in a "tight spot," when your back is against the wall, when you have practically no way out of a predicament (the kind that usually exacts a severe penalty like maybe your life) will you be able to discern a true friend from a fair-weather one. And, from where I stand, it seems as though one acquires more fair-weather fiends during the course of a lifetime than there are stars shining in the heavens.

I don't know whether you guys have seen the western movie called "The Longriders" starring the Carradine brothers, who portrayed the younger brothers of the James Gang. In one scene the gang was ambushed while robbing this town. One of the brothers was shot off his horse and left lying in the streets as the rest of the gang made good their escape. When the elder brother did not see his kid brother among the fleeing outlaws, he turned his horse and went back for him. Whether his brother was alive or dead he didn't know. He only knew he had to go back for him because it was the right thing to do. That kind of spirit is what builds character, and you all should know we cannot build a movement without character. Only when you're in a tight spot do you know who your real friends are.

The above analogy speaks to the kind of concern and support our Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War should receive from you, because capture has in no way rendered us incapable of providing leadership and direction to the struggle. The authorities would love to see you abandon us, because it would discredit our movement and undermine the legitimacy and moral character of our struggle. They would love to dismiss us as misguided lunatic fringe idealists who deserve everything that happens to them.

As I've already said: Yes, I know the authorities were looking for me (and I say this not out of arrogant pretensions or braggadocio) but I did not run. Someone said: "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees". I felt that way then, I feel this way now.

The betrayal and treachery I mentioned earlier as they relate to my case happened because the wife of a former comrade had gun possession, bad checks, and other minor charges lodged against her. So rather than carry her own load and do the time she was facing, she cut a deal with the D.A. and agreed to testify against me and my codefendants. We now have the evidence to prove that the D.A. and this witness made a deal, even though throughout our trial he maintained no such deal was made. (Which, in gist, by way of an update, is the subject of the current appeal our lawyer is filing in court.) And as you all know we've consistently maintained that we had no involvement in the act we've been convicted of.

I chose to touch on the topic of discerning friends from fair-weather ones because inevitably the struggle will intensify, and with the nation's arch conservatives now in political power, their policies will inevitably exacerbate the class struggle, which as you all know cannot remain at its current level. Therefore, from where I stand I urge you to give considerable thought to how you select those to whom you entrust your life. In other words, there are levels of relationships. Don't entrust people with more than they can handle. Because practice, i.e., the things people do, is the criterion of all truth.

That brings me to another point I wish to touch on. This event is in support of political prisoners as we celebrate Black History Month. I have seen literature here and there put out by various groups and organizations asserting their support of political prisoners and POWs. The question is: What is meant by support? Are we talking about mentioning the names of a few political prisoners at events and maybe read a statement or two written by them to dignify the occasion? Are we talking about doing fund raisers (Whereby an honest account of money putout and take-in is done to obviate any question of accountability), and the proceeds are put into an account that periodically disburse stipends to our political prisoners and POWs to use in anyway they see fit (Most of us would use the stipend for legal expenses, stamps, commissary, and maybe to purchase an occasional modest present for our mothers, wives, or children). You out there can devise interesting and clever ways to raise funds: T-shirts of political prisoners, writing projects turned into books, calendars of political prisoners, deals with small businesses for a percentage of what you sell for them, etc...

Furthermore, I wish to use this forum to personally commend Dhoruba Ben Wahad, as we all should, for his persistent struggle in urging that support of our political prisoners and POWs be an essential component of the agenda of leftist, anti-imperialist, progressive political organizations and groups in the U.S., and for educating the international community about us.

He, above all others, has consistently recognized the political necessity of this undertaking to say nothing about it also being the comradely and principled thing to do. Hence his: Campaign to Free Black Political Prisoners and P.O.W.s in the U.S. I urge you all to write him at his Kingsbridge Station, P.O. Box 339, Bronx, NY address. Contact the brother at the above address so that together we can work out the very best plan of support for our captured political prisoners and explore other areas of struggle. And for those of you who are concerned about who will get credit for doing work in this regard, concerned about earning stripes and recognition, this ain't about personalities or big "I"s and little "you"s. If we become the living message we bring to the people, then the work we do will be recognized by all, and we shall be rewarded accordingly with greater and greater responsibility.

Finally, it's not my intent to be unnecessarily critical by underscoring, as I have, certain negative tendencies which we all must fight against on different levels, nor is it my intent or desire to sound or to be disrespectful towards any group or organization that has been supportive of our political prisoners and POWs. I know from what I read that a growing number of people out there are particularly supportive of our dear bruthas Mumia Abu Jamal and Geronimo Pratt. Still, we are far behind in the overall work needed to be done, especially in organizational structure, discipline, collective work and responsibility. For we must be responsible and accountable for our actions because that and the principles we adhere to are the cement that binds us. So be of good cheer and let's get to work. Let's build to win in our lifetime! As Lady Day says in her song: "The possible we can do right now, the impossible will take just a little while".

Your Brother in Solidarity,