[News] Veronza’s mandatory release denied by US Parole Commission

[News at freedomarchives.org]

Veronza’s mandatory release denied by US Parole Commission

by Veronza Bowers
<http://www.sfbayview.com/082504/releasedenied082504.shtml>http://www.sfbayview.com/082504/releasedenied082504.shtml

Dear Friends,

(photo: Bro VERONZA BOWERS)

I send each and every one of you my very warmest greeting from 31 years 
deep inside of the Belly of the Beast.

As you know, I’m a former member of the original Black Panther Party, and 
even though government officials claim that there are no political 
prisoners in this country’s prisons and jails, it’s simply not true. Having 
already “served” over three decades in continuous custody in federal 
prison, I’m one of the longest held political prisoners in the U.S. of A. 
There are quite a number of us scattered about 
 but that’s a very long story.

Picture this in your mind ... if you dare:

After 30 years of being denied release on parole, despite the fact that 
your conduct has been exemplary for over 20 years and you have long since 
met the criteria to be released on parole, finally your mandatory release 
date rolls around. April 7, 2004. Everything is set.

Your daughter, who was 5 years old when you were taken away to prison and 
is now 36, sent you a top-of-the-line fashion suit of clothes so that you 
would be properly dressed to “step in the name of freedom with love.” She 
along with three of your sisters fly in from across the country to be there 
at the prison gate to pick you up. In fact, there will be a whole entourage 
of dear friends and well-wishers who will be out in front of the prison 
with plans to all gather at the home of a friend about an hour’s new red 
Cadillac’s ride away.

A grand celebration is planned: a big cook-out at which your godmother had 
cooked hot-wings and home-made strawberry cheesecake. Another friend, from 
Tonga, in keeping with their cultural traditions, has roasted underground 
several baby pigs. Others are bringing all kinds of foods.

There will be a live band playing jazz and blues, a swimming pool, etc., 
etc., etc. In a word, a lot of caring people have gone though a lot of 
effort, not to mention expense, to welcome you in their brave new world far 
removed from the world of prison walls that had kept you on ice for so 
long. They are there to welcome you with unconditional love and support.

On the inside of the prison, there has been a “going home” gathering put 
together by friends, replete with food, music, and emotion-filled, 
open-hearted, teary-eyed talk and laughter. Everyone came together to wish 
you well and a prosperous new life.

You’d given away to friends all of your possessions: watch, alarm clock, 
sweat clothes, running shorts and tennis shoes, handballs, weightlifting 
belt, visiting clothes and shoes, commissary items, rain poncho and winter 
coat. The only things you kept were your Taipei Shakuhachi silver flute and 
some books.

You’d used up all of your 300-for-the-month telephone calling minutes 
because after April 6 you wouldn’t be needing any more from the BOP. You’d 
made the rounds, shaking hands and hugging so many men you’d probably never 
see again. You’d even tried to give words of encouragement and hope to 
young and old men alike who you were leaving behind in very desperate and 
hopeless situations.

Yes, the time was growing near you to leave the world of concrete and steel 
and razor wire and gun towers - the land of the living dead - and you were 
very happy and at the same time very sad.

The last “official thing” that you were required to do, you did. All 
prisoners, on the day before their actual release date, are required to “go 
on the merry-go-round,” i.e., you must take a check-out form around to each 
department head for their signature, which means that you are cleared of 
all obligations to that department. Everything is all set to and good to go.

After doing all of that, you’re sitting outside in the Sweat Lodge area 
with your two closest friends just enjoying each other’s company in 
SILENCE. A loud announcement over the loudspeaker ordering you to “report 
to your unit-team immediately” breaks your peace. You know that something 
is not right. Your sixth sense - maybe even a seventh - lets you know the 
“hidden” right away.

As you walk into your counselor’s office, you know what he’s about to say, 
even before he says it. So you focus upon that one thing that has sustained 
you and always pulled you though the roughest of times - even pulled you 
though those time when knife blades were slashing at flesh, when bullets 
were flying through the air trying to find your body, when you learned of 
the passing of your Dear Mama and the officials wouldn’t allow you to 
attend her funeral even though you had only seven months left until your 
Mandatory Release date – yeah 
 one breath at a time.

“You won’t be leaving tomorrow.”

You already knew that, but you didn’t know why 
 so you breathe deeply, one 
full breath, two full breaths. A strange silence fills the room, and since 
it’s quite obvious that some reaction is expected of/from/by you, you just 
continue focusing upon the Breath. “Why?”

“Well, all we know is that the National Parole Commission called the 
institution and ordered that you not be released tomorrow. The warden is 
very upset and he’s been on the phone with them all day trying to get some 
clarity.”

Just like that! A simple phone call from a National Commissioner in Chevy 
Chase, Maryland, and all of the plans for you to be “steppin’ in the name 
of freedom, with love” are cancelled, wiped out, voided until further notice.

How do you feel? Me, too!

Since that terrible day, with the help of some friends here, I put together 
a very good draft of an Emergency Petition Unlawful Detention Beyond April 
7, 2004, His Statutory/Mandatory Release Date Under 18 U.S.C. 4206 (d.).

I tried to get the prestigious law firm of Willie E. Gary to take my case. 
To date, I don’t know whether his firm will get involved.

On May 2, I met in the visiting room with attorney Gilda Sherrod-Ali of 
Washington, D.C., and presented her with the draft of my 2241 motion. We 
discussed it at length and it was agreed that she would file it in the U.S. 
District Court in Ocala, Florida. It will go before Judge Hodges, the same 
judge who denied and dismissed my last action against the Parole 
Commission. My situation now is that I am being held in prison UNLAWFULLY 
since my Mandatory Release date of April 7, 2004.

So that’s about it from this side of hell, my friends. I want to thank you 
with all of my heart, all of the love, concern and support you’ve given me.

I know that in the past whenever the call went out for financial 
contributions to cover attorney fees, you didn’t hesitate. I have to ask 
again. There will be one more round and unfortunately there are not many 
lawyers around like it was in the ‘60s. So please, any contribution you can 
spare for my legal defense fund will be greatly appreciated.

I remain steadfast and looking toward a better future for us all.

- Veronza Bowers Jr.

Learn more about Veronza at www.veronza.org. And he would love to hear from 
you. Write to: Veronza Bowers, Jr., #35316-136, FCC, Medium C-1, P.O. Box 
1032, Coleman FL 33521-1032 or email veronzab at yahoo.com and include your 
return address.

San Francisco Bay View
National Black Newspaper
4917 Third Street
San Francisco California 94124
Phone: (415) 671-0789
Fax: (415) 671-0316
Email:
editor at sfbayview.com

The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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