[News] It's not too late to write a letter for Jalil Muntaqim

Mon Jul 5 12:17:19 EDT 2004

http://www.thejerichomovement.com/muntaqim2.html

Comrades: Please send this to your lists.....

You've probably already received at least one e-mail message asking you to 
write a letter supporting the parole application of Anthony Jalil Bottom. I 
won't repeat the plea, but if you scroll to the end of this letter you can 
find the information on where to send a letter. It's not too late, as long 
as you do it in the next few days. If you need more motivation, consider 
the following letter, written by our dear comrade Safiya Bukhari over a 
year before her death. If nothing else moves each of us to fight for the 
release of Jalil and all the other political prisoners, let the memory of 
Safiya-and how hard and long she worked for their release-be the reason. 
Writing the following letter wasn't easy for Safiya, but she did it-and 
each of us can, too.  - laura whitehorn, former political prisoner

May 5, 2002

To Whom It May Concern:
I write this letter in support of Anthony Jalil Bottom's application for 
release on parole. I've procrastinated this long in hopes that God would 
guide my hand and give me exactly the right thing to say that would make a 
difference. Thus far, I have received no such guidance and time is running 
short, therefore I can only write what I know about Jalil and what I know 
to be his intentions should he be released on parole.
My name is Safiya Bukhari-Alston. I've know Jalil for well over thirty (30) 
years. I knew the young brash political Jalil. I knew the young 
incarcerated worried father Jalil. The son and brother Jalil who could do 
nothing while his mother and sisters went through changes or were 
victimized. I know the grandfather Jalil. The depressed Jalil. The sad 
Jalil. The angry Jalil who could do nothing but watch while a friend died 
in jail.
I don't know the one dimensional Anthony Bottom #77A4823. There is no such 
person. Jalil is a complex person. He=s a human being, moved by his 
feelings, beliefs and what he perceives to be the right thing to do.
At nineteen years old, prior to his arrest, Jalil worked and helped support 
his family. Had been taught responsibility and took that responsibility 
seriously. He wasn't into drugs or any of the other social ills that was so 
prevalent in our community, Jalil, like so many of us who were products of 
that generation, felt a responsibility to make a difference in our 
community. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had just been killed, and 
Malcolm X "El Hajj Malik Shabazz" had also been shot down. We all felt that 
if these great men could give up their lives for what they believed in that 
we had a responsibility to do something. The rallying cry of Malcolm X "We 
shall have our freedom, we shall have it, By Any Means Necessary" became 
our mantra.
While he was on trial Jalil became a father. Even from behind bars he never 
abdicated his responsibilities as a father and tried to be the best father 
he could be. He tried to be involved in every aspect of his daughter's 
life. I remember when she was 15 going on 16 and going through some major 
crises of confidence, she didn't believe she had anyone she could talk to, 
that loved her. Jalil arranged for her to come out to New York and spend 
the summer so they could have some quality time together. It turned out to 
be very important for the both of them.
That same conscientiousness he displayed towards his daughter extends 
toward all the members of his family. Jalil and his mother are very close. 
He*s the first born and was born when she was very young. He's very 
protective of her and she feels like a part of her is missing. She moved to 
Georgia and bought a house which she plans to turn over to him upon his 
release. In a very real sense they have been doing this time together. He 
feels the pain that she is enduring because of him and is haunted and 
driven by it.
Which brings us to today, his youth was dedicated to his people and the 
community. He placed his people and community in front of his 
responsibility to his family. As a consequence of his devotion to his 
people, his family suffered. For a number of years now his plans have been 
to bring some joy and happiness into the lives of his family, especially 
his mother and daughter. That's his primary goal at this point in his life.
I can say this unequivocally because it was my goal on my release from 
prison. Prior to my release on parole in 1983 I made a promise to my mother 
that I would be there for her. I have done that. I have been home for 
almost 20 years now. I have earned my college degree. Finished raising my 
daughter and, for the last fourteen (14) years, work as the Director of 
Administration of a multi-office law firm. I'm not saying that the desire 
to make a different for my people is not still there. I'm saying that we 
have all matured and are rational enough to realize that it takes more than 
one or two people to bring about necessary change.
Jalil is a dreamer, but he's also practical. He's older and what keeps him 
going to day is the desire to be there for his family. It is my hope that 
in considering whether or not to grant parole to Anthony Bottom you will 
consider the three dimensional person.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I hope I have said 
something worthy of reflection.

Sincerely,

Safiya Bukhari-Alston

Send one copy of your letter right away to:
Chairman
N.Y.S. Division of Parole
97 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
Re: Parole for Anthony "Jalil" Bottom, 77A-4283 (address letter to "Parole 
Commissioners")
and send a copy to Jalil's attorney:
Ms. Cheryl L. Kates, Esq.
Edge of Justice
121 N. Fitzhugh St.
Rochester, NY 14614

-- 

_____
Laura Whitehorn
Senior Editor
POZ Magazine
1 Little West 12th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10014
212.242.2163 x 229
fax: 212.675.8505

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