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By Herman Ferguson and Efia Nwangaza, National Co-Chairs<br>
The Jericho Movement for Amnesty & Freedom for All Political
Prisoners in the U.S.<br><br>
Greenville, SC---Over the past Christmas/Kwanzaa holidays, U.S. political
prisoners and prisoners of war (pp/pows) and their allies across the
United States pledged to rebuild The Jericho Movement and endorsed the
<b>"U.S. Political Prisoners' Education Support Campaign for AIDS
Orphans in Afrika."</b> The Campaign, announced at the Malcolm X
Commemoration Committee's 8th Annual Political Prisoners' Family Members
Dinner and Program, will be coordinated by The Jericho Movement. The
Jericho Movement was founded in 1996 as an organization commited to
winning recognition and amnesty for a wide range of political prisoners
and prisoners of war in the united states including New Afrikan, Native
American, Chicano, Puerto Rican and european anti-imperialist freedom
fighters. It was jointly sponsored by the Provisional Government of The
Republic of New Afrika (PGRNA) and the New Afrikan Liberation Front
(NALF).<br><br>
The idea for the U.S. Political Prisoners' Education Support Campaign for
AIDS Orphans in Africa originated with political prisoner Jalil Muntaquim
and endorsed by political prisoners from all over the country. It is a
year long initiative to raise funds to buy and collect school supplies
and materials for Sub-Saharan AIDS orphans and increase AIDS awareness
among Blacks in the u.s. The school supplies will be distributed by The
Jericho Movement in conjunction with former u.s. political prisoners and
organizations serving AIDS orphans. Imprinted pencils, " A Gift of
The Jericho Movement to Free U.S. Political Prisoners," are the
project's touchstone. The Campaign will culminate in the announcement of
the selected recipient organizations during the memorial Safiya Bukhari
Human Rights Weekend, in New York, December, 2004.<br><br>
"Although we languish in prison, and we may be caught up in our
individual cases, in our hearts we know there is something more we can
and should be doing in the service of oppressed peoples. There is one
principle edict we should never negate, which is that our struggle and
movement is based on ‘from the masses to the masses'," admonished
political prisoner, former Black Panther and author, Jalil A. Muntaquim
in an open letter. The letter which followed his meet and greet planning
session with The Jericho Movement's national co-chairs, Herman Ferguson
and Efia Nwangaza, was a step toward organizing The Campaign.<br><br>
The call is a timely response to u.s. political prisoners' longtime
recognition of the AIDS/HIV pandemic's impact in u.s. prisons and Afrika.
Some sounded the alarm long before the corporate media and politicians.
In a November, 1993 book review published in DT 14, political prisoner,
AIDS educator and Campaign endorser, David Gilbert, noted that "over
2 million Afrikan children [had] already been orphaned [by AIDS]."
Prisoner/Health activist, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, and former political
prisoner and certified AIDS/HIV awareness educator, Jahid Almant, have
offered their full support, networks, and suggestions. Other early
endorsers include Abdul Majid, Veronza Bowers, Ali Khalid Abdullah, Zola
Agona Azania, Albert Woodfox and National Coaliton to Free the Angola 3,
Seth O'dinga Olugbala Hayes, Russell Maroon Shoats, Ojore N. Lutalo,
Mondo Langa. Along with suggestions, Marilyn Buck wrote," I am glad
to think that we, political prisoners, will collectively begin to engage
in the AIDS solidarity work." Enthusiastic letters of support and
endorsement from our locked down comrades arrive daily.<br><br>
Herman Ferguson, longstanding organizer and former political prisoner,
points out that the political prisoners' ready response should not
surprise anyone. He notes that "despite excessive sentences, parole
denials, and harsh conditions, many of today's political prisoners have
continued the humanitarian work they began as youth in the Survival
Programs of the Black Panther Party decades ago. U.S. communities, both
behind the walls and in the streets, benefit from their continued
service." "This project," Baba Ferguson adds, "is
simply expanding their reach. It will assist AIDS orphans in Sub-Sahara
Afrika; those children whose parents have died of AIDS and related
illnesses. These children number in the millions." "If they are
to be saved and have a future, they must have the academic tools
necessary to prepare for and safeguard that future, " says Brother
Muntaqim.<br><br>
Efia Nwangaza, long time human rights activist organizer attorney, notes
that The Education Support Campaign for AIDS Orphans in Afrika continues
the legacy of our imprisoned freedom fighters. In 1968, FBI Director J.
Edgar Hoover, through the "Counter Intelligence Program"
(COINTELPRO), unleashed the machinery of the federal government, with the
assistance of local police departments, to eliminate the Black Panther
Party, the Black Liberation Army (BLA) and the RNA and other community
based organizations and criminalize their membership.<br><br>
Indeed, in addition to rebuilding The Jericho Movement, the "U.S.
Political Prisoners Education Campaign for AIDS Orphans in Africa,"
will allow us to join our stalwart warriors and lift up their legacy of
struggle as they take the lead in stepping into the international
movement to address this humanitarian crisis. In joining them, our
standard bearers, we elevate ourselves and dignify our struggle. The u.s.
claims its casualties on the field, will we do less?<br><br>
We call on youth, grade school and college students and activists, faith
communities, social and political groups, progressive and human rights
activists/organizations, cultural workers and performers, and
international supporters to become involved. Help of all kinds is needed;
fundraising, literature and materials development, logistics, research
and website building and maintenance to name the most
immediate.<br><br>
Individuals and organizations wishing to co-sponsor, endorse or
contribute* to this campaign are asked to immediately contact <b>Baba
Herman Ferguson
(<a href="mailto:hbfjericho@aol.com"><u>hbfjericho@aol.com</a></u>) and
Sis. Efia Nwangaza
(<a href="mailto:enjericho@aol.com"><u>enjericho@aol.com</a></u>),
Jericho Movement National Office</b> <b>P.O. Box 340084 Jamaica, New York
11434-3401 718-949-3937<br><br>
</b>*Make tax deductible checks/money orders payable to
"IFCO/Jericho Movement". Put Afrika in the memo line.<br><br>
AGITATE, EDUCATE, ORGANIZE TO BRING THEM HOME NOW<br><br>
<br><br>
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