[Ppnews] David Gilbert - No Surrender and the Losses

[PPnews at freedomarchives.org]

No Surrender and the Losses of 10/20/81

             The warm reception for my book is most welcome. I hope the 
title hasn't caused any misunderstanding. "No Surrender" comes from the 
Nazim Hikmet poem about prison, which opens the book, on never giving up 
one's principles, spirit, and zest for life. I did not at all mean to refer 
to a military concept or in any way to glorify the shoot-out that led to my 
incarceration.

             I feel terrible about the deaths, the wounds, the fractured 
lives and families that resulted from that action. I've said this (and 
talked more specifically about the errors I made) in the few interviews 
I've done over the years, but perhaps my regrets and apologies haven't been 
heard clearly because of all I've also had to say about the colossal 
violence of the social system and the brutal attacks on the Black 
Liberation Movement. However, my relationship to the deaths on 10/21/81 is 
very direct, so I need to address those losses very directly. Such a 
statement is especially needed because during trial, feeling very embattled 
and defending armed struggle as an abstract principle. I failed to publicly 
express regrets about the individuals who had been killed and wounded.

             I feel terrible about the loss of life and the pain and 
suffering for the families of the two officers and guard who were killed. 
[I am not mentioning them by name out of respect for the wishes of the 
families.] Whatever the historical context for us, these three men just 
happened to be on duty that day. So it must have been an especially bitter 
loss for their families.

             In another sad repercussion three days later, longtime Black 
liberation activist Mtayari Sundiata was killed by police. All the losses 
are more anguishing because they resulted from the grievous mistakes we made.

             My own family was badly hurt; they never got to make choices 
about the risks I would take but they suffered the consequences. Yet as 
hard as it's been for us, we've still been able to maintain a strong, 
tangible connection. The families of those who died were left with far more 
devastating losses: children growing up without fathers, mothers carrying 
on without husbands, families without a chance to share joys or ever again 
to hug their loved ones.

             In any struggle, no matter how intense, we must never lose our 
feeling for each and every human being. The only reason to become an 
activist is love, love for the preciousness of life and for the rainbow 
colors of human potential. Those same values mandate that we take the 
greatest care and responsibility in how we fight for social change.

             I proudly stand by my broad history of struggle and by 
solidarity with the Black liberation movement; my actions on 10/21/81 were 
wrong, and I deeply apologize for their role in the tragic loss of lives.

                                                             David Gilbert

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