On Saturday August 11th, 2012 COINTELPRO 101 will be one of three films shown in Omaha, Nebraska to commemorate Black August and recognize the political imprisonment of Black activists in the 1960s and 1970s. Black August has its origins in the activism and subsequent assassination of George Jackson and served as a response to state repression and murder inside of California’s “correctional” facilities. As the decades passed, the tradition of honoring our fallen freedom fighters was expanded to include commemorating revolutionary wars of resistance and self-determination, such as Harriett Tubman’s Underground Railroad and the Haitian Revolution of August of 1791 culminating in the first Black Republic of the world. August is also notable as it’s the month that the first Afrikans were brought to Jamestown as slaves in 1619. Initially, Black August was primarily observed inside of California prisons as a time to embrace the principles of unity, self-sacrifice, political education, physical training and resistance. However, by the late 1970’s the observance and practice of Black August expanded beyond the California penal system and began being practiced by Black/New Afrikan revolutionaries throughout the country. There will be Black August events held nationwide throughout the month. Check out what’s happening in your area and show solidarity for all those who gave their lives and/or are incarcerated for struggling for Black liberation.
- You can check out a news article about the event in Omaha: http://www.examiner.com/article/black-august-event-on-omaha-two-and-cointelpro-to-be-held-by-malcolm-x-group?cid=rss
- Also, please take the time to educate yourselves about the Omaha Two, who are still incarcerated on bogus convictions manufactured by COINTELPRO efforts: http://www.examiner.com/topic/omaha-two-story/articles
- Also, take a look in the media section on our blog to watch a short video about the significance of George Jackson.
