*
From: *ONAMOVELLJA@aol.com
Date: *July 30, 2012
As most of you know, august 8th marks 34 years of unjust imprisonment
for The MOVE 9. We are pushing for as many radio programs as possible
and as many newspapers as possible focus on The MOVE 9 on or as close to
August 8th as possible. The prison radio project has recorded a
statement from Mumia Abu Jamal and is working on recordings from Janine
Africa & Mike Africa (2 of The MOVE 9). These statements can be
downloaded and played on radio programs. For our supporters that are
not affiliated with a radio program, you listen to these statements
and/or download them to CDs. The prison radio web site
www.prisonradio.org
as we get closer to August. In the meantime, take care and be
well----Ramona
-----------------
Letter from Janine Africa of the Move 9 (political prisoners of the MOVE
Organization) for the Sao Paulo Forum held July 4-6 2012 in Caracas,
Venezuela
On the MOVE
This is Janine Africa, one of the MOVE 9 who were sentenced to 30-100
years for a crime we didn’t commit. We’ve been in prison since 1978 and
have been denied parole 3 times so far because we refuse to lie and say
we’re guilty.
My thoughts on ending the U.S. Blockade of Cuba is this… I feel the U.S.
condemnation of the Cuban government is like calling the kettle black!
The u.s. government is doing the same things they’re punishing Cuba for.
The u.s. prisons are full of political prisoners, people like the MOVE
9, who dared to tell the _truth _ about this country’s corrupt
practices. This government has innocent people in prison, have _executed
_people that was proven to be innocent because they were a minority,
money poor and seen as worthless. Police shooting people down,
hand-cuffed and in the back and unarmed and getting away with it, just
like other police states.
The economy is set to protect the rich. The majority in _this _country
is struggling, living in cars, subways, alleys, eating out of trash
cans. The conditions here are the _same_ as the conditions in Cuba. Cuba
is a poor country so the conditions of the majority are harsher. The
u.s. blockade is only affecting the poor who are already suffering. This
blockade isn’t out of concern for the _people_or to “protect democracy”.
This is being done for political advantage, its an attempt to bend the
Cuban government to the u.s. rules. The u.s. only gets involved in other
countries affairs when its something in it for _them_. If the u.s. was
truly against injustice, persecution, crime- it would show here in
_their_ own country. There is no equality, justice in America. The u.s.
need to clean up its own backyard first before trying to control other
countries.
On the MOVE Janine Africa
------------------
On The Move!
By Michael Davis Africa
On August 8, 1978, the Move organization’s headquarters was attacked in
a pre-dawn raid by several hundred Philadelphia cops and officials.
Under cover of smoke, tear gas, and thousands of gallons of water from
water cannons, the cops fired thousands of bullets from all directions.
During the assault one cop was killed, and several other cops and
firemen were wounded, all from police fire. However, Move members were
charged for the assault we all miraculously survived.
We were all given a sentence of 30-100 years in a railroad trial. That
30 year minimum was up as of August 2008, and we were given our first
parole denial. The parole board has denied us our freedom four more
times, making it perfectly clear to all those that didn’t understand
their role that they fully intend to finish up where the cops and city
officials left off.
While there has always been some debate about the guilt of the men, one
fact that has never been disputed is the innocence of the women. Police
on the scene, the D.A., and the courts all collectively agree that none
of the Move women could possibly be guilty of the death of that cop.
Yet, they are still languishing in prison. Victimized by the same cops
and officials that dropped a bomb, brutally murdering _their_ children
on May 13, 1985. A heinous attack broadcast live nationally captured the
cops murdering babies, unarmed Move women and men. Not a single cop or
official was even charged.
Debbie, Janet, and Janine have spent the last 34 years of their lives in
prison for a crime city officials know they could not possibly be guilty
of. However, the parole board, at the insistence _of_ Philadelphia
officials, continues to deny their release. Even worse, the parole board
actually gives the Move women longer sanctions than they do even men.
The issue is not what the parole board will do on the 5^th or 6^th
time around. Anyone claiming to be conscious knows full well that the
“decision” they claim to be contemplating in 2012 was already decided
back in 1978 when we survived their murderous assault.
So the issue ain’t what the parole board will “decide”, the real issue
is what _the people _will *_allow_*_._ The parole board, like all public
officials, make those decisions in the _name_ of the people, and when
_the people_ demand justice, it will happen. Look at Sanford, Florida.
Look at L.A. in the wake of Rodney King. It’s _the people_ that have the
power to effect real change.
If people want to know just how the government can get away with giving
Marissa Alexander a 20 year sentence for simply trying to protect
herself in 2012, it’s because the people were silent as the cops
attacked in 1978.
If people want to know why Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, and
countless other Black, Latino, and poor whites continue to be caught on
film being brutalized and murdered with impunity, it’s because the
people seem to forget 1985, and every other atrocity, _until it becomes
*their* turn._
All those that sit back in the face of the oppression of your brothers
and sisters, remaining silent as poor folks’ children are murdered and
sent away like slaves to the many prisons scattered through-out this
country, refusing to support those who_do_ resist and fight, only
further encourage the system to _keep_ assaulting. Because finally,
people’s apathy and silence _is_ their permission.
People have to demand justice not just from the 1%, but also from the
masses in the ranks of the 99% who will never fight to occupy anything
other than jobs that exploit on behalf of the 1%. Cops, parole agents,
prison guards, judges, and all of the many others feeding from the
bottomless trough of the law enforcement budget, comes directly from the
ranks of the 99%. They feed their families by enslaving yours.
The army that enforces hegemony for the U.S. industrialists is made up
of the 99%. The workers that foreclose on your home, that cut off all
your utilities in mid-winter, that dispense poison chemicals into your
food and water at the behest of the 1%, come from the 99%.
So finally, how is the person that takes a job executing people any
different than the person that legislated the racist policy. Try to make
that distinction to the person _being_ executed.
A _just_ person would refuse to carry out an _unjust_ order.
_The People_ must close its ranks to _all_ agents of repression and
_demand_ justice for all our sisters and brothers.
_Free our Move sisters!! Free all of our soldiers!! Free all political
prisoners!!_
_ _
On the Move!
Michael Davis Africa
The Move Organization
_Long Live John Africa!!!_
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