Phone Campaign for Jalil Muntaqim

Over the past few months, our comrade Jalil Muntaqim has both had his parole (again) denied and suffered a minor stroke. Though the parole denial is being appealed, allowing him to languish any longer behind bars is reprehensible. Please join us in a phone campaign to get Jalil free.

Jalil had a minor stroke in February. (He did not know that he had suffered a stroke, but had a tingling sensation in his left arm.) The first doctor he saw at Attica wanted to immediately send him to the hospital, but the head doctor, Dr. Rho, said that they first needed to get permission from Albany to take Jalil to the hospital.

So, finally, on Monday, April 8, 2013, Jalil was shackled and had the black box put on and was taken to ECMC in Buffalo, where he had a CAT scan. This all occurred in the morning, and he was back at Attica by about 10:30 a.m.

The neurologist who reviewed the CAT scan called Attica and requested that Jalil be admitted to the hospital. The CAT scan revealed that Jalil has damage to his upper right cerebral hemisphere. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance arrived. However, the escort team from Albany had already left.

Dr. Rho once again intervened, and said that the outside neurologist had told him that, since Jalil had no symptoms, he could be treated on an outpatient basis, once again requiring permission from Albany. Jalil is not sure that Dr. Rho is telling the truth about this. He thinks they are deliberately denying him adequate medical care.

At this time, Jalil has an Administrative Appeal pending in regards to his last parole denial. The Parole Board has until August 9, 2013 to make a decision.

Jalil is asking people to call the NYS Division of Parole in Albany at 518.473.9400 to urge the Parole Board to reverse its denial and immediately release him. We can also ask for compassionate release, since he is being denied adequate medical care.

When you call the parole board, you must refer to Jalil as Anthony Bottom #77-A-4283, currently at Attica Correctional Facility. Be polite, but firm and let us know what kind of response you receive.

If you are a doctor or work in the medical profession, we encourage you to write to Commissioner Brian Fischer at:

NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Building 2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050

Please request that Jalil get the medical attention he needs in order to adequately recover from the stroke.

Also, please cc NYC Jericho Movement Post Office Box 574, New York, New York 10018