Archive
Tuesday, January 4th – Letter Writing for Kojo Sababu
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
WHERE: from wherever in the Matrix you happen to be
COST: Free
Well, it is happening again. Just when we were getting back into the swing of things, organizing actual indoor events for actual people to attend in NYC, the proverbial rug was pulled out from under us by yet another variant. And so we are back to socially distanced solidarity for the time being, though hopefully not for long.
But it is vital to stay vigilant and keep that solidarity alive, now as much as ever in the face of both the pandemic and the looming threat of right wing dictatorship. The liberal State increasingly shows that it is a flimsy and reluctant defense at best against either fascism or public health crises, and has no ethic beyond the will to power. And sadly it seems that every time the self-styled “Party of Lesser Evil” is granted temporary State authority, we see a dramatic dip in numbers of erstwhile comrades showing up and to help hold the anti-authoritarian, anti-oppression line. It’s as if the wish to feel safe from epidemiological threats is mirrored in the need to feel protected by a benevolent government, but as history shows again and again, it is ultimately always up to us to keep ourselves safe.
This is not the time to be complacent our lose our resolve to make a better world, in spite of all the threats—viral, human, or otherwise— to our precarious sense of community and collective well being.
This week NYC ABC is asking you to join us from wherever you are in writing a political prisoner whose sense of solidarity and community we greatly admire, Kojo Sababu.
Kojo Bomani Sababu is currently serving a 55 year sentence for actions with the Black Liberation Army and attempted prison escape with Puerto Rican Independista Oscar López Rivera. Kojo was captured on December 19, 1975 along with anarchist Ojore Lutalo during a bank expropriation. He was also charged with the murder of a drug dealer in his neighborhood. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1981 and sentenced to 55 years in prison. In 1988, Kojo was convicted of conspiracy to escape along with Jaime Delgado (a veteran independence leader), Dora Garcia (a prominent community activist), and Oscar López Rivera (Puerto Rican Independista) from the federal prison at Leavenworth, where he was held.
Please take the time to write a letter to Kojo Sababu (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Kojo Sababu* #39384-066
USP Canaan
Post Office Box 300
Waymart, Pennsylvania 18472
*Address envelope to Grailing Brown
Illustrated Guide Version 14.5 Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners. We are thankful to remove Earth Liberationists Wren and Acre (time served)!
Illustrated Guide Version 14.2.1 Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners. Unfortunately, we are removing Chip Fitzgerald (deceased, REST IN POWER!).
BK/NY – Tuesday, December 1st – Letter Writing To Kojo Sababu
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, December 1st, 2020
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free
With rumors of war and populist coups in the air, ongoing organized state violence and femicide wreaking havoc in communities around the world, we’re gearing up for what we do best: political prisoner support. NYC ABC and Page One Collective are back for our every-other-week Political Prisoner Letter Writing night, this week featuring New Afrikan Prisoner of War Kojo Bomani Sababu. These days, we find it helpful to be able to call on our elders for their wisdom through practicing reciprocal solidarity. As Kojo himself said:
“…I have no solutions but I will say this: There are some great political minds contained in America’s prisons, which are growing old as their era of life departs, this resource needs to be tapped before it expires. Do not abandon the political prisoners and POWs, they are still insightful with their knowledge and experience.”
Kojo Bomani Sababu is currently serving a 55 year sentence for actions with the Black Liberation Army and attempted prison escape with Puerto Rican Independista Oscar López Rivera. Kojo was captured on December 19, 1975 along with anarchist Ojore Lutalo during a bank expropriation. He was also charged with the murder of a drug dealer in his neighborhood. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1981 and sentenced to 55 years in prison. In 1988, Kojo was convicted of conspiracy to escape along with Jaime Delgado (a veteran independence leader), Dora Garcia (a prominent community activist), and Oscar López Rivera (Puerto Rican Independista) from the federal prison at Leavenworth, where he was held.
Please take the time to write a letter to Kojo Sababu (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Kojo Sababu* #39384-066
USP Canaan
Smart Communications
Post Office Box 30
Pinellas Park, Florida 33781
*Address envelope to Grailing Brown
Illustrated Guide Version 13.8 Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners. We are thankful to remove Jay Chase (completion of sentence) and Jeremy Hammond (halfway house)!
Illustrated Guide Version 12.4 Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners, as well as the removal of Chelsea Manning (Commutation!). Unfortunately, it also includes the addition of recently-imprisoned water defender Krow.
Running Down the Walls 2016 – A Reportback
Running Down the Walls (RDTW) 2016 was a success in building relationships, feeling the solidarity of running as our imprisoned comrades did the same, and raising funds for the ABCF Warchest and the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP is a collective Alternative to Detention (ATD), detention center visitation, direct service, and community organizing project that works with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Two Spirit, Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, and HIV+ detainees and their families currently in detention centers, those that are recently released from detention centers, and undocumented folks in New York City).
The fear factory National Weather Service gave us pause and we considered rescheduling this year’s event with tropical storm Hermine looming just off the coast. As it turned out, we had no floods, no rain, no high winds, just perfect weather for running. Crisis averted!
We arrived early, to avoid getting beaten to a sweet spot in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, by the gaggle of goofs clawing to get to a food circus we refuse to name. This gave us time to set up our hand-painted RDTW banner and tables of literature & food. The aforementioned mall food court for the self-perceived well-heeled was dropped squarely in the middle of our run path last year, so we switched it up on ’em. This year, our 5k was more like 5.2k (sorry, distance nerds) and consisted of a single lap around what is known as the Main Loop.
Given that this was also a picnic—outdoors, breezy, and mildly unpredictable, we set up a scaled down version of our literature table. This meant our ubiquitous red wire rack of free literature, including copies of the recently published Conditions of Confinement (writings by anarchist prisoner Casey Brezik), the NYC ABC Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoner and Prisoners of War, and all of the tri-fold pamphlets about many of the prisoners we support.
We had printed bib numbers for the participants. The flipside of the bib numbers had information about NYC ABC and guidelines for writing to prisoners, making it both a memento and a useful reminder to write to folks.
A few serious runners arrived as early as 1:30pm, though the announced time of the event was 2:00-7:00pm and we typically use the first half hour to register folks and take sponsor forms from those who hustled to get sponsors. Even with this schedule in mind, anarchist time prevailed and the run actually started closer to 2:45, following a group photo around the RDTW banner.
Before the run, an NYC ABC collective member went over some basics, while also kicking facts about political prisoners and state repression. We then played a greeting from Jaan Laaman, recorded specifically for the event.
Of the 60-70 folks who came to RDTW 2016, about 45 participated in the 5(.2)k. The age range was 4-72 years old. Hashtag multi-generational. Several runners were serious, several were fast, and the venn diagram of those two categories resulted in the same few folks running the fastest laps this year as last.
After running, bronchial passages fully dilated, what sounds better than a plate of barbecue and potato salad?
The picnic consisted of Texas-style barbecued jackfruit sandwiches with fresh pickles; potato salad; a variety of chips & cold drinks; and some outstanding cranberry blondies. Yes, a lot of folks came just for the food.
Before we got too deep into socializing, we read solidarity statements written for the event by Bill Dunne, Kojo Bomani Sababu, Hanif Bey, and Xinachtli.
One participant garnered over $1,000 in sponsors, and several others raised hundreds of dollars each. All told, we raised a respectable amount of loot.
Folks sitting around, talking, having just shared the run, felt good. The group consisted of folks from diverse backgrounds, many of whom were new faces to our collective. Instagram followers brought IRL friends, and comrades & allies turned up as well. Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP), NYC Jericho Movement, International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Malcolm X Commemoration Committee, Family and Friends of Maliki Shakur Latine, the campaign the Bring Mumia Home, Marius Mason’s support crew, the Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar, and the campaign to Free the MOVE 9 prisoners were among the represented organizations that explicitly work on political prisoner support. There were also folks from NYC Animal Defense League, the NYC Anarchist Book Fair, Black and Pink NYC, Rojava Solidarity NYC, Incarcerated Worker Organizing Committee NYC (IWOC), WESPAC, and Books Through Bars, among others. We were also thankful for the presence of Sekou Odinga and Susan Rosenberg, former political prisoners and consistent examples of solidarity through action.
Most folks had left by 6:30 and those who stayed did so to help clean up and transfer everything to the cars. So the event went as scheduled, almost to the minute.
Knowing the history of the run and the imprisoned comrades with whom we ran in solidarity elevated Running Down the Walls 2016 to an even more inspiring level.
And that’s how we get down (the walls).
NYC ABC
BK/NY – Tuesday, May 24th – Letter Writing Dinner for Oscar Lopez Rivera and Kojo
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, May 24th, 2016
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
Does anyone still remember that feeling that was being pushed on us from all sides about eight years ago? You know, the feeling that hope and change were just around the corner and if we just bought into the bullshit one more time we would really see a significant shift in politics. Well, now we’re being fed the same shit sandwich, but with different condiments. And we have a president who has done nothing for the folks who risked their lives and freedom for the liberation of their people. NYC ABC doesn’t claim to have the ability to free our comrades with the stroke of a pen. However, with several strokes of several pens, we can support those very comrades via our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner. This week we are writing to Kojo Bomani Sababu and Oscar López Rivera.
Kojo Sababu is a New Afrikan Prisoner of War, currently serving a 55 year sentence for actions with the Black Liberation Army. Kojo and Oscar attempted to escape from prison and was convicted of one count of conspiracy for an alleged escape plan that included the use of rockets, hand grenades, and a helicopter.
Oscar López Rivera was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico on January 6, 1943 and moved to Chicago with his family at the age of 12. He was a well-respected community activist and a prominent independence leader for many years prior to his arrest. In 1975, he was forced underground, along with other comrades. He was captured on May 29, 1981, after 5 years of being persecuted by the FBI as one of the most feared fugitives from US “justice.”
If are unable to join us on Tuesday, you can still write to Oscar and Kojo :
Oscar López Rivera #87651-024
FCI Terre Haute
Post Office Box 33
Terre Haute, Indiana 47808
Kojo Bomani Sababu* #39384-066
USP Canaan
Post Office Box 300
Waymart, Pennsylvania 18472
*Address envelope to Grailing Brown
Illustrated Guide Version 9.7 Now Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners as well as removing Joel Bitar (TIME SERVED!) and Jason Sutherlin (TIME SERVED!). Unfortunately, this version also includes the addition of Eric King, an anarchist awaiting trial for alleged politically motivated property destruction in Kansas City.
NYC Anarchist Black Cross 