Illustrated Guide Version 14.3 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 adding prisoners to the guide this month–Yellow Finch Treesit eco-defense activists Wren and Acre. We are thankful to remove (take a deep breath) Carmen Trotta, Martha Hennessy, & Stephen Kelly (Kings Bay Plowshares 7); Jaan Laaman; Loren Reed; Skelly (Cleveland 4); and Water Protector Steve Martinez.

Tuesday, August 11th – Letter-writing to Jaan Laaman

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, August 11th, 2020
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

Hot on the heels of our formal announcement regarding Running Down the Walls 2020, NYC ABC is back with another letter-writing event. Again collaborating with Page One Collective, and still encouraging folks to write from home as we navigate the continued threat of the novel coronavirus, focusing on anti-imperialist political prisoner Jaan Laaman. It is impossible to think about Jaan without thinking of his United Freedom Front co-defendant Tom Manning, who died in prison at the hands of medical neglect and state tyranny. Your spirit lives with us, Tom!

Jaan Laaman is imprisoned for actions carried out by United Freedom Front (UFF). The UFF was a clandestine revolutionary organization active in the United States in the early 1980s. The group targeted government institutions and major corporations that had ties to the South African Apartheid system or right-wing paramilitaries in Central America. This included taking actions directly against the South African and United States governments. The UFF carried out targeted bombings of corporate buildings, courthouses and military facilities as well as bank robberies to fund revolutionary projects, while insuring that those buildings were empty when targeted. Prior to his role in the UFF, Jaan was deeply involved in anti-South African apartheid organizing.

Please take the time to write a letter to Jaan (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Jaan Karl Laaman #10372-016
USP McCreary
Post Office Box 3000
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42635

 

 

BK/NY – Tuesday, September 3rd – Letter-writing to Jaan Laaman

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019
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
As summer nears its end, what better way to send it off than with some solidarity to US held political prisoners and POWs. This Tuesday’s NYC ABC political prisoner letter-writing dinner will focus on anti-imperialist political prisoner Jaan Laaman, imprisoned for actions carried out by United Freedom Front (UFF). It is impossible to think about Jaan or the UFF without thinking of Tom Manning, who recently died in prison at the hands of medical neglect and state tyranny. Your spirit lives with us, Tom!

The UFF was a clandestine revolutionary organization active in the United States in the early 1980s. The group targeted government institutions and major corporations that had ties to the South African Apartheid system or right-wing paramilitaries in Central America. This included taking actions directly against the South African and United States governments. The UFF carried out targeted bombings of corporate buildings, courthouses and military facilities as well as bank robberies to fund revolutionary projects. Jaan was deeply involved in anti-South African apartheid organizing.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter to Jaan:
Jaan Karl Laaman #10372-016

USP McCreary

Post Office Box 3000
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42635

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BK/NY – Tuesday, August 6th – Black August Card Writing Dinner

WHAT: Black August Card Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, August 6th, 2019
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

Normally we in NYC ABC write these short blurbs announcing our every other week Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinners in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Or perhaps we highlight the good news of an imprisoned comrade being released from prison. With this announcement, that’s not the case. We’ve just lost United Freedom Front political prisoner Tom Manning. Tom died in prison and we cannot emphasize enough that he deserved better. Tom was a mentor and never wavered in his revolutionary principles. Please take the time to read this statement by Ray Luc Levasseur, a former political prisoner and one of Tom’s closest comrades. We are certain that Tom would not want his death to result in the work of supporting political prisoners slowing and so as a collective, we carry on. This week, we will be hosting a Black August card signing.

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 Standing Rock 6 prisoner Little Feather (halfway house!).

 

 

 

BK/NY – Tuesday, November 6th – Letter-writing to Jaan Laaman and Tom Manning

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, November 6th, 2018
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
We are well into Autumn and what better way to settle in than with some solidarity to US held political prisoners and POWs. This Tuesday’s NYC ABC dinner will focus on two Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoners– Jaan Laaman and Tom Manning. Both are imprisoned for actions carried out by United Freedom Front (UFF), a clandestine revolutionary organization active in the United States in the early 1980s. The group targeted government institutions and major corporations that had ties to the South African Apartheid system or right-wing paramilitaries in Central America. This included taking actions directly against the South African and United States governments. The UFF carried out targeted bombings of corporate buildings, courthouses and military facilities as well as bank robberies to fund revolutionary projects. Both men were deeply involved in anti-South African apartheid organizing.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write letters to Jaan and Tom:
Jaan Karl Laaman #10372-016

USP McCreary

Post Office Box 3000
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42635

Tom Manning #10373-016
USP Hazelton
Post Office Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, West Virginia 26525

Stay up to date by visiting: 4StruggleMag

Illustrated Guide Version 13 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.

Illustrated Guide Version 12.10 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.

BK/NY – Tuesday, June 20th – Letter-writing to Jaan Laaman and Tom Manning

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, June 20th, 2017
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
The summer is officially here and what better way to kick it off than with some solidarity to US held political prisoners and POWs. This Tuesday’s NYC ABC dinner will focus on two Anti-Imperialist Political Prisoners– Jaan Laaman and Tom Manning. Both are imprisoned for actions carried out by United Freedom Front (UFF), a clandestine revolutionary organization active in the United States in the early 1980s. The group targeted government institutions and major corporations that had ties to the South African Apartheid system or right-wing paramilitaries in Central America. This included taking actions directly against the South African and United States governments. The UFF carried out targeted bombings of corporate buildings, courthouses and military facilities as well as bank robberies to fund revolutionary projects. Both men were deeply involved in anti-South African apartheid organizing.

Jaan has been in solitary confinement for over three months as punishment for releasing two statements in early March; one having to do with the Women’s Strike & the other having to do with our recently deceased comrade Lynne Stewart. We recognize that the State will only enforce the laws that suit them and in turn will also disregard them when it suits them, so this blatant denial of Jaan’s free speech comes at no surprise.  It is our hope that the flood of letters we send to Jaan at this time will not only lift his spirits in this time of repression but also show those who keep him locked behind the walls how little we think of their efforts to silence him.

We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write letters to Jaan and Tom:
Jaan Karl Laaman #10372-016

USP Tucson

Post Office Box 24550

Tucson, Arizona 85734

Tom Manning #10373-016
FCI Butner Medium II
Post Office Box 1500
Butner, North Carolina 27509

Stay up to date by visiting: 4StruggleMag

Support Zolo Azania and Barbara Curzi

It’s not uncommon for those of us in NYC ABC to write or talk about the importance of post-release support of political prisoners. We’ve seen comrades come home and know all too well that appropriate support can not end when they leave prison. What post-release support looks like is not a singular thing. Some folks need immediate support that might be financial, emotional, medical, or entirely something else. Others have communities of support to which they return and it is only years later that needs arise. We are at a point in time when two folks, at different stages of imprisonment, need your direct support. Both Zolo Azania—still imprisoned, but expecting to be released in early 2017 after 35 years inside, and Barbara Curzi—a former political prisoner released in 1991 who now faces a medical crisis, need those of us in radical and revolutionary communities to pitch in and help them out.

Excerpted from gofundme.com/HelpZoloRebuild:
Zolo will exit prison practically penniless and will face enormous financial challenges. He will need to pay for housing, food, clothing, transportation, furniture, a cell phone, utilities, and the many other expenses we all encounter.

Let’s ease Zolo’s path and make sure he does not confront his financial challenges—and all the challenges he will face, alone. Please generously donate .

Zolo is alive today due to his efforts and the work of his supporters and a strong legal team.

In spite of his difficult circumstances, Zolo is a positive person with a quick smile and a vibrant laugh. Let’s answer his positivity with support.

All funds will go directly to Zolo and will be deposited into a fund managed by a team that has supported him for 13 years. For more information contact zoloazania.org or the Chicago Committee to Free Black Political Prisoners.

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Excerpted from Sacramento Prisoner Support:
Barbara is a former political prisoner, one of the Ohio 7, who, after their arrests in Ohio in 1984, went on trial for actions by the United Freedom Front against corporations who upheld apartheid in South Africa and contributed to the wars in Central America.

Unfortunately, Barbara was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She is beginning an intensive six-month chemo regimen and then is expected to undergo surgery, possibly followed by radiation.

She was about to get a part-time job just before her diagnosis,to supplement her disability check but now instead finds herself way behind not only on her mortgage and utilities, but can’t get Internet and phones services back until she pays them off completely.

She returned to Massachusetts after her release from the federal prison system to rebuild her life with her children. As many former prisoners, and especially political prisoners, Barbara has struggled to find work and survive, but she is still deeply committed to the struggle for justice.

If you would like to contribute to the effort to minimize the stress to survive for Barbara, and help her make it through this battle, please see the linked “Go Fund Me” page at: https://www.gofundme.com/barbaras-loving-circle-2w49vnqs