Presidents of America's imperialistic government gathered yesterday in Washington, DC at the site of Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln monument along with prominent showcased African Americans to put on a show. The ringing of the so-called "Freedom Bells" rang hollow for all the US Government held political prisoners and prisoners of the FBI war against the Black liberation movement and other left leaning organizations.
The event was a mockery of the Black people who dared to struggle during that period dying and losing their freedom as a result of taking on the most oppressive government the in the modern world. The struggle continues for true Black Liberation and Freedom. It also rang hollow for the many innocent people swept up and imprisoned in America's so-called War against Terror.
Political Prisoner Radio will look at the damage films like Lee Daniels' The Butler does to the liberation movements seeking to free current Political Prisoners and POWs being held by the US Government. The film which proclaims to be based on a true story is mostly a fictional account of the experiences and life of former WH butler Eugene Allen.
Updates on upcoming events and cases of Political Prisoners and POWS.
Tonight I will be joined by Bro. Akinyele Umoja about several topics including Bro. Abdullah Majid whom Jericho NY has issued a medical alert for and asking people to call and advocate on his behalf so that he may get the medical attention he needs which is being denied.
Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced that the prison population can be reduced by releasing sick and elderly prisoners, many of our political prisoners certainly meet that criteria.
Marcus Garvey's birthday is coming up on the August 17. Bro. Garvey was a victim of COINTELPRO tactics before there was a official program called COINTELPRO, which is why most of our Black political prisoners are behind bars today.
Bro. Akinyele Umoja is the author of "We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement".
The FBI has used always used covert operations against domestic political groups since its inception. However, covert operations under the official title COINTELPRO started in August of 1956 and while it is a common belief that it ended in 1971. An argument can be made that COINTELPRO still exists.
Tonight Political Prisoner Radio will conduct a study session of the documentary COINTELPRO - The FBI's War on Black America. The purpose of this study session is to look back at the tactics used by COINTELPRO and determine if and how the Black community is still impacted today.
Political Prisoner Radio kicks off the 34th anniversary of Black August which is the annual commemoration of the liberation struggle of African people inside the United States. We had an opportunity to speak with a former Black Panther living in exile, Comrade Pete O'Neal.
Pete O'Neal is a former Black Panther living in exile in Africa. He was the chairman of the Kansas City chapter of the Black Panther Party. He was a target of the FBI illegal program known as COINTELPRO. On October 30, 1969, he was arrested for the transporting of a gun across state lines (under a law implemented only two weeks prior to his arrest). He fled to Algeria, a year later and then to Tanzania.
We reached out to Bro. Pete to discuss various issues related to Political Prisoners and victims of COINTELPRO who are still being held by the US government. We discussed the lack of movement from the masses to demand the release of US held political prisoners.
We also discussed a number of related issues including the bounty on Assata Shakur, another former Black Panther living in exile.
