JERICHO MOVEMENT
POSITION STATEMENT ON
POLICE BRUTALITY IN
AMERICA IN
CONTEXT WITH THE
ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE
By: Jihad Abdulmumit
National Jericho
Movement
December 2014
(Michael Brown, Eric
Garner, the United Nations Convention Against Torture
and the Call to Free All Political Prisoners from
the Movements of the 60s and 70s)
In the wake of the decision not
to indict white police officers, Darren Wilson and Daniel Pantaleo, the people
are once again left with egg on their faces in their hopes for justice; while
at the same time lacking comprehensive black leadership, and suffering from
continued disrespect and assaults at the hands of state/police violence.
Jericho shares in the disappointment, but not the surprise. Such actions, or
non-actions, on the part of the state are historic and systemic. Black people
all too frequently still do not have any rights that the white man is bound to
respect (Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857)).
There is a direct link between the
murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, et al., ¹ the recent UN Convention
Against Torture international treaty review in Geneva, Switzerland, ² and the
call for the freedom of all political prisoners from the movements of the 60s
and 70s.³ Ferguson and Staten Island epitomize the
political, economic and social plight of Black people in the United States. It
showcases white racism, poverty in communities of color, police violence,
disempowerment, marginalization and lack of representation in all relevant
spheres of community life.
During the week of November 11,
2014, non-government organizations and people from the United States travelled
to Geneva, Switzerland to participate in the 53rd UN Session of the
Committee against Torture. Here the U.S. government heard from its citizens and
from the UN Commission to address whether the U.S. has been in compliance with
its signed international treaty agreement against torture, cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment. Needless to say, it has not. The U.S. has always been
guilty of varying extremes of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
of its citizens and people from other countries abound. The U.S. denied most;
and either overlooked or gave minimum lip service to the rest of the cited
violations.
In spite of the U.S. government’s
non-compliance, presenting the condition of Black people in the international
arena follows the legacies of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, Paul Robeson, W.E.B.
DuBois, and hundreds of revolutionary organizations of the past. White racism and the practice thereof is a
human rights violation; and the human rights of Black people are constantly
being violated with every instance of police brutality, murder, profiling,
denial of equal representation and resources, and disproportionate prison
sentences. Although the journey is long and arduous, African Americans must be
present and represented on the international stage.
Historically, from the slave
plantation till now, there has always been struggle waged by Black people for
freedom, self-determination and empowerment. This struggle for freedom,
justice, dignity, human rights, and a better quality of life has always been
met with resistance, violence, persecution, and death at the hands of the
powers that be. The peoples’ sojourn has witnessed brutal responses from the
state and federal government, and from those marking their progress and success
in society off of the blood, sweat, and tears of the common people.
Slaves on the slave plantation in
their flight/fight to be free were constantly victimized, oppressed and
exploited under the violence of the salve-master’s whip, noose, hound dogs,
patty-rollers, black codes, court rulings, 3/5ths of a person, Dred Scott,
racial religious doctrines, segregation, racism, discrimination, water hoses,
electric cattle prods, cross burnings, city-burnings, hooded creatures, shirt
and tie creatures, gerrymandering, grandfather clauses, local government,
congressmen and senators, presidents, federal and state laws, anti-unions,
anti-workers, corporations, no-knock, stop ‘n frisk, the prison industrial
complex, the FBI, Counter Intelligence Programs (COINTELPRO), communication
management units, control units, special housing units, war on drugs, war on
terrorism, Patriots Acts, Homeland Security, Rendition, entrapment, frame-ups
and set-ups, mass media, propaganda, political incarcerations, Republican
hearings on mosques and Muslims across the country, police brutality, and
extra-judicial laws, policies and practices denying the human right to be free,
safe and productive. The history is consistent.
Oppression breeds Resistance! Slaves
risked their lives fighting back and running away. Abolitionists sacrificed
their lives on the underground railroads. Men and women determined to be free
led revolts. People taught, preached, marched, boycotted, picketed, and rioted.
In contemporary times these
struggles comprised more than just the civil rights struggles. Just as relevant
were the nationalists, socialists and Islamic movements of the 60s and 70s.
Organizations like the Black Panther Party, Black Liberation Army, Nation of
Islam, Republic of New Africa, Dar-ul-Islam, Weather Underground, Young Lords,
American Indian Movement, and more strove gallantly to combat racial violence,
police brutality and carve out and build a new self-determined life for Black,
Brown and Red people, which in turn would uproot the oppression and decay of
racism in America from the lives of all people.
People who fought against these
conditions were targeted by police forces, and, in particular, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation’s Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). Freedom
fighters were sought, killed, and imprisoned. A number of these political prisoners
remain till today; now serving over 40 years in prison, and oftentimes in
solitary confinement for extraordinary long periods of time and denied adequate
medical care and attention.
It is imperative that people and
organizations fighting against police brutality, racism and corruption, and who
are involved with advocating human rights, community development, and educating
and organizing around social/political issues, and addressing various aspects
of the prison industrial complex (viz. mass incarcerations, special housing
units, solitary confinement, etc.) learn who these freedom fighters are, and
understand their legacy and how things were done; what lessons should be
learned; and above all, to render them full support. If those remaining
captives who stood up and sacrificed, organized, and fought against racism,
exploitation, and repression of people of color and poor communities across the
U.S. are not supported, the door remains wide open for present and future
soldiers/activists/revolutionaries/educators to be politically persecuted and
incarcerated with impunity and with the expectation of no support from anyone.
The State and status quo have the green light to continue repressing,
exploiting and committing injustices unabated.
A movement – past or present –
that does not support those who sacrificed their lives, families and physical
freedom for the freedom of us all, is not a movement at all.
From Michael Brown and Eric
Garner to the international arena, to supporting our incarcerated freedom fighters,
to right back to the streets of Ferguson and Staten Island, it’s all
interconnected. Connecting the historical dots, grasping tight to the legacy of
the freedom struggle, and embracing our strength of a nation of people are
prerequisites to building a new and free society.
Join the Wave!
Stand up and be free!
Free all Political Prisoners!
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