Carmen Trotta and Martha Hennessy, two of the Kings Bay Plowshares disarmament activists, self-reported to federal prisons yesterday to begin their sentences.
Carmen was driven by a group of community members and friends from St. Joseph House Catholic Worker in NYC to the prison in Otisville, NY, about a two hour drive. Before leaving he received a blessing from many friends with a laying on hands. The group also stopped for a farewell meal in Middletown near the prison.
Carmen was given a 14 month sentence and has already served 7 weeks. He is expected to be quarantined for two weeks and then put into the prison camp population. The prison has stopped all visiting which may be a sign that the virus rate is growing.
Martha was brought from her home in Vermont to Danbury, CT by her husband, Steven Melanson to begin her ten month sentence. Two of her codefendants, Mark Colville and Liz McAlister along with Liz’s daughter Frida Berrigan and Bill Marsten met them in the parking lot. Mark reports, “I was conscious of Martha’s courage and faith, her faithfulness to the Gospel and compassion for all of creation which has made it possible for our community of love and justice to extend beyond that prison. Martha goes in with a message that we need now, more than ever, to abolish nuclear weapons and war. She’s laying down her life for that good news. We celebrated her there with homemade soup and chocolate. Frida’s children made beautiful signs saying ‘FEAR NOT’ and ‘We love you, Martha!’
I remember one particular moment when Liz stepped forward and reminded all that many great spirits had passed through those prison gates, including her beloved, Phil Berrigan. God rest his soul and many other resisters. Martha is carrying on that tradition and we were able to celebrate her as a community. It was a beautiful day, with snow descending as we drove up and intensifying as we drove back.
On the way, we passed through the little town of Sandy Hook. Dec. 14th, was the 8th anniversary of that terrible school shooting of all those children and educators. We are conscious of the connection between nuclear weapons and the kinds of violence that plague our communities and neighborhoods everywhere in this country. Martha’s going forward very much was a witness to this connection between the ultimate violence of omnicidal nuclear weapons and the violence that plagues our neighborhoods.”
Fr. Steve Kelly is now being transported from jail in Georgia where he has been held since the action in April, 2018 to federal court in Tacoma, WA to appear for a probation violation. Steve had been convicted of trespass in an earlier action at the Kitsap-Bangor Trident nuclear submarine base. Taking into account his good time credit, Steve has served beyond the 33 month sentence given by Judge Wood. It is expected that his extra time will be credited to any sentence from the Tacoma court. So far Steve has stayed COVID-free and healthy. He gave away all his belongings just after his October 15th sentencing expecting to be moved soon but it didn’t happen quickly. The transport to the West Coast could take days or weeks through various intermediate stages and holding prisons. Check the website for updates.
Carmen Trotta #22561-021 FCI Otisville- Satellite Camp PO Box 1000 Otisville, NY 10963
You can send letters to them on white paper with blue or black ink but no drawings. We are checking what else they may receive. See the website for updates.
Clare Grady and Patrick O’Neill will report to prison in the New Year. Mark Colville has a delay for sentencing until February 19. To access the defendants’ powerful sentencing statements go to https://kingsbayplowshares7.org/sentencing-statements/ which is under the “Legal” tab in the menu. Biographical information can be found under the “About” tab.
The Kings Bay Plowshares 7 symbolically and nonviolently disarmed Trident submarine nuclear weapons on April 4, 2018, the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who devoted his life to addressing what he called the “triple evils of militarism, racism, and materialism.” Carrying hammers and baby bottles of their own blood, the seven attempted to convert weapons of mass destruction. They hoped to call attention to the ways in which nuclear weapons kill every day, by their mere existence and maintenance.
Xinachtli (Nahuatl, meaning “seed”) is a community organizer and Chicano movement revolutionary, currently imprisoned in Texas. Formerly known as Alvaro Luna Hernandez, he worked diligently in the barrio on civil and human rights issues, known widely for his legal skills. Gaining international recognition as the national coordinator of the Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense Committee, Xinachtli was instrumental in helping to free Mexican national Aldape Guerra from Texas’ death row, where he had been framed for the murder of a police officer.
In July 1996 Xinachtli was arrested after disarming a County Sheriff who was attempting to shoot him. After defending himself at trial, Xinachtli was sentenced to 50 years in prison for aggravated assault, a charge he vehemently denies. While imprisoned, Xinachtli continues to write frequently, has helped to organize multiple prison strikes, and has been held in solitary confinement for the last 19 years and counting. Xinachtli is a prolific jailhouse lawyer, as referenced by Mumia Abu Jamal in his book Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v the USA. Xinachtli assists many prisoners in seeking new trials, and filing suits against the repressive, inhumane Texas prison system.
Xinachtli* #255735 James V. Allred Unit 2101 FM 369 North Iowa Park, TX 76367 *Address envelope to Alvaro Luna Hernandez.
One part of NYC ABC‘s every-other-week Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinners is presenting updates and announcements. These typically relate to PPs, POWs, or are especially relevant to folks in NYC. Since February 2011, we’ve been printing and mailing hard copies of the updates and announcements to about a dozen imprisoned comrades.
In April 2013, along with Denver Anarchist Black Cross and Sacramento Prisoner Support, we expanded printing and mailing to include all U.S. held political prisoners and prisoners of war. As of September, 2014, that work has diffused over several support crews, collectives, and individuals.
While we generally think any day is a good day to write political prisoners, we would be remiss to not mention how hard the holidays are for anyone in prison. Now is a great time to send cards or letters to people behind the walls.
Please check out our political prisoner page and consider sending a few holiday cards to some political prisoners. We also highly recommend NYC ABC’s Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners which has bios, addresses and information about U.S. held political prisoners and prisoners of war.
While there won’t be any of the big holiday card party gatherings (the image below has been used for an annual holiday card party between NYC ABC and Resistance in Brooklyn for years), you can still do something similar on your own or with your family.
It is the last month of what some may say has been the longest year of their life. COVID 19 continues to rage on both sides of the walls, partially due to the ever insidious ‘individual american exceptionalism.’ All we can do is continue to support folx who are forced to weather the pandemic under the rule of the carceral state while we try to stay healthy and safe out here.
Dedicated followers of our bi-weeklyletter writing night may remember that we encouraged folx to write to Eric King in May of this year. Shortly after that week, Eric was placed on a mail restriction and could only correspond with his wife and mother. As of the end of November it was lifted, although it is unclear for how long. Not only that, but Eric tested positive for COVID 19 on November 27th. Because of that we are encouraging people to flood the prison with mail for Eric! Do not talk about his case or the mail ban in your letter.
Eric King was indicted in May 2019 by a grand jury in the District Court of Colorado for a new federal felony charge of Assaulting a Federal Official. This charge is based on what the government says happened during the interview in the Florence storage room with a Lieutenant. Eric now faces up to 20 additional years in federal prison and is fighting this charge while still in the custody of his accusers. Eric is pre-trial, do not mention his current charges.
Please take the time to write a letter to Eric King (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Eric King #27090-045 FCI Englewood 9595 West Quincy Avenue Littleton, CO 80123
In 1987 Dr. Shakur was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment for his role in the Black Liberation Movement. In March 1982, Dr. Shakur and 10 others were indicted by a federal grand jury under a set of U.S. conspiracy laws called Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) laws. These conspiracy laws were ostensibly developed to aid the government in its prosecution of organized crime figures; however, they have been used with varying degrees of success against revolutionary organizations.
Dr. Shakur was charged with conspiracy and participation in a group that carried out actual and attempted expropriations from several banks. Eight incidents were alleged to have occurred between December 1976 to October 1981. In addition, he was charged with participation in the 1979 prison escape of Assata Shakur, who is now in exile in Cuba. After five years underground, Dr. Shakur was arrested on February 12, 1986.
Dr. Shakur has worked to free political prisoners and to expose government abuses against political organizers. As an acupuncturist, Dr. Shakur challenged the use of methadone as a tool of recovery for addicts and founded the Black Acupuncture Advisory Association of North America as well as the Harlem Institute of Acupuncture. Many people credit Shakur with saving their lives. His accomplishments are featured in the recent podcast Dope is Death. There is a film by the same name that has been released. View the trailer.
While in prison, he has struggled to create peace between rival gangs. Dr. Shakur was diagnosed with cancer last year and recently contracted COVID-19 at FMC Lexington. In 2020, Dr. Shakur was denied compassionate release.
Write Dr. Mutulu Shakur #83205-012 FMC Lexington Post Office Box 14500 Lexington, KY 40512
Friday, December 11, 2020 @ 7 p.m. EST Russell Maroon Shoatz is a US-held political prisoner and community organizer who has spent 23 years in solitary confinement. Now, Maroon is suffering from Stage 4 cancer and COVID-19, but the PA DOC will not release him.
Featuring Speakers and artists: Mike Africa Sr. Tommy Joshua Saleem Holbrook Jean Schneider Kempis Ghani Songster Sister Lavinia “Vee” Etta Cetera Ben Barson Jasiri X Blak Rapp Madusa Afro Yaqui Music Collective
72 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was established, the Jericho Movement and UpRooted and Rising will host a Zoom forum to examine the health conditions of some of the longest held Political Prisoners in the U.S. under Covid19. We will hear from family members and recently released Political Prisoners about the current situation inside. Speakers: Jericho National Chair Jihad Abdulmumit Jalil Muntaqim on his experience contracting Covid in prison Theresa Shoatz on her father Russell Maroon Shoatz Family of Alvin Joyner, Maroon’s co-defendant Ksisay Sadiki on her father Kamau Sadiki Pam Africa on Mumia Abu-Jamal Marqueeta Peltier Shields on her father Leonard Peltier Janet & Janine Africa on Phil & Merle Africa’s suspicious illnesses and deaths in prison Updates on Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Ed Poindexter, Sundiata Acoli, Jamil Al-Amin Music and Poetry by:Uprooted and Rising Professor Louie Other Cultural Warriors To Be Announced
