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Black Liberation: A Reminder
by Muntu (Phil Holder)
February 20, 1975
The Paper | City College of New York (CCNY)
by Muntu (Phil Holder)
February 20, 1975
The Paper | City College of New York (CCNY)
Sister Martha Pitts, an activist in the Black Liberation struggle here in America, and a member of the National Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners, spoke on the historical development of the Black struggle in general and armed struggle in particular.
Sister Pitts also spoke on the difference between a political prisoner and a prisoner of war. She articulately showed the dialectical relationship that the Black Liberation Army has with the historical struggle of Blacks in America.
While speaking to the students in the Finley Ballroom, Martha Pitts read some letters that were sent to her from the Maximum Security Prisons of Riker's Island, Trenton State Penitentiary and Green Haven Penitentiary.
The letters were from comrade Assata Shakur (slave name Joanne Chesimard), comrade Sundiata Acoli (s. n. Clark Squire) and comrade Gunnie (s. n. James Haskins), political activists and servants of the people.
Comrades Shakur Acoli and Gunnie are members/warriors of the Black Liberation Army.
On May 3, 1973, while traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike, a highway notorious for its constant harassment of Blacks and Third World people, and whites who do not fit the sick stereotype of middle America,
Shakur and Acoli along with brother [Zayd] Malik Shakur were stopped by highway state troopers, and a gun battle ensued. When it was over a state trooper was dead, comrade [Zayd] was dead and sister Assata was critically wounded.
They were incarcerated amid the usual madness of ruling class propaganda (BLA Bonnie and Clyde's apprehended etc…). Sundiata was sentenced to 25 years to life imprisonment & sister Assata Shakur was taken to New York where several trumped up indictments were brought against her.
The first one, the bank robbery, ended in an acquittal for Assata and another Kamau Olugba [Sidiki] (s. n. Fred Hilton).
Brother Gunnie was arrested with her two brothers and members of the Black Liberation Army, May 1974, for attempting to rob one of the cornerstones of American capitalism and imperialism, the New Haven First National Bank.
During their trial these comrades showed very clearly the role banks play in exploiting the people. They received 25 years to life sentences for their act of revolutionary expropriation.
Above is one of the letters sister Pitts read to the students of CCNY from these beautiful warriors.
From: Assata Shakur s/n Joanne Chesimard
To: Greetings to the Sisters and Brothers at CCNY
I don't have very much to say. I basically just want to send my love and solidarity.
To: Greetings to the Sisters and Brothers at CCNY
I don't have very much to say. I basically just want to send my love and solidarity.
Learning can be a beautiful experience and is necessary for the survival and the eventual liberation of the people. I doubt that the ‘education’ that you are receiving is any more relevant or real than it was when I went there.
Schools are simply reflections of the systems and societies that govern them. But I hope that the many events that have occurred over the last few years have made it easier to separate relevance from trivia and truth from fiction.
Even though it is necessary to attend the system's schools to gain the skills that we need, we must never let what we read blind us to what we see.
There is a tremendous revolutionary potential in the colleges of America. & to the problem, working collectively (we) can solve it.
There is a tremendous revolutionary potential in the colleges of America. & to the problem, working collectively (we) can solve it.
There is a great need for a student movement to be built, based not just on students' rights but on human rights. While practice without theory bangs its head against a brick wall, theory without practice lulls itself to sleep.
Love, Struggle,
Assata"
Love, Struggle,
Assata"
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