Political prisoners, some serving maximum sentences of 25 years to life, are especially vulnerable during the dark days of winter. Many have been incarcerated so long that family and friends have forgotten them. Others have family that cannot afford to accept phone calls or visit. Prisoners are frequently serving sentences far from their homes and phone calls are big business in prisons, charging exorbitantly for calls. The holiday season is even more difficult for these men and women.
Deep Green Resistance has not forgotten the activists seeking to change this oppressive system. From the Move 9 group arrested in 1978 for illegal firearms in a confrontation with Philadelphia police (and later bombed by police) to victims of domestic violence who are imprisoned for killing their spouse in self-defense, the U.S. (no) Justice System would like us to forget that there are brave men and women fighting against the oppression of poverty, racism, and misogyny that are imprisoned.
This season, please take a moment to reach out and let a political prisoner know that he/she is not forgotten. Join us in sending a card to someone who continues to fight for life and help us bring a ray of light to the darkness of prison for an activist.
Remember to contact the prison for regulations on mail and to verify address. Prisoners are often moved to other facilities without warning.
No glue, glitter, or crayons, nothing illegal or immoral, no polaroid pictures.
No food or gifts, although books can be sent if they are mailed from the publisher or store.
Send only cards that are non-denominational or feature nature scenes.
Some suggestions:
Alvaro Luna Hernandez
#255735
Hughes Unit
Rt 2, Box 4400
Gatesville, TX 76597
May 12, 1952
Alvaro was the national coordinator of the Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense Committee, which led the struggle to free Mexican national Aldape Guerra from Texas’ death row after he was framed by Houston police. In addition, Alvaro spearheaded the National Movement of La Raza, Stop the Violence Youth Committee and the Prisoners solidarity Committee in Houston. Alvaro was an NGO delegate before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights where he exposed the U.S. government’s dismal human rights record and its human rights violations of U.S. political prisoners. On July 18, 1996, Sheriff Jack McDaniel of Alpine, Texas, attempted to assassinate Alvaro but was thwarted when Alvaro disarmed him. For this he was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Kojo Bomani Sababu (Grailing Brown)
#39384-066
USP Canaan
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 300
Waymart, PA 18472
May 27, 1953
Kojo Bomani Sababu is a New Afrikan Prisoner of War. He is currently serving a 55 year sentence for actions with the Black Liberation Army and attempted escape from prison with Puerto Rican Independista Oscar Lopez Rivera.
Kojo was born May 27th 1953 in Atlantic City New Jersey. In 1962 his father died coming home from work and just two years later his mother was murdered. A guiding presence in his life, Kojo was devastated by the loss of his mother. Still, he continued to live out the lesson he taught him, that education is a tool with which to change society.
Kojo was captured on December 19th 1975 along with anarchist Ojore Lutalo during a bank expropriation. He was also charged with the murder of a drug dealer in his neighborhood.
Convicted of one count of conspiracy for an alleged plan to use rockets, hand grenades and a helicopter in an attempt to free Puerto Rican Prisoner of War Oscar Lopez Rivera from the Federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan., where he was serving a 55-year sentence for a 1981 conviction of seditious conspiracy.
Thomas Manning
#10373-016–FMC Butner
Box 1600
Butner, NC 27509
United States
Birthday: June 28, 1946
Affiliation: ANTI-IMPERIALISTS FREEDOM FIGHTER
Tom Manning is a Vietnam veteran, working class revolutionary and US political prisoner. He militantly struggled against the war in Vietnam and supports the right of self-determination of all oppressed peoples. Tom Manning was captured in 1985 and sentenced to 58 years in federal prison for a series of bombings carried out as “armed propaganda” against apartheid and U.S. imperialism. He tirelessly fought against racist, genocidal capitalism in the USA.
You can find information on his book of art here:
Freedom Archives