From inside Attica: Interview with Jalil Muntaqim

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Submitted by PSL member Mitchell Jones on Sun, 2016-01-03 22:00

This interview was originally published by the Party for Socialism and Liberation at: http://www.liberationnews.org/from-inside-attica-interview-with-jalil-muntaqim/

Apartheid Attica.

Solitary confinement, brutality

and beat downs—prisoners

toe the line doing the time

for being Black in America,

the legacy of slavery, Black

Codes and Jim Crow.

Do Black Lives Matter?

Excerpt from Jalil Muntaqim’s poem “Apartheid Attica”

In the Rochester and Buffalo, NY, communities there is a growing campaign to support Jalil Muntaqim, Black liberation activist, revolutionary, writer
and political prisoner.

Known as Anthony Bottom at the time of his arrest, Jalil Muntaqim is currently incarcerated at Attica Correctional Facility, or as he calls it, “Apartheid Attica.” He was a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. He was arrested in 1971 along with Albert “Nuh” Washington and Herman Bell (who is still incarcerated in NY state) and convicted on largely circumstantial evidence. Their arrests occurred only a week after the assassination of Black Panther Party field marshal George Jackson by state authorities.

Muntaqim has been locked up the vast majority of his life. He was 19-years-old at the time of his arrest. He is now 64-years-old and eager to be released on parole. His next parole hearing is scheduled for June of this year.

Muntaqim was arrested and sentenced in conjunction with the FBI’s Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO), which targeted revolutionary liberation movements in the U.S., especially the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. His arrest and conviction followed a string of arrests, convictions and assassinations of Black Panther Party leaders, most notably Fred Hampton in 1969 and, as mentioned above, George Jackson in 1971.

Muntaqim is inspired by the developments in the current struggle against racism and police violence that continues to take to the streets around the country.

“As you may know, October 2016, will be the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party. I encourage activists across the country to recognize the celebration. However, it is important that this era that activists have some understanding of that history as has been written in these books. It was a youth movement, and there are lessons for today’s youth as they figure ways to rebuild a serious and durable challenge to the system of racism and exploitation. So, I hope you’ll make copies of these and send to others letting folks know I urge them to learn and prepare to support the 50th Anniversary of the BPP,” Jalil Muntaqim told Liberation News in a recent interview at Attica Prison on his thoughts on linking the struggle from years past to the current struggle.

Some prominent individuals have come out publicly in support of his parole including former Harlem Councilman Charles Barron, who has called for his
release, in dissent from the former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s pro-cop statement to urging that Muntaqim remain locked up.

Building support for the June parole hearing is key in winning Muntaqim’s release. His release would strike a blow against the history of repression against the Black Liberation movement; the victory would be part of the Black Lives Matter struggle today:

“My parole hearing is scheduled for 2016. It will be the 9th parole hearing, and this time I’m going all out to counter to the PBA’s [ Police Benevolent Association’s] influence over the Board of Parole. Naturally, the more folks that support my release on parole, the more I am able to persuade the parole board to grant my release. Last time I had one out of three votes for release, if I can get two – I win!” Muntaqim wrote in a recent correspondence.

The time now is key to build support for Jalil Muntaqim’s release. He is up for parole in June and letters to the parole board are greatly encouraged, especially since the Police Benevolent Association is quite mobilized to oppose his release.

Jalil Muntaqim has recently released a book of poetry and essays entitled Escaping the Prism: Fade to Black and it can be purchased here.

Visit his official website here.

Jalil Muntaqim urges the people to continue the struggle, not only on his own behalf, but on behalf of all oppressed and exploited peoples: “Know my freedom will only come when the progressive community demand I be free. This is the meaning of Power to the People, for it is only the people who are the motive force in creating history.”