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An Open Letter From a Political Prisoner
By Daud
Dear People.....to each of you who hold peace, freedom, justice, and equality dear to your heart, I send you warm greetings from 31 years deep inside of the Belly of the Beast.
I am a former member of the original Black Panther Party and even though government officials claim that there are no political prisoners in this country's prisons and jails, it's simply not true. Having already "served" over three decades in
continuous custody in federal prison, I'm one of the longest held political prisoners in the United States of America. There are quite a number of us scattered about...but, that's a very long story.
Picture this in your mind...if you dare:
After 30 years of being denied release on parole, despite the fact that you conduct has been exemplary for over 20 years and you have long since met the criteria to b e released on parole, finally your Mandatory Release date rolls around, April 7,
2004. Everything is set, viz, your daughter, who was 5 years old when you were taken away to prison and is now 36, sent you a top-of-the-line fashion suit of clothes so that you would be properly dressed to "step out in the name of freedom with love." She, along with 3 of your sisters, fly in from across the country to be there at the prison gate to pick you up....in fact, there will be a whole entourage of dear friends and well wishers who will be out in front of the prison with plans to all gather at the home of a friend about an hour's new red Cadillac's ride away. A grand celebration is planned: a big cookout at which your Godmother has cooked hot wings and made her special homemade strawberry cheesecake; another friend from the Island Kingdom of Tonga, in keeping with their cultural traditions, has roasted fresh fish underground; others are bringing all kinds of foods. There will be a live band playing jazz and blues, a swimming pool etc., etc., In a word, a lot of caring people have gone through a lot of effort, not to mention expenses, to welcome you into their brave new world far removed from the world of the prisons walls that has kept you on ice for so long...they are there to welcome you with unconditional love and support.
On the inside of the prison there has been "going home" gatherings put together by friends, all replete with food, music, emotion filled, openhearted, teary eyed talk and laughter. Everyone came together to wish you well and a prosperous new life. You'd given away to friends all of your meager possessions; watch, alarm clock, sweat clothes, running shorts and tennis shoes, handballs, weight-lifting belt, visiting clothes and shoes, commissary items, rain poncho and winter coat. The only things you kept
were your 3 Tei-Hei Shakuhachi (Bamboo flutes), silver flute and some books. You'd used up all of your 300-for-the-month telephone calling minutes because after April 6th you wouldn't be needing any more from the BOP. You'd made the rounds shaking hands and hugging many men whom you'll probably never see again...you'd even tried to give words of encouragement and hope to young and old alike who you were leaving behind in very desperate and hopeless situations. Yes, the time was drawing near for you to leave the world of concrete and steel and razor-wire and gun-towers...the land of the living dead...and you were very happy and at the same time very sad.
The last "official thing" that you were required to do, you did. All prisoners, on the day before his/her actual release date, are required to "go on the merry-go-round" i.e., you must take a "checkout" form around to each department head for their signature which means that you are cleared of all obligations to that department, viz, your commissary account is closed, your telephone access is shut off, the laundry department is satisfied that you don't have any institutional clothing (you can't imagine why they would think a prisoner would want to keep any); the education/library services department are satisfied you don't have any books checked out; and a perfunctory signature from the psychology department, Lt.'s office, hospital, and receiving and discharge. You did all of that on April 6th. Everything is all set and good to go. We have a liftoff, Houston."
After doing all of that, your sitting outside in the Native American Sweat Lodge area with two of your closest friends, just enjoying each other's company in SILENCE. An announcement over the loudspeaker ordering you to "report to your unit team immediately!" breaks your peace. You know that something is not right, years and years of dealing with representatives of the Beast has honed your 6yh sense (maybe even a 7th one),that lets you know the "hidden" right away.
As you walk into your Counselor's office you know what he's about to say, even before he says it. So you focus upon the one thing that has sustained you and pulled you through those times when knife blades were slashing at flesh, when bullets were flying through the air trying to find your body, when you learned of the passing of your dear Mother and the officials wouldn't allow you attend her funeral, even though you had only 7 months left until your Mandatory Release date. Yeah...one breath at a time.
You won't be leaving tomorrow."
You already knew that, but you didn't know why.
"Well, all we know is that the National Parole Commission called the institution and ordered that you not be released tomorrow..."
Just like that! A simple phone call from a National Commissioner in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and all of the plans for you to be "Steppin' in the Name of Freedom, with Love" are cancelled, wiped out, voided until further notice.
How do you feel? Me too!!!
May 19th marks the 46th day of unlawful detention of Political Prisoner, Veronza Bower, Jr. Check out his web site at http://www.veronza.org for more information or write to him at:
Veronza Bower, Jr. #35316-136 |
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