NYC Jericho Movement

Sundiata Acoli, 83, Once Again Denied Parole

NYC Jericho received the following email from Sundiata on November 19, 2020:

Sundiata Acoli, one of the longest held political prisoners in the u.s. and the world, was denied parole again today. His case was sent to a 3-member panel, which means he will be given an extended hit outside the guidelines: (likely to be 10 to 30 years). Sundiata is a Black man, 83 years old and has already done 47 years straight in prison, with an amazingly positive record. Why is this man still in prison?

Future visiting is cancelled at FCI Cumberland, MD today until further notice due to Covid-19 cases blowing the roof off of the local county hospitals and spilling over into the hospital space of adjacent counties.

We need Justice, Equality and Freedom. Free them All!

Write to Sundiata: Sundiata Acoli (Squire), 39794-066, FCI Cumberland. P.O. Box 1000, Cumberland MD 21501.

Urgent action needed for Russell Maroon Shoatz!

From the Shoatz family:

We learned just last week that our beloved elder Russell Maroon Shoatz contracted COVID 19. Maroon is a prisoner in Pennsylvania and a former Black Panther who has been imprisoned since 1970. He is 77 years old.

He has been living with stage 4 colon cancer since last year. And just as he was exiting the prison walls last week to get the tumor removed at a hospital, he was stopped at the door and asked to take a COVID test. He tested positive. Immediately they sent him to a small gymnasium where others with COVID are being quarantined in the prison. When he got there, he found 29 senior prisoners who said to him: "welcome. We've been waiting for you, we figured it wasn't long before you got it too."

This means that there are 30 seniors with COVID in a dank, cold gymnasium in a prison in PA. They are being held under the most inhumane conditions imaginable. 30 men including Maroon had access to only one bathroom. Maroon was put in a space without a light and had go to the bathroom on himself because he couldn't risk getting up and falling.

Maroon's family and the community mobilized and we won his transfer to the infirmary. But we need him to come home.

But this human rights catastrophe is repeating itself across the state and across the country because prisons are a death trap in the age of COVID. Prisons are on lock down in PA right now because the virus is spreading like a storm. Countries around the world like Iran and Turkey have massively released prisoners, but the United States has refused to decarcerate it's mostly black and latinx prison population.

Russell Maroon Shoatz is no danger to his community. He has stage 4 cancer and he has COVID. The civilized and humane thing to do is to allow him to go home to his family. We are asking for his immediate release and for the immediate release of all other aging prisoners over the age of 50 and those with pre-existing conditions for whom incarceration is a death sentence. We ask for the immediate and unconditional release of Maroon!!

All PA-based organizations, please sign a community letter demanding the immediate release of Russell Maroon Shoatz.

New Go-Fund Me to support the Shoatz Family

For sample tweets and graphics, check out the #FreeMaroon Social Media Kit

Continue to Call Governor Tom Wolfe

Contact: (717) 787-2500

Russell Shoatz’s health is rapidly deteriorating. Demand Immediate Release of Russell Maroon Shoatz #AF-3855. They track the calls from different phones and how many times they same number calls so please keep calling and activate your networks.

Our sincere gratitude for all of your support.

Monroe County DA Attempts to Reincarcerate
Jalil Muntaqim on Fabricated Charges!

Jalil Muntaqim, former Black Panther and respected elder, was recently released after nearly 50 years in prison. The NYS Board of Parole, in his 14th hearing, interviewed him at length and determined that he met the criteria for discretionary release. He had an exemplary prison record, expressed sincere remorse, and posed no threat to the community. DOCCS’ own risk assessment tool, COMPAS, scored Jalil as having the lowest risk for reoffending. In prison, he earned multiple college degrees and helped avert prison riots; his release on parole was endorsed by hundreds of people, including academics, faith leaders, and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus (of NYS). Jalil entered prison as a 19-year-old; today, he is a 69-year-old great-grandfather.

On October 30th, Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley’s office issued a warrant against Jalil with charges for which no one in the state of New York has ever been arrested or indicted. This attempt to reincarcerate an elder still recovering from COVID-19 does not work in the interest of justice, public health, or public safety.

This apparently stems from his mistakenly filling out and mailing a voter registration form as part of a packet of medicare information that he had to complete. He was notified afterwards that he was ineligible to vote and that should have been the end of it.

The DA’s calls are outrageous, unprecedented, and come on the heels of a petition by Bill Napier, Chairman of the local Republican Party, to prosecute Jalil for voter fraud. These charges are politically-motivated, senseless and a waste of taxpayers’ money. None of the people in Monroe County who oppose Jalil’s release know him; they believe that anyone convicted of a serious crime should never leave prison. Whether or not one agrees with this sentiment, Jalil was released from prison according to the lawful procedures of this state. Jalil has scrupulously followed the instructions given him by his parole officer. In fact, hundreds of faith leaders, community members, elected officials, academics, legal experts, and civil rights organizations in Rochester and throughout the State of New York oppose this politically motivated effort by the District Attorney.

Jalil is grateful to have strong community support, is putting down roots, and reconnecting with friends and family.

Please sign on to the community letter being circulated which is in opposition to his reincarceration: https://urlat.co/8KOpt

The Police Accountability Board Alliance (PABA) held a press conference on Nov. 12, 2020 in support of Jalil. You can watch the press conference here: https://www.facebook.com/pabnow/videos/639217206747716/?vh=e&d=n. It is difficult to hear due to heavy background noise. Jalil's mother Billie speaks movingly at 13:54 minutes.

News Articles:
Cuomo denies Jalil Voting rights!
https://www.wxxinews.org/post/governor-denies-restoring-voting-rights-parolee-jalil-muntaqim

Faith and Community Leaders Call on DA to Drop Prosecution of Jalil
https://www.reclaimingthenarrative.org/post/faith-and-community-leaders-call-on-da-to-drop-politically-motivated-prosecution-of-jalil-muntaqim

Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
https://www.blackagendareport.com/gop-tried-re-imprison-jalil-muntaqim

Jalil was released on his own recognizance by the judge at his arraignment. Grand Jury proceedings were be held on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, but were postponed. No new date has been set yet.

The next court date for Jalil was set for Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, but has now been postponed indefinitely due to Covid restrictions.

We WILL be mobilizing to Rochester to support Jalil
whenever the hearing is held!

Brighton Town Court
Brighton Town Hall
2300 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14618
(a few blocks West of the Twelve Corners)