The Base

This week NYC ABC will focus our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner on Sundiata Acoli and Dr. Mutulu Shakur, a former Black Panther Party member and a former Black Liberation Army member who are serving time for charges connected to Assata Shakurand/or her successful 1979 prison break and escape. A New York Black Panther, Sundiata Acoli endured two years of prison awaiting trial for the Panther 21 Conspiracy Case. He and his comrades were eventually acquitted on all the bogus charges. The case was historic and a classic example of police and government attempting to neutralize organizations by incarcerating their leadership. As a result of this political attack and because of the immense pressure and surveillance from the FBI and local police Sundiata, like many other Panther leaders went “underground.”  On May 2, 1973, Sundiata Acoli, Assata Shakur and Zayd[…]

In 1969 Palestinian Leila Khaled made history by becoming the first woman to hijack an airplane. As a Palestinian child growing up in Sweden, filmmaker Lina Makboul admired Khaled for her bold actions; as an adult, she began asking complex questions about the legacy created by her childhood hero. This fascinating documentary is at once a portrait of Khaled, an exploration of the filmmaker’s own understanding of her Palestinian identity, and a complicated examination of the nebulous dichotomy between “terrorist” and “freedom fighter.” When Makboul tracks Khaled down, she finds Khaled living an ordinary life in Jordan, still firm in her belief that her actions were necessary and fully justified. The film weaves together scenes with Khaled, archival footage, and[…]

Eric King is back in segregation after an attack at USP McCreary. We’re going to send him some letter of encouragement after this terrible incident. Below is write up from his support crew: Last week Eric got news that his CMU transfer was rejected. He was placed on the yard at USP McCreary despite officers and lieutenants expressing their knowledge he was in danger being an anti-fascist prisoner. The 280 days of solitary confinement has done emotional damage to him and he couldn’t stand the thought of 6 more months that would be given to him if he chose to be safe and refused to enter general population. On the yard he was told that the “long term” phone block[…]

Movement for No Society is a book that examines the division between leftist and anarchist approaches to radical politics in Philadelphia and traces its history and implications for the broader contemporary situation. As activism and electoral politics gain currency amongst radicals, the authors look to the insurgent history of this area for less compromised inspiration. Movement for No Society explores the current possibilities of direct struggle, which grounds direct action in autonomous self-organization and attack. In this presentation, we will delve into the history of local struggles in Philadelphia (including indigenous, black, and anarchist resistance) to consider the broader lessons and implications. We will discuss how the situation in Philadelphia can help anticipate the problems and possibilities offered to anarchists[…]