Dr. Mutulu Shakur's September 2007 Legal Update

Brothers and Sisters:

Mutulu was transferred out of Coleman II Federal Prison in Florida on March 15, 2007: (1) to sabotage and derail a parole hearing that had been scheduled for May and (2) to end the positive educational and cultural programming activities that he has spearheaded since his incarceration.

[The Moves]

Since March 15, 2007 (and as of this writing 9/07) Mutulu has been moved four times:

• 3/07 to Pollock, Louisiana
• 4/07 to Atlanta, GA
• 5/07 to Oklahoma City, OK
• 6/07 to Florence, CO (a super maximum-security facility)

[The Pretext]

The stated purpose of the investigation and interrogation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) was to:

• determine what Mutulu knew of how a film clip of a workshop held at the July 29, 2006 'Hip-Hop Summit' at Coleman got on MySpace.com and how a DVD of the 'Hip-Hop Summit' was being sold on the street in Atlanta.
• that Mutulu made a video for personal gain.
• that he was running a business while incarcerated, namely the Dare To Struggle website.

[Outcome of Investigation]

After all the smoke cleared the final write up had to do with re-issue of the Dare To Struggle CD (a not-for-profit project from the start), which was actually done while Mutulu was in Atlanta, and an alleged coded phone conversation with a supporter while at Pollock. There was nothing in the final write up about videos. And there was nothing about his conduct at Coleman.

[Political Purges and Retaliation Within the Prison]

FCC Coleman is the largest prison complex in the United States with 8,000 prisoners in five facilities; two maximum, a medium, and low security male facilities and a women's camp. Carlisle Holder, The warden of the maximum security prison where Dr. Shakur was incarcerated, worked with him and other socially conscious inmates to develop educational and cultural programs. This approach has been effective in terms of rehabilitation and maintaining peace. USP II, managed by Warden Holder, has experienced little violence while USP I, the other maximum security prison in the Coleman Complex, remains under lock down with constant violence, deaths and stabbings.

Since March 2007 Bureau of Prisons officials have interrogated, harassed, demoted, and purged Warden Holder and members of his staff. In addition prisoners who worked with Mutulu have been transferred to other facilities. This purge and retaliation is motivated by Justice Department and FBOP opposition to educational and cultural programs that have a life changing impact on the transformation of dozens of men, particularly youth from a criminal mentality to liberation consciousness. Obviously constant violence and hostility is preferred to rehabilitation and peace. Cultural and educational programming has been suspended at the facility and can only be approved from the FBOP regional office. The only programming allowed is religious programming.

[Parole]

We believe the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Prisons were concerned that Mutulu would receive support from Warden Holder and other prison staff for his parole application. In February 2007 prior to the move, Mutulu's unit managers had made a recommendation for custody decrease which would have made him eligible for transfer to a medium security facility. These factors had the potential of resulting in a favorable recommendation by the hearing officer. While the BOP has ignored recommendations from its own hearing officers in the past with regard to Mutulu it still might be embarrassing to have another positive recommendation documented. And so, they fabricated charges to get him transferred and the prison purged of officials who supported his work.

Mutulu decided not to go for a hearing in May. As a result of the moves he was separated from his possessions and files and would not have been able to prepare adequately for a parole hearing. We expect a hearing in December.

[What Can You Do?]

Mutulu needs support on many levels, so there are a number of ways that you can contribute to this struggle for justice and human rights!

WRITE Mutulu. Please show him that he has a community of love and support, and that his sacrifices for our People have not been in vain. Oppose the attempts to isolate him. You can write to Mutulu at:

Dr. Mutulu Shakur 83205-012
USP FLORENCE ADMAX
U.S. PENITENTIARY
P.O. BOX 8500
FLORENCE, COLORADO
81266, USA

CONTACT Bureau of Prison Officials:

Write to the regional and national directors of the Federal Bureau of Prisons requesting Mutulu's transfer to a medium security facility:

Harley G. Lappin, Director
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St., NW
Washington, DC
20534, USA

Michael N. Nalley
Regional Director, North Central Region
North Central Regional Office
Federal Bureau of Prisons
400 State Ave., Suite 800
Kansas City, Kansas
66101, USA

DONATE to Mutulu Shakur's LEGAL FUND:

Mutulu's attorneys give selflessly of themselves, defending him without compensation, and often at their own financial expense. Please support the legal defense of our warrior Mutulu. Make checks payable to IFCO/FFMS and mail to:

Family and Friends of Dr. Mutulu Shakur
P.O. Box 3171, Manhattanville Station
New York, New York
10027, USA

Write a SUPPORT LETTER for Mutulu's PAROLE!

Parole letters may be e-mailed to: Parole letters may be e-mailed to: mxgrm_atl@yahoo.com, faxed to: 404-288-8786, or mailed to:

Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
PO Box 361270
Decatur, Georgia
30026, USA

We want to assure you that we have kept any support letters sent in anticipation of the June hearing and those will be presented in December.

Letters supporting Dr. Shakur's parole might want to take into account his history of service to the community including:

• Employment at the Lincoln Detoxification Community (addiction treatment) Program as a political education instructor. His role evolved to include counseling and treatment of withdrawal symptoms with acupuncture.
• Managing a detoxification program recognized as the largest and most effective of its kind by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Acupuncture Research Society and the World Academic Society of Acupuncture.
• Treating thousands of poor and elderly patients who would otherwise have no access to acupunctural treatment.
• Developing the anti-drug program for the Charles Cobb Commission for Racial Justice for the National Council of Churches.

Since he has been incarcerated:

• Dr. Shakur has worked to promote education among other inmates and has participated in efforts to promote unity between prisoners from different regions, religious, ethnic and cultural affiliations in institutions where he was imprisoned.
• At each institution where Dr. Shakur has been incarcerated he has worked with other inmates, staff, and community artists, activists, and intellectuals to create educational and cultural programs as a vehicle to encourage positive development for the incarcerated, particularly Black and Latino youth. If you participated in these programs, please speak about your experiences and observations.
• During his incarceration he has sought peaceful means to resolve conflict.

Based upon the above points indicate he will be a productive and positive influence in any community where he resides. Also, the charges for which he was convicted were politically motivated and related to a political climate in which the aim was to eliminate racial discrimination and injustice. Dr. Shakur has advocated efforts to bring about reconciliation from the conflict of that period. Keep in mind we are not trying to convert the Federal Parole Board to a particular ideology or campaign, but to secure freedom from incarceration for Dr. Shakur.

In the recent words of Dr. Mutulu Shakur, "When we stop and don't move and become paralyzed by the present, we don't deserve the future."