Black August ‘05

by Sundiata Acoli


All of the above comrades deserve our highest tribute for this Black August – and they deserve our strongest support always.

Assata is our National Treasure, Mumia our International Icon, and they both represent the best of what Black August is all about and what it means to be a revolutionary.

Assata needs our utmost protection and support – and she needs clemency. Mumia and Zolo are both PP/POWs (political prisoners/prisoners of war) on Death Row. They need our strongest support to prevent reinstatement of their death penalties and, like all PP/POWs, they need freedom.

Evelyn Williams, Esq., commands our highest respect as an esteemed elder who has spent the better part of her life, health and wealth rearing, nurturing and defending Assata – and defending other political and/or oppressed people in need. See Evelyn’s very important statement of facts in Assata’s New Jersey trial – see “Assata Shakur’s appeal attorney explains her case” in this paper.

Lynne Stewart, Esq., our White comrade and a 65-year-old grandmother, not only commands our highest respect, but her present situation also demands our strongest support. She has been on the front lines over 30 years unflinchingly defending political people of all nationalities, particularly Black and other people of color, and oppressed peoples in general.

Because of Lynne’s staunch defense of unpopular political defendants, her own freedom now hangs in the balance. She was recently convicted of violating “special administrative measures” in her defense of the blind Egyptian Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and now faces up to 30 years in prison. Her sentencing date is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2005.

Lynne urgently needs all the “letters to the judge” that we can write to try to convince him that Lynne’s age (65 and counting), her 30 years of service to communities that rarely see vigorous lawyering, and the weakness of the government’s charges and proof should lead to a sentence of no incarceration.

We strongly and fervently urge everyone to flood Lynne’s designated address (listed below) with letters to the judge. Instructions and suggestions for the letters are as follows:

Letters for Lynne Stewart

Details: We are trying to amass thousands of letters to show massive community support in favor of leniency.

MARGIN: Please leave at least a one-inch left-hand margin to allow us to bind the letter into the appendix to the sentencing memorandum that is being filed on Lynne’s behalf. Typewritten letters, if possible, are preferred.

INSIDE ADDRESS: Honorable John G. Koeltl, United States District Judge, Southern District of New York, United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007

GREETING: Honorable Sir or Dear Judge Koeltl:

BODY: Briefly say who you are and your relationship to Lynne, if any. Briefly discuss yourself – your position in work and society.

State that you are aware that Lynne is to be sentenced following a jury verdict of guilty, on serious charges. Tell the judge why you believe she should be treated with compassion (i.e. age and lifetime of service to the community). If possible, you should tell of an incident where she helped you out or what you may know of her commendable community service. Do not try to argue that she is not guilty or was unfairly convicted. Focus on the unfairness of the government’s actions in bringing the charges, the way in which the government portrayed her, etc. You are asking the judge to view her with mercy.

WHEN LETTER IS COMPLETED: Please mail the final product to the following address: Jill R. Shellow-Lavine, Esq., 2537 Post Road, Southport, CT 06890.

Do NOT send your letters to the judge. We ask that you forward your letter to that address so that the lawyers can present it to Judge Koeltl with the other letters being written for this purpose. This is the manner in which letters will have the greatest impact. If they are sent directly to the judge’s chambers, they may not be accounted for and could cause the judge a substantial inconvenience (and annoyance).

Thank you for your cooperation. If you know others who will also write favorable letters, please give them this or refer them to the Lynne Stewart website. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the defense committee by email at info [at] lynnestewart.org or find the link at the website: http://www.lynnestewart.org or telephone (212) 625-9696.

Sundiata may be reached to writing to Sundiata Acoli, 39794-066, P.O. Box 3000, USP Allenwood, Allenwood PA 17887.

http://www.sfbayview.com/081005/05tribute081005.shtml