All serious social movements have political prisoners because when the system is challenged it sometimes responds with repression. The LGBT movement is no exception. While the peak of repression of LGBT activists was in the 80s' and 90s' during the AIDS movement's hayday, all movements have their political seasons and cycles and hopefully new activists to train. That training includes the lessons about how the system uses repression and how to resist it. I'm posting this recording on Out-FMs website because it discusses the repression of activists from other communities.

There are some lessons here that we can learn from, particularly of the tenacity of the system at attempting to destroy the most militant Black freedom fighters. One of the activists, Francisco Torres is a Panther who is a part of the Panther 8 which are being prosecuted for crimes they are accused of committing 30 years ago using evidence previously excluded from court proceeding because it was derived from torture. Another activist, Terik Hastings, also  former Panther, was tortured during confinement. There are nearly 100 political prisoners in the US currently. Here's a brief description of the evening, which herolded a new book about US political prisoners.

Among the panelists were everal former political prisoners who urged more activism to free political prisoners in the United States at this event organized by the NY Free Mumia Abu Jamal Coalition (FMAJ Coalition) on November 21, 2008. The event was a book party for Matt Meyer's new book, "Let Freedom Ring," a compilation of articals about, and sometimes by political prisoners in the US, edited by Meyer. The Welfare Poets begin with a perfomance lasting for nearly 40 minutes songs about the freedom struggles of the prisioners and Macheteroes (a revolutionary Puerto Rican independence group).

The  3 hour recording is in 2 parts and includes:

Part 1:

Welfare Poets play for 39 minutes (excuse the minor mike noise during the first few minutes)

At 39:40 Co-Moderators Sundiata Sedik & Espie Martel ingroduce the panel

At 49 min  editor Matt Meyer discusses the reasons for writing the book

At 1hr former Panther Terik Hastings discusses his torture and imprisonment

At 1:16  Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal founder Pam Africa discusses the book.

At 1:23 Reverand Claudia DeLa Cruz discusses her churches political prisoner ministry.

At 1:30  former Panther Francisco Torres begins his remarks (his speech goes to next tape, you should stop when you hear his introduction and go to the next tape which has his complete intro and remarks. The recording has NY co-chair of the FMAJ Coalition Susanne Ross, Fred Hampton Jr. ; and an animal rights activist)

This recording is 92 minutes long.Click HERE to listen (or right click to download- 80 Mb)

Part 2

This recording is 1hr and 15 minutes long and begins with Ms. Martel's intro of former Panther Francisco Torres. Click HERE to listen (or right click to download - 80Mb)