Louisiana Panther on Trial/Urgent Action Needed

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From: "Greg Butterfield" <gregb at wwpublish.com> (by way of Editions Democrite <democrite at starnet.fr>)
Subject: Louisiana Panther on Trial/Urgent Action Needed
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POLITICAL PRISONER ON TRIAL -- PLEASE READ AND DISSEMINATE WIDELY

Former Black Panther Albert Woodfox, who has spent over 20 years in
solitary confinement in Louisiana, is scheduled to be retried Dec. 7
for the 1972 killing of a white prison guard.

Woodfox has always maintained that he is innocent of the killing.

Woodfox was convicted, along with fellow Panther Herman "Hooks"
Wallace, in 1973. Both were given life sentences and sent directly to
solitary confinement at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. 
Woodfox won a reversal of his conviction in 1992, and has since been
incarcerated at a local jail, awaiting trial.  Wallace remains in an
isolation cell at Angola, his conviction intact.

Woodfox and Wallace helped found the Angola chapter of the Black
Panther Party.  Just as the police apparatus did everywhere else in
America in the 1960s and 1970s, the authorities in Louisiana unleashed
brutal repression to prevent African-Americans from organizing
themselves. In Louisiana prisons and jails, authorities maced, beat,
shot, isolated, and framed activist prisoners.  One revolutionary
prisoner charged in the 1972 guard killing, Gilbert Montegut, was
acquitted at the original trial.  Even Angola's warden admitted that
Montegut had been framed.

Because the prosecution has very little evidence against Woodfox, THEY
INTEND TO PUT THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY ON TRIAL.  The Assistant
Attorney General has said, "I think this was a racially-motivated
Black Panther murder."  She intends to introduce evidence that Woodfox
once spelled "America" as "AMERIKKKA" in order to inflame the jury. 
She plans to tell the jury that political statements Woodfox once made
against "fascism" and "pigs" constitute evidence that he committed
murder.

Woodfox and Wallace are still struggling to win their freedom, and
THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

There is not enough room here to include all of the unbelievable facts
of this case. Two websites have been set up to provide more
information. Visit www.prisons.org and www.prisonactivist.org.  Over
the next few days, we will be posting a detailed history of the ANGOLA
2 case, articles about the case taken from the original Black Panther
Party newspaper, and information about what you can do to help the
ANGOLA 2.

ALBERT WOODFOX IS THE FIRST POLITICAL PRISONER IN RECENT MEMORY TO
HAVE WON A NEW TRIAL.  WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BRING ALBERT HOME BEFORE
CHRISTMAS, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD POLITICAL SUPPORT BEFORE THE DEC. 7
TRIAL.

Please take a moment to contact the prosecutor and the judge. Tell
them you are outraged that they intend to try this man on the basis of
his political affiliations.  Let them know that the world is watching,
and we will not tolerate the lynch-mob atmosphere surrounding this
trial. Write or call them at the following addresses:

Assistant Attorney General Julie Cullen
Louisiana Department of Justice
Criminal Division
P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095
telephone:  (225) 342-7013
fax:  (225) 342-8703

Hon. Bruce C. Bennett
Tangipahoa Parish Courthouse Building
Amite, LA 70422
telephone:  (504) 748-9445

WOODFOX ALSO NEEDS MONEY.  Funds are needed to bring witnesses from
around the country.  The judge recently denied funds for Albert to
hire a jury consultant.  His supporters are paying for what they can
out of their own pockets. Please help out if you can.  Make checks
payable to IT'S ABOUT TIME, and write "Albert Woodfox Defense" on the
check. Mail to:

IT'S ABOUT TIME
P.O. Box 221100
Sacramento, CA 95822

You can also write letters to the ANGOLA 2. Including some stamps is
always helpful to them.

Albert Woodfox (B-1)
P.O. Box 250
Amite, LA 70422

Herman Wallace #76759
Louisiana State Penitentiary
Main Prison Ex-L/D U-3-R #204
Angola, LA 70712

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERY PERSON AND MAILING LIST YOU KNOW
OF. PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP THIS BROTHER COME HOME.

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