....


Your Holiness,

I hope this letter finds you in good health, in good disposition, and enveloped in the spirit of goodness. I must confess that it had never occurred to me before to write to you, and I find myself overwhelmed and moved to have this opportunity.

Although circumstances have compelled me to reach out to you, I am glad to have this occasion to try and cross the boundaries that would otherwise tend to separate us.

I understand that the New Jersey State Police have written to you and asked you to intervene and to help facilitate my extradition back to the United States. I believe that their request is unprecedented in history. Since they have refused to make their letter to you public, although they have not hesitated to publicize their request, I am completely uninformed as to the accusations they are making against me. Why, I wonder, do I warrant such attention? What do I represent that is such a threat?

Please let me take a moment to tell you about myself. My name is Assata Shakur and I was born and raised in the United States. I am a descendant of Africans who were kidnapped and brought to the Americas as slaves. I spent my early childhood in the racist segregated South. I later moved to the northern part of the country, where I realized that Black people were equally victimized by racism and oppression.

I grew up and became a political activist, participating in student struggles, the anti-war movement, and, most of all, in the movement for the liberation of African Americans in the United States. I later joined the Black Panther Party, an organization that was targeted by COINTELPRO, a program that was set up by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to eliminate all political opposition to the U.S. government's policies, to destroy the Black Liberation Movement in the U.S., and to discredit activists and to eliminate potential leaders.

As a result of being targeted by COINTELPRO, I, like many other young people, was faced with the threat of prison, underground, exile or death.

At this point, I think that it is important to make one thing very clear. I have advocated and still advocate revolutionary changes in the structure and in the principles that govern the U.S. I advocate an end to capitalist exploitation, the abolition of racist policies, the eradication of sexism, and the elimination of political repression. If that is a crime, then I am totally guilty.

To make a long story short, ...let me emphasize that justice for me is not the issue, it is justice for my people that is at stake. When my people receive justice, I am sure that I will receive it, too. I know that Your Holiness will reach your own conclusions, but I feel compelled to present the circumstances surrounding the applicatlon of "justice" in New Jersey. I am not the first nor the last person to be victimized by the New Jersey system of "justice." The New Jersey State Police are infamous for their racism and brutallty. Many legal actions have been filed against them and just recently, in a class action legal proceeding, the New Jersey State Police were found guilty of having an "officially sanctioned, de facto policy of targeting minorities for investigation and arrest."

Although New Jersey's population is more than 78 percent white, more than 75 percentof the prison population is made up of Blacks and Latinos. Eighty percent of women in New Jersey prisons are women of color. There are 15 people on death row in the state and seven of them are Black. A 1987 study found that New Jersey prosecutors sought the death penalty in 50 percent of cases involving a Black defendant and a white victim, but in only 28 percent of cases involving a Black defendant and a Black victim.

Unfortunately, the situation in New Jersey is not unique, but reflects the racism that permeates the entire country. The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. There are more than 1.7 million people in U.S. prisons. This number does not include the more than 500,000 people in city and county jails, nor does it include the alarming number of children in juvenile institutions.

The vast majority of those behind bars are people of color and virtually all of those behind bars are poor.

The result of this reality is devastating. One third of Black men between the ages of 20 and 29 are either in prison or under the jurisdiction of the criminal justice system.

Prisons are big business in the United States, and the building, running, and supplying of prisons has become the fastest growing industry in the country. Factories are being moved into the prisons and prisoners are being forced to work for slave wages. This super-exploitation of human beings has meant the institutionalization of a new form of slavery. Those who cannot find work are forced to work in prison.

Not only are prisons being used as instruments of economic exploitation, they also serve as lnstruments of political repression. There are more than 100 political prisoners in the U.S. They are African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Chicanos, Natlve Americans, Asians, and progressive white people who oppose the policies of the United States government. Many of those targeted by the COINTELPRO program have been in prison since the early 1970s.

Although the situation in the prisons is an lndication of human rights violations inside the United States, there are other, more deadly indicators.

There are currently 3,365 people now on death row, and more than 50 percent of those awaiting death are people of color. Black people make up only 13 percent of the population, but we make up 41 percent of persons who have received the death penalty.

The number of state assassinations has increased drastically. In 1997 alone, 71 people were executed.

A special reporter assigned by the United Nations organization found serious human rights violations in the U.S., especially those related to the death penalty. According to these findings, people who were mentally ill were sentenced to death, and people with severe mental and learning disabilities, as well as minors under age 18. Serious racial bias was found on the part of judges and prosecutors.

Specifically mentioned in the report was the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the only political prisoner on death row, who was sentenced to death because of his political beliefs and because of his work as a journalist, exposing police brutality in the city of Philadelphia.

Police brutality is a daily occurrence in our communities. The police have a virtual license to kill and they do kill: children, grandmothers, anyone they perceive to be the enemy. They shoot first and ask questions later. Inside the jails and prisons there is at least as much brutality as there was on slave plantations. An ever increasing number of prisoners are found hanging in their cells.

The United States is becoming a land more hostile to Black people and other people of Color. Racism is running rampant and xenophobia is on the rise. This has been especially true in the sphere of domestic policy.

Politicians are attempting to blame social problems on Black people and other people of color. There have been attacks on essentially all affirmative action programs designed to help correct the accumulated results of hundreds of years of slavery and discrimination. In addition, the government seems determined to eliminate all social programs that provide assistance to the poor, resulting in a situation where millions of people do not have access to basic health care, decent housing or quality education.

It was with great happiness that I read the Christmas message that Your Holiness delivered. I applaud you for taking up the cause of the poor, the homeless, the unemployed. The fact that you are addressing the issues of today, unemployment, hopelessness, child abuse, and the drug problem, is important to people all over the world.

One third of Black people in the United States live in poverty, and our communities are inundated with drugs. We have every reason to believe that the CIA and other government agencies are involved in drug trafficking.

Although we live in one of the richest, most techically advanced countries in the world, our reality is similar to an undeveloped, Third World country. We are a people who are truly seeking freedom and harmony.

All my life I have been a spiritual person. I first learned of the struggle and the sacrifice of Jesus in the segregated churches of the South. I converted to Catholicism as a young girl. In my adult life I have become a student of religion and have studied Christianity, Islam, Asian religions and the African religions of my ancestors. I have come to believe that God is universal in nature although called different names and with different faces. I believe that some people spell God with one "O" while others spell it with two.

What we call God is unimportant, as long as we do God's work. There are those who want to see God's wrath fall on the oppressed and not on the oppressors.I believe that the time has ended when slavery, colonialism, and oppression can be carried out in the name of religion. It was in the dungeons of prison that I felt the presence of God up close, and it has been my belief in God,and in the goodness of human beings that has helped me to survive. I am not ashamed of having been in prison, and I am certainly not ashamed of having been a political prisoner. I believe that Jesus was a political prisoner who was executed because he fought against the evils of the Roman Empire, because he fought the greed of the money changers in the temple, because he fought against the sins and injustices of his time. As a true child of God, Jesus spoke up for the poor, the meek, the sick, and the oppressed. The early Christians were thrown into lion dens. I will try and follow the example of so many who have stood up in the face of overwhelming oppression.

I am not writing to ask you to intercede on my behalf. I ask nothing for myself. I only ask you to examine the social reality of the United States and to speak out against the human rights violations that are taking place.

On this day, the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., I am reminded of all those who gave their lives for freedom. Most of the people who five on this planet are still not free. I ask only that you continue to work and pray to end Oppression and political repression. It is my heartfelt belief that all the people on this earth deserve justice: social justice, political justice, and economic justice. I believe it is the only way that we will ever achieve peace and prosperity on earth. I hope that you enjoy your visit to Cuba. This is not a country that is rich in material wealth, but it is a country that is rich in human wealth, spiritual wealth and moral wealth.

Respectfully yours,

Assata Shakur
Havana, Cuba

NO SNITCHING

Kalonji Jama Changa - Black Cop?

THE TALKING DRUM COLLECTIVE'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
www.thedrum.org
Regarding the events on 12/20/05
***Distrubute Widely***

Click Here: The Atlanta Community Statement Concerning Kalonji Jama Changa
Click Here: Nigel Brown's Website Screenshot

NIGEL BROWN FORMERLY KNOWN AS KALONJI JAMA CHANGA*
On December 20, 2005 Kalonji Jama Changa, a self-professed Pan-Afrikan and National Chief Coordinator of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC), headed by Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., assembled a crew of POCC members (Kofi fka "Shakur" Sunni-Ali son of Bilal Sunni Ali, Flame, Ralph Brian Jones fka "Young Chose" , Anatea Carpenter, and Leah (anti-Afrikan visitor from CA) forced their way into the home inhabited by several Atlanta organizers using guns, knives and mace.

Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa demanded that several Pan-Afrikan web sites that are collectively owned and represent grassroots efforts in the Atlanta area (but also act as coordinating hubs for other organizations in various cities) be placed under his control or dis-assembled. The activists attacked are local founding members of the FTP Movement and The Talking Drum Collective.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Using an AK-47, a Shotgun, a 9mm Handgun, Mace, and Knives Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa and his goons then forcibly invaded these activist home and stole cell phones, a computer, a digital camera, various guns, house and car keys, in addition to the stolen items Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa and his goons, whom are members of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC), purposely destroyed the activists files, flatten tires of the activists car, and pistol-whipped them in their home while they were maced during this anti-Afrikan and counter-revolutionary terrorism.

FATHER OF THREE, DADDY OF NONE COMES TO TOWN
Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa, is a father of at least 3 children by various women, is about 34 years old, pays no child support, and has been a welfare/EBT recipient for over a year and in his own words during Black August (Atlanta) 2005 its ironic he stated "you cant be a revolutionary and work at McDonald's jack".

Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa came to Atlanta about 18 months ago as the National Chief Coordinator of POCC and immediately stated his desire to establish a local chapter of the POCC in August of 2004. He solicited the aid of The Talking Drum Collective, whose founding coordinators graciously provided with him personal financial assistance and began to loan him equipment, introduced him to local youth, young adults interested in building a new organization in the Atlanta area, and provided his organization (POCC) with a strong Internet presence.

NOT A WORKER, BUT A PARASITE
The relationship became strained when Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa took on a opportunistic demeanor i.e. claiming work he did not do, lying to the people by falsifying numbers, and constantly spewing rhetoric that far outstripped the capabilities of not only his organization, the POCC, but of those supporting organizations who came to assist. in addition he became verbally combative, divisive, arrogant, and antagonistic to the Atlanta organizing community.

BLACK AUGUST 2005 - ATLANTA
During Black August 2005 Atlanta a series of negative events occurred, things came to a head when he threaten and ordered Kofi fka "Shakur" Sunni-Ali, son of Bilal Sunni Ali, and other Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC) members to brazenly pull out guns on another Afrikan during Black August (Atlanta) 2005 finale in the presence of children, women and non-activists for a mis-communication about space arrangements at the Royal Peacock.

Atlanta organizers also discovered that Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa had labeled himself the organizer of Black August 2005 Atlanta although help had come from a cross-section of fellow Atlanta activists and technical support had come from as far as California and Missouri. It was discovered that Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa had passed out special fliers listing the Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC) and himself as the chief organizers of Black August 2005 Atlanta and also listed himself as the founder of FTP Movement on his site, so that those new to the conscious community might see him as the center of political activity when he clearly wasnt.

SEVERING TIES
By September 2005 The Talking Drum Collective coordinators notified Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa that all support for him and the Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC) Atlanta chapter would be terminated immediately. He indicated that he had no hard feelings and neither did The Talking Drum Collective and continued working with him on points of unity until the night Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa and five members of Prisoners of Conscience Committee (POCC) forced their way into the home of a local The Talking Drum Collective coordinator around 11:30pm that night of December 20th, 2005.

ELDER TRIBUNAL
Shortly thereafter Atlanta elders, coordinators of The Talking Drum Collective, and Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee were involved in a sit-down to determine on what grounds and by whose authority Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa, National Chief Coordinator of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee, had acted.

During the Elders meeting, Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa verbally assaulted the panel, which included local leaders, founding members of several Pan-Afrikan and Afrocentric organizations, most of which are known internationally, and well-known Pan-Afrikan scholars. In the mist of trying to justify his actions he was caught lying several times by the well-respected Elders. Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa during the Elders hearing became arogant, hostile and disrespectful Nigel stated to the elders you motherfuckers aren't listening to me and banged his fist on the table so hard that refreshments began to fall and spill, these acts caused the hearing to conclude.

While leaving the meeting Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa even threatened one organizer and reached into his jacket to pull out his weapon that he and two POCC members with him refused to surrender at the start of the tribunal, even in the presence of Elders and indicated that Atlanta activists would see him again.

CURRENT UPDATES
On the early morning of Februray 2, 2006 (original scheduled released date of Atlanta Community Statement) a car window of The Talking Drum Collective activists that were previously terrorized was broken.

WHY THIS STATEMENT?
Nana Kuntu (Del Jones) once said that we are the only people who consistently fail to punish our traitors. This time we will and can not fail Our People. This statement acts as a condemnation of Nigel Brown fka Kalonji Jama Changa, Kofi fka "Shakur" Sunni-Ali, Flame, Ralph Brian Jones fka "Young Chosen", Anatea Carpenter, Leah (anti-Afrikan visitor from CA),  also this statement acts as a message to all traitors of Afrikan People.

In solidarity we stand shoulder to shoulder with Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., his organization (POCC) for it is on the strength of this relationship Nigel Brown was able to exploit the Atlanta community, thus the reason for this statement.

We support All Afrikans, and Freedom Fighters doing the work of Afrikan People Period!

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Elders' Meeting was officiated by:
Fred Hampton Jr, Chairman of POCC
Akinyele Umoja: Co-Founder of Malcolm X Grassroots Organization
Mama Tee of MXGM - Atlanta
a Brother with Akinyele Umoja
Addis Abba - former politcal prisoner RNA-11
Hakima Ana - Afrikan Community Centers/ former Vice President of RNA, former politcal prisoner RNA-11
Marimba Ani - Author/SNNC
A Sister with Marimba Ani
Mauwali Davis - Co Pres of NCobra Atlanta/ Lawyer
Menelik NCobra - Youth Organizer of NCobra Atlanta
Sekou Hill Jr. - Pres Uhuru Movement Atlanta
Bilial Sunni Ali - Republic of New Africa/ Gil Scott Heron
Noni Norman - Afrikan Community Centers


*We are stripping Kalonji Jama Changa of his Afrikan name. He is Nigel Brown from this day forward. When you curse elders, terrorize Afrikan people and constantly lie to the People you are no longer worthy of an Afrikan name.

footnote: We also must caution any Afrikan who interacts with this terrorizer of Afrikan People, if you must interact with Nigel Brown be on guard at all times, otherwise just stay clear of this opportunistic pig of white supremacy.