Letter to Free, anarchist political prisoner Lorenzo Komboa Ervin Hello Free: I have been where you are now: as a young man (then 21 years old) facing the rest of my life in prison. Sentenced to "natural life" imprisonment, which was supposed to ensure that I would never get out of prison except when I expire, but guess what? I didn't die, and I did get out much sooner than everyone expected. Don't get me wrong, I spent almost 15 long years in prison, and was subjected to every form of terrorism and brutality that the state could thrown at me. I spent nine years in solitary confinement and control units. I was beaten and tortured, starved and whipped. They wanted to break me, and to see me crawl. instead, I decided on resistance by any means possible. if there was a riot, I would lead it; if there was an escape, I would be part of it; if there was a strike, I was calling for the most extreme measures--all forms of struggle was what I lived for and was prepared to die for. Don't get me wrong, I was no hero, and I sure as hell would have lied to have been somewhere else, but just like you I understand why it is so important to defy your captors, even while you fight to survive, literally in hell. I was no hero or "special person", and it was because I had an international support campaign, the Anarchist Black Cross, HAPOTOC (Help A Prisoner Oppose Torture Committee), and various segments of the Left and even liberal movements around the world, that I was freed from captivity. It wasn't what the warden wanted, and the parole officials promised me that I would be imprisoned "forever" because of a prison riot in the wake of the 1971 Attica rebellion and slaughter. Several guards were severaly injured, and I was made the scapegoat, and given an additional 30 years. This was what I faced, and yet I got out in 1983, and been raising hell ever since. What does this mean? That you can struggle and you can survive. More importantly, an effective campaign could free you as well, no matter the circumstances you are now under. Hell, the international support campaign is all that has kept Mumia Abu Jamal alive and now improved his chances of being finally released, not smart lawyers. Hell, his trial lawyer fell asleep at trial and his first team of 'civil rights" lawyers sold him out for fame and glory -- provided by a book deal. You sound like your spirits are strong, and I am sure they are. We will do all we can out here to overturn your unjust conviction. I am due to come to Eugene to speak on your behalf this Fall, and hopefully raise money for your defense committee. You are actually in much better shape than I was when I first went to prison, I had no source of help because the government had already crushed the Left by the early 1970's. Things may seem daunting now, they were worse then. But I learned that the movement in the streets determines whether you languish in prison or are released, not the State. If it becomes strong enough it can compel a favorable outcome, even if they officials swear that you will be executed or die in prison. We must fight hard for you and all political prisoners, especially those who have been confined for decades. We must defeat this racist, corrupt government. prison, where is thy victory? Love and struggle, Lorenzo Komboa Ervin Back to Anarchism And The Black Revolution