Shaka Sankofa está presente!

Support the Huntsville 8!

Revolutionary Worker #1110, July 15, 2001, posted at http://rwor.org

The following letter was written by Renee Feltz, one of the Huntsville 8 defendants.

At the one year anniversary of the legal lynching of Shaka Sankofa, we can see that he was right when he said: "The odds we face are great, but even greater is the power of the people." The legacy he left behind was his spirit of fighting for justice for the people, and never backing down in the face of tremendous odds.

For the past year, the people in this growing movement to end the death penalty have joined in demanding that all charges be dropped against the Huntsville 8. The group has been fighting criminal trespass charges since they were arrested for protesting the execution of Shaka Sankofa.

On June 22, 2000 one of the biggest legal lynchings in history was carried out by the state of Texas. Over 1,000 people answered the call from Shaka that day to protest this murder. The media reported that protesters "stormed the barricades," and the Huntsville 8 were slapped with politically motivated charges that attempt to criminalize those who refuse to accept the normal boundaries of protest.

As the death penalty capital of the world continues in its efforts to silence those who protest the actions taken by the so-called Justice System, the Huntsville 8 and their supporters press ahead in their efforts to expose the legalized murder of Shaka Sankofa and a criminal injustice system based on economic and racial bias, and the criminalization of a whole generation of youth. We argue that the only crime committed on that day was the murder of Shaka Sankofa, and demand that all charges be dropped.

Many events have been organized in the past year in order to raise funds for the ongoing expenses of the group's legal and political campaign. The outpouring of support has been inspiring. In February, over one hundred people showed their support by attending the Huntsville 8 Benefit Show in Houston. Supporters signed letters that were later mailed to Walker County District Attorney David Weeks and Judge Barbara Hale demanding that all charges be dropped against the group. One person in the audience, new to the issue of the death penalty, commented that this evening had "opened my eyes to a whole new way of seeing the reality of this country's criminal injustice system. We need to raise the level of resistance because this kind of abuse must stop!"

Support from prisoners continues to be sent in. One brother wrote to the Huntsville 8 from a prison in Huntsville, "It takes a lot of guts to stand against the massive array of repressive police-state power that was so glaringly present on that awful day. I wish you all the best of luck with your defense...stand proud as the true revolutionaries you have shown yourselves to be..."

Meanwhile, the group's legal battle in Huntsville continues to bring more attention to the shameful actions officials are trying to hide. The next court appearance is set for July 11. A change of venue hearing will be held to determine where the trial(s) will take place. With this hearing, our defense attorney, Greg Gladden, charges that there is no way that the eight defendants can get a fair trial in Huntsville, TX, the death penalty capital of the world.

Every time the Huntsville 8 are dragged into court, we have had supporters present with us to show that the public will not accept the state's attempt to criminalize protesters in order to draw attention away from death row. Officials must be shown that not only does the movement to end the death penalty refuse to go away, but in fact, it is growing.

On the evening of June 22, over 50 people gathered at the SHAPE Community Center in Houston to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Shaka Sankofa on the first anniversary of his legal lynching.

The first statement to be read was a message to Shaka's supporters from Mumia Abu-Jamal that condemned politicians who kill for their own political advantage. The speaker also talked about how much of the outrage in response to Shaka's murder has been turned towards the struggle to "Free Mumia."

Also attending the event was Shaka's stepmother, Elnora Graham, and other family members. The strength of Shaka's family showed on his mother's face when she got up to speak. She described the humiliating and abusive treatment she received when visiting her son on death row. She talked of the autopsy that revealed how badly Shaka was beaten by prison officials and how he resisted up until his dying breath. Shaka's family stays strong in the struggle and are among those who demand charges be dropped against the Huntsville 8.

The Huntsville 8 spoke at the tribute about how they were inspired by Shaka's courage in the face of tremendous odds. Shaka called upon the youth to answer the call to stop his execution and the death penalty and six of the Huntsville 8 were young protesters. Britt Coleman, one of the defendants, read an impassioned statement on behalf of the group and our defense committee which declared that the "only future available for most young people today is a life dominated by the prison system. Constant harassment, brutality, and then arrests and probation, lead nowhere but to their previously reserved jail cell." The impact the group's June 22 action had was clear throughout the evening. Many speakers at the Tribute talked about how the arrest of the Huntsville 8 for breaking out of the official boundaries set for the protest inspired them.

The current focus of the Huntsville 8 is to reach thousands of people by publishing a Support Statement which was written by the Huntsville 8 Defense Committee together with other supporters. We hope to publish it in local and other publications. It declares: "Justice Demanded for the Huntsville 8! Drop All Charges Now!" The statement addresses Shaka's case, our case, and the injustice of the death penalty.

In order to publish this statement, we need your support. We are looking for groups, as well as individuals, to sign on and make a donation that will be used to pay for the space. This is an important way to reach many people who are not aware of the growing movement to end the death penalty and this legal battle. The case of the Huntsville 8 has exposed the reality of the Texas Death Machine and the real criminals of the system for over a year now.

To endorse the statement, please: Visit our website and download the statement, sign it and mail it to us; or send us a letter or call us and we will mail you a copy of the statement that you endorse and return. We can be reached at:
www.illegalvoices.org/huntsville 8 huntsville8@hotmail.com

Huntsville 8 Defense Committee

5380 W. 34th St., #386

Houston, TX 77092

As the government continues its attempt to suppress dissent, this case will continue to publicly expose legalized lynching! Against the backdrop of a morally hollow Criminal Injustice System and Texas Death Machine, the Huntsville 8 will continue to ask: Who are the real criminals?

"This is nothing more than pure and simple murder. This is what is happening tonight in America. Nothing more than state sanctioned murders, state sanctioned lynching, right here in America, and right here tonight."