Page 6 Portland Observer November 22. 1979
NCC supports political prisoners
Behind the Wall
by Larry Baker 835021
O S P Correspondent
OVER CROWDING AT PRISON
By Tony Capps
Recently three inmates at the
Oregon State Penitentiary commen­
ced a class action suit in the United
States D istrict C ou rt. This suit
alleges that the overpopulated con­
ditions at OSP constitute cruel and
unusual punishment and violates
their rights as provided by the Eight
and Fourteenth Amendments to the
United States Constitution.
The inmates, Tom Capps, David
J. Sterling and Allen L. Eggsman are
seeking an injunction to prevent the
state Corrections Division from con­
tinuing to force inmates to sleep on
the floor on mattresses spread next
to an open toilet, or, in the alter­
native, from accepting any ad­
ditional prisoners unit such time as
the population is reduced.
Through this suit the inmates of
the penitentiary cry out for recogni-
FROM A CELL TO ALBINA
by A zmar A bdul SeifuHah 40404
The street is teeming with life :
people rushing helter skelter;
meeting deadlines with insurance
policies; keeping dates with bookies,
lovers, pushers and preachers, and in
many instances just being out among
the faceless masses o f shining ebony
faces.
On one corner stands a stony face
preacher, exhorting the ills o f sin and
calling for redemption -- his face
gleaming with sweat and glowing
with the spirit of the Holy Ghost; his
arms outstretched; his hands large
calloused balls o f strength; his eyes
filled with maniacal righteousness;
his mouth tight in determination and
his voice rising in monotones o f soul-
lulness.
Only yards away stands the pimp
in all his glory - the epitome o f a
ghetto hustler: his clothes ta ilo r
made silk, molded over his muscular
frame; diamond rings glitter on three
fingers o f his right hand; $150 Gueci
loafers encase his feet; a $90 hom-
David Crawford 839830
Assistant Correspondent
tion that there are presently 1600 in­
mates being housed in a fa c ility
designed and built for 800.
This class action suit is also an at­
tempt to show the people o f Oregon
that what is presently happening is
an attempt on the part o f the Parole
Board and the Corrections Division
to force the building o f a new pen­
ite n tia ry . Should the people o f
Oregon be hoodwinked into furnish­
ing 100 m illion dollars for a new pen­
itentiary? The answer is No!. There
is no need inasmuch as there are ap­
proximately 100 persons in the Cor­
rections D ivisio n doing tim e fo r
driving while suspended. Another
300 persons are doing 5 years or less
fo r nonviolent class C felonies.
These people should be in com ­
m unity corrections centers paying
restitution for their crimes or doing
public service work. Why not? The
1977 and 1979 legislature have pro­
vided the funds for every county to
burg hat perches ace-deuce on his
head. His eyes are pools o f magen-
tism, glazed by cocaine, marijuana
and a lcohol. “ Yet he somehow
stands p rid e fu lly co nfid en t --
arrogant - whoremaster!”
He’s accompanied by a startlingly
b e a u tifu l Blackwom an: skfn the
color o f polished sapphire; eyes like
brown silk shining in the night;
wholesome, bright, caring, alive in
newness. “ The watcher is instantly
curious.” She’s like a beached pearl
waiting to be found; a rare antique in
a pawnshop window; out o f place,
beyond perspective, nonparallelcd -
a woman beyond definition, born o f
Blackness as old as Africa, who now
stands on the auction block o f
prostitution.
A junky shuffles into our picture:
haggard, beaten down by the drug;
his eyes don’ t focus properly; they’ re
lifeless, dorm ant. . . faded . . . jaun­
diced around the irises, devoid o f
warmth or spirit like a dog that's
been abused too often. His skin has
the pallor o f death about it, purulent
sores run where he has scratched
himself ; while under the effects o f
. ” 9,
the drug he shambles in an
irrevocable slouch, not knowing or
caring for a destination.
The tenements stand like tim e
abused vagrants against pollute d
skies, m arked-defaced-defiled by
g ra ffiti - “ Black Power” , “ M ary
Loves Anybody” , “ Malcolm is Jesus
re tu rn e d !“ . The hallways are
graveyards o f garbage and refuse,
they reek o f urine, wine, vomit sex
and cancelled dreams. The dim ab­
sence o f adequate lighting forbodes
o f assault, rape and mayhem. Mixed
oders emanate from various flats:
fried fish, neckbones, barbequed ribs
and the smell o f porkshops sizzling
fills the air. A wino lies crumpled in a
corner, the stink o f his unwashed
body invades the senses - in sight,
sound and smell.
The second flo or is used by the
whores: they tu rn tric k s in the
hallway and often times lead un­
suspecting Johns to strong arm rob­
bers who linger in the shadows. The
smell o f semen and blood are par­
tic u la rly overpow ering in this
hallway o f vice, and death is exem­
plified.
operate these centers. By not opening
and operating com m unity correc­
tions centers you the public are going
to be forced to fund and operate two
penitentiaries where only one is need­
ed.
The inmates belive that the in ­
crease in potentially violent incidents
are the direct result o f these over-
populated conditions, and as the
summer grows closer, these over-
populated conditions and the in ­
creased feelings o f hopelessness will
create an atmosphere o f unrest and
tension that w ill result in an ex­
plosive, violent reaction among the
inmates at OSP.
This same type o f frustration, un­
certainty, hopelessness and anger
was fostered in 1968 which resulted
into the riot ol 1968.
We the inmates cry-out because we
are suffering. But, we cry-out to the
taxpayer who will eventually have to
pay for smething that is not needed.
Underlining the sights and smells
o f the ghetto night are the sounds
that vibrate o ff the walls and into the
streets: the sound o f people making
love, dancing, cursing, laughing,
crying, dying more often than not.
The sound o f neon flashing red,
green, blue whorelights tricking for
dreams. The sound o f a baby crying
from hunger and neglect or o f a rat
scurrying across old newspapers, the
moan o f a ju n k y , the rantings o f
street corner revolutionaries, the
death o f a Cadillac as it crashes in in­
toxication. Sounds like only the ghet­
to can produce -- Aretha singing the
blues; Coltrane blowing his horn;
N ik k i’ s poet fire; Malcolm exhorting
freedom now and M a rtin L uth er
King shouting, "Free at last. Free at
Last. Thank God Almighty -- Free at
L ast!"
Sounds echoing - reverberating in
the night; children playing hide and
seek, laughing carelessly as o nly
children can, as only children w ill -
until the end o f time.
A kaleidoscope o f sights, sounds,
smells and vibrations forming many
patterns - colorfull - dark - cold
and, all make up the ghetto - the
place — the watcher calls home.
G reenville, Miss. -- N ational
Council o f Churches President M.
W illiam Howard has begun a series
o f visits to political prisoners in the
U .S. w ith a trip to M ississipp i’ s
Parchment State Prison.
There H ow ard met w ith L a rry
Jackson, a young Black prisoner ser­
ving a life sentence for conspiracy to
commit murder. Jackson is one o f
fo ur members o f the Republic o f
New A fric a , a Black n atio na list
organization advocating an indepen­
dent Black nation in the South, ser­
ving prison sentences for their role in
a 1971 shootout precipitated by a
police raid.
The NCC Governing Board passed
a reso lu tio n c a llin g fo r the im ­
mediate release o f Jackson and the
others: Thomas N o rto n , Wayne
James and Imari Obadele. “ Eviden­
Is the DEVIL working against your home, nature, job, church, money, child
ren, sex, neighbor, health, sick, family, loved ones? Are there demons on
your body or in your home? Have you been in a fix where you cannot keep
or find the RIGHT man or woman? If you need help with any or all of these
problems you should call me NOWII Tomorrow may be too late! 11 Does your
luck pass you by? If so, I have lucky hands to help you be a winner in all
GAMES OF CHANCE — Bingo, Reno, Tahoe, Las Vegas, Special, Miami,
Fla., etc.
If you are a spiritual seeker who needs help not promises —call me. I am a
"God Gifted" man. I can help you in a hurry.
TESTIMONIALS
1) M iss Joyce J W., P ortland, OR., was in a fix where she could not
find or keep a good man. I, Rev. Hoskins, removed the fix and the jinx from
her. NOW she can draw the man of her desire to her like a magnet.
2) M r. ft M rs. C.P. of C om pton, C A., could not win the BIG one. They
called Rev Hoskins and Rev. sent them a for-sure win blessing money hand.
They went to Las Vegas and their luck kept on coming, winning more than
$16,000.
3) Ms. Barbara T ., In g le w o o d . C A., had a man who left home for
another woman. She called Rev Hoskins with tears in her voice. She w ant­
ed him back!! Now he is backend eating out of her hand.
4) M r. Paul. Los Angeles, CA., was in a fix and rooted by this woman.
As a result he lost his nature for other women, but through Rev. Hoskins'
work, Paul regained his nature and became luckier than ever with women,
money and his business.
51 M rs. O .I., Long Beach, CA., had demons in her body, and in her
home, causing all kinds of bad luck, and unnatural sickness. She called Rev.
Hoskins and in 72 hours her home and body were free of unclean spirits.
(The names in the above testimonies have been changed for the protec­
tion of the individual. 11 guarantee to do what I say I can do. I have a big re­
putation to protect.
know the power of the SPIRIT. Don't put it off. Don’t let distance keep
you from calling. Call now!!! You will be glad you did. Tell a friend where to
get HELP today.
RESULTS GUARANTEED
REVEREND CLAUDE HOSKINS
553 GLENVIEW AVENUE
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94610
TELEPHONE: I 4151 444 4883
■ Paid Advertisementi
Julius Snowden 38013
Editor
Through the years
down through the ages
ever since Jamesto wn
its become apparent
obvious, dear, too real
way too real!
that blackfotks, niggers, colored people
know how to die
to die relaxed .. passive
soundless deaths
lacking screams, or protest, or indignation
or anything conducive to the norms
o f dying unsatisfied
on the way to A merica
we died in the middle passage
the screams and protest and indignation
was there but then the race was pure
and the uncertainty was ever present
since then we've become more settled
less resistant accepting our lot and death
all in one short breathe o f semi-life
everyone protested died
or were ran out o f the country
evers died
malcolm died
king died
hampton died
stokely escaped
rap was arrested
which is worse than death
cleaver escaped and came back and died
channy died
huey's killing hos
elijah died naturally fmysha allahj
george assinated
and still we wonder i f murdered
we died in korea
fo r what?
we died in Jonestown
fo r what?
we died at jackson state
fo r what?
we die in ghettoes drunk, hooked, poor and hungrv
we die from high blood pressure, low blood pressure,
no blood pressure
dead!!!!
fo r what?
we die quicker fo r nothing
than we live fo r something
by asmar abdul setfullah
A ka Joe Carellus Hest »40404
E
Childwoman Hulking
Gracefully,
A tone on the beach.
Her curly black hair blown
in the breeze—
Jackson, who was only 15 when
arrested, had arrived at R N A
headquarters in Jackson for the first
time the night before the raid.
“ The story o f Larry Jackson is a
good illustration o f how otherwise
innocent people can be caught up in
a web o f racist and negative police
discretion o f the kind that was
prevalent in the South in 1971,”
H ow ard said.
DO YOU NEED HELP?
Lucid Walls o f Time
UNTITLED: BECA USE DEA TH A IN 'T GOT NO NAME
ce is now available which uncompro­
misingly demonstrates that in fact
there was no conspiracy on the part
o f the Republic o f New Africa. Fur­
ther, FBI documents obtained under
the Freedom o f In fo rm a tio n Act
revealed that the designed intent o f
the FBI was to ‘ n eutralize and
destroy’ the Black N a tio n a list
Movement.”
X
O
D
U
S
r ir /M r /Z /f/u //a /u /
fie/t/t-r
1518 N E KILLINGSWORTh
PORTLAND. OREGON 9721 1
EXODUS
Her hands in her jacket pockets,
strolling the sand just as
not so tong ago
did her own lost brother.
H ell, the time did pass as they said:
Have I grown wiser and accepting
as they said I would?
Screams from within the voice
that cries,
"gainst the flame called frustration:
"N ever!”
A nd she lingers on the path
he once took—
Only this time it's a different strand
and different waters lap the shore.
But sand is sand and prints it takes
and really no one else has made
these / leave behind.
The memory is evidence o f one fo rm
and I leave another.
They are both treasures.
bv Robert Benjamin Franklin
LEG ACY
I don't know where I'm going.
And almost know where I ’ve been
But the moment that the world
stopped fo r thee
And went whirling on fo r me --
has made the difference,
fo r time cannot stop, and not
leave a part o f me:
To linger and swell in memories:
This, then is the legacy. .
Robert Benjamin I-rankiin
284 7997
NOVEMBER
FOLLOW-THROUGH
Knowing Follow Through Keys is Important
Life is a succession of order.
Did you know that when you learn the Follow-
Through Key to SUCCESS your sense of hap­
piness will increase over 75 percent; and when you
learn the Follow-Through Key to HAPPINESS
your state of health spiritually, mentally and
physically will improve; and when you learn the
Follow-Through Key to HEALTH your chances of
gaining wealth will improve; and when you learn
the Follow-Through Key to WEALTH your chan­
ces of having all the money you need will improved
over 90 percent; and when you learn the Follow-
Through Key to MONEY your respectability will
improve over 95 percent; and when you learn the
Follow-Through Key to RESPECTABILITY your
rate of successes will improve at lease 60 percent
over what it was before learning and using these six
positive Follow-Through Keys.
Each individual's acceptance and application of
these Keys is as different as fingerprints, no two
individuals are the same.
Thomas Boothe
Author of the Follow-Through Concept