Free All Political Prisoners Calendar 2008

CERTAIN DAYS:

the 2008 Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar This year’s theme, The 2007 targeting of the San Francisco Eight (SF8) shows, more than ever, that COINTELPRO is ongoing. Over thirty years after the incident of which they are accused, eight Black Panthers face new charges… During 2008, as this calendar hangs on your wall, the SF8 will be in court and he Black Panther Party will be on trial once again. So this year’s theme is the Legacy of the Panthers. Now more than ever, it is vital that their contribution be celebrated.

artwork from calendar

by Emory Douglas Certain Days: the 2006 freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar cover art by political prisoner Tom Manningby Roger Peet: “This poster is a celebration of all those who kept their mouths shut: the people who refused to snitch to the cops, who reisted grand juries, who stood up to torture and kept secrets safe. Without them, al our struggles would have ended a lng time ago.”

Produced by a collecive in Montreal, with the input and guidance of political prisoners David Gilbert, Robert Seth Hayes and Herman Bell.

FOCUSING ON: Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War in Canada and the United States. Today’s anti-war, anti-globalization and anti-colonial movements are rooted in the history of earlier struggles for justice, including the mass movements of the 60s and 70s. Many of the Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War featured in this calendar were organizers during that period: members of the Black Panther Party, or the American Indian Movement, Puerto Ricans fighting for their homeland, or white anti-racist allies working in solidarity with oppressed peoples. Many of the Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War featured in this calendar have been in prison SINCE THAT TIME – 30 years or more. Yet these prisoners are not relics of past movements, they are still active in their political work, and despite the hardships of organizing in prison, they continue to organize for justice in the present day; justice behind bars and justice on the streets. This calendar is our tribute to them.

FEATURING ART BY:

Emory Douglas
Jonah Fertig
Roger Peet
Mirna Abdo
Carlos Cortez
Kristine Virsis
Gord Hill
Xenios Zittis
Tory
Gerald and Maas
Tom Manning

FEATURING WORDS ABOUT:

The San Francisco 8 (by the SF8)
Before Guantanamo, or abu Ghraib, was the Black Panthers (by Mumia Abu-Jamal)
Coming of Age: A New Afrikan Revolutionary (by Safya Bukhari)
The FBI Strikes: COINTELPRO (by Laura Whitehorn)
Palestine: 60 Years Behind Bars, the Struggle for Return Continues (by by Sumoud)
A Violent Era (by David Gilbert)
One Struggle (by Daniel McGowan)
The Black Panther Party… From a Sister’s Point of View (by Dr Phyllis Johnson interviewed by Mzuri Pambeli)
The American Indian Movement (by Ward Churchill)
Turning Point 1968 (by George Katsiaficas)
Shadowboxing: Representations of Black Feminist Politics (by Joy James)
FBI Hunting the Dead: Can John Bowman Ever Rest in Peace? (by J. Soffiyah Elijah)
Message from Ashanti Alston (by Ashanti Alston)

All funds raised by Calendar Commitee will go to direct support of political prisoners and anti-imperialist struggles. Funds from this year’s calendar are being shared between the New York State Task Force on Political Prisoners, Addameer (a Palestinian Prisoners Suppoert and Human Rights Association), and the San Francisco Eight. This project is a collaboration between outside organizers and U.S. Political Prisoners Herman Bell, Robert Seth Hayes and David Gilbert.

In the words of the Calendar committee

The calendar is a joint fundraising and educational project between outside organisers in Montreal, and three Political Prisoners being held in maximum-security prisons in New York state. The initial project was suggested by Political Prisoner Herman Bell, and has been shaped throughout the process by all of our ideas, discussions, and analysis. The outside collectives compile, edit and produce the calendar; and throughout the process, we seek the input and guidance of the 3 Political Prisoners: Robert Seth Hayes, Herman Bell, and David Gilbert. All of the members of the outside collectives are involved in day-to-day organising work other than the calendar, on issues ranging from refugee and immigrant solidarity to community media to prisoner justice. We work from an anti-imperialist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, feminist, queer and trans positive position.

Be sure to check out these Kersplebedeb pages:

Political Prisoners/Prisoners of War Page

Literature Rack

Police & Justice Issues Page