FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE! SET THE CAPTIVES'S FREE!
Conference on Political Prisoners, Prisoners of War, and Racially Profiled Detainees in the U.S.
April 16 & 17, Lipke Auditorium, UMASS Boston
Friday, April 16, 7-11pm concert featuring Dead Prez, Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, FTP, Blackout Boston, The Foundation, Curtis King, Simon & Wagner, Reflect & Strengthen, VCR, and PRESENTE!
Saturday, April 17, 9am-5pm workshops and presentations with Pam Africa (MOVE), Fred Hampton, Jr., Linda Evans, Russell Shoates, III, Netdahe Williams, Rod Coronado, Mike Duan, (South Asian Coalition,) Rawan Barakat, (New England Committee to Defend Palestine), Kamel Bell, Michelle Morales, Soffiyah Elijah, Nancy Murray (Patriot Act & Homeland Security), Prof. Robert Hall, Nalda Vigezzi (The Cuban 5) and Jean Day (Leonard Peltier Defense)
$15 Fri. Concert, $10 Sat. Conference, $20 both days, 15 & under, FREE Info: 617-288-1433 or email:
Sponsored by The William Joiner Center/UMASS Boston, The Jericho Movement Boston Political Prisoner Defense Committee, Mobarezeh Collective, Int'l Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal, American Friends Service Committee, and PRESENTE!
BACKGROUND
PRESENTE! is a poetry and theatre collective that for the past three years has been conducting artistic performances calling attention to the plight of Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War held within the borders of the United States. Many of these prisoners have been incarcerated for waging struggle against the U.S. Government's colonialist and racist policies here and abroad.
They are leaders and combatants for Puerto Rican Independence, Native American rights, Black Liberation; some are North American anti imperialists who interfered with their government's ability to wage war around the world. Some are of Arab and Muslim backgrounds, recent targets of "Homeland Security's" policies of racial profiling and disappearances, which are implemented to silence the most critical voices of protest against colonialism and genocide in the Middle East.
Many of these prisoners have been handed down sentences which amount to life imprisonment -- sentences that are a great deal more severe than what is often imposed on child molesters, rapists, and racists who engage in hate crimes. Some, like the Arab and Muslim detainees have been subject to indefinite incarceration, without charges, the benefit of counsel, or access to their loved ones. Others, like Mumia Abu Jamal, are on death row.
The responses of those who have seen our performances have been very positive. We have come to the conclusion however that our efforts are wasted if they do not yield the result of active and massive organizing to seek these prisoners' release from captivity.
It is in the interest of transforming our artistic work into concrete action that would be useful in securing these prisoners' release, that we have organized this Set the Captives Free Conference in Boston. We hope to bring together people from the communities the prisoners represent, as well as organizers and activists. Our goal is to acquaint those who still don't know of them with their history and plight, and develop strategies that will lead to their long overdue exit from prison.
LOCATION
U-Mass Boston, Herbert Lipke Auditorium (science Building, 2nd floor,) 100 Morrissey Blvd
PRICE
$15 concert, $10 day conference, $20 both events, 15 and under free.
DIRECTIONS
Take the Red Line to JFK/UMass Station. A free shuttle bus will carry you to the campus. Directions to reach the University of Massachusetts Boston by public and private transportation is available at http://www.umb.edu/about_umb/directions.html
CONTACT
Call 617-288-1433 or email: freedomnow20042000@yahoo.com