Mumia Abu-Jamal is a renowned journalist from Philadelphia who has been inprisoned since 1981.  

The Case of the Angola 3

Some 36 years ago, deep in rural Louisiana, three young black men were silenced for trying to expose continued segregation, systematic corruption, and horrific abuse in the biggest prison in the US, an 18,000-acre former slave plantation called Angola.

A new study is painting a bleak picture of American Misdemeanor courts.
The study shows that courts across the country are overburdened, and that defendants’ rights to due process are being violated.
Locally, though, Multnomah County seems to be bucking the trend with its innovative Community Courts.
 

an interview with Ashanti Alston, co-chair of the Jericho movement, which works to free all political prisoners in the USA.

On 10/04/2002 Patrice  Lumumba Ford was arrested along with 3 other suspects of the Portland Seven in Portland, Oregon. He was accused of traveling overseas in a conspiracy to wage war against the United States, provide material support and resources to Al Qaeda and contribute services to Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

On 12/02/2003 Patrice  Lumumba Ford was sentenced, in a plea bargain, to 18 years imprisonment. 

Sheriff Jack McDaniel of Alpine, Texas, On July 18, 1996 arrived to arrest Alvaro at his home on a trumped up charge of aggravated robbery  When the unarmed Alvaro questioned the sheriff's action, the officer drew his weapon. Before he could shoot, Alvaro disarmed him and fled. (At the trial for robbery, Alvaro represented himself and had the charge dismissed.). No warrant for the arrest had been issued.

Ras Danny, KBOO Programmer of Higher Reasoning Reggae Time joined Ruth in the studio to talk about what "change" really means for those in lockdown and how much better his life is after he decided to change and stay out of prison forever.

Be sure to check out the political prisoners program that aired on KBOO on Friday, April 24th.

Programs to look forward to: Blaque Butterfly, Dave of "Dave's Killer Bread," and volunteers who visit prisons in Oregon will be our guests soon.

30 miles from the nearest town, hidden in the Louisiana hills, traveling along a long twisting road at a dead end you will find Angola, a former plantation now a prison the size of  Manhattan which is unlike any other known at this point in time.