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Le Libérer
29th June 2013, 02:09
For the last month I have been a part of an incredible journey organizing about the documentary, Herman's House. (http://hermanshousethefilm.com/)
Here is the trailer.
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The Synosis is:
Herman Wallace, one of the 3 Black Panthers convicted to serve life in solitary confinement, may be the longest-serving prisoner in solitary confinement in the United States—he's spent more than 41 years in a 6-by-9-foot cell in Louisiana. Imprisoned in 1967 for a robbery he admits, he was subsequently sentenced to life for a killing he vehemently denies. Herman's House is a moving account of the remarkable expression his struggle found in an unusual project proposed by artist Jackie Sumell. Imagining Wallace's "dream home" began as a game and became an interrogation of justice and punishment in America. The film takes us inside the duo's unlikely 12-year friendship, revealing the transformative power of art.

There have been several documentaries done on the Angola 3, but here is a trailer of another film on them, Angola 3.
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Robert King who was a panelist for the showing of Herman's House, was 150 miles away in another prison and was accused and prosecuted for the killing of a prison guard. The bloody finger prints on the knife that killed the prison guard did not match the finger prints of Herman, King, or Albert Woodfox but because they as Black Panthers were helping other inmates get appeals and their cases heard, and stopping the brutal rapes of new young inmates, they were considered threats and placed in solitary confinement without any evidence. Woodfox's case has been overturned a few times, but the courts have been swayed not to release him. The details are here.

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Herman has been diagnosed with liver cancer and is no longer in solitary confinement, but in a infirmary separated from others. The film Hermans House is set to be shown in POV /PBS July 8th. One of the guards has been quoted to say he is going to try to allow Herman to watch the film.

If you cannot get PBS in your area, it should be available to stream it online July 8th at http://www.pbs.org/pov/hermanshouse/.

Edit: King said the number 1 priority right now in the fight against solitary confinement is to petition Governor Jindal and request he be allowed to die in hospice surroundings, not to die alone and in jail. There are a lot of states that have programs that release terminally ill /elderly prisoners, but of course, Louisiana isnt one of them. Please, take a minute and go to this link requesting Hermans removal to a hospice environment. Here is the latest (http://solitarywatch.com/2013/06/24/angola-3s-herman-wallace-gravely-ill-still-held-in-isolation/) on his health.

Petition to Gov. Jindal
http://www.gov.la.gov/index.cfm?md=form&tmp=email_governor

Edit 2.0- We also need to follow this link and join the movement here
http://hermanshouse.org/get-involved/

http://www.nrcat.org/torture-in-us-prisons/statement/solitary-statement

skitty
29th June 2013, 02:47
Thank you, I wasn't aware of this. Message sent to Gov Jindal; but I don't have high hopes.

Le Libérer
29th June 2013, 03:14
Thank you, I wasn't aware of this. Message sent to Gov Jindal; but I don't have high hopes.

If we can get his office swamped with requests there is a slight chance it could happen. But yet we are talking about someone who privatized all the public hospitals and refused the medicaid expansion so the poor has NO health care at their disposal.

He is gearing up for the national stage. He actually thinks the country wants him as prez (emperor with no clothes) and he has lightened up on some things, but if we don't try nothing will change.

Thank you for submitting the request.

Le Libérer
1st July 2013, 23:53
So much has happened since posting the OP Thursday night after the event. But to continue with updates how to help, I will make a list of various organizations that are working together to follow. One such organization is, Solitary Watch. King wanted me to get in touch with this group to work with them to hopefully make Albert's and Herman's release happen soon. I will be meeting with them when they come to Louisiana later this month. But please go like their Facebook page and watch how this effort is going. And if you are so moved, please sit down and write to Herman and Albert! Let them know they are not forgotten.

Please show both Herman and Albert that, despite being in isolation, they are not alone. Send your letters to:

Herman Wallace, #76759
SNU/CCR
EHCC P.O. Box 174
St Gabriel, LA 70776

USA Albert Woodfox, #72148
David Wade Correctional Center, N1A3
670 Bell Hill Road
Homer, LA 71040
USA

https://www.facebook.com/Solitary.Watch

Herman with Jackie this last weekend during their prison visit
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1000828_176263759216123_1656874554_n.jpg

The latest on Albert whose conviction has been overturned still remains in prison
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/28/after_40_years_in_solitary_in

Madame Ennui
2nd July 2013, 21:44
I've heard about Jindal. A more liberal friend of mine (ha, like I have any friends!) said that he was like a minority destroying minorities.

skitty
5th July 2013, 23:28
The American Friends Service Committee is sponsoring a live video feed of a discussion about prison profiteering, 3p EDT 17 July, here:
http://afsc.org/hangout

Le Libérer
6th July 2013, 05:21
I wanted to show you guys the scheduling in north Louisiana for Herman's House. When the rest of the country (including New Orleans) is enjoying the premier, everyone else in north La. (midstate Alexandria to the Arkansas line) will be watching repeats of Antique Roadshow.

Here is the schedule for Herman's House the rest of the month. I am just heartbroken and very angry about this. I have also written everyone I can think of protesting. Herman's House is basically being blacked out to those within a 2 hour drive in diameter of Wade Correctional where Albert is. I really do not think this is an accident. The PBS schedule in north Louisiana
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/tmt45z9/hermanshouseschedule_zps7b88835a.jpg

Le Libérer
6th July 2013, 05:43
This Revleft thread got a shout out from the Herman's House Facebook page.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/tmt45z9/hermanshouserevleftb_zpsdf062b3c.jpg

Le Libérer
7th July 2013, 03:32
This was played on MSNBC earlier today. To quote the text

Herman Wallace, one of the remaining two imprisoned members of the Angola 3, has been diagnosed (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/angola-3-herman-wallace-liver-cancer-solitary) with liver cancer. Wallace’s attorney believes it is time for him to be let out of solitary confinement and more importantly receive a compassionate release (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassionate_release).
Attorney Nick Trenticosta detailed his client’s condition on Saturday’s Melissa Harris-Perry. “He’s lost about 55 pounds in four months, and he is being treated completely negligently. I would say he’s being killed through intentional neglect.”
Currently 71 years old, Wallace has been in solitary confinement for more than 41 years for his 1972 conviction in the murder of prison guard Brent Miller. It is a conviction that he and the other members of the Angola 3 have fought because they have maintained their innocence in the brutal stabbing.
Given his critical diagnosis, his lawyers and organizations like Amnesty International are pushing for a compassionate release.
Asked whether he thought there was any chance that Wallace would receive a compassionate release, Trenticosta’s response was telling. “I don’t think so, and part of the reason is the state of Louisiana in the past six years has spent $6 million dollars in lawyer fees to keep a 71-year-old man in solitary confinement.”
But please, watch the video as well.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46979745/vp/52407812#52407812

It is a huge story across the nation, but in north Louisiana, it has been swept under the rug.

skitty
9th July 2013, 00:30
Just found this-will be watching PBS!

Le Libérer
9th July 2013, 23:16
I would suggest everyone at least stream Herman's House. Its available here
http://www.pbs.org/pov/hermanshouse/full.php#.UdyJuW2tqJY

Especially those who are artists. As much as the underlying politics of racial profiling and solitary confinement, the relationship between the artist and Herman drives the beauty of art and its transforming power.