Take Action to free Albert Woodfox

[ckaihatsu]

[icffmaj] Take Action to free Albert Woodfox


Featured below is the full text of an action alert for Albert Woodfox, released today by Amnesty International, timed to build public pressure in the days leading up to Albert's oral arguments in New Orleans on Tuesday, January 7.

Albert Woodfox

http://www.opednews.com/Diary/Amnesty-Intl-action-alert-by-Angola-3-News-Action-Alerts_Amnesty-International_Evidence_Free-Speech-Censored-140103-217.html

In 1972 two young black men were convicted of the murder of a prison guard at Louisiana's infamous Angola prison. Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace were sentenced to life imprisonment even though no physical evidence linked either man to the crime, potentially exculpatory evidence was "lost" by the state, and the authorities bribed the key eyewitness. Both men were kept in solitary for many years and Woodfox is currently serving his 40th year isolated in a 9 by 6 foot cell.

Woodfox and Wallace were placed in solitary confinement shortly after the murder, as was a third man named Robert King. Together Woodfox, Wallace and King make up the "Angola 3." The men spent 23 hours a day isolated in a small cell, four steps long and three steps across. King was released in 2001. Wallace w as released in October 2013 when his conviction was overturned and died of liver cancer just three days later. Albert's conviction has been overturned 3 times, yet the Louisiana authorities have appealed every ruling in his favor. The men maintain that they were put in solitary confinement in retaliation for their work organizing their fellow prisoners against segregation and abuses in the prison.

After four decades of cruel treatment and a flawed verdict there is only one just and humane action that the Louisiana authorities can take. Tell Louisiana authorities to free Albert Woodfox today!
Take Action Now

Downloads

Case Sheet: PDF (http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeforrights/assets/pdf/2013WriteForRightsCaseSheetWoodfox.pdf) Sample Letter: PDF (http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeforrights/assets/pdf/2013WriteForRightsSampleLetterWoodfox.pdf)
All Case Sheets: PDF (http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeforrights/assets/pdf/2013WriteForRightsCaseSheets.pdf) All Sample Letters: PDF (http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeforrights/assets/pdf/2013WriteForRightsSampleLetters.pdf)
Show solidar ity with Albert Woodfox


SEND A LETTER OR A CARD

MAIL TO:
Albert Woodfox
#72148
David Wade Correctional Center, N1A3
670 Bell Hill Rd.
Homer, LA 71040


WRITE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Urge that the state withdraw its appeal against the February 2013 ruling that overturned Albert Woodfox's conviction for murder so that he can be freed.

Call on him to see that Albert Woodfox is immediately removed from isolation and end his inhumane treatment in prison.

Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell
Office of the Attorney General
P.O Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Email: [email protected]

START YOUR LETTER: Attorney General Caldwell
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Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org



BJ {William M. Johnson}
"The biggest weapon in the hands of the oppressors is the minds of the oppressed." Steve Biko &nb sp;
www.angola3.org
http://www.commongroundrelief.org
http://itsabouttimebpp.com
http://naabpp.org
"We who believe in freedom cannot rest"

[blake 3:17]

Legal Update: Albert Woodfox’s Jan 7th Hearing

by Herman's House on January 13, 2014 in Action Alerts, Albert Woodfox, Solitary Confinement
Last Tuesday a huge crowd of supporters rallied after Albert Woodfox’s hearing to show solidarity with the Angola 3 and to demonstrate opposition for the cruel and unusual use of solitary confinement. Present was a broad spectrum of supporters from the faith based, activist, college and local communities.

Woodfox has been held in solitary confinement, or what the state of Louisiana calls “Closed Cell Restriction” for 42 years. These conditions amount to 23 hours a day in a 6×9 foot cell alone. His original conviction has been overturned 3 times, most recently by Judge Brady. Each time the state of Louisiana has appealed the decisions in an effort to reindict Woodfox for a crime he did not commit.

On Tuesday Albert’s legal team made the case that there was a pattern of racial discrimination in the selection of the grand jury that convicted Albert in West Feliciana Parish in 1972. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, the state countered that argument with the claim that evidence of discrimination was razor thin

Former Black Panther and Common Ground Relief founder Malik Rahim said of the proceedings: “Their main thing is to always show that model to others, that if you stand up for justice…this is what we’ll do to you. We will lock you up and we will keep you no matter how much it costs or how long it takes”

Despite Attorney General Buddy Caldwell’s claims about Albert being the most dangerous criminal in the State of Louisiana, Albert maintains a flawless behavioral record as Amnesty International cites in their most recent campaign for his release.

Robert King, Jackie Sumell, Mwalimu Johnson and Rev. Dr. Patricia Teel Bates spoke at the rally after the hearing. Each emphasized that Albert’s case is but one part of a larger struggle to end the practice of solitary confinement, which by its very nature violates the 8th Amendment to the US Constitution that outlaws cruel and unusual punishment.

http://hermanshouse.org/legal-update-albert-woodfoxs-jan-7th-hearing/

[blake 3:17]

Amnesty International's petition is here:

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=520358


Albert Woodfox has been in solitary confinement for more than 40 years. The Louisiana authorities refuse to free him despite the fact that his conviction was overturned 3 times.

More than four decades ago, Albert Woodfox, one of the Angola 3 prisoners, was convicted of murdering a prison guard. No physical evidence ties him to the crime. The state claimed it lost potentially exculpatory evidence, and evidence shows that the key eyewitness was bribed. Despite this, Albert has been confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day for nearly 41 years.

After four decades of cruel treatment, there is only one just and humane action that the Louisiana authorities can take. Tell Louisiana authorities to free Albert Woodfox today.