{"id":792,"date":"2018-07-30T14:25:28","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T18:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nlg.org\/guild-notes\/?post_type=article&p=792"},"modified":"2019-03-21T15:51:04","modified_gmt":"2019-03-21T19:51:04","slug":"beyond-bars-a-flicker-becomes-a-flame","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.nlg.org\/guild-notes\/article\/beyond-bars-a-flicker-becomes-a-flame\/","title":{"rendered":"BEYOND BARS: A Flicker Becomes a Flame"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kinetik Justice Amun<\/strong>
\nBessemer, AL<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kinetik Justice Amun. (Photo: freealabamamovement.wordpress.com<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

With strength and optimism, I greet the Comrades and salute the Freedom Fighters!
\nIt has been a long ride. We have come a long way, yet there is so much work we still must do. I pen this expression with those in mind, who have committed themselves to the process and dedicated the time to actually DO THE WORK.<\/p>\n

In an article I wrote in January 2014\u2014in conjunction with our formal introduction of the Free Alabama Movement ( FAM) to the world\u2014I spoke of \u201ca flicker becoming a flame\u201d and the threat of that flame blazing into a wildfire for change. To be in balance with the Universal Order, myself and hundreds of men confined within the Alabama DOC decided to become the change we wanted to see. From 2014 throughout 2015 and 2016 we worked tirelessly, fanning that flicker through networking, mobilizing, organizing and educating.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Free Alabama Movement poster for the September 2016 national prison strike.<\/p><\/div>\n

Two and a half years later, in a coordinated effort from Alabama to Ohio and all across the nation, that flicker turned into the National Prison Strike on the 45th anniversary of the Attica Rebellion.
\nOur Unity, Our Message, Our Methods, Our Execution shook the economical underpinnings and exposed the continued inhumanities of America\u2019s dirty little secret: SLAVERY as a matter of law\u2014the \u201cPeculiar Institution\u201d draped in the clothes of the American Policing and Criminal Justice System.<\/p>\n

But, as historical analysis reveals, all attacks against the Institution will be met with extreme repression. True to form, many Comrades across the country are enduring the brunt of the repression: Ra\u2019Salute to Comrade Malik, Bro Rashid, Iman Hasan, Bro Anthony Robinson, Bro Bennu, and dozens of other Brothers and Sisters.<\/p>\n

I can also be counted amongst that number, as many of my ordeals prior to and since the strike have been widely documented and publicized. To my extreme benefit, in the weeks leading up to the National Prison Strikes, I received a special visit from the law firm of Gespass & Johnson, representatives of the National Lawyers Guild.<\/p>\n

Their timing was perfect, as due to extensive media coverage the Alabama DOC targeted me as the \u201cleader\u201d of the strikes in Alabama and sought to neutralize me. First, I was Emergency Transferred from Holman to Kilby under investigation, then to Limestones Behavior Modification Unit, and eventually here to Donaldson Disciplinary Unit. They came with the pain, but the NLG provided a real cushion.<\/p>\n

I can honestly say that they \u201cshowed early and stayed late.\u201d From that day to this one, they have stood with me and brothers from FAM every step of the way.
\nDuring the Emergency Transfers\u2026They were there.
\nDuring the Hunger Strike\u2026They were there.
\nDuring the \u201cDry Cell\u201d\u2026They were there.
\nDuring the Assault\u2026They were there.
\nDuring the Donaldson deprivations\u2026They were there.<\/p>\n

Recently, they filed a Habeas Corpus challenging my treatment and indefinite solitary confinement status. Since that filing in January 2018, I have been moved from my \u201cillegal\u201d Disciplinary Segregation placement to the Administrative Segregation Unit, which corresponds with my classification status. Two days later, I was given six months\u2019 worth of confiscated newspapers, periodicals, and other publications.<\/p>\n

Based upon the move to Admin Seg, for the first time in over four years the Segregation Review Board is considering my release to General Population.<\/p>\n

As should be evident by now, I acknowledge, respect, and appreciate the NLG for showing up on Day 1 and providing real legal assistance to the Brothers of the Free Alabama Movement. A special shout out to David, Kathy and Tiffanie.<\/p>\n

Love & Solidarity ,
\nKinetik Justice Amun
\nFree Alabama Movement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kinetik Justice Amun Bessemer, AL With strength and optimism, I greet the Comrades and salute the Freedom Fighters! It has been a long ride. We have come a long way, yet there is so much work we still must do. I pen this expression with those in mind, who have committed themselves to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"issuem_issue":[162],"issuem_issue_categories":[188],"issuem_issue_tags":[184,28,27,183,29,32],"class_list":["post-792","article","type-article","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","issuem_issue-guild-notes-vol-43-no-2-3-summer-fall-2018","issuem_issue_categories-beyond-bars","issuem_issue_tags-alabama","issuem_issue_tags-beyond-bars","issuem_issue_tags-jailhouse-lawyers","issuem_issue_tags-prison-strike","issuem_issue_tags-prisons","issuem_issue_tags-solitary-confinement","post"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t