To Remember and Honor Churne Lloyd Jr. “Brother”
Category: News and Politics

Allah God gives us companions early in life.  "Brother" has been my uncle, comrade and friend, he's had my back, no matter where we've been in the world, all my life.

There is no better name that could be assigned to him, Churne Lloyd Jr., but "Brother".  Brother has served as the axel in the various interconnected family wheel.  A task he performed seemingly effortlessly or was I that we just didn't see its impact on him.  Hopefully he understood our love and deep respect.

"Brother", you've been the true constant in my life.  I miss you so much right now in the quiet reflection of my soul.  I thank you so much for looking after me.

As the world looks a skew at the general lack of responsible Black men, "Brother's" example, irresponsive of life's complications, is built on very fundamental principles, the dedication to his two daughters and son, his family and wife, and his people and community.  He loved his wife Mariane so much he married her twice.

In our conversation last month, here in the most maximum prison in the United States, Florence ADX Colorado, he wanted me to know how proud he was of his children how special and independent they were.  Because of his life experience, he transmitted his lessons to stay focused; he provided them with the opportunity to insure their quality of life and free spirit.  You all should know he was so proud of you all.

Thru the perilous path of my life in the struggle for dignity of our people, Brothers continued counsel and perspective helped to balance my emotions with reason.  His spiritual being was calming to me.  In this time and space, it hurts to think of this world without you in it, my Brother.

Brother, I know it hurts to express how much we love you and we'll miss you.  I'm sure Grandma and Daddy will be glad to welcome you, uncle Johnny and all the Lloyds, Robinsons, and Shakurs.  They'll have a family reunion.  Dear Brother you are the best of us, the strong, gentle warrior.  Always steady at the wheel.

Sometimes we love with nothing more than hope, sometimes we cry with everything but tears.  In the end that's all there is love, and its duty, sorrow and its truth.  In the end that's all we have to hold on tight until the dawn. 

For all who didn't get a chance to know Churne Lloyd, Jr. known to us as "Brother", he was the most honorable and sweetest man I know.  I can't think of a time that I've seen him disrespectful to anyone arguing with anyone.  One night in the Bronx some stick up crew tried us, Brother never raised his voice or even got mad, he just put in work.  When he was imprisoned in Turkey, the same the one in the midnight express, after a tremendous effort to get him released when he arrive home he was so calm like nothing at all had happened, calming in spirit and manner.

When he and I were young navigating the gamut of discovering our manhood in the 60's, a time when I was in search for my biological father in my despair I began drinking wine, and hanging on the corner, falling down drunk in pity, a behavior that had a short life. 

My big younger Uncle Brother's strong arms picking me up off the park bench in Baisley Park, carrying me over his shoulder to Grandma's house in the still of the night, cleaning up my vomit, hiding me in the basement, knocking me on my ass, dismissing my liquor courage.  Sharing my pain, listening to me in search of my place.

Brother was my rock then, as he's been all my life.  I pray that I served his essence as he's served mine.  This time won't allow for the depth of our life journey.

How I LOVE YA BROTHER.

Edie, Becky, Nina, Sharon, Madeline, Mom, the Baisley Park family, I know all of your hearts are in pain.  We will always be so proud of his example.  Teach our children how special he was; others should be so blessed to have a "Brother" in their lives. 

I thank God's love for Brother, not to let him suffer. The quickness of his transition, left us reeling, feeling denied a chance to say goodbye, and thank you. But I know in the depth of our hearts we'd preferred that brother not spend one minute in pain.

As a family we must take up his slack and try to stay close and informed about each other.  Using his life as an example.  Growing stronger, leaving guidance for our children to know their family.  Start a family reunion, documenting our history.

Many might not know, but I want to thank Brother and The Committee of Friends and Family of Dr. Mutulu Shakur.  My years in the Black Liberation movement would assume there was an organizational ability to guide the political, legal and social support.  After the lack of a predictable development it was Brother's intervention and steady hand that circumvented the normal contradiction inherent in the movement's style of work and ideological dilemmas, providing me with a functional level of support for over 25 years.  He built it, what will happen now will be based on his leadership.

Brother, memorialized my legacy in the struggle for our people and human rights, my legacy is without question his legacy.  Brother, thank you for your stewardship that has kept me in the mind's eye of our people, with the health activist award.

Thank you for all the visits, phone calls, commissary, the website, and events.  So much you've done on my behalf.  Please forgive me for any undue stress I might have caused you.  You told me it kept you focused. 

Please, Tupac, Lumumba, Zayid, Abu, Myatari, give Brother love.  Brother I love you for the sake of the one who loves us all. 

One the next level of our existence I will embrace you my uncle friend comrade and BROTHER. 

Love goes on forever because love is born in the part of us that can not die.

I will become apart of your children lives, if they'll have me.  I know how important they are to you… I can feel your peace and I am now calm.

We should feel joy because Brother will be welcomed in Paradise.  He'll be where the best people go after this life. 

Close your eyes and open your heart and you'll feel him…

I Love you forever,

Your nephew
Mutulu Shakur
July 29, 2008

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Dr. Mutulu Shakur - Dec. 2007 Parole Report
Category: News and Politics

TO:  Friends and Supporters of Dr. Mutulu Shakur

FROM: Teri Thompson, Attorney
  
RE:  Interim Parole Hearing  
 
The Interim Parole Hearing for Dr. Shakur was held on December 11, 2007 at USP-Florence ADMAX.    Mutulu and I thank each of you for your letters, prayers and support.  Below is my report of the Hearing.

[History of the Case]
 
Federal law provides, in relevant part, that a federal inmate who is eligible for parole may be released on parole after completion of one-third of his prison term or after 10 years of any sentence over 30 years.  Dr. Shakur was eligible for parole in 1996.  However, his efforts to have a parole hearing in 1996 were blocked by various forces.

In 2002, an Initial Parole Hearing was finally convened.  The Parole Commission denied parole to Dr. Shakur and ordered a 15 year reconsideration date.  Therefore, Dr. Shakur is not eligible for parole reconsideration until 2017.  We have always maintained that because of the 6 year delay, Dr. Shakur should be eligible for parole in 2011.

In 2004, we filed a Petition of Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to address, inter alia, the six year delay in having a parole hearing (from 1996 to 2002).  Despite our legal battles which ultimately took us to the United States Supreme Court, the highest court declined to hear our case in 2006.

Even though Dr. Shakur was given a 15 year "hit" in 2002, federal law provides Interim Parole Hearings every 2 years.  In 2005, after the Interim Parole Hearing, the Parole Commission refused to acknowledge the 6 year delay, and maintained that Dr. Shakur would not be eligible again for parole until 2017.

[2007 Interim Parole Hearing]

On December 11, 2007,the Interim Parole Hearing was held at the country's most isolated dungeon, USP-Florence, or "Supermax," as it is commonly referred to, located in the mountains of Florence, Colorado.   There is absolutely no human contact or interaction.  In fact, our Hearing was held inside of an attorney's booth; Dr. Shakur was separated by glass and handcuffed.

The Hearing Officer began by reciting the standard rules of Interim Parole Hearings:  To determine whether there have been any rule changes and to review any and all "positive and negative adjustments" since the 2005 Interim Parole Hearing.

Ironically, the Hearing Officer commented that the recent allegations that are documented in the two disciplinary reports that Dr. Shakur received which resulted in his transfer to the Supermax facility were "minor infractions" in his opinion.  He further stated that Dr. Shakur's transfer to Supermax was also "not significant" and the fact that we were convened inside of the Supermax facility was not relevant to his decision.

We argued again for the record that the 6 year delay from 1996 to 2002 was unlawful and that Dr. Shakur should have a parole reconsideration date of 2011, rather than 2017.  The Hearing Officer stated that he was bound by the previous decision of the Parole Commission.

We also argued that the recent allegations contained in the recent disciplinary reports were false and that we were actively appealing each allegation through all available administrative channels.  We also maintained that the transfer to Supermax was unjustified. 

We raised each of the positive contributions made by Dr. Shakur at USP-Atlanta and USP-Coleman, highlighting his continuous service to rebuilding men.  We also covered his detailed plans for release and reentry into society.

[Conclusion]

While the Hearing Officer appeared attentive and impressed by our presentation, Interim Parole Hearings generally serve to review an inmate's file and to determine whether there is enough evidence to modify the 15 year "hit."   The Hearing Officer noted that while he found no cause to change the previous decision, the final decision, referred to as a Notice of Action, will be released in approximately 30 days.  We will appeal any adverse decision.

I have been proud to serve as Dr. Shakur's attorney over the years despite the number of legal battlefields we have encountered.  I encourage each of you to continue to support him in the midst of such times as these.   Every single letter counts; I was proud to introduce over 20 letters from various supporters throughout the country and from all walks of life to the Hearing Officer.  They will be a part of his file in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Shakur extends his gratitude and love to each one of you.  Dr. Shakur remains a bulwark of strength and a never-ending diplomat for peace.

10:18 PM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Dr. Mutulu Shakur Speaks About Katrina Anniversaries
Category: News and Politics

The objective reality we face in the wake of Katrina's horrors requires a decision that we will never again allow our basic survival to depend on any state or any people, but on ourselves. Our oath must be that we will act to formulate basic structured and coordinated strategies, committed to the proposition that we will defend and protect our people against all forms of catastrophe. If we fail, we will have no future. However, if we fail in the course of committed struggle as a people, our legacy will not be one of shame, but of honor.

Black people continue to be heroic on the battlefields of a foreign country, as law enforcement officials against a robber, or as Black militants against the system, and have affirmed a commitment to our peoples survival. Although there are laws which have been challenged as a result of this commitment, the rule of right and wrong should, above all else, achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I believe that what is embodied in this principle is a dedication to all people's human rights.

That said, our people who violate the masses and embarrass the dignities of our peoples endurance in times of war or natural disaster, should meet with their just termination. Gangs that allow their members to commit crimes against the people during our struggle to survive a catastrophe are the enemy of us all. During riots and revolts of the 1960's through the 1990's, during blackouts, snowstorms and earthquakes, there was always a common understanding of truce between crews and gangs. This Principle of the Thug Code of Conduct must be upheld. Violation will not be tolerated or forgiven.

Morality is so instinctive that even monkeys make moral judgments. If one were to act on what was right, it would have positive results. Conversely, if one acts immorally, the results are predictably negative. Witness the collaboration between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Guard and the US military with Operation Blessing, an organization owned by Reverend Pat Robertson.

The same Pat Robertson who suggested the assassination of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, never mentioning America's involvement in a failed coup attempt there a year earlier. The same Pat Robertson who used the tribal conflicts in Liberia and Uganda as an excuse to wrangle donations from US citizens, by playing on their sympathies. The same Reverend who then used these donations to buy mining equipment to ship to his conflict gold mines throughout Africa, particularly within Liberia and Uganda.

Real power is defined, in earnest, by the ability to respond to crisis by or against a specific group. Katrina exposed us. Although in the past we have been faced with the crisis of drug proliferation, indiscriminate police violence, gentrification and land exploitation, this was the 21st century test that exposed our lack of power.

Have we relinquished our obligation to respond to the various crises of our people to the point that we are too paralyzed to plan for immediate and long range crises? We are confused around this issue, because a decision to prepare ourselves challenges by its nature the present power structure.

We must become psychologically committed to the idea that wherever we are, whatever we are doing, at any time, when our peoples lives are endangered as a result of a natural disaster or unnatural crisis, we will come to their aid. We must prepare and organize in anticipation of these possibilities.

In the early years of my study of the predictability of Acupuncture against the crisis of the 1960's and 1970's drug epidemic (another government endorsed catastrophe), we were motivated as a generation to prepare for war, prepare for natural disaster, and do all we can for the people. As we enter the anniversaries of Katrina's horrors, we must make a pledge. Protect ourselves at all times.

Straight Ahead, Stiff Resistance.

Dr. Mutulu Shakur

Coleman Federal Penetentiary (Florida)

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Dr. Mutulu Shakur's 2Pac Tribute CD
Category: Music

Las Vegas/Toronto - Incarcerated Freedom Fighter Dr. Mutulu Shakur has released a CD entitled "A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle", commemorating the life and times of his son Tupac Amaru Shakur. Tupac is the best-selling rap musician of all time and arguably the most influential artist in the genre.

Dr. Mutulu Shakur has been imprisoned in US penitentiaries the past 19 years for activities in support of the Black Liberation Movement. "A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle" is the first ever compilation to feature incarcerated rappers alongside hip-hop heavyweights. Such a project was actually conceived by Tupac and his brother Mopreme during their prison meetings with Mutulu, when they wrote the 'Thug Code' constitution to help decrease gang violence. Their peace-making efforts were cut short when Tupac was killed in Las Vegas on September 13, 1996.

The tribute CD features a 16-page booklet which includes a printing of the 'Thug Code. Half the albums proceeds will be used towards Dr. Mutulu Shakur's inner city health and education initiatives, as an attempt to pick up where his sons efforts left off.

"A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle" also breaks new ground in the growing urban publishing industry, by including an exclusive preview chapter of Dr. Mutulu Shakur's new historical fiction novel about Tupac entitled "N 2 Da Gutter." The album features new music by Tupac's family, including Mopreme, Nzingha and the Outlawz, alongside contemporary musician admirers TQ, Slick, Imaan Faith, and T-Jay, among others.

The tribute CD is Executive Produced by Dr. Mutulu Shakur and Canadian hip-hop activist Raoul Juneja (a.k.a. Deejay Ra). It is being released by KENT Entertainment and their rap imprint FIRST KUT (Las Vegas), in association with Juneja's Lyrical Knockout Entertainment (Toronto).

For more details about A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle or Dr. Mutulu Shakur visit his www.DareToStruggle.org and www.MutuluShakur.com web sites.

To order visit:

http://www.firstkutrecords.com/releases/tupactribute/info.php

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