NCJ Number
66894
Date Published
1978
Length
450 pages
Annotation
A PETITION PRESENTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DETAILS ALLEDED CASES OF DELIBERATE U.S. GOVERNMENT DENIAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO MINORITIES AND POLITICAL DISSENTERS.
Abstract
THE PETITIONERS (THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK LAWYERS, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESSION, AND THE COMMISSION ON RACIAL INJUSTICE) DESCRIBE THREE TYPES OF POLITICAL PRISONERS: (1) POLITICAL ACTIVISTS WHO DELIBERATELY VIOLATE LAWS THEY BELIEVE TO BE UNJUST AND IMMORAL, (2) POLITICAL ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE BEEN FALSELY CHARGED WITH CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT AND WHO ARE VICTIMS OF A CONCERTED GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO DISCREDIT THEM; AND (3) PRISONERS WHO AFTER INCARCERATION EXPRESS POLITICAL VIEWS WHICH RESULT IN BRUTAL HARASSMENT FROM PRISON AUTHORITIES. AN INITIAL SECTION PROVIDES A HISTORICAL BASIS FOR THE PETITION BY DESCRIBING THE OPPRESSION OF BLACKS IN AMERICA, INJUSTICES AGAINST THE AMERICAN INDIAN AND MEXICAN-AMERICANS IN PAST U.S. HISTORY, AND PAST INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AGAINST MINORITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PETITION, WHICH DETAILS ALLEGED POLITICAL ABUSE OF THE LAW, ALSO PROVIDES THE TEXT OF BOOK 3 OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE REPORT DESCRIBING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FBI'S COINTELPRO (COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAM). OTHER GROUPS DESCRIBED AS VICTIMS OF POLITICAL ABUSE ARE THE WILMINGTON 10, THE CHARLOTTE 3, PUERTO RICAN NATIONALISTS, AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT NATIONALISTS. ANOTHER SECTION OF THE PETITION DETAILS THE ALLEGED RACIST APPLICATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AGAINST INDIVIDUALS. IT PROVIDES A DESCRIPTION OF INHUMANE PRISON CONDITIONS, CITING ATTICA AS A CASE STUDY; NAMES PRISONERS WHO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SENTENCES AND HARSH TREATMENT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE PRISON; AND LISTS PRISONERS WHO WERE VICTIMIZED BY ABUSIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSES. THE FINAL SECTION IDENTIFIES INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY THE U.S. THROUGH ITS ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ABOUT 50 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.