Jericho Calls for Congressional Investigation into COINTELPRO

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

In January 2007, Congressman John Conyers became the new chair of the United States House of Representative Committee on the Judiciary. The House Committee on the Judiciary jurisdiction includes the following areas: (1) the judiciary and judicial proceedings, civil and criminal; (2) civil liberties; (3) claims against the United States; (4) national penitentiaries and (5) Revision and codification of the Statutes of the United States.

Herman Ferguson, on behalf of The Jericho Movement, has written a letter to Congressman Conyers requesting that he schedule  hearings on "COINTELPRO: Its Legacy and Continuing Impact." A copy of Herman's letter is below. It is our hope that these hearings, if held, will not only further expose the FBI and local law enforcement crimes against the Black Liberation Movement and many of those involved it, but also result in legislation addressing some of these injustices.

Of particular concern to the Jericho Movement is the release and treatment of our political prisoners. Though the United States steadfastly denies it, presently there are many political prisoners in the United States, the majority of them Black/New Africans who were targets of the COINTELPRO "Black Nationalist Hate Groups" program. Many of these brothers and sisters have been incarcerated for decades.

For example, Jalil Abdul Muntaqim has been incarcerated since 1971; Sundiata Acoli and Herman Bell since 1973. It is critical that the human rights and constitutional violations surrounding their arrests, trials, sentencing, conditions of their confinement and continuing incarceration because of their political histories—all were members of the Black Panther Party—and continuing commitment to the liberation of Black/New Afrikan people be brought to the wider attention of the public. Sundiata Acoli, now 70 and with a near exemplary record, has twice been denied parole.

If nothing else, congressional hearings on "COINTELPRO: Its Legacy and Continuing Impact" would go along way towards achieving this result.

To this end, we are calling on all supporters of political prisoners—defense committees; revolutionary nationalist, radical, and progressive organizations, elected officials, community, religious, spiritual leaders, etc.—to write, fax, or call  Congressman Conyers to urge that schedule hearings on COINTELPRO. Congressman Conyers' address is as follows:

The Honorable John Conyers
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax

Your support of Jericho's call will help ensure that it becomes a reality. Forward, download, copy and  distribute this letter and Jericho's call to as many people as possible. Please mail or email copies of your letters to National Jericho at the following address:

National Jericho Movement
P.O. Box 1272
New York, NY 10013
nycjericho@gmail.com

Thank you in advance for your support of this effort. Please also do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this campaign.

In solidarity,
Joan P. Gibbs, Esq. (718) 270-6296 or 1-718-757-4093
Mani Gilyard, Chair, Malcolm X Commemoration Committee

To read Herman's letter to Congressman Conyers, click here!