Mumia Abu-Jamal writes:

Veronza Bowers Held Hostage by Federal Prison System!
Mumia Abu-Jamal

Plan of Action:

Specific action requests include the concrete support of Bro. Bowers'
legal defense team; the concrete support of Bro. Bowers himself; and
to substantially increase the level of involvement of freedom-loving
people globally in spreading the word about this despicable travesty.

Purpose of Action:

Support Veronza Bowers, Jr. who remains in prison 18 months past the
expiration of a 30-year sentence he has already completed.Scheduled for mandatory parole on April 7, 2004, Veronza Bowers, Jr.
/was a model prisoner that prison officials showered with praise in
the past. /Mandatory parole is a requirement by statute after a
prisoner has completed his full sentence if there is a record of
positive institutional and if one cannot consider the inmate a
"threat to society" upon release. Four different Parole Examiners, as
well as the U.S. Parole Commission (USPC) itself, the most powerful
parole authority in the nation, agreed that Mr. Bowers has complied
with these prerequisites. In spite of this, just minutes before his
April 7th release, the USPC rescinded his parole at the request of a
law enforcement lobby group known as the Fraternal Order of Police
(FOP), which claimed to have evidence that Bowers had violated prison
rules.

At a subsequent hearing, the court dismissed FOP claims as
unsubstantiated and a new parole date was set. But, the FOP then
lobbied the U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, to intervene
and, as a result, Mr. Bowers has languished in prison over 18 months
past his scheduled release date.

Mr. Bowers' conviction occurred during the FBI's infamous
COINTELPRO operations, which used
covert and illegal actions to eradicate civil rights, political and
peace organizations. On October 6th, 2005 the five members of the
U.S. Parole Commission met at the request of the U.S. Attorney
General. They upheld the U.S. Attorney General's request to deny
Veronza Bowers parole and to keep him indefinitely in prison.

Like filthy, disease-carrying cockroaches, this system prefers to do
its dirt under cover of darkness. Like in countless other situations,
it has been the voices and actions of righteous people that freed
those incarcerated unjustly by shining light on their dirty work.

TOGETHER, we can help force the U.S. Parole Commission and the
federal prison system honor its obligation to let Veronza Bowers go
free.

*Acknowledgements:

Veronza Bowers Legal Defense

The Jericho Movement

The Freedom Archives

*For information offline, please contact:

Rhonda Jones (480-460-9232) or

Maynard Garfield (828-462-0249).


Participate

*What You Should Do Now:*

1. Even with some of the attorneys working pro bono, there are many
legal and court costs/. In order to continue the struggle for Bro.
Bowers' freedom, please find it in your heart and pocketbook to
help in any way that you financially can. Donations should be sent to:


Veronza Bowers, Jr. Legal Defense Fund

PMB 201

2614 N. Tamiami Trail

Naples, FL 34103-4409

2. Veronza's immediate concern is staying out of the prison mess
hall. There are too many fights and problems there. He buys food
(sardines, crackers, etc.) from the commissary and takes it back
to his cell and is hurting for phone and food money. Please send
whatever you can (check or m.o.) to help our Bro. survive this gulag:

Federal Bureau of Prisons

Veronza Bowers, Jr. #35316-136

P.O. Box 474701

Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

3. Write letters to the U.S. Parole Commission, the Attorney General
and the National Appeals Board. It is very important to make your
voice heard in this matter. Emphasize Veronza's excellent record
in prison and unquestionable legal entitlement to parole.

U.S. Parole Commission

5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 420

Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7286

TEL.: (301) 492-5990
FAX: (301) 492-6694

Alberto Gonzales

U.S. Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

TEL.: (202) 353-1555
E-MAIL:
AskJOJ@usdoj.gov

4. Write to Veronza! Uplift him with your words and stay updated.
The increased mail will also show Prison Officials that Veronza
Bowers has global support and give his legal team leverage!

Veronza Bowers #35316-136

FCC Medium C-1,

P.O. Box 1032,

Coleman FL 33521-1032

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