2002

by Mildred Thomas

Dear POOR Magazine,

We're the directors of the Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty. We were doing a search for info on William Neives, exonerated Pennsylvania death row prisoner, when we came across an article in your zine.

We have been involved for some time in the case of Jimmy Dennis, an innocent man on death row in Pennsylvania. His case involved the same prosecutor, Roger King, in Philadelphia, and his legal team is now hopeful he will also be exonerated. (See: http://www.jimmydennis.org and http://www.jimmydennis.com. )

Another Roger King wrongful conviction, the case of Fred Thomas, was recently stalled in the courts when the Judge recused himself at the last minute, setting Fred's legal team back to square one. Fred is terminally ill with liver disease, and it appears the courts are hoping Fred will pass before an effective challenge of his conviction can be mounted. (See Fred's page at:
http://ccadp.org/fredthomas.htm.)

Police who interviewed witnesses in his case have since been busted for corruption. Prosecutor Roger King, who witheld evidence in both the Neives and Dennis cases, has developed a reputation among abolitionists for working with coerced statements, unreliable witnesses and for withholding evidence in Philly trials. He is believed to be responsible for numerous wrongful convictions.

Along with our ongoing concerns and work in the area of wrongful convictions in Pennsylvania, we are at the moment very concerned about Fred Thomas, who is currently in intensive care. The CCADP is saddened to report that Fred is terminally ill with end stage liver disease. The only thing that would save him at this point would be a liver transplant, which is unlikely under present circumstances. His family and other concerned individuals and activists are fighting to get Fred transferred from death row to hospice care where he can be treated humanely. His sister reports: "We are having a demonstration on January 10 ,2002.
Everyone who can, please come out and join us." The demonstration will be in Philadelphia. Please email Fred's sister Mildred for more info at:
mthomas@b-2000.net

Thanks so much!

Tracy Lamourie and Dave Parkinson, Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty http://www.ccadp.org, 416 693 9112 ccadp@rogers.com

NOTE FROM FRED'S SISTER MILDRED THOMAS, Dec 28, 2001: "Please let everyone know that Fred will certainly appreciate any mail he receives even though he may not answer in a timely manner. His health is very poor at this time.

Also we would appreciate
any support we can get in writing…I'm including
some names and addresses that I have, but if anyone knows of anyone else that we should write to please let me know."

- Mildred Thomas

Secretary Jeffrey Beard
P.O. Box 8837

Camp Hill, PA 17001-4531

Deputy Commissioner William Love

P.O. Box 8837

Camp Hill, PA 17001-4531

Superintendent Donald T. Vaughn

P.O. Box 246

Graterford PA 19426-0246

Catherine McVey

P.O. Box 8837

Camp Hill, PA 17001-4531

by MAri/Youth in the Media Intern

"People with mental illness have been shot by the San Francisco Police Department, and the SFPD haven't had any real training on approaching these folks in a non-threatening way.", Leroy Moore, head of Disability Advocates for Minority Organizations, (DAMO) and columnist of Illin' and Chillin' at POOR Magazine was angry. " These senseless crimes must STOP!" Moore's responses to my questions about the lack of police crisis training in San Francisco reminded me of a story told to me by one of my friends about a 15 year old girl named Molly X. She had sufferred from mental illness, and was emancipated from the foster care system. One day, she was at a shopping mall in Palo Alto. She started to break down and started screaming in the mall. Police came and told her to stop screaming twice, and she didn't stop screaming. Then the police shot, and killed her. There are many more stories like this, where the police's interaction with people in psychiatric crisis ends up in the death of the person they were supposed to be helping.

Idriss Stelly was another young man who was shot and killed by the police. He was having a psychiatric crisis at the Metreon Movie Theatre, so his fiancée called the police for help. But the police did not help him, they killed him. He was 23 years old, just two years older than I. He had a 4.0 GPA, and was enrolled in Heald College. He was a youth organizer. He loved and took really good care of animals; in fact he had three cats himself. He was also going to get married. I started thinking what can I do to make sure that this does not happen again? I am a Youth Commissioner; I represent youth at City Hall, so I decided to work on writing a resolution. A resolution is a piece of paper urging whomever to do what you want them to do. A resolution is one of the ways to get things done at City Hall.

After doing some research into the issue, I discovered there was a police crisis training program for police officers, which taught them how to interact with people who have mental illnesses. The police crisis training program reminded me of the Quaker's model called "moral treatment," which was based on a belief that people who have mental illnesses are human beings and should be treated as such. The odd thing is even with the urgent need for this training program, it only had trained about 20 "first responders" (patrol officers) since the program began .

So I started to work on the resolution pushing to get at least 25% of police officers trained on how to deal with people who are going through a psychiatric crisis within two years. Working on writing this resolution was very hard. I was working on something that a lot of people disagreed with, and/or had their own very specific ideas about.. The resolution went through so many revisions I can't even count the number of times it was changed. It took about a whole summer and a month to finish it.

On Monday, October 1, 2001 I introduced the resolution to the Youth Commission. The resolution was passed unanimously by the commission. Then on
Thursday, October 4, 2001 the Board of Supervisors' Rules Committee called a hearing on the Idriss Stelly's case. At that hearing, I read the resolution that the Youth Commission passed. Also some community advocates at the hearing stated that one of the Supervisors "pick" up the resolution. Before the end of the hearing Supervisor Tom Ammiano stated that he would "pick" up the resolution.

In December, the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee looked at the resolution to see if they wanted to recommend this to the Board of Supervisors, and to see if they wanted to make changes. They made some changes, but did not change the point of the resolution. The resolution states that "in two years, 25% of a First Responders of the San Francisco Police Officers per shift, per station complete this
training" and "that within one year at least 12-13% of First Responders per shift, per
station must have completed this training; including those who have supervising
authority when responding to an individual with psychiatric crisis" and "that this training is
maintained at current quality levels until such time all police officers are trained." The resolution also calls for semiannual reporting as stated "in June of 2002, and every six thereafter, the Police Department shall report to a Committee of the Board regarding the status and success of the Police Crisis Intervention Training for Police Officers."

In January of, 2002 the resolution passed before the Board of Supervisors. Every Supervisor who was present voted for the resolution. Supervisor Maxwell was not present. The resolution passed with ten votes.

The resolution is now being forwarded to the Mayor. He can do one of three things he can sign the resolution, not sign it, or veto it. If the resolution is vetoed by the Mayor, its back to the Board of Supervisors. for another vote. The mayor has until January 21 to make a decision.

As I looked at a beautiful picture of Idriss posted on Leroy’s column, his words reverberated through my mind "People with mental illness have been shot and killed by the SFPD and these senseless crimes against mentally disabled people must stop"

If this resolution passes, I believe it will.

by Aldo Arturo Della Maggiora

A high, rocky mountain encircled a small parking lot where I went every Monday afternoon to pick up my taxi cab medallion as well as a yellow taxivan that is ramp (disability) accessible. Prior to September 11 (the attack on the World Trade Center ) I received an occasional "ramp" call from the Federal Building in San Francisco.

Poncho was one of my regular passengers at the Federal Building. He is a lightbrown-skinned Puerto Rican, tall and well dressed. His legs could not support the normal functions of walking and standing. He would always need a ride to his residence, which was in the "avenues" of SF . Our trips where filled with interesting conversation about his experiences in the army. Poncho would go on expressing how war was an ugly thing that no one should have to experience.

The Monday following September 11, I went back to work. Our country was on high alert and police where all about the city. FBI agents along with the SF Police Department surrounded the Federal Building. The atmosphere was thick with fear, and anger. There were hardly any Middle Easterners in sight. I myself am of Salvadoran and Italian decent. Black hair and eyebrows complement my brown skin; I pass as a Middle Easterner. In the back of my mind I wondered if I would pick up a passenger who would target me as an "enemy terrorist".

As I was driving, I received a message on my computer system (DDS) for ramp pickup at the Federal Building. I parked my ramp van across the street from the Federal Building. Within a quarter of a second I noticed a black tinted SUV emblazoned with the large white letters FBI parked in the ally way 15 yards ahead of me. Two agents in black thick military gear sat in the car. I noticed them before they became aware of me. I did not want to draw attention to myself. They watched me as I opened the side door and slid out the ramp in preparation for Poncho. As I crossed the street to pick up Poncho, the two agents got out of their vehicle and in a low, threatening voice one of the agents yelled in my direction, "Hey!"

The streets were empty, my back was to them and I began to feel uncomfortable with the tone of their voice. I did not like to be spoken to in such an accusing way, so I did not answer them. If an issue existed with my van being parked in front of the Federal Building they should have spoken to me while I was preparing the ramp van. One of the agents responded to my resistance, more forcefully, "Hey... you can’t leave your cab unattended here!"

I acknowledged his gaze and responded, attempting to match his aggression without matching his tone."I have a ramp pickup here at the Federal Building," I responded calmly

"You’ll have to do your pick up on the south side of the building!" he yelled out finally. The situation stalemated. The frustrated agent fixed his eyes on me with a subtle look of vengeance. Refusing to react to his provocative attitude, I went around the building to the south side. As I picked up my passenger I noticed there was another black SUV filled with FBI agents who said nothing to me. As I entered Bobby Hutton Park in West Oakland last week to attend the Community Speakout on Terrorism , I thought about my many experiences of racial and cultural profiling as an Arab-looking taxi driver in this post 9-11 American reality.

Little Bobby Hutton Park , December 8th

People gathered, light fog dusted the air and palm trees swished in the background. There were dried up trees with their thick trunks rooted through a large grass field at Little Bobby Hutton Park (named after the former Black Panther) in West Oakland. A small but growing crowd gathered for a speakout on terrorism. The event was sponsored by People’s Resistance Against US Terrorism, Western Region United Front to Free All Political Prisoners, Black August Organizing Committee, Prisoner’s Rights Union, Justice for Palestinians, Task Force to Save the Life of Mumia Abu Jamal, The Islamic Khemite Nation, David Wong Committee, and Barrio Defense Committee.

The purpose of the speakout was to address the issue of the anti terrorist bills that have been targeting Middle Easterners and other people of color. The guest speakers included Yusef Endure and Tarek Elaydi who were going to address the so-called war on terrorism that exists in the Ashcroft US of today.

The deep voice of Yusef Endure, of People’s Resistance Against US Terrorism brought presence to his topic. "Poor, Middle Easterners, dark-skinned people are being targeted due to Sept. 11. At least 6 Middle Easterners have been murdered, Muslim Mosques have been bombed, immigrants have lost their jobs, i.e. airline baggers and checkers. The anti terrorism bills are targeting immigrant students particularly Middle Easterners trying to obtain student visas. These new terrorism laws are fascist and people are losing their civil liberties. Over 600 people have been in federal custody, most of them are of Middle Eastern decent and without any witness people can be tried and killed behind close doors."

Mr. Endure continued, "Attorney General Ashcroft has interrogated 5000 people of Middle Eastern descent. Anti-terrorism laws allow our government to tap phones lines, check bills, and look up bank records, the INS, FBI, and CIA are targeting folks who may fit the terrorist "image" and are killing people. Yusef pointed out that the danger in the anti- terrorist laws is that innocent people may be mistaken as terrorists. This law makes witch hunts legal."

"The US war on terrorism claims to protect the people of our nation when the truth is, Osama Bin Ladin has been financed by the CIA to defeat the old Soviet rival. Over 100,000 casualties of war occurred in Guatemala as a result of American Death squads, here in the United States 35,000 people are on death row."

Yusef continued, "Marshall law is carried out to create new markets of defense that may be used to control the masses from protesting, sit-ins, and organizing." He concluded, "Our nation must expose the errors of this government by building movements in our communities i.e. schools, PTA, students, workers, and be heard to address these issues before America falls apart." As the people in the crowd listened intently, a sense of community rippled through us all.

The next speaker, Tarek Elaydi, who was born in Palestine came up to the microphone, his strong, dark, eyebrows and piercing black eyes told stories of bloodshed, resistance, and freedom.. Growing up in a refugee camp he witnessed the frustration of his people wanting change and experiencing the brutality of the military occupation that has killed and humiliated many Palestinians. " The passing of anti-terrorist laws target Muslims and Middle Easterners who are of all races." Tarek pointed out that since Sept. 11, Middle Easterners have not been allowed to learn how to fly. Many employees of the San Francisco International Airport who reside in the local Brisbane area have been laid off work for being targeted as terrorist.

Tarek made parallels between the military occupation in Palestine and how he saw similar patterns of military occupation beginning to surface in this country i.e. the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge.

After the last speaker made his closing remarks the crowd was lively—we were speaking to each other—speaking and understanding this so-called "war on terrorism" and realizing it was really more of a "war on people of color".

by Tommy Ates

Well, well, what a difference a huge financial collapse can
make! The Bush administration is now getting bushwhacked with inquiries
and rumors regarding the Enron meltdown. Who would have thought the
Houston-based oil broker, whose dealings in hidden partnerships and
'cooked' financial records to hide enormous losses (plus, being America's
seventh largest company), would have finally healed Washington from
patriot amnesia stemming from the September attacks? Well, I'll be! Money
does buy happiness!

In terms of 'good old boys,' we can add Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill (a
Democrat) and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans (old Bushite) to the 'no see
evil, no hear evil, no speak evil' crew, even though the devil knocked on
the door and they answered. No wonder the nation's economic policy cannot
see the forest for the trees, it is on the political donor's beck and
call.

All the while, Presidential spokesperson Ari Fleischer says the Bush
administration has no prior knowledge of Enron's predicament or that they
intervened as the company's behalf to the disbelief of many in Congress.
How can executives be able to contact secretaries of the Cabinet and have
word not go to the President's hands? It's a shame that the Bush
administration may have not blown the whistle on Enron's dirty dealings
before thousands of innocent workers lost their jobs as well as retirement
benefits.

But seriously, can anyone really be surprised that Enron executives
(Chairman Kenneth Lay and co.) had access to heads of the Treasury and
Labor departments to give them the heads up and possible want help? After
all, Enron has been President Bush's biggest contributor and the company's
mammoth political contributions helped bolster many Republicans into
office. The Enron debacle is a prime example of money buying access and
how the corporation can circumvent laws enabling the legality of
white-collar robbery of the lower-classes, while blue-collar masses face
severe penalties for defying the corporation (even without a gun), just
for slipping a piece of paper to the bank teller.

To make things worse, the Republican administration never offered to
provide relief for the employees or suggest solutions (via resolutions) to
make corporate behavior like Enron's less likely to occur. An official not
telling how a stock price once valued at $83 could plummet to less than a
dollar undermines the public trust. With no agenda, yet quiet smiles in
the cabinets' public statements, more Americans are realizing that
Attorney General John Ashcroft and Interior Secretary Gale Norton are not
just conservative anomalies, rather they are part of a wider, greater
effort of conservative appointees to provide legislative cover for big
business to generate greater profits as the average, working-class
American suffers.

Meanwhile, all the flying paper (not from World Trade Center) nearly
blinds everyone to the little told plight of indigent, migrant workers who
have helped to the cleanup Ground Zero. Many of these working-class
laborers (who worked alongside firemen and police) were recruited by
contractor firms to clean at the site, as well as the streets in downtown
New York, but even in the extreme sadness of the tragedy, business
continued as normal, with many workers being stiffed in pay and forced to
work long hours. Now many of these unsung (and unappreciated) heroes are
developing throat and lung ailments due to their exposure.
Unfortunately, the Bush administration has not taken an active step in
protecting its most vulnerable workers; but luckily New York State is
attempting to accommodate their needs. Apparently the administration is
taking a cue from Enron - accept the credit they didn't create and leave
the voiceless others holding the bag.

However, the migrant workers are not alone in their plight, many
downtown residents, firemen, and police officers are also suffering from
ailments due to the smoke and ash that permeated the air as the towers
fell. Many of which are now on personal leave unable to work. The EPA
declared it safe for residents (and workers) that the area was safe to
return in less than a week. Could it be that another government agency
spoke to soon in the "Keep America Rolling" campaign (i.e. the Office of
Homeland Security with the shoe bomber)? I hope not; there does not need
to be more innocent victims post-Sept. 11 besides the Afghan people, and
the hundreds of detained Arabic men.

As for the Enron-gate distraction, will there be criminal charges ordered
in the wake of the multi-million dollar theft? Maybe. Will the executives
still keep most, if not, all of the booty? You 'betcha! The American
justice system in inaction for a price!

Yes, folks; it may be sad; but I, for one, am ironically comforted to see
that human nature is no different than the system under which we live: be
it a rich man doing insider trading or a poor man performing a bank
robbery, greed is universal.

Tommy Ates is 27 year-old black male from Austin, Texas, trying to get a
get a job, keep a job, and not go crazy. You can reach him at atesbodhi5@aol.com
Left Is RightTM (http://www.leftisright.net)

by Ida Patrice McCray

Last year our party was in San Pablo. This year we decided to expose our children to an environment few visit, one that is
different from the norm; a ship, a fantastically huge and glorious ship located at Pier 9 in Oakland. Thanks to the owner, Slobodan, who hosted this most wonderful event, the children got to see a pelican, and to be aboard a ship once used for voyages across the ocean.

The activities included Notty Dread, the clown soon to be a Ringling Brothers participant, Tinkers Workshop, and the Intertribal Friendship House Jack and Bonita. Safety was provided by volunteers from Montclair Presbyterian Church.

The party lasted for about 4 hours and there was never a dull moment. The children went from one activity to the next, commencing with the ceremonial circle of children who have loved ones locked away. These children are honored this day.

Too often in our day to day dealings, children are not honored for what they must endure. That is why Families With a Future, who transports children to see their incarcerated mothers, decided to begin a public and open forum once during the year.
One of the things that Families with a Future believes in strongly is that it is very important to keep the anonymity of our clients, their lives and information. Too often journalists want to ‘expose their lives’ and frankly they have had enough exposure from social service organizations, criminal injustice investigators and the like. This day is for them to be revered."

Those who are interested in becoming a volunteer or donating their services should read below to become a part of a grass roots service organization. Long Live the Poor and the Imprisoned. Maybe one day we can work for the preservation of families and pay them for it, instead of causing separation through lack of money and fast track adoption.

To all friends and supporters of the incarcerated.

GREAT NEWS! The National Institute of Corrections has awarded a grant to us to create a national model for services for children of prisoners. We are a collaborative of agencies: Community Works, Families with a Future (a project of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children) and the San Francisco Sheriff's Dept. Family Services Program. I've named the program SEEDS OF LIGHT and it is the vision I have long held for the children of prisoners. The primary interventions that will be implemented through this program are:
increased visitation for children; training of deputized/civilian staff;

*a referral system and/or therapist for immediate crisis intervention; cultural and recreational programs for a core group of children.

*A dedicated case manager will implement services for children of prisoners both in-custody and in the community.

It is imperative that we get feedback and support from all of you in the community that work with this population. We are asking for your help and advice in shaping this project. It is an opportunity to develop policy and programs for this radically underserved population that can benefit the work that all our organizations are trying to do. Part of the NIC initiative is a Resource Collaborative that will work on gathering statistics and changing policy. We can have all the programs in the world, but until we work on
changing the policies that are creating this overabundance of separated families, we're only putting a bandage on a giant wound. This is the first time that the National Institute of Corrections has focused on the children of the over 2 million citizens currently in jail or in prison. We know that these children are six times more likely than other children to wind up incarcerated themselves. The cycle must be stopped!

The problems are huge and this grant can only begin to address some of the issues that need our attention. We hope however that by collaborating, we can write more proposals, come up with more solutions, and build on this opportunity to help these seeds of light grow. Any ideas or suggestions on how we can build on this opportunity and any resources available that we can use for the children of prisoners would be most welcome.

If you're interested in staying in touch with us as we work through this program and build on it. Please contact us at idais@best.com. Thanks to all of you who have worked throughout the years to bring this issue into the light.

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A federal judge threw out Mumia Abu-Jamal's death
sentence on Tuesday, ruling that the former journalist and Black
Panther is entitled to a new sentencing hearing for killing a Philadelphia police
officer in 1981.

U.S. District Judge William Yohn ordered the state to conduct the
hearing within 180 days.

``Should the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania not have conducted a new
sentencing hearing ... the Commonwealth shall sentence petitioner to
life imprisonment,'' the judge said in his 272-page ruling.

Abu-Jamal is America's most famous death-row inmate -- revered by a
worldwide ``Free Mumia'' movement as a crusader against racial
injustice, and reviled by the officers's supporters as an unrepentant cop-killer
who deserves to die.

The judge refused Abu-Jamal's request for a new trial, upholding his
1982 conviction on first-degree murder charges.

The ruling could be appealed to the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.

Abu-Jamal was convicted of shooting officer Daniel Faulkner, 25, during
the early-morning hours of Dec. 9, 1981, after the officer pulled over
Abu-Jamal's brother in a downtown traffic stop.

Celebrities, death-penalty opponents and foreign politicians have since
rallied to Abu-Jamal's cause, calling him a political prisoner and
saying
he was railroaded by a racist justice system.

Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe ruled Nov. 21 that she did
not have jurisdiction over Abu-Jamal's petition for a new trial, scuttling
his hopes for another round of state-court appeals.

Abu-Jamal exhausted the state appeals process two years ago, but a
petition filed in September argued that the defense had new evidence to clear
him, including a confession by a man named Arnold Beverly.

In a 1999 affidavit, Beverly claimed he was hired by the mob to kill
Faulkner because the officer had interfered with mob payoffs to police.

Abu-Jamal's former lawyers, Leonard Weinglass and Daniel R. Williams,
said they thought the confession was not credible and Yohn refused to order
Beverly to testify on Abu-Jamal's behalf.

On behalf of the

National Office of Refuse & Resist!

305 Madison Ave., Suite 1166

NY, NY 10165

http://www.refuseandresist.org

info@refuseandresist.org

Tel: 212.713.5657

by TJ Johnston

For all the brouhaha over racial and ethnic profiling since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, an unlikely coalition resolved against such draconian measures emerged: city cops in Oregon. When federal law enforcement agents question Middle Easterners about what they might (or might not) know, the local men in blue won’t be in the interrogation room with them.

Last month, police chiefs in such communities as Corvallis, Portland, and Eugene were asked by the US Attorney’s office to assist their federal counterparts in assisting some 200 Middle Easterners—specifically those on "nonimmigrant status visas". These potential interviewees weren’t known to be criminal suspects or linked to terrorists. The townie cops were provided a list of the not-yet-suspects and a pre-written questionnaire.

But before the feds could grill the immigrants like falafel, the local bosses let out a collective, "Hold on, partner!"

Corvallis Chief Pam Roskowski consulted with the city attorney on how far they could actually go in pursuing leads. She concluded that while it’s possible to interview them within the scope of state law, "the questions were so borderline…it’s easy for investigators to cross that line. It amounts to political and religious intelligence gathering."

Roskowski’s assessment is backed up by Oregon’s anti-McCarthyism and immigrants’ rights laws. Apparently, local constabulary in other towns decided against contravening these laws. Do their mindfulness of the people’s rights and liberties make the local PD’s any less patriotic?

"We’re unwavering in our resolve to bring to justice the people responsible for the attacks," maintains Roskowski, As the FBI establishes a regional joint terrorism task force, she has pledged to help the G-men in "pursuing identified criminal leads" (as opposed, I guess, to DWA road stops). This is where she feels local manpower could be best served.

Would other cities follow the lead of these townships? Though some local police departments are exercising some restraint, the feds (assisted by Oregon’s attorney general) continue to play "bad cop".

I’m trying to see how this would play on NYPD Blue. Detective Sipowitz castigates an FBI agent on procedure: "If you bust this guy’s balls without just cause, I’m baring my ass again! Don’t think I haven’t done this before. Why do you think our cast has so much turnover?"

Not a pretty sight. The all-too-real picture for 10,000 Arab, Arab American, or Arabic-looking detainees nationwide is less pretty. Without the consideration Roskowski and other chiefs demonstrated, the picture for future "guests" could be downright ugly.

by Joe B.

Since everyone would be talking about The Honorable, Rev. Martin Luther King.

Mortal, feels felt pain worried about the future of his wife, children, and generations coming into being.

Both good and rebellious son, father, husband, loyal friend, visionary, peace and anti-war freedom fighter. Brave-reluctant and martyr to the emergence a burgeoning global freedom of all humanity.

I felt that speaking on a weighty subject as Rev. King, his ongoing legacy is something others would do better at than me.

Then again, many voices may have been silenced because of September 11, 2001 - and I want mine on record even if its never read I'll know that I wrote some minor tome the day after Martin Luther King Day / Wednesday, January 16, 2002.

I don't know why his real birthday is not celebrated next Monday, January, 21, 2002?

Is it because it happens to fall on a business day, or that honoring him on the 15th instead of his real birthday, takes the sting out what this man with help of many people, around the world publicly shamed America to its knees, knocking all the old assumptions and cracking a few foundations to its core.

In the Schizoid American soul, in the mid 1960's both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X seem to be polar opposites of each other: One seeking to change their country using the soulforce of Gandhi's peace which got him assassinated in the 1940's. (early, middle, late I don't know?)

The other demanded from his nation self respect, self determination and above all for his people "Lost in America" to rise up and protect themselves, family, friends, when provoked or attacked. In other words have enough firepower
take out any attacker(s) "By Any Means Necessary."

In a Middle Class America both are seen as enemies instead of mental liberators of stale, stalled, bankrupt policies and laws. And for being loud alternatives constantly harping how to improve and change America. Both are killed.
Sanctioned contracted hits.

That's the unanswered question why kill both, unless seperately they were saying and showing America's two faces simultaneouly to itself.

Its only solution isn't dialogue, neutral meeting places to try hashing out and understand, a people's overboiling anger but also love but leathal means.

I worried about when Ambassador Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson go overseas, diffused problems and return only to be cold shouldered by the U.S.

Now the Honorable Rev. Al Sharpton is going overseas
in his to visit India or Pakistan.

An outspoken civil rights advocate, arrested with three others in May for staging a protest on the inhabited Puerto Rican island of Vieques, where the US military conducts bombing
exercises. (from ABC News)

He's rested up and out of a jail after being released from federal prison in New York. The the old "Free Radical" tag.

But the guy after 3 months and 31 pounds lighter
this 'Freed Radical might just seem a joke especially if his supposed planned trip to India or Pakistan end in De-Nuclear stand down of both countries.

Mr. Sharpton did unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 1994 and for New York City mayor in 1997.

The way things are going why not try again?

Cornell West, a Harvard professor of African-American studies and philosophy, will head Sharpton's exploratory committee.

And if Sharpton loses again what about Cornell West.

Anyway I worry because if Sharpton does pull a miracle
overseas as soon as he returns or possibly on route assassins may lay in wait because the man could possibly be our next and first truly Black American President of These Yet To Be United States. (The Associated Press) guided me and I thank them.

Well, hope that's food for thought, any ideas? Bye.

PS Next time back to the old Housing Care adds
('gotta do 'somethin with my time on my off days - I may be sitting on my can in someone's home but it'll still be work - uhh, right?

by Joe B.

If our applied science is so good, why is it I have to rewrite my whole column I finished yesterday?

Its frustrating to come up with an idea, theory, or use someone Else’s. [naming source of course]

If I remember here how it went. Either the late Science fact/fiction writer Issac Azimov or two brother’s by the name of Mc Kenna if its David or Terrence or even if that’s the correct names.

Any-who There is a working theory of a 60 year shift in the first discovery and everyday use of the newly discovered technology in common use.
The theory goes: it takes 60 years to complete a cycle where a new technology or science becomes advanced enough to be tailor made for the population of average people to use when cost is low enough. I sound halfbaked though the theory works.

Take three inventions the Automobile, Electric Light,
and the Telephone all three had their beginnings in the 19th century except for the car which may have arrived by the 1890’s. [correct me if I’m in error] It takes time for new ideas of change plus technology, science and applied science [where T&S are researched until applications can be used for governments, business-commercial-consumers uses.
[I was looking for person(s) coming to that and other conclusions be for writing this, OH, Well.

War makes looks of money for companies selling arms America included but the downside is lost of best and brightest
citizens and tech improving lives is on the wane.
Peace is a time when applied science can soar without budget concerns because the economy is not straining to keep death creating arms flowing to soldier in warzones.
Just because a story about a young teen who no longer suffer from a malaria preventing blood sickling in Africa which in America is no advantage but a painfull deadly or trait carrying one. Mr. Keone Penn’s A type blood, changed by an unknown stranger’s type B umbilical cord blood has left no trace of Sickle Cell disease! Even though he’ll have to go through more operations, has arthritis, he won’t die of sickle cell.
Mr. K. Penn may even beat arthritis before he’s in his early 40’s. Meanwhile the war in Afghanistan is slowly winding down as breakthrough here and abroad continues.
It is hard to disengage from 9/11/01 especially on Dec. 7, 2001 because of 1941 and comparing them but peace is coming, it will be here and applied science or the bitter now cursed word progress will be an ongoing.
A war protects, kills, stimulates or speeds technological progress but ultimately war is massive death on vast scales of the young, best and brightest who futures or cut short, derailed, delayed, and forever changed a few for the better.

And for the not as gifted it can be a career during and after surviving killing grounds where these conflicts are fought.

Warriors and Soldiers are the ultimate peacekeepers because they know first what war does human bodies and spirit.

All this means is this war will end, our recession could deepen but don’t forget we humans are an adaptive, creative, inventive species.

We must destroy war, it is backward, devolutionary and not worth our precious mortality.

If I’ve have failed to connect and disconnect war and technology and that peace will always reap more rewards than conflict… It proves teaching is not my future to observe scribble is.

May all of us come out this conflict better, smarter stronger, more sensitive to global and local concerns. Bye.

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Poor Magazine or

C/0 Ask Joe at 255 9th

St. Street, San

Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail

mail:PO Box 1230 #645

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CA 94102

Email:askjoe@poormagazine. org.

by Staff Writer

Black, Dark, Deep Abyss

rotten, decomposing, , evil spirit surrounds

the thoughts of the negativity that people think about those "other" people,

those "homeless, lazy, why don't you go home" youth.

But look into our soul to see if your assumptions are false.

Because if you look inside just for a second, you will see struggle, heroism, survivor
instincts, and warrior traits.

You will also see the pain, hurt we feel from the foster care system, gentrification,

our families, and our communities who have chewed us up and spit us up

and now call us "outcasts".

For once try to comprehend our pain, happiness, sadness, and our joy.

Please don't judge us, next time don't think we’re lazy, stinky, nasty, or just bums.

Because you just might be wrong about your assumptions.

by Joe B.

I have wondered, how did a successful stand-up comic with equal success with a sitcom show 'about nothing?

Nothing unsual about that except he actually pitched it to prospective tv execs who bought the concept, it was even in one of the episodes.

I also wonder how "nothing" has saved many lives just think of 9-11-01 and people who survived because at the time they were out of work, on vacation, or decided that particular day to do nothing.

Think about the adverse affect to if medical, law, or armed forces to a man said "We're doing absolutely nothing for the next year or more."

There would be uproar and hoopla and loose talk of mass dishonorable discharges or court-martials.

The ultimate nothing is Quantum Mechanics or theory where at atomic and subatomic levels strange stuff happens like nutrino's race through earth and our bodies making the speed light look old and slow.

Molecules in both places simultaneouly and we as observers with our thoughts are changing reality on a quantum level changing it in ways we don't understand yet.

I usually stop thinking now because the nerves impulses making up graymatter in my brain begins throbbing causing brain freeze.
[simular to eating icecream too fast] I'm still thinking of housesitting but being bonded means if something breaks or the place is robbed I'm responsible.

That's why there are $10, 20, 50, to 100,000 bonds - starting at $300 to 500 dollars would be a start until former customers can vouch for my sterling trustworthy self.

Its over, this experiment in zero, abyss, nothingness, empty,
nebulous void. How's your "nothing" life doing folks"? Bye.

Please donate what can to
Poor Magazine or

C/0 Ask

Joe at 255 9th St.

Street, San Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail

PO Box 1230 #645

Market St.San Francisco,

CA 94102

Email:askjoe@poormagazine. org