By Patricia Vickers, Justice for Lynne Stewart, September 5, 2011
The Political Prisoner, Lynne Stewart, was
interviewed by mail by Patricia Vickers, a founding member of the Human Rights
Coalition (HRC) of Pennsylvania. Ms. Vickers is the co-founder/editor of The
Movement magazine of the HRC. A former 1960s student activist, Ms. Vickers is
an eco-feminist whose youngest son, Kerry ‘Shakaboona’ Marshall, is a wrongly
convicted juvenile serving Life Imprisonment as a Juvenile Lifer in
Pennsylvania prisons and, though incarcerated for 25 years, is a political
activist.
Human Rights Coalition: Hello. Welcome to THE MOVEMENT
Sister Lynne. Thank you for granting me this interview with you. How are your
health and spirits, and how are you being treated at FMC Carswell [Federal
Prison]?
Lynne Stewart: My health is passable—the usual brushfires of aging,
but good. My spirits are always high, especially with the mail I get to
encourage me. I am being treated as well as can be expected. I receive heavy
scrutiny—all mail, email and phone conversations.
Human Rights Coalition: There are people who aren’t aware of
your unlawful confinement and the government’s repression of you for your legal
representation of the Muslim blind Sheik. Can you enlighten the people about
your situation?
Lynne Stewart: There are two aspects to my "situation," as
you so gallantly described it. First, I was prosecuted for doing what I believe
is the duty and work of an attorney—to represent the client zealously and
conscientiously. In the case of the original trial (1995) of the blind Sheik,
Omar Abdel Rahman, of Egypt, we wanted to keep his name alive so that we could
eventually try to negotiate a return for him even if it meant jail in Egypt. In
that spirit I made a press release public, and to Reuters, expressing his point
of view on a unilateral cease fire then in effect in Egypt. I believed that
this was part of salvaging him from the torture of his solitary confinement and
also that it was part of the work I had sworn to do. I was tried and found
guilty for materially aiding "terrorism."
Then, after I received a sentence of
two-and-one-half-years, as opposed to the 30 years the government wanted, on
appeal, the Second Circuit Court sent the case back for the Judge to give me
more time. Without much ado, he sentenced me then to ten years, partially based
upon on statements I made after the sentencing and before I surrendered in
November 2009. That sentencing is currently on appeal and will be argued in the
fall in New York City.
Human Rights Coalition: In the people’s eyes, mine included
for sure, you are our [s]hero and represent a long line of principled and
committed warriors of the struggle. How do you take being a Political Prisoner
of the American government?
Lynne Stewart: I believe I am one of an historical progression that
maintains the struggle to change the perverted political landscape that is the
U.S. It seems that being a political prisoner must be used as a means of
focusing people's attention on the continuing atrocities around them. Nothing
seems to be too shocking or corrupt to blast the complacency. Like my client
Richard Williams used to say, I might think I hadn't been doing my utmost if
they didn't believe I was dangerous enough to be locked up!
Human Rights Coalition: In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit ruled that Political Prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death
sentence is unconstitutional. However, I am sure there are forces working
behind the scenes within the Criminal Injustice System—like what happened in
your case—to manipulate another death penalty outcome on Mumia. What is your
opinion of the current news surrounding our brother Mumia?
Lynne Stewart: Mumia's case is our greatest challenge because he is
the best and the brightest, and they know it too. We, the progressive revolutionary
movement, and Mumia's lawyers, must create the strategy that forces the
District Attorney to elect to try the death penalty issue. Then we get a chance
in public, in court, to clearly present the overwhelming proof of his
innocence. The worst thing that could happen is that the DA elects to give him
life without parole—a living death that deprives our movement of one of its
true leaders. I just hope that the blood thirsty Blue Line forces the issue and
holds out for the death penalty so we are in the position to take advantage and
advance our cause, and Mumia's.
Human Rights Coalition: July 4th is widely celebrated as
“Independence Day” in America, but the masses of people are experiencing their
independence (freedom) taken away by the corporate American government, and by
the big banks and mega-corporations that run them. Are the citizens of America
truly free, or is their independence a grand illusion?
Lynne Stewart: I re-read Frederick Douglas' great 4th of July speech
every year to just remind myself of how little the ultimate issue has changed
from the founding of the nation to today's alleged "freedom." Racism
is at the core of the empire; and we can never be blinded by all the fireworks
in the world.
Human Rights Coalition: Can you describe the difference
between Civil Rights and Human Rights?
Lynne Stewart: For me the difference is the same as between the
Constitution's Bill of Rights and the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The Bill
delineates the ways that Government may not encroach on our ability to operate
freely. It is a prohibition on the Government limiting free speech, religion,
the right to bear arms, and the right to free assembly. It delineates the
rights within the legal system.
The Declaration guarantees fundamental human entitlements—freedom
from hunger, freedom from fear, freedom to choose, freedom to live in an
environment that doesn't kill us, and our children.
We obviously fight for more than the political guarantee
to be free of government interference—it is to be able to live an open and
generous and contributing life toward the betterment of people on the entire
planet.
Human Rights Coalition: Sister Lynne, What are human rights
to you? What do you make of the growing human rights movement in the U.S.? And
how can people advocate their human rights effectively?
Lynne Stewart: Advocating for human rights must always delineate that
our struggle is not one of "self interest.” It is a fight for all of us.
This raises the always-troubling question of the recognition that for some this
may mean sacrificing their entitlements (i.e. skin privilege, class privilege)
to better others' lives. Nobody wants to give up what they feel that they have
achieved legitimately, "within the system.” But without the recognition
that one has benefited unfairly by the unwritten “code” that has favored
certain groups over others, change cannot occur. I also believe we have lost
the sense that we enjoy the right of self-defense. Everyone is so busy
announcing their "peacefulness" and willingness to be a victim for a
cause, that we forget that a true measure of one's seriousness is to defend
oneself, and others—to live; Che's observation that a revolutionary is moved by
great feelings of love. This includes not only self-sacrifice but also daring
to struggle, daring to win (to quote another hero, Mao).
Human Rights Coalition: What are some of the human rights
violations that you see happening in the U.S. today that we, the people, need
to eliminate?
Lynne Stewart: The most egregious and obvious violations are occurring
in the prison system. Not only the obscenely long sentences but the torture
holes of "Special Housing Units.” These are the equivalents of Belsen and
Dachau, resulting in living death and mental deterioration. When I think that
so many imprisoned without current hope of redress are political prisoners and
have been held so for decades, it not only brings tears but also a feeling of
grim determination to make it change!
Human Rights Coalition: What are some of America’s foreign
human rights violations going on that people may not be aware of?
Lynne Stewart: I personally feel that the deterioration of the African
sub Saharan continent and its descent into rapacious capitalism will ultimately
translate into unparalleled destruction of people and resources. I include
South Africa in this assessment. If the African National Congress (ANC) and
Mandela had remained steadfast in the socialist principles that guided their
resistance and not given in to the terrible temptations of compromise, greed
and power, we might have seen the beginning of a different balance of power.
Alas, this was not to be and instead we see the depredation of Africa, by
absolutism and the American capitalist paradigm.
Human Rights Coalition: People seem to be oblivious or
indifferent to the human rights abuses that occur daily in U.S. prisons against
other human beings, women prisoners in particular. Can you shed some light on
that human rights issue?
Lynne Stewart: Human rights do not exist in prison. Aside from the
obvious violations described above, I see day-to-day a brainwashing that
teaches all prisoners that they are less than nothing and not worthy of even
the least human or humane considerations. This is reflected in the lack of
adequate medical care, the appalling diet, the steady diet of spoon-fed
mediocrity—TV (Archie Bunker re-runs), movies, no access to the Web, etc. There
is an absence of legal advice or aid inside the walls. Law libraries with books
have been eliminated; instead they have a computer program that is so anti-user
that even I, an attorney of 30 years, have difficulty navigating it. Their goal
is to keep us dumbed-down, docile and estranged.
The outside world is oblivious because they too have
been brainwashed into believing that those locked away are less than
human—based on differences of race and class. It is most difficult to struggle
against the power if you don't have a belief that the struggle is worth the
sacrifice.
Human Rights Coalition: Do you consider the legal practice
of sentencing children to life imprisonment without any possibility of release
(a de facto death sentence) for homicide, to be a human rights violation?
Lynne Stewart: I am 100 percent opposed to anything that does not have
a factor of human redemption or at least of remediation. I guess it is part of
a whole belief system. If you are, like I am, committed to "changing"
the world it must be ALL of us, who deserve to live in a system that recognizes
that terrible psychic and physical damage can be done to human beings, and has
a plan to make people, especially children, whole and restore them to our
community.
Human Rights Coalition: In Pennsylvania, being debated is
whether sentencing child offenders to life imprisonment without parole should
simply be “reformed” by leaving the legal practice intact and simply give the
child offender a sentence of life with parole eligibility or should the legal
practice be abolished entirely and a new sentencing scheme be developed for
child offenders instead? What is your position on the matter—reform or abolish
it?
Lynne Stewart: Your question really asks if "reform" is
possible within an inhumane system? This is an issue revolutionaries have
wrestled with always. Do we give the starving a crust of bread or leave them
hungry to make the greater change. I, like Rosa Luxemburg, always made it my
practice to minister to immediate primary needs but also to render the
explanation for their predicament in political terms and with political (group
action) solutions. At least in that way, the baby was no longer starving for
milk and there might be a spark ignited for the next confrontation with the
oppressor.
In the strict context of your question, we do need to
struggle to save people from the most inhumane punishments. However, until we
resolve the burning questions of race and class, we must not forget that these
are palliative, Band-Aids on a hemorrhage.
Human Rights Coalition: What do you say about the illusion
of democracy in America that the people are now witnessing from the domestic
austerity program that the federal and state governments are imposing on the
American people?
Lynne Stewart: Our job is how to smash the myth of America and we
haven't really figured out as a movement how to blast our way past the
sentimentality the media foists on us. We used to believe that if people knew
the "truth,” this would shake their faith and move us toward change; or
alternatively, if their personal shoe pinched, they would act in self-interest.
Now people seem to know only fear and rely on the myths of Big Brother
government to assuage them. Our job is to keep on struggling, keep on raising
the contradictions, create an atmosphere where we the people are ungovernable.
Human Rights Coalition: Any final comments for the movement
out there, Sister Lynne?
Lynne Stewart: In this struggle, once you enlist, it is for life.
There are no guarantees and you will be disappointed. But you will also be
uplifted when there are victories and enriched by friendship and dedication of
the comrades. Most importantly, you can look in the mirror every morning and be
at one with the person there because you made the difficult choice and decided
to fight for the people against the evil empires. It is the best way to live
and I have been on the lines for fifty-plus years, living it.
Human Rights Coalition—Philadelphia
c/o Lava Space
4134
Lancaster Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
921-3491
http://www.hrcoalition.org
email: info@hrcoalition.org
You can write to Lynne Stewart at:
Lynne Stewart
#53504-054, Unit 2N
Federal Medical Center, Carswell
P.O. Box 27137
Fort
Worth, TEXAS 76127
Contributions can be made to:
Lynne Stewart Defense
Committee
1070 Dean Street
Brooklyn, New York 11216
For further information: 718-789-0558 or 917-853-9759
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