Angola Three: Difference between revisions

The Angola 3 are Robert King Wilkerson, Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace who each arrived at Angola Prison as young men under various circumstances in the late 1960s. While inside prison, contact with members of the Black Panthers led to the creation of prison chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1971.^{[citation needed]} The men then organized prisoners to build a movement within the walls to desegregate the prison, to end systematic rape and violence, for better living conditions, and worked as jailhouse lawyers helping prisoners file legal papers. Woodfox and Wallace were convicted of the 1972 stabbing murder of 23-year-old prison guard Brent Miller.^[1] Wilkerson was said by authorities to be linked to the murder but was not charged.^[2]

During this time the Black Panther Party, the anti-war movement, and other organizations were targeted by the F.B.I. for "political disruption" through its COINTELPRO.

After organizing multiple strikes and sit-ins for better conditions the three men were taken out of the general prison population and were held in solitary confinement from 1972. They remained in solitary confinement until former black panther member Malik Rahim of Common Ground Collective, and a young law student, Scott Fleming, in 1997 discovered that these men were still locked up. They began investigating the case, questioning the facts of the original investigations at Angola and raising questions about their original trials.

Robert King Wilkerson was released after 29 years in solitary confinement after his first conviction was overturned and he plead guilty to a lesser conspiracy to commit murder charge. Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox are still prisoners in Angola prison and are working to get released. In March 2008 they were moved, after 36 years, from solitary confinement to a maximum security dormitory.^[3].

Their cases have gained increased interest over the last few years. Since his release, Robert King Wilkerson has worked to build international recognition for the Angola 3. He has spoken before the parliaments in the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Indonesia, Brazil and Britain and about the case and political prisoners in the U.S. Wilkerson was received as a guest and dignitary by the African National Congress in South Africa and has spoken with Desmond Tutu. Amnesty International has added them to their 'watch list' of "political prisoners" / "prisoners of conscience."

They have a pending civil suit 'Wilkerson, Wallace and Woodfox' vs. the State of Louisiana which the United States Supreme Court ruled has merit to proceed to trial based on the fact that their 30+ years in solitary confinement is "inhumane and unconstitutional." The outcome of this landmark civil case could eliminate long term solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.

They were the subject of a 2006 documentary film 3 Black Panthers and the Last Slave Plantation and of a music video produced by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics in protest of the incarceration of the Angola 3 and featuring Saul Williams, Nadirah X, Asdru Sierra, Dana Glover, Tina Schlieske, Derrick Ashong and Stewart.^[4]

Herman Wallace is the subject of an ongoing socio-political art project entitled "The House That Herman Built", in which artist Jackie Sumell asked Wallace what his dream home would be like and documented his response in various media.^[5]

• http://www.prisonactivist.org
• http://www.angola3.org
• Article at AlterNet.org
• http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGAMR511452007&lang=e Amnesty International Public Statement