California Prison Struggles
This collection contains materials primarily related to prisoner-led struggles inside of California's prisons between 1965 and 1980 concentrating on the Folsom Prison Strike and the cases of the Soledad Brothers and the San Quentin Six and more. Additional contents include:
- Defense Committee Materials re: Soledad Brothers, San Quentin Six and Ruchell Magee.
- Materials about the conditions at Folsom Prison that instigated the strike and the strikers' manifesto.
- Writings and Statements from political prisoners.
- Audio and Video materials.
- Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
Subcollections
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Black August Resistance
Black August originated in the California penal system as a response to state repression and murder inside of California’s “correctional” facilities.The foundations of Black August were formulated following the assassination of George Jackson in 1971. -
The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
This collection contains organizing documents, correspondence, and other materials related to the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO). -
Connections
Connections was an organization dedicated to helping prisoners inside of San Quentin and supporting their families and loved ones. They offered information exchange, transportation, legal aid, job/housing aid and implementing changes. -
Folsom Prison Strike
In November 1970 prisoners at Folsom State Prison launched a work strike. For the next nineteen days, more than twenty-four hundred men refused to leave their cells or participate in any way in the routine functioning of the prison. -
Friends of Stephen Bingham Defense Committee
The Friends of Stephen Bingham Defense Committee came together in 1984 to help prove the allegations against Stephen false and support him through his trial. -
George Jackson
George Jackson was arrested in 1957 for stealing $70 from a gas station and was sentenced to 1 year to life. Jackson became a seminal figure in the Black Liberation Movement and was murdered by prison guards inside San Quentin in 1971. -
Graham and Allen
In 1973, Eugene Allen and Shujaa (Ernest) Graham were framed in the murder of a prison guard at the Deuel Vocational Institute, Stockton, California. After 3 years on death row and 4 trials, they were found innocent. -
Indeterminate Sentencing
This collection presents the reality of indeterminate sentencing in California prisons in the early 1970s. -
Ruchell Magee
Ruchell Cinque Magee is the longest held political prisoner in the U.S., having been locked up since 1963. Politicized in prison, he participated in the Marin County Courthouse Rebellion and has worked tirelessly as a jailhouse lawyer. -
San Quentin Six
The San Quentin Six were a group of six prisoners at San Quentin Prison in California who were accused of participating in an August 21, 1971 escape attempt that left six people dead, including George Jackson. -
Soledad Brothers
The Soledad Brothers (George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo and John Clutchette) were charged with the murder of white prison guard at California's Soledad Prison on January 16, 1970.
Documents
Ruchell Magee
Producers: Mark SchwartzCollection: Ruchell Magee
Ruchell Magee, sole survivor of the Marin Couthouse rebellion. he based his defense on the right to rebel, from the court decision on the Amistad slave ship, since made famous by the Spielberg film. Ruchell Magee remains in prison. This excerpt is from many prison related reports by Mark Schwartz.
Ain't Nothing Changed!!!
Publisher: Eugene Coalition Liberation Support MovementYear: 1975Call Number: Format: PamphletCollection: Ruchell Magee
Pamphlet addressing the use of the courts to strip Blacks of their civil rights and the conspiracies within the Ruchell (Cinque) Magee case.
By Any Means Necessary
Contains portions of an interview between Ruchell Magee and the Berkeley Tribe; excerpts from writings by Ruchell Magee and Maharibi Muntu; information about the Tupamaros in Uruguay; San Quentin: State Sadsim; Voices from Prison; Women Behind Bars; Women and Revolution; Police Violence in Hunter's Point; and information about political prisoners, specifically the San Quentin Six, the Soledad Brothers, Bob Wells, the LA 13 and New Haven Conn. Panthers.
Free Ruchell! Its Right to Rebel!
Graphic and demonstration information. Also includes background on Ruchell's case and the demands of the Feb. 8th Coalition.
The Black Cat Collective Presents Black August
Transcript of speech given at event. Reproduction of flyer and graphic attached.
George Jackson Intro [Prisons on Fire]
George Jackson and his mother Georgia Jackson, with a Bay Area newscast on the assassination of George Jackson, prison revolutionary and author. Jackson was killed on August 21, 1971 at San Quentin, a year after his younger brother Johnathan Jackson was killed during the Marin County Courthouse Rebellion.
George Jackson - 41 year commemoration
August 21st marks the 41st anniversary of the execution of George Lester Jackson. The Chicago- born Jackson would have celebrated his 71st birthday on September 23rd.
Jackson was a prisoner who became an author, a member of the Black Panther Party, and co-founder of the Black Guerrilla Family prison organization. He achieved global fame as one of the Soledad Brothers before being executed by prison guards in San Quentin Prison.
Based on an edited portion of Prisons on Fire by the Freedom Archives (2001) with video editing by Oriana Bolden.
Fascism: Its Most Advanced Form Is Here In Amerikkka
Contains quotes from George and Jonathan Jackson and their role is explained in the larger context of the Black Liberation Movement.
6th Anniversary of the Assassination of George Jackson
Flyer mobilizing people to demonstrate on the 6th anniversary of the assassination of George Jackson. Also includes a fact sheet about white supremacist attacks on Black prisoners.