Johnny Union: Still Fighting to Survive
Expresses His Appreciation to The Burning Spear Readers and the Uhuru Movement

ST. PETERSBURG, FL —Recently, people around the world have become familiar with Johnny Union and the campaign being waged to secure his freedom from prison. Johnny Union defended himself and his little brothers from a white lynch mob known as the "Nigger Knockers." The mob had tried to murder the group of young teenagers, some as young as 13 years old.

Fighting with everything they had, the children threw punches, elbows, baby carriages, and barbecue grills as the "Nigger Knockers" attacked the youth with baseball bats, lead pipes and steel chains. One of the children got hold of a knife and heroically stabbed Ryan Fraser who later died of his wound. Johnny awaited the arrival of the police and ended up being charged with murder and sentenced to jail and charged as an adult at the age of 16.

He had successfully defeated one white mob, but the other — the all white jury — was able to succeed in doing what the “Nigger Knockers” could not.

Having been in jail for eleven years, several of which have been in solitary confinement, Johnny has been tortured by the prison guards and has been battling ever since his incarceration for his freedom. If Johnny had not been convicted for killing a white man it is doubtful that he would suffer the attacks that he does.

However, that same spirit of resistance that defeated the white lynch mob shines through in the letters that have been received from Johnny expressing his appreciation to Spear readers and the Uhuru Movement for struggling with him for his freedom and clemency.
He has written to us explaining that the attacks have slowed since the call-in campaign began about two months ago. Soon after the calls began flooding the prison, Johnny was transferred to a different institution.

Currently, he is supposed to be up for psychological evaluation, which is an indication that the prison is considering taking him out of close management (CM) or solitary confinement. He has a right to be in the general population and indeed has a right to be free.

Johnny indicated that he is clear that these steps are being taken because of the organizing work done by the Uhuru Movement and the support of the regular Burning Spear readers. He asked that The Spear let our readership know that the efforts thus far are greatly appreciated.

Right now, the campaign to free Johnny Union will require several different elements to continue the push for Johnny’s release. First of all, people need to continue the call-in/fax-in campaign which takes place every Tuesday and Thursday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST). When you call please be sure to demand:

1. Johnny be taken out of Close Management.

2. That he be put back in the general population.

3. His immediate and unconditional release.

Secondly, people should write to Johnny expressing their solidarity and support because it has done a lot for his morale to hear from people, informing him that he is not alone in this struggle against imperialism.

Thirdly, a lawyer is needed to draw up a clemency petition so that we can move forward to the next stage in this campaign.

Leo Union, Johnny’s brother testified at the Justice Hearing at the St. Petersburg Uhuru House as to the nature of Johnny’s case as a preface to the International World Tribunal, an official black people’s court that will bring charges against the government for its crimes against the African world. This trial will be held November 15 and 16, 2003 in Philadelphia. Call 727-502-0575 for more information.

Johnny Union’s story should be an inspiration to everyone organizing to resist and defeat imperialist white power. Johnny will be free!

Free Johnny Union! Free All Political Prisoners!

We are calling on all freedom loving people to:
Join the Uhuru Movement’s Campaign to Free Johnny Union, call (727) 502-0575

Write to Johnny Union expressing your solidarity:
Johnny Union
Union Correctional Inst.
7819 N.W. 228th Street
Raiford, FL 32026-1120