Our first Black August episode features an interview with New Afrikan Political Prisoner, organizer, and poet Monsour Owolabi. We learn about how to get involved in his struggle for his, his people’s, and all of our freedom.

Our last episode addressed the ongoing brutality at Miami Correctional Facility. While the mainstream media outlets attribute the injuries, deaths, and overall suffering to Gov. Braun’s inability to adequately prepare the facility for ICE—in terms of staffing, facilities, etc. These are mere symptoms; ICE itself is the cause as is the bi-partisan support for their crimes. Co-hosts Dani Abdullah and Derek Ford note that the political establishment isn’t a monolith and we need to attend to fractures and divisions within it, including Congressman André Carson, who requested an ICE investigation into Miami on April 14. On July 23, ICE responded, acknowledging detainees missed 799 prescribed medical doses but without agreeing to any investigation. Carson responded with a strongly-worded letter saying he won’t give ICE a penny of our taxpayer dollars.

Derek shares an incredible development to share regarding to ongoing struggle to exonerate Vernon T. Bateman who was falsely accused and convicted on rape in 1998, at the age of 18, and was released on parole in 2023 but under stipulations that are unconstitutional and capricious. You can see all the evidence of his innocence at FreeVernon.org where you can also sign the petition for his freedom. But not only did the alleged victim, Angela Truitt, miss the first several days the trial was scheduled for, and not only did she write three letters recanting her testimony, including one to Bernard Carter, but so too did her Brother, Chris Veal. Recently, Chris Veal appeared alongside Vernon T. Bateman on the Dr. Jessica B. show to let the community know “Vern been innocent” and that his sister was coerced by Det. Mary Banks to identify Vernon or else she would take her child away. His sister is ready to speak publicly now as well.

Finally, they pay respects to Dalys Jett who was killed by at least one of three IMPD officers. After claiming the cops “returned” fire, it turns out at least one cop was shot by another cop. They then walked back their claim that Dalys shot at or injured a cop, instead bizarrely stating that a bullet from his gun was found in an officer’s vest. By last Friday, the family’s demand to view the bodycam footage was met and now we’re demanding they release it to the public. Every day they don’t they look guiltier and guiltier.

Monsour Olowabi

We’re honored to be joined by New Afrikan Political Prisoner Monsour Olowabi, a poet, Political Prisoner, Field Marshal for the Prison Lives Matter Movement in Texas, and a member of the New Afrikan Liberation Collective. Monsour and Derek discuss his case, the growth of his political consciousness, how he became a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika, and the role of poetry and culture in the struggle for self-determination and freedom.

Show Notes

Monsour Olowabi Freedom Campaign (linktree)

Short Selection of Monsour’s Works

Texas Runs on Prison Slave Labor
Environmental Racism and the Poisoning of Our People
The Poetic Beauty of Resistance
Chris Veal and Vernon T. Bateman
Petition: Exonerate Vernon T. Bateman

Events

Black August Poetry Workshop
Hope Package Assembly and Distribution
Reading with Comrades: Shackled & Chained (Pt. 1)

Common Unity 3: The Voice of the People
The Art of Solitary Survival
Letters of Gratitude Book Release Party
ELEVATE: Vernon T. Bateman’s Art Show
Concert: Voice of the People