Published in: SF Bay View, Feb. 10, 2010
Dear Bayview readers, and especially my fellow convicts throughout the country. I send this call out to “you”, to join with me in showing some love to the Haitian people. Yes we all have problems, I too have many of my own. But they all pale in comparison to what´s happening in Haiti. Over a hundred thousand estimated dead and missing, after a 7.0 earthquake destroyed what little infrastructure the people had. Tens of thousands more injured, left with no medical support, and forced to sleep in the streets with no food or water.
Long before this great tragedy tho´ the western world has been shitting on the people of Haiti. And Amerika has ignored the plight of Haiti long enough. We in Amerika, especially Blacks and Browns, have a responsibility to stand with our Haitian brothers and sisters. For the young G´s and Ststas who don´t know, because the schools lied to you and hid the truth: prior to the European invasion / arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, Haiti and the Dominican Republic was a single island nation, known as Hispaniola, it was inhabited by the Carib and Arawak native tribes who were all but killed off after welcoming the Europeans, who staged brutal massacres, during which they raped and murdered both women and children. As in Mexico and South America, African slaves were brought in by European colonists, to supplement the native slaves, sick and dying from European diseases. They were brought to dig for gold and cultivate crops, etc., which was then shipped out to the European rulers. Under the leadership of African and Native warriors they were able to break their chains and escape into the mountain jungles, where they organized raiding parties to free the people and to build an army.
Best known of these leaders was an African named Toussaint L´Ouverture. Together the Africans and Natives waged war, over many years, to eventually repell these European invaders.
Defeating their great armies and declaring independence from European rule in 1804. And if not for the blood and courage of our ancestors there in Hispaniola (Haiti), we here in the U.S. would not have our freedom today. As it was the example of Haiti defeating the great powers of Europe that sparked numerous other rebellions against slavery and oppression, in Mexico, South America, and here in the U.S. Nat Turner knew about Haiti, David Walker, Harriet Tubman, and countless other freedom fighters knew of and were empowered by our people in Haiti.The schools tell you Abraham Lincoln is the father of freedom, he freed the slaves. But if you want the real, look at Haiti. And in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there today, all of us, convicts and comrades reading these words, donate what you can. If you have no money, write to your loved ones and ask them to donate a few ends or some can goods, etc. You can send your extra stamps to the Bay View. And they´ll make sure they go to the cause. I personally am pledging $ 40.00, and will be organizing a stamp drive here in my unit.
In the Nevada (prison) system 10% of any monies we receive is taken and placed in a savings account up to $ 200.00. We are not allowed to spend this money, as it is used to bury us when we die, or it is our gate money when we leave. But if you are broke and you wanna donate to a known non profit charity to help the brothas and sistas in Haiti: per A.R. 258 (pg. 2) you may submit a DOC-515 form for approval to do so. I´ve asked the Bay View to list several addresses of legitimate charitable organizations for you to donate to.
Tu wa moja watu (we are one people)
Ikemba S. Mutulu
s/n Marritte Funches
#37050 //ESP
Marritte Funches 
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