Join in: Haikus For Sundiata on May 2nd!
On May 1st, 2014 former Black Panther political prisoner Sundiata Acoli will have an annual review before the New Jersey State Parole Board to determine the length of time he may have to continue to serve in prison.
Considering how much Sundiata loves art and poetry, particularly haikus, we are asking folks to write Haikus for Sundiata, to post and share them through social media (facebook, twitter, instagram, tumblr, etc.) on May 2nd using the hashtag #Haikus4Sundiata.
Here is the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/316506218497395/
We’ll collect the poems shared and send them to Sundiata.
Sundiata will also be writing brand new haikus to share on May 2nd, so please look for them and retweet/repost!
On May 2, 1973, former Black Panthers Sundiata Acoli, Assata Shakur and Zayd Shakur were pulled over by state troopers on the New Jersey Turnpike. Assata was wounded and Zayd was killed. During the gun battle a state trooper was shot and killed in the crossfire. Sundiata was tried in an environment of mass hysteria and convicted.
Sundiata was sentenced to life in prison and has served the term ordered by the judge yet the New Jersey State Parole Board continues to deny his freedom. We want to support him and raise our voices in support of compassionate release of aging prisoners and political prisoners. Parole boards across the country infamously and unjustly deny parole to community ready folks every day. But there is mounting support for aging, elderly prisoners who deserve their freedom. Sundiata is 77 years-old and has completed his sentence serving almost 40 years in prison.
For more information on his case and history, please refer to Sundiata’s website www.sundiataacoli.org.
For those who don’t know, a haiku is a short three line poem, with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second and 5 in the third (5/7/5). For more information on haikus, see here: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5782
For those who want to participate in a day of action to show their love and support we look forward to collecting and sharing poetry from all who wish to join us. Poems should be focused on messages of love and respect, Sundiata’s history and/or the ways his work and sacrifice are relevant to our history.
Haikus can be sent also via email to thesafc@gmail.com.
If Sundiata can keep love in his eyes and strength in his spirit, so can we! Don’t worry if it’s been a while since you’ve written a haiku or a poem. We’d love to see what your beautiful, creative minds can do! #Haikus4Sundiata #FreeSundiata
To donate to the Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SS96VEAN9KK7N
www.sundiataacoli.org.
Facebook: Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign
Twitter: SundiataAcoli