(Draft) Speech concerning the trial of the RNA–11 (Republic of New Africa 11), Jackson, MS, 1972 August 18 (Doc 1 of 2)

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During the early 1950's the hangman of social protest operating with the Cold War troops was McCarthyism. For years it decimated social organizations, throttled free expression, and intimidated into bleak silence not only liberal and radicals but men in high and protected places. A very small boand of courageous people fought back, braving ostracism, slander and loss of livelihood. Gradually and painfully, [-/5 ] however, the democratic instinct of America was awakened, and the ideological brute force was routed.

However, McCarthyism left a legacy of social paralysis. Fear persisted through succeeding years, and social reform remained inhibited and defensive. A blanket of conformity and intimidation conditioned

Last edit 10 months ago by kimberleym
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young and old to exalt mediocrity and convention. Criticism of the social order was still imbued with implication of treason. The wasr in Korea was unpopluar, but it was never subject to the searching criticisms and mass demonstrations that currently characterize opposition to the war in southeast Asia.

The blanket of fear was lifted by Black youth. When they took their struggle to the streets, a new spirit of resistance was born. Inspired by the boldness and ingenuity of black people, white youth stirred into action and formed an alliance that aroused the conscience of the nation.

? - Today we find increasingly what? parallels to the 1950 McCarthy period6 in many ways we need as many people who have come out for one day million ? peace marcches, to exert fulltime pressure to the question of Nixon-Agnes-Mitchell-Hovver's 1970 verson of McCarthyism. The people must not be silent. Our voices must be heard. Those who cry for peace is Vietnam must see also the victims of the war at home. We cannot be totally free until Angela Davis and all political prisoners are free, even if we bring all the troops home from southeast Asia.

Thus we must see repression clearly. We in the south particulary if we are black but also if we are of or low income and or today have long hair have witness some of the most degrading forms of repression.

Last edit 8 months ago by Emily Hemlinger
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black people have been slaves for 300 years for the rich white landowner. This repression has continued in even the right to choose government and still exists in forms of daily intimidation that black and poor people face when they still ? even attempt to vote. in [illegible] Nike Humphries County, Misissippi. Repression is not an accident repression threatens all Americans. The government punishes welfare mothers and allows welfare millionaires to stay rich and not grow food while there is widespread hunger. There are 15 million hungry Americans and 6 million jobless Americans. Thie is7 repression. The government approves white racist rule of the school and de-humanizing systems of education. This is repression. [following text is circled and there is a ? mark] The setting up of massive snooping machines are but readying for the police state. [end circled text] The concocting of phoney conspiracy trials, the illegal no-knocks and the imprisonment of revolutionay brothers and sisters are but simple hints of what is to come, if we do not speak out.

The government and the military disrespect the will of the people by conducting a secret, criminal. Racist war and drafting our young me into death. No, repression is not an accident: and it is not isoldated. And it is not long if we are ? silent and about the business as usual before we too are, too behind bars and facing death.

Last edit 8 months ago by Emily Hemlinger
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if we do not suceed in stirring up those who say they are our allies now, it will result in not alone just death for Anegla Davis, the RNA 11, but a most critical loss of freedom and life for us all.

It is our task to awaken our bothers and sisters and tell the world that Angela Davis is innocent of the RNA 11 and that her their freedom will hasten the freedom of other innocent victims of political and racists repression, whether they be Black, Chicano, Puerto Rican. or Whites who have fought for justice and aroused the anger of those in power.

America has tried to close us out and kill us. Over the past three centuries we have been ? hung, lynched, castrated, raped and robbed of our dignity, manhood and womansisterhood. We were not only treated as second class citizens, we were treated as animals. We finally concluded that we are not about to be dehumanized any more. We see clearly that a brother or sister in need means it also is us in need. We see thatthe phrases such as Like black capitalism and black entrepeneurship are the bait to begin to make us hate one another. We see the division means of a powerful propagandized divison machine of White America to call us off. But it won't work. We are ?no longer callous, lazy or shiftless as the white man had himself believe. We are a power of beautiful black color that is a community. His? polls cannot reflect the brotherhood that we know. His TV cannot reflect a life that doesn't exist. The truth is we as

Last edit 8 months ago by Emily Hemlinger
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black people will have to remain revoluntiary. That change will come through struggle and freedom, through our hard work. ?

Angela Davis knows that it is may be the fate of all Black people to wind up in a cell somewhere, their freedom severely limited?

Attorney Howard Moore, her chief counsel, said recently that this knowledge does not depress her, the only thing that would depress her is if people fail to respond and understand that their flight is merely symbolic of what the fate of all of us may very well be.

I believe James Baldwin summed up accurately what could happen if we do not succeed. He said in a letter to Angela Davis at San Rafael. "Only a handful of the millions of poeple in this vast place are aware and for the numberless prisoners in our concentration camps _ for that is what they are _ a fate which about to engulf them too . . . . knowing this then, we must fight. We must bar the door to the gas chamber with our bodies if necessary. For if they come for Angela in the morning, they will come for us in the evening.

[Handwritten] If they come for the RNA 11 today, they will be here for the rest of us tomorrow.

Last edit 8 months ago by Emily Hemlinger
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