Never Forgive, Never Forget: Shaka Sankofa and the System of No Justice

[rebelAfrika]

"This is nothing more than pure and simple murder. This is what is happening tonight in America. Nothing more than state sanctioned murder, state sanctioned lynching, right here in America, and right here tonight."
--- Shaka Sankofa, June 22, 2000
For the full text of Shaka’s Defiant Last Words:
http://rwor.org/a/v22/1060-69/1061/shkstm.htm

-------------------------------------------------------
Today is the fifth anniversary of the legal lynching of Shaka Sankofa by the State of Texas. This execution robbed the people of this revolutionary brother, but as he said, remembering the words of Fred Hampton, "You can kill a revolutionary, but you can't stop the
revolution".
-------------------------------------------------------

Never Forgive, Never Forget: Shaka Sankofa and the System of No Justice
Long Live the Revolutionary Spirit of Shaka Sankofa!
Revolutionary Worker #1061, July 2, 2000
http://rwor.org/a/v22/1060-69/1061/shaka.htm


On June 22 at 8:49 p.m. Shaka Sankofa drew his last breath in the death chamber at Huntsville Prison in Texas. This system of NO JUSTICE carried out a cold-blooded legal lynching of a revolutionary Black man.

Shaka Sankofa (Gary Graham) had vowed to resist and to refuse any cooperation with the death machine. To the very end, he was true to his word.

In May, Shaka was pepper-sprayed by guards when he refused to move to another cell at the Terrell Supermax Unit after the execution date was set. He put up a struggle when the guards moved him to Huntsville on the eve of the execution. He gave a series of interviews to the media as the clock ticked toward the hour of death. With intense focus in his eyes and determination in his voice, he spoke out against the racism and injustice of the system.

Shaka would not participate in the death-row ritual of a "last meal" before execution. It took a five-man "extraction team" to force Shaka out of his cell and bring him to the execution chamber. Witnesses said Shaka's hands were
shackled and his head was strapped to the gurney. They saw bruises on his upper arms, but most of his body was covered with a sheet-clearly, the authorities wanted to hide evidence of beatings.

But if Shaka's enemies had hoped to make him show "remorse," or ask "god's forgiveness," or simply remain silent in the end, they were mistaken. He was resolute - and utterly fearless. As the poison of lethal injection began to spread through his body, Shaka Sankofa made a powerful and impassioned statement.

The oppressors finally succeeded in taking his life. But they could not break his revolutionary spirit. And this is something that inspires and strengthens the cause of the people, even as his execution deeply pains our hearts.

Shaka's resolute and courageous fight helped clarify issues of right and wrong, of justice and injustice, for millions around this country and around the world. The true nature of the bloody-jawed beast that rules over the people came sharply into focus.

On one side was a Black man who was convicted and sentenced to death in a trial so grossly unfair that it shocks even many people who have faith in U.S. democracy. A trial that condemned a man to death on the basis of the flawed testimony of one witness and without any physical evidence. A trial where the court-appointed lawyer was so incompetent that he failed to call to the stand two witnesses who told the police that Shaka was not the one who shot Lambert.

On the other side stood the government and the courts which refused to concede even a temporary delay in the execution-so that all the evidence and witnesses in Shaka's case could be heard for the first time.

From a Desperado to a
Fighter Against the System

Richard Burr, one of Shaka's attorneys, wrote, "Gary Graham's journey to death row is typical of the experiences of many black male youths who have grown up in the poverty-stricken Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas and other black urban ghettos." Shaka could not read or write when he dropped out of school in the seventh grade. In his own words, Shaka was an "out of control" youth-angry at the world but blind to the real causes of the poverty and racism that surrounded him.

At the time of the Lambert shooting, Shaka was in the midst of a series of armed robberies. But the only reason the police and prosecutors focused on Shaka as the "suspect" in the murder was that they thought it would be easy to frame up this young Black man.

The only prosecution witness said she saw the shooting at night, through a car windshield, from 40 feet away. Her original description of the shooter did not match Shaka's physical characteristics. But the prosecution brought her up on the stand at the trial-as the only witness against Shaka. In the days before the execution, this witness was brought before the media to declare that she stands by her testimony. And the supporters of Shaka's execution pointed to her certainty to argue that Shaka's "guilt" was proven conclusively.

But many lawyers and trial experts point out that witnesses can be mistaken even if they say they are sure of what they saw. One woman who spoke out on behalf of Shaka related her own experience: She was certain that the man she accused of raping her was her attacker. Based on her testimony, the man was convicted and jailed. It was only years later that DNA evidence proved she had accused the wrong man.

In Shaka's case, there was also clear evidence that the prosecution witness was wrong. In their own reports, the police included two other witnesses who said Shaka was NOT the shooter. The police and prosecutors also knew that the gun confiscated from Shaka was NOT the weapon used in the Lambert killing.

But none of this crucial evidence of Shaka's innocence was brought into court. The court-appointed lawyer, who assumed Shaka was guilty, carried out no investigation and put on no defense. Shaka was convicted on the basis of a single witness' testimony. And subsequent appeals courts have never heard the witnesses' testify for Shaka and never examined other evidence of his innocence.

Today, there are sworn statements from three members of the jury that convicted Shaka Sankofa who now say they would have decided differently if they knew about all the evidence and eyewitnesses.

Railroaded for a murder he did not commit, Shaka was thrown into death row. These hell holes are designed to brutalize, degrade and break down human beings. During his 19 years in prison, both of Shaka's parents died and he was forbidden to go to their funerals. He was prevented from even touching his two children. He had faced five execution dates before the sixth and final one on June 22.

But through all this, Shaka refused to be defeated. He learned to read and write. He became politically conscious and aware of the many injustices in society. He founded the Endeavor Project, a prison activist group and newspaper.

Shaka especially focused on the injustice of the death penalty in the U.S. In a 1996 interview, he said: "The only way to deal with it in a significant way and in a quantitative way is to deal with it where we begin to attack the whole system. We don't want reforms; we're beyond that. There is no such thing in our minds as a just or humane clemency process which leads to execution. We want the whole process eliminated, we want the whole process stopped."

And millions of people who had the chance to watch his interviews on television could clearly see that Gary Graham, the young desperado in the streets, had transformed into Shaka Sankofa, a fighter for the people.

A System of NO JUSTICE

Most people never would have heard of Shaka Sankofa, but the growing debate over the death penalty and the presidential candidacy of Texas Governor George Bush thrust his case into the national news. And millions of people were suddenly awakened to the reality that a brutal injustice was taking place.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Parole announced their official refusal to stop the execution just hours before Shaka was scheduled to die. Following their usual practice, the Board did not even meet to make their life-and-death decision. The members sent in their vote-in a process known as "death by fax."

Behind the Board stood Texas Governor George W. Bush, who appointed all the Board members. Everyone knows that a few words from Bush could have changed the Board's decision. But Bush charged ahead with the 135th execution since he became governor.

In the face of overwhelming evidence that Shaka was wrongfully convicted, proponents of his execution pointed to the armed robberies and other crimes he committed as reasons he should be put to death. Bush even used the term "victims" in talking about Shaka-even though the incident that Shaka was accused of and received the death penalty for involved the death of one person. This amounts to an outrageous and dangerous argument that it is okay to execute "a bad person"- even if there is little or no proof that the person actually committed a capital crime and there is not even a semblance of a trial.

Shortly before the execution, Bush emerged from his office to declare, "After considering all the facts, I am confident justice is being done." He claimed that Gary Graham "has had full and fair access to state and federal courts."

In the face of mounting exposure on how death row prisoners have been railroaded in racist trials with incompetent lawyers who sometimes sleep through the proceedings, Bush recently declared that every one of the prisoners executed under his watch was "guilty." But even a mainstream poll released a few days before Shaka's execution reported that a majority of people in Texas believe some innocent people have been executed by Bush. A Columbia Law School study released on June 12 showed that seven in ten death row prisoners in the U.S. have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced in blatantly unfair trials.

While Bush callously denied that wrongfully convicted people are executed under his watch, Al Gore, the Democratic presidential candidate, implied that wrongful convictions and executions were an inevitable part of the system. Gore refused to speak specifically about Shaka's execution or the evidence of his innocence. But on the eve of Shaka's execution, Gore repeated his pro-death penalty position. And while giving lip service to the possibility of moratoriums on the death penalty, Gore came up with his own version of the reactionary slogan "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out": "If you are honest about the debate," Gore said, "You have got to acknowledge that there are always going to be some small number of errors."

Over and over again, those who pushed for and justified Shaka's execution said: this is how the system works. So what does it say about the whole "justice system" when court after court, the parole board and other government institutions, and top political leaders all failed to stop the execution and refused to even consider compelling evidence of Shaka's innocence?

What kind of a system would carry out such a cruel and deeply unjust act as the execution of Shaka Sankofa? This is a system that is totally worthless and needs to be overthrown at the soonest possible moment.

Never Forgive, Never Forget!

Shaka Sankofa was railroaded, sentenced to death, and executed by this capitalist system. This is an intolerable and shameful crime-a crime that the people can never forgive and never forget.

Shaka was strong, firm, and revolutionary till the very end. And in his death, he left a legacy for the people-a challenge to carry on the struggle against the system that he fought so valiantly. "You can kill a revolutionary, but you cannot stop the revolution. The revolution will go on. The people will carry the revolution on," he said.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This article is posted in English and Spanish on Revolutionary Worker Online
rwor.org
Write: Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 773-227-4066 Fax: 773-227-4497

[Hue-Man]

"If you are honest about the debate," Gore said, "You have got to acknowledge that there are always going to be some small number of errors."

If these errors were realy not errors, wich we already no that they are not, would these devils still be able to say they believe in the just-us shitstem with a smile on their faces ? Of course, It dosent matter how much evidence you provide to prove your innocence as long as its evident that youre an African.

R.I.U SHAKA SANKOFA

[Jahness]

Greetings rebelafrika!

Much appreciation to you for helping those of us who may not
have remembered our brother Shaka Sankofa, on this fifth
anniversary of his death.

This is another injustice we as a people took and didn't retaliated in
any form or fashion to save the life of our beloved brother Shaka
Sankofa.

I know some of us may think there is nothing we could have done
about it, but that is not true. We could have prostested, and
protested, and kept vigil while he was alive, so he wouldn't be
dead now.

It always amazes me, just how fast they will put a brother to
death even when they know he is innocent. But the powers
that be had no care that Shaka had a mother and a father.
They had no care that he may have had children, they had
no care or concern that he was a humand being.

Sometimes when I have to remember brothers like Shaka, i can't
help but be saddened, because I know SHaka wasn't the last
to be lynched and won't be the last to be lynched, because
so many of our other brothers are in the same situation,
waiting on yt to tell them when they are going to kill them.

By any chance, those police officers that beat him didn't they
have to go home to their families. Their cars could have been
blown up. They could have been ambushed. You see a lot of
things could have been done with strategy. Not that we may
have been able to save his life. But you know what if Shaka
still had and could manage to have a fighting spirit until his last
breath, then what is our excuse. The word could have been
sent from inside that prison as to who those cops were that
beat him, and they could have been taken cared of on the
outside by some of our so called gangsters

Where are all the bad boys at who kill each other in our own
communities? They need to get out there and start making
yt pay for some of this shit that they do.

Look at the KKK old bastard who was on trial this week. Now
this racist murder and pig, lived a free life, and no one made
him pay for killing those civil rights people. Now he is 80 yrs
old they want to sentence him for 60 years, when he probably
won't even serve 60 days, cuz his family will claim he has all
type of illness and won't survive in prison. How come he can
get all this free time to live, and innocent brothers like Shaka
has to be put to death.

How many more Shaka Sankofa's do we have to lose before
we pull the F**king plug on yt and end this shit. We are not
living, we are all just waiting to be slaughtered, one way or
the next just like they did to Shaka.

I think if we must die then let us at least go out with some
type of dignity and show some resistance to this oppression
we are living under.

Peace & Blessings Brother rebelafrika!

[Hue-Man]

Originally Posted by Jahness

The word could have been
sent from inside that prison as to who those cops were that
beat him, and they could have been taken cared of on the
outside by some of our so called gangsters
Where are all the bad boys at who kill each other in our own
communities?

Greetings Jahness

It saddens me too, If these so called gangstaz realy wanted to prove thats what they real are"gangstaz", then why cant they focus their energy against the common enemy, by making an example out of some pigs to scare the rest of them sh*tless, and letting them know the consequenses of laying their hand on anotha brotha or sistah inside or outside prison walls.

[Jahness]

Originally Posted by Hue-Man

Greetings Jahness

It saddens me too, If these so called gangstaz realy wanted to prove thats what they real are"gangstaz", then why cant they focus their energy against the common enemy, by making an example out of some pigs to scare the rest of them sh*tless, and letting them know the consequenses of laying their hand on anotha brotha or sistah inside or outside prison walls.

Greetings Hue-Man!

It's unjust things like the innocent death of our brother Shaka that really takes a big chunk out of me when I am in this forum. Some of the other stuff i can deal with.

As an Afrikan Queen the pain is instant, cuz i can imagine what his parents must have went through when they were alive worrying what is going to happen to their son. That is a pain felt close to home on my part with a family member. And it hurts to know that yt never pays for the shit that they do.

Who knows, that is probably what helped kill both his parents. The stress alone is so unbeareable, how his mom must have felt. What about his other family members? what about his children? Will they ever see justice be done in their fathers name? How sad it must be for them, to live in this oppressive society that unjustly robbed them of their father and the memories he didn't get a chance to build with them.

What are we as a community doing to help his children? Is their a fund made in their father's name and honor? Probably not, because too many of us are out here running to buy the next overpriced sneakers, or clothes, that the oppressor has put out there for us to wear, so we all can look like walking billboards. We as a people don't feel good unless we are wearing someone elses labels. Ask some of us to donate a penny in the name of a good cause to help fight for our own liberation and freedom, we have a problem with that.

May our ancestors give us strength to continue with this struggle.

Stay Blessed Hue!

[Jahness]

Greetings Everyone!

Our warrior brother Shaka Sankofa should never
be forgotten.

May his family be blessed with the strength to go through
the days, for his memory is sacred to them.

Peace & Blessings to all!

[Sadiku]

Greetings Sister Queen Jahness. I hear you loud and clear. Everything you say is on point. I love reading your posts. When I hear a "true" Queen as yourself speak with passion and committment I know that their is much hope. It makes me proud to be black. I can go another day. I can breathe another breath. I can see another sun shine. I can stand with you 'til death knowling that you got my back. I am proud to serve on the front lines with you.

[Jahness]

Originally Posted by Sadiku

Greetings Sister Queen Jahness. I hear you loud and clear. Everything you say is on point. I love reading your posts. When I hear a "true" Queen as yourself speak with passion and committment I know that their is much hope. It makes me proud to be black. I can go another day. I can breathe another breath. I can see another sun shine. I can stand with you 'til death knowling that you got my back. I am proud to serve on the front lines with you.

Greetings Sadiku!

Thank you so much, the exchange is mutually uplifting. I am
inspired by Afrikan warriors such as yourself too. Brother I am on
the front line and I am happy to look over and see that an Afrikan
warrior like yourself is right there with me. That's when we can look
at each other and know everything will be okay.

Make no doubt about it I have your Black and Back as I do all
my Afrikan warriors and Queens who are serious about our
struggle for liberation and freedom. I too feel proud to be Black.
I am also elated, when I know our King warriors are standing firm
in defense of our people. That is one thing I do not compromise on.
I am honored to let all our Afrikan Kings know that as a Queen they
get the highest respect from me.

Their is no Afrikan Queen without her Afrikan King, so it was in the
beginning, and so it will be in the end. Now society and everyone
else would love to see us fight against each other while we keep up
the sexist attacks that benefits non of us. But we are an undivisable
team. If we stick together like we should that is the only way we as a
people would survive.

I will never stop the fight to make it known that I am against my
oppressor 100% without apologies. I don't want to hold their
hands and sing. I don't want to be partners in anything with them.

I want to be free of them by being self determined and working
endlessly to make sure my community benefits. I am truly sick
and tired of what i am seeing as far as the destruction of my
people in all form and fashion.

Why is it always Afrikans wo have to be suffering so much?
Why can't we see the day that our children don't have to
worry about just staying alive. Our children deserve that.
Our ancestors struggled to make sure we as Afrikans survived,
and all we do as a people is continue with our own self
destruction, ontop of what yt is doing to us already.

We cannot let yt keep up with this attack against us. We must
do something. By each breath we take we are supposed to work
and fight for our liberation, not by coersion, but because we know
it's our duty. We are a strong people and determined people, we
need to start acting like the warriors we are and know we should be.


Peace & Blessing to you Hue-Man!