This week, we’re sharing an interview with Garret Felber, author of the book A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre, which is due out May 5 from AK Press. Garret speaks about the life of Martin Soster, famed jailhouse lawyer who successfully won cases related to the constitutional rights of prisoners, was politicized in prison by the Nation of Islam in the 1950’s, ran radical Afro-centric bookstores in Buffalo NY to radicalize the youth, embracing anarchism during his time imprisoned on a frame up during which he was a celebrated political prisoner resisting cavity searches through the courts, went on to organize after his release for tenants rights and rehabilitating disused buildings for community centers and helping run a childcare. Sostre was a mentor to Lorenzo Komb’oa-Ervin and Ashanti Alston and laid important foundations for modern Black Anarchism in the US.
There’s a lot in here and we hope you enjoy the book and that the story inspires complex, creative and combative resistance to all forms of domination. The transcript for this chat is currently on the post and soon we’ll have a zine and pdf up on our zines page.
- MSI: https://www.martinsostre.com/
- Study and Struggle: https://www.studyandstruggle.com/
- Those Who Know Don’t Say: The Nation Of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement, and the Carceral State
- Free the Mississippi Five: https://www.studyandstruggle.com/ms5
- Free Society People’s Library: https://www.instagram.com/freesocietylibrary/
- Justice for Geraldine and Martin: https://www.instagram.com/justiceforgeraldineandmartin/
- In the Belly: https://www.bellyzine.net/
- In the Mix: https://inthemixprisonerpodcast.libsyn.com/
- video of JEEP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwmELJwEsk8
Some past episodes touching on Black anarchism:
- Black Autonomy Reader: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2024/09/29/mutt-on-the-incomplete-black-autonomy-reader/
- Ashanti Alston at ACAB2024: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2024/09/01/solidarity-spirituality-and-liberatory-promise-on-a-turtles-back-with-ashanti-omowali-alston/
- Matt Meyer on Kuwasi Balagoon: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2019/06/04/free-them-all-matt-meyer-on-kuwasi-balagoon/
- Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2013/04/03/memphis-organizes-against-police-and-the-kkk-a-conversation-with-lorenzo-komboa-ervin/
- William C Anderson (first & second)
Announcement
Kevin Rashid Johnson
From the SFBayView Newspaper:
Rashid was “compacted” on May 1 to the Perry Correctional Institution in South Carolina, 430 Oaklawn Rd., Pelzer, SC 29669. His ID number in South Carolina is 397279.
In the transit van, he was severely injured – probably a broken bone – in his left leg. He has not been given any treatment for it.
He is in solitary confinement, with only a concrete slab to sleep on. He can make only one phone call per week. A comrade is helping him get onto the “GTL Getting Out” app so that he can communicate with everyone.
Meanwhile, he has been on hunger strike since he got there. He lost 17 pounds during the first week.
He appeals for maximum publicity and pressure.
The phone numbers listed for the prison are: 864-243-4700 and 803-737-1752.
Make calls and spread the word. Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, ID number 397279, must be treated humanely, given good medical care and a decent place to sleep and allowed full access to communicate with his lawyers and supporters. Tell the authorities to meet his demands so he can end his hunger strike.
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Featured Track
- Standing At The Crossroad by Eddie and Ernie from Lost Friends
Continue reading The Lives and Legacy of Martin Sostre (with Garrett Felber)
