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Khalfani Khaldun |
We are a small group of concerned family and friends who have come together with the purpose of exposing a conspiracy by the Indiana State Prison system against our friend and brother Khalfani Khaldun, aka Leonard McQuay. The prison system has made a number of attempts to destroy Khalfani due to his revolutionary beliefs and spiritual beliefs and his struggle in the prison against racism and brutality.
Several years ago, Khalfani was confronted by a racist prison investigator, Karl Swihart, who wanted Khalfani to become a "prison snitch." Khalfani refused his proposals and ten days later some skinhead inmates torched Khalfani's cell with gas. All of his personal property - television, photographs, shoes - was completely destroyed. This was Swihart's way of telling Khalfani that he was dead. About ten days later, Khalfani was transferred out of the institution to the Indiana Reformatory in south ern Indiana.
On June 30, 1989, Khalfani was sent back to Indiana State Prison in Michigan City and placed on their I.D.U. (Isolated Disciplinary Unit), and every time that Khalfani came up for release to general population Mr. Swihart accused him of being a "gang leader" to further harass and isolate Khalfani. Khalfani stayed in the segregation unit from 1989-1993 when he was released, along with six or seven New Afrikan brothers, to the prison's D-cell house (predator unit). The only reason that Investigator Swihart agreed to the release of these prisoners was that this new unit was simply a larger segregation unit designed for "the baddest of the bad." It was a very negative scene because the prisoners there were not allowe d to be productive and many had developed backwards attitudes. Swihart was hoping that the prisoners would stew in their ignorance and either kill each other or be killed.
This plan backfired on him. Khalfani and ten other New Afrikan prisoners saw the nee for Nation building and educational awareness. Political history classes were formed inside D-cell house. Khalfani had a great number of books and he organized a people's library for the sole purpose of educating the young New Afrikan men in D-cell house. This attracted a lot of attention from both prisoners and administration. Many young Black men became interested in the programs and a class was formed. On Fr idays, the group would deal with self-esteem, self-determination, spirituality, math, reading and world politics. This group, led by Khalfani, was responsible for transforming the awareness of inmates in D-cell house, especially about the conditions they were living under. Some guys received GEDs before going home. Some men who didn't believe in God came to know the realness of prayer and God. It is this type of creativity and work that made Investigator Swihart target Khalfani.
Swihart continued to try to discredit Khalfani as a "Gary gang leader" and a prison snitch," in order to curtail his effectiveness amongst the brothers he chose to help of his own free will. Khalfani appreciates his new found knowledge and understan ding and has committed his life and soul to the liberation of New Afrikan people. He is fighting for his life at this moment and needs the support of the community to expose this setup by Karl Swihart.
On January 31, 1995, Khalfani was charged with the murder of a prison guard, an act which he did not commit. On December 13, 1994, several days after the execution of Ajamu Nassor (aka Gregory Resnover) at the Indiana State Prison, a guard was killed. The murder occurred in the predator D-cell house where Khalfani was housed. Investigator Swihart sent for Khalfani concerning the stabbing of this guard. Khalfani already knew the possibility existed that he was being set up to take the murder rap, so he refused to say anything. Prison officials tried to tape record his voice in order to solidify their setup. When Khalfani refused to talk, Karl Swihart screamed at him, saying, "I'm putting this one on you and it's gonna stick." Swihart ordered Kh alfani transferred to another prison called the Maximum Control Complex at Westville, where he is confined alone in a cell behind a huge steel door for 23 hours a day and given only one hour of recreation.
Khalfani needs help from the outside and he feels sad about the lack of support for him and brothers like him due to lack of unity and communication on the behalf of New Afrikan people. Prior to this setup conspiracy, Khalfani was due to be released in two and one half years. Now his life is on the line and only with support of people from the community can he be saved. So We are asking You to join Us. Contribute what you can to his defense fun, or even send brother Khalfani some encouraging word s of support. Remember, tomorrow this could be your own son, daughter, uncle, nephew, brother, whose life is on the line. We must act now. As long as We continue to live under this capitalist system of modern slavery and oppression, We will be fighting against its injustices, its racism and its murderous nature.
In struggling with this situation for Brother Khalfani, We not only help him, but also help ourselves to create the atmosphere of people's struggle, especially for people who have lost hope and believe that change is a lost cause. So We ask you to s upport in any way you can; it all counts, so Khalfani says. We need your collective support. Once We come together We are a force that can't be stopped. Stay strong and always remember, struggle is our life whether we live in the down ghetto or the upt own neo-housing development. It's all a struggle. It's the oppressed against our present oppressor which is the system.
Strength through empowerment is what We need all around Us. We close recommending that you read the New Afrikan Creed that Khalfani says he lives by.
Note: Prison authorities have destroyed all of Khalfani's study materials, books, etc. If some of you can lend a hand by sending him some newspapers and/or political development materials, we will appreciate the assistance.
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