TUTORIAL IT

Photo of the delegation after delivering petitions.

On April 17, Amnesty International was joined by a delegation of supporters, holding a press conference at the Louisiana State Capitol building in Baton Rouge, LA, and hand delivering to Governor Bobby Jindals office the petition initiated by Amnesty International demanding the immediate release of the Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox from solitary confinement.

Governor Jindal refused to meet with the delegation despite several attempts made by Amnesty International to contact him in the weeks leading up to the petition delivery.

In a statement released that day, Everette Harvey Thompson, Southern Office Regional Director of Amnesty International USA, argued that "the 40-year isolated incarceration of these two men is scandalous. There is no legitimate penal purpose for keeping these men in solitary - Louisiana authorities must end this inhumanity." The day before, Thompson told Between the Lines: "Weve contacted Gov. Jindals office many times over the past couple of weeks, requesting a meeting to discuss the case of the Angola 3, to inquire about the use of solitary confinement in this case, and theres been no response. Gov. Jindal has the opportunity to stand on the right side of justice and order removal of Albert and Herman from isolation. We really hope he will take heed and make some moves."

Herman and Albert each prepared statements for April 17. Herman reflected: "Exactly 40 years ago today, April 17, we will have been incarcerated for 40 years in solitary confinement in the USA. This is nothing new to Albert and I, nor to hundreds of thousands in US prisons." Commenting on the effects of solitary, Albert said: "To be honest I am not sure what damage has been done to me, but I do know that the feeling of pain allows me to know that I am alive. If I dwelled on the pain I have endured and stopped to think about how 40 years locked in a cage 23 hours a day has affected me, it would give insanity the victory it has sought for 40 years."

That morning Robert King was interviewed live by Democracy Now! and many others have reported on the 40 year anniversary, including BBC, The Guardian UK, Mother Jones, and KPFAs Africa Today (1,2). Following the event, King writes that "standing on the State Capitol steps on Tuesday 17 April, I felt the power of the people, of 65,000 people and more - all those who have supported the Angola 3 over the years were also with us. We could not be ignored - the media were there and wanted to report on this, organizations stood by our side in support. Amnestys presence was felt. For me the day was bitter sweet, bitter with a deep sadness that we were marking this day but sweet seeing the years of efforts and struggle culminating in this day. The tide is changing and the time for change is now. We have the wind at our back and we need to keep on moving."

We want to thank everyone who has supported this campaign! Among the powerful lineup of A3 supporters at the petition delivery and press conference were Alfreda Bester-Tillman, Esq. from the Baton Rouge Chapter of the NAACP, Pastor Kathleen Bacon from the Slidell Chapter of the National Action Network, US Representative Cedric Richmond and State Representative Patricia Haynes-Smith, Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus.

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View more photos from the State Capitol and read the full statements by Robert King, Herman Wallace, and Albert Woodfox here.

Professor Angela A. Allen-Bell speaks at the State Capitol press conference on April 17.

Law professor Angela A. Allen-Bell, based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, spoke at the April 17 press conference and was part of the delegation that delivered the petition. She has also written an article about the Angola 3, to be published in the upcoming Spring issue of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly. Bells article is entitled "Perception Profiling & Prolonged Solitary Confinement Viewed Through the Lens of the Angola 3 Case: When Prison Officials Become Judges, Judges Become Visually Challenged and Justice Become Legally Blind."

David A. Newton, the Editor in Chief of the Constitutional Law Quarterly recently spoke (watch video) about Professor Bells article at our April 6 event "The Outer Limits of Solitary Confinement." He announced that when published early this summer, it will be available online. Once published, Professor Bell can also be contacted for a copy via email: ABell@sulc.edu.

Recently interviewed by KPFAs Africa Today show, she argued that the treatment of the Angola 3 is a violation of both federal and international law. Among the many types of violations she described is under the US Constitutions 14th Amendments due process clause. She explains that "in the case of a person subjected to prolonged isolation, the due process clause affords them a hearing on a periodic basis and in Louisiana thats every 90 days." Furthermore,"there has to be some legitimate penoligical reason to keep that inmate in isolation. What is happening in these hearings, not just with the Angola 3, but also universally across the country is institutions are treating them as formalities" where "the hearing lacks any substance. The inmate really doesnt have a meaningful voice in this, and the prison of course doesnt have to really meet any burden of proof," and "articulate what a legitimate penological reason is. They only have to say we have some evidence, we have some reason for doing this and courts have deemed that acceptable."

"It amounts to nothing more than procedural automation in a legal assembly line where unfavorable reviews are mass-produced." This "completely undermines the due process clause because due process means" being "genuinely in search of a fair resolution," argued Bell.

MEDIA COVERAGE:  NOLA Times-Picayune  II  New Yorker  II  NPR interviews Prof Angela A. Allen-Bell  II  Hollywood Progressive: New A3 Feature Film  II  Huffington Post  II  CTV (Canada) / AP  II  Atlanta Black Star  II  Live Science 


We are sad to report that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to continue the stay and block the release of Albert Woodfox until the States appeal is heard (read articles by The Advocate and Washington Post).

Though it means some months before Albert will see his long overdue freedom realized, the court has granted an "expedited" status for the appeal. Oral Arguments are set for the week of August 31st. The States written argument as to why they believe Judge Bradys order should be overturned is due on July 10th. Then Alberts team has three weeks to respond before the State is allowed a final rebuttal on August 7th.

Despite the overwhelming calls for Alberts freedom from the people, congressmen, NGOs like Amnesty International, and 3 legal rulings overturning his original conviction, the State continues their cruel campaign of vengeance against Albert. Enough is Enough. Once again we see that, as Robert King says, "Legality and Morality do not shake hands in the court room". 

Though we are disappointed our friend will not be released today, we remain confident that the truth of his innocence and integrity of his struggle for justice will ultimately free him, sooner rather than later, and will continue to shed light on the dire situation faced by thousands left in solitary for decades for no legitimate reason. We have spoken with Albert, and although disappointed, he remains stoic and wanted to let everyone know he remains strong and will never give up till he gets justice.

Below is a response to todays ruling by Amnesty International USA.

Amnesty International USA: Woodfox Must Be Released Immediately

The human rights organization called todays Fifth Circuit ruling the result of a "desperate attempt to thwart justice" by the Attorney General.

Contact: Gabe Cahn, gabe@westendstrategy.com, 202.412.1678

WASHINGTON-Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Louisiana announced that they would continue a stay of a U.S. District Judges decision to release Albert Woodfox. The Courts decision effectively blocks the release of the Louisiana prisoner, pending a ruling on whether or not Albert Woodfox will be tried a third time. This decision follows U.S. District Judge James J. Bradys ruling on Tuesday, which granted unconditional release to the last imprisoned member of the Angola 3, Albert Woodfox. In response, Amnesty International USA Executive Director Steven W. Hawkins issued the following statement:

    "Given that the overturning of Albert Woodfoxs conviction on three separate occasions was not enough, Judge Bradys decision to grant him unconditional release should have certainly ended this 43-year-long nightmare. Instead, he remains behind bars, fighting to prove his innocence as a result of the Louisiana Attorney Generals desperate attempt to thwart justice.

    "At this point, the Louisiana authorities must ensure Albert Woodfoxs freedom-not only from incarceration, but from the deeply flawed legal process that has consumed him for more than four decades."

Since 2013 alone, Amnesty International USA has generated more than 100,000 actions on Woodfoxs behalf, including the delivery of a petition to Governor Jindal with more than 50,000 signatures calling for Albert Woodfoxs release. Over the course of the last five years, Amnestys global movement has generated more than 500,000 actions on behalf of the Angola 3. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez U.N. decried the indefinite solitary confinement imposed on Woodfox, saying that it "clearly amounts to torture and it should be lifted immediately."

On June 11, in the wake of Judge Bradys ruling, 18 members of the Louisiana House of Representatives voted for a resolution (H.R. 208) urging Attorney General Caldwell to stop standing in the way of justice, withdraw his appeals, and let Judge Bradys unconditional writ and release ruling stand.





Write Albert:

Albert Woodfox #72148            
West Feliciana Parish Detention Center
PO Box 2727
St. Francisville, LA 70775