Once again, major violence between Raza and African prison ers has erupted within the United States Concentration Camp (Pris on) System, this time at the Chino California State Prison.
Beginning at 8:20 PM, on Sat urday evening, Aug. 8, 2009, Afri can and Raza (Latino) prisoners, in the most brutal fashion, slash ing, cutting, hitting each other with anything that could get their hands on, battled against each other for more than 11 hours.
Over 200 hundred prison ers were hurt and several were critically injured with severe head injuries or stab wounds. Blood was spilled by everyone. Many of those involved will be scarred and maimed for life, both physically and mentally.
But this latest violence is nothing new. Nor was it the worst. For years, not only in California, but throughout the United States, Raza and African prisoners have been at each other throats.
Those of us who should know better—the social activists and so-called educated—should be clear about the root causes of this horrific violence that continues, unabated, decade after decade. We should be able to understand how it only serves to keep both nations oppressed and colonized, and most importantly, what we must do about it.
While some refused to see or accept the truth, the reality is that the prison wars between Raza and Africans are nothing but the old strategy of divide and conquer, which the European (white) colo nialist-capitalist system has suc cessfully used against our people for more than 500 years.
The “hand of white suprem acy” behind the recent hostilities should be obvious to everyone.
It is no coincidence that so few white prisoners were involved or hurt. Or, that not “one guard” suffered even a scratch. That fact is that the racist prison system, which is responsible for the tortur ous and inhumane treatment of Raza and African prisoners was not the object of the prisoners’ an ger.
As racist as some of the white prisoners are (many belong to groups such as the Aryan Broth erhood, Hells Angels, Skin Heads and Minutemen), they also were not the target of the riot.
In fact, our carnales and broth ers (and carnalas and sisters) in the prisons are so confused and disoriented by the divide and con quer tactics of the capitalists (from which white power comes from), that they don’t even see the pris on system as their main enemy.
The constant blaming of Mexi cans/Latinos for all the problems facing the United States, branding us “illegal aliens”, and the fact that even as the “riot” at Chino was taking place, prison officials and politicians were already blaming “Latinos” as the cause of the vio lence, all form part of the trickery called “divide and conquer.”
What we, Raza and Africans, and all oppressed people (includ ing poor whites) must understand, the “divide and conquer” strategy is a foundation upon which colo nialism-capitalism rests.
And, if we are serious about ending the vicious violence among colonized and oppressed (poor and working class) people, colonialism-capitalism must be destroyed.
It is in the question of the “de struction of capitalism” in which we find so many otherwise “edu cated” people acting dumb and stupid.
It is here where we find some people to be “utterly lost” as to what causes violence and what is the solution. The answer is found with them deciding on whether they want to keep their nice cars, cushy jobs, vacations and nice homes, which capitalism pro vides.
Or do they destroy the founda tions of capitalism (racism, colo nialism, oppression and destruc tion of our planet) and thus risk losing the materialistic lifestyle that they enjoy so much.
All of us, living inside and out side the U.S. Concentration Camp (Prison) System must realize that the violence between colonized people affects all of us, as pris on wars spill out into the streets, communities, and the schools.
“Race” violence occurs every day within the United States. Most of the victims are innocent, and most are young people. There fore, if we care about our youth, and about peace and justice, then we have to get involved in the struggle to end prison violence.
The CMPP calls on all of us to unite against colonialism-capital ism and all its manifestations. We must struggle for a revolutionary change in society.
If the CMPP has learned any thing during the last 20 years, it is that prisoners respect revolu tion. Only this type of struggle can unite Africans and Mexicans-Raza, and put an end to the an tagonistic confrontations between our peoples.
uniondelbarrio.org/laverdad
El Pueblo Unido, Jamas Sera Vencido!
The People United, Will Never Be Defeated!
Hasta La Victoria –Venceremos!
