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George Jackson

By VVAW

I have surrendered all hope of happiness for myself in this life to the prospect of effecting some improvement in our circumstances as a whole. I have a plan. I will give of myself until it proves our making or my end."

--GEORGE JACKSON

On August 21, 1971, George Jackson was assassinated by prison guards at San Quentin. He was serving his tenth year for a one to life term for a $70 robbery. He was the author of two books; Solidad Brothers and Blood In My Eye. He was on trial along with John Clutchette, and Fleeta Drumgo for the alleged murder of a prison guard, (both of the other defendants were completely absolved of the crime by a jury six months later.),

He was also one of the main leaders of the prison movement; a man that spoke not only of the need for change in prison, but for the need of change in the outside society. Because of this George was killed by the state of California. We remember George Jackson this month, and the life he led, the future he saw and the words he lfet to guide us.

"I don't want to die and leave a few sad songs and a hump in the ground as my only monument. I want to leave a world that is liberated from trash, pollution, racism, nation states, nation state wars and armies, from pomp, bigotry, parochialism, a thousand brands of untruth, and licentious, usurious, economics. If there is any basis for the belief in the universality of man, then we will find it in this struggle against the enemy of mankind."

"There will be a special page in the book of life for the men who have crawled back from the grave. This page will tell of utter defeat, ruin, passivity, and subjection in one breath, and in the next, overwhelming victory and fulfillment. So take care of yourself, and hold on."

GEORGE JACKSON LIVES