“Black August” is honored every year to commemorate the fallen freedom fighters of the Black Liberation Movement, to call for the release of political prisoners in the United States, to condemn the oppressive conditions of U.S. prisons, and to emphasize the continued importance of the Black Liberation struggle. Observers of Black August commit to higher levels of discipline throughout the month. This can include fasting from food and drink, frequent physical exercise and political study, and engagement in political struggle. In short, the principles of Black August are: “study, fast, train, fight.” The Boston branch proudly celebrates and takes part in Black August this year and every year.
Join us on August 21st, the day that Field Marshal George Jackson was assassinated by prison guards, and was immortalized forever. Some of the things we will be discussing are: the origins and significance of Black August today, the history of political imprisonment in the U.S. and explaining what is a political prisoner, the plight of women and LGBTQ prisoners, the current struggles that political prisoners face today, as well as what abolishing the prison/police state looks like.