Eddie Hatcher Fights for His Life! by Mumia Abu-Jamal* The name Eddie Hatcher is as widely known and respected by the people as it is hated by the system. For Hatcher, a Tuscarora/Lumbee Native American, along with his fellow Tuscarora, Tim Jacobs, brought national attention to the plight of Native and African Americans battling local governmental corruption in Robeson County, North Carolina, when they occupied offices of the Robesonian newspaper, demanding that the governor investigate a string of murders and suspicious deaths of Indians and African Americans there in 1988. The occupation, an act of desperation on the two Tuscarora's part, marked them both for government vengeance. Hatcher, after a full acquittal of federal charges arising from the takeover was improperly and illegally reindicted on state charges - despite his presumed double jeopardy "rights" - convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to eighteen years in prison. Recently**, Hatcher's fight for freedom has become, in a real sense, a fight for his very life. Several years ago, Hatcher and the Robeson Defense Committee fought for the right to decent health care and justice for an African American who suffered from AIDS, James Hall, Jr. Now the bitter barrel spins, and Hatcher finds he is HIV positive. There are few things in life that can make such undeniably bad news even worse - and one is to be HIV positive and in prison. For people who, like Hatcher, are HIV-positive face denial of medical treatment, abominably poor medical treatment, vicious discrimination, and constant abuse, from medical staff and prisoners alike. Eddie Hatcher's principled actions in occupying the offices of the Robesonian bespoke courage and caring, not criminality. He acted to draw the light of exposure upon a county rank with corruption, which denied the black, the red, and the poor of Robeson County the barest hint of justice. How many of us would've born the injustice in silence? Before Hatcher and Jacobs dared act, how many did? Hatcher's federal acquittal, and subsequent state prosecution, for the same acts, shows the rabid political character of his case. Eddie Hatcher, like former prisoner Dr. Alan Berkman, Bashir Hameed of the New York Three, and Silvan Baraldini, is a political prisoner fighting for his very life! And as they did for Dr. Berkman, the efforts of many may help Hatcher make parole, thereby extending a good life of service to others. Every day is vital. Help make Hatcher's dream of a long, productive life, a reality. From death row, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal*Mumia Abu-Jamal is a noted journalist and prisoner on death row in Pennsylvania. For more information on his case, please go to the following website:  http://www.freemumia.org**This article was written prior to Eddie's release on the kidnapping charges.




CALL IN TO stop the tourture and harassment of Eddie
Hatcher!

This is a call to action in support of native american
PP eddie hatcher for info on his case go to

www.eddiehatcher.org

URGENT ALERT!
"Eddie is not doing well right
now. Physically or mentally. He has lost an excessive
amount of weight.
He is being singled out, harassed and intimidated
daily, so much that
he stays in his cell for as many as 22 hours each day.
Raleigh, and the
DOC contact people on his website need to be notified
that there are
people out there concerned and watching his fate which
is in the hands of
North Carolina DOC. I am truely scared that Eddie will
die soon if
someone does not intervene....Please stay in touch. I
am trying to do my
best since our mother passed in July. Please help
us......"
Ginger Ammerman
Eddie's sister

We an't gonna take this shit!
MASSIVE CALL AND FAX JAM BEGINING NOW!
here are the targets and demands:

Mr. Sid Harkeleroad
Superintendent
Marion Correctional Institute
Marion, NC 28752
828-659-6814

and

Mr. Franklin Freeman
Governor's Chief of Staff
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
919-733-6184

1.Demand to know the current condition and whereabouts
of eddie hatcher.
2.Demand an end to eddie being held under 22 hour lock
down.
3.Demand an end to the harassment of eddie by the
staff of the prison Mr. Sid Harkeleroad included.
4.Let them know that you will not stop calling or
doing other actions untill eddie is free and
healthy.The whole world is watching.

Other targets for phone and fax actions:

Governor Michael F. Easley
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-0301
Fax: (919)715-3175 or (919)733-2120


Franklin Freeman (Governor Mike Easley's Chief of
Staff)
919-733-6184
fax 919-715-3175

Senator Frank Ballance
919-715-3032
fax 919-856-9686


Assistant U.S. Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
US Department of Justice10th & Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20530(202) 514-2151
For these targets stress a civil rights investagetion
as well as the above demands.
WE WILL NOT SIT HERE AND LET OUR FELLOW FIGHTERS BE
SENTENCED TO DEATH.PRISON IS ALSO A FORM OF LEAGAL
LYNCHING WHEN IT INCORPRATES:HARASSMENT,ISOLATION,and
TOURTORE as in the case of Eddie Hatcher.
Please FORWARD this message around the world and
please if you can translate it into other languges for
more info about eddie hatcher please vist
www.eddiehatcher.org
BASTA!