Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Skip to navigation

Print subscriptions

US edition

The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian

Members of Move show defiance to the police as they stand in front of their barricaded house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. — Members of Move show defiance to the police as they stand in front of their barricaded house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photograph: Leif Skoogfors/Corbis via Getty Images

The 19 black radicals who are still in prison after four decades

This article is more than 5 years old

Some African American rebels, including Mumia Abu-Jamal and members of Move, are still incarcerated for their actions during the 1970s black liberation struggle

Mumia Abu-Jamal, AKA Wesley Cook, former Black Panther

Former Pennsylvania death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, seen here in a December 13, 1995 prison photo, was convicted in 1982 of murdering a Philadelphia policeman. — Former Pennsylvania death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, seen here in a 13 December 1995 prison photo, was convicted in 1982 of murdering a Philadelphia police officer. Photograph: Lisa Terry/Getty Images

Age: 64

Incarcerated since: 1981

Convicted of: Murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner

Sentence: Life without parole

Current prison: SCI Mahanoy, Pennsylvania

Delbert Orr Africa, Move organisation

Delbert Africa and other members of Move, an organisation founded by John Africa, sit in front of their barricaded house in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia. — Delbert Africa and other members of Move, an organisation founded by John Africa, sit in front of their barricaded house in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia. Photograph: Leif Skoogfors/Corbis via Getty Images

Age: 72

Incarcerated since: 1978

Convicted of: Third-degree murder of police officer James Ramp during Philadelphia siege

Sentence: 30 years to life

Current prison: SCI Dallas, Pennsylvania

Eddie Goodman Africa, Move organisation

Move members continue the radical group’s vigil at its west Philadelphia headquarters on 3 March 1978. — Move members continue the radical group’s vigil at its west Philadelphia headquarters on 3 March 1978. Photograph: Bill Ingraham/AP

Age: 68

Incarcerated since: 1978

Convicted of: Third-degree murder of police officer James Ramp during Philadelphia siege

Sentence: 30 years to life

Current prison: SCI Mahanoy, Pennsylvania

Janet Holloway Africa, Move organisation

Janet Africa of MOVE talks to bystanders outside the MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, Aug. 3, 1978. — Janet Africa of Move talks to bystanders outside the Move headquarters in Philadelphia, on 3 August 1978. Photograph: Hires/AP

Age: 67

Incarcerated since: 1978

Convicted of: Third-degree murder of police officer James Ramp during Philadelphia siege

Sentence: 30 years to life

Current prison: SCI Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania

Janine Phillips Africa, Move organisation

Janine Africa, a member of MOVE, preaches to the crowd that gathers in front of their barricaded house. — Janine Africa, a member of Move, preaches to the crowd that gathers in front of their barricaded house. Photograph: Leif Skoogfors/Corbis via Getty Images

Age: 62

Incarcerated since: 1978

Convicted of: Third-degree murder of police officer James Ramp during Philadelphia siege

Sentence: 30 years to life

Current prison: SCI Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania

Jalil Muntaqim, AKA Anthony Bottom, former Black Panther, Black Liberation Army member

Jalil Muntaqim. — Jalil Muntaqim. Photograph: The Guardian

Age: 66

Incarcerated since: 1971

Convicted of: Murders of police officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini

Sentence: 25 years to life

Current prison: Sullivan Correctional Facility, New York

Mutulu Shakur, associated with Black Panther party and other groups

Mutulu Shakur in the Manhattan Correction Center. — Mutulu Shakur in the Manhattan Correction Center. Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Age: 67

Incarcerated since: 1986

Convicted of: Helping Black Panther Party member Assata Shakur escape from prison in 1979

Sentence: 60 years

Current prison: Federal Correctional Complex, Victorville, California

Russell ‘Maroon’ Shoatz, former Black Panther

Russell Shoatz III and Sharon Shoatz with their father Russell “Maroon” Shoatz after he was released from solitary confinement into general population at SCI-Graterford. — Russell Shoatz III and Sharon Shoatz with their father Russell ‘Maroon’ Shoatz after he was released from solitary confinement into general population at SCI Graterford. Photograph: Abolitionist Law Center.

Age: 74

Incarcerated since: 1970

Convicted of: Murder of Philadelphia police sergeant Frank Von Colln

Sentence: Life without parole

Current prison: SCI Dallas, Pennsylvania

Sundiata Acoli, AKA Clark Squire, former Black Panther, Black Liberation Army member

Sundiata Acoli in February of 2013, when he was 76. — Sundiata Acoli in February of 2013, when he was 76. Photograph: Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign

Age: 81

Incarcerated since: 1973

Convicted of: Murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster

Sentence: Life plus 30 years consecutively

Current prison: FCI Cumberland, Maryland

Chuck Sims Africa, Move organisation

Charles “Chuck” Sims Africa. — Charles ‘Chuck’ Sims Africa. Photograph: onamove.com

Age: 59

Incarcerated since: 1978

Convicted of: Third-degree murder of police officer James Ramp during Philadelphia siege

Sentence: 30 years to life

Current prison: SCI Dallas, Pennsylvania

Michael Davis Africa, Move organisation

https://media.gutools.co.uk/images/27265741f3607780fa335378d8d1f52514b1a55d?crop=0_0_461_461 — Michael Davis Africa Photograph: onamove.com

Age: 62

Incarcerated since: 1978

Convicted of: Third-degree murder of police officer James Ramp during Philadelphia siege

Sentence: 30 years to life

Current prison: SCI Graterford, Pennsylvania

Joseph Bowen, former Black Liberation Army member

Joseph “Joe-Joe” Bowen. — Joseph ‘Joe-Joe’ Bowen. Photograph: No credit

Age: 70

Incarcerated since: 1971

Convicted of: Murder of police officer, and later murder of two prison officers

Sentence: Life without parole

Current prison: SCI Coal Township, Pennsylvania

Veronza Bowers Jr, former Black Panther

Veronza Bowers, convicted of murdering a US Park Ranger, shown in this undated family photograph. — Veronza Bowers Jr, convicted of murdering a US park ranger, shown in this undated family photograph. Photograph: Washington Post/Washington Post/Getty Images

Age: 72

Incarcerated since: 1973

Convicted of: Murder of US park ranger Kenneth Patrick

Sentence: Life

Current prison: Federal Correctional Complex, Butner, North Carolina

Fred ‘Muhammad’ Burton, former Black Liberation Army member

Fred “Muhammad” Burton. — Fred ‘Muhammad’ Burton. Photograph: Handout

Age: 71

Incarcerated since: 1970

Convicted of: Murder of police officer, and later murder of two prison officers

Current prison: SCI-Somerset, Pennsylvania

Sentence: Life

Romaine ‘Chip’ Fitzgerald, former Black Panther

Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald. — .Romaine ‘Chip’ Fitzgerald Photograph: No credit

Age: 69

Incarcerated since: 1969

Convicted of: Murder of security guard and attempted murder of a highway patrol officer

Sentence: Two life sentences

Current prison: California state prison, Los Angeles county

Ruchell ‘Cinque’ Magee

Age: 79

Incarcerated since: 1963

Convicted of: Aggravated kidnapping in 1970 courthouse break-out attempt in which Judge Harold Haley was killed

Sentence: Life without parole

Current prison: California Men’s Colony, San Luis Obispo, California

This entry was amended on 2 August 2018 to correct Ruchell ‘Cinque’ Magee’s age from 65 to 79.

Ed Poindexter, former Black Panther

Ed Poindexter. — Ed Poindexter. Photograph: Courtesy of Ed Poindexter

Age: 73

Incarcerated since: 1970

Convicted of: Murder of Omaha police officer Larry Minard

Sentence: Life

Current prison: Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska

Kojo Bomani Sababu, AKA Grailing Brown, former Black Liberation Army member

Kojo Bomani Sababu, aka Grailing Brown. — Kojo Bomani Sababu, aka Grailing Brown Photograph: No Credit

Age: 65

Incarcerated since: 1975

Convicted of: Murder of drug dealer, attempted prison escape

Sentence: Life

Current prison: USP Canaan, Pennsylvania

Kamau Sadiki, AKA Freddie Hilton, former Black Panther

Kamau Sidiki aka Freddie Hilton. — Kamau Sidiki aka Freddie Hilton Photograph: Handout

Age: 65

Incarcerated since: 2002

Convicted of: Murder in 1971 of Atlanta police officer James Green

Sentence: Life

Current prison: Augusta State Medical Prison, Georgia

Explore more on these topics

Reuse this content

Most viewed

Most viewed