[Omd] draft letter asking commies to support roger

[mattm-b at resist.ca]

Hello,

I am writing you on behalf of Ottawa Movement Defence.  We are the group
that formed to defend the June 18 defendants Roger Clement, Matthew
Morgan-Brown and Claude Harridge.

Since that time Roger has plead guilty to one count of arson and one count
of mischief over $5000 and been sentenced to 4 years in prison.  He is
currently serving his time at the Pittsburgh prison, a minimum security
prison just outside of Kingston.

The charges against Matthew were stayed for one year, at which point, if
the crown cannot produce any new evidence, the charges will be dropped.

Most of Claude’s charges were stayed – he was never charged with arson in
the first place – and he is still waiting for his case to be resolved.

Roger is and has been a Communist for many years.  We at Ottawa Movement
Defence would like to find some Communist support for him.  We do not
believe it is a mater of necessarily supporting his actions.  It is a
matter of supporting prisoners.  It is a matter of principle.  It is
essential that we support and defend our people in prison.

To date it has primarily been anarchists and the anarchist movement that
has been supporting and defending the J18 defendants and supporting Roger
in prison.  For many of us, Roger is an old friend, a dedicated activist
and someone we have worked with for years.  We will, of course, continue
to support him.  We would like, however, to see some communists get
involved, in whichever ways they are able, in supporting Roger while he is
in prison, and when he transitions out of prison.

We would like to suggest that you write to Roger, and that you encourage
others in your organization and the communist movement to do so.  Roger,
of course, can tell you best what type of support he would like and/or
needs.

Joseph Roger Clement (FPS-666866F)
Pittsburgh Institution
Highway 15, No. 3766
PO Box 4510
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 5E5

We would also be happy to know that you are supporting Roger, and what
type of support you are willing and able to do.  Potentially we might
co-ordinate our support work when it makes sense to do so.  You can
contact us at: ottawamovementdefense at gmail.com

In Solidarity,
Ottawa Movement Defence

-- 
"...education alone will not raise mass consciousness to the point
necessary for resistance." - Kevin 'Rashid' Johnson, Minister of Defence,
New Afrikan Black Panther Party - Prison Chapter