Hugo Pinell

We learned that Yogi is suffering from very high blood pressure. He's currently on medication for it, but we're very concerned for his health since he has endured solitary confinement - no phone calls, no contact visits, no yard, no company - for 37 years. Yogi has suffered the last 17 years in Pelican Bay's notorious SHU (Security Housing Unit), or Supermax, a windowless nightmare.

He wrote: "Yes, great, the SF 8 are out on bail. That case should be thrown out. And it is great that the Jena 6 are getting much love and support. Like you, I'm hoping that the new generation will be the one to make bigger and unified changes for our [movement] and the people, but ours, for sure, for that will give us the formula of how to help others.

"One big problem, which I'm sure is noticeable or pointed out to our youth is the fact too many elders, who used to be in the freedom struggle and should be active still, they are retired or roaming around in the background, or labeled former this or former that as if the struggle is to be served up to a certain age? Very few of you, Beautiful People, stay the course and [are] still growing.

"Therefore others can give you props but won't come along because they see no progress, hence the excuses or reasons why they go different ways. I don't know all of the reasons why not, but it hurts so deeply to see the horrible conditions we exist in, specially in Africa, Brazil and in the Islands.

"I feel the same way you do when it comes to my family being those who show me love, care and are there for me. I keep very much to myself in here and I can deal with it for the longest, but it hurts and bothers me that the affiliation label is being used to keep me in these four units, used to keep me from going to a main line where I can get regular fresh air, lots of sunshine, better food and, more importantly, contact visits.

"I haven't had a contact visit since December 1970. Would be great if I was in the same line with Ru [Ruchell Cinque Magee]. The weather there is warm the year around and it would be so easy for Mom, you, the family to visit regularly.

"The [gang affiliation] label is also being used by the [parole] board to deny me release. It's almost impossible to win a challenge of the label. All I can say is no, I'm not affiliated with any group of any kind and ask them to show me my name on anything or produce a source I can question. And they say they don't need my signature on any document. That all they need are sources who say I'm affiliated, sources who cannot be revealed for security reasons?!

"I'm stuck in the most difficult of situations, Sis, because I want so badly to touch Mom. Not only that, her condition is frail, and if I can't be home, I should be able to touch her and I know that would give more strength and determination to hold on."
Isn't nearly 44 years enough?

For more information on Yogi Bear, go to www.hugopinell.org.

Please write or phone the warden at Pelican Bay State Prison to voice your concern about Hugo Pinell. The warden is Robert Horel, P.O. Box 7000, Crescent City CA 95531-7000, (707) 465-1000. Make a fuss about the ongoing torture - yes torture, extreme isolation and sensory deprivation - of this brave brother who was one of George Jackson's closest comrades and one of the soldiers who stood up when Black prisoners were under fire in the 1960s and early ‘70s. (See Minh Yee's "Melancholy History of Soledad Prison.")

Kiilu Nyasha, Black Panther veteran, revolutionary journalist and Bay View columnist, can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Words of encouragement to Yogi are always welcome. Address your letter to Hugo Pinell, A-88401, D3-221, P.O. Box 7500, Crescent City CA 95531.

Tag it:

?