Jeff Fort, Jerry Fort’s father, was a leader of the Blackstone Rangers – which he always insisted was an organization, not a “gang” – from its beginning, when it was a dozen 12- to 15-year-olds living on Blackstone Avenue in Chicago’s South Side Woodlawn neighborhood. Here he testifies before the McClellan Committee in July 1968.

With these two bills, HR 1955 and SB 1959, the U.S. government via Congress is officially broadening the definition of terrorism to include First Amendment political actions - like people utilizing their freedom of speech, freedom of the press or the right of the people to peaceably assemble.

Stay tuned as the Prisoners of Conscience Committee Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. and myself, the Minister of Information JR, interview Jerry Fort of the Poor People's Campaign Inc.

Ch. Fred: With Chicago in particular, even with the recent conviction around the case given to Jose Padilla, who the U.S. government had, I believe, tried in Florida, they claimed he was a member of a street organization which they correlated at that time to be like - they referred to as - a terrorist. And also even with discussions coming up about these forced DNA tests and universal IDs and the police can just pull up on you and scan your ID and get all of your background information.

A lot of people think this is paranoid, or this is some sort of George Orwellian conspiracy theory type stuff. But you're saying this is actually in black and white on paper in this law. They are actually saying in the government's own words, and people can go online and see the type of legislation they are pushing for. And you saying it's in black and white? People can see it themselves?

J. Fort: It's in black and white, sir. You talking about the "Real ID Act." The Real ID Act. That's gonna take the place of passports and almost everything else. Your gonna have to have an ID, and it's called the Real ID Act. All you gotta do is type that in, and it will pop up, OK?

Once they keep your back up against the wall, you can't see what's going on, ‘cause you got so many bills coming in you frustrated with this, you frustrated with that. They got this re-gentrification going on in every state, where they tearing down all the projects and building all these expensive homes.

Jerry Fort is the son of Jeff Fort, a hero to many and a terrorist to some as leader of the Blackstone Rangers, later called El Rukns (The Stones, in Arabic).

Ch. Fred: In closing brother, could you give us the information, what to look up, and how we should move forward. Just reiterate about contacting these various elected officials and stopping this draconian attack?

J. Fort: OK, brother. You can just go to the bill HR 1955 and hit search on that. And then you can call Sen. Barak Obama at (866) 275-2008 - that's his campaign line - and let him know that you are firmly against this HR 1955 bill and Senate Bill 1959. And then you can bring up questions about this Real ID Act too, because they trying to bring it all through.

You can call Sen. Reed at (202) 224-7327. Henry Reed, you can call him there, the senator, you can call his office. You can call the majority whip's office at (202) 224-2158 and tell him the same doggone thing, that you do not want these bills to pass through the Senate, ‘cause that's where they are right now.

Ch. Fred: And again, taking into account the history, any laws that have passed in this country in particular, such laws as these, they have had a directly negative impact on the Black community. Again, I want to re-stress the depth of this contradiction, the fact that Congressman Rush as well as (other) members of CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) have supported this piece of legislation. And the community should be made very well aware of these attacks and those who support it.

MOI JR: As well as the Democratic Party.

Ch. Fred: Yes. Yes, indeed.

J. Fort: The Democratic Party is the ones who supported this bill. If you go to www.opencongress.org/bill/110senatebill1959, it will show you everything. When you type in senate bill, or either just type in HR1955, it's gonna pop up, and it's gonna show you everything about who did what, who voted for it, and all of this. ‘Cause this is pitiful. I mean, I got people on here that's saying this bill needs to be stopped! Stop this bill! Stop this bill! Civil Rights is at hand! Stop this bill. That's what they're saying.

MOI JR: You were just listening to the voice of Jerry Fort, an activist who was informing us of the Thought Crimes Bills that are on the floor of Congress right now. Get involved; the POCC is urging everybody to get involved. Make sure you call your "elected officials" and let them know that we must stop this bill. Thank you for being with us.

J. Fort: Thank you.

To call any Congress member, dial the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Email POCC Minister of Information JR at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and visit www.blockreportradio.com, hiphopwarreport.com and myspace.com/blockreportfilm.

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