ATLANTA MAN -- NATIONAL NEWS DOWN UNDER Lorenzo is a personal friend, a writer, an insightful commentator on social and historical conditions and a well-respected community activist with years of work in Atlanta, Chattonooga and in every federal prison he was incarcerated in during his 15 year federal sentence as a political prisoner. I first worked with him with the Atlanta Transit Riders Union to fight the proposed MARTA fare hike in 1995. (He authored our federal lawsuit challenging Georgia's transportation investment policy as a denial of equal protection). Since being released from Federal prison in 1983, Lorenzo has split his time between Atlanta, caring for his mother in Chattanooga and travelling to twenty different countries lecturering about the political and social conditions of our times. Wednesday morning, we will maintain an all-day (10:00 am until 5:00 pm) picket at the Australian consulate at Peachtree Center. We are demanding that Mr. Ervin be released and allowed to address the groups who are sponsoring his four-week speaking tour. His human right to speak and their human right to hear him must not be trampled by the reactionary politics of the Australian parliment. Please join us for an hour or for the day. -- X345702 Australian Trade Commission And Consulate General - Atlanta Suite 2920 One Peachtree Center 303 Peachtree St, N.E. Atlanta GA 30308 Phone: (404) 880-1700 Fax:(404) 880-1701 Office Hours 8.3Oam - 5.0Opm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Atlanta Activist making national news in Australia Lorenzo's tour would have been a quiet affair of a half dozen speaking engagements with audiances of probably less than two-hundred total if it were not for the efforts of Ms Pauline Hanson, a Member of Parliment for the One Nation Party. She won her seat in Parliment on a campaign to ban future immigration into Australia by Asians and "no concessions" to the Aborigionals on whose land the country is settled. Now she's making political hay at the expense of the fundamental human rights of Lorenzo and the people who funded his trip in order to hear what he has to say. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Fred Chase" I am writing to strongly object to the detainment and possible deportation from Australia of Lorenzo Komboa Ervin. It reflects very negatively on the Australian government, raising questions about its commitment to free speech and suggesting racism. The progressive community around the world is very concerned about this development. Talk is rising of mounting a boycott against the upcoming olympic games in Australia and against tourism to Australia in general unless this situation is resolved. If Lorenzo Ervin is not released and allowed to continue his speaking tour, I will do everything in my power to support such a boycott and would expect that all the members of our union around the world can be counted on to do the same. Fred Chase General Secretary/Treasurer Industrial Workers of the World Industrial Workers of the World 75 Humberstone Gate Leicester LE1 1WB ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swindon Mixed Industries Branch 9 Omdurman Street Swindon SN2 1HA 9 July 1997 To: His Excellency the Honourable Neal Blewett AC High Commissioner Australian High Commission Australia House The Strand London WC2 Dear High Commissioner I am writing to protest in the strongest terms about the arrest of and threat of deportation to Mr Lorenzo Komboa Ervin. The matter was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald of 9 July and The Age (Melbourne) of 8 July. Mr Ervin is in Australia as part of a speaking tour about racism and it appears that certain extreme right wing politicians in your country would prefer that racism in Australia was not exposed. This is an attack on free speech and a racist attack at that. The Swindon Branch of the IWW demands the unconditional release of Mr Lorenzo Komboa Ervin and an end to the racist harassment which he is suffering. Yours sincerely Kevin Brandstatter Branch Secretary ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dublin, Ireland Calls to the Embassy here have reached such a volume that the reception is not putting all calls through to one individuals answer machine ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 00:22:43 +1000 (EST) From: donna Subject: org: LORENZO UPDATE Tomorrow two prominent government QCs (Queens Counsel) will fly to Brisbane to hear the bail application of Lorenzo Kom'Boa Ervin. They are described as being hardliners in the immigration field. And in the latest twist, we have received copies of documents forwarded to the department of immigration and multicultural affairs from the Australian government solicitor, in which it is stated under the heading of BACKGROUND, " 2. The Secretary of Australians Against Further Immigration Party wrote to the Monister on 5 May 1997 expressing concern that Mr Ervin may be granted a visa to conduct a speaking tour of Australia. Mr Ervin arrived in Australia on 4 July 1997 having been granted an electronic travel authority." Clearly, the Aust. dept. of immigration was expecting Lorenzo at least one month before he arrived. The documents go on to report every incident in which Lorenzo was involved with the law and the various groups he has been involved in or worked with e.g. "8. Mr Ervin is reported to be a militant member of the "Anarchist Black Cross" , an international network of autonomous groups of anarchists whose objectives are to maintain the interests of anarchist, 'class war' and other prisoners. The organisation also is reported to aim to bring attention to the plight of all prisoners including prisoners with psychiatric conditions, with an emphasis on anarchist and 'class war' prisoners, and inspire anarchist resistance and support movements outside gaols." Tonights meeting in brisbane went ahead as planned with indigenous speakers and pledges of solidarity. Angry People have decided that should Lorenzo be deported, all scheduled talks will go ahead with the indigenous speakers and the video footage of the first talk in Brisbane, which took place on the streets of West End, having had both the venue and back-up venue cancel as a result of governmental pressure. It is important that those in the rest of Australia at least hear his words and that his indigenous brothers and sisters still have the opportunity to speak. The government will have to lock us all away to prevent it. These meetings were also to be organising forums...it is unfortunate that Lorenzo may not be able to take part. It may well be that the Australian Government will have cause to regret their actions in bringing these circumstances about. Donna ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 8 Jul 1997 09:22:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Deke Nihilson x341697 Subject: LKErvin arrested in Brisbane, Australia Hi FWs, Deke here. We got a call at GHQ this morning from FW Ray Elbourne, reporting that Lorenzo Komboa Ervin was arrested this afternoon in Brisbane, Australia by the Australian immigration police, and is apparently being held for deportation as an "undesirable" despite having been granted a visa to enter the country. FW Elbourne requests that people call or fax Australian embassies and consulates to protest, or even outright picket them. Lorenzo's on a speaking tour there, and Free Speech Is Labor's Right, after all. Sorry that's all I know, Ray's been up late and so have I. GHQ has FW Elbourne's telephone number, should anyone desire to call him and further discuss the matter. Please pass the word if you can, particularly to those not online. Direct Action Gets 1/3 Less Sleep than the other leading brand, Deke Nihilson in Ypslanti MI "The General Strike is the thing!" Abolish the wage/rent/prison system! [http://www.iww.org/] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lorenzo is a former Black Panther and US Political Prisoner. He was on a speaking tour of Australia on behalf of the 'Angry People' anarchist group. He was only arrested after Pauline Hanson MP and John Howard (Prime Minister) had spoken against him in parliament there ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS-RELEASE LORENZO ERVIN HAS ADVISED HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE AS FOLLOWS: AFTER BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS AT APPROXIMATELY 2.00PM ON TUESDAY THE 8TH JULY 1997, WHILST IN THE CAR PARK AT THE SIR ARTHUR GORRIE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE I WAS HANDCUFFED WITH MY HANDS PLACED BEHIND MY BACK. THE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ACCOMPANYING ME THEN PUSHED MY FACE INTO A WALL CAUSING MY GLASSES TO BREAK. I WAS THEN DRAGGED BY THE HANDCUFFS BY CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AT THE SIR ARTHUR GORRIE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE. I WAS IN PAIN AT THIS STAGE. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BRING MY BROKEN GLASSES TO THE LEGAL INTERVIEW WITH MY BARRISTER DERRYL RANGIAH THIS AFTERNOON AT THE CENTRE AND I ONLY HAVE THE USE OF PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES WHICH ARE ONLY FOR OUTDOOR USE. CONTACT PHIL DICKINSON ON (07) 3844 0871 TERRY FISHER ON (07) 3846 5399. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE - URGENT ACTION INFO Lorenzo was taken into custody Tues afternoon after an immigration office interview, where his visa was withdrawn. He's apparently being held in isolation & is under threat of immediate deportation. There's been considerable media of the move to deport him, & considerable support for him on the ground in Brisbane - from the local Aborigines (murris) etc, & he's being represented by a good lawyer. For further info contact Angry People & agitator@xchange.apana.org.au - Phone 03 (Melbourne) 93881912 There are tentative plans to picket/protest outside Immigration offices in Bris, Sydney, Melbourne..., but possibly not till Thurs (tomorrow) Find out what you can, & act accordingly. Overseas people could contact/lobby/embarrass Australian embassies, etc. Seize the time. Peter McG ---------------------------------------------------------------------- On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:27:39 +1000 (EST), donna@anarki.net wrote: The appeal against the deportation of Lorenzo Kom'Boa Ervin will take place at the High Court of Australia, in Brisbane on Thursday, 10th July (tomorrow). Protests are planned outside the court and at the department of immigration. Protests are also scheduled for Sydney and Melbourne. We have been innundated with letters of support from the U.S., Ireland and New Zealand. Our solicitors are visiting Lorenzo now, and he has vowed to hold out in prison, if necessary, for as long as it takes. We have so far prevented authorities from transporting Lorenzo to Sydney to await deportation, although they may renew this attempt if our appeal fails tomorrow. There is a strong Murri (aboriginal) support base here in Brisbane, and authorities are obviously concerned about resistance to Lorenzo's deportation. This evening's scheduled talk in Brisbane is going ahead with Murri guest speakers, as planned and will now also be a forum for planning the next stage of our campaign should Lorenzo not be released tomorrow. Please do all you can to bring this to the attention of others, and to take action in your own areas. We are also seeking contact with the two panthers on the U.S. Olympic Committee. Any help in this regard would be appreciated. Incidentally, it's NAIDOC WEEK here in Australia, which is the government-sanctioned celebration of Aboriginal and islander cultures. The irony does not escape us. Donna on behalf of Angry People ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi- Blackout Books here in NYC will be having a rally in support of Lorenzon k Ervin for Wed. July 9th in front of the Australian Embassy at 630 5th Ave. Please tell everyone you can. It will start at 4:30pm This action is sponsored mainly by Nightcrawlers (prison group), Worker's Solidarity Alliance, a few IWW members and various anarchists.All welcome. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We have received many calls today from Civil Rights Attorneys in Southern America and from American media organisations. They are particularly interested in the decision of the Federal Government to cancel the visa and imprison Mr Ervin. The questions put to us by them we have suggested they ask the Australian Federal minister for Immigrations department. They were interested to know if this meant that other former mebers of the black panthers in the United States with convictions for criminal offences will be refused entry into Australia. In particular they ask about Congressman Bobby Rush of Chicago who is a key adviser to president Clinton on African-American affairs and Congressmen John Lewis of Atlanta who was appointed by President clinton to the American Olympic team administration. Bobby Rush has also been appointed by President clinton to the same committee. They also ask if these two men are allowed visas for Australia why is lorenzo Ervin in an Australian prison. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Marpessa Kupendua Subject: org: LORENZO ERVIN: CENSORED, ARRESTED, AND BASHED Date: Wed, 09 Jul 1997 02:19:01 PDT Lorenzo Ervin, anarchist and ex-Black Panther, in Australia to do a speaking tour against racism and police brutality, has been arrested and assaulted, and it looks like he'll be deported. According to ANGRY PEOPLE (the anarchist group who've organised Lorenzo's tour), he's been assaulted by immigration detention officers (he's being held in isolation in Brisbane's maximum security Sir Arthur Gorrie Centre), & had his glasses broken(see below). Also, the premises where he was staying appear to have been gone through, with his belongings presumably searched. He's been denied a bridging visa, & the hearing tomorrow (Brisbane 10 am)is to go for bail to do an appeal to the High Court. There is a public meeting from 7 pm tonite in Brisbane at the Opal Centre(466 Ann St., West End) - a meeting Lorenzo was to address. Protests are being organised for tomorrow domestically in (at least) Sydney (10.30 am & 5 pm at 88 Cumberland St., The Rocks), Melbourne (1 pm at 2 Lonsdale St), & Brisbane (1 pm) - all outside their respective Immigration Offices. Then there's the international protests :- (solidarity is contagious) - Greece, Italy, New Zealand/Aotearo, the US (of course), the UK - where he recently did a 6 week speaking tour (with no immigration/ deportation problems, under John Major's rule) and Ireland. Lorenzo has visited over 20 countries since his release in 1983 with no such harassment. There has been a shift in the Australian media coverage since last weekend (from 'black terrorist' to 'activist'). The rabid Herald-Sun(Melbourne) is runing an 'opinion-poll' on whether he should be deported... while ABC's Radio National's "AUSTRALIA TALKS BACK" (with Sandy McCutcheon - often quite reasonable) - tomorrow from Noon, will be discussing Lorenzo's situation for the whole hour. (Do try to ring in.) Even before he was physically assaulted Lorenzo had warned that mistreatment by the Australian Government may lead to an African-American boycott of Australia & of the Sydney Olympics (apparently 2 ex-Black Panthers are on the US Olympic C'tee...) For more information, contact Angry People direct - especially in Brisbane - (07) 38440871; & agitator@xchange.apana.org.au Also a site has been set up at http://www.cat.org.au/anarki/angry/lorenzo The following has been put out this afternoon: PRESS RELEASE: 'Lorenzo Ervin has advised his legal representative as follows:- "After being taken into custody by the Department of Immigration & Ethnic Affairs at approximately 2 pm on Tuesday the 8th of July 1997, whilst in the car park at the Sir Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre I was handcuffed with my hands placed behind my back. The Immigration officials accompanying me then pushed my face into a wall causing my glasses to break. I was then dragged by the handcuffs by correctional officers at the Sir Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. I was in pain at this stage. I was not allowed to bring my broken glasses to the legal interview with my barrister Derryl Rangiah this afternoon at the centre & I only have the use of prescription sunglasses which are only for outdoor use." Contact Phil Dickinson on (07)38440871, Terry Fisher on (07)38465399 Terry Fisher & Co, Solicitors (Fax: (07)38465899, Mobile 0412091424, email fisher@powerup.com.au PO Box 5409, West End, 4101 Queensland)' If Pauline Hanson can go around speaking in favour of racism, why can't Lorenzo go around speaking against it? Please, don't just sit idle on this - an injury to anyone is an injury to everyone.