I often find myself discussing books, with people regularly asking me for recommendations, due to the amount of time I dedicate to reading. Having recently finished Marshall Law: the life and times of a Baltimore Black Panther by Marshall ‘Eddie’ Conway and Dominique Stevenson, I thought I would let everyone know that this is a book you really should not miss. In 1970 Eddie Conway was framed for the murder of a Baltimore City police officer, due to his political activities, as part of the attempts to annihilate all movements for equality under the infamous US government Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). This is his autobiography after 40 years’ wrongfully imprisonment and a lifetime of oppression due to his skin colour and economic standing.
The story alone is fascinating; the language and writing style keeping you totally gripped throughout, and the message Eddie delivers is one we all need to hear. A lot can be learned from this book, especially considering the drive to emulate the US justice model in Britain, and very few are better placed to educate than a man who has devoted himself to being on the right side of humanity, even when his enemies put him on the wrong side of the law.
Thank you to the friend who enlightened me about this title and I look forward to many more similar recommendations in the future. Anyone who has further reading suggestions for me or would like to discuss Marshall Law, or any other literature, please contact me either through my website www.justiceforkevan.com or directly at Kevan Thakrar A4907AE, Close Supervision Centre, HMP Wakefield, 5 Love Lane, Wakefield WF2 9AG.
Get reading!
Kevan Thakrar
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 253 October/November 2016
