Bio adapted from a pamphlet from LA ABCF

New Afrikan Prisoner of War, currently serving a 55-year sentence for actions carried out by the Black Liberation Army and attempted escape from prison with Puerto Rican independentista Oscar Lopez-Rivera. 

Sababu was born as Grailing Brown on May 27th, 1953 in Atlantic City New Jersey. He was born to Clarence and Edna Brown. Kojo described them as good parents. He described his father as a “diligent worker whose only indulgence was loyalty to the bosses.” Sadly tragedy would strike his family, fundamentally altering Kojo’s path in life. In 1962 his father died coming home from work. Two years later his mother was murdered. A guiding presence in his life, Kojo was devastated by the loss of his mother. Still, he continued to live out the lessons she taught him, that education is a tool with which to change society. 

At a very young age, he began to develop a New Afrikan consciousness. Growing up in Atlanta City, New Jersey organizations like the Nation of Islam were strong within the Black community. The organization helped Kojo gain his first experiences in nation-building. The Nation of Islam also reinforced his passion for knowledge and education that was given to him by his mother. 

In 1968, Sababu crossed paths with the Black Panther Party in Atlanta City. He began to participate in their political education course. However, at that time, he was still greatly influenced by cultural and religious nationalism.

 In 1972, Sababu was sent to the New Jersey State Prison in   Trenton. There he met two Black revolutionaries, Kuwasi Balagoon and Andaliwa Clark. These two individuals greatly influence his political development. When he was released three years later, he joined the Black Liberation Army (BLA). 

On November 15th, 1975, Sababu and another BLA member, Ojore Lutalo, were arrested after a high-speed chase. The incident began when police attempted to stop them after receiving a report of suspicious occupants in a car. The men were charged with eluding police and resisting arrest. A third individual managed to avoid escape. According to news reports five .32 caliber bullets were found in the car. 

One month later, on December 19th, four members of the Black Liberation Army expropriated funds from the Broad Street National Bank in Lawrence Township. The action turned into a shootout with police, as police gave chase for over a mile and into the neighboring city of Trenton. Three members of the BLA (Kojo Sababu, Ojore Lutalo, and Larry Anderson) were arrested, while a fourth member was able to avoid arrest. The three men were charged with possession of stolen property, possession of a dangerous weapon and being a fugitive.

In addition to the charges related to bank expropriation, Sababu was also charged with the killing of a drug dealer and another individual. On September 17, 1975, the two individuals were killed in an apartment in Atlantic City. Another individual, Darryl Conquest, was also charged with this incident. Sababu claims this action was also done as part of his involvement in the Black Liberation Army. 

In 1976, Kojo was sentenced to two life prison terms for the killings. In addition, the judge imposed an additional sentence of up to 17 consecutive years in prison on a charge of murder while armed. 

While in prison Sababu became active in the Inmate Legal Association (ILA), a non-profit legal aid organization that provided free legal assistance to  prisoners at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey. In 1981, took on the role of the director. Conditions in the prison were dire. New criminal statutes in the state established mandatory minimums, creating overcrowding of the prisons. Prisoners started to find ways of escaping, causing further tension between the guards and prisoners. 

Sababu, as a representative of the Inmate Legal Association, was quoted in the newspaper raising these concerns to the outside world and warned that conditions were so severe that the “joint’s gonna blow.” Within a month of raising these concerns, Sababu was accused of being a ringleader of a plot to take over the state prison in Trenton, New Jersey. He denied the accusation and argued that this was merely an attempt to silence those who were speaking out. 

He and two others leaders of the ILA were sent to a federal prison in Lewisburg, PA. Months after the incident, the warden attempted to shut down the ILA by making accusation s that its leaders were plotting to attack leaders of another prisoner rights organizations. Leaders of both organizations saw this for what it was – an attempt to undermine avenues for inmates to have their voices heard. The Warden’s plans failed and the organization exists today. 

Plot to Self-Liberate 

In July 1986, three individuals were arrested, and six others were being sought on charges that they were involved in a plot to liberate Puerto Rican prisoner of war, Oscar Lopez-Rivera and Kojo Sababu from USP Leavenworth in Kansas. According to the government, the plan was to have a helicopter drop into the prison recreation yard in Leavenworth in August of 1985. Grenades and rocket launchers were to be used to attack the guard towers as Lopez-Rivera and Sababu escaped via the helicopter. 

The FBI was aware of the plot from the beginning due to an informant. Undercover agents provided members of the plot with explosives and placed tracking devices on the vehicles of  those involved in the plot. One of the tracking devices was discovered and those involved in the plot went underground. Charges against several of those allegedly involved were dropped, but seven individuals were indicted. Both Lopez-Rivera and Sababu were charged with involvement in the plot. Jaime Delgado and Dora Garcia, two Puerto Rican independence activists who were two of the three originally arrested were indicted. 

Two others, Claude Marks and Donna Wilmott were also indicted. Another man, Richard Cobb, was also indicted, but he pled guilty and agreed to testify for the prosecution. Mark and Wilmott were able to avoid capture for six years until they turned themselves in to the FBI. The other four were tried and convicted together. Delgado was sentenced to 4 years in prison and Garcia to 3 years.

 Puerto Rican Puerto Rican independentista prisoner of war, Oscar Rivera-Lopez received a 15-year sentence beyond his previous 55-year sentence. Sababu was sentenced to a 5-year sentence to run consecutive to the four life sentences. As a result of the attempted self-emancipation, both men were placed in solitary confinement at Marion Federal prison. After their capture in 1994, Claude Marks received a six year sentence for his role in the attempted liberation of Kojo Sababu and Oscar Rivera-Lopez. Donna Wilmott received a three year sentence. 

The Last Remaining 

In August of 2009, Ojore Lutalo, Sababu’s co-defendant from the bank expropriation was released from prison. Conquest, his co-defendant in the action against the drug dealer, was also released in the fall of 2015. Oscar Rivera-Lopez and all those associated with the attempted self-liberation at Leavenworth have also been released from prison. Sababu, however, remains behind bars for his participation in these actions. He remains committed and unawavering despite his imprisonment.

Write:
Kojo Bomani Sababu* #39384-066
USP Canaan
Post Office Box 300
Waymart, PA 18472
*Address envelope to Grailing Brown.

URGENT PHONE BLAST: XINACHTLI’S HEALTH IS RAPIDLY DECLINING 🚨

For weeks, Xinachtli has been struggling with a worsening medical condition, and his health is deteriorating fast. He is having difficulty walking, standing, and using the bathroom, and he has already suffered two falls, cracking his head on the floor in his second fall.

He is currently in the McConnell Unit’s medical department without a diagnosis, without access to his medical records, and without a phone cord to contact people outside. At 73 years old, after more than 23 years in solitary confinement, this is elder abuse, medical torture, and neglect.

We need public pressure now.

Please call the McConnell Unit’s medical department, Regional Director, and Senior Warden to demand that Xinachtli has his communication restored, receives the medical attention he urgently needs, and is transferred to a medical or geriatric facility.

Sign up for a 15-minute calling slot for the rest of the week: bit.ly/xphoneblast

Kamau Sadiki is a former member of the Black Panther Party and was convicted of a 30-year old murder case of a Fulton County cop found shot to death in his car outside a service station. The police and government told Kamau that if he worked with them and got Assata Shakur to leave Cuba and go to some other country where they could apprehend her that they would not prosecute on the police killing. Kamau refused to cooperate.

More information: freekamau.com

Kamau Sadiki* #0001150688
Augusta State Medical Prison
3001 Gordon Highway
Grovetown, Georgia 30813
*Address envelope to Freddie Hilton.
Birthday: February 19

Now in its 25th year of publication, the Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar is required reading for radicals, leftists, and all who support political prisoners and advocate the end of mass incarceration.  Order at https://burningbooks.com/products/preorder-certain-days-the-2026-freedom-for-political-prisoners-calendar

All proceeds support prisoners and grassroots organizations like Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP), Mutulu Shakur legal support, Sundiata Acoli release fund, Palestinian Youth Movement, Puget Sound Prisoner Support, Coalition to Decarcerate Illinois, Appalachians Against Pipelines, Community Resource Initiative- CA, P4W Memorial Collective Prisoners’ Justice Day healing circle, Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Fund, Cascadia Forest Defenders and NorCal Resist.

Each calendar has 11 thought-provoking essays and 12 pieces of beautiful art.  You’ll feel inspired every day of the year, with radical historical dates and lots of space for your own plans.  

Want to sponsor a copy (or more) to send to a prisoner? Click here!

Your group can buy 10 or more for the rate of $10 each (or 50 or more for the rate of $9 each) and then sell them for $15, keeping the difference for your organization. Many campaigns, infoshops and projects do this as a way of raising funds and spreading awareness about political prisoners.

When you add 10 or more calendars to your cart the relevant bulk price will automatically be applied.

Featuring:

Georges Abdallah, Farhan Ahmed, B, Tim Blunk, Caitlin Blunnie, Jesse “T.C.” Cannon, Olly Costello, Dio Cramer, Hannah Gelderman, David Gilbert, Jonas Goonface, Casey Goonan, Julie Goonan, Juan Hernandez, Krime, Jamila Levasseur, Marius Mason, Peppy & Krystal, Loretta Pierre, Emma Rust, Marina Sitrin, Jess X. Snow, and Emily Thiessen

About Certain Days: 

The Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar is a joint fundraising and educational project between outside organizers across North America and political prisoner Xinachtli (s/n Alvaro Luna Hernandez) in Texas. We were happy to welcome founding members Herman Bell and Robert Seth Hayes (Rest in Power) home from prison in 2018, and founding member David Gilbert home from prison in 2021. We work from an anti-imperialist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, feminist, queer- and trans-liberationist position. Learn more and support them at certaindays.org.  

Order from https://burningbooks.com/products/preorder-certain-days-the-2026-freedom-for-political-prisoners-calendar

The “Virgin Island 3” are a group of activists accused of murdering eight people in the
U.S. Virgin Islands. The murders took place during a turbulent period of rebellion on the
Islands. During the 1970’s, as with much of the world, a movement to resist colonial rule
began to grow in the U.S. occupied Virgin Islands. From 1971 to 1973, there was a small
scale Mau Mau rebellion taking place on the islands. This activity was down-played
by the media, for fear it would damage the tourist industry, which the island’s survival
depends on. More information: https://vi3.org

Abdul Azeez* #19-1878
Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility
19351 US Highway 49 North
Tutwiler, MS 38963
Address envelope to Warren Ballentine.
Birthday: January 9

Hanif Shabazz Bey #19-1952
Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility
19351 US Highway 49 North
Tutwiler, MS 38963
Address envelope to Beaumont Gereau.
Birthday: August 16

Malik Smith #19-1874
Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility
19351 US Highway 49 North
Tutwiler, MS 38963
*Address envelope to Meral Smith.
Birthday: October 8

via former political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim

Greetings Imam Jamil Network & Friends:

It has been reported that doctors say Imam Jamil has 3 months to live. Allah, in His Grace, Mercy & Wisdom, knows best. However, Imam Jamil has reported that his mail is being slowed down and withheld. He has just received some dated back to September.

Let us please use the power Of our collective advocacy to relieve this further injustice on Imam Jamil by writing to Warden Thomas Scarantino to ensure Imam Jamil timely receives his mail.

Below is a sample letter for your use:

Warden Thomas Scarantino
Federal Medical Center (FMC) Butner
Old NC Highway 75
Butner, NC 27509

Re: Request for Timely Delivery of Mail for Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Reg. #99974-555)

Dear Warden Scarantino,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to respectfully express concern regarding significant delays in the delivery of incoming mail addressed to inmate Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, currently housed at FMC Butner.

It has been brought to my attention that Imam Jamil has not been receiving his mail in a timely manner, and in some cases, important correspondence has been withheld or delayed for extended periods. As you know, timely delivery of mail is a fundamental right protected under federal guidelines and essential to an inmate’s ability to maintain communication with family, legal representatives, and outside support networks.

Time-sensitive and important mail is being delayed. Imam Jamil is currently awaiting important and time-sensitive information. Any delay or withholding of mail places unnecessary strain on his well-being and directly impacts his ability to receive critical updates, personal communication, and essential correspondence.

Respectful Request

With full respect for your leadership and the responsibilities of your staff, I am requesting the following:

1 A review of the mail processing timeline for Imam Jamil’s incoming correspondence.

2 Assurance that all mail addressed to him is delivered promptly, in accordance with Bureau of Prisons policy.

3 Clarification of any issues or procedural obstacles that may be causing delays, so they may be properly understood and addressed.

Ensuring timely mail delivery is a small administrative step that can significantly improve inmate care, transparency, and adherence to federal standards.

Closing

Thank you for taking the time to review this matter. I trust that, under your supervision, FMC Butner will ensure that Imam Jamil’s mail is handled promptly and in accordance with established regulations. I appreciate your attention and look forward to your response.

Respectfully,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]

Imam Jamil remains Spiritually & Mentally Strong. Separately, mail Imam Jamil a card of thanks, get well, of love for his life’s work and example.

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin 99974-555
FMC Butner
PO Box 1600
Butner, NC 27509

It is crucial for the prison to know that a prisoner is not alone. It is crucial they know Imam’s family, friends and supporters care deeply and that he is not alone.

via Students for Imam Jamil al-Amin

With aching hearts, we share that Imam Jamil has an estimated prognosis of only 3 months to live following the gross neglect by the prison system of Imam Jamil’s cancerous tumor growth on his face.

✊🏽 Imam Jamil dedicated his life in service to the people and gave more love to us than we ever gave back to him. Now, in this critical time, let’s show our love to one of the greatest revolutionaries this country has ever known.

‼️ Imam Jamil has not received any of his mail in the last 2.5 months. We’re calling on everyone to write a handwritten letter to Imam Jamil with the details in the post.

🙏🏽 Share words of support, gratitude, and how Imam Jamil has impacted you.

❤️ Let’s make sure the Federal Medical Center’s P.O. Box overflows with letters to Imam Jamil to remind the prison that he is not forgotten.

Tag us on your story with your letter so we can amplify the love and support being sent to Imam Jamil.

#FreeHRapBrown#FreeImamJamil

Jamil  Al-Amin #99974-555
FMC Butner
P.O. BOX 1600
BUTNER, NC   27509