Letter from Hanif Shabazz Bey

via: timabcf@aol.com

In a letter dated January 9th, 2007 Hanif writes ...

I guess that it is time that I pick myself up and get back in the race. For the last 2 months it has been hard for me to focus on anything other than contemplating being free again on the outside.

Never in my 34 years on the inside have I felt that close to being free and I have allowed myself to dream of being out there and visualizing how I would have met the challenges.

Last week, we received word that the outgoing Governor left office on January first and released 7 of the 108 applicants who had submitted requests for commutation.

None of the Virgin Island prisoners housed here were released, though several family members in the Islands had been led to believe that several prisoners were about to be released.

I spoke to the attorney fighting on my behalf and he was quite stunned, as the person he was closely working with to get us out is a cousin of the Governor and worked in his administration.

The person working with the attorney was also under the impression that the Governor would commute the sentence of his son, who is also serving a lengthy  sentence. However, the Governor left us all in the lurch and decided to please the ruling class.

I guess most of the people in the Islands who felt confident that this Governor would do something for the lumpen class, was the fact that he is only the second Governor of the last six who have recently been elected that came from a lowly background.

This was quite a blow for me since I felt strongly that he was the right man, as he was my principal in high school and I remember him as having great compassion for his people.

We have been on institutional lock down for the past 4 days, so the little bit of solitude helps recharge the batteries, so all is well ...

Hanif Shabazz  Bey
(Beaumont Gereau) #295933
Wallens Ridge State Prison
P.O. Box 759
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219