Screed 27 CINQUE'S FAREWELL
The typescript provided by the SLA to prevent error in the transcription of their tape may have been made partly from a stenograpluc pickup of an ad-lib pronouncement Cinque's voice on the tape was as easy, bold and eloquent as ever but had a new richness to it and ended with a new sweetness. Like the other speakers, but with greater authority, he, shadowed forth an oncommg change in the affairs of the SLA First for the SLA then for himself he shut the door on the Hearst operation.
The three enemies of the people now sentenced to death had earned that destiny in disparate ways. All were old friends and co-workers of key people of the SLA. Robin Steiner, a Florida girl, had come to Berkeley with Russell Little and been on the fringes of Telegraph Avenue revolutiomsm before the SLA went underground. That she had informed to the FBI was pubhcly denied by her Florida lawyer Little himself; in a message sent to the media from his jail cell said that the sentence of death was an error. Chris Thompson, a quiet-voiced Black militant of Berkeley, had sold a pistol to Uttle for use in SLA work, but was not himself in the organization. His crime was giving testimony to the grand jury which indicted Remiro and Little Colston Westbrook, a Black teacher in Berkeley, had been one of the pioneers in the development of Black Cultural programs in California prisons. As the Black Cultural Association moved towards theories of terror, he had drawn away. But he had remained in close contact with East Bay revolutionists of all persuasions, and had recently elected to provide information to the police.
Of more interest than these casual sentences of death are Cinque's disposition of the Little-Remiro problem and the Hearst problem. The release of Little and Remiro, in exchange for the release of Patricia Hearst, had been hinted at in screed after screed, but never actually proposed or demanded. By the beginning of April, the SLA leaders had determined that such an exchange was not in the cards at all. Cinque now offered a kind farewell to his captive soldiers. Avenged they might be, exchanged they would not be. Cinque's ukase on their destiny exactly fitted his ukase on the destiny of Miss Hearst. His announcement of this strange destiny brought fear, consternation, and perhaps contrition to the Hearsts, the contending groups and agencies of the PIN fiasco, and many of the people who, one by one, had bubbled to the surface in media and before the public.
[I]
This is Field Marshall [sic on all slips] Cm.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Federation to thank WAPAC and all the coalition members for their aid in feeding and educating the people; we send you our faith and unity to always serve the people.
[II]
I wish to say to those who speak about what they want, to you I say that your words and cries will bring you nothing but a wet face and an empty heart, the enemy is unhearing and he is unmerciful to the oppressed. If you would have freedom for your children, then you as all oppressed people will have to fight and struggle for it. Freedom is not tax deductible, nor is it willed to you, no piece of paper can sign it over to you or your children, it is something that in an oppressive world can only be gained and protected by the force of your arms and your spirit to defend that freedom at any cost.
[II]
To the people and combat forces of the people, business of the revolution:
The following are enemies of the people, they are agents of the enemy and have been found guilty of working and informing to the enemy against the people, and therefore death warrants have been issued by this court against them and they should be shot on sight by any of the peoples' forces when found.
Robin Steiner female, white age 20 hazel eyes, brown hair
5-4, wears contact lenses, 115 pounds, past resident of Berkeley' now living in Flonda an informer to the FBI
Chris Thompson male, black, age 35, brown eyes, black hair,'
6-3 Berkeley resident, is a government agent, paid informer for the FBI
Colson West brook male black, age 35 brown eyes, brown hair, 5-8, 210 pounds, Berkeley language instructor, resident of Oakland, is a government agent worked for CIA in Vietnam as interrogator and torturer in the Phoenix operation, and also served same purposes in other foreign countries, now working for military intelligence while giving cross assistance to the FBI
These subjects are to be shot on sight wherever found and at any time
[III]
Concerning the Hearst operation
The government dictatorship as well as the Hearst Empire has shown that they are quite willing to murder even their own to maintain power over the people, therefore it is the judgment of this court that in future NO prisoners of the ruling class or its executive agents will be taken prisoner. The Court of the People this date issues the following order: All corporate enemies of the people will be SHOT on sight at any time and at any place. This order is permanent, until such time as all eneni~y forces have either surrendered or been destroyed.
Concerning the protective custody prisoner: The subject has been freed but has refused to go home or take part as a member of the enemy fascist state. There is no further need to discuss the release of the prisoner under this condition since the prisoner is now a comrade and has been accepted into the ranks of the people's army as a comrade and fighter for the people's freedom. And therefore there is no further basis for negotiations since subject may leave whenever she feels that she wishes to do so. She is armed and well capable to defend herself. This operation is hereby terminated and suspension of offensive operations is hereby rescinded and all combat forces of the SLA and all people's forces are requested and so ordered to resume normal offensive combat operations against all enemies of the people. The Court of the People wishes to note that the people DO NOT wish to be fed by the rich, the people want back the land.
To our two soldiers who are in the hands of the enemy and to all our comrades behind the walls: As you know we have learned a hard lesson from our mistakes, and will learn from this for the future and the war that we the people will win. I am sure that you understand that under our codes of war there can be no surrender to the enemy, at any time or at any price. You both have shown correct actions in recognizing that even though you are innocent of any crimes it is not possible for you to receive a fair trial in the enemy's arena. I deeply regret that you were not offensively prepared to attack rather than be seized by the enemy. I send you my love, and the love of all of your comrades, and courage in your determination to carry on the struggle even from that side of the wall, as we will NEVER relent from this end. In this way we do expect to meet again.
[IV]
I would like to take this opportunity to speak to my six lovely black babies. Victor, Damon, Sherry, Sherlyne, Dawn and Dede, I want you to know that to just say your names again fills my heart with joy. I want you to know that I love you all with all the love that a father can have for those so dear to him; and I want you to understand also that I have not forgotten my promise to you, that whenever you needed me, I would be there at your side, and so, I am now even when you may not see me, I am there; because no matter where I am, I am fighting for your freedom, your future and your life. Daddy wants you to understand that I can't come home because you and the people are not free and as long as the enemy exists I can find no rest nor any hope for you or our people as a whole. I can't be happy when the enemy murders the children of other fathers and mothers. I want you to understand that I have to fight for you and for all fathers and mothers who must stay home, or who have not the courage to fight or the clear understanding yet, that the greatest gift they give their children is FREEDOM.
So, to you my children, even when I may never see you again, know that I love you and will not for any price forsake your freedom and the freedom of all oppressed peoples. To you I give
all that a father could wish, I give you life without fear exploitation, I give you love with a future and understanding t the price of freedom is daring to struggle, daring to win. In ending this letter to you, I ask only one thing of you all, that is promise me that you will always honor the people and love the children and defend them both at any price against the enemy.
In closing I will play the national anthem of the Symbionese, Liberation Army: My people, my brothers, my sisters FREE ThE PEOPLE. FREE THE LAND. AND SAVE THE CHILDREN
[The anthem was a rock-music radio tune picked up, and replayed, via the SLA tape recorder.]
