SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Albert Woodfox, 68, has been held in solitary confinement for the past 43 years.
(Photo: Angola3.org)
Albert Woodfox Release Blocked by Louisiana Court
Man held in solitary for 43 years, ordered to be released this week, will be held in jail through appeals process
Jun 12, 2015
Albert Woodfox, the last remaining inmate of the "Angola 3," whose 43-year sentence in solitary confinement has drawn international condemnation from human rights groups, will not be freed from a Louisiana prison on Friday despite a court ruling earlier this week that called for his unconditional release.
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell appealed U.S. District Judge James Brady's ruling and asked a three-panel court for an emergency stay, blocking Woodfox's release.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an order that will keep Woodfox, 68, in prison while the state appeals for him to be retried over the 1972 murder of a guard at Louisiana State Penitentiary, then known as Angola. Woodfox's convictions were previously overturned twice.
The other two members of the Angola 3, Robert King and Herman Wallace, were set free in 2001 and 2013, respectively. Wallace died the day after his release.
According to The Advocate, "The 10-page decision, written by Judge Jerry Smith, notes that 'no showing has been made that any state retrial (or any appeal) will be improperly handled.' Smith said further proceedings would be expedited."
As Common Dreams previously reported:
The state's case against the [Angola 3] has long been scrutinized for its inconsistencies, lost evidence, and the special favors paid between prison officials and inmates, as well as investigators and jury members. Woodfox has continuously denied his involvement in the death of Officer Brent Miller, maintaining that he and the other men were targeted because of their activism in the Black Panther party, which they said angered the Angola guards, and for their demonstrations demanding better conditions at the notorious facility.
Brady's ruling barred prosecutors from retrying Woodfox for a third time and said that the "only just remedy" in the case is Woodfox's immediate release from prison.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Albert Woodfox, the last remaining inmate of the "Angola 3," whose 43-year sentence in solitary confinement has drawn international condemnation from human rights groups, will not be freed from a Louisiana prison on Friday despite a court ruling earlier this week that called for his unconditional release.
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell appealed U.S. District Judge James Brady's ruling and asked a three-panel court for an emergency stay, blocking Woodfox's release.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an order that will keep Woodfox, 68, in prison while the state appeals for him to be retried over the 1972 murder of a guard at Louisiana State Penitentiary, then known as Angola. Woodfox's convictions were previously overturned twice.
The other two members of the Angola 3, Robert King and Herman Wallace, were set free in 2001 and 2013, respectively. Wallace died the day after his release.
According to The Advocate, "The 10-page decision, written by Judge Jerry Smith, notes that 'no showing has been made that any state retrial (or any appeal) will be improperly handled.' Smith said further proceedings would be expedited."
As Common Dreams previously reported:
The state's case against the [Angola 3] has long been scrutinized for its inconsistencies, lost evidence, and the special favors paid between prison officials and inmates, as well as investigators and jury members. Woodfox has continuously denied his involvement in the death of Officer Brent Miller, maintaining that he and the other men were targeted because of their activism in the Black Panther party, which they said angered the Angola guards, and for their demonstrations demanding better conditions at the notorious facility.
Brady's ruling barred prosecutors from retrying Woodfox for a third time and said that the "only just remedy" in the case is Woodfox's immediate release from prison.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Albert Woodfox, the last remaining inmate of the "Angola 3," whose 43-year sentence in solitary confinement has drawn international condemnation from human rights groups, will not be freed from a Louisiana prison on Friday despite a court ruling earlier this week that called for his unconditional release.
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell appealed U.S. District Judge James Brady's ruling and asked a three-panel court for an emergency stay, blocking Woodfox's release.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an order that will keep Woodfox, 68, in prison while the state appeals for him to be retried over the 1972 murder of a guard at Louisiana State Penitentiary, then known as Angola. Woodfox's convictions were previously overturned twice.
The other two members of the Angola 3, Robert King and Herman Wallace, were set free in 2001 and 2013, respectively. Wallace died the day after his release.
According to The Advocate, "The 10-page decision, written by Judge Jerry Smith, notes that 'no showing has been made that any state retrial (or any appeal) will be improperly handled.' Smith said further proceedings would be expedited."
As Common Dreams previously reported:
The state's case against the [Angola 3] has long been scrutinized for its inconsistencies, lost evidence, and the special favors paid between prison officials and inmates, as well as investigators and jury members. Woodfox has continuously denied his involvement in the death of Officer Brent Miller, maintaining that he and the other men were targeted because of their activism in the Black Panther party, which they said angered the Angola guards, and for their demonstrations demanding better conditions at the notorious facility.
Brady's ruling barred prosecutors from retrying Woodfox for a third time and said that the "only just remedy" in the case is Woodfox's immediate release from prison.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy