| Description | Radio documentary programme on the Soledad brothers and conditions in Soledad Correctional Facility, broadcast on KPFA.
Tracks 1-2: The narrator gives details of the events leading to the indictment of George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Cluchette and describes conditions inside Soledad and the likely effects on the inmates
Tracks 3-12: Vice-Superintendent Mr Back talks about the events of 13 January 1970, when three black prisoners were killed and one white prisoner wounded when prisoners in the exercise yard of O wing were shot by a prison guard after a disturbance. He describes the restrictions on inmates in the maximum security section of the prison, the importance of exercise for inmates, racial tensions between groups of prisoners, and the guidelines governing the separation of certain groups of inmates from the main population of the prison. He discusses the vocational and counselling opportunities available to prisoners, the employment of a psychiatrist, and the recruitment of a small number of black employees and officers. He goes on to consider the frequency of fights between prisoners and the orders that prison officers have in the event of trouble, the firing of shots during the events of 13 January, and the ethnic makeup of the grand jury that cleared the prison officer. He expresses the opinion that the death of the prison officer was a reprisal for the deaths of the three black prisoners, and goes on to discuss the problem of racial tensions in Soledad and in the wider community and efforts to resolve such tensions within Soledad
Tracks 13-18: Interview with Frazal L. Sheldon, Public Defender's Office in Salinas. He discusses his concerns with the case concerning the deaths of three black prisoners, and the support he has had from other attorneys for his demand for an investigation of the incidents by an impartial panel into conditions in the prison. He discusses disturbances and violent attacks inside the prison based on racial tensions, the specific incident on 13 January 1970 and the conduct of the prison authorities, and the nature of the evidence presented to the grand jury. He talks about the reaction of the inmates to these events, the existance of political and ethnic groups in the prison including a white facscist organisation, the Black Panthers, and Mexican groups, and the role of fascist groups in provoking racial violence. He reflects on the acquittal of the prison officer concerned, and the need for an investigation
Track 19: The narrator introduces the next part of the documentary, consisting of interviews with political leaders and Fay Stender, attorney for George Jackson 0.31 mins
Track 20: Interview with senator Mervyn Dymally, discussing possible plans for an investigation into prison conditions in Soledad, and his concerns about the welfare of inmates 1.19 mins
Track 21: Interview with assemblyman Bill Green who expresses his particular concerns about John Cluchette, a former constituent of his 3.09 mins
Track 22: Interview with assemblyman Willie Brown who discusses his involvement with the campaign to launch an investigation, possibly by black legislators 2.41 mins
Track 23: The narrator discusses a news report in the San Francisco Chronicle about the preliminaries to the trial of the Soledad brothers, and the banning of public comment on the case 1.38 mins
Track 24: Interview with Fay Stender, attorney to George Jackson, discussing her view of the current situation and the treatment of the defendents 3.07 mins
Track 25: Programme credits 0.48 mins
Total: 1.06.43 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF565D0436480 |