February 1, 2006 Statement from Political Prisoner Robert Seth Hayes Honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Black Men's Movement and its Founder, Sonny Baba Abubadika Carson.

Revolutionary greetings, brothers and sisters,

My name is Robert Seth Hayes, African freedom fighter, former member of the Black Panther party, captured soldier of the Black liberation Army, a political prisoner and a prisoner of war for 32 years and counting.

I extend my love and respect to all of you on this, the 20th anniversary of the Black Men's Movement. The Black Men's Movement was established in 1986 as a formidable force determined to reclaim control of our streets through confrontation against the ravages of crack cocaine on our families and communities. Today, we honor those heroic men and women who confronted the obstacles created to destroy community empowerment. We are all too familiar with the destructive aspects of drugs infiltrated into our communities and how family and property became products of dysfunction. Had the Black Men's Movement not stepped forward, one can only imagine the state of despair we'd be living in today. From those depths of struggle, one emerged who we hail and honor here today. Baba Abubadika, Sonny Carson.

Baba Abubadika and I walked the halls of confinement together at Clinton and Green Haven Correctional Facilities as fellow prisoners and activists. One of my finest remembrances is of Baba Abubadika, Baba Elome Braith and Brother Ali, at Green Haven correctional facility consistently working with us to build consciousness raising activities. That was Baba Abubadika. His history is well documented in films such as "The Education of Sonny Carson" and his courageous acts for community involvement, including prisoner empowerment are known to many. His selfless contributions, his encompassing love and generous spirit left no doubt that love in consciousness guides and motivates true freedom fighters. Comrade Abubadika, we hail and honor you. Your efforts we see manifested yesterday and today. And so on the 20th anniversary of the Black Men's Movement we celebrate the contributions of all freedom fighters past and present. I am a freedom fighter who was captured and jailed 32 years ago. I am presently incarcerated like so many others yet my/our spirits remain unquenchable, our love for life, land and humanity, boundless. We are all cut from the same cloth.

Baba Abubadika, we salute you today, and honor your heroic contributions that we will forever remember. We will place your name prominently within our recording of history, and ask that you watch over our deeds from on high. May you and all our other comrades and ancestors form a circle of enlightenment and send down songs of forbearance, as we continue our People’s struggle, our just cause. Let us all lift up our voices as we honor Baba Abubadika, Sonny Carson as we commit to struggle without end. Free the land, free its inhabitants, let joy, love, honor, respect and peace be part of the legacy we leave to those following in our footsteps. Remember always the role of family. Then recall that at this moment, our family is here.

Baba Abubadika, we celebrate you this day.

Build to Win
Honor Our Ancestors
Work to Improve
And Love the People.

Forward Ever,

Robert Seth Hayes
Afrikan Freedom Fighter.

Write to Seth at: Robert “Seth” Hayes #74A2280, Wende Corr. Facility P.O. Box 1187 (3622 Wende Road) Alden, New York 14004-1187, USA

For more information please check out http://sethhayes.org - website coming soon.