Decorated Vietnam War and Black Panther veteran Geronimo Pratt aka Geronimo ji-Jaga, RIP (9/13/1947-6/2/2011). I'm reading his epic story by way of a very compelling book by Jack Olsen: Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triump of Geronimo Pratt (Doubleday, 2000). Long story short, Louisiana-born Pratt was framed for murder as directed by the FBI's COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program); was convicted on false testimony and served twenty-seven years in prison, including eight in solitary confinement; was released in 1997 when his conviction was "vacated;" was awarded $4.5 million in 2000; and just died a few days ago in Tanzania, his current home. Johnnie Cochran and Stuart Hanlon represented him.
Last Man Standing contextualizes Pratt's life and times in the 1960s, both in terms of what was going on in the USA and also during the US-Vietnam War. Descriptions of conditions in Vietnam are graphic and revealing. Pratt, serving with the 82nd Airborne, experienced the war's intensity up close -- more on that soon, perhaps. But adding insult to injury, he was next sent with his unit to help quell Detroit during the 1967 race riot. Then, back to Nam and the 1968 Tet Offensive. Then the Black Panthers, and then the false conviction and prison.
Today's Rune: Strength.
1 comment:
I was glad when Pratt was released-- never knew he was awarded a monetary compensation for his lost years.
The Cointel program was profoundly disturbing. At the same time the excesses of the KGB in the East bloc were reported in the US press, it turned out that we had a similar group of creepy true believers within our own borders.
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