Eldridge Cleaver at California Hall

I should like to introduce. Well-known. Also critic and Electra who Eldridge Cleaver who. Clearly everybody. Kind of stuck for words tonight. I don't know whether this is. A hello or goodbye. I talk to my parole officer today and he told me that. Wednesday the twenty seventh. He wanted me to call him up about

8:30 in the morning. So that he could tell me. Where to meet him. So he could transport me to San Quentin. I want to have a pro rotation hearing and I guess they think they have a right to do that. They certainly are proceeding as though they have a right. Having had some experience with this. I know that when they have you in their clutches. They proceed with what they want to do whether they have a right or not. A lot of people. Don't know anything about the prison system. I think they look at prison officials the same way they look at cops. That in some sense they're the guardians of the laws. That they're there to protect society.

And that everything that they say is the truth. And that there's nothing wrong with what they're into that there's nothing wrong with what they're doing. Well I know. Not so much from my own case but from the cases of others. That I've observed in the various prisons of the state of California. But there are a whole lot of people behind those walls. Who don't belong there and that everybody behind those walls. Are not being subjected to programs. That authorize that which they were sent there. Rehabilitation in the state of California is less than a joke. I don't I don't even know how to relate to that word rehabilitation. It presupposes that. At one time one was habilitation I guess if I could say that

and somehow he got off the right track. And they sent him here to this garage and this repair shop. To be dealt with and then released rehabilitated and placed back on the right track. What I guess is that right track has to be the scene out here. The free world convicts call this I hear the free world. After you're behind those walls for a while I guess it starts looking like the guy movie. We can see all of the little conflicts that are going on out here. Allie Odo. Doesn't look. As much like Al Capone from that distance. That's right. The open phone Alyosha big now. Al are you old you know. People yes people yearn behind those walls to return to the

free world to return to society. To be free and not to. Be returned to the penitentiary. Now when I went into the penitentiary I made the decision. I took a long look at myself. And I said Well. You've been walking this trip a little too long. You're tired of it. It's very clear that what you had going for yourself before you came in was not adequate so that while you're here you're going to have to work with yourself. Deal with yourself so that when you get out of here you can stay out because it was pretty clear to me that that was my last go around. And that I could not relate to that anymore. So I guess I developed something of a social conscience. I decided to come out here and to work with social problems. To get involved with the movement and to

make whatever contribution I possibly could. I when I made that decision I thought that the parole authorities the prison officials would be tickled pink with me. Because they were always telling me to do exactly that. They would tell me that I was selfish and that I only thought of myself. Then why did I start doing something for other people working with other people related to other people. And looking beyond. The horizon of myself. So I did that you know. And I want to just tell you this that I had more trouble. I've had more trouble out of parole offices. And the Department of Correction simply because I've been related to the movement that I had when I was committing robberies rapes and other things I didn't get caught for. That's the truth. If I was on the carpet for having

committed a robbery while there would be some conversation about that there would be a few people uptight about that. But it was seen to be localized. It didn't seem to affect the entire prison system or the entire parole board. They don't seem to have much time to even discuss it. You know. How they run you through their meetings. Very very briefly you know you feel that your case is not even being considered. But now I know that my case is constantly on their desk and my pro-law officer. He doesn't have very much to do except keep track of me you know. He wants to know where I go. How much money I make each month. Where I'm living. When I'm going to go out of town and to phone him up when I get back to town asking him permission to do this and that. There's something more dangerous about.

Attacking. The pins of the power structure virtually than it is if you walk into the Bank of America with a gun. And attack it. Forthrightly. They don't relate to that. They hate arm robbery with violence. Bankers. If you commit a robbery and there's no violence. Well they're mad at you but they don't get too carried away. But if you walk into a bank with a gun. And rip something off. The bank or start lobbying for new laws. Well I don't know if there are any bankers in the audience tonight. No. But I hope that there are. I hope that there is at least one or friend of one who's somebody who will carry a message to. And I hope particularly that there's one

here from the Bank of America. I heard today on the news that brother Cesar Chavez has declared war on the Bank of America. The offer. On Bank of America. And. The Bank of America. Oh you know your old band. My wife told me this evening that. She received a phone call from the Bank of America saying that they were going to repossess our car. And because we were three months behind in our payments and that's not true. But I wished I had never paid a penny for it. I wish that I could have just walked onto the lot and said stick I'm up. Motherfucker I'm taking this. Because. That's how I felt about it that's how I feel about it now. I don't relate to their system of credit.

But I see it now take it home and pay later. But make sure you pay you know. It was only out of consideration for the atmosphere that I would need in order to do the other things that I wanted to do that I didn't rip it off or that I haven't walked into the Bank of America. Or that I haven't walked into any other establishment. And repossess the loop that they have in there. So I don't know what they expect from me you see. I haven't committed any crimes. I don't feel in the need of any rehabilitation I particularly I don't feel the need of going back to dirty Redskin Tenchi Ward Nelson. Big rare. The prison guard is called in big red converse called him

dirty rare and he's sitting over there across the bay and he's waiting for me because we have a little history of friction and he doesn't like me. My parole officer doesn't like me he tells the newspaper writers when they go down there he tells them what I think is a real nice fellow. I think he's making an excellent adjustment. And it wasn't for this particular indictment that was brought against him. I would be perfectly willing to have him as my rollie from now on you know. But what he's saying is this that if you go down to the pro department. And ask them to let you see my file. You will find one. You'll find just one charge against me other than those lies against me in Alameda County which I have yet to be adjudicated. I haven't gone to trial for the pair not guilty for

those. And the one legitimate charges. They say if they have. Been tired of failing to cooperate with his parole agent the first time I saw that I couldn't I couldn't understand what it meant. Because I. Lean over backwards to cooperate with that plan. You know so I asked him just what does that mean with the substance of that. And he said. This is going to really surprise you. Did you mean when you went to New York to tape the Davis's Kind show I said yes I remember doing that. He never I tell you that when you got back to. Give me a phone call and let me know that you were back in town. Yes. And I did that didn't I. No you didn't do it. And that's against the rules. And that's the only thing that they have. In my file.

That is even debatable. All of the other things that they're hostile towards before they can put them in the file because it's against the law or. Is contrary to the Constitution. And they would be ashamed to write it down on paper and place it in my file. They probably have another file that pays smugglers around amongst them. But they cannot come out and tell you one thing that I have done. That would justify returning me to the penitentiary. So. I just have to say. That I didn't leave anything in that penitentiary. If you have half of my my and have my son and that's dad there and I have no use for it it's theirs they can have

that. And that's my debt to them that's my debt to society and I don't owe them a motherfucking thing. And they don't have anything come in and everything they get from now on they have to take. Far worse. The word believe I believe this. The old believe that our time has come a point has been reached were a line just has to be drawn. Because the power structure of this country has been thoroughly exposed. There is no right on their side and we know that they're moving against people for political purposes just as that bill full now you know refused to allow us to have this meeting in the hall the flowers. The people's Hall of flowers.

Just as refuse to do that. For political purposes. They're doing a lot of other things to a lot of other people and I'm sure you know about that. But somehow and somewhere it just has to be stopped. There's a favorite line that I know about. There is a point where caution ends and coward dies begins. There is that point. Everybody is scared of the peers in the power structure. They have reason to be concerned about them because they have the Gestapo forces that they can issue an order to and they will come in with their clubs and their guns. And they will exterminate you if that's what it takes in order to carry out the will. Of their busses. But I notice that. They never really hold out opinions on the scene.

The only exception to this in my experience is New York City where they seem to have like the streets crawling with human beings. And you see more pigs than you see people. Two on every corner and two in the middle of every block. Here occupying forces to stop them. And not just in the black community. A lot of people say we wish you good luck. And we want you to know that we are behind you. And I want those you know who wish me good luck. Those who say they are behind me I want them to know this that I wish you good luck. And I'm behind you. And I don't know how to go about.

Waiting until people start practicing what they preach I don't I don't know how to go about waiting on that. Because all I see is a very critical situation. A chaotic situation where there is pain and there is suffering and there is death. And I see no justification for waiting until tomorrow. To save what you can say tonight for waiting until tomorrow to do what you can do today. I see no justification for waiting until other people get ready. I see no justification for not moving even if I have to move by myself. And I think that my attitude towards these criminals. My parole officer included the criminals who control the prison

system. Who control. The parole board. I can't reconcile things with them because for so long. I have watched. A show of shit down people's throats. I didn't and I knew that there was something wrong with the way that they were treating people. I knew that by no stretch of the imagination could that be right. That there was something basically fatal about the whole process. And it took me a long time to put my finger on it. And these to my own satisfaction. After seeing that they were almost the opposite of what they were supposed to be. Strike that almost. But they were beyond the opposite of what they were supposed to be. I got extremely angry at them. I got extremely angry.

And I don't want to see them get away with anything. I want to see them in the penitentiary because they belong in there because they're committing crimes against the human rights of people. They belong in the penitentiary. We're not done. I am. Going to teach you. The words people try people try to look at this play the system and everybody knows that it's out of hand everybody knows that crime is rampant in this country. And that it's undesirable it's hard to go around and justify crime. We in the back of. The part of the justified certain activity against certain enemies of the people. Because we do not define that as a crime. We turn their definitions around and we define that as people move in for their liberation in a chaotic situation.

And I just want to say this about this prison system. Everything I say is about the prison system either the one. Distinctly set aside of the one out here in which we live. Make no mistakes about that. You know. But this other one this this one that you set aside. And we label it the penitentiary. All of this talk about. How do you deal with rehabilitation when you focus on the adult penitentiaries. You're looking at the end of the line. To try to see where process began. Because if you really want to understand and see what's behind this prison system you have to look at juvenile hall. You have to go down to juvenile hall. And that's where I started my career. At about the age of 12. For some child I don't know what it was vandalism I think I ripped off a bicycle. Maybe two or three vices maybe I had a bicycle business I don't remember you know

but I related to bicycles. And they took me to juvenile hall and it took me about six months to get out again. But while I was there I met a lot of people. I met a lot of really nice groovy cats. Who were very active. Very healthy people. Who had stolen bicycles and things like that. And I moved up the ladder from the juvenile home. To here to reform school for youngsters. I graduated from there with honors and went to another one a little higher Preston school of industry. And I graduated from now on and they jumped me up into the big leagues and to the adult penitentiary system. But I noticed that. Every time I went back to jail. The same

guys who were in juvenile hall with me were also there or they arrived there soon after I got there or a little bit before I left but they always seem to make the scene something that they have in California they care you from juvenile hall. To the old folk's colony down to San Luis Obispo which is across the tracks from where he would be Newton is. We take you into juvenile hall they carry you through the system and they take you down to San Luis Obispo. And wait for you to die. Shortly and they bury you there if you have no one left out here to claim your body. And most people end up there don't. And I noticed these ways these generations and I had a chance to watch. Other generations that came behind me and I talk to them you know. And I've asked them had they been

in jail before and where did they start I won't know their story. And you will find graduating classes moving up from the Juvenile Hall. All the way up. And it occurred to me that this is a social failure at the root. One that cannot be justified by any stretch of imagination. Not by any stretch of the imagination can the little children in the juvenile halls be condemned because they're innocent and their process by an environment that they have no control over. If you look at the prisons the adult prisons you can't make heads or tails of them. You can make heads or tails of that. Because by the time they get there they're there for murder rape robbery. And all of the higher crime. But when you

look into their pears. You'll find juvenile hall. And you have to ask yourself. Why is there not in this country a program for young people that would interest them. That were actively involved. And that will process them to be healthy individuals in a healthy environment and lead a healthy life. And until someone asks that question for me the only attitude that I can have. Towards the prison system including juvenile hall is how. Do we tear the walls down and let those people out of there. That's the only question. How did we tear the world down. Those people out. There has. People look at the point in the Black Panther party program that calls for freedom

for all black men and women held and federal state county local jails and they find it hard to accept that particular point they can relate to reading the postings of the community. But they say those people in those places they've committed crimes they're convicted for crimes and how can you even talk about bringing them out if you did get a mob would you in the black community take him and put him on trial and send him back again. And I don't know I don't know how to deal with that I just know you know. I let them out and leave him alone. Let them out. Because they have to all of this out here now. Let them out. Turn them over to the Black Panther Party. Give them to us and we will redeem them. From the promises made by the Statue of Liberty. And that was never fulfilled.

We have a program for them that will keep them active 24 hours a day and I don't mean eight big strong men. And how big a conspicuous truck. Driving a giant gas station for a $75. Ah. When I sit down to conspire. To commit a robbery it's going to be the Bank of America Chase Manhattan Bank on three. Hours. I've been working with Bobby Seale.

Working on the biography. Bob's here and I have Bobby Seale down to Carmel Carmel by the sea. But away from the sea when a far away from there we could get into a little cabin and we got a fifth of scotch. A couple of chasers. And a tape recorder and a large stack of blank tapes. And we said Bobby. Take this. And talk about whether he would be nude. And by me start talking about healing. And one of the thing that just blew my mind. Was when he mentioned that prior to organizing. The Black Panther Party he and he we had been planning. A gigantic bank robbery. And then as they put their minds to work on that because they were related they were

related to the movement and they recognized they needed money for the movement. Because the people given all the money to the churches. And to the Democratic Party and to the Republican Party. So they knew that they needed money and they knew that they had money in the bank. So they sat down and they started trying to put together a key to open the vaults. But as they thought about it and as they thought about the implications of Bobby tails one day while they were discussing this he jumped up and said data for a bank. What we're talking about is politics and what we're talking about essentially is the liberation of our people. So later from one jive band just organize the brothers and put them

together arm them for defense of the black community and it will be like walking up to the White House and say and stick them up on the fact that we won was not. Her bold apparently were there the very interesting there's a very key connection between the insurrection carried out by oneself. A private you know personal civil war. We define civil war. But when society when society spits down the middle and you have two opposing sides. And does that have to be the definition. Can five thousand people launch a civil war. Can 4000. Or 3000 to one. And one half of one thousand. Half of the bad. Can 10 people do that.

OK and one person can one person engage in civil war. I'm not a lawyer. I'm deaf and not a judge. But I would say that. One person acting alone. Could in fact be engaged. In a civil war. Against an oppressive system. And that's how. That's how I look upon those cast of those penitentiaries. But burglary rape murder kidnap. Anything. A response. To a situation a response to an environment. If you read any

of the social sciences read a book and it will tell you that if you subject people. To an unpleasant environment. You can predict that they will rebel against it. It's predictable. And that gives rise to a contradiction. Because when you have a social unit organized in such a way. That people are moved to rebel against it in large numbers. I've been to you come behind them and tell them the feel your debt to society. I say the society owes a debt to them. And society doesn't look as though it wants to pay. And there's a young brother over in juvenile hall right now in Alameda County. By the name of Gregory Harrison.

About 14 or 15 years old. He's the leader of the Black Students Union. I think it takes hi over there in Oakland. And at this moment they have him over there charged with insurrection insurrection. Because the Black Student Union on that campus wants black history added to the curriculum. They want an environment created on their campuses. Not that would teach black people how to be black. But they will remove the restraints. So they can just be themselves. And their blackness will just automatically flourish like you don't have to teach a rose how to be a rose or a tree how to be a tree. You just leave it alone and don't pour salt on the roots that it will be a rose or it will

be a tree. And this pinkish criminal system. This system that is the enemy of people. This very system that we live in and function in every day. This system. That we live in and under at this very moment. Our system. Each and every one of your system if you happen to be from another country or steal your system because the system in your country is part of this. And this system. It. Is evil. It is criminal. It is murderous. And it is in control.

Is in power. It is arrogant. It is crazy. And it looks upon the people. As its property. So much so that. Cops who are public servants. Feel justified in going onto campus college campuses or high school campuses. And spraying mase in the face of the people. Beating people with those clubs. And even shooting people if it takes that to enforce the will of the likes of Raul Regan and. Jesse Unruh. Mussolini LBO told. Him to enforce his evil will.

If you ever see him now you know on television. And when you see him Will you swear that he doesn't frighten you. But he doesn't look like. Al Capone. No. Elio reminds me of convicts. That I know in Folsom Prison and this is not a contradiction. But. When I speak up for comics I don't say that every time there is going to come out here and join the Peace and Freedom Party. I'm not saying that. Or that he would be nice to people around here I'm not saying that. Because I call for the freedom of even those. Who are so alienated from society that they hate everybody. Castes to tattoo on their chest. Born to hate.

Born to lose. I know a kid who tattooed a swastika on his forehead. I knew another kid and tattooed across his forehead. Born to kill. And he needs to be released also. Because where does Lyndon Baines Johnson doesn't have any tattoos on his head. He has blood dripping from his finger here. Kill more people. You. Know. He has killed more people than any man who has ever been imprisoned in any prison in the United States of America from the beginning of it to the end. He is a murderer. People like. Prison officials.

Policemen. Mer's Chiefs of Police. They endorse They even call for escalation and meaning kill more people. But. I don't want to. You can have people who are here tonight. Because I see so many faces that I recognize. That I can say that I know that you don't want to either. But we have to relate to it that there is only one way that we're going to get rid of it. That's by standing up. And drawing a firm line a firm line distinct and firm line. And standing on our side of the line. And be thin then 9. By

whatever means necessary. Including laying down our lives. But not in sacrifice taking pins with us taking pins with this. This. Is hard for us to see certain relationships when we look at our own scene here in Babylon. But we are a loud mouth people. And we had nose in everybody else's affairs. And look across the water. And here are people who have drawn a firm line. And we support them all the way but even support them all the way virtually. Is in fact a way of stabbing them in the back. Because we further believe or believe you support them. But in all of the

ways you step aside. Essentially. And I'm not the war machine to grind on. To allow even more vicious pigs to be voted into office. On the Tonight Show there's no one in this room who can feel comfortable about the next four years. And I cannot relate to spending the next four years in the penitentiary. Not with Mad Men not with Mad Men with supreme power in their hands. Not with brown Reagan being the head of the Department of Corrections as he is the head of every other state agency. Not with a dirty red being the warden. If they made Dr Shapiro the ward to say Quinn not go right now. Ah. While they have said distinct themes.

I mean mean mean and. Cruel man. In control of that apparatus. I say that my interest is elsewhere. My heart is out here. The people who are trying to improve our environment. And you. Are you some kind of food. You some even bigger food than I know you are. If you can go through all of these abstract and ridiculous changes all of these overt political maneuvers. And think that I am going to relate to that. I. Talk all the shit that you want to talk.

Issue 0 0. The. Order is that you want to issue. I'm charged with a crime in Alameda County. And I'm anxious to go to trial because we can deal with it because we're going to tell the truth and the pigs are going to have to tell lies and that's hard to do especially when we have. With. Us. Technicians such as the Honorable Charles R. Gary. We are. For it. I'm not afraid to walk in any courtroom in this manner. Without a lawyer. The lawyer like Gary to deal with that situation. Because he can deal with the judge and the prosecutor.

And I know what my everyday life has been and I can testify to that. But don't you come up to me. Telling me that you're going to revoke my preux. On a charge for which I put in nine years behind the walls and for which I was supposed to receive my discharge next month. Don't you come up to me talking that shit because I don't want to hear. You out.