Lynne speaks with Noelle Hanrahan of PrisonRadio (pre-incarceration).

Audio Clip 1 – Lynne Interview Clip with Noelle Hanrahan (mp3)

Audio Clip 2 – Lynne Quotes Fredrick Douglas (mp3)

Audio Clip 3 – Lynne Quotes William O. Douglas (mp3)

2/3/13; 9:00 am

Family, Friends, Comrades, Supporters All,

I have been reminded of the need to update my message now that the Cancer is confirmed and we are about to start treatment.  This is definitely Bad news but somehow in the toxic climate in which prisons in particular, but the whole country operates, I am determined that it can be beaten.

Factually, when I went (finally) for the hysterectomy in June of last year, a routine chest X ray showed a spot on my lung.  Further Pet scans, sonograms, biopsies revealed (as of September) that there was my old Breast cancer back in my lymph node (armpit) and lung.  In January another Pet scan revealed that both lungs are involved as is my scapula (maybe).  So now we are working on a treatment.  I am fond of and have faith in my doctor–a young woman Oncologist.  Other medicos have concurred in that opinion. The treatment (Chemo, pills, shots not necessarily in that order) will be given to me in Fort Worth at a hospital called The Center, part of one of the big places here. There are Problems :

1. It Ain’t New York City with Sloan Kettering or New York Hospital where I was originally treated.  Cutting Edge Places –excuse the pun !
2.  All things in Prison move VERY slowly, as you can see by the history here.  it’s now February and I have had two sets of shots, estrogen related.
3. I am still transported and held in leg irons, belly chain and cuffs for each of these trips.  The guards are not unkind but of course, follow orders.It is most difficult to say the least.

Let me assure you all, though, that I am feeling good and have a high level of energy.  This may change but so far so good.  I do need a nap every afternoon but my doddering old age may have something to do with that ! Read the rest of this entry »

Please listen to these two updates, and write Lynne to let her know you’re thinking of her!

To send Lynne a letter, write:
Lynne Stewart #53504-054
Federal Medical Center, Carswell
PO Box 27137
Ft. Worth, TX 76127

Listen to Lynne’s doctor-daughter Zenobia talk about Lynne’s situation on WBAI’s Health Action Monday, January 28. (mp3)

Listen to Zenobia and Ralph Poynter discuss Lynne’s situation on the radio show Where We Live, from January 24, 2013. (mp3)

This poster was created for Lynne by Christopher Hutchinson the day she went to prison. Note the smiling face of Mumia Abu Jamal in the corner as if to say: “Welcome to the ranks of political prisoner. We will stand together and fight until all are free.”

November, 2012

Dear Friends, Supporters, Comrades, Brothers and Sisters:

I am now beginning my fourth (4th) year of imprisonment.  It does not get better and I have to gut check myself regularly to be certain that I am resisting the pervasive institutionalization that takes place.  A certain degree of reclusiveness  with the help of good books, interesting people to correspond with, writing on topics of public interest, seems to work for me.  Of course I still am working with any woman who needs help but I know that my sometimes truthtelling self is not what folks here want to hear.  I do try to give folks whatever comfort I can.  An old timer here, 18 years in, has begun an initiative to mobilize for prison reform by getting people on the outside to sign off on her well written petition to the White House.  She is straight out of the courage and style of the old southern civil rights struggle but has now dedicated herself to this.  The demands are modest. I have placed her petition on this, my website.  Please sign on.

On a personal note, I am feeling well although we are now pressuring the prison medical authorities to send me out to have biopsies done of some hot spots that showed up on a pet scan I had back in October.  I am refusing to jump off any bridges until I come to them so not to worry !!

We are worrying through the next step on the legal journey.  I am reminded of the rejoinder of a group of Panthers arrested and then beaten, when their lawyer said not to worry; “The system does work”. One of them said “Yeah, for who? “  Indeed that is the question.  The US Supreme Court only accepts 2% of the cases submitted to it.  We have great issues but coping with an inhospitable Court, we are still trying to figure what will pique their interest… a legal guessing game.  We have asked the best among us to give us their thoughts But …  We will wait and see.  We must fight on in whatever forum is available–What else?

Some of you have written asking where I get the strength to keep on.  My  simple and truthful and sincere and heartfelt answer is that I get it from the depth of love and respect from my beloved partner, Ralph, my dear children and their children, and  from all the people, that stay in touch with me, yes.    I receive regular and wonderful mail from all segments of the movement, from the young asking for advice “on being a lawyer like you”, from octogenarians, nonagenarians and 70 + who have given their political all for their lifetimes and continue to do so, from the lawyers in the Guild, from the poets and the songwriters, the rappers and  the writers whose art is not separated from our movement for change–So Many More. So impossible to include everyone but know that even if I am slow to answer, I read every word I receive and it sustains me and strengthens me and makes it possible to face each new day.  While the political landscape is gloomy at best, I always remember that in the 50′s, no-one imagined that the 60′s were right around the corner !  Onward !!

Lynne Read the rest of this entry »

9/27/12  9:15 am

Once again the 2d Circuit has turned me down–this time the whole Court, en banc.  Not surprising, I was well aware that we were dealing with the Company Store and could expect very little.  Nonetheless as a favorite line from Edna St Vincent Millay:

“Pity me that the heart is slow to learn
What the Quick mind beholds at every turn”

I never lose hope that my case will be resolved as being too obvious a contradiction to justice for them to sustain !

Our next stop is the petition for Certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking them to hear  us.  We will be trying to impress them with the significant wrongfulness of the whole prosecution itself and of the errors at trial and later at sentencing.  Our due date is some time in late December and we are hoping to have Amicus support, so if you are part of a group that supports lawyers or civil rights etc. please suggest it as early as possible.  Contact Jill Shellow, my lawyer by email, for further explanations.

Looking forward to my 73 birthday on October 8, the one bright ray of light  is that my husband, Ralph Poynter, will be speaking at the National Lawyers Guild convention held in Pasadena, California from the 10th to 14th of October.  Addressing the Plenary he will speak of my case and that of other political prisoners locked away for decades by a vindictive government.  I wish I could attend and meet and greet and hug and laugh with my lawyer buddies of many years and many conventions but I will have to be content with my usual micro-management style from afar — Texas, that is !!!

Meanwhile, I continue to tough it out.  I am feeling quite well after the surgery, an infection and then a severe iron deficiency — my usual vim and vigor are back and ready for the fight with the Supreme Court who thinks corporations are people—what will they make of me, a real person ??!! (smile) Join me. Bring me Home, where I can join in some of the epic battles now at hand.

Lynne has punished by the BOP for 45 days (no details at this time) and cannot receive any visits, phone calls, or commissary.

She asks that folks send her “snail mail” and donate to the Lynne Stewart Organization.

OUT OF SIGHT; OUT OF MIND ??
The Lynne Stewart Organization is currently facing a crisis in keeping Lynne’s case alive while she is Still Caught in the Belly of the Beast.

Making one last foray with the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in an En Banc Application to ALL Judges of the Court to reverse the Outrageously Harsh 10 year sentence will occur in early August.  Following will be a Petition to the United States Supreme Court asking to Appeal all aspects of my prosecution and trial and sentence.  This will require fine line decision making to present those issues that the Judges in Washington might be expected to find important enough to decide.  Given the current make-up of the  Court, our requests might even harm us.  However, my commitment to fight back and not allow the Government its stranglehold on the ability of lawyers and clients, especially those defending political cases to make decisions without regulation by the adversary, US Government, is too important to allow them to kick it under the rug.  TRUTH and TRANSPARENCY — always my goal.

Dig Deep and send us a vote of confidence from your wallet or check book or credit card.  So many of you have written personally to me about your desire to aid my cause.  This is the easy way and it counts! It is crucial that we continually remind the people of the importance of strong and dedicated support from the 99%.  To that end we will mount a campaign starting in September of events and speaking engagements.  Highlighted will be our presence (well, not OUR’s smile) at the National Lawyers Guild Convention in Pasadena California in early October.  Angela Davis will be keynoting and it is somehow ironically appropriate for her, the icon of the represession of the ’70′s and me a current victim of the Government be juxtaposed !  I am then hoping that we will raise enough to have Ralph,at least, go on to touch base with the Bay Area supporters and more and further if possible.

- Lynne, 7/25/12

TO DONATE TO HELP LYNNE GET TO THE NLG CONVENTION:

Make checks out to “Lynne Stewart Organization”
Send check to:Lynne Stewart Organization
350 Broadway, Suite 700
New York, NY 10013

Or for tax-deductible donations:
Make checks payable to National Lawyers Guild Foundation

Write “Lynne Stewart Defense Committee” in the memo line
Send check to: Lynne Stewart Organization, 350 Broadway, Suite 700, New York, NY 10013

Your donations are greatly appreciated! If you have further questions, please email us at 1LawyerLeft at gmail.com.

July 2 2012/  9:30 am

The past week has confronted me with changes both bitter and sweet and I want to share with all of you my outlook.  On the “sweet” side (because as progressive leftists, we always try to assuage the bitter !) the best  and most important news is that I have had my long awaited surgery, more problematic than the Doctor expected, spent a few days in hospital in Fort Worth and at Carswell prison and am in a slow recovery back in my unit.  I have been given a walker to insure that I don’t have a fall as the operation left me anemic and I sometimes am a little dizzy and weak…BUT THE GREAT THING IS THAT I AM CURED AND AM FUNCTIONING NORMALLY, with a rebuilt bladder and an absence of discomfort from a distended uterus.  (I know that this is more information than many of you want — my male supporters particularly !!!)  I feel better and stronger every day and am, of course, determined to deal with healing naturally.  I am not here to praise the great care I received ( still had my feet shackled, belly chained and cuffed ; no contact with anyone who might be  worrying about me etc. from the Bureau of Prisons(I can tell plenty of horror stories about the care of the women in here) but I have come through and am ready to soon resume STRUGGLE.  Ralph paid me an unscheduled visit this weekend gave me a real boost and will be more than happy to report further on this positive health development !!!

THAT SAID,  the bitter occurrence was of course, the snide and unsubstantiated  opinion of the Second Circuit (posted on my website) denying any relief from the draconian sentence change imposed the second time around.  A blow, but not mortal.  We will do an appeal to all of the Judges of the Second Circuit sitting en banc, to reverse.   Hopefully and we always hope, those Judges will take a different viewpoint.  In reading the opinion there is a hypocritical view expressed that the first Judge Koeltl sentence and opinion is all wrong but the second sentence and opinion (as orchestrated by their remand) was all right. Will the real decision maker please stand up??   Also, the moral underpinning of their entire prosecution is now more questionable with the newly elected President of Egypt demanding the return of my “terrorist” client Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman.  If he is a hero of the Arab Spring than my aid was a positive thing –yes??? Certainly not the criminal  support the US government gave to the 40 year Dictator Mubarak !!!
Read the rest of this entry »

Lynne Stewart Defense Org.