George Jackson Escape Attempt (1971)
Sat Aug 21, 1971
Image: A photo of George Jackson, unknown year
On this day in 1971, revolutionary George Jackson was shot dead while attempting to escape prison with a smuggled-in handgun. He alluded to the writing of Ho Chi Minh as he freed other prisoners: "Gentleman, the dragon has come!"
While serving a sentence for armed robbery in 1961, Jackson (1941 - 1971) became politically radicalized, stating "I met Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, Engels, and Mao when I entered prison and they redeemed me". He also co-founded the Marxist-Leninist Black Guerrilla Family with W.L. Nolen.
Jackson authored two texts while incarcerated - "Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson" (1970) and "Blood in My Eye" (1971).
On August 21st, 1971, Jackson attempted to escape prison. With a smuggled handgun, he took hostages and freed twenty-six prisoners at gunpoint. Before releasing them from their cells, he alluded to the writings of Ho Chi Minh, stating "This is it, gentleman, the dragon has come".
Three guards and two prisoners were murdered in the escape attempt, and Jackson himself was shot dead while attempting to leave the building. Two weeks after his escape attempt, the notorious Attica Prison Riots began.
"Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the reality of our situation, understand that fascism is already here, that people are already dying who could be saved, that generations more will live poor butchered half-lives if you fail to act. Do what must be done, discover your humanity and your love in revolution."
- George Jackson
- Date: 1971-08-21
- Learn More: www.sfgate.com, en.wikipedia.org, files.libcom.org, redyouthnwa.files.wordpress.com.
- Tags: #Marxism.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org