RICHARD WILLIAMS

THE DEATH OF POLITICAL PRISONER RICHARD WILLIAMS

It is with great sorrow and loss that I need to let people know of the death of my
dear comrade, long held political prisoner Richard Williams. Richard's liver failed
and he passed on Dec. 7th, 2005, in a federal prison in North Carolina.

Richard Williams, who turned 58 only last month, was a life long anti-imperialist
and socialist, one of the Ohio 7 who had been in captivity since 1984. Richard was
a peace and justice activist, a revolutionary and a freedom fighter. He was the
people's soldier, a friend and an ally of the poor and oppressed, of the working
class around the world.

As a young man Richard was inspired by the life and words of Che Guevara, and in
his own life he became a true example of proletarian internationalism.

Everyone is invited to post their remembrances and condolences about Richard
Williams on 4strugglemag's discussion board-- www.4strugglemag.org. The next
issue, No. 6 out in February, will feature material on Richard and his life.

Jaan Laaman
Ohio 7 anti-imperialist political prisoner
Dec. 11, 2005
Walpole, MA

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Web: prisonactivist.org/pps+pows/richard-williams

Richard Williams has spent a large chunk of his life in prison. After being caught with marijuana at the age of twenty, he was later convicted of robbery and received a 7-15 year sentence, 5 years of which he served before he was released. During his time in prison incidents such as the Attica uprising and George Jackson's murder occurred, which helped to rapidly politicize Richard. Upon his release he became involved with a radical printing coop. He was also part of a "security force" in 1979, helping to protect people who were facing racist attacks at their homes and providing security for benefit shows and protests. In 1981, he went underground and became a member of the United Freedom Front, who enacted a campaign of anti-government/corporation/capitalism bombings and robberies. He was captured three years later on his 37th birthday and was convicted for 5 UFF bombings and the killing of a New Jersey state trooper. He faces 45 years for the UFF actions when he finishes the NJ sentence of 35 years to life.