History
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—- Events in Jomo’s life —- Events in the broader Civil/Prison Rights movement
[1942]- Jomo is born in Enfield, North Carolina
[1954]- Jomo moves to Virginia Beach with family; Brown v. Board
[1955]- Montgomery Bus Boycott
[1961]- Jomo is arrested for running whiskey; Freedom Riders
[1965]- Selma to Montgomery Marches; Malcolm X assassinated
[1966]- Black Panther Party established in Oakland
[1968]- Jomo is arrested for robbing a supermarket; Escapes from prison; Joins the Black Panther Party in New York
[1968]- Arrested in New York for attempted robbery; Martin Luther King Jr. assassination; FBI targets BPP with COINTELPRO
[1970]- Auburn prison riots
[1971]- Attica prison riots; Jomo meets Elizabeth
[1973]- Jomo accepts Attica plea bargain; Rockefeller institutes new drug laws
[1975]- All Attica Brothers are pardoned
[1976]- Jomo marries Elizabeth
[1978]- Jomo arrested for suspected involvement in police shooting; Beaten by police
[1980]- Acquitted of charges after 3 trials
[1984]- Jomo involved in robbery that leads to drug dealers’ death; Goes on run from FBI
[1985]- Jomo is captured
[1985]- Jomo begins sentence in Virginia Beach
[1995]- Parole is abolished in Virginia
[1995-2007]- Continuously denied parole after parole laws change
[2009]- Jomo is released from Virginia Beach prison
[2010]- Georgia Prison strikes
I met Jomo at 100 Spring Street maximum Security Penitentiary, Richmond Virginia in 1974-75 where he was placed for ‘safekeeping’ after the Attica riots. He was an imposing figure and commanded much respect as a Defense Minister with the Black Panther Party. I was a correctional officer, but at no time felt threatened or intimidated by his prescence. In my times of interaction with him, he was orderly and almost military in his demeanor. I remember speaking briefly with him on has first day of arrival. He had the total respect of the other inmates and I knew if he chose to do so, he could incite almost any action he wished, but he chose dignity and perserverance.