West Coast: 3543 18th St. #30 San Francisco, CA 94110
January 12, 1996
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we enter this new year, it is time to renew our commitment to fight for the release of all political prisoners held in the US. Given the social and political climate this may seem an insurmountable task, but we all know that together we can make a difference, together we can affect change in our society.
For more than five years many of us have been involved in a national/international campaign to return political prisoner Silvia Baraldini to Italy. Silvia is an Italian national serving a 43 year sentence in the United States. She has been imprisoned since 1982. Her sentence is excessive and reflects the US government’s attempt to punish her for her support of the Black and Puerto Rican liberation movements and for her refusal, since her arrest to recant her political beliefs.
In 1989, 1991 and 1994 the Italian government and Silvia jointly petitioned the US Justice Department pursuant to the Strasbourg Convention for silvia to complete her sentence in an Italian prison, close to her family and the community where she will live upon her release. All three petitions have been denied, despite significant public pressure from supporters in Italy and in the United States. In October, 1995 Silvia and the Italian government reapplied.
This fourth application offers us a window of opportunity to intensify our campaign for Silvia’s return to Italy. As Silvia enters her fourteenth year of incarceration, we call on everyone concerned with human rights to join the Release Silvia! international campaign. We need your support.
In solidarity,
Jane Segal and Selisse Berry for Release Silvia Committee
Advisory board: Adjoa Aiyetoro, National conference of Black Lawyers, Ellen M. Berry, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Philip Berrigan, Activist for peace and social justice, Rita D. Brown, Former Political Prisoner and Lesbian Rights Activist, Haywood Burns, Dean, CUNY Law School, Rev. Ben Chavis, Prof. Noam Chomsky, Author, Peace Activist, Dave Dellinger, Activist for peace and justice, Luis Nieves Falcon, Ph.D., Co-coordinator Ofensiva ‘92 Puerto Rico, Rev. Phillip Lawson, Northern California Ecumenical Conference, Partricia Lombroso, Italian journalist, Lucio Manisco, European Congress/Parliament, Elizabeth McAlister, Activist for peace and social justice, Darlene Nicgorski, Central American Sanctuary Activist, Margaret, Author, Nina Rosenblum, Producer, Ethel Panken, Women’s Int. League for Peace and Freedom, Fr. Pedro del Valle Pirado, Episcopal Church, Puerto Rico, Paula Weinstein, Film Producer, Rev Lee Williamson, Ecumenical Peace Institute, Rev. S. Michael Yasutake, Ph. D., Prisoners of Conscience Project.
To make a donation, please send a check made out to:
"CRSBI"
On the West Coast send to:
Send to Committee for the Return of Silvia Baraldini to Italy (CRSBI) 3543 18th St. #30 San Francisco, CA 94110
On the East Coast send to:
Committee for the Return of Silvia Baraldini to Italy (CRSBI)
PO Box 02-114 Brooklyn, New York 11202