In January 1998, Aisha & Bankole two long-time African-American activists fled for Canada, in order to escape political repression fearing for their lives.   But then across the border, the United States continued to harass them, and in December 2000 Canada suddenly stopped their asylum procedure, and ordered them to leave the country in 30 days.  They were also informed that they were prohibited from returning to the United States or to go through there to transit to another country.  From that moment on, they became stateless and exiled.

They left for Sweden, and  lived in a quasi-legal situation interrupted from time to time by traveling to Great Britain.  They survive today through an informal network of friends and dissidents.  You can help also!

Aisha and Bankole were born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up during the 60's-70's splendor period of the civil rights movement in the United States.  Both of them were strongly implicated in the black liberation movement from the start.  In the following decade, they remained politically active.  An activism which has gotten them constant threats and harassment from the FBI, which finally brought them to their flight to Canada and Europe.

Aisha is from a well-known artistic and political family.  Her grandfather was a member of the Communist Party and contemporary of the African-American writer, Richard Wright, her father, an opponent to the war, her uncle toured with Duke Ellington, one of her brothers resisted against racism in the American army. A lot of black young men like him ended up in prison for this.  Combining art and politics has always been evident for Aisha.  A certified teacher of music, musician and talented singer, she has also studied law, and has often aided lawyers in their work.  *Her voice was strong enough to soon attract the attention of the American government and FBI. 

*note:  Aisha was told by a Canadian lawyer that if she continued using The Soulful Expression as a means of getting their message across and fighting the racist music corporations "it'll be played out in your refugee claim"...and it was!  She was essentially made to leave because the music which she performs wasn't wanted in Canada by the authorities.  Aisha was also told that she would be put on a blacklist - in other words that people in the music industry would make sure that she didn't get gigs.  Three weeks after one of Aisha's most successful shows was publicized on Canadian television  the infamous 666 letter arrived.  (note added by campaign)

Bankole became politically aware and active from a young age; from 12 years old, he was to become an intensive reader and developed into a conscious and idealistic young black man.  He returned home from The University of West Chester in Pennsylvania, after having distinguished himself as a good student, and wrote several articles on the social conditions of African-Americans.  Then he found himself confronted for the first time with the threats and spying of the FBI.  An FBI informant explained that he was being surveilled and advised him to stop his political activities.  After  three years, he decided to quit the university.  For the next ten years, he was active in the Black Liberation Movement, principally in the work of solidarity with Political prisoners, putting into place food cooperatives and in giving courses in "African-Culture" schools.  During this time the political persecution and the harassment continued.

Aisha and Bankole met in 1992 through common friends, and they married the following year.  Together they continue to systematically denounce the human rights violations in the United States, publicize and document their own repression, etc.  When Aisha won a case in 1996 against the authorities (with regard to the unpunished abuse of black children in the school where she was teaching), the repression leveled against her became more harsh and they knew that the FBI was not going to let go.  They decided to leave for Canada.

The United States has a long history of "secret war" against their internal political opponents.  In 1971, the existence of COINTELPRO was revealed. It is a program devised by the FBI to eliminate the enemy inside which includes a whole range of telephone listening (devices), spying, threats, infiltration, false charges, incarcerations, and assassinations of it's political opponents.   Despite the fact that the government pretends that the program has stopped, many indications have proved that this program continued in the following decade and until today.  Bankole and Aisha have gathered documentation of their persecution (telephone bugging, interception of letters and electronic mail, break-ins, threats, etc.)  in a file composed of 4,000 pages.  Yet, they were refused asylum.  Apparently the myth of the American democracy at of the "Land of the free" cannot be shattered.

Despite their situation, Aisha and Bankole pursue their commitment and their political struggle.   By giving lectures and concerts, they continue to speak about the racism and the oppression in the United States, the fate of political prisoners (Aisha's last CD "Sudden Move", is an example of support for Mumia Abu-Jamal, Ali Khalid Abdullah and Zolo Agona Azania) etc.

Support them in their struggle:

What can you do?

• Buy Bankole's history (booklets) "ExiledOne an African from America & US Political Refugee" (34p) :7,50€, and  “ExiledOne II” (66p): 7.50€

• Buy a CD from Aisha at The Soulful Expression - Independent Music label:

§         “Hustler's Revolution” (36 min.) : 15€

§         “I Dream”  (36 min.): 15€

§         “My Gift Is My Culture” (2 CD, 97 min.): 18€

§         “Sudden Move” (80 min.): 15€

• "... inform yourself and disseminate the information..."

• Contact Bankole and Aisha: bankole_irungu@hotmail.com , soulful_expression@yahoo.com (you can also write them in English or French).
•  

•  Make a donation through a supporter 

 

• Support upcoming concerts & events in your country!

 

• Arrange speaking engagements or a speaking tour!!!!

 

• Support African-American political prisoners!!

The books and CDs are available at Anarchist Black Cross - Gent (PB40, 9000 Gent 2, Belgium / mail : abc_gent@yahoo.com [And at this website also!]

What could happen if they returned?...

Read the stories of other US refugee claimants, and corruption in the IRB (Immigration and Refugee Board - Canada) regarding  their claims

Un Expert Calls for Red Alert on Global Racism
A new, open and public form of thought was trying to justify racism and racial discrimination for security and defence reasons, and rejecting ethnic, cultural and religious pluralism, he told the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

African-American refugee child abducted with federal assistance
James Daraja is a US Political refugee (2001) and an 
African from America who fled with his daughter to Canada.  
Upon being returned to the US by the Canadian authorities his
10 year daughter was illegally taken from him. "with Federal Assistance."
Read his appeal to find her. 

Cointel-pro is still alive and well and living in amerikkka 
 Read the account of an African woman living in America who is one of today's victims of COINTELPRO..." COINTEL-PRO IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN AMERIKKKA by Mama Khandi...We were/ARE the targets...agents and informers did not merely spy on political/cultural activists. Their main function was to discredit and disrupt...The fbi and police also waged psychological warfare..."

Let's break COINTELPRO today down a little more
An African woman living through it in America breaks down simply COINTELPRO of today..."cointel-pro of the 1960s was thoroughly successful in achieving their stated goals, 'to expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize' the enemies of the State : Black Nationalists' and because there are those brainwashed Blacks who think cointel-pro is over with."

"There is no summer in Jail" 
The story of an ordinary ,contemporary African woman from America (not Angela Davis from 35 years ago) targeted by COINTELPRO.  As a result she was jailed and accused of kidnapping her own children.  Where are all the black leaders now?

U.S. soldier refuses to fight; seeks refuge in Canada
The U.S. Army wants him in Fort Bragg, N.C., home of the 82nd Airborne Division, "America's Guard of Honor." But this week Mr. Hinzman, 25, passed the 30-day limit for being absent without leave. He officially became a deserter and has applied for refugee status in Canada.  He's one of 848 U.S. refugee claimants being processed in Canada.  http://www.world-crisis.com/more/434_0_1_0_M

The Story of Robert Seth Hayes one of the longest held political prisoners in the USA
Robert 'Seth' Hayes is one of the longest held political prisoners in the USA. A former member of the Black Panther Party, and Black Liberation Army, Seth introduces himself, talks about his years in prison and provides and update as to his medical condition

US Intelligence agency forces Canadian lawyer to quit 
by making death threat
Prominent Canadian lawyer Rocco Galati quits representing certain clients after receiving a death threat which he believes came from a US or Canadian  intelligence agency.  Galati  was featured in Canadian Lawyer magazine as a "gutsy constitutional litigator" who "has emerged as a defender of the downtrodden."  Galati, who was called to the bar in 1989, is a former federal Justice Department of Canada lawyer who specializes in security cases and tax law.  At a news conference in Toronto he also detailed receiving a threatening letter on KU Klux Klan letterhead.  Re-print from The Toronto Star Newspaper:

Secret terror hearings violate rights, top court told
A federal law allowing secret court hearings into terrorist cases undermines the constitutional rights of witnesses and turns judges into police agents, the Supreme Court of Canada was told today.

Canadian Immigration & Refugee Board takes payoffs to fix case outcomes 
A Liberal appointee to the Immigration and Refugee Board was at the centre of a "well-structured criminal organization" that offered to fix the outcome of immigration hearings in return for bribes, police alleged yesterday.  From:  The Toronto Star, Canada

11 Canadian Immigration & Refugee Board judges charged with taking money in exchange for favorable decisions
A federal Liberal appointee is among 11 people facing a raft of criminal 
charges for allegedly participating in a fraud ring that fixed immigration appeal hearings in exchange for cash.  "The offences committed in the matter strike at the heart of the administration of justice..."   From: The Toronto Star, Canada

The US Government freely admits to using COINTELPRO
Read the official documents and memo of the US Government sanctioning the use of COINTELPRO against certain groups with the intent of "neutralizing, discrediting" and more...

COINTELPO used against the RNA
Details specific actions against The Republic of New Afrika (RNA), an organization which wanted international oversight to a peace process for African people in the US.  This is an organization which  ExiledOne was a member.  

COINTELPRO Casebook
Are you a lawyer...have a legal mind?  Extensive list of cases filed in the United States regarding COINTELPRO from the 70's - 90's and beyond

Questions?  
Need more information on how to help?  
Want to read more stores?

Practice Fair Trade
Fair Trade isn't just an issue for people living in villages in far away places
Read about what you can do to support!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page...
Still don't get it?  Visit the Frequently asked questions (FAQ) page
Here there are answers to some of the questions the people have 
asked in the past 

More Detailed Information on Aisha & Bankole's Case
Re-print of an article written by a Freelance Canadian Journalist from 
The University of Toronto in 2000

Purchase a book or CD
Link to products available on The Soulful Expression

Want to read more cases, learn more, get more information?
Visit the Links page at Aisha & Bankole's Political Website!

Practice Fair Trade!

• ExiledOne an African from America and Political Refugee
  Order your copy from The Soulful Expression.  Fair Trade isn't just an issue for people living in villages in far away places do what you can do to support!
   

• Purchase a CD from The Soulful Expression  [link]  
  Defeat the Global Corporations by buying from the Soulful Expression underground  instead of them!
  
  Support Aisha & Bankole's underground music & book publishing efforts

• Support upcoming concerts & events in your country!  Come along and bring people!  Learn and give them a platform to raise awareness!

• Write a letter of support:  
  bankole_irungu@hotmail.com or
  soulful_expression@yahoo.com

• Make a donation through a supporter 

• Help to get a case before an International body!  Do you know an interested lawyer, organization or NGO?

• Host a CD party or book  music or children's storytelling with music

• Host a fundraiser or setting up a fund

• Arrange speaking engagements or a speaking tour

• Write to and support US Political Prisoners

• YOUR PRACTICAL HELP  IS VERY MUCH NEEDED!

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What could happen if they returned
Case law & stories of others facing similar situations

Their Story

Aisha's Music

ExiledOne's Writing