Joan Bird (Voiced by Sophia Phern Brown)

John Board statement October 1969. I write this to tell you, the people something about myself, I feel it's necessary that you have some true knowledge or insight about my being other than the lies of the printed newspaper. I'll start by saying that I was born here in New York City. 20 years ago, I grew up in the Harlem community and attended parochial Elementary School, namely Resurrection, and from there went on to Cathedral High School for Girls. Growing up living in a typical black ghetto community. I clearly recognized the ills or sicknesses of poverty embedded there among my people who suffered day to day reaching out basically to find ourselves. But we have been trapped in the hunger disease complete destitution which is so actively present in our lives. Having loving and concerned parents, I am indeed lucky but there are many in Harlem who have no one to turn for help.

Narrator 

John Bird was born March 9 1949. In New York City, her mother was a Jamaican immigrant who worked as a maid in John's childhood and later became a psychiatric assistant at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Joan Bird (Voiced by Sophia Phern Brown)

My ambition to become a nurse, I thought after sincerely helped my people in this perspective. After graduating from Cathedral in 67, I entered into Bronx Community College, majoring in nursing first semester. During this period, I thought this was not enough. I needed and wanted to be fully aware of myself and the changing world around searching for my people's true identity and their true roles in society, the need for us to unite if we were ever to achieve any sort of power.

Narrator

Joan's first significant encounter with the Panthers was picking up a newspaper and reading that members of the New York Panthers were attacked and assaulted by off duty NYPD officers at the Brooklyn Criminal Court.

Joan Bird (Voiced by Sophia Phern Brown)

Having lived in Harlem all my life, I was aware of bad cops and police brutality. But this was more than I ever dreamed of. I wanted to know everything possible about the Black Panther Party, so I went to the office on Seventh Avenue and met a few of the brothers. There. They relayed to me the necessity for all oppressed people to be politically with the fascism which has crippled the people for centuries. I read the 10 point program and understood completely what it's like Malcolm, who is Eldridge and Che, were  talking about. 

Narrator  

Joan would join the New York Panthers between September and October 1968. At the age of 19.

Joan Bird (Voiced by Sophia Phern Brown)

I became a party member and actively participated in the various programs which were administered. programs consist of free breakfast for the children free cloth for the people, political education classes open to the public and going out into the community and finding out exactly what the specific and immediate needs of the people are. I continued to go to school at night and devoted my days to working with the people. I was never tired because doing everything possible to help my people gave me energy to go on. 

To bring you further up to date. On the night of January 17 1969. I was in disabled car along with two brothers. We were approached immediately by two police officers. The brothers explained our circumstances within a short period of time or hurt shots. My immediate reaction was to duck shoot and continue. I did not see who five first nor was about to raise my head or body during all this shooting. After the shooting ceased the police approached the car heavily armed and dragged me out and began to beat kick and curse me. I was then handcuffed, arrested and taken to 34th precinct. They were the most terrifying 19 hours of my entire life. I experienced the police harassment and racist attitudes presented 

After being held for 19 hours and not given the right to contact my lawyer. I was taken to 100 center street that afternoon. I saw my lawyer and we went into court. There I was told I was being held as a material witness to which my lawyer sternly objected. Recess was called and I didn't get back in court until late Saturday night. I was then charged with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and felonious assault. Bail was originally set at $20,000. My lawyer filed a complaint on my behalf asking that my arresting officer be arrested for those assault which he inflicted upon me. The district attorney said it would "cloud the issues" so the officer was free to pop. 

Following this. Lumumba Shakur and Clark squire, also members of the Black Panthers were arrested on the same charges on the same bail. My bail was lowered to $5,000 and the brothers' bail remained the same. Three days before our court date February 7, I was bailed out. A day before a court date. Two brothers were taken to court and the charges were dismissed against them. But they were rearrested there in court on an alleged attempted robbery charge with bail set of $7500 each. I wanted to call on February 7, and was indicted on the same charges conspiracy attempted murder etc and re arrested on the attempted robbery charges. Bail was set at $5,000 Again! The police were using every deceitful tactic they knew up to keep us in jail. 

But behind the beautiful spirit of people all three of us made bail.; From here on we all had a very busy schedule: rallies, meetings, interviews, and mostly trying our darndest to relate to the people the true picture of the events that happened. I went back to school, and I found it imperative that I work since all my family's funds were exhausted by my high high bails. I started working the PS 175 as an educational assistant, which was permissible since I wasn't technically a convicted person. Although the pigs did everything possible to the news media to make me appear as a menace to society. There at this elementary school, I'd hoped to start the Black Panther's free breakfast program on April 2 At five o'clock am in the morning, the programs got underway despite our arrest, the pigs banged on the  door of my parents apartment with an arrest warrant for me. The charges were the same as before on it this time, much more added on conspiracy, attempted murder and arson. I called my lawyer, while they in turn raided my parents house in a piggish fashion to find nothing. I was taken to the DA’s office. There I saw my fellow party members, about 21 of them, some handcuffed and some being fingerprinted. Well, when they all finally entered the Supreme Court about one o'clock pm and bail was set, or I should say ransom was at $100,000 each. Since April 2 bail has remained the same. This is October, six months later, with 13 Black Panthers who are incarcerated await trial  we recognise that we will never receive any justice in court. We see only the spirit of the people, which move forward to free the people from the injustice of the oppressor. All power to the people. Joan Bird.

Narrator 

John Bird was voiced by Sophia Phern Brown. The music is Korby playing bass for Aychibs  and Weyland McKenzie's Patience.