Farewell Albert

The piece below is edited from Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin’s personal tribute to Albert Meltzer. As well as being moving in itself we think it gives an insight into the importance of supporting prisoners and the successes that can bring. 

Albert Meltzer is a large part of the reason I am walking around on this side of the prison wall. He worked tirelessly through the Anarchist Black Cross during the 1970s on my behalf and other US political prisoners/ POWs. I was released in 1983 after 15 years on two “life” sentences. He sent articles on my case all over the world yet I had never met him until October 1994, and though in poor health, he never stopped fighting the state, its prisons, its cops and for a new world generally. It was a pleasure to be in his company. 

Albert fought all his life for the rights of the poor and for worker’s rights. He was opposed to fascist dictatorships all his life struggling against them from the 30s through the 60s until the end of his life. He was an anti-racist and would not condone racist attacks and prejudice because of a person’s race or skin colour. In fact, the last fond memory I have of him is him coming with me to the offices of the Independent Black Panther Movement (UK) and literally charming them no end. They loved him! What a sweet man. When we look up the word revolutionary in the dictionary there should be a picture of Albert Meltzer, who gave his life over to the struggle. 

I loved him, he was my friend, always there for me. He was a great man, but he was never one to put himself above anyone else, always feeling that what he had done, so could anyone. You enriched my life Albert and helped mightily pull me out of the deepest pit where my/our enemies had hurled me. I will always love and respect you for that, and will see that everyone I work with knows of you and your works. They can bury your body but never your spirit.

Lorenzo Komboa Ervin
Black Autonomy International, Atlanta, US

From Black Flag 208 (1996)