Joan Bird is a twenty-year-old New York City Black Panther. Before January of last year Joan’s life revolved around serving the people. At night she studied at Bronx Community College. “My ambition was to become a nurse,” says Joan. “I thought I could sincerely help my people.” By day she worked in the Black Panther programs—free breakfast for the children, free clothing for the people. “I was never tired because doing everything possible to help my people gave me the energy to go on.”
That was before last January. Since then she has been arrested three times, beaten, threatened, and along with the other Panthers who constitute the Panther 21, charged with conspiracy to kill police and blow up buildings. She has been jailed in the Women’s House of Detention in New York City for over a year. Her ransom—$100,000.
A mass campaign led by New York Women’s Liberation activists to raise the $100,000 paid off July 6: Joan Bird is once again back with her sisters and brothers who have worked for the past 15 months to free her. More money will be needed to insure her freedom and that of the other Panther 21. Information may be obtained from the Women’s Union, c/o Women’s Center, 36 W. 22nd St., N.Y., N.Y. 10010; telephone (212) 691-1860.