"My brother Zinzun was active in many struggles and a member of the LA Chapter of the Black Panther Party, All Power To The People!" - Ray Sosa, Homeless Health Care Los Angeles

For all interested parties: Funeral services for our comrade in the struggle Michael Zinzun, will be held -

Saturday, July 15, 2006
at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena, CA.
Located at 2283 North Oaks Avenue.
The time of the service is 1:00pm.

Michael Zinzun

Bilal!

The Passing of Comrade Michael Zinzun
By Talibah Shakir, Los Angeles Black Panther Party:

Sunday morning Michael Zinzun of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Black Panther Party died in his sleep. At this time the cause and funeral arraignments are unknown.

Michael Zinzun, our brother, comrade, and friend is now among the Ancestors. Michael continued the struggle, it was not about fame or recognition for him it was about social justice for the oppressed.

Michael was the conscious of the Los Angeles Panthers, we could not sit in his face and go down memory lane, without having put something in the pot AND CONTINUALLY WORKING to nullify social injustice. Our brother was about the business of people.

Michael's passion did not have social or geographical boundaries, he possessed the orator skills of Malcolm, the fearlessness of Steve Biko, the determination of Che, he welcomed a battle as Crazy Horse did, he was and will always be the example for generations to follow.

Say what you will about Michael, but be generous in your tales of his work ethics in the struggle of oppressed people worldwide.

To the family of Brother Comrade Michael, we thank you for sharing him with us.

To all our comrades, please come from far and near, to honor our comrade. To the many gang members that he worked with and for, honor him as one of your own. WE MUST GIVE OUR BROTHER COMRADE A HOMEGOING THAT WILL BE RMEMBERED UNTIL THE END OF TIME.

As Michael would say, in his deep booming voice, "POWER TO THE PEOPLE"

What MZ always said was:

"Forwards Ever, Backwards Never.
All Power to the People!"

He will be missed.

I remember Michael from my days in Pasadena. I remember the night the PPD put his eye out. I was near by and someone came running to tell us that the cops had jumped Michael.

I was about to go see what had happened when my sister-in-law stopped me and told me to lay low cus the cops were combing the area for agitators. We were organizing a renters at the time.

Power to the People!

even in far off atlanta we'd heard of comrade Zinzun's pioneering work against police violence and for street peace.
Michael Zinzun, Presente!

I have posted an interview I did with Michael in 1995 online here:

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/168587.php

Condolences, love, peace, and respect to all of Michael's friends and family in L.A.

They don't make revolutionaries like they used to. Today's dsl revolutionary is raised nice and comfy and will never live up to the examples of true revolutionaries like Mr. Zinzun.

Carnal, you are lucky to have known him.

-Daniel

ACLU/SC Mourns the Loss of Michael Zinzun
Statement of Executive Director Ramona Ripston

Tuesday, July 11, 2006 printer iconprinter version

LOS ANGELES - The ACLU of Southern California is saddened by Michael Zinzun's death.

The ACLU/SC represented Michael and others in their brave fight against police abuse of our constitutional rights. Our litigation was instrumental in ending spying by the LAPD, which had illegally gathered millions of pages of surveillance on political activists, peace groups and public officials in the 1970's.

Without Michael's courage the LAPD might still be wasting millions of taxpayer dollars infiltrating, spying and collecting information on the political activities and even medical conditions of law-abiding Americans.

Michael’s generosity of heart and commitment to principle made Los Angeles a far better and more humane city. As we see renewed government surveillance of innocent Americans we must remember Michael's example and continue his struggle for respect and dignity for all.

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=3622&IssueNum=28

Looks like another hippie biting the dust, so sad, not. As for his determination, you are aware that che gave up and was captured rather than being shot like a real man. His words were "stop don't shoot! am che, am worth more to you alive than dead".

Propaganda:

We are supposed to trust the ones that killed Che?

Two people that last saw Che alive were, Sergeant Jaime Terán, his executioner and Colonel Arnaldo Saucedo Parada, the commander that captured Che.

Sergeant Terán has given to versions of Che’s last words, "I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man." and "Know this now, you are killing a man."

Colonel Parada said that Che’s last words before being executed were, "I knew you were going to shoot me; I should never have been taken alive. Tell Fidel that this failure does not mean the end of the revolution, that it will triumph elsewhere. Tell Aleida to forget this, remarry and be happy, and keep the children studying. Ask the soldiers to aim well."

Reports that Che’s last words were, "Don't shoot, I am Che Guevara and I am worth more to you alive than dead" have never been attributed to anyone, nor verified. One quote was proven false, that was the one given by General Ovando of the Bolivian Army, who declared that Che had died in battle, and that just before dying said, "I am Che Guevara and I have failed."

Hasta la victoria siempre . . .