Russell Maroon Shoatz is a Black (New Afrikan) POW. Maroon is imprisoned for his activities on behalf of Black Liberation. In 1967, Maroon was a founding member of Philadelphia’s Black Unity Council (BUC). The BUC eventually merged with the Black Panther Party, and Maroon became a member of the Philadelphia’s BPP chapter. In 1970, Maroon and five other comrades were accused of attacking a Philadelphia Police station, resulting in the death and wounding of several police officers. This attack was carried out in response to the unjustified deaths in the Black community committed by these officers.
After being accused of this attack, he joined the BLA and participated in the revolutionary underground movement. He was eventually arrested in January 1972. Maroon is serving multiple life sentences. Most of his time in prison has been spent in control units in which he is locked in his cell for 22 to 24 hours a day.
