The Guyanese-born publisher, who passed away following a short illness, on October 14 at Ealing Hospital, in west London, has also been described as humble, caring and someone “who always looked out for others”.
Huntley, 86, arrived in Britain in 1958 to join her husband Eric.In Guyana, she was a leading member of the People’s Progressive Party and played a part in the nation’s fight for independence.
Once in the UK she continued her activism, mainly through the power of publishing.
Her business, named Bogle-L’Ouverture after black revolutionaries Paul Bogle and Toussaint L’Ouverture, was created after what close friend, Professor Gus John, described as “a fierce campaign against the Jamaican Government’s decision” to ban academic and activist Walter Rodney from returning to the island.
The pioneering company, which Jessica co-founded with her husband Eric supported by donations from friends, published Rodney’s iconic text Groundings with my Brothers.
The People’s Progressive Party yesterday issued a statement saying it mourns the death of Mrs. Jessica Huntley who passed away in the United Kingdom recently.
The PPP noted that Jessica was the wife of Eric Huntley who was one of the founder members of the PPP and who played a prominent role in the liberation struggles of the 1950s and early 1960s.
“Like so many freedom fighters of that time which included Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet, he was also imprisoned by the colonial government on trumped up charges but he never wavered in his commitment and dedication to a free and democratic society,” the PPP stated.
He was also known for the principled position he took during the period of the split of the PPP in 1955 where he stood up, along with several others in opposition to Forbes Burnham who opportunistically sought to take over the leadership of the Party. This resulted in the unfortunate split of the PPP in 1955.
The PPP recalled that Mrs Huntley, along with Janet Jagan and a few others were founding members of the Women’s Progressive Organisation which was formed on May 27, 1953 to represent women issues and to support the PPP in its struggle for national liberation. According to Jessica Huntley, who was named provisional secretary, “the WPO stands for a better educated woman who can bring up her children in surroundings of security; it stands for peace and friendship among the people of the world and for ultimate liberation of our women from colonialism and poverty.”
The PPP wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of Mrs.Jessica Huntley who along with her husband played a significant role in the struggle for a better Guyana.
“May her soul rest in peace!” the PPP said.
![Prison Radio is sharing an abbreviated version of a press release covering recent racist incidents at SCI Rockview in PA and the organizing to demand accountability. We are reaching out to people incarcerated at Rockview as well as recently transferred folks, inviting them to call, in hopes of hearing commentaries from them.
Benner Township, PA.-
On November 24th, 2023, imprisoned people at SCI Rockview found two nooses hanging in the CO’s office, displayed visibly for many prisoners to see. When the prisoners asked the staff why the nooses were hung, they were told it was a joke.
By December 4th, prisoners filed a grievance to document what they saw, noting that the hanging of the nooses was “unethical, racially motivated, hateful, [a] deliberate debasement of black inmates" and “unsafe for inmates, staff, [and] the whole prison in general.” In the grievance, they demanded that Sgt. Mosser and CO Richard be fired and investigated for a hate crime, and for CO Kirchner to get therapy. Captain Andrews, the head of security, denied the grievance.
The sergeant and COs are still working in the prison to this day, with no repercussions...
As of March 10th, prisoners have reached out to Pennsylvania officials at the Dept. of Corrections in a letter campaign, sending 100 copies of the grievance. Copies of the letter also were mailed to Governor Shapiro, Senator Fetterman, Senator Street, and various advocacy groups. The demands for relief in the original grievance have now become the platform of demands for this campaign. About 20 of the 100 letters were withheld by the prison.
Activists on the outside are joining forces with prisoners to elevate their demands, flooding the phone lines of DOC offices, assisting with outreach to media, and circulating the stories of prisoners who have found unity in opposition to the facility's virulent institutional racism.
In any other workplace, hanging a noose would be grounds for immediate termination. However, Nicki Paul, the superintendent's assistant and "grievance coordinator" informed the public that they self-investigated their staff and found they did nothing wrong.
Read the full article at i
https://conta.cc/4ayDxlB](https://www.prisonradio.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)