revolutionary action movement (ram) - Michael Schwartz Library

13 3
United States State Department stated they did
not want Williams to return
. Supporters of Williams in England also demonstrated . The RNA
staged several demonstrations demanding Williams entry to the U .S . After
several weeks, the U .S . government faced with a growing international campaign
for Williams' release accepted his request of return . Williams was
released from jail in England and flew to America on a TWA plane reserved
for him and his attorney Gaidi (Milton Henry) . Williams landed in Detroit,
was arrested and released on bail .
Contradictions over style of work and discipline had emerged in
the
RNA between Gaidi and Imari . RNA members had high expectations for Williams'
return . They felt he would resolve differences and tighten up the
organization . But Williams, experiencing an encounter with suspected
police agents inside the Black Legionnaires at a press conference in his
home, sensed that romantic left-wing adverturism had infested the RNA, resigned
as President .
Because of Williams resignation, a constitutional crisis arose in the
RNA, with both factions at one another's throats . :[n the struggle for
power that ensued, Imari
won and was enventually elected President of the
RNA . During 1970, the RNA was reorganized under Imari's leadership, and in
1971 the RNA moved its headquarters to Mississippi . 28
The last battle for the RNA, probable its "Gotterdammering,"
occurred on August 18, 1971 in Jackson, Mississippi . Seeking
to serve fugitive warrants on three members of the group, a
party of fifteen local police and fourteen FBI agents, using
the city's armoured vehicle, raided RNA headquarters . A twentyminute
gun fire erupted which resulted in the wounding of one
FBI agent and two of the poll emen, one of them fatally . None of
the RNA members were injured . 29
28T he Republic of New Africa . (Pamphlet), pp . 10-11 .
29Brisbane, Black Acti vism , p . 183 .