Abdul Azeez

Abdul Azeez (formerly Warren Ballantine) is a Virgin Island independence activist known for being a part of the "Fountain Valley 5." The "Five" are a group of activists from the U.S. Virgin Islands. There was a turbulent period of rebellion on the Islands. The island was put under virtual martial law, and eventually five men: Ismail Ali, Warren (Aziz) Ballantine, Meral (Malik) Smith, Raphael (Kwesi) Joseph, and Hanif Shabazz Bey were apprehended and then charged with the murder after a planned robbery at Fountain Valley golf course, patroned by tourists mainly, resulted in eight murders. All the men were known supporters of the Virgin Island independence movement.

The five were charged after being subjected to vicious torture in order to extract confessions. They were beaten, hung from their feet and necks from trees, subject to electric shocks with cattle prods, had plastic bags tied over their heads and had water forced up their noses by the "defenders of the law." The judge (Warren Young) overlooking the case worked as Rockefeller's private attorney and even handled legal matters for the Fountain Valley Golf Course prior to being placed on the federal bench. Eventually, the five went to trial in what became known as the "Fountain Valley" murder trial. This was an obvious Kangaroo Court and a mockery of any sense of a fair trial. On August 13, 1973, each of the five men were convicted and sentenced to eight (8) consecutive life terms.

Abdul was 23 at the time of his arrest. Now in his 70s, he has several chronic health issues that are difficult to manage inside prison including advanced cardiac disease, severe arthritis and degenerative disc disease with injury to the spinal cord. After suffering two massive heart attacks in 2016, he is often unable to do many simple tasks including ambulating to the visiting room or the phone area to call loved ones. Of his time with the Awaken Mentoring Group out of Golden Grove prison, he recalls, “we were doing excellent and exemplary work… on many different occasions attending schools, youth rehabilitation centers and other places to enlighten children.” He has support within the Virgin Islands and mainland U.S. and at his age and stage of health he is not at risk to recidivate and should be granted release so that his daughter can care for him.

Member of the Virgin Islands Five, a group of Black liberation activists convicted of murdering eight people in the September 6, 1972 Fountain Valley massacre at a golf course on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The killings took place during a turbulent period of Black liberation and anti-colonial rebellion in the U.S.-occupied Virgin Islands. The defendants' convictions were obtained after they alleged they had been tortured into confessing. A 1976 prisoner-support pamphlet records his transfer through Atlanta to Marion’s Control Unit; his imprisonment was not continuously at Golden Grove.

The documentary press notes for The Skyjacker’s Tale describe the five defendants’ August 13, 1973 convictions and sentences of eight consecutive life terms plus ninety years, followed by transfer through Puerto Rico to mainland prisons. The notes record their allegations of coercion and the trial judge’s June 13, 1973 rejection of a defense challenge; the documentary’s challenge to the prosecution is not a judicial exoneration. Source: https://www.strandreleasing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/skyjackerstale_pk.pdf#page=8