Biography
Edward Ellis was one of the eleven Atmore-Holman Brothers — Alabama prisoners and active members of Inmates for Action (IFA) chosen from an original lot of 45 inmates to face murder and rioting charges stemming from the January 18, 1974 rebellion at Atmore prison, which began as a peaceful demonstration. On June 11, 1974 the presiding judge postponed the trial to September after carloads of supporters streamed into Brewton for the Brothers. Reconstructed from The Black Panther, Vol. XII No. 3 (August 10, 1974); his individual disposition has not been located.
In November 1974, Ellis challenged the lack of heat in the tuberculosis ward at Mount Meigs. The historical study reports that Judge Frank Johnson dismissed his complaint, while Judge Robert Varner declined to dismiss a similar case so the conditions could be examined.
The Vulcan Historical Review, volume 20 (2016), 20th Anniversary Issue, University of Alabama at Birmingham, PDF page 117; The Vulcan Historical Review, volume 20 (2016), 20th Anniversary Issue, University of Alabama at Birmingham, PDF page 118.
