Jaan Laaman

Jaan Karl Laaman is an anti-imperialist of Estonian heritage who emigrated to the United States as a child. He was a member of the United Freedom Front and was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio in November 1984, shortly after the Levasseurs. He was convicted in 1986 in federal court in Brooklyn of bombing and conspiracy offenses and sentenced to 53 years in federal prison. Separate Massachusetts seditious-conspiracy and racketeering charges were dismissed before trial; they were not convictions. He was also convicted of the 1982 attempted murder of two Massachusetts state troopers in a roadside shootout. He has been held throughout the federal prison system, including the Communications Management Unit at Marion, Illinois. He was released from McCreary Federal Prison on May 15, 2021, as documented by a supporter who accompanied him on release and by the Jericho Movement’s contemporary newsletter. Jaan Laaman was a member of Students for a Democratic Society and is an anti-war and anti-apartheid activist. In 1966, Laaman was first locked up on a non-political robbery charge and his twenty months in prison helped radicalize him. In 1968, Laaman was released and went to Cornell and the University of New Hampshire, where he worked in support of the Black Liberation Movement and the Black Panther Party. In 1979, he and Kazi Toure helped to organize the Amandla Festival of Unity. This concert, which featured Bob Marley, helped to fight racism in Boston and raised money to send to freedom fighters in South Africa. This work led to increased police harassment.

Later, Laaman joined a group known as the United Freedom Front, targeting government institutions and major corporations that had ties to the South African Apartheid system or right-wing paramilitaries in Central America. On February 7, 1982, Laaman and another UFF member, Kazi Toure, were involved in a shoot out with police. While Jaan managed to escape, Kazi was arrested. Despite the arrest, the group continued their operations. However, on November 4, 1984, five members of the group, including Laaman were arrested. Nearly six months later, the last two remaining members were arrested and referred to collectively as the Ohio 7. While originally charged with seditious conspiracy, Laaman was found guilty of five bombings, one attempted bombing, and criminal conspiracy, and was sentenced to 53 years in prison.

In Laaman v. Helgemoe (1977), he was a named plaintiff in a class action over conditions at New Hampshire State Prison. U.S. District Judge Hugh Bownes ordered remedies addressing unconstitutional conditions, including health care, staffing, education and rehabilitation opportunities, visitation and mail. This was a federal district court decision.

Laaman’s release in May 2021 ended the imprisonment that began with his November 1984 arrest.

Previous biography:

Jaan Karl Laaman is an Estonian-born anti-imperialist who emigrated to the United States as a child. He was a member of the United Freedom Front and was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio in November 1984, shortly after the Levasseurs. He was convicted in 1986 in federal court in Brooklyn of seditious conspiracy, racketeering, and bombing in connection with the 1976-84 United Freedom Front actions, and sentenced to 53 years in federal prison. He was also convicted of the 1982 attempted murder of two Massachusetts state troopers in a roadside shootout. He has been held throughout the federal prison system, including the Communications Management Unit at Marion, Illinois. As of 2024 he had served forty years and was the only Ohio 7 defendant other than the deceased still in federal custody. The Jericho Movement lists him among its current political prisoners. Jaan Laaman was a member of Students for a Democratic Society and is an anti-war and anti-apartheid activist. In 1966, Laaman was first locked up on a non-political robbery charge and his twenty months in prison helped radicalize him. In 1968, Laaman was released and went to Cornell and the University of New Hampshire, where he worked in support of the Black Liberation Movement and the Black Panther Party. In 1979, he and Kazi Toure helped to organize the Amandla Festival of Unity. This concert, which featured Bob Marley, helped to fight racism in Boston and raised money to send to freedom fighters in South Africa. This work led to increased police harassment.

Later, Laaman joined a group known as the United Freedom Front, targeting government institutions and major corporations that had ties to the South African Apartheid system or right-wing paramilitaries in Central America. On February 7, 1982, Laaman and another UFF member, Kazi Toure, were involved in a shoot out with police. While Jaan managed to escape, Kazi was arrested. Despite the arrest, the group continued their operations. However, on November 4, 1984, five members of the group, including Laaman were arrested. Nearly six months later, the last two remaining members were arrested and referred to collectively as the Ohio 7. While originally charged with seditious conspiracy, Laaman was found guilty of five bombings, one attempted bombing, and criminal conspiracy, and was sentenced to 53 years in prison.

In 1977, he won a pivotal case against New Hampshire State Prison, suing after being denied receive reading materials. The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in a decision written by Hugh Bownes, decided in favor of Laaman, and this case eventually was used as a justification for offering college-level education in New Hampshire prisons for the first time.

Laaman was released after serving 37 years.