Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Birthday Celebration and the Release of His New Book (354 hits)
By Marilyn Kai Jewett (NBNJ Philadelphia Correspondent)
People who feel a major injustice remains uncorrected packed the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia recently to celebrate the 55th birthday of Mumia Abu-Jamal and mark the release of his new book, “Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v. the U.S.A.” Last month the U.S. Supreme Court denied (without a hearing) the former Black Panther a new trial in his 1982 conviction for allegedly killing Philadelphia police Officer Daniel Faulkner. Supporters have long held that the Black Panther-turned-journalist did not receive a fair trial and was a victim of racist justice. “It just shows you that precedent means nothing, that law is politics by other means and that the constitution means nothing. That a fair jury means nothing,” commented Abu-Jamal on the decision.
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ) organized the annual event on Abu-Jamal’s birthday, April 24, to update the community on his fight for freedom. Speakers included Harold “Amin” Wilson, a former death row inmate who was proven innocent; Fred Hampton, Jr., son of Black Panther Fred Hampton who was killed by Chicago police in 1969; renowned poet Sonia Sanchez; Paul Wright, editor of Prison Legal News; Razakan Shaheed, a former jailhouse lawyer from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project Temple University professor Linn Washington who as a reporter, covered Abu-Jamal’s original case. Washington spent about five hours on Pennsylvania’s Death Row speaking with Abu-Jamal the day before his birthday. “He spoke on a range of subjects from his case and how the Supreme Court ‘handled’ it, to Obama refusing to go to the racism conference, to Pre-Egyptian history as told by the Greeks and the brother was extraordinarily fluent,” said Washington. “I mean he’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant!”
Other highlights of the evening included a video interview of educator/activist Angela Davis, once on the FBI’s Most Wanted list and a video message from Abu-Jamal. Washington said Abu-Jamal wants people to get up and stand up for their human and civil rights. “He wants people to remain vigilant and to keep fighting -- not just for him, but for all of the people in the United States that are suffering injustices – not only people inside the prisons but outside. Because the reality is, when you look at poverty, when you look at police brutality, when you look at the decrepit education system, when you look at this incredible economic mess that we’re in – that’s imprisoning people.” Meanwhile MOVE’s Pam Africa and ICFFMAJ want people to join them at a May 16th rally in Philadelphia to free the MOVE 9. For more information on the rally, Abu-Jamal’s case or purchasing the book check out www.freemumia.com or email icffmaj@aol.com.
