At July 4 parade: thousands hear ‘Free Mumia!’

Activists supporting African-American political prisoner and revolutionary journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal held a lively street meeting on the corner of Sixth and Market near the Liberty Bell monument in Philadelphia on July 4.

July 4 in Philadelphia. WW photo: Joseph Piette

Despite the oppressive heat, supporters spent hours holding signs and banners aloft and speaking on Mumia’s case to the thousands of people who had come from around the country to view the Fourth of July parade. Chants of “Brick by brick, wall by wall, we’re gonna free Mumia Abu-Jamal” and “No justice, no peace, ‘til Mumia Abu-Jamal’s released” could be heard as marching bands and floats passed by.

Demonstrators also chanted, “Bring the troops home,” whenever a military contingent was spotted in the parade. As a blatantly racist and offensive 7th Calvary contingent led by an impersonator of Gen. George Armstrong Custer and white women dressed in Native clothing passed by, the activists chanted, “We remember Wounded Knee.” The U.S. Army massacred hundreds of Native people at Wounded Knee in South Dakota in 1890.

Pam Africa WW photo: Brenda Ryan

Custer carried out numerous massacres of Native peoples during the 19th century before he and hundreds of other soldiers were killed at Little Big Horn by warriors of the Lakota and Cheyenne nations led by the great leader Sitting Bull.

Mumia, a former member of the Philadelphia chapter of the Black Panther Party, was convicted of a first-degree murder charge on July 3, 1982, by a Philadelphia jury for killing a white police officer.

Mumia has maintained his innocence since he was arrested on Dec. 9, 1981. He has been on Pennsylvania death row for 28 years, has faced two execution warrants, and could face another execution date if all his legal appeals are exhausted.

Larry Hales WW photo: Brenda Ryan

There is a currently a national and international campaign to demand that the U.S. Justice Department carry out a civil rights investigation into the conspiracy to demonize and silence Mumia through the courts. For more information, visit www.freemumia.com and www.millions4mumia.org.

Members of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Free Mumia Coalition (NYC), International Action Center, FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together), New Black Panther Party, Workers World Party and others participated in the street meeting.