Int’l teach-in builds support for Mumia Abu-Jamal
By
Audrey Hoak
Philadelphia
Published Feb 17, 2010 4:43 PM
Activists from Philadelphia, across the U.S. and around the world participated
in a video conferencing and live teach-in Feb. 13 to take up the next stage in
the struggle to free Mumia Abu-Jamal. The hall at the Abiding Truth Ministries
Church was full despite nearly 50 inches of snow that hampered public
transportation and put parking in the city at a premium.
The resounding message from all fronts was to keep the pressure on and fight
harder than ever before to free Abu-Jamal.
Feb. 13 teach-in.
Photos by PVN and Lal Roohk
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Pam Africa of International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal
opened the event by reminding people that we overturned the death penalty for
Mumia under Gov. Tom Ridge and now we must do it again. She stressed the need
to educate people, particularly youth, about this case and its relevance to the
struggle for Black Liberation and against the death penalty.
Journalist and Temple University professor Linn Washington Jr., who has been
investigating this case since the day of Abu-Jamal’s arrest on Dec. 9,
1981, said, “The focus shouldn’t be whodunit, but on exactly how
corrupt the proceedings have been starting with police and judicial misconduct
and courts that have consistently ignored their own laws and rulings, creating
what is now called the ‘Mumia exception’ for those standards which
apply to everyone but Mumia.”
Washington noted, “If not for the fact that Abu-Jamal’s very life
is at stake and the many future cases that hinge on its outcome, the
state’s antics would be laughable. But they are deadly because Abu-Jamal
is a revolutionary facing execution who has become the symbol of justice to
people all over the world.”
Many refuse to stand by and let the state take his life. Ernesto Luisa, an
Afro-Venezuelan leader in Caracas, Venezuela, called in to extend support for
Abu-Jamal and for the eradication of the death penalty, which is so often
applied to African Americans. Luisa demanded the Justice Department listen to
the international community regarding this case.
Unable to join the session by phone, Abu-Jamal sent a message read by Johanna
Fernandez of Educators for Mumia, who had visited him that morning. He said,
“This is an intense time for me and for all of us. It’s a time to
struggle more, not less. As you know, in my case law isn’t law and
precedent is not precedent. I encourage you to look at Amnesty
International’s case for me and ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE!”
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General and a founder of the International
Action Center, sent a statement, saying, “Don’t fail or falter, we
need maximum effort now. We stand no chance to dump U.S. militarism if we
can’t save Mumia.”
Speakers addressed how Abu-Jamal’s life is threatened because he defends
those in prison and speaks out against the U.S. wars against Afghanistan and
Iran, military bases in Colombia, the coup in Honduras and the U.S. invasion of
Haiti. His is a voice for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, on behalf of
Palestinian people, in solidarity with Cuba, and against attacks on immigrants
and other forms of racism and legal lynching.
Nana Soul of Black Waxx Recordings and Artists & Activists United for Peace
streamed in with a poem telling Mumia that he cannot be extinguished or
contained.
While citing that courts are not the answer, Ramona Africa, one of only two
survivors of the state’s murderous attack on the Philadelphia home of
MOVE in 1985, described plans to use the courts as a tool to keep the pressure
on the authorities. To mark the 25th anniversary of the Osage Avenue bombing on
May 13, Africa and the MOVE organization will be filing murder complaints with
District Attorney Seth Williams against those responsible for the death of
their family members.
The program was dedicated to the late Veronica Jones, who courageously stood up
to menacing cops and a threatening judicial system when she recanted a false
statement forced out of her to incriminate Abu-Jamal. Her sister, Valerie
Sundail, reported that Jones wrote a book that will soon be released.
Time to act is now
Various proposals for action were raised at the event. One prong in the fight
is to demand a civil rights investigation as well as an investigation into the
role of the federal COINTELPRO program that targeted Abu-Jamal since he was a
young student activist. Petitions addressed to both U.S. Attorney General Eric
Holder and to President Obama will be followed up with a phone campaign to
congressional leaders on Feb. 26 and in-person meetings on April 26.
Miya Campbell of Fight Imperialism, Stand Together was streamed in from Boston.
She encouraged people to come out, teach and make Mumia accessible to everyone.
FIST is proposing the formation of Students and Young People for Mumia, and
will raise Abu-Jamal’s case during nationwide student actions March
4.
Plans are also underway to raise Abu-Jamal’s case at the upcoming U.S.
Social Forum in Detroit in late June and for demonstrations in Philadelphia
July 3 and again on July 4 when President Obama will be in town.
A solidarity message from incarcerated human rights lawyer, Lynne Stewart, was
read by her partner, Ralph Poynter. Despite health problems stemming from her
incarceration, Stewart insisted the case for Mumia needs to come before
everything and everybody, and stressed that people need to act, not just plan
or pledge. Poynter acted by raising $400, which he delivered in person to Pam
Africa.
A highlight of the program came when Victor Toro, a Chilean leader who faces
deportation, said, “Mumia is a symbol and an extraordinary man. He is a
21st century Mandela. His resistance is that of immigrant people. Social
activists of South America join to get Mumia out of jail. He is ours.”
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