‘Free Mumia Abu-Jamal now!’

Louis Reyes Rivera reads a poem for Mumia.

Various events took place in the U.S. and worldwide on April 24 to celebrate the 56th birthday of African-American political prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal. The main birthday wish echoed in each event was a demand for freedom for the award-winning journalist and former Black Panther.

Known as “the Voice of the Voiceless,” Abu-Jamal has been on Pennsylvania’s death row since 1982, following his conviction for killing a white policeman in Philadelphia. Abu-Jamal was railroaded to prison following a sham of a three-week trial. He has been denied any fair legal redress in the state and federal appeals courts, where evidence to prove his innocence could be presented.

Sue Davis welcomed artists who participated in the celebration of Mumia’s birthday.

The New York Free Mumia Coalition and International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal have been spearheading a worldwide campaign for almost a year to press the U.S. Department of Justice to hold a civil rights investigation to expose a multitude of constitutional rights violations against Abu-Jamal that could help lead to his freedom.

In Harlem, N.Y., Writers for Mumia hosted a moving program of poets, spoken word artists and activists. Sue Davis and Louis Reyes Rivera (pictured) from the New York chapter of the National Writers Union emceed the April 24 event.

Other birthday celebrations for Abu-Jamal took place in Philadelphia; Chicago; Houston; San Diego; Baltimore; Pittsburgh; Richmond, Va.; Mexico City; London; and throughout Germany.

Houston

HOUSTON

Supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal gathered at Houston’s S.H.A.P.E. Community Center to celebrate his birthday on April 24. The celebration began with revolutionary spoken words by one of Houston’s leading spoken word artists, Marcell Murphy, who wrote an original piece for Mumia. After singing, cake and ice cream, a serious discussion was held about Mumia’s legal status. People signed petitions to the U.S. Justice Department demanding a civil rights investigation and vowed to take copies to other organizations to get more signatures. Then the film “In Prison My Whole Life” inspired great motivation to act now to help save Mumia’s life. The event was sponsored by the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement.

SAN DIEGO

To honor Mumia Abu-Jamal on April 24, his birthday, San Diego activists gathered at the Spacebar Cafe for an evening of tribute and discussion. Organized by the African American Writers and Artists Inc. and the Free Mumia Coalition in collaboration with the Langston Hughes Poetry Circle and the San Diego International Action Center, the program opened with libations to fallen heroes offered by San Diego poet and activist Sylvia Telafaro, who also led the group in singing the African-American national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Gloria Verdieu of the San Diego Mumia Coalition and the International Action Center welcomed everyone and gave a history of Mumia’s struggle against the vicious frame-up designed to silence his heroic voice.

The featured speaker on Mumia’s current situation and the political context within which he continues his struggle was John Parker, West Coast coordinator of the International Action Center and a leader in many important struggles against racism and other forms of capitalist injustice. Zola Muhammad of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee gave an update on Peltier’s struggle against his FBI-instigated frame-up and asked everyone to sign a petition demanding his immediate freedom. The evening was also enriched by offerings of poetry and comments by many of the assembled.