San Diego meeting says ‘Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!’

San Diego’s Malcolm X Library hosted an April 27 gathering honoring world-famous political prisoner, people’s journalist and revolutionary author Mumia Abu-Jamal on his 60th birthday, which was April 24. Gloria Verdieu of the local Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition chaired this “Celebration of Life” event, provided background on Mumia’s long struggle for justice and presented a short summary of many other political prisoners incarcerated in the U.S.

Sylvia Cameron Telafaro of African American Writers & Artists provided a dramatic reading of a poem about Mumia by Alice Walker to start off the program. An excellent PowerPoint slide presentation on African and African-American cultural and political notables, put together by Verdieu, was narrated by Mumia himself.

Coalition member Zola Muhammad urged continued pressure on President Obama to release longtime Native American political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Carl Muhammad of the Committee Against Police Brutality spoke on that group’s ongoing efforts for community control of police in San Diego.

Representing the group All of Us or None, the Rev. Dennis Malone urged attendees to join the fight against ongoing prison expansion in California. Birthday cake and food prepared by Telafaro were enjoyed by all.