Harlem says 'Free Mumia'

On Mumia Abu-Jamal's 51st birthday, his supporters demand his freedom.

Chants of “Death row, hell no!’” and “Brick by brick, wall by wall, we’re gonna free Mumia Abu-Jamal” resonated on the streets of Harlem April 23 with a spirited march in support of the African-American revolutionary journalist and political prisoner. Hundreds of Abu-Jamal supporters met at the Harlem State Office Building, then marched to the historic Schomburg Library of African American History and Culture and wound up at the Salem United Methodist Church for a standing-room-only indoor rally.

April 23 in New York City.

The demonstration occurred one day before the 51st birthday of Abu-Jamal, who has spent almost 23 years on Pennsylvania’s death row following a first-degree murder conviction for the 1981 killing of a white cop. Evidence suppressed by the courts and the police points to Abu-Jamal’s innocence. The speak ers and cultural performers emphasized the urgent need to continue building broad, mass pressure on the repressive judicial system to grant Abu-Jamal a new trial. Rally participants included Pam Africa, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, City Council members Margarita Lopez and Bill Perkins, Herman Ferguson, Nana Soul, Larry Holmes, Brenda Stokely, Camille Yarborough, Spirit Child and an audio taped greeting from Abu-Jamal.