Writers, activists show support for Mumia

WW photos: Lal Roohk

A very moving program initiated by Writers for Mumia took place at Community Church in New York City May 12.  Journalists, poets and activists came together to show their support for political prisoner and award-winning journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been on Pennsylvania’s death row for almost 25 years. A greeting from Abu-Jamal to this program was played at the church.

Abu-Jamal was convicted of first-degree murder back in July 1982 following a sham of a trial. This coming May 17, his lawyers will be presenting an oral argument before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia demanding he be granted a new trial in order to prove his innocence.

Abu-Jamal is a former president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Black Journalists.  He wrote powerful exposés against police brutality, especially during the 1970s when former police chief Frank Rizzo was mayor.

The program at the Community Church included writers who presented their own compositions, the writings of Mumia Abu-Jamal, and information about the upcoming mobilization in Philadelphia on May 17.  Despite being relegated to an extremely isolated cell for almost 24 hours a day, Abu-Jamal continues to write and record commentaries on many social issues that can be heard at www.prisonradio.org.

Many of those who spoke are members of various chapters of the National Writers Union.  Abu-Jamal was made an honorary member of the NWU.  Susan Davis and Louis Reyes Rivera from the New York Chapter of the NWU co-chaired the event. An open letter to journalists in support of Abu-Jamal can be read at www.troopsoutnow.org.

—Monica Moorehead