APRIL 24
'Millions for Mumia' gathers steam
By
Andy McInerney
By all indications, the April 24 "Millions for Mumia"
demonstration in Philadelphia will be among the biggest
outpourings yet on behalf of death-row political prisoner Mumia
Abu-Jamal. The urgency of Abu-Jamal's case demands it.
In a few weeks, the mobilization has gathered support from
wide sectors of the political movement. A number of initiating
organizations--including the International Concerned Family
& Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the National People's
Campaign, the Bruderhof, Campaign to End the Death Penalty,
Refuse and Resist, and others--have issued a call for activists
to build the April 24 action.
"The struggle for Mumia Abu-Jamal's life has become an
epicenter of the people's movements trying to shake free from
the widespread human rights violations ... plaguing the entire
United States," states the organizers' call for endorsements.
"Hip-hop and rap artists, international delegates, prominent
political figures and religious leaders will join with tens of
thousands of students and youths, as well as many thousands of
community activists, trade unionists, and people's
organizations in building a powerful mobilization in
Philadelphia."
Demonstrations in support of the Philadelphia action are
being organized for April 24 in San Francisco and
internationally. In Puerto Rico, for example, organizations led
by the Socialist Front are planning a demonstration to coincide
with the Philadelphia rally. Organizers are also calling for
students to walk out of classes on April 23.
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a revolutionary journalist and activist
who has devoted his life to exposing racism and police
brutality. From his days as a member of the Black Panther Party
through his experience as an award-winning journalist in
Philadelphia radio to his current cell on the Waynesburg, Pa.,
death row--Abu-Jamal has brought to light the injustices that
the big-business media routinely cover up.
His tireless advocacy has earned him the title "voice of the
voiceless."
In 1982, Abu-Jamal was convicted of shooting a cop and
sentenced to death in what his supporters charge was a
political frame-up. Abu-Jamal has always maintained his
innocence. His legal team is prepared to present overwhelming
evidence that he was not the shooter.
In 1995, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge signed Abu-Jamal's
death warrant. After massive worldwide protest, Abu-Jamal won a
stay of execution.
But in October, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied
Abu-Jamal's appeals at the state level. Ridge could sign a new
death warrant at any time--which adds urgency to the campaign
to win Abu-Jamal a new trial.
This urgency has won Abu-Jamal new support from notable
personalities both nationally and internationally. South
African Bishop Desmond Tutu initiated a letter on Abu-Jamal's
behalf demanding a new trial. That letter was signed by U.S.
Reps. John Conyers and Barbara Lee, by Coretta Scott King, the
Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor Martin Sheen and others, including
Nobel Peace Prize laureates Dr. Wole Soyinka, John Hume MP,
Elie Wiesel, Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, Toni Morrison and Betty
Williams.
On Dec. 17, a delegation led by Concerned Family &
Friends leader Pam Africa addressed the European Parliament,
appealing for support. The parliament voted to send a letter
appealing for a new trial and asking Ridge not to sign a death
warrant.
Mass mobilizations have been decisive in preventing
Abu-Jamal's execution. The April 24 "Millions for Mumia"
demonstration is already generating new activism as well as
broad unity in the campaign to free Abu-Jamal.
In New York, Puerto Rican, Dominican and other groups and
activists have formed a "Latinos for Mumia" committee to
mobilize for the demonstration in the Latino community.
Rosario Vega, an activist in the movement to free the 15
Puerto Rican political prisoners, is devoting time to building
for the Millions for Mumia demonstration by working in Latinos
for Mumia. She told Workers World that April 24 is "a time for
all oppressed people to get together and unite in one show of
force."
The group plans to reach out to high school and college
students as well as workers and unemployed on the basis that
Mumia "could have been any one of us." She pointed out the
repression that faces activists in a wide range of national and
political movements.
"It's important that the poor not forget their political
prisoners," Vega urged. "They're the ones that are suffering
for us."
Other organizations building for the April 24 demonstration
include the Black Radical Congress, the Jericho Movement, the
Million Women March, New Afrikan Liberation Front, the New York
Free Mumia Coalition, and People's Video Network.
To find out more, readers can call the International
Concerned Family & Friends at (215) 476-8812 or the
National People's Campaign at (212) 633-6646. Sponsors can
endorse on the web at www.iacenter.org.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
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