Confronted in Los Angeles by Mumia supporters
Pennsylvania Gov. Ridge on the ropes
By
Richard Becker
Los Angeles
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge launched his bid for national
political office here on Oct. 26, but it quickly hit the rocks.
Demonstrators chanting "Governor Ridge--serial killer," and
"Free Mumia," outnumbered Ridge supporters by better than
two-to-one.
Ridge hardly had spoken his first words to an
invitation-only audience of Hollywood right-wingers, when he
was interrupted by three supporters of Pennsylvania death row
political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Lillian Adelman, National Lawyers Guild Director Jim
Lafferty, and John Parker of the National People's Campaign and
the South Central Coalition, and a Workers World newspaper
reporter, had infiltrated the "Wednesday Morning Club's" event
despite a massive security presence.
A major story about the disruption appeared in the Oct. 27
Philadelphia Inquirer, along with a photo of Parker inside the
event holding up a sign reading "New Trial to Free Mumia --
Stop the Execution."
Ridge, who met later in the day with Microsoft billionaire
Bill Gates, came to California apparently to boost his
prospects as George W. Bush's possible vice-presidential
running mate. Fewer than 75 people--among them actor Charlton
Heston and Wednesday Morning Club director David
Horowitz--showed up for the luncheon.
Meanwhile, outside the posh Beverly Wilshire in the center
of Beverly Hills, more than 150 multi-national demonstrators
militantly protested Ridge's presence. The infamous governor
has twice signed death warrants against Mumia--in 1995 and
again earlier this month. The latest death warrant was stayed
on Oct. 26.
Ridge has issued death warrants for more than 175 people,
100 of them African Americans.
The demonstration was called by the National People's
Campaign and the South Central Coalition, and endorsed by many
other organizations. Among the most visible was the Black
Riders Liberation Party, a community-based African American
youth organization from South Central, who provided security
for the protest.
Hundreds of Beverly Hills police and Los Angeles county
sheriffs were stationed inside and outside the hotel, many of
them equipped with flak jackets, riot helmets and large bags
filled with tear gas canisters.
The demonstrators were not intimidated.
Following a short rally at the hotel's front entrance,
chaired by Dele Ojoje Ailemen and Deacon Alexander, word came
down that Parker and Adelman had successfully disrupted Ridge's
speech and been arrested for trespassing.
The picket line turned into a march, which wound its way for
over a mile through Beverly Hills to the municipal center and
police station. There, protesters set up a new picket line.
The cops reacted by shutting down surrounding streets and
re-deploying large forces around their headquarters, resulting
in big traffic jams around the area.
After about an hour, Parker and Adelman were released to a
cheering crowd. John Parker told the demonstration, "we are
going to continue this struggle until Mumia is free."
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