Writers for Mumia
Special
to Workers World
Writers for Mumia held a day-long symposium in support of
journalist and political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal on Nov. 20 at
the Columbia Law School in New York City.
The morning teach-in panel included Safiya Bukhari,
co-coordinator of the New York Committee to Free Mumia; Ariella
Ghanooni of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, which
co-sponsored the event; Peter Hart of Fairness and Accuracy in
Reporting; award-winning poet Martin Espada (via tape
recording); award-winning writer and activist Grace Paley; and
Abu-Jamal's literary agent Frances Goldin.
During the afternoon speak-out, several poets read original
works in support of Abu-Jamal. National Writers Union activist
Joel Washington spoke about the union's support for the
death-row prisoner. The union made Abu-Jamal an honorary member
in 1995.
Nearly 30 poets and writers participated in the evening
literary jubilee, moderated by S. E. Anderson and Susan
Elizabeth Davis, co-coordinators of Writers for Mumia.
Participants included activist-poets Jayne Cortez, Veronica
Golos, Rosemari Mealy, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Susan Sherman,
Gloria Steinem and Sekou Sundiata.
The new generation of activist-poets was represented by
Stephanie Agosto, Samiya Bashir, Lashambi Britton, Suheir
Hammad, Tony Medina and Sandra Garcia Rivera.
Barbara Smith read excerpts from her recent book, "The Truth
That Never Hurts," that linked the struggles against racism,
sexism and homophobia.
Award-winning performance artist Vinie Burrows read excerpts
from a recent editorial written by Angela Davis, June Jordan
and Alice Walker in The Nation.
Inspired by Abu-Jamal's statement opposing the bombing of
her homeland in Yugoslavia, Nadja Tesich read an eloquent chant
denouncing the U.S./NATO war.
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