Jericho Movement says: ‘Free all political prisoners!’

The National Jericho Movement celebrated its 10th anniversary of demanding liberation for all political prisoners in the U.S. and worldwide with a “Weekend of Resistance” that began on Oct. 10 with a noontime picket line and rally at the United Nations in New York City. The marchers proceeded to Madison Square Park for another rally.

Mumia was one of many political prisoners honored at the Mericho Movement march. Photo: National Jericho Movement

On Oct. 11, Jericho sponsored a protest that began with a march of hundreds starting at the Harlem State Office Building and ending with a rally at Morningside Park with many powerful speakers and some music. Jericho spokesperson Paulette D’Auteuil introduced Chief Billy Tayac of the Piscataway Nation who spoke on behalf of Leonard Peltier, who has been falsely imprisoned since 1976 for the deaths of two FBI agents, and other Indigenous political prisoners.

Jericho co-founders Iyaluua Ferguson and Herman Ferguson—a former political prisoner—gave moving talks. Jericho Chairpersons Kazi Toure and Ashanti Alston spoke as well. Attorney Lynne Stewart spoke of her ongoing trial and frame-up and the need for all to stay active. Suzanne Ross and Gwen Debrow, co-chairs of the N.Y. Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, spoke. An audio-taped message was played from Mumia paying tribute to former political prisoner, Safiya Bukhari, a late founder of Jericho.

Other activists spoke on behalf of other political prisoners such as the Puerto Rican Grand Jury defendants, who are being targeted by the U.S. government for their pro-independence activities; the Cuban 5, serving life sentences in the U.S. for exposing terrorist plans to overthrow the Cuban revolution; the Angola 3, former Black Panthers framed for killing a prison guard in Angola, La.; Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly H. Rap Brown, who is serving a life sentence for the shooting death of a white deputy in Alabama; and Herman Bell, one of the New York Three.

D’Auteuil concluded the rally with this message: “Our goal continues to build a political prisoners and prisoners of war movement nationally and internationally!”

Go to www.thejerichomovement.com for more information on these political prisoners and others.