A tribute to Mumia Abu-Jamal

San Diego residents mobilize for Mumia, Dec. 9. Photo: Frank@spacebar

On Dec. 9, the San Diego Coalition to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal — in solidarity with the worldwide movement to free this African-American political prisoner — called a meeting to focus on the 30th anniversary of his incarceration.

The forum emphasized that the movement to free Mumia is not just about Mumia. It is a movement for justice; freedom for all political prisoners; abolishing the death penalty; ending police brutality and racial profiling; shutting down the prison-industrial complex; ending war and racism. It is about all the illnesses that are inherent in the U.S. criminal injustice system.

Mumia writes about all of these issues in his books and hundreds of essays that have been published throughout his over 29 years on death row. It is the job of activists to educate people about all of these issues by spreading the word about Mumia’s case and the hundreds of other cases that Mumia writes about that can be read and heard on the Internet at www.prisonradio.org.

A slide presentation of Mumia’s essays complemented the program theme of “30 Years of Journalism.” Five of his published books and a notebook full of hard copies of his essays were available for people to examine.

Speakers acknowledged that through the struggles of millions worldwide Mumia’s life has been spared and now we no longer have to worry about Mumia being killed by the state. This is a bittersweet victory because knowing the true meaning of life in prison with no possibility of parole, this is not justice. A comparison to the cases of the Cuban Five was raised. René González, one of the Five, was released from prison in Florida on Oct. 7. This was also a bittersweet victory for the International Committee to Free the Five and the worldwide movement to free the Five. René has not been allowed to return to Cuba and the U.S. government has denied his spouse a visa to see him.

An interview with Mumia along with his previous audio essays recorded by Prison Radio were played. To hear the voice of Mumia is a good thing. The statement by Archbishop Desmond Tutu calling for the immediate release of Mumia Abu-Jamal was heard. Many commented that Mumia should not have been in jail in the first place.

The African American Writers & Artists and the All People’s Revolutionary Front were publicly thanked for their participation in this important event as well as the Spacebar for providing the audiovisual equipment and space needed for this important discussion.