Houston celebrates Mumia’s 72nd birthday

Activists in Houston, Texas, joined with supporters of U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Mexico City and in various cities throughout the United States in remembering his 72nd birthday on April 24. The event was sponsored by the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement.

Organizer Caleb Granger explained: “It was a joyous occasion as Mumia is still alive after execution dates, even though incarcerated for almost 44 years, but a solemn day as well. All the years of unjust imprisonment have taken a grave toll on Mumia’s health. He is now a victim of elder abuse and medical abuse and needs medical care immediately for his eyesight and other issues.”

Participants took turns reading a proposed proclamation by Mumia’s support committee to the Philadelphia mayor declaring July 3 to be Mumia Liberation Day and to support his physical freedom while acknowledging the harm done to him and honor his spirit of resilient love. Each of the 16 “Whereas” sections of the proclamation give a history and the moving value of Mumia’s life.

Maria Salazar with the Xinachtli Freedom Campaign gave a report on the Texas political prisoner, Xinachtli. In recent weeks the campaign announced that Xinachtli is now in the Estelle Unit, a medical unit, at Huntsville, Texas. Unfortunately, his condition has worsened since the move. He can no longer walk on his own and has no way to move himself around. 

Xinachtli continues to be denied the regular physical therapy, the B12 shots, and the diet prescribed by University of Texas Medical Branch doctors. Because he is in a high-security area, Xinachtli is also sleeping in a cell where the lights never turn off, and he has not been allowed any recreation time since his transfer. He has not received any of his books, letters or other personal property that should have been transferred with him.

Salazar explained: “Like Mumia, Xinachtli is now an elder and is facing life-threatening health issues that the Texas prison system is not treating but exacerbating. We have a campaign for his supporters to make phone calls to Warden Kevin Smith at 936-291-4200 and the regional director Michael Britt at 936-437-2600. We are willing to disrupt business as usual until we see a change in his conditions.”

The winner of the Mumia Trivia Contest was Kay Bonnin, who received a copy of the new pamphlet “12 days v. 44 Years: The 103-Mile March for Mumia,” filled with information and beautiful photographs about the historic march held last December for Mumia. The booklet also included a photo of a demonstration held in Houston during that cold, long march that was taken by Salazar. She was also presented with a copy of the booklet.

Kofi Taharka, national chair of the National Black United Front, initiated a useful discussion on political and politicized prisoners. A member of the S.H.A.P.E. Center’s Elders Council of Wisdom, Ida Hodgkins spoke about a politicized prisoner we all knew — Gary Graham aka Shaka Sankofa.

After attendees made phone calls for both Mumia and Xinachtli, they sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed birthday cake and ice cream.