Freedom or Death for Mumia

On May 17, 2007, the third district court of Philadelphia held its final hearing about the controversial case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. A man who has been on death row for over 25 years, Mumia awaited his fate while the defense and state plead their cases for whether or not Mumia should have a new and fair trial. I and two other TRG supporters went that morning to the court to support Mumia and the fight for his life.
Mumia Abu-Jamal was a prominent member of the Black Panther Party joining at the age of 15 in 1969 and founded the Philadelphia branch of the Black Panther Party and became the minister of information. Mumia went on to become an award winning journalist who became known as “the voice of the voiceless” as a Philadelphia radio host. Because of Mumia’s radical political ideology he was one of the only few journalists, black or white, that would cover the MOVE organization and showed its members not as violent blacks with dreads but as freedom fighters for their community.
To make ends meet, Mumia was a night taxi driver and on the night of December 9, 1981 his entire life would be changed. William Cook, Mumia’s brother, was pulled over by Officer Daniel Faulkner. Mumia saw the officer beating his brother and the rest of the story is surrounded in a cloud of mystery with the exception of the facts that Faulkner was dead and Mumia was shot in the stomach. Mumia supporters believe that Mumia was shot by Officer Faulkner who was then killed by an unknown assailant who then fled the scene. Anti-Mumia supporters believe Mumia shot Faulkner and Faulkner was able to return fire before dying.
Mumia was put on trial in front of Judge Albert Sabo and was convicted of first-degree murder and has been on death row ever since. Mumia’s case has attracted international attention. Regardless of Mumia’s innocence or guilt his trial was not fair and full of bias. Many believe that Mumia was set-up by the FBI’s COINTELPRO which disrupted many progressive organizations.
At the rally on May 17, Mumia supporters were outside hoping that the courts will give a new and fair trial to Mumia. Mumia’s lawyer gave a press release after the court hearing. According to Mumia’s defense team, it is now up to the courts to decide if Mumia should receive a new trial or not. This decision could take up to 90 days. There are three outcomes that could happen for Mumia:
· Mumia receives a new trial and is found innocent and able to return to his family and friends.
· Mumia receives a new trial and is found guilty and remains on death row.
· Mumia does not receive a new trial at all and remains on death row.

Mumia’s lawyer made it clear that if Mumia is not given a new trial or not found innocent, Mumia will be put to death very shortly afterward. Yet, Mumia’s lawyer said that if a new trial is given, he is confident that Mumia will be released because of the overwhelming new evidence and evidence not permitted in Mumia’s first trial.

If you are interested in knowing more about Mumia or supporting Mumia here are some websites to check out:
http://freemumia.com/
http://www.freemumia.com/newphotos.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumia_Abu-Jamal
http://www.mumia.org/freedom.now/
http://www.mumia2000.org/
There are many sites for and against Mumia. I encourage everyone who liked this blog to do their own investigation and decide for yourself if you are sympathetic to Mumia’s cause or not.

If so come out to the rally in Harlem for Mumia on June 14. (More info on freemumia.com)

Lecture on The Legacy

On February 19, 2007 Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. came to Lehigh University to give a lecture. For those unaware Fred Hampton Jr. is the son of Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton who was a member of The Black Panther Party and was murdered by the F.B.I. and Chicago Police on December 4, 1969. At 4 o’clock in the morning F.B.I. agents and Chicago S.W.A.T. stormed the home of Hampton and killed Hampton and Mark Clark while wounding seven others and the rest of the people sleeping in the home were thrown into jail. At that time Fred Hampton’s wife was eight and half months pregnant with Hampton Jr. In Hampton Jr.’s words, “his first cell mate was his own mother”.

Fred Hampton was responsible for setting up many children breakfast programs all over Chicago and also headed the pact known as the “Rainbow Coalition” which brought together different gangs comprised of different races all across Chicago. All of these progresses made in the community were destroyed and infiltrated by the F.B.I. with the culmination of killing Chairman Fred.

Hampton Jr.’s life was molded by the untimely death and followed in the same footsteps of his father. He became an effective organizer and leader in the struggle for people’s rights. In 1990, Hampton Jr. became the president of the local National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement which fights for the rights of African people in America.
It is to no surprise that with his same organizing skills and close physical resemblance to his father that the F.B.I. and other government officials have try to contain Fred Hampton Jr. In 1993, the government finally got what they wanted. Hampton Sr. was dead and Hampton Jr. was now behind bars.

Hampton Jr. received 18 yrs for allegedly setting fire to a Korean Grocery store. This was a lie and a fabricated story. Here are some of the facts of the case:
There is no evidence of a fire
No fire truck came to the scene
The store was not closed for more than 15 minutes
Fred Hampton was allowed no character witness
When Fred Jr.'s mother took the stand to testify as to where Fred Jr. was at the time of the alleged incident, the main focus of questioning was her political affiliation with militant and radical groups like the BPP and the NPDU
While in prison or in other words “Behind Enemy Lines” Hampton Jr. started the P.O.C.C. which is the Prisoners of Conscience Committee. On September 14, 2001 Chairman Fred was released from prison. He still organizes and is the Chairman of the P.O.C.C.

Chairman Fred now almost six years free is as lively as ever and is trying to make the masses of people aware of the political struggles that oppressed people have in this country. Chairman Fred opened up his lecture by focusing on what was the Truth about The Black Panther Party and separating it from the media and Hollywood negativity. He then moved into talking about modern day struggles showing that the struggle was not completed in the 60’s. He spoke about Aaron Patterson who was a political prisoner and is still fighting for his freedom to this day in court.

Chairman Fred was very informing and energetic towards the crowd. Many of The Righteous Griots were able to come out and support this man.

If you are interested in learning more about Chairman Fred please visit his myspace pages: www.myspace.com/free_em_all
www.myspace.com/poccinternational
www.myspace.com/chairmanfredpart_2

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS! YA BASTA!