Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Philadelphia - In what organizers called "a milestone event" in the struggle to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, between 25,000 and 30,000 people rallied and marched in Philadelphia April 25 to demand a new trial for the African American political prisoner. They called on Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to refrain from signing a death warrant. In San Francisco, between 15,000 and 20,000 people marched.

At the opening rally outside Philadelphia City Hall, Pam Africa, coordinator of International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia, said: "This is clearly `Attention: America!' We are millions for Mumia today all over the world. And we are shutting this city down to demand justice for an innocent man."

"Saturday's rallies constitute the biggest outpouring for a U.S. political prisoner in more than a generation," said Monica Moorehead, a national coordinator of the Millions for Mumia Mobilization, which organized the April 24 demonstrations. "Tens of thousands of people, who represent millions worldwide, made it known to state and national officials that they will not stand by and allow the government to carry out the legal lynching of Mumia Abu-Jamal."

The crowd was overwhelmingly young and multinational_that is, it was African American, Latino, Native, Asian, Middle Eastern and white. Many came from Philadelphia. Students and youths from more than 100 college campuses and high schools mobilized buses and car caravans. Some came from as far away as California, Minnesota and Kansas. Fifty people from Texas, the death-row capital, traveled two days by bus to join the demonstration.

Sixty delegates came from France, including representatives of former First Lady Danielle Mitterrand and the French trade union movement. A Black Power feeder march numbered 1,500 people. Latinos for Mumia drew 700 people, carrying flags from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and many others. Some 500 people joined the Rainbow Flags for Mumia contingent representing the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender community. Native people and Asians for Mumia also marched.

Among the speakers at City Hall were Dr. Hasna Muhammad, representing her parents, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee; comedian Dick Gregory; Pam Africa; Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine; Mazi Jamal, Abu-Jamal's son; Aline Pailler, member of the European Parliament; Leonard Weinglass, lead attorney for Abu-Jamal; former Black Panther leader Kathleen Cleaver; Ron Stallings of the National Black Police Association; former political prisoners Geronimo ji Jaga, Safiya Bukhari, Herman Ferguson, Ramona Africa, and Rafael Cancel Miranda; Barbara Smith, lesbian feminist author; Robert Meeropol, son of Ethel Rosenberg and Julius Rosenberg; Larry Holmes of Workers World Party; C. Clark Kissinger of Refuse & Resist; poet Sonia Sanchez; national organizer Monica Moorehead; and many more.

After the opening rally, a militant march wound through the streets of Philadelphia for two hours before returning to City Hall for a closing rally. Marchers passed by 13th and Locust streets, where Abu-Jamal was shot on the night of Dec. 9, 1981. Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was also shot and killed in the incident. Eyewitnesses saw another man shoot Faulkner and flee the scene.

The bullet that killed Faulkner was a different caliber than those in Abu-Jamal's gun. Yet Abu-Jamal was convicted of the cop's murder and sentenced to death. He has always maintained his innocence. Supporters say he was the target of a political frameup because of his lifelong crusade against police brutality.

An April 23 statement of the Congressional Black Caucus noted: "Mumia Abu-Jamal is an outstanding and world-renowned African American journalist from Philadelphia known for his reporting of police brutality during the 1970s and 80s. In 1982, he was sentenced to death for the murder of a white police officer.

There were numerous questionable rulings during his trial that raise the issue of whether there were violations of due process. ... It is apparent that these rulings were not accidental. ... No fewer than 19 instances of unconstitutional error and legal impropriety have been documented in this trial, including the use of Abu-Jamal's political affiliation as evidence in the sentencing phase of the trail. ... Justice demands that the federal court system take a fresh look at the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal."

On April 22, lead attorney Leonard Weinglass filed a petition in the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the high court to review Abu-Jamal's case.

Organizers criticized the national media for biased coverage and censorship of the Millions for Mumia events. Monica Moorehead said: "The big business media turned out in significant numbers in Philadelphia, but you would not have known that from the disgusting news coverage of the demonstration. The exceptions were from the Black and independent media.

"One CNN reporter did interviews with me, Len Weinglass, Ramona Africa and others, but no one ever saw them. We do not blame the reporters for downplaying the coverage. We understand that the decision on what and what not to cover is a political decision made in the secretive boardrooms of the editors-in-chief and publishers," Moorehead charged.

"What are they so afraid of?" she asked. "When it comes to reporting numbers for the memorial for the massacre victims in Littleton, Colo., they are more than happy to announce huge numbers. When it comes to producing fair, accurate coverage on the massive outpouring for Mumia, they act as though April 24th never existed.

"The big-business press want to keep the masses in the dark regarding the racist injustice done towards Mumia. They want to cover up the fact that growing numbers of concerned people, especially youths and students, are organizing to expose the fact that Mumia is a victim of racist repression," Moorehead concluded.

An Associated Press report picked up by newspapers nationwide claimed only 3,000 attended. People are being urged to fax letters of protest to (212) 621-1679.

Millions for Mumia asks supporters to continue building the movement. There will be mass civil disobedience July 3 in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell, followed by a march July 4. For information on these and other upcoming actions, contact Millions for Mumia at (212) 633-6646.

Contact Sarah Sloan & Greg Butterfield
by email: gregb@wwpublish.com