Tag Archives: Mumia Abu-Jamal

Mumia Abu-Jamal Speaks On His 70th Birthday–And Later In The Week Speaks To USA Today

Posted on by toddpanther

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/26/pro-palestinian-protests-college-columbia-usc-ut-austin/73465781007

Imprisoned Black Panther activist speaks to student encampment by speakerphone

Incarcerated Black Panther activist Mumia Abu-Jamal told USA TODAY he supports “anti-imperialist” student encampments spreading across the country to protest the war in Gaza. He has been in prison for over 40 years after being convicted for the 1981 murder of a Philadelphia police officer. Abu-Jamal’s death sentence was overturned by a federal court. He has maintained his innocence.

Today’s activism on college campuses reminds 70-year-old Abu-Jamal of his youth during protests against the war in Vietnam and the civil rights movement for Black Americans, he said in a brief phone call from Mahanoy state prison in Pennsylvania. He compared the protests to people once holding up lighters at concerts. Today, people tend to use cell phones.

“These are flickers of light in an anti-imperialist movement,” he said. “It’s remarkable to see.”

Abu-Jamal was set to speak Friday afternoon to the City College of New York student encampment in West Harlem, but Muslim students were in prayer on the campus lawn, so his call would be rescheduled for the evening. On Thursday, he spoke to Columbia University’s student encampment via speakerphone. A microphone amplified his voice.

− Eduardo Cuevas

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How it happened, according to the Mumia Abu-Jamal Listserv:

Johanna Fernandez via FreeMumia Unsubscribe
5:33 PM (2 hours ago)

to Free

Folks, I was being interviewed by USA Today at the City College encampment and Mumia called and I thought to pass him over to the journalist. Mumia’s remarks made it to this long list of updates. Hurray. Very positive intro to his remarks.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/26/pro-palestinian-protests-college-columbia-usc-ut-austin/73465781007

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APRIL 27th UPDATE:

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APRIL 28th UPDATE:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/28/pro-palestinian-cuny-protesters-mumia-abu-jamal

Take A Look Inside A Replica of #MumiaAbuJamal’s Death Row Cell! Fragments From Brown U. Conference On Incarceration Archive And Abu-Jamal Exhibit

Posted on by toddpanther

JOHANNA FERNANDEZ: Can you imagine a study of slavery without the slave narrative?
ANGELA Y. DAVIS: Movements create a backlash, and backlash is part of the movement of history.


JULIA WRIGHT: I was just mesmerized by that cell.
LINN WASHINGTON, Jr.: That was his “house” for 28 years!

ME: Wow! A perfect replica!

STEVEN BERNHAUT, member, People’s Organization for Progress: Except for the window. That’s for us.

ME (Feeling Like An Idiot 😉 ): Right!


FERNANDEZ: The erosion of freedom erodes the standard of freedom for all of us.
WASHINGTON: I’m just awed by the way this exhibit has been put together. The phases of it. His activism. His literary productions.
CHRISTOPHER WEST, exhibit curator: There’s something about Mumia…It’s been magic since the beginning.

(Photos by LBWPhoto)

OCTOBER 3rd UPDATE: My article on the conference can be found here.

OCTOBER 8th UPDATE: And Linn Washington’s article is here.

OCTOBER 24th UPDATE: This audio allows everyone to hear the people behind the archive, exhibit and conference.

OCTOBER 25th UPDATE: Here’s my panel.

“Vampire Nation” (Music And Lyrics By Mumia Abu-Jamal, Part Of The Abu-Jamal Papers @ Brown University Incarceration Archives)

Posted on by toddpanther

VAMPIRE NATION

From the very beginning

To this very day;

This country has gone–its own special way;

from placing Indians in chains and graves;

to bringing Africans–across the waves;

********

How can we call this freedom’s land?

When it was built by slavery’s hand!

From 1492 many millions were slew;

From the day Co-lumbus sailed ocean blue.

This is–this is–a Vampire Nation!

Been that way since its creation!

This is–this is–a Vampire Nation!

I sing it without exaggeration!

*********

But why call it Vampire Nation?

It ain’t Dracula’s generation;

‘Cause America was old before that story got told;

They came in a flood, to feed on each other’s blood;

They bled Cherokee, Ashanti, Arapaho & Mandingo;

Worked ’em ’till they were no mo’;

Runnin’ ’em from shore to shore!

***********

Why call it Vampire Nation?

It ain’t Dracula’s generation;

This is–this is–a Vampire Nation!

Been that way since its creation!

This is–this is–a Vampire Nation!

Call it out–no hesitation!

@ Copyright Mumia Abu-Jamal

As performed at the Brown University conference.

OCTOBER 29th UPDATE: And here’s the video of the Brown session with the song:

Activists Celebrate Mumia Abu-Jamal’s 69th Birthday, Which Is Today (4/24/23)

Posted on by toddpanther

Continuing the tradition of fixing my goofs here: I meant to say that Mumia Abu-Jamal was “the first Black radical blogger.” And by the way, The Daily Challenge was/is an African-American newspaper.

My Conversation w/Dayvon Love Of The Leaders Of A Beautiful Struggle About “The Intellectual Legacy of Mumia Abu-Jamal”

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I wanted to fix some goofs and omissions here from this November 2022 interview. The name of the Philadelphia NAACP president I didn’t remember was Cecil Moore. The “Hinton” I mentioned was Elizabeth Hinton. Also, I meant “ECO-system,” not “ECHO-system.” And the documentary with Raoul Peck was Exterminate All The Brutes, available on HBO Max, platform also containing 40 Years a Prisoner, Mike Africa Jr.’s journey with his MOVE parents.

#BlackPowerMedia : Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Denies #MumiaAbuJamal’s Petition For Evidentiary Hearing

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The decision can be read here.

Jared Ball, Black Power Media and “The Penny Trick:” What I Thought About Peacock’s “Lowndes County and The Road To Black Power”

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As usual, I’ve gotta come here to fix my many goofs! The “her” I’m talking about @ 00:27:00 is Melissa Haizlip, director of the Mr. Soul film and the niece of the Soul! host/producer.