Shaka Sankofa: Memorials and Commemorations

Dear friends around the world  of Shaka Sankofa / Gary Graham:

In preparing for the memorial program for Shaka Sankofa / Gary Graham we are asking for brief messages (about one paragraph each) from Shaka's many friends and supporters around the world.   

We want especially to hear from all those who worked with and for Shaka over the years.  Those who distributed the "Endeavor" newspaper in other countries, for instance, and those who have organized demonstrations, press coverage, etc., around the world.  

We need these messages by Sunday morning, Houston time (CDT), since the memorial programs will be held Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and the program must be prepared.

The memorials will be held at:

Northwest Community Baptist Church,  Rev. James Dixon, Pastor 1000 block of Pinemont St., off N. Shepherd in Houston  

Ross Mortuary of Houston is handling arrangements. Wake: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 28  Funeral:  10:00 a.m. to noon, Thursday, June 29. Graveside:  car procession after funeral to cemetery.

People are encouraged to attend the graveside service that follows the funeral and then plan to go on to Huntsville to protest/vigil at the execution of Shaka's friend, Jessy San Miguel.

The family is planning a wrongful death suit against TDCJ, and must await the arrival from New York of physicians willing to perform an autopsy, since no local qualified doctors were willing to participate in a procedure which will undoubtedly implicate the powerful prison system.  Shaka's injuries probably include bruised or cracked ribs and possibly internal injuries incurred in an attack by six or eight guards.  He was a warrior to the end.

Please let us know about any other memorials or demonstrations.   

Those we know about so far:

New York City:  demonstration against Bush at the
New York Hilton, 54th St. & 6th Ave., 6:00 p.m.   Monday, June 26th.

Brooklyn, NY:  Memorial
House of the Lord, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Pastor.
415 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn NY
(2,3,4,5  toNevins Street, A Train to Hoyt-Schermerhorn) 
6:30 p.m., Friday, July 7th. 
718-596-1991

Chicago:  memorial on Saturday, July 8th. 
No details at present.

Long Live Shaka Sankofa!

Moratorium NOW!

In Solidarity,
Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movemen
abolitionmovement@juno.com

Saturday Commemoration of Shaka Sankofa

Long Live Shaka Sankofa! "We must continue to stand togethor in unity and to demand a moratorium on all executions....We must go foward!" (Last words of Shaka Sankofa)

Join us for a commemoration of Shaka's life and political analysis of the growing movement to stop the racist death penalty

Saturday, July 1, 2000, 7:00 pm 362 Capp St, San Francisco Between 18th and 19th streets, 1 block east of Mission #14, 49, 22, 33 MUNI, 16th St. BART

Words from:  Joyce Miller, community activist  
 Henry Clark, W. County Toxics Coalition  
 Kiilu Nyasha, United for Justice  
 Pam Gaddies, singer / spoken word artist  
  Bato Talamantez, former political prisoner  
 Gloria La Riva, who met with Shaka on death row in Texas  
 Larry Holmes and Richard Becker, IAC/Millions for Mumia, who joined the protests in Huntsville, Texas  
 and others.

Plus: Video from 1996 interview of Shaka with the IAC's Gloria La Riva and Monica Moorehead.

Called by the International Action Center actionsf@actionsf.org