NEW YORK: ACTIVISTS RALLY FOR MUMIA, LEONARD PELTIER
By Elijah Crane New York
On the weekend of Dec. 9-10, 2000, New York saw two major demonstrations in support of political prisoners Mumia Abu- Jamal and Leonard Peltier.
Both cases are at a turning point. Abu-Jamal is awaiting a decision from Judge William H. Yohn in the Federal Court in Philadelphia on whether or not an evidentiary hearing will be granted. Peltier is awaiting a decision from President Bill Clinton on his petition for executive clemency.
photo: Peoples Video Network
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
On Dec. 9, the International Day of Solidarity with Mumia, over a thousand supporters from the Mid-Atlantic region and several international representatives marched and rallied here. Their action was in observance of the anniversary of the day in 1981 that Abu-Jamal was shot in the chest and then framed for the murder of a Philadelphia cop. Abu-Jamal has been held on Pennsylvania's death row since his conviction in 1982, over 18 years ago.
The multinational crowd included many high-school students, union activists and lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. After an enthusiastic march from Manhattan's Upper West Side, they filled the Mother AME Zion Church in Harlem for an educational rally.
Speakers included Pam Africa of International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Abu-Jamal's attorney Leonard Weinglass; actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis; Larry Holmes of Millions for Mumia/International Action Center; former New York Mayor David Dinkins; and Leslie Feinberg of Rainbow Flags for Mumia. The program also featured drumming by Will Calhoun and performances by the Rod Rogers Dance Company and IMPACT dancers.
Weinglass described the conditions of sensory deprivation experienced by Abu-Jamal and all inmates on Pennsylvania's death row. He explained that while Texas has executed more people than any other state, prisoners on death row there are still allowed contact visits with family members. In Pennsylvania, death-row prisoners are deprived of the touch of their children and loved ones.
Weinglass and others discussed the racist application of the death penalty in the U.S. and specifically in Pennsylvania. According to Weinglass, there are currently 126 people from Philadelphia currently awaiting execution--all but 13 of them are people of color.
UPDATE ON ABU-JAMAL'S CASE
Abu-Jamal's case is currently frozen due to an appeal filed by the Chicano/Chicana Studies Center and 22 members of the British Parliament regarding Yohn's refusal to review friend- of-the-court briefs and a writ of mandamus submitted to the court by those groups.
Youth leader Leslie Jones described the briefs in detail. She encouraged everyone in the movement to look closely at the documents, which can be found on the Web site www.Mumia2000.org.
In addition to discussing Abu-Jamal's case, family members of people killed and assaulted by cops had a chance to share their stories with the crowd.
Former Black Panther leader Dhoruba Bin Wahad, who was a political prisoner for 19 years, called for community control of the police and suggested building "a coalition to take over governance" of New York and to dismantle the prison-industrial complex.
"Racism is at the heart of the struggle," asserted Leslie Feinberg, who went on to say that the young, mostly white movement that has emerged from the "Battle of Seattle" must bring the fight against racism to the forefront.
Larry Holmes acknowledged a group of Middle Eastern youths who held a sign demanding "Free Mumia, Free Palestine!" and received thunderous applause. Holmes also reminded the group that 2001 will mark the 30th anniversary of the courageous Attica Prison Rebellion of 1971, and that conditions have only worsened for the incarcerated population in the U.S. He encouraged everyone to attend the protest at the inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20.
LEONARD PELTIER
On Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, over 4,000 people from all over the world came together in New York for a spirited march and rally in support of Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Participants marched to the rhythm of beating drums from Union Square to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at the United Nations to demand clemency for Peltier.
Along the route, five demonstrators were singled out and arrested after a scuffle with police.
Speakers included Peltier's children and grandchildren; elders from the Pine Ridge Reservation; Peltier's attorneys Jennifer Harbury and Ramsey Clark; Glenn Marchall, president of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation; and Miguel Alfonso Martinez, president of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples. Author Alice Walker, musician John Trudell and many others also addressed the crowd.
Supporters traveled from as far away as Washington state, Colorado, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, France and Guyana.
Peltier has been wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 25 years for the shooting of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975. The incident occurred during the "Pine Ridge Reign of Terror" of 1973-76, when more than 60 members and supporters of the American Indian Movement were killed.
The federal prosecutor in Peltier's case has admitted that he doesn't know who killed the agents. But Peltier remains in prison. His health is deteriorating. His best hope for release is executive clemency.
President Bill Clinton, in a nationally broadcast interview with Amy Goodman on Pacifica Radio Nov. 7, promised to make a decision on Peltier's case before leaving office Jan. 20.
Brad Wilks of Rage Against the Machine, urged supporters to flood the White House with phone calls and faxes demanding clem ency for Peltier. He said that people should call (202) 456-1111 every day.
Kahn Tineta Horn of the Mohawk Nation spoke of self- determination for Native nations. Chief Henry Wallace of the Long Island Native American Task Force proclaimed that "Now is the time for reconciliation and the beginning of healing from the 'Reign of Terror,' the war at Wounded Knee." Wallace said that clemency for Peltier would allow the process of healing to begin.
A Mayan theatrical group called "Colorado Sisters" gave a moving performance that asked questions such as "Where are all the Indians?" and "What did all those people die for?" They spoke of the imposing border between the U.S. and Mexico, describing it as a "steel wall of mutilated memories" of the many people who were killed as they attempted to cross it for such "crimes" as being Native, not speaking English, wanting a job, being hungry and the like.
ON TO JAN. 20
Throughout the weekend, participants shared information on many struggles, such as the fight against Plan Colombia, to free Fred Hampton Jr. in Illinois, to get the U.S. out of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and to end environmental racism on Native land and in oppressed communities.
Many activists discussed their plans to fill the streets of Washington on Jan. 20 to protest at the inauguration of the next U.S. president. They noted that neither Al Gore nor George W. Bush will do anything to end the racist death penalty or stop the globalization death machine unless the people force them to.
For more information on Abu-Jamal's case and the march at the inauguration, visit www.mumia2000.org . For more information on Peltier's case, check out www.freepeltier.org .
Call the White House Comments Line Today
Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111
Be in New York City December 10th Peltier Walk For Freedom!
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
www.freepeltier.orgBack to: Leonard Peltier
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