CALL and FAX the Oakland School Administration NOW!
May 26, 2001
The graduating class at Castlemont High School in Oakland has voted twice to have Mumia Abu Jamal give the schools' commencement address in June.
However, according to the May 25th Oakland Tribune, Castlemont High School Principal Ronald Miller selected another speaker for the school's commencement address. The speaker was not on the ballot selection by the graduating senior class at Castlemont High and was made while the senior class were in Los Angeles! This is outrageous!
As Brenda Payton, of the Oakland Tribune stated in her May 22nd column, "Abu Jamal is not simply a death-row inmate, he is the center of an international protest movement. He also happens to be an intelligent and powerful speaker with a chilling perspective of the criminal justice system. The administrators may not relate to his experience, but unfortunately, many of the Castlemont students have firsthand knowledge of the injustices of the system, either through their own experience or those of family members. I think the school administrators would have found the students' choice interesting, demonstrating an awareness of political issues. Instead, school officials have shown a disturbing if familiar disrespect for the students...."
We call on the community and those who stand in defense of Mumia, to call and fax messages of support to the senior class at Castlemont High and their vote to have Mumia's voice be heard at their graduation.
Call and Fax: Ronald Miller, Principal, Castlemont High School, Oakland: phone: 510-879-3010; fax: 510-879-3019
Dennis Chaconas, Superintendent, Oakland Public Schools: phone: 510-879-8200; fax: 510-879-8800
Oakland Board of Education: phone: 510-879-8866; fax: 510-879-8000
Signed: Colleen Akai (Refuse & Resist!), Maya (Youth Student Network, Oct 22nd to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation), Grover Dye.
Please send a fax copy of your message of support to Larry Felson at: 510-261-1793 or email your message of support to: RNRBAYAREA@yahoo.com
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