Mumia Abu-Jamal: An Evening for Justice and Freedom

Pam Africa, Jeff Mackler
Photo credit: Wanda Sabir

Mumia Abu-Jamal: An Evening for Justice and Freedom at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave
The evening opened with a special greetings by Ula Taylor, Chair, African-American Studies Dep’t, UC Berkeley and Stephen Bingham, Former President, National Lawyers Guild

Jeff Mackler, Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, served as host for the evening peppering the introductions with amusing personal notes that showed how long he and by extension, all those on the panel and perhaps quite a few in the room, had been doing social justice work.  Mumia Abu Jamal is the catalyst; however, the injustice that his case and life illustrate certainly began long before he was a celebrity journalist and prisoner.
It was perhaps the familiarity with which we find ourselves still in the room without Mumia that added, what Alice Walker said, a certain sadness to the assembly. Why isn't Mumia free?

Judith Ritter, Lead Attorney for
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Photo credit: Wanda Sabir

Mumia Abu-Jamal sent a taped message of introduction to the panelists which Prison Radio played for all of us. His attorney Judith Ritter gave a wonderful update on his case and a overview in what she called the case of two judges. She was followed by Pam Africa, Minister of Information for MOVE and Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal, Alice Walker spoke about her first visit to see Mumia and the absurdity of the prison system. Angela Y. Davis wrapped up a wonderful evening which raised over $1,000 to help with Mumia legal fees now that his counsel can appeal. Checks should be made payable to Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu Jamal, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610. Visit http://www.free-mumia.org/

Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize Novelist, Mumia's Friend
Photo credit: Wanda Sabir

Pam Africa with her husband

Dr. Ula Taylor, Pam Africa, Dr. Angela Y. Davis

Movement Women

Angela Davis, Jeff Mackler, Pam Africa

Pam Africa handed out a poster: Krasner Drop the Appeal which references Philadelphia DA, Larry Krasner's appeal (Jan. 25, 2019) following Judge Leon Tucker's decision Dec. 27, 2018, to allow Mumia Abu-Jamal to file a new Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) with the PA Superiour Court on all the issues that were brought up over 20 years of litigation. Tucker concluded that Ron Castille, a former DA turned PA Supreme Court Judge who ruled on a number of Abu-Jamal's appeals between 1998-2012, violated the Pennsylvania Rules of Judicial Conduct by refusing to recuse himself from hearing appeals. Tucker explained that "Justice must be completely just without even a hint of partiality, lack of integrity or impropriety." On Jan. 25, DA Larry Karasner, following in the footsteps of his corrupt predecessors, and standing on the side of the Fraternal Order of Police, filed a notice that he would oppose Judge Tucker's order. His reasoning this opinion could potentially result in the court having to hear "thousands of cases." Does this mean that the PA courts might have wrongfully convicted more persons than Abu-Jamal? (theIntercept.com 2019/02/09).

We took photos to send to Mumia who despite the Hep C treatment, is still not well. Pam Africa stated that the call is release Mumia Abu-Jamal now. His present  attorney has been working on his case for 17 years. 

Alice Walker delivers one of many tongue in cheek comments about the absurdity of the prison system which she agrees with Dr. Davis (to the right of Pam Africa), needs to be abolished. Photo credit: Wanda Sabir

Angela Y. Davis closes the evening.
Jeff Mackler and Pam Africa look on.
Photo credit: Wanda Sabir