On Dec. 9, 1981, Philadelphia Police arrested Mumia Abu-Jamal for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner. Twenty-eight years later, the movement to clear Abu-Jamal of the charges is more resilient than ever.
On Friday, March 5, countless individuals filled the Kate Buchanan Room to participate in the Social Justice Summit, “Liberating Paradigms.” The MultiCultural Center and Associated Students organized the event with the Black Student Union and the Women’s Center. Students were eligible to take the seminar for one unit of course credit.
The amount of information was overwhelming but essential. Resilience and passion for life was heard in the voice of Pam Africa, one of the keynote speakers. “The power of the people is what we came here to unleash,” said Africa.
Africa is the coordinator of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the objective of which is the immediate release of Abu-Jamal. She is one of two survivors of the 1985 bombing of the MOVE headquarters by Philadelphia Police. Africa still acts as an advocate for MOVE and is a central figure in the campaign to free of Abu-Jamal.
The goal of MOVE is to put an end the enslavement of all living things. “We will not stand by and allow you to kill another innocent person,” said Africa. At the request of Africa, the entire auditorium rose to show its support for Abu-Jamal.“You must continue to resist," said Africa. “You are not defeated until you stop.”
A founding member of the Black Panther Party, Abu-Jamal is a distinguished journalist who continues to write from solitary confinement. Since receiving a death sentence in 1983, he has written six books, such as "Live from Death Row" and "We Want Freedom," which are available in nine languages. At the summit, Africa said that Abu-Jamal is an honorary citizen of Paris, and French educational institutions require students to learn his story.
Near the end of the two-hour seminar, Africa stood on stage and spoke of how you must stand up for civil rights. As she spoke, small postcards were distributed. Addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder, each postcard was a petition asking for a civil rights investigation into the death sentence of Abu-Jamal. HSU student Jessica Sosa said, “I am so used to speeches with PowerPoint.” The film major went on to say, "She is there to make you listen.”
The summit was an opportunity for concerned students to assemble in an open dialogue about current injustices that impact citizens. The environment inspired students like sociology major Alma Barba. “I see this event as a movement to make people aware,” she said.
For more information on the Mumia Abu-Jamal case visit
www.freemumia.comor
www.millions4mumia.org.
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