Mumia Abu-Jamal is one of the longest standing political prisoners in the United States. On December 9, 1981, Mumia was shot and beaten by police, then arrested and imprisoned in Philadelphia on the accusation of killing a police officer. Months later, he was unjustly charged for the murder based on manufactured and false evidence and given the death penalty. Mumia Abu-Jamal has spent the last 40 years in a U.S. prison, almost 30 of them in solitary confinement on death row.
In the past two years, new evidence has emerged showing the prosecution paid the two main witnesses and engaged in other misconducts, but the courts have refused to allow the evidence.
From prison, Mumia has continued his work as a revolutionary journalist, standing with poor, working, and oppressed people around the world in the fight against imperialist wars, racism, and oppression. Below is his recorded greeting to the Workers’ Summit of the Americas.
For more information on Mumia’s case and to get involved in the struggle for his freedom, please visit: www.BringMumiaHome.com
Message From Political Prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal to the Workers' Summit of the Americas
Greetings from Mumia Abu-Jamal to the Workers’ Summit of the Americas in Tijuana, Mexico( June 10-12, 2022)
My brothers, sisters and comrades in Tijuana, I welcome you, delegates of the excluded. People from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and beyond.
Many of you come from poor nations, countries with relatively low GDP, like Cuba, for example, which has a GDP roughly equal to Ghana. As I write from the richest nation on earth, I have to add that I also write from a nation that cannot protect its own children. See the ugly massacre in Texas, where 19 babies were slain in an elementary school, while cops filled the halls.
Here, tens of thousands of former students can’t afford to pay their loans to schools and colleges. Again, look at Cuba, where people can go from kindergarten to medical school for free. And not just Cubans. Students can go to medical school in Cuba, even if they aren’t from Cuba. And remember, Cuba isn’t a rich country. It does what it does because it dedicates its resources ( medicine) to public service.
What does it matter if America with all its riches, couldn’t prevent the deaths of 1 million people because of COVID-19? In fact, you can go to any ghetto in America and see hunger and poverty. People who live in food deserts, people who are homeless. You’ll also find the greatest level of imprisonment in the world.
So why should poor nations listen to rich nations? What do they have to teach us? Racism, class strife, violent cops, corrupt politicians, greedy businessmen, and militarism. The poor and excluded of the world have only each other. If we work in solidarity, we surely can do better. Thank you, muchas gracias.
With love, not fear, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
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