Assata Shakur:
I’m Assata Shakur. The first time I heard a tape of one of Mumia’s radio broadcasts, it was the first time I fully understood why the United States government was so intent on putting him to death. Mumia, the only African political prisoner on death row, didn’t use any inflammatory rhetoric. What he said was so clear, so true, that I had to stop everything and concentrate on his message.
Mumia Abu-Jamal: journalist, husband, father. He is brilliant. He has the ability to say what needs to be said in the clearest, most vivid way. His language, his strength and his intelligence remind me of one man: El-Hajj Malik Shabazz, otherwise known as Malcolm X. Mumia Abu-Jamal is a man who has truly carried on Malcolm’s tradition and the tradition of so many of our freedom fighters who have risked their lives for the freedom of our people.
This year, as I celebrated Malcolm’s birthday, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mumia. I couldn’t stop thinking about the man who has spent over 15 years on death row and remained strong, committed and beautiful. Mumia, political activist, revolutionary and humanist, has followed faithfully in Malcolm’s footsteps. We can feel Malcolm’s energy working through Mumia. We can feel Mumia’s energy carrying on Malcolm’s legacy.
If Malcolm X were alive today, I know he would be fighting to save Mumia’s life. If Malcolm were alive today, I know he would be fighting to free all political prisoners. In the name of Malcolm X, I make a special appeal to you, sisters and brothers, to fight tooth and nail to save Mumia’s life and to free him from the grips of his oppressors.
As you honor our forefathers and foremothers, I urge you to honor our living heroes. When you honor the names of Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman and Malcolm X, I urge you to honor the names of Geronimo Ji-Jaga, Sundiata Acoli, Mutulu Shakur and Mumia Abu-Jamal. I urge you not to forget and not to betray our living heroes. If we ignore their struggle, we are ignoring our own. If we betray our living history, then we are betraying ourselves.
We could not save Malcolm X, but we can save Mumia. We can save him, and we must save him, because we love our brother, and we need our brother to help us fight for freedom. Free Mumia Abu-Jamal. Free all political prisoners. Let us carry on our tradition to freedom.
These commentaries are recorded by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
