Prison Radio
Mumia Abu-Jamal

“Using Los Ninos for a wall.”

The wail of babies rips like a knife through millions of hearts. Children scared, alone, torn from their mothers, weep and wail as their families try to enter Fortress America. Families are split asunder as the security states of America handcuff parents and encage children.

Decades of demonization of Hispanic immigrants now married to the hyper hyperbole of a presidential campaign born in criminalization of Mexicans has led to this chilling unholy moment. It could lead to nowhere else. Campaigns that trade in fear can only lead to tears, for a foolish madcap wall now being used as a bargaining chip children and infants are reduced to tears, none of us should be surprised.

This is the cold face of politics, but politics based on fear of the other, fear of brown faces, fear of an emerging youthful community, while Americans face a declining birth rate and an opioid addicted suicide rate that surpasses the nation’s murder rate.

The anxieties of the old causes fear and tears in the hearts of children. We need to tear down France’s gift, the Statue of Liberty. It no longer fits the nation we live in: a nation made in fear, raised on racist hatred, truly deserves a wall, for their hearts already shielded behind brick, steel, and barbed wire fences.

From imprisoned nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.

These commentaries recorded by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.