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<b>N'COBRA <br>
NATIONAL COALITION OF BLACKS FOR REPARATIONS IN AMERICA <br>
NATIONAL OFFICE <br><br>
</b>CO-CHAIRPERSON <br>
Baba Hannibal T. Afrik <br><br>
<b>PRESS STATEMENT <br><br>
</b>For Immediate Use: 11/22/04 <br>
Contact: Baba Hannibal Afrik <br>
601.535.7551 <br><br>
"DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO WIN: N'COBRA SUPPORTS ATTORNEY CHOKWE
LUMUMBA" <br><br>
Brother Chokwe Lumumba is known throughout the country as "The
People's Lawyer' because of his valiant stand against racial, social and
economic injustice for over three decades. With pride and skill, he has
not only protected human rights on the street, but he has championed the
same in the courts. <br><br>
After graduating with honors from Wayne State University Law School in
1975, Chokwe served as co-counsel and a plaintiff in a successful
anti-racism lawsuit against Wayne State Law School in 1979. Over the
years, he has consistently distinguished himself as a talented and
proficient legal practitioner, even under the duress of defending
controversial defendants including the 16 Pontiac Prison Brothers, Assata
Shakur, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Fulani Sunni Ali and Bilal Sunni Ali among
many others. <br><br>
As a Mississippi lawyer, Chokwe has represented African American workers
in numerous race and sex discrimination cases throughout the state. He
has organized and sponsored several youth programs which have inspired
young people to become activists and leaders both in school and
athletics. He is the founder and director of the renowned Jackson Panther
Basketball Organization which has won medals and trophies in city, state,
regional and national competitions. <br><br>
Despite his courtroom accomplishments, efforts have been continuously
made by racist lawyers and judges to silence his defense of his
defendants by filing false charges of alleged "misconduct". On
October 17, 2001, Judge Marcus Gordon of the Leake County Circuit Court
in Carthage, MS held Brother Lumumba in contempt and jailed him for
challenging the judge's vindictive and unfair handling of the case of
43-year old Henry Payton, charged with bank robbery, kidnapping and arson
in May 1996, which was later overturned. <br><br>
However, during the retrial, Gordon again demonstrated his animosity
towards Payton and Lumumba. On several occasions, Gordon ruled against
Atty. Lumumba who was protesting against the biased jury pool selection
process because almost every juror admitted prior knowledge about the
case. Eventually, Gordon tried the case vindictively and excessively
sentenced Payton despite being presented with legal precedent which held
that such a sentence was improper. <br><br>
Consequently, Lumumba was held in contempt and jailed when he challenged
Gordon for his unfair handling of this matter. The Mississippi Bar
Association joined the judge in his attack on Lumumba by filing formal
charges against him and charging that he is unfit to practice law in
Mississippi. <br><br>
Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Mississippi Bar has
attacked Brother Chokwe for defending his client vigorously. In 1999, the
Bar reprimanded Lumumba for challenging an infamous, ultra-conservative,
right-wing Hinds County Circuit Court Judge, Swen Yerger. In fact, in
1990, officials of the Mississippi Bar Association unsuccessfully
attempted to prevent Chokwe from receiving a license to practice law in
Mississippi because of his political beliefs and his stellar reputation
for fighting for the legal rights of his clients. <br><br>
Yet, Attorney Lumumba has refused to be silent or submissive in the face
of his career's major battle. The Mississippi Supreme Court will now
conduct a final hearing on charges by the Mississippi Bar Association for
legal disbarment on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, 9:00am at 450 High Street
in Jackson, MS. <br><br>
The community will hold a series of events to demonstrate our support of
"The People's Lawyer". <br><br>
Sunday, December 5, 2004, 5:00pm a mass rally will be held at Tougaloo
College with national organizational representatives in attendance.
<br><br>
On the day of the hearing, December 7th, a public rally will be held in
front of the Mississippi State Supreme Court Building beginning at
8:00am. These educational rallies will demonstrate the importance of
standing up for a legal freedom fighter who has always stood up for our
human rights. <br><br>
The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N'COBRA)
proudly stands with Attorney Chokwe Lumumba in his principled, courageous
professional service against the horrors of modern-day lynching in the
judicial system. On record, Frederick Douglass stated that "If there
is no struggle, there can be no progress". We must mobilize in the
neighborhoods, churches, professional organizations and demand that the
Mississippi Supreme Court dismiss the unjust charges against Atty.
Lumumba. <br><br>
For further information: <br>
Call: 601.353.4455 or <br>
Email:
</font><font size=3 color="#003399"><b>Freelumumba@aol.com</font><font size=3>
<br><br>
</b>Donations are needed and can be sent to:<br>
<br>
P0 Box 31762, <br>
Jackson, MS 39286. <br><br>
Let us not forget: <br>
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. <br><br>
Chokwe Lumumba has earned the respect and support of the entire
community, We shall prevail! <br><br>
N'COBRA <br>
P.O. Box 90604 <br>
Washington, D.C. 20090-0604 <br>
202)291-8400 <br>
fax: (2O2)291-4600 <br>
</font><font size=3 color="#003399"><a href="http://www.NCOBRA.org">http://www.NCOBRA.org</a></font><font size=3>
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