[Ppnews] Video Essay: April 19 Phila. Demo for Mumia!

[Political Prisoner News]

<http://insubordination.blogspot.com/2008/04/photovideo-essay-on-april-19-mumia-demo.html>http://insubordination.blogspot.com/2008/04/photovideo-essay-on-april-19-mumia-demo.html
   PHOTO/VIDEO essay: April 19 Phila. Demo for Mumia!

Outraged by the March 27 denial of a new guilt phase trial for Mumia, over
1,000 gathered at the Federal Courthouse, circled the Liberty Bell, and
marched to City Hall, where speakers included Cynthia McKinney, Julia
Wright, and Harold Wilson.

By Hans Bennett

Abu-Jamal-News.com

This is a photo-essay from the April 19 demonstration in 
Philadelphia, supporting death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, whom 
many consider to be a political prisoner. The demonstration of over 
1,000 people was a response to the recent Third Circuit Court ruling 
denying a new guilt-phase trial.

The demonstration started at the Federal Courthouse, which is just 
across the street from the Liberty Bell, in downtown Philadelphia.

After gathering at the courthouse for several hours, protesters 
marched around the Liberty Bell, where they ran into an anti-Mumia 
counter demonstration displaying signs with such assertions as "Fry 
Mumia and His Supporters."

As detailed in a 
<http://www.oppforum.com/images/mumiarallyflyer.pdf>flyer released 
before the April 19 Mumia demonstration in Philadelphia, and an 
<http://onepeoplesproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1361&Itemid=2>article 
at the anti-racist One People's Project website, there was a 
counter-protest across the street from the Liberty Bell during the 
April 19 Mumia demonstration, that was organized by the racist 
"Keystone State Skinheads" group (KSS) and other fascists.

The KSS are staunch advocates of Mumia's execution. 
<http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/22/18494554.php>Photos on 
the KSS website feature KSS member Keith Carney at the Maureen 
Faulkner book signing last December at Geno's Steaks, an 
establishment now famous for their "This is America, Speak English" 
sign on the front window. Carney was recently released from prison 
after his conviction for assaulting a black man. He now attempts to 
present a public image that is less overtly racist by replacing 
racial slurs with phrases like "welfare mother" and "drug-dealer," as 
illustrated by the shirt he is wearing in the photo at Geno's, which 
reads "Kill Your Local Drug Dealer."

After confronting the racist counter-protest, the march then 
proceeded to Philadelphia City Hall. After circling City Hall several 
times and occupying the street in front of the building at 15th and 
Market, protesters gathered at City Hall's Northwest corner and heard 
many speakers including Cynthia McKinney, Julia Wright, Herman 
Ferguson, Harold Wilson, and Mumia's daughter, Goldi.

In all, this major event lasted from 10am to 3:30pm and drew well 
over one thousand protesters, according to the Philadelphia Metro 
Newspaper. The event marked the release of the new Journalists for 
Mumia newspaper, at which over 2,000 copies were given out to 
protesters and other interested pedestrians throughout the day.

Please stay tuned for my new video documenting the day. Along with 
footage of the many speakers, the video will feature exclusive 
interviews that I got with Veronica Jones, Goldi (Mumia's daughter), 
and exonerated former death-row prisoner Shujaa Graham.

Check out our new paper at: 
<http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/docs/ajn2.pdf>http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/docs/ajn2.pdf

http://Abu-Jamal-News.com



All work by photojournalist Hans Bennett
<mailto:hbjournalist at gmail.com>hbjournalist at gmail.com 
www.insubordination.blogspot.com
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