Mumia Abu Jamal Denied New Trail!

NPR Journalist Mumia Abu Jamal

This weekend United States Members of the Congressional Black Caucus visited Cuba as President Obama ponders opening travel to the Communist State. This is long overdue as the United States has long ago opened trade with both Communist China and Vietnam. It is just not pragmatic to continue a blockade after the Soviets have disintegrated. I believe firmly that if trade was to open and travel was to be allowed to Cuba that this was be the death knell of the so called Communist state.

But on Monday, April 6, 2009 one day after Palm Sunday and three days after the horrible massacre in New York, I find myself vexed. What about the real justice? JUSTICE! Remember that word and what it means?

Mumia Abu Jamal was denied a new trail by the Supreme Court. While this was not unexpected it is tragic. There are enough inequalities in the original trail known years ago to warrant it. We know about COINTELPRO and what it did to the Panthers and other political movements in 1960's and 70's. I believe that there are still people imprisoned unfairly today who should have been released decades ago. Some have, one way or another. Albert "Nuh" Bell has passed on. William Brent has gone into the great rest as well. Elmer Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt has been released for almost a decade now.

But now that Cuba may open what of the forgotten ones here? Marshall Eddie Conway still resides in a Baltimore Prison, the evidence of COINTELPRO tampering is still strong. What about Assatta Shukur? Can she get Justice in America? There was evidence that she was innocent in 1973 yet still she was convicted and I do not believe that the American Congress has the spine to stand up for what is fair and right.

God Mama of Cuba Hip Hop/Poet Activist Nehanda Abiodun

I hope to be proven wrong. Obama, a Black Man was elected to the Presidency! Something that I never thought I would be privy to see in my lifetime so anything is possible. Praise God! (IAM)

Yet, what about Assata? What about Nehanda Abiodun, an Acupuncturist, political activist and Black Liberation Army member? What about her? She too resides in exile. She too is accused of crimes? Armored car vehicle robberies and aiding in the escape of Assata Shukur.

Will Americans allow them to be dragged back to America when their Cuban benefactors show themselves to be the capitalists they truly want to be? What about Justice? What about Fairness? These folks have received neither.

It would seem that we, including all too many political activists, who in their youth stood alongside of these people have forgotten or simply decided that the war is lost and they might as well have sold out. Some probably have. They forgot their friends behind the walls and across the ocean. The wrote and sold books and tshirts talking about the sixties as if what had occurred was over and done.

Baltimore Black Panther Party Leader Marshall "Eddie" Conway

What about Eddie? What about Nehanda and Mutulu? What about Mumia?

Maybe you feel that they are just bank robbers and cop killers and don't deserve anymore than a jail cell or worse. But Americans are supposed to care about Justice and Fairness. It's supposed to be in our DNA. Will you sleep knowing that you didn't do everything to make sure that Justice and Fairness was achieved? Don't allow yourself to sleep any longer not knowing for sure if these folks are truly innocent or guilty! Don't go any further if they just happened to support politics you don't like. This is not politics! JUSTICE NEVER IS!

Will You? Think on that?

BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!

Jaycee