Happy Birthday Mumia Abu Jamal

“Do you see law and order? There is nothing but disorder, and instead of law there is the illusion of security. It is an illusion because it is built on a long history of injustices: racism, criminality, and the genocide of millions. Many people say it is insane to resist the system, but actually, it is insane not to” - Mumia Abu Jamal

(Mumia Abu Jamal)

Mumia Abu Jamal was born as Wesley Cook on April 24th, 1954 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Cook was given the name “Mumia” by his high school teacher in 1968 and the meaning of it is “Prince” and was the name of Kenyan anti colonial African nationalists who fought against the British. In 1968 Cook was beaten by White police officers, and this inspired him to join the Black Panther Party. He helped form the Philadelphia branch of the Black Panther Party with Defense Captain Reggie Schell. Cook became the "Lieutenant of Information", exercising a responsibility for writing information and news communications.

(Abu Jamal in 1968)

From 1969 to 1970 Cook lived in Oakland, CA to work with other branches of the Black Panther Party. Cook was subjected to FBI COINTELPRO surveillance in 1970. He then attended Goddard College in Vermont. In 1971 Cook adopted the Arabic name “Abu Jamal” after his 1st son, Jamal, was born and it means “Father of Jamal”.

(Abu Jamal (Bottom) with his son (Top))

In 1973 Abu Jamal got married. In 1975 Abu Jamal pursued a vocation of radio newscasting. Abu Jamal was later divorced and remarried in 1977. During his broadcasting career he interviewed Julius Erving, Bob Marley and Alex Haley. In 1981 a police officer had stopped Abu Jamal’s younger brother and Abu Jamal approached the officer and his brother, then Abu Jamal was shot in the stomach by the officer. Abu Jamal returned fire and shot the cop twice, killing him. Abu Jamal was then charged for the murder of the officer in 1982.

(Abu Jamal in 1982)

The prosecution presented 6 witnesses while the defence presented 9 witnesses. Abu Jamal was proven guilty for 1st degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1989 direct appeal of his conviction was denied. In 1995 Abu Jamal’s death warrant was signed by the Pennsylvania governor. Also in 1995, he was punished with solitary confinement for engaging in entrepreneurship contrary to prison regulations.

(Abu Jamal in 1995)

In 1999 2 men claimed they killed the officer and not Abu Jamal, but the claim was seen as not credible. Also in 1999, he was invited to record a keynote address for the graduating class at The Evergreen State College. In 2008, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rejected a further request from Abu Jamal for a hearing into claims that the trial witnesses perjured themselves. In 2011 the prosecution dropped the death penalty for Abu Jamal. In 2012 the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rejected his most recent appeal for retrial. Also in 2012 he was released into general prison population at State Correctional Institution Mahanoy. In 2015 Abu Jamal became sick due to malnutrition from the prison.

(Abu Jamal in 2015)

Today he turns 63 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Mumia Abu Jamal.

Videos featuring Mumia Abu Jamal

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TRiagyOYiw  “Mumia Abu-Jamal: "The United States is Fast Becoming One of the Biggest Open-Air Prisons on Earth"   
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRGFZ1eLJO4  “From Death Row, Mumia Abu Jamal (1/3)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri4hKUR_QgQ  “From Death Row, Mumia Abu Jamal (2/3)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va8cp-VQCRQ  “From Death Row, Mumia Abu Jamal (3/3)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjhLeHrWVb8  “KRS ONE - FREE MUMIA