| *This Saturday September 11th, the Hip Hop community will be stepping forth in an attempt to bring more attention to the plight of Mumia Abu Jamal. Mumia as many should know, is a journalist who was convicted of murdering a Philadelphia police officer named Daniel Faulkner back in 1982. He's been sitting on Pennsylvania's Death Row for almost 19 years. The circumstances surrounding Mumia's trial and conviction has been controversial. Many are proclaiming his innocence and that Mumia is a political prisoner. There are many who feel that there was a lot of crucial evidence that was suppressed at his trial and that he was railroaded through the justice system because of his outspoken views on police brutality, his support of a political nationalist group called MOVE and the fact that he was a former member of the Black Panthers. In recent years support for Mumia has picked up as many have come to see him as a symbol of resistance for the continued building of the Prison Industrial Complex. Mumia's insightful commentaries and writings have helped people focus on the growing trend in America to build more prison and less schools. The concept of rehabilitation has all but been abandoned as a goal for these new human warehouses. Many of these new prisons are being run by private corporations who are now contracting out inmates to work for literally pennies a day for major companies. Recently a list was put out showing companies ranging from Eddie Bauer to Toy R Us as using some form of prison labor. Many are looking at all these new prisons as being the modern day slave camps with a disproportionate number of Black and Brown folks filling the cells. Mumia supporters in addition to demanding a new trial for Mumia, have been trying to prevent a death warrant from being signed and combatting the growing Prison Industrial Complex. This weekend a number of rallies will be held around the country to help bring more attention to his situation. As of now he has just about run out of appeals and there's a strong likelihood a death warrant will soon be signed. Entitled 'The National Day of Art', In New York City groups like Black Star, Channel Live, Dead Prez, Grand Royal, Survival Sounds and Ricanstruction will perform at Thoughtforms which is located on 59 Franklin Street in Manhattan. The event is being sponsored by BLU Magazine. In Norfolk Virginia, an array of artists and poets will be throwing down at Dominion Amphitheater Park. The Zulu Nation, Free Mumia Coalition, Friends Of Move and Positive Vibes Ent is sponsoring this event. Here in the Bay Area groups like Michael Franti and Spearhead, The Coup, Digital Underground along with Michelle N'Dagacello and activist Angela Davis will come together for a free concert at Delores Park in San Francisco. A few thousand are expected to show up.. The event kicks off this Saturday at 1pm.. While all this is taking place, the Fraternal Order Of Police are busy at work retaliating. They are in earnest belief that Faulkner was murdered in cold blood and have taken a strong dislike to all the artist and celebrities coming out to support Mumia. As a result they have been calling for a boycott. Thus far artist like Chuck D, De La Soul, Everlast and The Roots are the target of a police boycott. There's also a long list of rock singers who are also being targeted. While it may be ok to protest and show objection to one's political and social beliefs, a more serious question gets raised with this so called 'police boycott'. Does this mean that the above named artist will be subject to police harassment? Remember this is what happened to artist like Naughty By Nature when they decided to sue the NY police department. For a full year they were constantly being stopped and bothered by police. It happened so much to the point that group member Vinnie said he would seriously have to think twice about traveling that road again. Does it mean that when these groups come to town that trouble will break out at their concerts? Or will the police use their influence and discourage venues from booking these artists. Here in the Bay Area many rap artists find themselves under the gun of local police departments who have successfully kept them out out of numerous venues. Most notably is The Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountainview, Ca which is home to KMEL's large urban/rap concert called Summer Jam. All in all it looks like the stakes are rising and the FOP may be using the boycotts as a sort of intimidation tactic to slow the momentum and discourage support for Mumia. We'll keep you posted as all this continues. |