Un-dependance Day

No Independence for Innocent Political Detainees
Rally Decries 30+ Years of Unjust Detention for Mumia Abu Jamal

Philadelphia, PA

July 3, 2013

MOVE and other supporters of Mumia Abu Jamal rallied at 5th & Market Streets in Philadelphia on the eve of American Independence Day, to draw attention to the gross injustice against the political prisoner. While tourists from around the nation lined up to view the Liberty Bell a few hundred feet away, MOVE and Mumia supporters rallied in the 90 degree heat to draw attention to the irreparably broken Just-Us System, highlighting the case of Mumia. MOVE children, including some on skateboards, handed out literature to passersby on the case.

Using educational postcards handed to me by Pam Africa, I approached some of the tourists waiting to enter the Liberty Bell exhibit on the Mumia case. Many of the Asians did not speak English (or claimed not to), and eschewed the literature. A few--particularly young Caucasians--seemed genuinely interested when I reminded them that they were about to enter an exhibit symbolizing liberty, but that there was no liberty when journalists like Mumia could be held for exposing police brutality and governmental misdeeds.


The rally was supercharged by Pam Africa, spokesperson for International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal. In locks and khakis, she is a firebrand, affectionately called Queen Mother Pam, who worked tirelessly for over a decade for Mumia's freedom before it became cause célèbre. Seeing her reminded me how much I wished more Muslims had her consistency in working on political prisoner issues.


Pam Africa's sister, Ramona Africa, was a keynote speaker of the rally, calling powerfully for Mumia's freedom. Ramona is the sole survivor of the May 13, 1985 MOVE house bombing. On that day, a government helicopter bombed the MOVE house from the air—something one would expect in Bagdad, not in the Philadelphia neighborhood where it occurred. The attack killed five beautiful black children who were being raised in intact families and in accordance with MOVE’s holistic, self-reliant lifestyle, designed to instill self-pride and historical awareness in the children. The leader of the group, John Africa, was also murdered in the attack, as were a number of other adults. It is difficult to argue that the government’s aim was other than to terrorize and destroy the organization and its principles.

Short of stature but tall on courage, Ramona bears prominent scars on her forearms, testament to the fact that the government attempted to murder her and her entire extended family--for their espousal of a drug-free/alcohol free, self-sufficient, naturalist life style, which shunned subservience to the White Supremacist Power structure and honored all living beings. Incredibly, Ramona, after seeing so many of her family members perish in the resultant fire, remained undaunted and continued to speak forcefully for the release of the MOVE 9 (members of the MOVE organization captured in the government's long-running vendetta against the organization, and held political prisoner for decades), as well as for the freedom of Mumia Abu Jamal and others held unjustly by the U.S., usually for their political beliefs.


The July 3 rally was further addressed by Theresa Shoatz, daughter of Russell Maroon Shoatz. Russell Maroon Shoatz is a Black nationalist and political activist held by the U.S. government on concocted charges for over 30 years. Sr. Shoatz delivered what was perhaps the most poignant address of the gathering, saying that as long as her father was in solitary confinement, so remained her spirit in solitary; and that as long as her father was subjected to tasteless and nutritionally-devoid food presented by his captors, so tasted she only that horrid prison food.

Br. Shabazz, a representative of UNIA-ACL, spoke powerfully against the oppressive U.S. power structure. A Muslim woman who grew up in Mumia's neighborhood spoke on his integrity and strong stance for the rights of the oppressed even as a youth.


I was invited to the dais by Pam Africa, and had the privilege to speak on behalf of Jamaat al-Muslimeen. I offered solidarity to Mumia, reminded the Muslims and others in the audience that Islam was a faith which commanded its adherents to fight for justice and against oppression, and in particular to ally oneself with the struggle to free political prisoners ("Free the captive"). As an Asian and a Muslim, I apologized to the audience for the absence of "my people" from such vital actions, and the fact that their brainwashed status and alliance with the oppressive power structure would lead them to stand in long lines to view the Liberty Bell (at the very site--the original White House--where George Washington, owner of 316 slaves, had kept 9 of them!), rather than to stand up for a man--Mumia Abu Jamal--imprisoned solely for speaking the truth.


I lamented the failure of the Muslim community at large to come forth in the case of elderly Muslim cleric, hafiz-e-Quran, and political prisoner Dr. Omar Abdel Rahman at the time of his railroading on bogus terror/conspiracy charges, despite the fact that he was extremely well known and respected on the mosque speaking circuit, was entirely peaceful, and his criticisms were directed strictly at the dictatorship in Egypt (and against the looting of Egypt by American multinational corporations). The silence of the Muslim community in this very clear cut case of injustice--the effective live burial into the American Gulag of a blind, diabetic, Muslim elder and Qur'anic reciter, PhD from the most prestigious of Islamic universities, Al-Azhar--was, I said, a green light to the government to launch further broad spread attacks against the Muslim community, targeting anyone who was vulnerable or exhibited a measure of independent thinking. I ended with a prayer for the many political prisoners being held unjustly by the U.S.


A former Black Panther and Philadelphia journalist who reported on police brutality, Mumia has been held on very shoddy charges by the U.S. government for over 30 years, much of this on death row. Vast numbers of people have called for his release, including Hollywood celebrities and Nobel laureates, to no avail.


As I left the gathering, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I had just shared a dais with Pam and Ramona Africa. How many U.S. Muslims, faced with death, destruction of their families and their homes, and the long-term imprisonment of their family members--not for any wrongdoing, but for their beliefs and failure to succumb to the system--would respond with such patience, perseverance, and courage. It is the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims—a good time to reaffirm our commitment to the cause of the mustazafeen.

© 2013 By Nadrat Siddique

Just Another Day at the Islamic Center of DHS

As I was in DC today for a protest for political prisoners, I attended the juma'ah prayer inside the Islamic Center of Washington, DC, on Embassy Row. The Islamic Center is heavily attended by diplomats. Sitting in the room allocated to female congregants in its basement, viewing the sermon on a television, I couldn’t definitively identify the evidently Arab imam in red-checkered kaffiyah and white thobe. But at this Center, every imam is typically approved by the Saudi monarchy, if not actually handpicked by them. Evidently the khutbah was the third in a series he was doing on "sharia."



To me, he sounded like the Muslim equivalent of a New Ager. Or maybe a flower child. “Love everybody,” “turn the other cheek,” “fighting is bad, so eschew all fighting” were among the themes of his feel good khutbah which completely ignored the realities of imperialist war and the balance of power it imposed across the Muslim world.



As Dr. Siddique, who was with me, pointed out, “It’s extremely strange that he would be telling an audience of [U.S.] Muslims who aren’t killing anyone, to stop fighting and killing.”



I was particularly puzzled by the following statements the imam made:



"In Islam the emphasis is on the human being. The human must live a comfortable life."



But what of struggle, which is emphasized through a variety of different constructs throughout the Qur’an, I thought.



"The one who kills, as well as the one who is killed, will both be in the Hellfire.” (The imam attributed this to Sahih Muslim.)



I have a feeling this Hadith, which I am not familiar with, is only valid in a limited context, which he did not explain. It seems to equate the oppressed with the oppressor—something wholly contrary to Islamic teachings (or my understanding of them).



"Islam is a religion which is being accused of permitting killing. The only killing permitted in Islam is that done in retribution. If somebody kills, only then can he be put to death, and then only by the government. It is not up to the individual.”



What? But what if the government is run by occupiers or is a U.S. proxy government (running a Muslim country to the tune of the imperialists!), as is the case in Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. How then, would justice ever be attained?



"Even in the Battlefield of Islam, if someone says ‘as-salaam alaikom’ to you, you must stop fighting him. But look at what is happening in the Muslim countries.”



Although he did not spell it out, he seemed to be regurgitating the corporate media line that the Muslims fighting occupation in various countries are all a bunch of crazies bent on killing each other for no particular reason.



“In Islam there are strict rules of war. Allah tells us not to kill non-combatants, not to kill women, children, etc., and not to attack synagogues.”



I was filled with wonderment as to whom the khutbah was written to appease.



Then, finally toward the end, he churned out a statement which made sense: “Allah, in general, has prohibited killing without a purpose, even of animals. You may only kill an animal if you are going to eat it.”



As it seemed the khutbah was being recorded, the only conclusion this writer could reach was that it was meant for a larger audience. Hopefully his masters were pleased, and their budget justified.

Press Release: Toilet Re-Enactment Today

For immediate release

Date: February 6, 2013

Contact: Ms. Nadrat Siddique

Tel: (443) ***-**09

 

Toilet Re-enactment Today

Duane "Shorty" Davis, dubbed the "Towson Toilet Bomber," will lead a re-enactment of the February 2011 incident which led to his arrest and eventual political prosecution.

Background

Leading up to the case against him, Davis, a local anti-racism activist, left toilets outside the offices of public officials as a means of political protest. Only government figures he believed to be corrupt and in violation of the rights of the ordinary citizen received toilets.

Bernstein, Shellenberger, O’Malley, Young, and Welsh were among the recipients.

The toilets--personalized for each government official--were decorated with news clippings, photos and other trim. Davis left dozens of such toilets--donated by friends and supporters--outside the offices of designated officials. Only one--gifted to Assistant States Attorney Shellenberger--earned him such an extreme reaction from security, and then police, that he was arrested.

Davis was ultimately brought to trial on two counts: 1) Leaving an explosive device in front of a courthouse; and 2) Leaving a a phony explosive device in front of a courthouse. He was held for three months without bond. He went to trial in August 2011, and was aquitted of all charges. In the process however, he lost his business, his truck, his computer, and a plethora of electronic equipment. Although he has petitioned for the return of the property, his efforts have fell upon deaf ears.

Details of Re-enactment

Today's re-enactment will be a symbolic walk around the Towson Courthouse perimeter, and a recounting of the February 2011 incident. It will begin at the fountain at 12 noon. The event will highlight the need to protect and preserve essential freedoms in the U.S., in particular: artistic freedom; freedom of speech; freedom from oppression; freedom from judicial corruption and fraud; and freedom from police state terrorism.

Letter from A F James MacArthur

MacArthur

#2335662

300 E. Madison Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

 

28 December 2012

 

Dear Sister Nadrat,

 

I want to thank you for all that you’re doing for the cause of freedom. My adversaries are relentless. They had no idea there would be so many in my corner.

 

A passage from Scripture comes to mind. When Elisha the Prophet and his young servant were literally surrounded by a heavily armed enemy, the servant was afraid. After the servant asked him, “What shall we do?” the Prophet reassured him. “Do not be afraid for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)

 

By the way, my handwriting is not the greatest, so you’ll bear with me as I struggle to communicate via an archaic method I have little practice in.

 

Also, be advised, while your letter is postmarked 17 December, I did not receive it till late last night, the 27^th. Thank you so much for the gift. I will put it to good use. I’m desperately out of basic supplies of paper, stamps and envelopes. I really want to communicate with everyone fighting to keep my case and my cause relevant. Spread my address around.

 

One of the goals of my adversaries is to stretch things out as much as possible in hopes of thinning out and making weary my supporters. They are employing a whole host of dirty tricks, this is not about justice.

 

I saw you on Fox 45, and you are 100% correct! This is about retribution, plain and simple. There’s a vendetta against me. Well orchestrated tyranny.

 

I was also able to catch a snippet of you on TV during the protest rally for my freedom. Nadrat, I just can’t thank you enough. You have clearly articulated the massive injustices I’m currently being subjected to.

 

Tell your Dad I said hello. I think I briefly made eye contact with him at the bail review hearing. Did I?

 

You should know, I’m deeply saddened by the complete lack of justice or fairness given to me by the court today. But truly, I’m not surprised. Not in the least bit. With the kind of investigative work I’ve done, little surprises me anymore.

 

I’m quite pleased you’ve appreciated the work I did with the Baltimore Spectator. There’s been a conspiracy for some time now, and numerous attempts to kill the Baltimore Spectator. In their eyes, I was becoming too popular, too powerful!

 

One day, God willing (inshallah), when this is all over, I hope to be able to sit down and spend time with you and your Dad. There’s so much more I know that I never got the chance to report on.

 

My dear sister Nadrat, I must beg of you to keep praying for me. The protection of the Almighty is all I have. This ordeal could take a while. A great evil has now taken over our city and state officials, and my total destruction, including physical death, is their ultimate intention. We are merely in the preliminary phases. But I am not afraid. Come what may, my soul is prepared.

 

There are good days and there are bad days for me in here. With such little intellectual stimulation available (no library, books, newspapers, etc), it’s a tortured existence for a thinking man. Please send clippings, photocopies, or printouts of articles and news stories.

 

Continued communications with wonderful people like yourself is part of my only link to sanity. A lifeline if you will. So please do write back. Tell the others to write to me, too, even if it’s just a short note to say hi. I respond back to every letter received.

 

As you may imagine, mentally I’m often drained and fatigued by my circumstance, but on the flip side, I can feel my stores of wisdom increasing daily. My mind is becoming stronger stronger. God is so amazing, that for believers, even when man plots to do us evil, God can convert it for our good.

 

For now, I really don’t have that much more to say. I want to thank you and everyone else for such an awesome showing of support in court today. It was amazing! And for the ongoing and continued support you have shown.

 

By the Grace of God and through his strength, I shall endure to the end.

 

Peace and love to you,

 

MacArthur

The Baltimore Spectator