On Saturday 24th April 2021 the North and East London branch Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Supporters Group organised a protest and speak out on the birth day of Mumia Abu Jamal, the Black Panther and US prisoner for over 38 years, twenty of which he spent on death row, for the alleged killing of a Philadelphia police officer in 1981. Mumia is unwell at this time and there are international mobilisations for his release. The event was co-hosted by the Free Mumia Abu Jamal Defence Campaign – UK and Papua Militant International. The protest also demanded freedom for ALL political prisoners – both internationally and in Britain.
The location of the speak out was Dalston, Hackney where the branch has been holding street stalls since August 2019 and is known to the community. The protest occupied the public space in front of the market with leaflets, banners, graphics, placards and flags and a sound system making a colourful and high energy protest for over three hours. Two new, large and beautiful banners for ‘Break the Chains’ had pride of place.
On the day, around 80 people attended and there was always a local audience. Representatives from around 11 campaigns / groups attended and there were nineteen speeches on the open mic. They included,
- The Free Mumia Abu Jamal Defence Campaign – UK.
- Papua Militant International.
- People’s Front of Turkey.
- XR Islington.
- Free Kevan Thakrar.
- Women of Colour / Crossroads Women’s Centre.
- Free Julian Assange Campaign.
- Students not Consumers.
- Earth Strike North of the River.
- Peruvian Political Prisoners.
- North London Hunt Saboteurs / stop the anti-trespass laws. This speaker also spoke about the record of the police in Hackney and the death of Colin Roach in Stoke Newington police station in 1983.
- There was a speech about Leonard Peltier and Amandla Kitson spoke about the ANC and struggle against Apartheid.
We had statements to read from:
- Collectif Palestine Vaincra – a group from Toulouse, France who sent an audio statement in solidarity with our event and highlighting Georges Abdullah, Lebanese communist and the longest held political prisoner in Europe.
- A message from Brendan McConville who is in his 13th year in Maghaberry Prison, north of Ireland and part of the Justice 4 the Craigavon 2 campaign.
- A message of solidarity from Charlotte Kates of Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network.
RCG speakers contributed on:
- The Revolutionary Communist Group’s history of solidarity with Irish Political prisoners.
- Free Basque political prisoners and free Pablo Hasel.
- Free Kurdish Political Prisoners
- Close Guantanamo Bay and end the US blockade of Cuba.
- Free Issam Hijjawi and the Saoradh 9.
The whole event was framed within ‘Kill the Bill’ and the ‘right to protest’. There was a strong feeling of international solidarity throughout the day.
At the end there was a photo in solidarity with socialist Cuba as part of the international campaign against the US blockade.
