Mumia Abu-Jamal has been a political prisoner for over four decades. The former Black Panther and award-winning journalist was originally sentenced to death, following his framing for the shooting of a Philadelphia policeman, with this later commuted to life imprisonment. Mumia’s commitment to political struggle has continued from behind bars, with his written and spoken words in solidarity with Palestine, against racism, and in opposition to US imperialism resonating widely.
Now Mumia’s health and dignity are in grave danger. His vision, previously strong enough to read clearly with glasses, deteriorated to 20/200, the threshold of legal blindness. Pressure from community activists ensured that Mumia had post-cataract surgery on 4 September. This means he can now see clearly from his left eye. However, he still needs surgery on the right eye and ongoing help for retinopathy which can cause blindness without treatment. We need to keep the pressure up!
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC) continues to delay at every stage. They have known about Mumia’s condition for months, but instead of urgent action, they postponed care, only moving when put under sustained pressure from outside.
This is not an isolated mistake. Mumia’s medical needs have been mishandled before, from a diabetic crisis triggered by mismanaged medication in 2015 to years of delay in treating his hepatitis C. We must not allow this cruelty to continue. Mumia deserves care, respect, and the chance to live without unnecessary suffering.
Mumia’s supporters in the US, Britain and internationally are organising around the following demands:
- Provide immediate surgery under the supervision of his independent ophthalmologist.
- Grant full medical access to his doctor, Dr. Ricardo Alvarez, and his legal team.
- Ensure transparency and accountability – release all medical records.
- Free Mumia Now!
Please contact the PA DOC, elected officials, and media outlets. Share this message widely. Together, we can protect Mumia’s sight and affirm his right to humane care.
See here for sample script when calling or emailing, and for updates on Mumia’s ongoing battle for decent healthcare:
For ways to support Mumia in Britain email [email protected]
