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U.S. | Police State and Prisons | Racial Justice

Photos of April 19 Mumia Demo in Philadelphia
by Hans Bennett
Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
This is a photo-essay from the April 19 demonstration in Philadelphia, supporting death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, whom many consider to be a political prisoner. The demonstration of over 1,000 people was a response to the recent Third Circuit Court ruling denying a new guilt-phase trial.
fedcourthouse.jpg
fedcourthouse.jpg

The demonstration started at the Federal Courthouse, which is just across the street from the Liberty Bell, in downtown Philadelphia.

After gathering at the courthouse for several hours, protesters marched around the Liberty Bell, where they ran into an anti-Mumia counter demonstration displaying signs with such assertions as "Fry Mumia and His Supporters."

As detailed in a flyer released before the April 19 Mumia demonstration in Philadelphia, and an article at the anti-racist One People's Project website, there was a counter-protest across the street from the Liberty Bell during the April 19 Mumia demonstration, that was organized by the racist “Keystone State Skinheads” group (KSS) and other fascists.

The KSS are staunch advocates of Mumia's execution. Photos on the KSS website feature KSS member Keith Carney at the Maureen Faulkner book signing last December at Geno’s Steaks, an establishment now famous for their “This is America, Speak English” sign on the front window. Carney was recently released from prison after his conviction for assaulting a black man. He now attempts to present a public image that is less overtly racist by replacing racial slurs with phrases like “welfare mom” and “drug-dealer,” as illustrated by the shirt he is wearing in the photo at Geno’s, which reads “Kill Your Local Drug Dealer.”

After confronting the racist counter-protest, the march then proceeded to Philadelphia City Hall. After circling City Hall several times and occupying the street in front of the building at 15th and Market, protesters gathered at City Hall's Northwest corner and heard many speakers including Cynthia McKinney, Julia Wright, Herman Ferguson, Harold Wilson, and Mumia's daughter, Goldi.

In all, this major event lasted from 10am to 3:30pm and drew well over one thousand protesters, according to the Philadelphia Metro Newspaper. The event marked the release of the new Journalists for Mumia newspaper, at which over 2,000 copies were given out to protesters and other interested pedestrians throughout the day.

Please stay tuned for my new video documenting the day. Along with footage of the many speakers, the video will feature exclusive interviews that I got with Veronica Jones, Goldi (Mumia's daughter), and exonerated former death-row prisoner Shujaa Graham.

At the federal courthouse
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
fedcourthouse2.jpg
fedcourthouse2.jpg

Circling th Liberty Bell
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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misc3.jpg

Circling the Liberty Bell
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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misc5.jpg

Circling the Liberty Bell
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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misc6.jpg

Veroinca Jones interviewed at Liberty Bell
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
veronica_jones.jpg
veronica_jones.jpg

Stolen Lives
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
stolenlives.jpg
stolenlives.jpg

Fry Mumia and his supporters?
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
kss3_1.jpg
kss3_1.jpg

Racist Skinheads.
Police Surveilance
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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kss4.jpg

KSS' Keith Carney and friends
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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ksskarney_1.jpg

Carney is on the left, in the blue shirt
Marching to City Hall
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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misc.jpg

Approaching City Hall
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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misc2.jpg

Pam Africa says "Read Abu-Jamal News"
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
pam.jpg
pam.jpg

Africa holds Journalists for Mumia newspaper during a stop along the way to City Hall. Market Street onlookers were very interested in the event, and accepted many newspapers
City Hall
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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cityhall.jpg

Dancing in the Streets
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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cityhall3.jpg

At City Hall, looking west
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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clothespin.jpg

Goldi, Mumia's daughter
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
goldi.jpg
goldi.jpg

Towards the end of rally, many spoke on the loudspeaker.
Harold Wilson speaks
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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haroldwilson2.jpg

Exonerated, former death-row prisoner Harold Wilson was at the same prison as Mumia and is his friend. Wilson was granted a new trial because of the Batson issue of racist jury selection in Phila, and was released at the new trial based on DNA evidence.
Julia Wright
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
juliawright.jpg
juliawright.jpg

The daughter of author Richard Wright, Julia traveled from France for the event.
Cynthia McKinney and other Green candidates
by Hans Bennett Tuesday Apr 22nd, 2008 5:51 PM
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mckinney2.jpg