Photos of April 19 Mumia Demo in 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.