Mumia Remembers Dr. Johanna Fernandez; NOL Activists Speak Against ICE & Israel's Lobby

Mumia Abu Jamal Remembers Dr. Johanna Fernandez; New Orleans Activists Speak Out Against ICE Detention Centers; Author Ian Lustick Examines Israel’s Lobby
https://capitalismraceanddemocracy.org/2026/08/16/mumia-abu-jamal-remembers-dr-johanna-fernandez-new-orleans-activists-speak-out-against-ice-detention-centers-author-ian-lustick-examines-israels-lobby/
By Capitalism, Race & Democracy - August 16, 20264

Dr. Johanna Fernández, the Dominican American historian, prison abolitionist, movement scholar, and a voice on Pacifica Radio, died on July 30, 2026, after a years-long struggle with cancer. She was 55. Johanna’s primary political work for many years was as an active organizer and strategist with the campaign to free political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. We share Mumia’s commentary from prison, honoring her and her life’s work.

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Louisiana has become a major center of the Trump administration’s ICE detention system and its attacks on immigrants. More than 8,000 people are being held in detention camps across the state. In New Orleans, activists have been rallying throughout the city to protest the raids and detention of immigrants and the broader Trump agenda. They spoke with Pacifica’s Capitalism, Race & Democracy about what is happening in New Orleans and across Louisiana.

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Ian Lustick is the co-author of Israel’s Lobby, America In the Grip Of A Foreign Power, a new book about the role of the US in Israel and the merger of US and Israeli foreign policy and military industries. He spoke with Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer.

We thank all of Pacifica’s sister stations and affiliates that contribute to the production of this show. Today’s program was produced by the Capitalism, Race & Democracy collective, with contributions from Steve Zeltzer, Ann Garrison, Polina Vasiliev, and Thomas O’Rourke.

You can find this and all previous episodes at our website “capitalism race and democracy dot ORG”. Make sure you click the subscribe button. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @PacificaCRD.

Thanks for listening.

Music:

Rebel Diaz – Free’em All

David Rovics – performed by Ai Tsuno – “Israel First”