Mumia abul jamal on the Nadra and the philly grand jury-gctid36346

[kweku, afro olmec]

'Skip', Nadra and the Philadelphia Grand Jury
[col. writ. 8/13/09]  (c) '09 Mumia Abu-Jamal

As the contretemps surrounding Dr. Henry Louis Gates and the Cambridge Police Dept. recedes into the roiling news flood to become fodder for the late night comedians, we learn, if anything, that even a president has limits when it comes to a "teachable moment."
 
    For, as any schoolteacher could have taught him, learning is a two-way street.  When the student is closed to the lesson, ain't nothing getting in. (And America ain't trying to hear nothing about it's racist present!).
 
    "Skip" Gates, a man possessed of a healthy sense of humor, has even joked about the incident publicly, and in my imagination, I can even hear his distinctive chortle as he answers the questions, "Are you alright?", with the quip, "Yeah - I'm ok; the only thing hurting is my dignity."
 
    Dr. Gates, a prolific writer, acclaimed academic and PBS broadcaster, was, precisely because of his known identity and status, spared the indignity of being beaten, or worse.
 
    Most Kmtyw-Americans are not so privileged, as shown by the beating administered to Nadra Foster, a KPFA radio producer, who was attacked, kicked in the head, handcuffed and arrested, after a station staffer called police, and told them (incorrectly) that Foster was banned from KPFA.  According to witness accounts, Nadra was bum-rushed by at least eight cops.
 
    This happened a year ago, Aug. 2008, and no network chatmeister put Nadra's story on the tube; nor did the then -Black presidential candidate announce he was a 'friend' of this Black mother, who worked for over a decade at the station as a volunteer producer, nor that her beating, kicking, handcuffing and arrest were handled 'stupidly' (as, of course, it was!)  She still faces numerous charges including assault and trespass!
 
    That's because, in America, it ain't nothing new.
 
    Just recently, a Phila. grand jury, expertly led by a local DA, refused to indict half a dozen cops who brutally beat, kicked, bludgeoned and stomped three young Black men who were allegedly suspects in a local shooting (the 3 were later acquitted). The grand jury refused to return indictments  despite videotapes from a hovering helicopter showing the men struck repeatedly by over a dozen cops as they lay face down in the street.
 
    To add insult to injury, the grand jury report (scripted by prosecutors) insisted that the beatings were "helpful" rather than "harmful". I don't think the initial Rodney King grand jury, which cleared members of the LAPD, went that far!
 
    But news is 'man bites dog.'  It is that which is unusual.  And Black people, men, women, and juveniles, being beaten by cops isn't unusual -- even if on tape.
 
    There'll be no beer for the 3 young men beaten and battered in Phila. streets: nor for a Black Mom beaten at her radio station.
 
    Their brutalization, it seems, isn't a 'teachable moment'.
 
    --(c)  '09 maj
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Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING PRISONERS V. THE united snakes, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- has been released!  It is available from City Lights Books: http://www.cityligh ts.com/book/ ?GCOI=8728610044 8090

If you are planning to organize an event or would like to order in bulk, you can also receive a 45% discount on any bulk orders of 20 copies or more. The book retails for $16.95, for orders of 20 copies or more the discounted price would be $9.32 per book, plus shipping and handling.  Prepayment would be required and books are nonreturnable.  If you or your organization would like to place a bulk order, please contact Stacey Lewis at 415.362.1901 or stacey@citylights. com
Let's use the opportunity of the publication of this brilliant, moving, vintage Mumia book to build the momentum for his case, to raise the money we desperately need in these challenging economic times, to get the word out – to produce literature, flyers, posters, videos, DVD's;  to send organizers out to help build new chapters and strengthen old ones, TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS ... all the work that we must do in order to FREE MUMIA as he faces LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE OR EXECUTION!
Please make a contribution to help free Mumia. Donations to the grassroots work will go to both INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC).
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