FREE MUMIA NOW!
Ona MOVE Y'all!
(Response to last week's Byko! Column, which celebrated
Philly WMMR's refusal to play RATM music on the air.)
Stu Bykofsky, one of many hate-spewing gossip columnist pawns of the
FOP, that are employed by the Daily News, continues to serve no purpose
whatsoever, other than to be the mouthpiece through which the racist
Philly cops spit their racist venom at our brother Mumia Abu-Jamal.
WMMR is a "rock & roll" format station with a predominantly white
listening audience. Because of this, they feel as though banning Rage
Against the Machine (a band with African & Latino members) & d
issing Mumia will not affect them. WMMR is spineless! They have
caved in to the threats of the cops, the DA's office, & the FOP. We
know that they were threatened, bullied, punk-slapped into siding
with the anti-Mumia, pro-murder contingent. WMMR is too weak,
too cowardly, too sniveling to stand up. Not to stand up for
Rage or Mumia, but too cowardly to stand up for themselves. They,
as virtually all media outlets do, claim to stand in opposition to
government censorship of the airwaves. But just like WRTI-FM in
Philadelphia, and National Public Radio before them, WMMR has
joined the ranks of spineless, hypocritical, stand-for-nothing, cowards
who have succumbed to FOP threats, lies, & intimidation. And just
like WRTI & NPR, WMMR is gonna feel the heat of the
people! After attempting to silence Mumia and backing down to
government pressure and censorship WRTI, one of the most popular
stations in the city, re-formatted, and has dropped off the map! Likewise,
NPR, once respected for their progressive, social insight, has completely
lost all of their credibility, and today sits on the sidelines as a
second-rate,
politically irrelevant sham, whereas Pacifica Radio's national office & their
show, Democracy Now! stood up to the threats, intimidation, & lies, and
now find themselves to be well respected by the people & on the cutting
edge of progressive journalism.
Let us remember that truth in media & truth in journalism is at the core
of this entire issue! Mumia told the truth about police harrassment &
brutality against MOVE in the 1970s, and as a journalist, he continues to
stand strong, tell the truth, and not compromise his belief, or his integrity.
Barsky & the WMMR brass must not be allowed to dictate what the people
can & cannot listen to, they must not be allowed to attack, intimidate, &
persecute artists for their political beliefs or their activism any more
than the
government should be allowed to attack, intimidate, persecute, and jail
our political prisoners for their stances, beliefs, & activism. We are
calling on all justice minded people to let WMMR-FM feel the heat of the
people! Flood them with emails!! You can email the Programming Director
& Barsky via their website: www.wmmr.com. Blast them with calls! You
can call Programming Director Sam Milkman at 610-771-0933. Fax Barsky
at 610-771-9667. Let your voice be heard, say "NO" to racist police
censorship.
Say "YES" to freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal & say "YES" to Rage Against
the Machine! When in Philly, steer clear of 93.3 WMMR!
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Now!
LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA'S REVOLUTION!
Down With This Rotten System!
=====================================>
Thanks to Mike Novick for being on top of this, I was about to hunt
for this and was so glad to see that he had already retrieved it. One
thing not mentioned in this article is that the same day the FOP was
out there picketing against the First Union Spectrum, head Philly cop
Timoney broke his own cops' picket line to go inside to the Phila.
Flyers game!! He said it was their individual right to picket, just
as it was his individual right to see the hockey game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
>Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 16:43:22 -0800
>From: Michael Novick <part2001@usa.net>
>
>Benefit concert for Abu-Jamal leads to boycott
>The Fraternal Order of Police targets First Union, the arenas it sponsors
>and promoter Electric Factory.
>
>By Herbert Lowe
>
>INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
>The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police yesterday declared a
>far-reaching boycott against the institutions it holds responsible for a
>benefit concert at the First Union Spectrum this week on behalf of
>convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.
>The boycott includes the Spectrum, the First Union Center, First Union Bank
>and a subsidiary, First Union Securities; and Electric Factory Concerts,
>which promoted the performance by Rage Against the Machine on Monday.
>"So long as people continue to financially profit from the blood of a
>murdered police officer, this message of violence will continue to spread,"
>FOP president Richard B. Costello said at a news conference. "By supporting
>this boycott, you can help stop the marketing of hate for profit."
>Costello also said the Republican National Committee would be asked to
>relocate its national convention next summer from the First Union Center to
>the Convention Center in Center City or to another city. A GOP spokesman
>did not respond to calls for comment.
>The boycott, however, does not involve Comcast-Spectacor, which owns both
>entertainment venues. Instead, it focuses on First Union, which paid $40
>million over 20 years to affix its name to the Spectrum and the former
>CoreStates Center.
>Costello said the FOP decided it would be unrealistic to ask its 14,000
>members and the community to boycott a company that owns a "legal monopoly"
>on local cable television service.
>"We thought we'd be asking people a bit much to basically throw out their
>television sets," he said.
>On the other hand, Costello said, while First Union maintains a marketing
>relationship to the venues, "along with the notoriety comes the
>responsibility."
>Asked when the boycott might end, Costello said the FOP could only be
>satisfied if Comcast-Spectacor renames one or both of the arenas in memory
>of Daniel Faulkner.
>A Comcast spokesman declined to comment on whether that would happen.
>The FOP announcement coincided with the 18th anniversary of the death of
>Faulkner, 25, a Philadelphia police officer who was fatally shot near 13th
>and Locust Streets in Center City.
>A jury convicted Abu-Jamal, a onetime Philadelphia radio commentator and
>member of the Black Panther Party, in 1982 after five hours of
>deliberation. The state Supreme Court has twice upheld his conviction; it
>is being appealed in federal court.
>Supporters of Abu Jamal say he was denied a fair trial, contending that the
>judge was biased, that black jurors were kept off the jury and that a
>court-appointed lawyer was not experienced in criminal law.
>Rage Against the Machine is a critically acclaimed hard-rock/hip-hop band
>that has drawn controversy nationwide for its outspoken support of Abu-Jamal.
>At the concert, which drew 13,000 spectators, band leader Zack de la Rocha
>said: "We don't support any kind of killers, especially killer cops. But we
>do support innocent brothers and sisters framed and put on death row,
>including Mumia Abu-Jamal."
>Speaking at a news conference at FOP headquarters yesterday, Costello
>challenged that assertion, saying the group's songs, including "Bullet in
>the Head" and "Killing in the Name," demonstrate its advocacy for violence
>and hate. He added: "This outfit has openly advocated violence against
>police officers. This is a hate group, not a music group."
>First Union issued a statement saying it does not manage the entertainment
>venues, does not share directly in any revenues generated there, and that
>views and content expressed there do not necessarily reflect the opinions
>of the corporation.
>Electric Factory Concerts also issued a statement saying it was
>"disappointed" that the FOP chose to boycott, and that to the company's
>knowledge Rage Against the Machine has never advocated violence or hatred.
>Electric Factory Concerts stressed, however, that its support lies firmly
>with police officers.
>"I'm sad to see the disrespect that has been shown to police officers in
>the last several years," Electric Factory head Larry Magid said. "It is
>equally sad, however, to see how this particular police lodge has twisted
>the truth, although I personally share their anger and frustration."
>Peter Luukko, president of Comcast-Spectacor Facilities, which operates the
>Spectrum and First Union Center, said his company did not heed the FOP's
>call to cancel the concert, because it was not a political event.
>"As controversial as the artists' feelings may be, we cannot get into
>denying artists based on what their political beliefs may be," Luukko said.
>"As an organization, we're certainly not pro-Mumia, and as a matter of
>fact, we're very pro-police. We feel that a boycott against us is misguided."
>Yesterday's action by the Philadelphia FOP follows similar moves by police
>unions in other areas.
>In January, the New Jersey State Police, Faulkner's widow, Maureen
>Faulkner, and Gov. Whitman called for a boycott of a Meadowlands concert
>that included Rage Against the Machine because proceeds were being given to
>Abu-Jamal. The show's promoter offered refunds, and nearly 2,000 fans asked
>for and got them.
>Earlier this month, FOP members in Baltimore refused to sign up for
>overtime security work at a Rage Against the Machine concert because of the
>Abu-Jamal issue.
>Abu-Jamal supporters plan a rally at Progress Plaza in North Philadelphia
>tomorrow.
>The rally will attempt to "combat information being spread by Philadelphia
>officials and the Fraternal Order of Police who are heading the campaign to
>rush Mumia to execution," according to a statement from International
>Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
=============================================>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 17:32:05 -0500
From: Theresa El-Amin <durhambrc@aol.com>
X-WWW-Site: http://www.blackradicalcongress.org/
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
The December 11 Philly mobilization calling for a new trial and freedom
for Mumia Abu-Jamal was a solid success. There were about 2,000 of us. The
march and rally began at Progress Plaza in the heart of the Black
community. We marched and rallied through north Philly behind a flatbed
sound truck which served as a stage. Speakers from around the country gave
reports of support in their areas. Mumia supporters stopped along the way
and talked with neighborhood residents about the struggle to free Mumia.
There was a strong Black and Latino youth character to the march. Signs
and banners linked the struggle to free Mumia with the struggle to end
imperialism in Puerto Rico at Vieques.
Many other struggles (against the death penalty, the return of Elian
Gonzalez to Cuba and others) called for solidarity along the march route.
Black people came out of their homes and chanted from windows.
The Police *Red* Squad had over 50 plainclothes cops present. Most of them
were Black. At one point, a number of us observed one of the cops chanting
along with us. They wore white armbands with red print that said *Police*.
Popular chant: "Brick by Brick, Wall by Wall, We're Gonna Free Mumia
Abu-Jamal!" and "Ain't no freedom without a battle! From Philly to
Seattle-We're Gonna Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!"
There were 23 of us on the Durham bus. Monique Lyle and I were the BRC
members in the NC contingent. We had 4 high schools students from the
School of the Arts in Durham. Greensboro turned out 15 student and
community activists. The other 2 folks were Durham and Charlotte area
activists.
Activists in the Southern Anti-Racism Network (SARN) coordinated the
fundraising and mobilization for the NC bus to Philly. The plan is to meet
end of January to show video, photos and plan building local and statewide
support to free Mumia.
It's possible Mumia may make a court appearance in February. We discussed
with MOVE the possibility of coordination that would allow 2 reps from NC
to have seats in the courtroom.
There's lots more to tell. We'll save it for the January Free Mumia
coalition meeting. I hope some of you can come. The date will be
determined later this week after discussions with Greensboro folks.
Forward Ever! Free Mumia!
Theresa El-Amin
DurhamBRC@aol.com
===================================>
From: Debbierwor@aol.com
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 10:08:06 EST
The Battle of Philadelphia: A Rage Experience
by C.J.
Revolutionary Worker #1035, December 19, 1999
There was what you could call high energy in the van: 17 people under 22
(plus this reporter), on a 2-hour trip to: a) the greatest concert of the
year? b) the greatest canceled concert of the year? c) a police riot? d) all
of the above? No one could say for sure.
But people were ready for anything as we cruised from New York City to
Philadelphia. Rage Against the Machine was playing a stop on the tour for
their new CD "The Battle of Los Angeles." This CD, just released November 4,
is a trip itself--a breathtaking journey from the sweatshops of L.A. to the
rebel camps of Chiapas to the U.S. killing fields in Iraq and back to L.A.
just in time for a rebellion.
Tonight, Rage was playing the First Union Center, a giant arena in Philly,
home of death-row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal and the site of numerous
ugly threats from the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), who have launched a
nationwide campaign against Rage and other artists who speak out against the
execution of Mumia.
Over the past month the Philly FOP had threatened to "stop traffic" going to
the concert and launch a boycott against the First Union Center and anyone
booking it. To their credit, the arena recently issued a statement saying
they don't feel it's appropriate to choose artists to perform there based on
their political beliefs.
I was traveling with members of the Youth Network of Refuse & Resist!, a
group which has been invited by the band to set up tables at their shows,
along with Leonard Peltier's support group, International Concerned Family
and Friends of Mumia, and Students Against Sweat Shops.
Between tapes of Hendrix, Rage and WuTang, people strategized: How to explain
what's happening with Mumia now? How to deal with the police? "The FOP
represent death for Mumia, they represent lies, intimidation, repression,"
one youth said, "We represent life for Mumia, the youth, the future,
resistance, truth, justice....This band has a right to say what they want,
and we will defend them."
*****
At the December 3 Rage concert in Nassau, Long Island, fans were kicked out
and physically assaulted by uniformed cops simply for having a Mumia flyer in
their pocket. A few days earlier in Worcester, Massachusetts, a town outside
Boston, 400 off-duty cops confronted Mumia supporters outside a sold-out Rage
show. Concert-goers were threatened if they refused to take the anti-Mumia
flyers of the police. And when two women led the crowd in a chant "Brick by
brick, wall by wall, we're gonna free Mumia Abu-Jamal," they were arrested by
a riot cop in a ski mask and charged with disorderly conduct. As they were
dragged off, the masked man told another cop, "These two were the loudest."
True Rage fans, the women bailed themselves out and returned to the concert.
At the same show, 35 more concert-goers were arrested, and the Boston Globe
reported that one woman had her arm pulled out of its socket by police.
Police spokesmen claimed that none of this harassment had anything to do with
the cop protest or the politics of the band.
Zack told the sold-out crowd of 14,500 in Worcester: "Cops have been
following us around all over the country saying we support cop killers. Let's
make it completely clear. We don't support killers, and especially not KILLER
COPS. We do support innocent brothers and sisters being framed up in prisons
all over this country, people like Mumia Abu-Jamal."
In a brilliant comic move, Rage had four dozen Dunkin Donuts delivered to the
protesting cops.
*****
Across the country, the FOP are using their position and privileges as the
armed enforcers of the state to undertake an unprecedented national political
campaign against artists who speak out against the execution of Mumia
Abu-Jamal.
With so much at stake, the thoroughly unrepentant attitude of Rage is just
plain thrilling.
David, a member of New York City Youth Network told the RW: "This boycott
adds a new dimension to the criminalization of a generation. Now, for just
making known your political beliefs or even simply attending a Rage concert,
you're treated like you've committed a crime." But he adds, "Every time the
cops attack like this, it just blows up in their face, because more people
are politicized."
Artists in various scenes--including Chumbawamba, $Money Mark, Edward Asner,
Ozomatli, Culture Clash, Dread Scott, Boots of The Coup, Danny Hoch and Ossie
Davis--have signed a statement by the Artists Network of Refuse & Resist!
which says in part: "We artists condemn the police attacks on musicians for
their political beliefs....This kind of censorship will not be tolerated."
Interestingly, when the FOP has been challenged to public debate, they run
from the spotlight like roaches. Tom Morello reported that the FOP were
slated to appear on an ABC TV news program a couple days before the Philly
gig. But when members of Rage volunteered to join them on-air, FOP canceled
the whole thing. They pulled the same stunt in Nashville when a Mumia
supporter from Fiske University was scheduled to debate them on a local
station. Meanwhile, with the help of a Nashville radio DJ, the Youth Network
of R&R! sent out their own press release and were interviewed by several
members of the local media and a national internet news service.
This battle is a lot more two-sided than the FOP may have planned on.
*****
"Battle of Los Angeles" dropped at No. 1 on the charts and sold almost 1/2
million records in the first week--revealing a world of difference between
the sensibilities of the fans and the censorship of the FOP.
"Maybe the revolution will be televised after all," wrote the Denver Post
music critic, (riffing on the '60s anthem "The Revolution Will Not Be
Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron). "These issues are usually avoided on the pop
charts, removed from the lives of most American teens. But Rage's battle
cries of social justice are just what they want."
"It's a `silent majority' of music listeners out there who aren't spoken to
by the escapism that you normally find in pop music," Tom Morello told the
Denver Post. "Our audience is a very intelligent one, and there are a lot of
kids out there who don't like what they see. In the same way that groups like
Public Enemy and the Clash did for us, it's music that resonates in a very
different way."
We arrive at the show in Philly to find no FOP picket line--but loads of
on-duty cops. The Youth Network crew are peppered with questions about Mumia
from knots of four to five kids--the only ones from their school to brave the
night. Thousands take leaflets or buy literature on Mumia's case. The YN kids
tell me that the vibe here is really different from the Rage show in Philly a
couple years ago, when snarling jocks ripped up their flyers. Tonight they
encounter a few hostile individuals, but no organized packs.
The opening act is a cool young band called Anti-Flag from Pittsburgh, PA who
specialize in thrash marches. In between short tight songs, they dis the FOP.
Next up is Gang Starr, hip hop veterans with righteous hits going back 10
years. "What's a rebel?" they ask the audience. "They're the ones who aren't
afraid to live and die for what they believe in...." A roar goes up and the
mosh pit goes wild.
Rage has asked Pam Africa from International Concerned Family and Friends of
Mumia to introduce the band. "Rage is unbending, they don't kiss ass to no
one, they ain't intimidated by the FOP," Pam says. "It is my honor to be
standing on stage with the mightiest rock band in the whole motherfuckin
world."
A giant banner of the new CD cover unfurls behind the band-- this time
reading "The Battle of Philadelphia." Rage launches into "Testify," a complex
track from "Battle of Los Angeles" that seems to draw a connection between
the U.S. bombing of Iraq in the Gulf War and the L.A. rebellion of 1992:
"I'm empty please fill me mister anchor assure me That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing... On the corner The jury's sleepless We found
your weakness And it's right outside your door."
This crowd already knows all the words to "Testify." Likewise with the next
track, "Guerrilla Radio,"--which is all over the radio (including stations
that vowed never again to play Rage after their benefit concert for Mumia
back in January 1999).
"Contact I highjacked the frequencies Blockin' the beltway Move on DC Way
past the days of bombin' mc's Sound off Mumia guan be free.."
The magic moment comes when the beat drops out and the entire arena whispers
along with Zack:
"It has to start somewhere It has to start sometime What better place than
here What better time than now All hell can't stop us now!"
As all hell breaks loose in the arena, I am reminded of something Tom Morello
said in an interview about the music and the politics: "It's big rock,
spelled r-a-w-k. But contained within it is this kind of virus. Some people
come to the party for the aggression and the grooves and they leave with
something else. Others are attuned to it to begin with."
Before they dedicate their song, "Freedom" to Mumia, Zack asks the people,
"What do you think the cops are so afraid of? Are they afraid of this music,
this revolutionary music? Naaah. They're afraid of you...You could free
Mumia. This year."
Our crew is the last to leave, and as we all troop out to the parking lot,
squad cars are circling like sharks. We cram ourselves quickly into the van
and head out. The people won this round. The battle continues.
This article is posted in English and Spanish on Revolutionary Worker Online
http://www.mcs.net/~rwor Write: Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 773-227-4066 Fax: 773-227-4497 (The RW Online does not currently
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