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The
graduating class at Antioch College in Yellow Spring, Ohio, is
coming under heavy pressure from police groups and other right-wingers
after these racist
forces learned Mumia Abu-Jamal was invited to speak at the school's
April 29 commencement ceremony.
An
Associated Press article about the students' choice appeared in
newspapers around the country in late March, prompting the Fraternal
Order of Police-which openly campaigns for Abu-Jamal's execution-to
launch a harassment campaign.
Teishan
Latner, a member of the Antioch Commencement Committee, said,
"We've been getting hit with hundreds of hate-type calls and e-mails
from cops and conservatives all over the country."
The
students are asking for solidarity messages to show they have
support around the United States and the world.
The
students chose Abu-Jamal to give an audio-taped speech at the
graduation ceremony because they want to publicize his fight for
a new trial. Also invited to speak is Leslie Feinberg, trans activist
and co-founder of Rainbow Flags for Mumia, who will appear in
person.
Leslie Feinberg said: "The struggle at Antioch is a critical one
for the Free Mumia movement, just like Evergreen College was last
year. We must rally to defend the right of political prisoners
like Mumia to speak to the youth, and of youth and students to
organize for justice. We must work to support these heroic students
as we build for the national May 7 action at Madison Square Garden."
A
statement from the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement read:
"We join with you in demanding a new trial for brother Mumia.
By adding your voice to his, the graduating class at Antioch is
standing tall in the fight for social justice.
"Your
actions today are in the spirit of the Illinois students who investigated
those cases that led to the freeing of 13 innocent death-row prisoners
in that state, and ultimately to a moratorium on executions there."
Messages of support can be emailed to talatner@aol.com.
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