What does it mean to turn 70 in Prison?

Bern, Switzerland

Dear Jennifer,

While we are certainly excited to celebrate Mumia's 70th year of life, we are also aware that this is a vital opportunity to take a hard look at what it means that this brilliant political activist, journalist, and thinker has been incarcerated for more than 40 years.

Many prisoners serving life without the possibility of parole, or what has come to be known as "Death by Incarceration," (DBI) face the bleak prospect of aging and dying far from their families and communities. Fifteen percent of this country’s prisoners are serving DBI sentences. Two-thirds of those condemned are of African descent. Half are 50 or older (Center for Constitutional Rights). 

Think of the elders in your life. Their lives are enriched by inclusion, by being near and connected to those who care for them. We in turn are strengthened and enriched by their experiences and wisdom. Isolation harms them, and it harms us. The prison system is enacting this harm every day, continually, in the U.S. and around the globe.

One of the vagaries of mass incarceration is the explosion of the elderly as part of the prison population. Today, men in their seventies and eighties roll around here in wheelchairs or hobble on walkers or even stroll with the help of canes. They have a host of health problems from diabetes which is quite prevalent, the COPD from heart attacks and other ailments, to cancer. 

-Mumia Abu-Jamal

This April 24th, while we recognize and celebrate a great moment in the life of our comrade, teacher, elder, and friend let us also take up the mantle of resistance to state violence that so many of our elders in the movement have taught us.

All over the world, Mumia's supporters are celebrating this Birthday of Resistance, and organizing autonomous actions toward a common goal - Freedom. It is long past due but it's not too late.

Turning 70 in prison means that the struggle is not over. Not until we free them all.

We are awed by the organizing happening around this very special birthday, and wanted to share the scope and size of the response to this call to action:

In San Diego and Philadelphia (click to get on the NYC or Boston bus to Philly!), rallies are being held in Mumia's honor. There will be speakers, screenings, bicycle demonstrations, art, and music. In Detroit, Mexico City, French Guiana, Berlin, Frankfurt, Bern, Paris, and London, Mumia's supporters will gather to call for justice and express their solidarity.

Find an action in your city! Click HERE for resources ~

The French movement has gathered thousands of petitions in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal. These will be presented to District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office in Philadelphia during a rally and march in the City Hall area. More details are being developed and will be announced when available, but you can get more information and learn about other ways to get involved at linktr.ee/mumia (link).

Thank you for reading, thank you for supporting, and thank you for listening.

What a movement this is. We are on the MOVE for real, and we still are today. What is behind such a movement as this? The answer is as simple as it is profound: love. I am your brother, and you, all of you, are my family. You are my sisters and my brothers, my aunts and uncles, my people.

To thank you, you who’ve done so much for so long, seems so small, and yet I thank you, all of you. Thank you for radiating so much love over this long struggle. We’re not done. We have more to do. We have work to do, yes. But before us also stands justice and freedom.

-Mumia Abu-Jamal

In solidarity,

Leo Dugan and Prison Radio Team