09.12.24 was the 43rd anniversary of the imprisonment of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. On that day there was a rally in front of the US Embassy. We are publishing our speech here afterwards.
You can find more information about the action here: https://de.indymedia.org/node/475870
A radio report with many impressions and speeches from the rally can be found here: https://radioaktivberlin.nostate.net/2024/12/18/berliner-berichte-zur-abschaffung-des-%c2%a7218-free-mumia-im-dezember-2024/
Finally, we would like to draw everyone’s attention to an event on the new book “Beneath the Mountain: An Anti-Prison Reader”
This will take place on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at the Mieterladen, Kreutzigerstr. 23, 10247 Berlin at 18:00. You can find more information here:
https://www.das-mumia-hoerbuch.de/mumiadeutsch.htm#Buchvorstellung_BeneathTheMountain
Dear comrades, dear supporters, dear bystanders,
I greet you on behalf of Rote Hilfe Berlin. Today, Mumia Abu Jamal has been in prison for 43 years. We have gathered here today to honor his lifelong resistance and to take it to the streets once again. Mumia is a political prisoner, a journalist and author, a family man, a Black Panther activist and much more.
In April of this year, we also came together in the form of a rally on his 70th birthday. All over the world, as well as here in Germany, people have been fighting for his release for decades. Across an entire ocean, we can, as we do today, exercise practical solidarity and stand by and support each other regardless of language, political and social backgrounds.
With his countless publications, Mumia Abu-Jamal has become one of the most important voices from prison. He has repeatedly exposed and denounced racism, violence and the perpetuation of slavery by the US prison industry. For the profit of a few, over two million people in this so-called land of freedom are at the mercy of exploitation.
Similar mechanisms can also be observed in Germany. Over 100 companies from the so-called free market use prisoners as cheap labor to increase their profits, such as BMW, Miele or Würth. At the same time, prisoners are being squeezed out by private providers and companies through a supply monopoly, which charge enormous prices for everyday things such as making phone calls or buying food. This and the blatant lack of medical and psychosocial care exacerbate the already intolerable prison conditions, depriving prisoners of any prospects and pushing them even further towards the wall. This is shown, among other things, by the fact that the suicide rate in German prisons is up to 12 times higher than outside the prison walls. At this point, I would like to briefly recite a quote from Mumia that makes it very clear what life in prison can mean:
“Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, a daily humiliation of the self, an oppressive umbrella of steel and brick that turns seconds into hours and hours into days.”
And prisons are of course places where everyday violence against prisoners is hidden, covered up and downplayed by the judiciary and politicians. All of this encourages cases of torture and extreme violence, such as that which occurred at Augsburg-Gablingen prison at the hands of prison staff. Those responsible, but also a large part of society, seem to have little interest or even an enormous disregard for the fate of the prisoners.
Mumia Abu-Jamal did not accept the harassment, violence and dangers of his imprisonment for 43 years; on the contrary, he responded with consistent and long-term resistance. He was never only concerned with his own well-being. He did not fight his battle individually, but for all prisoners and for a better future.
As much as we appreciate Mumia’s life’s work, attitudes and actions, we also know that we owe it to countless other comrades and activists worldwide that his resistance is strengthened by solidarity.
For us as a cross-current left-wing anti-repression structure, this is one of the living proofs that a clear stance and cohesion at eye level can defy repression, no matter how large and violent it is
In addition to exploitation and the general disciplining of society, prison fulfills the important function of nipping emancipatory struggles in the bud.
Here in Germany, too, many movements are still or once again confronted with being harassed and imprisoned. Prison, or even the mere threat of it, is intended to isolate and keep comrades, for example from the Kurdish, climate, antifa and Palestine movements, down. Anyone who can maintain a clear stance inside prison, or even develop one there and fight for even the smallest improvements, experiences harassment and repression. And as much as we wish and fight for the release of our comrades, there are also moments when we feel powerless. Powerless in the face of this huge inequality to change the situation for them and everyone else. But in these moments, we do not forget one thing:
Solidarity is our weapon against their repression. It gives our imprisoned comrades and prisoners courage, strengthens their resistance and can protect them. Solidarity must be practical and incorporated into everyday life. It must also be cross-current, because we must not allow ourselves to be divided in the face of persecution and criminalization. Even with all the differences in ideas and practice, criticism and disputes, we should stick together in the face of state repression. It has struck some, but it has targeted us all.
And let’s never forget to write. Post and exchange can bring a little life into these places, even if it’s just a few lines. There can never be too much mail to break the isolation behind the walls. Write to Mumia, to Leonhard Peltier, to Özgül Emre, to Ihsan Cibelik, to Serkan Küpeli, to Andreas Krebs, to Daniela Klette, to Maja, to Nanuk and all the many other comrades and prisoners.
Let’s not leave anyone alone, let’s join the struggles together for a better future for all.
In this spirit
Free Mumia
Free Them All
