April 25 — Cold rain didn’t stop people today from marching in Philadelphia to free Mumia Abu-Jamal. The day before was the revolutionary writer’s 72nd birthday, which, like his previous 44 birthdays, was spent in a prison cell.
The political prisoner was framed for allegedly killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981 and sentenced to death by Judge Albert Sabo. This bigot in robes declared in the presence of a court reporter, “I’m going to help them fry the [n-word].”
Mumia’s real crime was as a 15-year-old helping to form the Philadelphia chapter of the Black Panther Party. He later challenged the city’s fascist mayor, Frank Rizzo, who urged his supporters to “vote white,” and threatened Mumia at a news conference.
It was only the power of the people, through demonstrations and rallies around the world, that kept Mumia Abu-Jamal from being executed. Although Mumia is no longer on death row, prison authorities are still trying to kill him by refusing adequate medical care.
From the Molly Maguires to Mumia
People gathered in Malcolm X Park and marched north on 52nd Street through the heart of West Philly’s Black community. Saturday’s march concluded Mumia Week, which included a series of events around Philadelphia. Mumia Week was endorsed by many groups, including the MOVE organization and Mobilization 4 Mumia Abu-Jamal.
The day before — on April 24, Mumia’s birthday — people rallied at District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office to demand Mumia’s freedom. This so-called liberal DA refuses to support a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal despite boxes of hidden evidence having been found.
Colorful banners and signs were carried by marchers who seized the thoroughfare and repeated chants carried by bullhorns. Some of these activists had marched 103 miles over 12 days in bitterly cold weather the previous November and December 2025 to the Mahanoy State Correctional Institution, where Mumia is locked up.
This prison, along with others, was deliberately built in the old anthracite coal-mining region. Twenty union members and supporters there, largely Irish immigrants, were hanged by the mine owners on frame-up charges in the 1870s.
They were called the Molly Maguires by anti-labor newspapers, the era’s version of Fox News. A century later, Pennsylvania’s wealthy and powerful sought to execute Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Now with almost all the mines in the region closed, the capitalist state hires guards from this overwhelmingly white region to brutalize Black and Brown prisoners.
Community support
Despite the rain, many people came out on their porches to greet the marchers. At one point, an entire line of cars began to honk rhythmically in support.
People marched to the One Art Community Center, where a rally was held. It was chaired by Gabe Bryant, a co-founder of the Human Rights Coalition, and Mike Africa, Jr., who was born in prison.
He was taken away from his mother Debbie Africa. She and his father, Mike Africa Sr., were members of the MOVE 9. These MOVE members were framed for killing a police officer, James Ramp.
In 1978, Philadelphia Mayor Rizzo ordered his cops to attack a house belonging to MOVE members. They fired so many bullets that they killed Ramp in the crossfire. Afterward, they mercilessly beat the MOVE members.
Nine MOVE members were falsely convicted of Ramp’s death. Two of these MOVE members — Merle Africa and Phil Africa — died in prison. The remaining members spent four decades in prison before being released.
On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia police, with assistance from the Pentagon and the FBI, bombed a MOVE house. Six adults and five children were burned to death, while dozens of other homes were destroyed as well.
The same terrorist regime — the real “deep state”— wants Mumia Abu-Jamal to die in prison.
Ismael Jimenez, the director of social studies for the Philadelphia School District, spoke at the rally. He described how he’s been trying to bring in more Black history in the schools.
Jimenez has been viciously attacked by Zionist organizations for defending Palestinians. These outfits include the notorious Canary Mission that wanted Mahmoud Khalil deported.
Mumia Abu-Jamal, through his writings and broadcasts, has always defended the Palestinian liberation struggle.
Maryam Muhammad from the African People’s Socialist Party demanded freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Fred Hampton, Jr., was the final speaker. His father — Chicago Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton, Sr., was assassinated on Dec. 4, 1969, by police after being put on the FBI’s kill list.
Mumia Abu-Jamal has now spent 17 more years in jail than Nelson Mandela did. Freedom for Mumia and all political prisoners has to be raised at upcoming May Day rallies and every anti-Trump, anti-war, and anti-ICE action. Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!
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