Wednesday, April 1, 2015

4/1 update on Mumia Abu Jam




Twitter
4/1 update 


Dateline: Intensive Care Unit Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA

Mumia Abu-Jamal in Medical Crisis

Here is an excerpt from the hospital press conference yesterday:

Mumia's wife and brother were allowed to see him separately for 30 minutes each late this morning. The mobilization worked. But our job is not yet done. On the morning of March 30, 2015 Mumia fainted in the prison and was taken to the ICU of a nearby clinic. His blood sugar count was dangerously high at 779. He was in a diabetic shock. For perspective: diabetic coma is 800. 

He is recovering slowly and still in ICU. His blood sugar is currently at 333. That Mumia had diabetes was a complete shock to all of us. For the last 3 months, he has been under medical care in the prison and diagnosed with eczema. And since he had three "comprehensive" blood tests since February, diabetes should have been diagnosed and treated accordingly. But it never was. Instead he has been subjected to hell by the prison medical system. In January Mumia was shaken out of a deep sleep by guards during count. For the infraction of not being awake during count he was punished for 2 weeks, without calls or yard. Deep trance-like sleep and lethargy were the first signs of the problem. In addition to the physical depletion produced by untreated diabetes, he was/is also dealing with a severe outbreak of eczema. He likened his skin to that of an elephant's. It was raw, blistered and bloody all over. He was so sick that he was not taking visitors. The "meds" he was given for his skin produced an extreme adverse reaction. His skin swelled and ruptured and he was put in the prison infirmary for 2 weeks.

There's more, but the above point to negligence of the worse kind if not an outright attempt on Mumia's life. We are demanding review of his case by outside doctors and...since the world is watching, we are calling for Mumia's immediate release. It's time to bring our brother home. Johanna Fernandez 


These two very very brief visits by his immediate family were important.  But the OUTRAGEOUS actions by the PA DOC continue.  They are controlling the hospitals actions and LIMITING all information about his condtiion.  Preventing the Mumia Abu-Jamal and his family from getting access to the critical information they need for his care.

His family and lawyers still have very very little information about his treatment and his conditions.  They are trying to limit additional visits.

It was inhumane that his family continues to be limited in accessing and monitoring his condition and his health.  Literally for 20 hours his family was in the Intensive Care ICU and were told nothing.

Now that they have had a visit.  They are attempting to speak with the doctors and get medical records.

Literally after 20 hours of torture Mumia remains in intensive care. .   

Mumia's family is keeping vigil in the ICU critical care visiting room.
Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA.   

His supporters and lawyers were at trial challenging the Revictimization Review Act aka the "Mumia Silencing Act"  in Harrisburg, PA when they received word that he had been taken to the hospital.

The Abolitionist Law Center's Bret Grote is in Pottsville and taking all necessary steps  to gain access to his client for the family and access to his medical records so that independent doctors can intervene.  

Mumia Abu-Jamal’s brother Keith Cook stated “The rules that the prisons have are very arcane. They don’t give out any information about prisoners to their families or anyone else. It’s like you have your hands tied because you don’t know how the prisoner is and you have no way of talking to him. I remember a month ago--- Phil Africa exercising in the prison, next thing they know they moved him to a hospital and didn’t tell his family where he was, and three days later he was dead.

"It’s scary.  This situation needs to change. The prison authorities need to be more humane to the families of prisoners.”

Pam Africa stated "Prison Officials are lying.  Mumia is going through torture at the hands of Department of Corrections through medical neglect.   It is clear to people that they want to kill Mumia.  They gave him the wrong medication which made his condition worse. Inmates on the inside who questioned what was happening have been subjected to direct retaliation by the superintendent.   They have been moving concerned inmates out of Mumia's unit in an effort to both bury and keep this critical information from the public."

Johanna Fernandez of the New York Campaign to Bring Mumia Home noted “Mumia has been complaining about being ill since January. If he had gotten the proper care he needed originally, he would not be in this situation. This crisis illustrates the problem of health care in American prisons as a basic human rights violation. I am personally concerned because Phil Africa of the MOVE organization was rushed to the hospital not long ago in good health and a few days later he was dead. We need to fight to defend Mumia’s life, and that of all prisoners.”

Bret Grote   bretgrote@abolitionistlawcenter.org    412-654-9070
Johanna Fernandez 917-930-0804 jfernandez1202@gmail.com 917-930-0804
Pam Africa 267-760-7344
Keith Cook kdc52@aol.com 919-302-4177
Noelle Hanrahan info@prisonradio.org 415-706-5222

The Abolitionist Law Center is a public interest law firm inspired by the struggle of political and politicized prisoners, and organized for the purpose of abolishing class and race based mass incarceration in the United States.

Link to Yesterday's press conference outside of the hospital in Pottsville, PA.   


 


CALL NOW and demand that Mumia's family can visit him at the medical center: 570-773-2158



SCI Mahanoy
301 Morea Rd, Frackville PA
Superindendent John Kerestes
(570) 773-2158 x8102

 

We do not trust that the prison officials will provide any transparency on Mumia's medical emergency. They indeed told us Phil Africa was fine, and he passed away the next day.
 
We need you to help us demand family visitation rights at Schuylkill Medical Center NOW! 

We will send a trial update shortly.
Please make the call right now: 570-773-2158 x8102

 

Share
Tweet
Forward

Support Prison Radio
 

$35 to become a member. 

$50 to become a member and receive a beautiful tote bag. Or call us to special order a yoga mat bag.

$100 to become a member and receive the DVD "Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary."

$300 to become a member and bring one essay to the airwaves.

$1,000 (or $88 per month) will make you a member of our Prison Radio Freedom Circle. Thank you!

Support Prison Radio
To give by check: 
PO Box 411074
San Francisco, CA
94141

Stock or legacy gifts:
Noelle Hanrahan
(415) 706 - 5222


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 



--

Mumia Abu Jamal Medical Update


UPDATE: Yesterday morning, March 30, Mumia Abu-Jamal was rushed to the hospital after passing out at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Mahanoy. He was admitted to the Schuylkill Medical Center with a blood sugar level of 779. Today, he received visits from his wife, Wadiya, and his brother, Keith Cook. Mumia's blood sugar had dropped to 333 as of a couple hours ago. This is still elevated and at an unhealthy level. 

Mumia does not have a history of diabetes, but had been experiencing a series of symptoms that should have alerted medical staff at the prison to the onset of the disease. Instead, he was not given comprehensive diagnostic treatment and a medical crisis emerged that could have resulted in his slipping into a diabetic coma or worse. 

Prison officials only relented and permitted visitation under immense public pressure from all over the world. Keep it up. If the prison had its way, nobody would know Mumia was hospitalized, nor would they have permitted visits or the release of any medical information to family.

Family and friends are not leaving Pottsville. Mumia is not out of danger and we will remain vigilant and mobilized. The state keeps trying to kill Mumia - spied on by the FBI since he was 15, shot in the chest and severely beaten on December 9, 1981, framed for a killing he did not commit and put on death row, held in solitary confinement under threat of execution for 30 years, and now denied competent, basic medical care. He is alive because the movement has fought like hell to make it so. The government of the united states of apartheid can never be trusted to protect the rights or respect the lives of Black people or those held in prison. Never forgive, never forget. Stay alert and ready to act. 
Free Mumia

Video: Master Teacher Marvin X returns to Academy of Da Corner in Oakland's Black Arts Movement District, 14th Street





Sunday, March 29, 2015

P-SPAN #413: Panel on Black Women Writers, at Laney College


Black Arts Movement Panel on Women Writers: Left to Right: Elaine Brown, Halifu Osumare, Judy Juanita, Portia Anderson, Kujichagulia, Aries Jordan. Standing BAM producer Marvin X. photo South Park Kenny Johnson
Video: Peralta College Television

Passing the Baton: Marvin X's grandson, James, Meets the Press

James Rhodes, son of Nefertiti Jackmon and Eric Rhodes, faces the cameras at a track meet in Houston, TX. He described the suburban neighborhood where he lives with his father  as, "The place where dreams die." The young man will be departing for college soon. Nefertiti, his mother and oldest daughter of Marvin X, is satisfied she gave her son  a significant dose of African and spiritual consciousness.

Nefertiti urges her father to pass the baton at the BAM 50th Anniversary Celebration, Laney College. They participated on the panel BAM/Black Power Babies, an inter-generational discussion.

 
Two grandsons of Marvin X, left to right, Jah Amiel and James,  participating in the Physical wellness boot camp at the Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration at Oakland's Laney College, Feb. 7, 2015. 

Marvin X meets the press in Philly at the Black Power Babies Discussion,
produced by daughter Muhammida El Muhajir and radio station WURD.

Mrs. Lomax-Reese, owner of Philly radio station, WURD, MX, Muhammida and Mrs. Amina Baraka

 Muhammida El Muhajir, international event planner, produced Black Power Babies in Brooklyn, New York
Black Arts Movement/Black Power Babies 3.0: Mahadevi El Muhajir and Shani Baraka. Mahadevi, who speaks Chinese, French and English, is the  daughter of Muhammida El Muhajir. Shani Baraka is the daughter of Amiri Baraka Jr., Chief of Staff of Newark, NJ Mayor, Ras Baraka, his brother. Shani is a one woman band. These two BAM babies connected with love and joy, knew the same songs as they traveled with their parents and grandparents to the Black Power Babies discussion on Theatre Row in Philly.


Academy of da Corner top student Jermaine Marsh, Civil Rights Attorney Walter Riley, father of rapper Boots Riley, Blues living legend Sugar Pie De Santo and Marvin X

 Oakland Post News Group Publisher Paul Cobb and Marvin X are childhood friends who grew up in West Oakland. Both deeply morn the broad daylight assassination of Post Editor Chauncey Bailey.


Bay Area Black authors, artists and activists gather at the Joyce Gordon Gallery to celebrate the life of Chauncey Bailey.
 Three daughters of Marvin X: Amira Jackmon, Esq., Nefertiti Jackmon and Muhammida El Muhajir, Marvin X
Marvin X and his adopted aunt and uncle, Drs. Julia and Nathan Hare, Amira Jackmon, Esq., Yale and Stanford Law School graduate, served as agent for the acquisition of the Hare's archives. Amira works with her father on his many projects. As a lawyer she has won cases against Burger King and legal rounds against the Port of Oakland, as will as appealing to the Texas Supreme Court of Appeals. She recently had her book printed in China, a self published manual on how to train children by offering rewards for good behavior.


Marvin X and daughter Muhammida El Muhajir. International Event Planner, Producer, Muhammida produced Keyshia Cole Day in Oakland, hired her father to write a poem to introduce Keyshia Cole in Oakland's Frank Ogawa Plaza, aka Oscar Grant Plaza. A filmmaker, see her documentary Hip Hop: The New World Order.



Dr. Cornel West, Samantha Akwei, student at Marvin's Academy of da Corner, 14th and Broadway, Black Arts Movement District, Oakland. We are passing the baton to Samantha and her comrades. As ancestor Amiri Baraka would say to Marvin, "Do I have a choice?"

Marvin X in planning session with Laney College President Dr. Elnora T. Webb, along with faculty and staff. Event was an unqualified success. Laney took out full page ad in the Post News Group papers  to thank BAM. photo Adam Turner
 Mrs. Gay Plair Cobb, Director of the Private Industry Council, MX, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Laney College President, Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr. Nathan Hare, father of Black Studies in America and Oakland News Group Publisher, Paul Cobb.
photo South Park Kenny Johnson

Left to Right: Paul Cobb, Dr. Leslee Stradford, Rt. Col. Conway Jones, Jr., Chief Adviser to Marvin X, Marvin X, granddaughter Naima Joy, grandson Jah Amiel, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Laney President Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr. Nathan Hare, father of Black Studies in America, Lynette McElhaney, President of the Oakland City Council.



You can help by gathering on 14th and Broadway, Black Arts Movement District,  in your free time to provide security for Marvin X at his Academy of da Corner, while he does his work in the multi- purpose center that includes grief and trauma counseling, micro loan bank, manhood/womanhood training, general education and literacy.

To find out when Marvin X will be at Academy of da Corner, please call 510-200-4164. Donations accepted. Your donation can be tax deductible.


Dr. Franz Fanon, author, Wretched of the Earth. He studied the psychology of those suffering from the addiction to white supremacy. See his Black Skins/White Masks. We are all indebted to Dr. Fanon for breaking down the psychopathology of oppression and how to recover. Fanon says only by engaging in revolution can the oppressed regain their mental equilibrium or mental health. Only when the entire community engages in radical change can we become whole or holy.


Thank you Toni Morrison, but we are the aboriginal Americans, there is no shame in our game. The North American Europeans are so addicted to white supremacy, they cannot imagine there were other Americans in the Americus centuries before they arrived. Ask Columbus who he saw in the ocean on his voyage over here on their way back to Africa!

There are North Americans in Mexico, Central America, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, South Americans in Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, and all those in the Caribbean.

 Revolutionary comrades Angela Davis, Marvin X and Sonia Sanchez

 Felipe Luciano of the Original Last Poets and Marvin X

 Black Skins/White Masks, Dr. Frantz Fanon

 Black Skins/White Masks, Dr. Frantz Fanon, Father of Recovery from the Addiction to White Supremacy and Colonialism in Black Face





 Marvin X addressing class at the University of Houston, Africana Studies Department

 Marvin X addressing graduate seminar at University of Houston, Africana Studies Department

 Chancellor Marvin X at his Academy of da Corner, with Academy Law Professor Gregory Fields

 Dr. Nathan Hare, PhD, Sociology and PhD Clinical Psychology
The Father of Black Studies in America

 Dr. Julia Hare, The Female Malcolm X


FYI, Marvin X and Dr. Nathan Hare, Clinical Psychologist, work together. See Dr. Hare's Foreword to Marvin X's How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy, a manual based on the 12 Step model of recovery from addictions. Dr. Hare has given Marvin X distribution rights to the titles of the Hare's books. The works of Drs. Nathan and Julia Hare are biblotherapy for those addicted to White Supremacy Type II. We want to flood the community with the writings of Dr. Nathan and Julia Hare. You can make a generous donation so we can give out copies of their writings coast to coast.

Biblotherapy or healing from reading books works, if you work it! Two young brothers passed my stand on Oakland's Lakeshore. They turned around to ask to shake my hand. They said, "Brother Marvin X, we found half of your book on the AC Transit bus and it changed our lives. We just want to shake your hand." Ache'! What greater honor can an author receive than to know his books changed lives!

My greatest writing that has changed lives in da hood is the controversial 18 page pamphlet Mythology of Pussy and Dick. I am deeply honored to know this little pamphlet has destroyed the patriarchal mentality. It has taught brothers to respect women and all aspects of the woman's body, including her pussy; that no matter how much the brother pays the cost to be the boss, he doesn't own the woman's body, especially her pussy, i.e., vagina. She is not his chattel slave but owns her body just as he owns his body, his dick in particular. In Islam they say marriage is a contract between two people, so whatever two people agree to is binding. If a man can have four marriages or a woman can have four husbands, it is by agreement. Sign on the dotted line! In my life of 71 years, I have been the other man and have had other women. I have loved sex workers and square women, but love was the key factor. All is fair in love and war! I have written elsewhere that when you love you love and you don't care what baby is doing when she ain't wit you. All you care about is the moment you spend with baby! Somebody better say Ache'!

And so I say to my children and grandchildren, let us go into the new spirituality, the new age, the new consciousness. We are Divine Beings in Human Form. Let us then agree on the life we live. It is all about agreement. If you agree to have four wives, so it is. If you agree to have four husbands, so it is! And if you love da one ya wit, ain't no problem. If it ain't about love, you might have a problem up in here! Guess what, the problem is back to pussy and dick. Sun Ra taught me, "Maavin, this music is all P and D music, pussy and dick music. That's all this music is about, pussy and dick."






Let us then go to the Upper Room of my Father's House. Sun Ra took us so far out we still can't comprehend his imagination. George Clinton tried to take us Sun Ra's World but got lost in the funk. Sonny taught me, "The people don't want the truth, they want to low down dirty truth. Marvin X, you tried to be so right you are wrong. You took out the funk and that's what they want, the low down dirty truth, the funk."









Saturday, March 28, 2015

From the Archives: Marvin X interviews Prime Minister Forbes Burnham of Guyana, SA, et al.

  February, 1973

Note: This interview by Marvin X with Prime Minister Forbes Burnham appeared in Black Scholar and Muhammad Speaks Newspaper. Of course, Burnham turned out to be a rat who engineered the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney and allowed Rev. Jim Jones to commit mass murder on his watch. He was America's choice for a Black Power government rather than a Marxist one in South America. 

 

Description:

A left-stapled magazine containing 64 internal pages. Special issue on Pan-Africanism (III) - The Caribbean Featuring First-Hand Reports on The Cuban Revolution. The contents are: The Cuban Revolution: Lessons for the Third World by Robert Chrisman and Robert L. Allen; Jamaica: The Myth of Economic Development and Racial Tranquility by Horace Campbell; A Conversation with Forbes Burnham (Interview by Marvin X); The Impact of the African on the New World - A Reappraisal by John Henrik Clarke; Marxism-Leninism and Nkrumahism by Stokely Carmichael; "We are all Babylonians" - Afro-Americans in Africa by Ron Finney; The Black Scholar Interviews: A Black Expatriate in Cuba (who wished his name to remain anonymous); Book Review; Special Feature: A Report on the [Marcus] Garvey Seminar. Covers lightly age-browned, lightly worn, lightly rubbed. Bookseller Inventory # 008290

The Julian Mayfield Papers, New York Public Library Archives, 1949-1984

McDavid file consists of memoranda and draft letters written by Mayfield for McDavid's signature dealing with a broad range of issues, including Guyana's participation in the Sixth Pan-Africanist Congress in Dar-es-Salaam in 1974, parliamentary opposition to black American expatriates in Guyana, tensions between blacks and Asians, Guyana's communication needs, and possible attempts to overthrow the Burnham government. The Burnham file relates in part to film projects on the Carifesta Festival (1972) and a Nonaligned Conference in Guyana (1973), to a plan to attract professional black Americans to Guyana, and to secure friendlier coverage of Guyana in the black press in the United States. Included are letters from Marvin X of Muhammad Speaks and the text of an interview he conducted with Burnham, and a draft “Public Relations Programme for National Unity” prepared by Mayfield, to combat racial polarization and neutralize Eusi Kwayana's opposition to Burnham.


A CONVERSATION WITH FORBES BURNHAM

MARVIN X and FORBES BURNHAM
The Black Scholar
Vol. 4, No. 5, PAN-AFRICANISM (III) THE CARIBBEAN (February 1973), pp. 24-31
Published by: Paradigm Publishers
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41163548

 Page 24 of The Black Scholar, Vol. 4, No. 5, PAN-AFRICANISM (III) THE CARIBBEAN, February 1973