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    Vol.63/No.3           January 25, 1999 
 
 
Boston Students Join Abu-Jamal Defense Actions  

BY ELENA TATE
This column is written and edited by the Young Socialists (YS), an international organization of young workers, students, and other youth fighting for socialism. For more information about the YS write to: Young Socialists, 3284 23rd St., San Francisco, CA, 94110. Tel: (415) 824-1429. E-MAIL: 105162.605@COMPUSERVE.COM

BOSTON - About 35 people came to a planning meeting of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal in this area December 18, including a delegation of 11 students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School (CRLS).

A student group at CRLS, the Cambridge Peace and Justice Corps, had organized a film showing featuring the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal earlier in the week. Abu-Jamal is a prominent Black journalist and activist who was railroaded to death row on charges of killing a cop in 1981, and is fighting for a retrial. Some 60 students at the high school came to the video showing, which was followed by a discussion and announcement for the planning meeting.

Coming out of the meeting, an action was planned for January 7 to protest the swearing-in of Massachusetts' newly elected pro-death penalty governor, Paul Celluci.

On that day two actions took place, which drew 50 people each. The protests were against the death penalty and the terrible prison conditions in Massachusetts, in addition to demanding the release of Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners.

Other ideas discussed at the meeting were: a press conference by students at CRLS, translating materials about the case into Spanish and Creole, an action on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, an all-day educational conference in February, and a protest of the Boston Globe newspaper for not giving fair coverage of Abu-Jamal's case and the actions demanding his release.

Some participants also suggested that people should join in protests against the U.S. bombing of Iraq and make the connection between the use of U.S. military might abroad and the use of the death penalty at home.

After the meeting CRLS student Daniel Piper told the Militant, "These people are preparing to fight a war - against Mumia, against all people. This planning meeting was about getting ourselves together and fighting that war."

Elena Tate is a member of the Young Socialists and a student at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School.

 
 
 
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