Free Mumia Summit held at Oakland's Laney College

On December 11, an anti-death penalty summit was held at Laney College in Oakland. The program focused on Mumia Abu Jamal, the recently executed Troy Davis, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, and current inmate Kevin Cooper.


Ramona Africa of the MOVE organization speaks out for freedom for her friend Mumia Abu Jamal.

Abu Jamal has been on death row for 30 years for the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer that activists say he did not commit. It was recently reported that the District Attorney would no longer seek death penalty in Abu Jamal's case. Africa called for Abu Jamal's freedom.


Barbara Becnel speaks about her friend "Tookie" Williams.

Barbara Becnel, president of the Stanley "Tookie" Williams Legacy Network shared how he wished to use his life example to save other children from violence. Williams was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.



The Stanley Tookie Williams Summit was previously held at Merritt College from 2007-2010. The program moved to Laney College this year. Speakers included prison abolitionist Angela Davis; Ramona Africa of MOVE organization, and fighter for Abu Jamal; William's friend Barbara Becnel; Crystal Baybee of Committee to Free Kevin Cooper; rapper Boots Riley; and more.


Free Mumia at Laney College video by Peralta TV

Photos by Reginald James for TheBlackHour.com.

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Occupy Oakland plans West Coast Port Shutdown

On Monday December 12, Occupy Oakland is joining with the anti-Wall Street Movements along the entire U.S. West Coast to shut down the ports.

During the November 2 General Strike, Occupy Oakland had tens of thousands in the streets, including thousands blockading the Port of Oakland.

"The ports play a pivotal role in the flow and growth of capital for the 1% in this country and internationally. For that reason alone it is the ideal place to disrupt their profit machine," according to the West Coast Port Shutdown website.



Organizers point out that workers have long been attacked at the ports: the 1934 San Francisco General Strike lead to police violence against dock workers, the 1946 General Strike in Oakland had been the nation's last general strike; and in 2003, protesters at the Port of Oakland protesting the War in Iraq were also violently attacked, leaning to Oakland Police changing their policies on crowd control.

Occupy Oakland is a local site that began October 10 following the September 2011 Occupy Wall Street Movement. For Occupy Oakland stories, visit OaklandLocal.com or Indybay.org. Further updates also available at OccupyOakland.org and on Twitter.

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