JULY 3, 1999
LET FREEDOM RING FOR MUMIA
93 people, young Freedom Summer activists to older activists and even some new activists participated in a high spirited, determined civil disobedience at the "unliberty bell".
It was not your usual, "here I am arrest me" civil disobedience. People found new and highly expressive ways to show their determined stand to have Mumia Abu-Jamal demand for a new trial reach thousands more diverse people.
From Youth linked arm in arm preventing the police van from leaving, with dozens arrested for hanging a banner demanding Mumia's freedom, to one woman who frustrated police and park guards with her "lightning quick" disruptions with her motorized wheel chair; all afternoon the righteous demand for a new trial frustrated police and made a real impact on many thousands who saw and heard these brave people.
Many tourists who had come to see the cracked bell were astonished and inspired by these actions. Many were heard commenting, "Why are they doing this? Who is Mumia?" After hearing about the travesty of justice in his original trial, they were sympathetic to his demand for a new trial.. This more than anything frustrated the police who were not expecting such diverse and determined people to deal with or with the numbers willing to be arrested. As soon as they thought that area was secured, another wave of protesters would block the liberty bell or sit in front of the vans.
July 3rd was a very good day for the people.... FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
All photos on this page were reprinted with much gratitude and permission from the photographer Diane Greene Lent. More of her work can be seen at The Bretch Forum.