I arrived late to the rally that tool place on Thursday May 17th, on the first day of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s arguments in federal court. The Houston rally was of around 30 people in front of the Harris County Courthouse building at Franklin and San Jacinto. As I arrived the rally was surrounded by cops, there were 18 cops at the San Jac/Franklin corner of the sidewalk, at least 3 cops on horses who looked really dehydrated facing the crowd, and 8 or 10 cops on bikes on the east side of the building. The rally was totally surrounded.
The crowd at the rally was an good mix of people. there were people there from the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, Houston Anarchist Black Cross, the SHAPE Center, the National Black United Front, People’s Party 3, Code Pink Women for Peace, Nation of Islam, and other folks who I’m not sure what group they were with (my apologies to folks I left out). A number of people made statements on the soundsystem, opposing the death penalty, supporting Mumia and other political prisoners, and railing against the injustice of the US justice system.
There was some chanting including “Brick by brick, wall by wall, we’re gonna free Mumia Abu-Jamal”. The rally ended with a Unity Circle and a prayer lead by Minister Robert Muhammed. We all headed our separate ways, and the cops dispersed, to go intimidate someone else. Thanks to Gloria and everyone who helped put this event together!
