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*At
Manzanillo, Cuba nationally televised rally of 200,000
people on 7/1/00 to celebrate the return of Elian
Gonzalez. Mazi Jamal is the 22 year old son of Mumia
Abu-Jamal. He traveled to Cuba the last week of
June-beginning of July 2000 with the JoJo White
Solidarity Project. The text is unedited directly from
his notes.
Good morning everyone!
It does my heart good to see everyone here today filled
with the spirit of the revolution. I know that this is a
sight that my father would give his eye teeth to be here
and see for himself. In fact I would give up mine for
him to be up here with me basking in the warm glow of
your love, and drawing strength from yours.
There are many people who could not be here this
beautiful morning and before I continue to speak about
my father I want to recognize two men who are no longer
with us because they now exist only as memories; as
casualties of American society.
The first is Shaka Sankofa, a man who was trapped, who
had his options limited in America by a society that had
no place for him to grow. Like so many black men in my
country he had his first chance to become political, to
become educated, to truly become a man, while
imprisoned.
The second man I want to recognize is the son of my
friends Derrel Myers and Naomi White and the reason that
I was able to come to Cuba and see your revolution with
my own eyes. I never had the pleasure of knowing their
son JoJo White for myself. But there is an ancient
Chinese proverb that states "At the end of your life
your true riches are the memories that you leave in the
minds of your loved ones". In my short time in Cuba I
have come to realize that JoJo died a rich man indeed
because his loved ones are some beautiful people; people
who have risked much to come to your island and honor
his memory.
In that spirit and so that we can honor these two men
and their loved ones I ask you all to join me in a
moment of silence for Shaka Sankofa who was taken by my
government and JoJo White who was taken far too young.
(Moment of silence)
For my father:
Many have asked me how it feels to be the son of such a
famous father. Here is the answer to that question. I
feel sad that I live in a nation that claims to have
been created in the idea of freedom; a nation that
represses, incarcerates and murders those who would
speak for the people. I feel angry that my tax dollars
have gone to pay for the corrupt police who beat, framed
and tried to murder my father. I feel angry that those
same dollars pay for the corrupt and racist judges who
sentenced him to death. I feel angry that those same
dollars pay for the bed that he will sleep on tonight
and the walls that keep him from us.
But when I look out into the crowd today I feel hope and
joy because I know that my family has your support. And
with that support I know that my father will one day be
free like your child Elian is now free. When we raise
our voices in unison the government of my country, that
racist, imperialist machine cannot ignore us.
Viva Shaka
Sankofa!
Viva JoJo White!
Viva Mumia!
Viva Fidel!
Viva La Revolution!
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