Sonali: Recently, you filed a commentary about women’s tennis, based on Venus Williams’ Wimbledon win. It stood out from your usual political commentaries on foreign and domestic policy. Are you a tennis fan? What motivated you to write it?
Mumia: I am a tennis fan, well, a women’s tennis fan. This is my second piece on Venus Williams. What she did was truly remarkable, not just in a world of tennis but in the world of sports. I recently did a piece on Barry Bonds and, while I’m hardly a baseball fan, sports is a central issue in the lives and fantasies of millions. It shouldn’t be ignored by political folks. Our social and political lives are usually deeply linked to the sports world.
Sonali: How is your role as journalist influenced by your status as an imprisoned person?
Mumia: This is one helluva beat! And, it’s one that most media seriously ignores. Over two million folks in prison and media studiously ignores it. Why? Most folks know what they think they know about prisons from shows like Oz. Most prisoners look at those shows and almost die laughing.
Sonali: The corporate media has mostly been silent on your case, especially recently regarding the latest hearing. When they do cover it, they commonly refer to you as a “convicted cop killer”. Yet, your support internationally continues to burgeon. Do you attribute this to the power of independent media?
Mumia: I think indy media is obviously important but also, since the war, millions of folks have learned in ways that are undeniable that the corporate media doesn’t tell the truth, even when it comes to the most important issues facing a nation, war and peace. Now if that’s the case when it comes to war, what about everyday issues of social justice?
Sonali: Regarding the various books you’ve published over the years, what role has book writing played in your ability to express yourself to the outside world? Are you working on any new books?
Mumia: Books are flights of freedom and perhaps one of the last free media around. I’m writing about jailhouse lawyers, truly an unknown breed who have helped many folks find freedom or a touch of civil rights.
Sonali: You have faced the death penalty for many years and in the US there has been a love-hate relationship with this method of punishment. Despite some recent high profile executions, like that of Tookie Williams, there seems to be a waning of support of the death penalty, particularly with some states considering banning it. Are you optimistic that Americans may be starting to reject it?
Mumia: For many folks, there’s a great deal of ambivalence on the death penalty and I think the events in Illinois a few years ago and other cases like the Duke rape case, causes folks to question the state. Because it’s time; it’s the right thing to do. Public support is always important. I thank you for your time and your interest and I thank those listeners who are my supporters for their loving support. On the move – long live John Africa.
Special Thanks to Julie Svendsen for transcribing this interview
----
For more information about Mumia's case including the explosive new crime scene photos, please visit the new Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal website.
Also visit: FreeMumia.com (NYC Coalition to Free Mumia), FreeMumia.org (San Francisco Mobilization to Free Mumia), EmajOnline.com (Educators for Mumia), PrisonRadio.org (Mumia’s Radio Essays), or contact:
International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180
E-mail - icffmaj@aol.com
Homepage:: http://Abu-Jamal-News.com(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
