Voice of the International African Revolution! - Uhuru News
Voice of the International African Revolution! - Uhuru News
Voice of the International African Revolution! - Uhuru News
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
April 2003 THE BURNING SPEAR 5<br />
Continued from previous page<br />
which <strong>the</strong> Chairman stated that it was<br />
<strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> slave “to kill <strong>the</strong><br />
slavemaster and destroy <strong>the</strong> system <strong>of</strong><br />
slavery.”<br />
In an unprincipled and subjective<br />
manner, Kamleiter accused <strong>the</strong><br />
Chairman <strong>of</strong> using “violence <strong>of</strong> words,”<br />
even as Kamleiter routinely talks about<br />
U.S. patriotism and <strong>the</strong> American flag,<br />
<strong>the</strong> symbol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most violent social<br />
system on Earth, responsible for centuries<br />
<strong>of</strong> genocide, slaughter, terror and<br />
rape across <strong>the</strong> planet.<br />
It is interesting that Kamleiter and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r white pacifists are never seen<br />
demonstrating against police brutality<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r forms <strong>of</strong> colonial violence<br />
that plague our community. Nor do <strong>the</strong>y<br />
seem to have a problem with <strong>the</strong> hundreds<br />
<strong>of</strong> white anarchists and students<br />
who violently tore up <strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong> Seattle,<br />
Washington during protests against <strong>the</strong><br />
World Trade Organization.<br />
The main concern <strong>of</strong> pacifists is to<br />
protest <strong>African</strong> people’s right to speak<br />
out against our colonial conditions and<br />
express our goal to liberate ourselves<br />
from <strong>the</strong> grip <strong>of</strong> imperialism.<br />
Omali Yeshitela censored<br />
In Oakland CA, our Party was also<br />
instrumental in pulling toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> All<br />
People’s Coalition Against <strong>the</strong> War (All<br />
Peeps), an organization with <strong>African</strong>,<br />
Mexican, Filipino and Arab people in<br />
leading roles. All Peeps has held several<br />
successful actions on <strong>the</strong> terms <strong>of</strong><br />
colonized people, including <strong>the</strong> march<br />
last May across San Francisco’s<br />
Golden Gate bridge.<br />
At <strong>the</strong> same time All Peeps and <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Uhuru</strong> Movement have struggled for<br />
Chairman Omali Yeshitela and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>African</strong> People’s Socialist Party members<br />
to be able to speak at <strong>the</strong> large<br />
Bay Area anti-war rallies, many <strong>of</strong><br />
which have been coordinated by<br />
A.N.S.W.E.R., a peace group formed<br />
by <strong>the</strong> white-led Workers World Party.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> past months, A.N.S.W.E.R<br />
has been red baiteded — a tactic <strong>of</strong> discrediting<br />
a group, person, project or<br />
idea with <strong>the</strong> claim <strong>of</strong> communist<br />
involvement or association — by pacifist,<br />
Zionist and patriotic peace groups.<br />
This attack was a response to speakers<br />
supporting <strong>the</strong> <strong>African</strong> struggle <strong>of</strong><br />
Mumia Abu Jamal and for supporting<br />
<strong>the</strong> struggle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Palestinian people at<br />
A.N.S.W.E.R -sponosored peace rallies.<br />
Despite <strong>the</strong> fact that A.N.S.W.E.R<br />
has been attacked from <strong>the</strong> right, it has<br />
always arrogantly censored Chairman<br />
Omali and prevented him from speaking<br />
at its rallies. All Peeps did succeed<br />
in getting <strong>the</strong> Chairman to speak at <strong>the</strong><br />
peace rally held in Oakland on April 5.<br />
After weeks <strong>of</strong> intense struggle with<br />
organizers, <strong>the</strong> Chairman was grudgingly<br />
granted three minutes at <strong>the</strong> end<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> program. Never<strong>the</strong>less,<br />
Chairman Omali’s presentation was<br />
clearly <strong>the</strong> most dynamic and pr<strong>of</strong>ound<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day and <strong>the</strong> crowd cheered in<br />
enthusiastic support.<br />
Peace for whom?<br />
To give leadership to <strong>the</strong>se struggles<br />
raging inside <strong>the</strong> peace movement,<br />
Party-led forces called toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />
forums entitled “Peace for Whom?” in<br />
St. Petersburg on March 8 and in<br />
Oakland on April 8. “Is <strong>the</strong>re room for<br />
<strong>African</strong>s, Arabs, Indians, Mexicans and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r non-white people in <strong>the</strong> peace<br />
ples! InPDUM is calling for “$$$<br />
billions for reparations, not for<br />
war, police and prisons!”<br />
Distinguishing itself from<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r anti-war rallies, which simply<br />
called for “peace,” this<br />
demonstration called for liberation<br />
and self-determination for<br />
Iraqi, Palestinian and all<br />
oppressed peoples. Speakers<br />
rallied <strong>the</strong> people to stand<br />
against <strong>the</strong> U.S. government<br />
attacks against <strong>the</strong> <strong>African</strong> community<br />
in <strong>the</strong> U.S. and o<strong>the</strong>r colonized<br />
people in <strong>the</strong> U.S. and<br />
around <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Participating organizations<br />
Anti-war demonstration in Philadelphia, PA<br />
included InPDUM, <strong>the</strong> <strong>African</strong>-<br />
American Freedom and<br />
Even before <strong>the</strong> US-Anglo invasion<br />
Reconstruction League, <strong>the</strong> <strong>African</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Iraq <strong>of</strong>ficially began, <strong>the</strong> Philadelphia<br />
People’s Solidarity Committee, <strong>the</strong><br />
branch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>International</strong> People’s<br />
Moorish Unification Council <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Democratic <strong>Uhuru</strong> Movement<br />
World Incorporated, Friends and<br />
(InPDUM) mobilized a powerful<br />
Family <strong>of</strong> Mumia Abu-Jamal,<br />
demonstration in <strong>the</strong> crowded Monday<br />
Palestinian activists, students from<br />
evening rush hour <strong>of</strong> Center City on<br />
Moore College <strong>of</strong> Art, <strong>the</strong> Germantown<br />
March 17th.<br />
Unitarian Church and various peace<br />
Thousands <strong>of</strong> city workers on <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
and anti-war groups.<br />
way home heard <strong>the</strong> chants, saw <strong>the</strong><br />
After a spirited rally, <strong>the</strong> demonstrators<br />
joined with a student “die-in” to take<br />
banners and got a flyer in <strong>the</strong>ir hands<br />
denouncing <strong>the</strong> U.S. terrorist aggression<br />
against <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> Iraq. The<br />
over <strong>the</strong> streets around City Hall and<br />
blocked rush-hour traffic for over an<br />
demonstration called for no <strong>African</strong><br />
hour. This demonstration was <strong>the</strong> first<br />
community participation in Bush’s war<br />
<strong>of</strong> several led by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Uhuru</strong> Movement<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Middle East and demanded<br />
in Philadelphia, which stood in unity<br />
peace through social and economic<br />
with <strong>the</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> people all over <strong>the</strong><br />
justice, reparations and liberation for<br />
world denouncing U.S. terrorism.<br />
<strong>African</strong>, Arab and all oppressed peo-<br />
movement?” asked <strong>the</strong> fliers circulated<br />
for <strong>the</strong>se events.<br />
In St. Petersburg, about 90 people<br />
came out to enthusiastically participate<br />
in this critical discussion, which was<br />
facilitated by Jim Harper, <strong>the</strong> new editor<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Weekly Planet, <strong>the</strong> popular<br />
Tampa Bay free weekly paper.<br />
Panelists included Sheridan<br />
Murphy, Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Florida<br />
American Indian Movement; Beth<br />
Schrivener <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Community Coalition<br />
Against War and Terrorism <strong>of</strong><br />
Gainesville; Harry Simon, Union del<br />
Barrio, San Diego; Bob Tancig, Florida<br />
Coalition for Justice and Peace,<br />
Tallahassee; Omali Yeshitela, Florida<br />
Alliance and Chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>African</strong><br />
People’s Socialist Party and Mark<br />
Kamleiter, co-chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Florida Green<br />
Party and member <strong>of</strong> United <strong>Voice</strong>s for<br />
Peace.<br />
Needless to say, Kamleiter’s white<br />
nationalist stance was clearly exposed<br />
in a principled way.<br />
In Oakland, <strong>the</strong> event opened with a<br />
salute to Stephen Funk, U.S. marine<br />
conscientious objector. Stephen was<br />
followed by a lively panel featuring<br />
Noura Erakat, Arab Anti-discrimination<br />
Committee; Quetzaoceloaciua, Barrio<br />
Defense Committee; Angelica<br />
Cabande, Filipinos for Global Justice<br />
Not War; Penny Hess, <strong>African</strong> People’s<br />
Solidarity Committee and Chairman<br />
Omali Yeshitela.<br />
At both events, <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
audience united with <strong>the</strong> struggles<br />
being made by <strong>the</strong> very unified colonized<br />
forces that <strong>the</strong> only true peace is<br />
peace through national liberation and<br />
social justice.<br />
As Chairman Omali Yeshitela<br />
summed up in St. Petersburg:<br />
Philadelphia <strong>Uhuru</strong> movement<br />
leads anti-war demonstrations<br />
The Palestinian and Arab participants<br />
were especially appreciative that<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Uhuru</strong> Movement called to “Free,<br />
Free Palestine!” and for self-determination<br />
for Iraqi and Arab peoples.<br />
The o<strong>the</strong>r anti-war mobilizations, led<br />
by predominantly white left groups, did<br />
not voice unity with <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arab<br />
peoples to sovereignty. In fact, mobilizations<br />
that had originally supported<br />
<strong>the</strong> Palestinian people’s liberation<br />
struggle against Israel had capitulated<br />
to criticism by white nationalists. The<br />
white left had dropped this demand,<br />
raising instead such slogans as “Bring<br />
<strong>the</strong> troops home,” and calling to stop<br />
anti-Semitism!<br />
The movement also participated in<br />
daily rallies and demonstrations in <strong>the</strong><br />
week after <strong>the</strong> invasion began, including<br />
a massive student walk-out from<br />
high school and university campuses.<br />
Students expressed enthusiastic<br />
support for <strong>the</strong> presentation made by<br />
Philadelphia InPDUM President<br />
Kamau Becktemba at <strong>the</strong>ir rally. He<br />
deepened <strong>the</strong>ir understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
world situation by explaining that <strong>the</strong><br />
U.S. is at war with <strong>the</strong> oppressed and<br />
colonized peoples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world in a desperate<br />
struggle to keep control <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
people’s resources.<br />
Becktemba called on <strong>the</strong> students<br />
to unite with <strong>the</strong> national liberation<br />
struggles taking place all over <strong>the</strong><br />
world, including in Colombia, Palestine,<br />
Africa, <strong>the</strong> Philippines and <strong>the</strong> Middle<br />
“It’s no secret that historically <strong>the</strong><br />
peace movement has been a white<br />
movement. It may be that I will not be<br />
able to participate in <strong>the</strong> peace movement<br />
as it has historically been understood<br />
in this country, because that is<br />
not <strong>the</strong> peace that I am looking for.<br />
“When you talk about peace you<br />
have to talk about national liberation.<br />
That is <strong>the</strong> fundamental question. If you<br />
start with <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> national liberation<br />
— <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> peoples to be free<br />
<strong>the</strong>n you start <strong>of</strong>f recognizing that <strong>the</strong><br />
conditions <strong>of</strong> existence for most people<br />
in <strong>the</strong> world, including Indians, <strong>African</strong>s<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs inside this country are<br />
always violent.<br />
“There is never a nonviolent period<br />
when black people, Native people and<br />
oppressed peoples around <strong>the</strong> world<br />
are not suffering from violence.<br />
Violence is not something that just disturbs<br />
<strong>the</strong> peace <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> white community.<br />
“People invoke <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong><br />
Gandhi and Martin Lu<strong>the</strong>r King. What is<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>oundly important to understand<br />
about both Gandhi and King is that <strong>the</strong>y<br />
were both participants in a struggle for<br />
self determination <strong>of</strong> oppressed peoples.<br />
They weren’t just standing above<br />
<strong>the</strong> fray.<br />
“The question <strong>of</strong> peace is not just<br />
some purely abstract question. It<br />
requires us to take sides. If you know<br />
that you live in a country that constructed<br />
itself <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> oppression and<br />
blood <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> masses <strong>of</strong> people around<br />
<strong>the</strong> world, <strong>the</strong>n you must take a stand<br />
on <strong>the</strong> side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> liberation <strong>of</strong><br />
oppressed peoples.”<br />
Peace through national<br />
liberation and<br />
self-determination!<br />
What you can do!<br />
Tribunal organizing meetings<br />
open to <strong>the</strong> community to join<br />
are held every Wednesday<br />
night at 7:30pm at <strong>the</strong> <strong>Uhuru</strong><br />
House at 1021 S. 49th St, at<br />
Chester Avenue in West<br />
Philadelphia.<br />
Call 215-724-3535<br />
to find out how you<br />
can participate!<br />
East, and to join <strong>the</strong> struggle led by <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>African</strong> community inside <strong>the</strong> U.S. for<br />
reparations and social and economic<br />
justice.<br />
In March, InPDUM and <strong>the</strong> <strong>African</strong><br />
People’s Solidarity Committee also<br />
held successful anti-war forums on<br />
campuses around <strong>the</strong> Philadelphia<br />
area: at Temple University, Rutgers<br />
University, New Jersey and at Moore<br />
College <strong>of</strong> Art, as well as at Robin’s<br />
Bookstore in Center City and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Uhuru</strong><br />
House in West Philadelphia.<br />
The anti-war efforts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Uhuru</strong><br />
Movement brought people to realize<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re can be no meaningful peace<br />
in <strong>the</strong> world today without genuine justice<br />
and liberation for <strong>African</strong>, Arab and<br />
all oppressed people. Armed with this<br />
understanding, people signed up to<br />
participate in building <strong>the</strong> World<br />
Tribunal for Reparations for <strong>African</strong><br />
People that <strong>the</strong> <strong>International</strong> People’s<br />
Democratic <strong>Uhuru</strong> Movement is sponsoring<br />
in Philadelphia on November 15-<br />
16, 2003.<br />
<strong>African</strong> People’s Socialist Party