Imprisoned journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal was rushed to the hospital for coronary heart surgical procedure on Thursday following chest pains he was experiencing, Democracy Now studies.
Simply final month, Abu-Jamal supporters rallied outdoors the Philadelphia District Legal professional’s Workplace demanding Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf launch the 66-year-old and all incarcerated folks over the age of fifty amid the continuing COVID well being disaster.
“We’re holding a inhabitants captive in prisons that the prisons can’t shield,” stated Johanna Fernández, an advocate of Abu-Jamal and historical past professor at Baruch School in New York.
In the course of the March press convention, Fernandez revealed that Abu-Jamal felt “strain” on his chest and was experiencing “labored” respiration after testing constructive for COVID-19 and being recognized with congestive coronary heart illness. She shared how he initially examined unfavorable for the virus however had examined constructive by the point they held the press convention, resulting in his hospitalization final month.
“The one therapy that might save Mumia on this second of disaster is his freedom,” Fernandez stated.
Abu-Jamal has been in jail serving out a life sentence for murdering a police officer in 1981. The award-winning radio journalist was initially sentenced to demise in 1982 however garnered up a loyal assist group over the many years by his protection on the flawed US felony justice system in america. In 2011, plenty of appeals helped overturn his demise penalty sentence to a sentence of life imprisonment with out parole.
Final month, Abu-Jamal misplaced 30 kilos after contracting the lethal virus on the Mahanoy State Correctional Establishment the place he has been serving out his life sentence. Throughout his hospitalization final month, Fernandez wrote a report revealing that Abu-Jamal was “shackled to the mattress for 4 days” and “had wounds throughout his physique from the shackles that dug into his already uncooked pores and skin.”
“The choice of most governors to carry prisoners captive beneath these situations, and their refusal to decarcerate even throughout a pandemic, is a criminal offense in opposition to humanity,” Fernandez stated.
She continues to be a fierce advocate in bringing Abu-Jamal and “all sixties-era political prisoners, residence.”
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