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Jericho '98 March and Rally
Between 5,000 and 7,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1998 to protest the Big Lie: The U.S. has no political prisoners. And like Joshua at the legendary battle of Jericho, the marchers circled the citadel of their foes -- the White House -- and blasted its walls with the clear trumpet call of truth.
A new generation of energized youth stood shoulder to shoulder with veteran members of The Struggle. Huge photos of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, Sundiata Acoli, the MOVE 9, the 15 Puerto Rican independistas, and many more were held high in the air so America could see the faces of its political prisoners. Scores of banners were proudly unfurled, with messages like: "Their Freedom is our Freedom: FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS".
There were rallies in Malcom X and Lafayette Parks. Geronimo Ji Jaga, himself imprisoned for 27 years on a COINTELPRO frameup, told the crowd: "This is a dream come true for many brothers and sisters who are behind those walls, who for years have struggled to try and get the message out to everyone that this country does in fact have political prisoners and prisoners of war."
Participants trekked to D.C. from Houston, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Kansas, Nebraska, Montreal, Minnesota, Orlando, Hawaii, South Carolina... virtually every corner of the U.S. The day ended with Michael Africa performing his well-known rap, "Just because it's legal don't make it right."
The march was covered extensively by the revolutionary and radical press. The "liberal' alternative press virtually ignored it. And, of course, it was a total non-event to the corporate-owned mainstream media. But "just because it's not on Nightline , that don't mean it didn't happen."
Revolutionary Worker, Works in Progress
A new generation of energized youth stood shoulder to shoulder with veteran members of The Struggle. Huge photos of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, Sundiata Acoli, the MOVE 9, the 15 Puerto Rican independistas, and many more were held high in the air so America could see the faces of its political prisoners. Scores of banners were proudly unfurled, with messages like: "Their Freedom is our Freedom: FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS".
There were rallies in Malcom X and Lafayette Parks. Geronimo Ji Jaga, himself imprisoned for 27 years on a COINTELPRO frameup, told the crowd: "This is a dream come true for many brothers and sisters who are behind those walls, who for years have struggled to try and get the message out to everyone that this country does in fact have political prisoners and prisoners of war."
Participants trekked to D.C. from Houston, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Kansas, Nebraska, Montreal, Minnesota, Orlando, Hawaii, South Carolina... virtually every corner of the U.S. The day ended with Michael Africa performing his well-known rap, "Just because it's legal don't make it right."
The march was covered extensively by the revolutionary and radical press. The "liberal' alternative press virtually ignored it. And, of course, it was a total non-event to the corporate-owned mainstream media. But "just because it's not on Nightline , that don't mean it didn't happen."
Revolutionary Worker, Works in Progress
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