Explaining why celebrating capitalism, colonialism and imperialism on the 4th of July is not in the interest of working and oppressed people, a coalition of a dozen local organizations held a noontime rally at City Hall on July 4. Speakers spoke with fire in their hearts. They called for Mumia Abu-Jamal’s release after 43 years of unjust incarceration; for a free Palestine and an end to genocide; for the U.S. out of the Philippines and Korea; for unity with migrant workers — no deportations; and for solidarity with the first strike by city workers in 40 years.

Organizing groups and endorsers included Mobilization4Mumia, Anakbayan Philly, Philly Educators for Palestine, Community Action Relief Project, the SOL Collective, Workers World Party, Philly Socialists, Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and International Jewish Labor Bund.

Led by a colorful banner that said “Let the Dragons Fly — Reject Amerikan Empire — All Power to the Anti-Colonial Struggle!,” the demonstrators marched in the streets to where a rally of striking American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 workers was about to start.

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Over 100 people rallied at Philadelphia’s Malcolm X Park to “Free Mumia” on July 5, forty-three years after he was sentenced to death on July 3, 1982.

The event was endorsed by Philly Peace Park, Workers World Party, Philly Democratic Socialists of America, Black Lives Matter Philly, BLM Boston, Montco4Palestine, Mobilization4Mumia, Philly Palestine Coalition, Freedom Socialist Party, Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Ubuntu Freedom and Black Alliance for Peace. Speakers included YahNé Ndgo, Gabe Bryant, Pam Africa, Musa Bey, Ramona Africa and Varvara Lazaridis.

Behind a yellow banner that read “Mumia’s struggle is about Justice for all of us” in black and red lettering, participants marched down 52nd Street to the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, where AFSCME DC 33 workers were holding down strike picketing. Strikers and Mumia supporters together chanted and sang “Solidarity Forever” for ten minutes in support of the workers struggle for justice before the march for justice for all political prisoners continued back to Malcolm X Park.

Incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, Mumia, now 71 years old, is still behind bars at SCI Mahanoy in Pennsylvania. One of the most well-known prisoners in the world, the struggle to release Mumia continues to this day.