On April 10, Marilyn Zuniga, a third-grade teacher at Forest Street Elementary School in Orange, N.J., was suspended after students from her class wrote “get well” cards to Mumia Abu-Jamal.
“My 3rd graders wrote to Mumia to lift up his spirits as he is ill. #freemumia,” wrote Zuniga on her Twitter account, but has since been forced to remove the post due to the proceedings.
Mumia, who is suffering complications from diabetes, is seriously ill and remains incarcerated at SCI Mahoney in Frackville, Pa.,—despite pleas from activists around the world for him to receive adequate medical treatment.
Mumia, a former Black Panther and recognized as a voice of the oppressed, was twice scheduled to be executed for the 1981 murder of a police officer—but a mass movement stopped both executions and transferred his sentence to life. Mumia was targeted and framed-up by the police for the murder—similar to what other respected activists in the Black Panther Party had experienced.
People are again rallying for Mumia, including supporters like Marilyn Zuniga. Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m., the Orange Board of Education is meeting at the Orange Preparatory Academy auditorium at 400 Central Avenue in Orange to decide further actions against Zuniga, who is suspended without pay.
“We stand by Mumia and by Marilyn Zuniga and urge everyone to do the same,” urged Larry Hamm, chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress in Newark, N.J.
POP is mobilizing to support Zuniga at the Board of Education meeting.
“We are calling for everyone to write, e-mail and call in for Marilyn now, just like we need you to do the same for Mumia,” added Hamm.
Orange Superintendent of Schools Ron Lee
E-mail: [email protected] ; Phone: 973.677.4040
Forest Street School Principal Yancisca Cooke
E-mail: [email protected] ; Phone 973.677.4120
Board Secretary Adekunle James
E-mail: [email protected]
Orange Board of Ed phone: 973.677.4000
