Mumia Debate turns into a Epic Fail

On Monday November 8th, me and Paradise joined a caravan of Pittsburghers traveling to Philadelphia to support Mumia Abu Jamal. In January, the court vacated a 2008 decision throwing out Abu-Jamal’s death sentence and ordered a new hearing scheduled Tuesday, November 9th. The Philadelphia DA made it clear he wants Mumia dead and was seeking to have Mumia’s death sentence reinstated– regardless of the facts. So, we went to join an international crowd of Mumia supporters rallying outside of the courthouse for Mumia’s freedom.

But, the real fireworks took place Monday night at the premiere of the Tigre Hill’s new film, “The Barrel of a Gun” a “documentary” made to “prove” Mumia’s alleged guilt. Sponsored by the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, the showing was meant to garner support for those misguided individuals that want to see Mumia executed. However, longtime Mumia supporter, Pam Africa arranged for a debate after the film specifically regarding the facts of the case. So, even though the police put on the event, Pam and the “Free Mumia” movement made sure the crowd was full of Mumia supporters. Being in the crowd of cops and activists was very surreal and the fact that both men debating for Mumia’s death were black made it even more so.

Yes, the filmmaker Tigre Hill, although obviously self hating, is black, as well as Philadelphia’s District Attorney Seth Williams. The two were debating Professor and Filmmaker Dr. Johanna Fernández (who coincidentally has a critically acclaimed documentary about Mumia’s case called “Justice on Trial”, but is having a hard time getting it shown in Philadelphia) and Criminal Defense Attorney and Activist Michael Coard. If this debate was a football game it would have been 100-0. Dr. Fernández and Attorney Coard time and time again brought up pertinent facts that were subsequently ignored by Williams and Hill. Not only did filmmaker Tigre Hill at one point walk off the stage, but the debate ended with him receiving a Cease and Desist order because he used parts of another film on police brutality in Philadelphia without getting the proper clearances.

All in all, the night was a complete failure for Tigre Hill and even a film critic who thinks Mumia is guilty called his “documentary” “DEEPLY, VISCERALLY BAD”. But, don’t take my word for it, watch the video for yourself. The footage also contains an interview with Attorney Coard, as well as, Tigre Hill’s reaction to “getting served”.