I sit here at my desk, more than an hour removed from hearing the news that
the Philadelphia District Attorney's office had dropped the death sentence against
Mumia Abu-Jamal. I sit here, and listen to the rain lessen its pace outside my
window and let it sink in.

Thirty years is a long time to live on a razor's edge.

I think back to when I first became aware of Mumia. I was at Hofstra University, young
and Black and proud. I felt, and still do feel that his conviction for the murder of
Officer Daniel Faulkner was yet another gross injustice inflicted upon people of
color on American soil. I remember those talks with friends about his case. I can
remember all of the rallies I attended, my work with different activist groups. I
remember being deemed 'radical' outwardly and silently. I remember having to
swallow a pill of pain at hearing a relative smirk and deem Mumia 'nothing but a
guilty cop-killer.' And over the years, I admit, I got disillusioned. I saw some of
these same folks who chanted for his release in marches become opportunists.
One person who shall remain nameless here literally told me, 'Mumia is important,
but not THAT important. Think of the Iraqis!!' I've seen some of these 'professional
protesters' hop from one cause to another as if they're open bars. You and I may
see them in their next guest spot with the Occupy movement. But for the faithful,
the dedicated, the ones who fought tirelessly and defiant, for Pam Africa and MOVE
and Mumia's family...this day is yours and his to embrace the sunshine.

The fight doesn't end here. Let's not forget that this man was sentenced to death
for thirty years. Let's not forget that Mumia is still going to be behind those bars
for the rest of his life for a case that smacks of suspicion and racism. We can't just
be satisfied now. We have to press onward. Because there's many people who still
see him as a 'cop-killer'. Because there's others that see him as nothing more than
a n-----. There's others still that are using the legal system as another tool to lynch.
The real victory is when Mumia Abu-Jamal and others unjustly imprisoned due to
antiquated racist precepts can walk into the sunshine as free men.

Free the man, free the minds, free the land.