NBPP on Bro. Bashir Hameed + More

[nattyreb]

Via: babazayid@yahoo.com
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NATIONAL MINISTRY OF CULTURE

PO BOX 25332, NEWARK, NJ 07101

201-602-0780

September 2, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


FREEDOM FIGHTER RETURNS TO JERSEY FOR FUNERAL


On Thursday, September 4th, funeral rites will take place for freedom fighter Basheer Hameed at Masjid Dar Ul Islam, 602-616 Salem Avenue, in Elizabeth. Services will begin at 9:30a.m.

Rosetta York’s boldest son was raised in Linden, New Jersey. In 1968, he joined the Black Panther Party while in Oakland, California inspired by the enormous revolutionary activities and upheavals of that incredible period. When he returned to New Jersey, he served as deputy chairman, helping to establish chapters and recruits throughout the overhype upsouth state. It was these organizing efforts that made him a target for the U.S. government COINTELPRO operations which did more to destroy the Black Liberation Movement than single force of that time.

“Growing up in Roselle, one of my best friend’s used to tell me about this big, tall brave uncle who was a Panther, who always had to live on the run because the police where always looking for him for as long as he knew,” explained Zayid Muhammad, the Party’s national minister of culture who has been an outspoken advocate for Black political prisoners for over 20 years.

“That uncle was Rosetta York’s courageous son, Basheer Hameed, whom we all come to know and love, a man of amazing strength and character, one of my supreme heros.”

In 1981, Hameed, along with his codefendant and Panther comrade Abdul Majid, were wrongly convicted for the murder of a Queens police officer, even though authorities had strong evidence that the actual killers were known drug runners. Hence they became known as the Queens 2. They were both sentenced to 25 years to life and have exhausted all of their appeals. Recently, Hameed became the subject of a campaign to receive proper medical care upon falling seriously ill. New York Governor Paterson ultimately authorized his proper hospitalization, only to find out he was afflicted with pancreatic cancer, a rare but fast-acting illness. He returned to the ancestors on August 30th, ironically the Black August birth anniversary of his Panther comrade, Fred Hampton…

In other calendar activity, the ‘Quality of Life Unity Rally’ originally slated for Tuesday, September 16th, in the ongoing Battle of the Soul of Newark’s South Ward will be held instead on Tuesday, September 30th at the corner
of Bergen Street and Custer Avenue at 12 noon. This is an ongoing struggle to prevent an unwanted liquor establishment from coming into this historic Black neighborhood.

\ Unlike the protest focus of the previous gatherings, this gathering will also showcase some of the enormously positive things happening in the neighborhood. This will include a spotlight of the TEAM Academy’s students. TEAM Academy is a very highly regarded charter just two blocks from the contested site.

Just last week, the neighborhood resistance effort rallied around community clergy and held a Unity Prayer Vigil which included a nearly block-long ‘wall of silence,’ a high form of protest speak to the appreciation of the community.

For more information, please call 973-318-7013…

(Also previously noted in their recent P.R. in the Metro-Organizing section is this: On Monday, September 22nd, the New Black Panther Party’s Newark chapter will host “A Nite For Our Freedom Fighters,” a tribute to Black political prisoners. This will include a memorial tribute to Basheer Hameed and a spotlight on the little known case of the Cuban Five. The event will highlight the upcoming anniversary of the Jericho Movement for Political Prisoners in the United States.)

Quotable Quote:
“Enough of our freedom fighters dying and rotting in these pigfilthy prisons. Enough of buckdancing around their plight to accommodate some buckdancing Black elected officials. Either we are going to raise the hell necessary to secure their freedom and hold true to our people’s Black Power tradition or we’re not. And if we’re not we need be prepared for the consequences of that lame posture,” exclaimed an angry Zayid Muhammad, who grew up with Hameed’s nephews in New Jersey and who has advocated for justice for Black political prisoners for over 20 years now.


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