Frances Goldin at the Left Forum
June 12, 2014
Is there a better way to celebrate decades of friendship and seven books together than with a warm embrace? Collective Action- helped us break down the prison walls. Your postcards, faxes, phone calls and letters helped make it possible for Frances Goldin, Mumia’s Literary Agent who turns 90 on June 22nd, to have a contact visit with Mumia. In the next few days they will be able to hear each other, laugh and talk, without the barrier of thick plexiglass and steel between them.
Frances Goldin, is a champion of literary intellectuals, a free-thinking eclectic life-long New Yorker, and a dedicated lower east side housing activist. In 2012 she was barred from visiting any prisoner for six months, because on a whim and being the effervescent literary genius that she is took a picture of herself at 88 reading a book-- topless--and sent it in the mail to another prisoner (not Mumia) at SCI Greene.
Anatomy of a Victory!
The prison was counting on our silence, but we know we have to fight for our human rights and each of us will not back down.
*Frances was not ashamed, and spoke out protesting her banning.
*Mumia Abu-Jamal filed a grievance and appealed, exhausting his administrative remedies.
*Rachel Wolkenstein, Esq. on behalf of Mumia and Frances Goldin wrote and called
DOC secretary Wetzel, Warden Kerestes, & DOC chief counsel Theron Perez.
The prison knew Mumia and Frances would go to court.
*People from around the world participated in a phone, fax and postcard campaign advocating for this human right to visit. Prison Radio printed and distributing 5K postcards. This is one albeit small but important victory on the road to freedom, there are more to come. The prison industrial complex demands our dehumanization, we at every moment need to assert our human rights.
Frances will have a visit on her 90th birthday!