New Africa [link], a nation captive in the USA!
"Chokwe Lumumba Talks about the 'Jackson-Kush' Plan on 'Solidarity' Site"
2013-05-02 by Donna Ladd from "Jackson Free Press" [http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/weblogs/politics-blog/2013/may/02/chokwe-lumumba-talks-about-the-jackson-kush-plan-t/]
Doing
some research just now, I ran into this interview from last week with
mayoral candidate Chokwe Lumumba that I think many of you will find
interesting. In it, he discusses the "Jackson-Kush Plan" and where it
fits into his organization's plan "for self-determination and economic
democracy
From the plan: “In order to create the
democratic space desired, we aim to introduce several critical practices
and tools into the governance process of the Jackson city government
that will help foster and facilitate the growth of participatory
democracy” [to include Participatory Budgeting, Gender-Sensitive
Budgeting, Human Rights Education and Promotion for city employees, a
Human Rights Charter, Expanding Public Transportation, Solar and
Wind-Powered Generators, and a “South-South Trading Network and Free
Trade Zone” to partner with the Caribbean Community and Common Market
(CARICOM) and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) — ed.]
In the interview with Lumumba, he explains show his work in Jackson is part of a larger plan for the region:
[begin excerpt]
CL:
Our plan is essentially a self-determination tactic and strategy for
African people in America, particularly and specifically in the areas
which are affected by the plan. We call it the Jackson-Kush Plan,
because Jackson is the city that we’re in and where we are running for
mayor in May 2013, while the western part of Mississippi is the Kush
District.
From Tunica, which is in the northwest part of
Mississippi, all the way down to Wilkerson County in the southwest, are
18 contiguous counties. All are predominantly Black, with the exception
of Warren County which is 47% Black.
We’re fighting for the
self-determination of that region. This type of self-determination is
strategically or tactically tied to enhancing other fights of
self-determination in other areas of the South.
We’ve often heard
of the Black Belt South [the historic term of reference to agricultural
regions in the Deep South with majority Black population — ed.], but
hopefully self-determination is not only in the South. It will inspire
movements of self-determination intelligently laid in other parts of the
country.
[end excerpt]
Lumumba told the interview why he ran for City Council in the first place:
[begin excerpt]
Should
we run? We didn’t want to give credence to an oppressive system… But
we’re in a city that’s 85% Black, in a county that’s 70% Black, and in a
region where 17 of the 18 counties are predominantly Black.
So we
adjusted our strategy to account for the fact that people with whom we
are organizing in good faith, to fight against the conditions that they
are experiencing, should be entitled to put people in office and expect
them to do what they wanted them to do.
We decided it was
important that we run for seats, and pick those where there was a high
probability we could win. So we ran for the City Council.
[end excerpt]
Lumumba says he hopes to establish an "alternative" form of governing:
[begin excerpt]
ATC: Have you developed particular forms for expressing self-determination?
CL:
We have created a People’s Assembly (PA) as part of our strategy in
organizing our movement. The People’s Assembly is open to the people in
the area. At first we held a PA in Ward 2 because I’m the Councilman of
Ward 2. Now we’re expanding it to cover the whole city of Jackson.
People
can voice their complaints but more importantly, try to take control
over planning for city government. This can be a base for organizing. We
want it to become an alternative source of governing. What we’re doing
is building an infrastructure for a liberated people.
[end excerpt]
Here he addresses his campaign:
[begin excerpt]
CL:
The campaign depends upon the support of the people. But we’re not
saying that in order to vote for Chokwe you have to believe in an
independent party. Instead we say that in order to vote for Chokwe, you
should believe that we’re moving toward a form of independence from the
kind of oppressive things that we’ve had in the past; we’re moving
toward a people’s form of government.
Of course we do have to
confront this question of what’s going to be an independent political
party. What do we want to do to rescue us from the parties that
currently exist and the malfeasance which they have toward our people?
[end excerpt]
More about the "Kush District":
[begin excerpt]
CL:
This is probably less of a problem in the Jackson election, the mayor’s
election, than it will be as we expand into other parts of the Kush
District and other parts of the state. Generally speaking, in Jackson
and in much of the Kush District it is difficult to really make much of a
difference in local elections where 85% of the voters are Black. But
our objectives are not limited to Jackson. Our objectives are not even
limited to the Kush District.
Ultimately we’re talking about
expanding self-determination, expanding human rights. We’re talking
about expanding socially and economically just systems throughout the
state. And when you talk that talk, then voter suppression becomes a
very real response.
"Why We All Should Care About the Mayoral Race in Jackson, Mississippi"
2014-04-03 by Asha Bandele from "Huffington Post" [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/asha-bandele-/jackson-mississippi-mayor-election_b_5086812.html]:
For
those of us living far from the south, discussions of Mississippi may
make us recall the Civil Rights Movement, some period in time we now
think more likely relevant in a history book. But believing that
couldn't be more wrong. On April 8 there will be a special mayoral
election in Jackson, Mississippi and it has implications for all of us
and here's why. Chokwe Antar Lumumba the son of the late Mayor Chokwe
Lumumba who was an attorney revered nationally by human rights advocates
the world over and who died suddenly in office on February 25, is
running. Like his father before him, Chokwe Antar believes in and has
the support of his father's closest allies and citizens across the city.
Together they are seeking to continue the former mayor's legacy, which
was to demonstrate before the world what a people-led, democratically
governed city looks like. A Lumumba-led Jackson will serve as a model to
municipalities across the country.
The late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba,
who was propelled into office in June of 2013 by some 87 percent of the
voters in Jackson, was lauded at the time of his death as having done
more in eight months than many had done in eight years. In covering the
late mayor's funeral, the New York Times captured his impact [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/us/jackson-mourns-mayor-with-militant-past-who-won-over-skeptics.html?_r=0]
when they quoted former Mississippi governor William Winter who
memorialized the mayor by saying "'Based on the stereotypes this old
white man had formed about (Lumumba), I thought that he would divide our
city. I was wrong. The strong leadership of Chokwe Lumumba has opened
the door to a bright future for us.'"
I, as well as
democracy-loving people across the nation do, support Chokwe Antar's
candidacy because his work with his father as an attorney, on the
campaign trail and as an foot-soldier for that which is just and
compassionate, assures us that he will carry on the Lumumba legacy [http://electlumumbamayor.com/index.html].
He does not do so alone.
Chokwe
Antar takes up the mantle of leadership after deep council with family
and the late mayor's closest political advisors in government and life. A
senior partner in the successful law firm that his father built, Antar
was instrumental in defending the people of Jackson, most notably in his
work to free the Scott Sisters, who had been incarcerated for some 16
years of a life sentence for their widely disputed role in a robbery in
which no one was hurt and 11 dollars were reportedly stolen.
There
is ground to lose if Chokwe Antar is not elected. I think of the racial
profiling ordinance his father worked to pass in his role as
councilman. Its application must be defended and assured. I think of the
funding for improvements too long neglected roads and other areas of
infrastructure that Mayor Lumumba was able to achieve through a one
percent tax increase agreed to by elected officials from both sides. And
I worry, having heard the news that a mural of the late mayor created
out of love after his death, was painted over, reportedly because it
would remind voters too much of him and unfairly elevate Chokwe Antar's
campaign. We already see that without right-minded leadership, already
there are those seeking to redact the voice and expression of the people
-- indeed the constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of speech.
Because
I believe in justice, because I believe in compassion, because I
believe in freedom of speech and because I believe in the demonstration
of all these things, not the for-camera proclamation; and because I
stand with the hundreds who gathered in the rain when he announced his
run with his sister, Rukia Lumumba who declared, "My father was the
guide. My brother is the light," I support the candidacy of Chokwe Antar
Lumumba.
And so should you.
"Rukia Lumumba Shocked, Hurt by Removal of Mural Honoring Her Father"
posted 2014-04-04 by R.L. Nave to "Jackson Free Press" [http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/weblogs/jackblog/2014/apr/04/rukia-lumumba-shocked-hurt-by-removal-of-mural-hon/]:
Rukia
Lumumba, daughter of late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and sister of mayoral
candidate Chokwe A. Lumumba, wrote the following letter about the
removal of a mural honoring her father. It is published here verbatim:
---
Open Letter to Jackson, Mississippi on the Painting Over of the Mural in Tribute to My Father, Mayor Chokwe Lumumba -
I
am both saddened and disappointed to hear of the decision to paint over
the mural that was created in tribute to my father, Mayor Chokwe
Lumumba. The mural was created by Derrick Perkins & several young
artists to honor my father by displaying his mantra " One City, One Aim,
One Destiny" on a city park's wall. The mural was painted prior to my
brother’s decision to run for Mayor and absent my family’s request or
knowledge. That is why it was especially hurtful and came as a shock to
learn that the mural was painted over due to complaints, by a few, that
the message of the mural was too close to my brother, Chokwe Antar
Lumumba’s platform. When my father passed away on February 25th, the
number of people who said publicly that he had done more for the city of
Jackson in eight months than many had done in years, was innumerable.
My father’s mission and vision was to ensure a city that was made ever
stronger, economically, spiritually and ethically. That my brother,
Chokwe Antar, has, after deep consultation, chosen to carry forward that
mission, should not be disparaged.
For me and many residents of
Jackson, MS that mural served as memorial and a reminder of the love my
father had for the City of Jackson. It served as a constant call to
Jacksonians, near and far, that we must work together to help Jackson
RISE! The mural embodied my father's vision - a vision rooted in growth,
unity, democracy and cultural diversity. I am sincerely grateful to
Derrick Perkins & the many young artists who took the initiative to
put their creative genius to work, and created such a beautiful and
fitting tribute to the man I knew as Daddy and whom many others knew as
friend and Mayor Lumumba. Although this is disappointing, my family and I
remain encouraged and steadfast in our commitment to walk in his
memory. As my father often said, "God, plus love, plus people's power
equals progress."
Thank you all for your prayers and continued support.
One City, One Aim, One Destiny!
Rukia Lumumba
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