"We Charge Genocide, Again" - Jalil Muntaqim on The Spirit of Mandela Tribunal, Political Prisoners, and a Life in Struggle

In this episode we interview Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army veteran Jalil Muntaqim. Muntaqim was political prisoner for nearly half a century due to his involvement in the liberation struggle. He was released from prison in October of 2019 after eleven parole denials. He is the author of We Are Our Own Liberators, which we discuss some in the episode, and Escaping The Prism… Fade to Black, a collection of poetry and essays.

In this discussion we talk about some of Muntaqim’s life, political development, and organizing both before being incarcerated, and during his 49 years in prison. Muntaqim recounts some of the thinkers who most strongly influenced his political development. He also talks about many political prisoners still held in US prisons that people need to fight for. In terms of that struggle, he highlights the importance of In The Spirit of Mandela International Tribunal on US Human Rights Violations which is upcoming in October of 2021. This Spirt of Mandela campaign is a continuation of a long history of international human rights efforts led by the Black Left in the United States. Muntaqim talks about The Spirit of Mandela Tribunal’s relationship to the 70th Anniversary of the We Charge Genocide campaign led by William Patterson and Paul Robeson. And we ask Muntaqim about his own efforts organizing international human rights campaigns from behind the walls.

Millennials Are Killing Capitalism has signed on as an endorser of The Spirit of Mandela campaign and we encourage others to do the same. It is an international effort, so endorsers outside of the US can participate in supporting this campaign as well. Go to SpiritofMandela.org to learn more, to endorse the tribunal, and to support financially.

Additionally, we seek Muntaqim’s insights on the ways that the iconography of the Black Panther Party has been co-opted and profited from, and how these efforts in no way support the political legacy or financially support actual members of the Black Panther Party who are often political prisoners or veterans of the movement needing financial support after years of sacrifice and repression. In light of this, we also are becoming monthly patrons of the patreon fund that has been set up for Mutual Aid for Veteran Black Panther Party Members. And we encourage others to do the same.