Saturday, Dec. 9, the Northeast Political Prisoner Coalition will observe International Human Rights Day in what hopefully will be an annual event. Last year, The Brooklyn Commons at 388 Atlantic Ave. was packed as NEPPC presented a “Cultural Night for Human Rights.” This year, although the venue will be the same, the program will be quite different. Anchoring this year’s event will be a book signing for the highly anticipated reprint of “The Collective Autobiography of the Panther 21: Look for Me in the Whirlwind.”
Although the entire original text is present, this reprint presents new commentary from Panther 21 members Sekou Odinga, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, Shaba Om and Jamal Joseph, along with a foreword by Imam Jamil Al-Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown) and an afterword by Mumia Abu-Jamal. Also in the new work is commentary from editors Dequi Kioni-Sadiki and Matt Meyer, along with photographs and the words of activists and political prisoners. Sekou Odinga, Jamal Joseph, Dequi Kioni-Sadiki and Matt Meyer will be present Dec. 9 to sign books and give remarks.
In the cultural realm, there will be performances by Obediah Wright’s Dance Theater, poet/instrumentalist Ngoma, jazz vocalist Vienna Carroll, a youth fashion show, progressive hip-hop group Collective Flow and an art showing curated by Sharon Shoatz. Speakers for the evening include Larry Hamm of the New Jersey-based People’s Organization for Progress and Haitian activist Dahoud Andre.
This important event takes place at the Brooklyn Commons, 388 Atlantic Ave., between Hoyt and Bond streets Saturday, Dec. 9, starting at 7:30 p.m. For further information go to the Northeast Political Prisoner Facebook page, email FreeThemAll2016@gmail.com or call 718-512-5008. All proceeds generated by this event will support NEPPC’s ongoing work on behalf of political prisoners as well as support an important community institution, The Commons Café.