In the Spirit of Mandela International Tribunal 2021: We Charge Genocide!
Virtual short film program and live tribunal viewing party
2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the campaign in which human rights leaders Paul Robeson and William Patterson, with the support of eminent sociologist Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, presented the “We Charge Genocide” petition to the burgeoning United Nations headquarters in 1951. Then in 1964, Minister Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik el-Shabazz) formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity, in part to bring the case of U.S. human rights abuses to the attention of the U.N.
From October 22 - 25, In the Spirit of Mandela will continue this legacy by holding an International Tribunal to levy charges of human rights violations against the U.S. The six basic charges are as follows:
1. Racist police killings of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
2. Hyper incarcerations of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
3. Political incarceration of Civil Rights/National Liberation era revolutionaries and activists, as
well as present day activists.
4. Environmental racism and its impact on Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
5. Public Health racism and disparities and its impact on Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
6. Genocide of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people as a result of the historic and systemic charges of all the above.
We are honored to partner with the In the Spirit of Mandela Coalition to be hosting a short film program with the below films, as well as a viewing party of the 2021 International Tribunal.
International Tribunal VIEWING PARTY, streamed in the Maysles Cinema Friday, 10/22 from 6–9PM
The LIVE Tribunal will take place at the The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, and tickets to attend at their space can be found here.
*Please note, all in-person events require proof of vaccination and masks worn indoors.
The following films will be available to stream for free from 10/21–27:
Spirit of Mandela Tribunal 2021 Prequel: Warning Shots (2021, 5 min.)
Free Em’ All: Interview with Sekou Odinga (2021, 17 min.)
Interview with former political prisoner Sekou Odinga on the necessity of the Spirit of Mandela International Tribunal 2021: We Charge Genocide!
Spirit of Mandela Webinar 1: What it Is-What to DO (2021, 62 min.)
This First Webinar of the Spirit of Mandela Coalition spotlights the work building towards the October 22-25, 2021 International Tribunal on Human Rights Abuses in the USA. On the 70th anniversary of Paul Robeson's "We Charge Genocide," this grouping again brings charges of gross crimes against humanity--including Genocide--to a global panel of judges. This video includes an outline of the basis of the Tribunal by Chief Prosecutor Nkechi Taifa, the origins of the plan from recently released Black Panther political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim, words of encouragement and historical context from American Indian Movement founder and International Indian Treaty Council Board member Lenny Foster, and words of inspiration and organizing from Northeast Political Prisoner Coalition leader dequi kioni-sadiki and National Chair of the Jericho Amnesty Movement (and former BLA political prisoner) Jihad Abdulmumit. Emcees A'isha Mohammed and Matt Meyer add poetry and talking points; musical clips and an historic news clip of Dhoruba bin-Wahad and Nelson Mandela in Harlem round out this hour-long Tribunal introduction!
Spirit of Mandela Webinar 2: InterFaith Perspectives (2021, 76 min.)
On May 23, 2021, the Spirit of Mandela coalition hosted this webinar on "Interfaith Perspectives on Human Rights Abuses in the USA: the role of the International Tribunal." It featured presentations by El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan (President of the Aafia Foundation; founder of the National Association for Police Accountability; writer for muslimmatters.org); Rabbi Drorah Setel (Temple Emanu-el; feminist theologian and biblical scholar; co-author of the world renowned “Mi Shebeirach” prayer); Rev. Lukata Mjumbe (Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church of Princeton; Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign); and Mary Anne Grady Flores (long-time Catholic Worker / Plowshares organizer; Puerto Rico and Palestine solidarity activist; former prisoner of conscience, and sister of current Kings Bay Plowshares prisoner of conscience_ Facilitated by Tribunal coordinating committee members dequi kioni-sadiki (Northeast Political Prisoner Coalition) and A’isha Mohammad (spoken word poet, Oakland Jericho, National Jericho Movement), the inspiring event served as a call to organize for true freedom.
Spirit of Mandela Webinar 3: Leading Up till Tomorrow! (2021, 92 min.)
“Leading Up till Tomorrow!”: International Perspectives on Legal, Educational & Political Imperatives to hold the US government Accountable and END Human Rights Violations NOW! was a long title for a basic task: setting the historical context for the upcoming event to be held virtually and live in New York City. The event and this video features presentations from:
*Mary-Louise Patterson, MD: Board member, Physicians for a National Health Program; daughter of William Patterson (co-petitioner with Paul Robeson of historic 1951 WE CHARGE GENOCIDE filings to the United Nations)
*Lennox Hinds: International Association of Democratic Lawyers; convener of the historic 1979 Petition to the UN on Human Rights Violations in the US; convener of the historic 2021 International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the US
*Dr. Kwame-Osagyefo Kalimara: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika; co-founder of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and the New Afrikan People’s Organization; professor of law, psychology, and history
*Olga Sanabria Davilla: Comite de Puerto Rico en Naciones Unidas: Advisor to the annual United Nations Decolonization Committee of 24 hearings on Puerto Rico
*Joy James: Abolition Collective Black Internationalist Unions; editor of The New Abolitionists and Imprisoned Intellectuals National Jericho Movement's A'isha Mohammad was joined by IPRA's Secretary General Matt Meyer as co-emcees of the event, which begins with two internationalist anthems sung by Paul Robeson.
Spirit of Mandela Webinar 4: Fulfilling Our Mission: Youth Against Genocide (2021, 126 min.)
“Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it.” -Frantz Fanon
This webinar covers the importance of youth carrying on the fight for the Freedom of Political Prisoners and the Self-determination of Black, Brown Indigenous Peoples and all oppressed People.
Spirit of Mandela Webinar 5: We Charge Genocide! (2021, 94 min.)
Panelists: Agnes Williams (Wolf Clan member of Seneca Nation), Errol Schweitzer (The Checkout Podcast), Gerald Horne (University of Houston), Jalil Muntaqim (Jericho co-founder, activist, author).
