Tunisia Take AIM

Tunisia Take AIM!

Wassup World Wide Wank. This is AK47, AIM Prez, bringing you up to speed with what's been happening with The Anti-Injustice Movement. The movement is spreading like fucking wildfire and each chapter is getting larger and more organized thanks to our incredible AIM Generals. To combat global injustice we need global resistance because our enemies are for the most part the global elite. We face ever increasing draconian times but thankfully our global movement is growing by the day to combat the very real potential of a New World Order which resembles an Orwellian 1984. Solidarity is the only solution and by building up local and national chapters which are organized locally but also centrally as a global movement it is possible to deracinate a legion of enemies. We also must embrace collaboration instead of competition with other organizations both within the world of Activism and Hip Hop because as the Ethiopian proverb goes: "When spider webs unite they can tie up a lion."



The latest AIM Chapter is in the North African country of Tunisia which is experiencing a period of political strife. The Tunisian revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began when Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year old Tunisian street vendor, set himself afire on 17 December 2010, in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the humiliation that was inflicted on him by a municipal official. This act became the catalyst for mass demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. Anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi's death on 4 January 2011, ultimately leading longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power. Street demonstrations and other unrest have continued to the present day. The Anti-Injustice Movement stands firmly behind AIM Tunisia in their struggle for a just political system.

AIM General RIP

I was approached by a highly politically astute MC called RIP who wanted to begin an AIM Clika chapter in Tunisia and I agreed without hesitation because his sincerity, blatant charisma and passion for change made him and obvious choice as General. We now have a total of eight official AIM Tunisia members ranging from emcees to graff artists to B-Boys and even a violinist. Their talents are impressive to say the least but what is even more impressive is that all of them have revolution in their heart. The chapter consists of graff artist/activist UW Flava, B-Boy/activist Ny No, MC/B-Boy/activist MC Dnt Care, B-Boy/activist Didou, graff artist/activist Wiss-Graff, MC/activist MC Blidpop and violin player/photographer/activist Radios. They are all down for the struggle for freedom and justice in what remains an unjust country despite a change of government in the wake of a brave revolution by the Tunisian people. One corrupt government has been replaced by another but AIM Tunisia have taken AIM so oppressors in Tunisia better backdafuckup.

Tijani Ribani

We received terrible news from AIM General RIP over the last few days as his 62 year old Father Tijani Ribani has become a political prisoner while peacefully protesting for worker's rights with the General Union of Tunisian Workers. In Tunisia the criminal (in)justice system does not provide free legal defence so thanks to some generous donations from members of The Anti-Injustice Movement we are able to pay for RIP's Father's defence lawyer. We support our own Clika and anyone who is a victim of injustice outside of it too. We will be continuing the struggle for freedom for Tijani Ribani and will push to raise awareness about the lack of rights and creeping Sharia Law in Tunisia. We will bring you more information on Tijani's case in the next couple of days.

AIM UK MC Knew Eyes with Immortal Technique in Australia

We also have an ever expanding AIM chapter in New Jersey under hard working AIM Dirty Jerz General Enki. We will bring you more information about that and other new members soon. We'd also like to welcome AIM UK MC Knew Eyes back to the United Kingdom after his tour of Australia. AIM Clika are growing stronger by the day. Watch this space or better still take AIM!

"En el mundo de mentiras, decir la verdad es un acto revolucionario."

~AK47~
~AIM President~

4th anniversary of Gilly Mundy’s death

15 March 2011 will mark four years since the death of one of the stalwarts of the campaign movement against deaths in police custody and abuse by police and prison officers in the United Kingdom. Gilly saved three lives and restored the sight of two others when he donated his organs after his death in March 2007. Read more of this >

Friend and colleague Kevin Blowe said: “As a campaigner and activist, Gilly managed to cram so much into his own life and touch the lives of so many others that it is almost too painful to imagine what more he could have achieved.

“As well as supporting victims of racist violence in East London while at the NMP, he worked for the Lawrence Family Campaign during the inquiry into Stephen Lawrence’s murder.”

As a campaigner and activist, Gilly Singh Mundy, who died suddenly aged 36, managed to cram so much into his own life and touch the lives of many in a positive, life-affirming way. For the last nine years of his life he had been senior caseworker for INQUEST, the charity that advises relatives of those who have died in custody.

Born to Mota Singh and Surinder Mundy, Gilly and his brothers, Jas and Rippee, grew up within Leamington Spa’s close-knit Sikh community, roots that he was intensely proud of. He was closest to his brothers and school friends, but his inspiration for a lifetime of political activism came from his father, whose values led Gilly to a passionate opposition to racism and injustice.

He was a student activist at Edge Hill College, Ormskirk, Lancashire, before starting voluntary work for the community, anti-racist organisation Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) in London and becoming its caseworker from 1993 to 1997. This was a turbulent time for black communities in east London, with the election of the first BNP councillor in Tower Hamlets and the racist attack by eight white youths on the 17-year-old Quddus Ali in Stepney.

Gilly provided support for victims of racist violence, and coordinated anti-fascist campaigning, bringing together black and white working-class communities in the first anti-fascist festival in Canning Town, then the heartland of BNP support. During the inquiry in 1998 into Stephen Lawrence’s murder, he also worked for the Lawrence family campaign. Read more of this > 

Gilly’s friends and family remember him fondly > 

Tippa Naphtali of 4WardEver UK/Mikey Powell Campaign said: “Gilly was a rock to our family when my cousin, Mikey Powell, died in police custody in 2003. Gilly made several trips to Birmingham to see us during those early painful months. He will be sorely missed, but the legacy of compassion and care that was at his core will live on through all those whose lives he touched.”

(Taken from 4Ward Ever UK article here.)

The Execution Of Shahla Jahed

Shahla Jahed was executed today in Evin prison by the Islamic Republic of Iran. She was found guilty in 2002 of the murder of the primary wife of her footballer husband based what is widely believed to have been a forced confession which she later retracted.

Shahla was hanged this morning at 5am in the presence of the victim's family who declined to save her life by pardoning her.

For more information on this please see blogs from Iran Solidarity and Death Penalty News, and news articles from Reuters, BBC News and The Guardian.

Please continue to support the struggle against the death penalty and against Sharia and religious laws.

Seeking Justice For Ian Tomlinson

On April 1st 2009 an English newspaper vendor was on his way home from work when he came across an area containing a number of G20 protestors and riot police. Around 19.30 he collapsed in the street and died.

The Police initially reported that he had died of a heart attack. Allegations started to emerge that he had been assaulted by police before his death and a statement was released by Police stating that they had had no interaction with him prior to his collapse. A week later a video was obtained by The Guardian newspaper from a New York man who had been in London on business. The footage (above) show Ian Tomlinson walking in front of riot police and dog handlers, walking away from them. One officer then struck his legs from behind with a baton and pushed him to the ground. The footage shows this was an unprovoked attack on an innocent passerby who minutes later collapsed and died.

The first autopsy result confirmed the cause of death as being a heart attack. Dr. 'Freddy' Patel is currently suspended from duty pending an investigation by the General Medical Council and faces at least 26 charges of inappropriate conduct related to 4 other cases. The second autopsy was performed at the request of The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and of Ian Tomlinson's family. It returned the cause of death as being internal bleeding resulting from a blow to the abdomen with complications caused by psorosis of the liver. A third autopsy was requested by the defence and this returned the same verdict as the second one.

Other videos by passersby and journalists have also been made public of the incident but The IPCC claimed that no CCTV cameras existed in the area where the assault had taken place. A newspaper later published pictures of 6 CCTV cameras in the area and the statement was withdrawn by The IPCC. The officer who struck Ian Tomlinson has recently been named as PC Simon Harwood and The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has taken until very recently to make a decision on whether or not to prosecute him.

The CPS announced on July 22nd that there would be no prosecution in the case as the differing opinions in the 3 autopsy results made it too difficult to determine the true cause of death and therefore to bring a case against the officer in question. PC Harwood is facing a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct.

A picket against The Department Of Public Prosecution (DPP) has been arranged for Friday 30th July and pickets will also be carried out throuhout the UK in support. Those wishing to attend the London picket should be at The Office of Department of Public Prosecution,Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, SE1 9HS at 12 noon. Those unable to attend can look for a protest in their area, or just do one yourself or with some friends. Those unable to do that can show their support in the way that I will be. Change your avatar picture to a picture of Ian Tomlinson for 1 day, and tell everyone you speak to his story.

RIP Ian Tomlinson. Justice must be had.

We Are All Neda

Dearest Neda,

It has been a year since you were cruelly taken from your friends, from your family and from those you loved, and much has happened in that time. I cannot begin to tell it all but there are some things that we around the world who know of you wish to be able to share with you.

If I were to be speaking to you now I would have many things to say to you.

I would say sorry. Not because I caused it, but because I feel it. Sorry for the life you were forced to live, that it was one of oppression, inequality and fear. Sorry for your death, for the pain and fear that it caused you and that it left behind for your family. Sorry that your family were afterwards forced from their home and your fiance forced into hiding out of fear. Sorry that your grave was desecrated, your headstone removed, bullets fired into your portrait to destroy it.
Most of all, sorry for the many others who shared your fate in having such a life and such a death, and who continue to share that fate.

I would also say you did not die in vain. Your struggle is no longer hidden, no longer only for the people of Iran, no longer unknown to the rest of us in this world. For this I would say thank you. You certainly did not plan to, but you brought Iran into the world's consciousness. You have galvanised your people into revolution. You have inspired us all to stand, to march, to rally, to shout, to protest, to demand.

Your death has been seen by many, and you are in the hearts of revolutionaries and supporters of equality and freedom all over the world. Though of little comfort, you have given the Iranian people such spirit and determination that the only possible outcome is their success in your quest. Your death has ensured that the people of not just Iran, but of the world, are united in this battle. Men and women of all ages, all races, all religions and all nationalities stand together in solidarity and raise their collective voice to demand freedom for your people in Iran. We stand together today to demand this in your name, and in the name of all those many others who have given their time, their efforts, their freedom, and like you, their lives.

I did not know you, and I will not pretend otherwise. But I feel that I do. I never used to be especially political, as you never used to be, but I saw an injustice as you did, and I feel compelled to stand against it as you did. But I have what you wanted. I have freedom, I have equality, I have peace, I have security. And I shall not take it for granted. You saw a revolution of your people in your country, and now today, we see a revolution of many people in many countries. You demanded that the people's vote be counted, and now we all demand that the people's vote be counted. And we shall not be stopped., not until what I have has been given to your people in Iran, as you wanted for them.

I would speak these words to you on my behalf, but also on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of people across the globe who remember you today, who never knew you but will never forget you. Until everyone has those basic things that you stood up and asked for on this day one year ago...until then, we are all Neda.

Notes:

Neda was one of 18 protesters killed that day.

Neda's death was not initially reported via the state controlled Iranian media.

Images and video footage of Neda's death spread virally across the internet via YouTube and Twitter.

The Head of IRI Broadcasting claims that the videos of Neda's death are all fakes made by BBC and/or CNN.

The IRI Ambassador to Mexico suggested the CIA were involved in Neda's death.

IRI state media claims that a group of protesters faked the video and that Neda was later murdered by her accomplices.

No memorial was permitted for Neda and mourners were not permitted to gather together in public.

Crowds of protesters and mourners were dispersed with live ammunition and tear gas by IRI riot police.