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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.

Free Ajamu Bandele aka Orlando Gibson

Free Ajamu Bandele aka Orlando Gibson

Closed — 48 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Kwame B.
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Julie K.
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Sandra M.
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Someone
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Alfia J.
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NASSOR
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oronde t.
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Melvin T.
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Shakim A.
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Someone
+38 more
Started by Anonymous 17 years ago
We, the undersigned, support the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Ajamu Bandele aka Orlando J. Gibson, who was arrested on October 28, 2008 amidst a series of political attacks made against him and the other organizers working under his leadership, by the local city government of York, PA. He and his comrades were working to expose the culture of corruption in York, PA that manifested itself as culturally specifics laws and ordinances meant to guarantee the massive incarceration of the impoverished African and Latino youth of York. This arrest was highly political and made during an mayoral election year. This arrest represents an attempt to silence Ajamu's political activity, thus representing an outright attack on the rights of African people to free speech and political association. Ajamu, having been a product of the dire poverty of York, turned his life around after having served 5 years in prison. He came out and immediately rescued his son from the foster care system, getting full/sole custody of his son Quazil, became a legitimate business owner, and a part-time student at the International Art Institute-York all while doing political work to transform the conditions in York City. According to his parole officer, Ajamu was an "exemplary" parolee; having been reduced to the lowest level of parolee, which only required he see his parole officer once every three months and no longer having to urine sample. Ajamu had, in fact exceeded the State's requirements for those coming out of prison. Ajamu is a champion of African people and his case is further evidence that the counterinsurgent attacks against young Black men did not end in the 60's, but is alive and well in America today. We, the undersigned, again demand the immediate release of Ajamu Bandele aka Orlando J. Gibson and we demand an end to the attacks on African peoples' rights to free speech and political association.

Updates

September 20, 2009

I carry Ajamu's story with me every day and I spend my hours fighting the same corruption that tried to bury his future. The silence from the city officials remains deafening but your presence here tells me that we refuse to let them ignore his humanity any longer.

September 20, 2009

Seeing this momentum grow brings me right back to the day Ajamu was taken and the silence that followed. It means the world to see people finally recognize that his work to improve our community was not a crime. This show of support proves that we are not alone in demanding justice for a father who worked so hard to change his life.

6 Comments

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Sarah Owens
16 years ago Featured

Ridiculous that he was targeted like this. The man was doing so much for the community and for his kid. Let him go.

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Kevin Ramos
16 years ago Featured

Wasnt even reporting anymore bc he was doing so good. Clearly political. Free Bandele

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Marcus Sandoval
17 years ago Featured

This is nothing but a setup to keep a good man down. York is corrupt and everyone knows it. Free him now.

L
Latoya Stewart
17 years ago Featured

He got his life together and they still wanted to sabotage him. Disgusting. Justice for Ajamu!

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David Robinson
17 years ago Featured

Corruption in York is real. They didn't like what he had to say so they locked him up. Simple as that.

J
Jessica Frost
17 years ago Featured

We need people like him out here fighting for the youth instead of sitting in a cell for being honest about the city. Total bs.