LOS ANGELES, Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - Despite heavy rain, a group of about 30 people attended a demonstration for the freedom of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. The last-minute action was organized by anti-racist activists who were reacting to the overturning of a judgment that favored the condemned journalist.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals had overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence, finding that the judge in the case had failed to properly instruct members of the jury to consider possible mitigating circumstances during sentencing. However, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's decision, opening up the possibility that Abu-Jamal, who has always maintained his innocence, could return to death row. Full Report: Free Mumia! Los Angeles Rejects High Court Ruling by Rockero | | En español: ¡Libertad Para Mumia! Los Angeles Rechazó el Juicio de la Corte Suprema por Rockero
RELATED: FREE MUMIA! by Echo Park Community Coalition
This week, workers fired from the Cort guitar plants in Korea came to Southern California to demand their jobs back with a series of actions targeting the NAMM trade show, a global trade show for the musical instrument industry. Cort, known as a midrange guitar brand, is also a contract manufacturer for many well-known guitar brands, like Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, and others, producing budget-priced guitars for the global market. The work was carried out in sweatshop conditions - and when the workers organized a union, the company shut down their Korea factories, offshoring manufacturing work to Indonesian and Chinese factories owned by Cort.
In Los Angeles, they gained the support of world famous guitarist Tom Morello, as well as rapper/activist Boots Riley, MC5's Wayne Kramer, SOAD's Serj Tankian, local Asian American artists Skim, Shin Kawasaki, David Tran, and other artists. The workers also got labor solidarity from United Steelworkers 675, the Korean Metalworkers Union, individuals from LA and OC unions. They also achived meetings with representatives from Gibson and Fender guitar companies.
Cort Guitar Workers Action - main activist site.
Video: The ugly truth behind Cort
KPCC: Tom Morello Plays Concert for Korean Guitar Workers
Paper Planes
Guerilla Radio
Cort Guitar Worker Support Event at Nanum Cultural Center K-Town