Family & Friends of Mutulu Shakur is pleased to announce the first cinema screening of ‘Dope is Death’ that Dr. Shakur will be able to attend in person and participate in a Q&A with director Mia Donovan moderated by Boots Riley.
Tickets are on sale now at Landmark Theatre Westwood.
We invite you all to join in on for this momentous conversation with a respected elder of our community.
Register at bit.ly/bmbmasscalls. Come prepared with questions and be ready to hear firsthand from Dr. Shakur.
Please join us for an evening of celebration to welcome Dr. Mutulu Shakur home!
On December 16th, 2022, Dr. Mutulu Shakur was released on parole after serving 37 years in prison. Dr. Shakur participated in civil rights, Black liberation, harm reduction acupuncture and healthcare movements from the late 1960s to the 1980s. The acts of which he was convicted some thirty years ago were committed in the context of a movement seeking equal opportunities for Black people who, it is widely conceded, were suffering catastrophically from disenfranchisement, segregation, poverty and exclusion from many of the fundamental necessities that make life worth living. The decision to grant parole is based on federal law guidelines for “old law” prisoners, finding that Dr. Shakur poses no threat to the community, taking into consideration his exemplary conduct in prison, his medical condition and how much time he has served. He has taken full responsibility for his actions, served as a force for good and anti-violence throughout his decades of incarceration as an elder with multiple health complications. This victory was secured by the steadfast support of his legal team, his family and his community.
Co-sponsors: Afrikan Student Union, Allied Community Arts Brigade, Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board, Dr. Robin Kelley, Institute on Inequality and Democracy, UCLA Law Criminal Justice Program, UCLA Center for Justice/Prison Ed Program, Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance
Join the Family & Friends of Dr. Mutulu Shakur for a series of webinar conversations on the life and legacy of our beloved revolutionary healer and human rights organizer. The series will center around the Souls journal special issue: “Free the Land, Free the People: The Political Significance of Dr. Shakur’s Legacy” (FREE ACCESS to articles until 2/28).
Part 1 of the webinar series, “Straight Ahead: The Life of Resistance of Dr. Mutulu Shakur,” on February 20th at 7PM EST l 4PM PST, will feature a conversation on Dr. Shakur’s life of resistance and activism — primarily prior to his capture in 1986. This webinar will be moderated by Professor Akinyele Umoja. REGISTER HERE
Save the Dates for the Upcoming Webinars:
Part 2: Cointelpro and International Law on Thursday, March 9th 7:00 PM EST | 4PM PST – REGISTER HERE
Part 3: Dr. Mutulu Shakur Revolutionary Healer on Thursday, March 16th 7:00 PM EST | 4PM PST – REGISTER HERE
Part 4: What’s the future? Where do We go from here? on Wednesday, March 29th 7:00 PM EST | 4PM PST
Click here for free access to the journal issue: “Free the Land, Free the People: The Political Significance of Dr. Shakur’s Legacy”
Table of Contents:
Guest Editors’ Note by Akinyele Umoja & Susan Rosenberg
Straight Ahead: The Life of Resistance of Dr. Mutulu Shakur by Akinyele Umoja
The Seed: History of the Original Acupuncture Detoxification Program at Lincoln Hospital by Mutulu Shakur & Urayoana Trinidad
The Struggle for International Political Recognition for New Afrikan/Black Freedom Fighters by Mutulu Shakur
Toward a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for New African/Black Political Prisoners, Prisoners of War and Freedom Fighters by Mutulu Shakur
To My Son Tupac by Mutulu Shakur
Revolutionary Doctor, Revolutionary Lawyer by Rukia Lumumba
Who Is a Prisoner of War? Mutulu Shakur and the Struggle for Black Liberation by Natsu Taylor Saito
COINTELPRO Continues: Dr. Mutulu Shakur by Susan Rosenberg & Linda Evans
“Non-Recognition of the Law Does Not Invalidate It”: The Status of BLA and Provisional IRA Prisoners by Ward Churchill
Interview with Formerly Incarcerated Men about Dr. Shakur’s Impact by J. Jondhi Harrell, Cedric Lines, Leo Sullivan & Mshairi Siyanda
Dr. Mutulu Shakur and the Holistic Healing of Acupuncture and Political Education: A Review of Dope is Death by Asantewa Sunni-Ali
Today, the morning of December 16th, 2022, Dr. Mutulu Shakur was released from prison on parole! The decision to grant parole is based on federal law guidelines for “old law” prisoners, finding that Dr. Shakur poses no threat to the community, taking into consideration his exemplary conduct in prison, his medical condition and how much time he has served. Mutulu is now with his family. This victory was secured by the steadfast support of his legal team, his family and his community comprised of all of you.
Family & Friends of Mutulu Shakur (FFMS) is greatly appreciative of everyone’s support over the course of Mutulu’s decades in prison. We ask that everyone respect Dr. Shakur’s privacy while he spends the holidays with his family and concentrates on his health and healing. Any inquiries to FFMS can be directed to [email protected], and we will be sure to release more information as it is available. May everyone celebrate the achievement of securing his release and deepen our commitment to a more just future.
See the Ways to Support page for the most up-to-date information on how you can reach out to and support Dr. Mutulu Shakur.
The Black Acupuncture Advisory Association of North America was formed by Dr. Mutulu Shakur in 1979 to foster interest in acupuncture by encouraging research and educational programs and to disseminate information about the practice and application of acupuncture, including but not limited to the use of acupuncture in the treatment of drug abuse.
For more information on how to join and support this important organization, see baaana.com.
New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE) is the name of the Harlem-based detox clinic prominently featured as a modern-day extension of the work of Dr. Shakur in the documentary ‘Dope is Death.’
Back in May, NYHRE held an outreach event ‘Wellness in the Park’ in Marcus Garvey park. In addition to providing auricular acupuncture, there was drumming, singing, smudging and qi gong.
NYHRE and Washington Heights Corner Project (WHCP) just announced their merger and will continue their lifesaving harm reduction work as OnPoint NYC.
In addition to supervised consumption centers in East Harlem and Washington Heights, OnPoint NYC’s staff of 120 people provides wraparound services to meet its underserved participant’s comprehensive set of needs including, medical and mental health care, onsite access to Buprenorphine and other addiction treatment options, Hepatitis C and HIV testing and treatment, holistic services, hygiene and respite, food, clothing and other critical supports.