Burlington, VT: Hundreds gathered at the National Governor’s Association conference in July of 1995 to protest the scheduled execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, an award-winning journalist and political prisoner. Militant protests spanned five days. Pennsylvania’s then-Governor, Thomas Ridge, had ordered Jamal to be executed on August 15, 1995.
Then-Governor and former presidential candidate, Howard Dean, called the militant protests an embarrassment to the state. Anarchist organizers called this a compliment.
More protests occurred throughout the U.S. under the slogan, “If Mumia dies, there’ll be fire in the skies.” His death warrant was rescinded, but he remained on death row until 2011, and is still is in prison. He continues his journalism behind bars.