Is History Repeating itself With The Republic of Jackson MS (2023)?
It Looks That Way-Republic of New Afrika (1968)
By Achoti Tamar June 25, 2023
On June 25, 2023, Ramzu Yunus and other Human Rights Officers organized and presented to the people of Jackson Mississippi a referendum to remove their consent from the current governing body of the City of Jackson. The referendum was inspired by the ongoing poverty, lack of opportunity and oppression of the “Black” community in Jackson. When House Bill 1020 was passed by the majority Republican Mississippi State Legislature, citizens and some elected city council members were outraged.
A lawsuit was filed by the NAACP attempting to stop the bill from taking effect on July 1, 2023. House Bill 1020 intends to create a new court district within the majority “Black” capital city of Jackson with judges appointed by State Officials and not elected by the people.
Federal courts have blocked the law from going into effect pending litigation. U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate issued an order last month prohibiting state officials from appointing temporarymjudges. Attorneys for the NAACP have filed a motion asking the judge for an injunction to block the entire law from going into effect on July 1, 2023. Attorneys for the state oppose the request.
The current Mayor of Jackson, Chokewe Lumumba, is the son of the former and deceased Mayor of Jackson, Chokewe Lumumba (member of the Republic of New Afrika). It appears that history is repeating itself, or is it? Absent from the June 25, 2023 Referendum was the Mayor and his staff.
Ramuzu Yunus stated, “the mayor is aware of our efforts, but has not offered any support.”
Apparently, the current Mayor of Jackson, Chokewe Lumumba, inherited the name and not the desire to establish a City where the people are in control and not the city government.
Did the current Mayor Chokewe Lumumba miss an opportunity to be the voice of the people by not aligning with Human Rights Officers to bring liberation to an oppressed people? Did Mayor Chokewe Lumumba throw his father’s playbook out the window?
Human Rights Officers believe it was a missed opportunity. “When government officials fail to listen and respect the voice of the people and continue to do things that are expediently beneficial to their personal ambitions and aspirations, then it is time to remove them by any means necessary,” says one Human Rights Officer present on June 25, 2023.
In 1968, Gaidi Obadele, Abubakari Obadele and Robert F. Williams organized several hundred “black nationalist” in Detriort to establish “Republic of New Afrika”(RNA). This organization was established with the intent of becoming an independent black republic in the south of the United States of America (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina).
Robert F. Williams, was chosen as the first President of the provisional government; Milton Henry, attorney at law, was named 1st Vice President, and Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X, was elected 2nd Vice President.
The mission of the organization detailed three objections: (1) create an independent nation within the Nation of the United States through acquisition of land, (2) securing reparations for the atrocities of slavery, and (3) address the unjust laws of the Jim Crow era, and declare a referendum for all “African Americans” to exercise their Right to Self Determination.
Several consulates spring up across the United States and pledged their allegiance to the organization. In 1969, as members of the RNA celebrated the anniversary of the organization’s establishment, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Detroit Police Department raided the meeting held at New Bethel Church in Detroit. One police officer died from a gunshot wound, and four of the RNA members were wounded from the barrage of bullets from Detroit Police Department. Three RNA members were charged with murder but acquitted of the charges.
In 1971, Chokewe Lumumba was elected 2nd Vice President of the Organization and the National Headquarters for the organization was in Jackson Mississippi. Another raid on the organization took place at the organization National Headquarters in Jackson headed by Jackson Police Department with the help of the FBI. One white police officer was shot and died. Imari Obadele, president of the provisional government at that time, was arrested and convicted on charges of murder, assault, and sedition, along with eleven other members of the organization.
Ten of the "RNA-11" served sentences ranging from two to ten years. Hekima Ana was convicted of killing the officer and sentenced to life in prison.
It is unclear what government laws were being violated that prompted the raids. However, in 1973, Imari Obadele was released from prison, but shortly thereafter seven members of RNA, including Obadele, were convicted on federal conspiracy charges and incarcerated in a federal prison in Illinois.
While incarcerated, Obadele filed a civil suit against the FBI in 1977, which resulted in the release of government documents confirming that the RNA had been targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO, the FBI's anti-radical program.
The RNA is listed in the history books as one of the most influential and controversial movements during its time. Although it appeared the RNA was just a part of history, the sentiment of the movement is eerily similar to the Republic of Detroit and Republic of Jackson movements of today.
Ramzu Yunus, the founder of Afro-Descendants Russia Association and North Atlantic Peace
Organization (NAPO) has managed to revive the RNA’s mission by offering “African Americans” the opportunity to exercise their Right to Self-Determination as outlined in the United Nations Charter. On NAPO’s website the mission statement is outlined: “All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”
Ratified by many countries (by the United States in 1992), The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enjoys supremacy status in law. Based on that premise, Ramzu Yunus encouraged citizens of Detroit to vote to remove consent to the United States as a governing body and establish a liberated government of their own.
This movement in Detroit made headline news in 2021 when Yunus introduced the Detroit Free Housing Program. The City of Detroit public officials denounced Yunus’s assertion that, "The city charter says the government recognizes its subordination to the people," he said.
"The people can organize themselves at any time, especially the Black population that has never exercised its right of self-determination. We’re using houses (as an expression of that) because people have a right to live."
A referendum was written to remove the consent of the people to be governed by what many deemed to be a government that failed the people. As a result, the new city government was deemed “The Republic of Detroit" in 2021.
This declaration was met with much criticism from individuals outside the Detroit community and most do not believe The Republic of Detroit will be successful. Incumbent Detroit City of Officials labeled Ramzu Yunus as a scammer and encouraged citizens to stay away from Ramzu Yunus and his so-called “right to self-determination.” The success of the Republic of Detroit remains to be seen.
Human Rights Officers in Jackson, Mississippi managed to obtain nearly 8,000 signatures from local residents thus far. They vow to stay in Jackson as long as it takes to achieve true liberation and exercise their Right to Self-Determination or until the people tell them they are not wanted or needed.
By Achoti Tamar for newfactsnc.net
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