Lupe Fiasco drops a free mixtape for his fans and supporters called Friend of The People, I Fight Evil. This 12 track album focuses heavily on current events like the Occupy Wall Street Movement and his support of Palestine.
Friend of the People is meant to serve as both a thank-you to the fans, as well as something to hold them over until the release of his fourth studio album, Food and Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, which is slated for release in 2012.
Students for Justice in Palestine – National & Existence is Resistance Present
Freedom for Palestine
A Benefit Concert for the Student Solidarity Movement
The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center
3940 Broadway (by 165th Street)
8:00 PM
Tickets: General Public – $20 in advance/$25 door
Conference attendees – FREE
Special Guest Appearance by IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
Speakers, Poets and Performers on the night include:
DJ Johnny Juice (Public Enemy)
Khaled M
Invincible
Mark Gonzales
Mazzi of SOUL PURPOSE
Marcel Cartier
Tahani Salah
Columbia Dabka Troupe
Hosted by: Harrabic Tubman of Existence is Resistance
All proceeds will be donated to support the work of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) National
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www.sjpnational.org ~ www.existenceisresistance.org
It’s 10:05 here in NYC, I just received word from Ayman that everyone was in the lobby in the Cairo hotel assembling to begin another attempt at the journey into Gaza. I am not a “religious” person, however, I am a spiritual believer, and I felt compelled to do a 10:02 Salat. I cried as I heard the beautiful and inspirational sound of a faithful man singing this ancient call. I thought of Alejandro and how faithful and virtuous he is, I thought of Nancy and how so very strong she is, and then Ayman and how unbelievably kind and willing he is and our children that are now growing up together…then Gaza, Iran, the brave people all over this planet we call home. It was a very emotional reflection for me, and it’s not something I normally do, so it will stand out for me, 10:02, July 14th, 2009.
Earlier today, Renee (Ayman’s wife) and I took our boys with us to a protest in front of the Egyptian Mission on 44th Street to call for the passing of the convoy through the Egyptian border into Gaza. Amir grabbed a sign and went for the door of the Mission…that’s my boy.
Below you will find the most recent press release from VPU:
Press Advisory from Viva Palestina
July 14, 2009, 11 pm, Cairo
The Viva Palestina US caravan has received a permit to allow the group passage through the Rafah gate and into Gaza after spending 10 days in Cairo trying to overcome a series of bureaucratic delays.
The American convoy is mobilizing to carry busloads of supplies to the people of Gaza on Wednesday, July 15, and expects no further delays to their humanitarian mission because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already confirmed that all 200 delegates have satisfied all technical requirements required for travel.
Weeks ago, the Viva Palestina US convoy received assurances from Egyptian diplomats that they would expedite the delivery of a convoy of trucks, medical and relief supplies and American human rights volunteers into Gaza, but restrictions were then imposed on the initial Viva Palestina plan.
“We are now on our way to complete our humanitarian mission, more determined than ever and stronger in heart than when we entered Egypt,” says George Galloway, British Member of Parliament. “We now look forward to seeing in a matter of hours the faces of the besieged people of Gaza.”
This is a victory for the people of Gaza. We were determined not to be denied in bringing humanitarian aid to the children of Gaza. The silence of the world is deafening as the people of Gaza suffer, but the two hundred Americans and over one million dollars worth of aide that is going through confirms our commitment to a free Palestine. Long live the people of Palestine.
So Existence Is Resistance’s Hip Hop delegation is complete! Yesterday, M1 of Dead Prez and Mazzi of S.O.U.L. Purpose Crew joined British emcee and playwright Low Key in Cairo. They now join the convoy and will make their way into Gaza where we plan to unite them with local Gazan Hip Hop artists, one being a member of PR Rapperz, whose father was murdered by a missile in January during the offensive in his front room as he went to pray. Below is Ayman’s latest blog post.
Back and forth to the airport
I finally got some sleep. Cynthia McKinney arrived this morning at
the Cairo airport she is determined more than ever to enter Gaza and
deliver supplies. She is very inspirational with her determination,
just last week her boat was seized by the Israelis and she was locked
up. They flew her out to the US and here she is again trying to
deliver supplies to Gaza.
I came to the airport to pick up British MP George Galloway and
British rapper Lowkey, they have arrived and entered Egypt. Some of
our people drove them to the hotel to settle down a bit. I have gone
to another terminal and am
waiting for two rap artist to arrive from NYC, M-1of Dead Prez and
Mazzi of S.O.U.L. Purpose. I will be guiding them and translating for
them.
We are trying to unite the foreign hip hop artists with some of their (Gaza’s) local artists. Perhaps even an exchange on stage along with the rappers on the convoy if time and Hamas permits us.
We will most likely spend the night in Cairo and start heading towards
Gaza tomorrow. I will try to update.
So it’s finally here, the crew are all in transit to the final mission: Operation Viva Palestina! My brother Ayman borded an afternoon flight with Lamis Deek of Al-Awda New York, and they will arrive in Germany with a five-hour lay over and then in Cairo where a taxi will meet them for a SIX hour drive to Arish, Egypt where they will meet the rest of the crew.
You can see my kids, Amir and Rami with their beloved “Amu Ayman” and cousin Munir, seeing him off. You cannot see me or Renee, Ayman’s wife who is so supportive and encouraged him fiercely to take this momentous journey. I will be awaiting a text from Lamis in Germany telling me they have made it that far. It’s a very intense time for everyone at Existence Is Resistance, we are just overwhelmed with emotions and hopes for the people of Gaza.
Yesterday, my son Amir turned three, Ayman needed to renew his passport, and since he’s on Arabi time…he did it with one day to spare. We all packed up and took a trip down to Philly where we chilled and played with people dressed up as colonial citizens…oh colonialism, how you wave “Hello” at us at all times.
The passport office was of course more like an interrogation room, with a surname like “El Sayed” you can imagine what Ayman was asked…
“Why are you going to Egypt?…What countries in the Middle East have you been to…Why…Who paid for your ticket?”
It’s a real slap in the face for a guy who was born in Brooklyn, who talks about unity at any chance he gets, he really could care less, that’s Ayman, always looking at the bright side…it was me teasing him after; “Why are you Arab? Do You have 4 wives? Why not?” To heck with the haters, we’re doing it baby!!!
