Uhuru Radio: The 1996 Battle of St. Petersburg; Setting for the 2011 Freedom Summer Project

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Hear excerpts from African Socialist International Chairman Omali Yeshitela's talks during two of the political education classes conducted during the Uhuru Freedom Summer Project 2011. The first was recorded on July 13, 2011, following the showing of the video documentary on "The Battle of St. Petersburg". The second was recorded on July 14, 2011, and preceded Chairman Omali's class on "The State and the National Question". The "Battle of St. Petersburg" refers to both the popular rebellion of Africans in St. Petersburg that came in response to the police murder of an 18-year-old unarmed motorist TyRon Lewis on October 24, 1996; and a U.S. police armed assault on the Uhuru House African community center on November 13, 1996 after a grand jury decided against prosecuting the killer cops - a 300-strong military assault that was courageously repelled by the surrounding African community residents. In these 2 presentations, Chairman Omali reviews the historical political economy of St. Petersburg and the basis for the Uhuru Movement-articulated demand for economic development vs. police containment. He discusses the Uhuru Movement's tactics and strategy during the 1996 rebellions and subsequent community struggles, and explains the significance of the 2011 Uhuru Freedom Summer Project.