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Lydia Barashango (64), the older sister of renowned Black Panther journalist and political P.O.W., Mumia Abu Jamal, made her transition onto the ancestral realm this past Wednesday, September 28th, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Mrs. Barashango, a nurse and social worker, was an ardent advocate for her younger brother throughout his life – both, before and after his unjust incarceration and wrongful conviction for the December 9th 1981 shooting death of a Philly cop.

During a 2000 A&E documentary about her brother’s ordeal, she stated that when she visited him at the hospital the day after the incident occurred, that he had been beaten and “brutalized” so badly by the pigs that his facial features were disfigured and swollen beyond recognition.  Also adding that upon her arrival, Abu-Jamal told her, “I’m innocent.”

At a 1999 Philadelphia City Hall mass demonstration, with over 10,000 Mumia supporters, she addressed the crowd, “This rally takes our struggle to a whole new level.  We aren’t playing anymore!  We are demanding a new trial!”

She battled against breast cancer for a number of years before finally succumbing to its effects, all the while, still striving to prove her brother’s innocence and regain his physical freedom.

Lydia was married to renowned Afrikan scholar warrior and factologist – Dr. Ishakamusa Barashango – who himself returned to the essence back in January of 2004.