Saturday, April 26, 2008

Legal Update from Mumia's Attorney

Dear Friends:

This Legal Update is made on behalf of my client, Mumia Abu-Jamal, who remains on Pennsylvania's death row. Many people have inquired as to our reaction and position concerning recent legal developments, and what will happen now. This should answer many of those questions and alleviate some of the confusion.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia

As widely reported in the media, the U.S. Court of Appeals issued its long-awaited decision on March 27, 2008. (Abu-Jamal v. Horn, Nos. 01-9014, 02-9001, 2008 WL 793877 (3rd Cir. 2008).) Mumia and I had legal conferences that day, and we have been in frequent contact since including a death-row meeting earlier this week and a discussion this evening. We view the opinion of the three-judge panel as a mixed bag with some good, some very wrong, and a remarkable dissenting opinion by a judge on racism that gives us great hope for eventual victory.

A new jury trial has been ordered by the federal court on the question of whether Mumia should be sentenced to life or death, due to the trial judge's unconstitutional and misleading instructions to the jury. It is a positive step in any capital case when a court finds that the death penalty was wrongfully imposed. Mumia is pleased with this part of the ruling because it could help others on death rows across the U.S. The prosecution now has various options including seeking reconsideration by the federal court and petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to have the death sentence remain intact.

It was a great disappointment that the federal court rejected our quest for a reversal of the conviction and a new trial on the question of guilt and innocence. To say that Mumia and I are unhappy with this would be an understatement, for the decision flies in the face of the United States Constitution and case precedent. The facts are that the prosecutor did engage in racism during jury selection, and made a false and misleading argument to the jury which turned the concept of reasonable doubt and presumption of innocence on its head. The trial judge was biased and bigoted, even stating in reference to my client that he was "going to help'em fry the n----r." Unfortunately the court used against Mumia the failings of the lawyers who represented him in state post-conviction and federal habeas corpus proceedings. Their mistakes should not serve as an excuse to rationalize away the fundamental constitutional violations that occurred in this case.

The silver lining of this ruling is that Judge Thomas L. Ambro wrote a 41-page dissent on the racism-in-jury-selection issue. This brilliant opinion began:

Excluding even a single person from a jury because of race violates the Equal Protection Clause of our Constitution. See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 84-86, 99 n. 22, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). This simple justice principle was reaffirmed by our Supreme Court this past week. Snyder v. Louisiana, No. 06-10119, 2008 WL 723750, at *4 (Mar. 19, 2008).

Justice Ambro concluded that everyone is entitled to a fair and impartial trial by a jury of his or her peers. As Batson reminds us, "[t]he core guarantee of equal protection, ensuring citizens that their State will not discriminate on account of race, would be meaningless were we to approve the exclusion of jurors on the basis of ... race." Id. at 97-98. I fear today that we weaken the effect of Batson by imposing a contemporaneous objection requirement where none was previously present in our Court's jurisprudence and by raising the low bar for a prima facie case of discrimination in jury selection to a height unattainable if enough time has passed such that original jury records are not available. In so holding, we do a disservice to Batson. I respectfully dissent.

Shortly before the decision, we brought the Snyder decision to the attention of the federal court in a Notice of Supplemental Authority. I wrote on March 23, 2008:

In Snyder v. Louisiana, ___ U.S. ___, 2008 WL 723750 (Mar. 19, 2008), the judgment of the Louisiana Supreme Court was reversed with the United States Supreme Court holding that the trial court should have disallowed a peremptory challenge based upon race because it violated Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986). Justice Alito, in writing for the majority, reaffirmed that evidence of discriminatory intent should be taken from a broad array of factors. Citing Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 239 (2005), he pointed out that "in considering a Batson objection, or in reviewing a ruling claimed to be Batson error, all of the circumstances that bear upon the issue of racial animosity must be consulted ..." Snyder underscores the point made by Appellee and Cross-Appellant, Mr. Abu-Jamal, urged in oral argument on May 17, 2007, and in briefing, that the existence of a prima facie Batson claim depends upon, inter alia, the connection between race and the pattern of strikes, the nature of the case, comments made during jury selection, and the time and place of the trial. Brief of Appellee and Cross-Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal, July 26, 2006, at 17-46; Fourth-Step Reply Brief of Appellee and Cross-Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Oct. 23, 2006, at 11-58.


The high court also reiterated that "the Constitution forbids striking even a single prospective juror for a discriminatory purpose." Snyder v. Louisiana, 2008 WL 723750 at *4 (quoting United States v. Vasquez-Lopez, 22 F.3d 900, 902 (C.A.9 1994)). This too was pointed out in oral argument and briefing. Brief of Appellee and Cross-Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal, supra, at 41-42. Finally, the case recognized that an "inference of discriminatory intent" is supported when the prosecution's proffered reasons for striking African Americans do not apply even-handedly to non-African Americans. Snyder v. Louisiana, 2008 WL 723750 at *8. Again, this point was presented in oral argument and our briefing. See, e.g., Brief of Appellee and Cross-Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal, supra, at 32-36.

The "Mumia Exception"

The latest denial of a new trial to Mumia has been referred to as part of the "Mumia Exception." David Lindorff, a noted investigative journalist and author of Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer on April 2, 2008, that the "courts have altered the rules just to keep Abu-Jamal on course for death." What Professor Linn Washington earlier dubbed the "Mumia Exception" could not have been more on target.

Reaction of the District Attorney of Philadelphia

The District Attorney appeared livid that the federal court had ordered a new penalty-phase jury trial. At a press conference on March 27, 2008, the day of the decision, she vowed that her office will continue pursuing the execution of my client. Sadly, the prosecution could not resist distorting the truth as it has from the outset over a quarter of a century ago. The DA falsely said that the court "finally decided in its wisdom ... that Mr. Jamal was guilty." That is not what the U.S. Court of Appeals found and is nonsense; there was no retrial or verdict. That is not what appellate courts do. Rather, the federal decision dealt with issues of law and procedure. The prosecution's suggestion that my client was found "guilty" of anything on appeal is absurd and patently false.

Where we go from here

The dissent of Justice Ambro is a light in the darkness, a roadmap as to where we go from here. On April 9, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals granted my 45-day Motion for Extension of Time To File Petition for Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc. The rehearing petition, now due on May 27, 2008, will be seeking review of the case by all the judges in the Third Circuit. The basis will be that "the panel decision conflicts with a decision of the United States Supreme Court or of the court to which the petition is addressed and consideration of the full court is therefore necessary to secure uniformity of the court's decisions," and, "the proceeding involves one or more questions of exceptional importance." (Fed. R. App. P. 35(b)(1).) If unsuccessful, we will proceed to the Supreme Court.

Conclusion

The issues in this case concern the right to a fair trial, the ongoing struggle against the death penalty, and the political repression of a courageous author and journalist. Based upon three decades of successfully litigating murder cases involving the death penalty, I am convinced that we can win an acquittal upon a new jury trial. My goal is his acquittal upon retrial. I intend to see Mumia go home to his family. I will not rest until that occurs.

Mumia is still on death row and in great danger. His life is hanging in the balance. We must remember that racism, fraud, politics, and unfairness are threads that have run through this case since the beginning. As reflected by the comments at its recent press conference, the prosecution has learned little from its shameful behavior in this case. The misconduct continues, and the prosecutorial wrongs of the past are thus visited on the present.

Finally, we are grateful for all those who do so much to bring the injustice in this case to public attention, whether it be through demonstrations, writing to newspapers, meetings, or circulating information on the Internet. This is all important. We are of one voice in this campaign for justice: Free Mumia!

Yours very truly,
Robert R. Bryan

Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123-4117

Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
RobertRBryan@aol.com

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Bus Ticket Information For April 19 In Philly

FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMALCOALITION BUSES FOR APRIL 19TH
LEAVING AT 8 AM FROM 33rd STREET AND 8th AVENUE $21
MUST BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE
AT SOLIDARITY CENTER 55 WEST 17th STREET
Mon-Friday 1:30-8:30 (212-633-6046)
LIMITED NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN NEED
MUST CALL 212-330-8029 FOR THOSE TICKETS
For more information: call 212 330-8029 or www.freemumia.com

IGLESIA SAN ROMERO DE LAS AMERICAS
BUSES LEAVING AT 7 AM
FROM 2410 AMSTERDAM BETWEEN (179th AND 180th Streets)
$21
CONTACT MANUEL: 917-544-1693

Partisan Defense Committee is also organizing a bus from downtown Manhattan. $25 Call (212) 406-4252. Other organizations are organizing vans and cars.

ALL OUT TO PHILLY ON APRIL 19th FOR MUMIA, AND FOR OURSELVES!!!

APRIL 19 - FREE MUMIA DEMO'S ALL OVER THE WORLD!

THIRD CIRCUIT COURT DENIES MUMIA A NEW TRIAL AND GRANTS RE-SENTENCING HEARING!

ALL OUT IN PHILLY ON APRIL 19!
BUY YOUR BUS TICKETS NOW!
Have your Organization ENDORSE this demo!
Email freemumia@freemumia.com or call (212)330-8029
- Download the Flyer

MUMIA'S CURRENT LEGAL STATUS NOW LEAVES HIM WITH EITHER AN EXECUTION OR LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE! Federal Court has ruled to uphold Mumia's conviction while granting a re-sentencing hearing. Though Mumia's attorneys are appealing, Mumia is currently bound to either an execution or permanent life in prison.


- READ THE RULING HERE
- READ LINN WASHINGTON'S "THIS IS NO VICTORY" ANALYSIS
-READ UPDATE FROM MUMIA'S LAWYER
- LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH MUMIA

- Statement from Pam Africa here
-
Read an article by David Lindorff

- Read a response from German Author Michael Schiffman

There will also be International demonstrations:

Paris, France
There will be a demonstration on the 19th, more details to come

Vienna / Austria
The Committee In Solidartity with Mumia Abu-Jamal organizes in common with Der Neue Kurs a rally, demonstration and Solidarity meeting

Saturday April 19th 2008 2 pm
Solidarity-Rally
Mariahilferstraße / Stiftstraße

4 pm Demonstration to the US-Embassy
Meeting with representatives of the embassy to present a resolution against the racist trial and strongly limited rights for the defense

7 pm Solidarity-meeting Free Mumia!
With
* a representative of the "Mumia Free Committee" (Albany/USA)
* Karl Fischbacher (Committee In Solidartity with Mumia Abu-Jamal<)
* A representative of Der Neue Kurs Germany
download a German flyer

Protests and press conferences were held in NYC and Califronia on March 28 --- Download the Press Release

The Vital Importance of Mumia Abu-Jamal

by Walidah Imarisha

Mumia Abu-Jamal, award winning journalist, activist, organizer, "voice of the voiceless" and resident of Pennsylvania's death row, was denied his appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to receive a new trial. They did uphold the decision to give him life without parole instead of the death penalty, which the state will probably appeal.

They waited almost an entire year to hand down that verdict, I remember the big protest we had outside the court the day the hearing happened (a hearing Mumia was supposed to be allowed to appear at personally, until the last minute when they wouldn't let him come. It would have been his first in person court appears in over a decade).

The case of Mumia is so important to justice, to the state of things, and to me personally. My first protest I ever went to, at the age of 15 in Eugene, Oregon, was a Free Mumia protest. It was such a small protest now that I have been at gatherings with hundreds of thousands. But at the time it seemed massive.

The flyer had said to gather at the entrance to the University of Oregon. Unfamiliar with activist time, I had shown up about 20 minutes early, and had seen no one. I worried if I'd gotten the location wrong, if it had been cancelled, if it was really going to happen.

I had just begun my foray into political education, thanks to an internship I stumbled onto at a local social justice organization. My time in the office set in a creaky old building with pipes that rattled set the stage for the rest of my life. It was sitting in the frayed worn couches near the bay window that I first heard the words communism and socialism as more than just some dangerous evil that would devour me if it wanted. While typing up stories for the newsletter at the antiquated box of a computer, talk of the Zapatistas, political prisoners, Sandinistas, Central America, Cuba, apartheid, Assata Shakur, Malcolm X all swirled around me. I didn't know what the hell these people were talking about. But I knew they were individuals I already respected, who knew so much about things I had never dreamed existed. I knew I had to educate myself.

I asked my mentor, a young white man who wore cardigan sweaters and converse and looked more at home in a 50s car hop poster than organizing in support of farmworkers, timidly one day if he could recommend some books for me to read. He reached up without hesitation and handed me a small black book, with a dreadlocked man staring solemnly out of the cover. "You should really check this out, I think you might find some good stuff in here."

I started Mumia's Live From Death Row on the long bus ride home (I actually lived in another city, Springfield, so I had to transfer three times to get home). I stayed up until 3 in the morning, neglecting school work and my favorite show on tv, to finish the book. Mumia's words were elegant, poetic, searing and undeniable. He wrote about live on death row, vinettes about the people there with him, the supposed scum of the earth, he wrote them as humans, beautiful flawed tragic humans. He wrote about the larger prison industrial complex, wrote about why prisons exist and who benefits from them, not in safety but in real material dollars. And whose flesh is sold to make those dollars, poor and black and brown and illiterate and mentally delayed and never had a chance and nobody never listened to their voice. His book was not about him, he was the eyes, the ears, the nose, the mouth and the heart that drew it all together, linked connections I had never imagined, showed me the web of oppression that threaded through my entire life, tangling me without my realizing it. And he showed me how to begin to hack away at those threads. I believed and believe with all my heart Mumia when he says he's innocent. But his book and his commitment showed me that that is not the biggest question. The biggest question is who is guilty of what crimes, and why are those guilty of the worst atrocities against humanity rarely ever brought to justice?

Back at the gate to the University of Oregon, I looked up as about 10 young white people, some dreadlocked with patch work pants, a couple in all black with patches on their ripped up hoodies, came towards me, carrying signs that said "Free Mumia" and "Free All Political Prisoners". One young woman came up to me and asked, "Are you here for the Mumia protest?" I was so happy, I nodded my head vigorously. "Great," she said, handing me a sign, "We're almost ready to start."

In about 10 minutes, the group of 30 to 40 folks assembled set off down the street, marching through the business district around the University. I had never been in a crowd of people chanting and banging drums, yelling slogans, stopping traffic. I felt strong, and unstoppable. This is the power that people in the dilapadated office had talked about, the power that can stand up to bullets and batons and tanks and dictators and empires. The power of the people.

Someone pushed play on a boombox they had brought, and Mumia's rich voice, tempered with honey and with steel, burst from the speakers, rained down on the boutiques and pizza shops and on me. I had never heard Mumia's voice before. Listening to him read one of his commentaries he had written in prison, I knew why they didn't play Mumia's voice, why they were scared to let this radio journalist's voice free from the cage. You could not listen to Mumia's voice and not be moved by the power, the rationality and most of all the humanity in it. You could never believe this man was the rabid loose cannon crazy person they tried to paint him as. You couldn't hear Mumia's voice and not want to join in the fight to free him, and the fight to make sure there would be no more Mumia's on death rows ever again.

As he closed out his commentary, "Live from death row, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal," I hoisted my Free Mumia NOW sign as high as I could, and yelled with all my might with the dozens of throats around me, "Brick by brick, wall by wall we're going to free Mumia Abu-Jamal."

I screamed the same chant 13 years later, in front of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals last May as they heard evidence to decide Mumia's fate. What they don't understand, and what we have to, is that is is not their decision. The decision, as always, rests with the people, who have the real power. I still believe wholeheartedly in the chant, and I know you do too. Now is the time to make our voices and our determination heard.

Donate To Help Free Mumia Now!

From International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal:

We are in desperate need of funds. Much of the intense work being done now is being funded from our own pockets. Every little bit helps. We could use copy cards for stores like Kinko's, Staples, Office Max, etc. or even better, people who can make copies out of their offices or homes. We could use volunteers to help publicize and do outreach for April 19. There is some way each person can contribute and now is the time to extend that effort!

We are also creating PSAs to air on Philadelphia radio stations this coming week leading up to April 19. We need to raise $1,000 to cover the costs. PLEASE help us reach this goal so we can get out the word on Mumia's struggle!

Statement from the Free Mumia Coalition - All Out To Philly April 19!

No Justice, No Peace!

As we chanted "The People United Will Never Be Defeated" as loudly as we could, it was clear to anyone listening that the battle for Mumia Abu-Jamal's freedom will not be denied, despite a disappointing decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. People from varying backgrounds and political stripes were united behind one issue: the liberation of an innocent Black man on Pennsylvania's death row. By a two-to-one majority, the court ruled that Mumia was not entitled to a new trial because it wasn't clear what the racial makeup in the jury pool was – therefore, how can you definitively prove that Mumia's rights were violated by a biased jury.

Our "Day After" rally in Harlem was a targeted strategy to inform the community about the cold-blooded nature of the criminal injustice system – something Harlem residents and the rest of Black and Brown residents and progressive whites already know too well. The court, in its infinite wisdom, thought all Mumia Abu-Jamal deserved, after spending 26 years on death row in solitary confinement, was the possibility of a resentencing hearing that would leave him with either life in prison or execution by lethal injection. One thing is clear: this ruling will not stand, and the judicial system will have to deal with the public that is none too happy about this ruling. As Mumia always says, "There is no power like the power of the people."

Over 200 people came out to express their outrage over this decision. Three weeks following the Harlem rally, on April 19, there will be thousands more who will take it to the streets of Philadelphia and make it clear to the powers that be – that they had better rethink their position or the whole world will know about their dirty little secret. People will not stand by and let them murder the "voice of the voiceless" — or keep an innocent man behind bars for the rest of his life. While the mainstream media is focusing on the horserace that's being played out by "tweedle dee and tweedle dum "—excuse me, the Democratic Primaries and who's leading in the polls – it's about time we give them something else to write about that is a little more relevant to the times we're living in. The criminal injustice system is raining hard in Black and Brown urban centers of America, and it's time we make them own up to it.

Both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama endorse capital punishment, even though they know the system is imperfect and it doesn't deter violent crime. Let's see where they stand on Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has not had a violent past; in fact, it's quite the opposite, as you already know. It's not too late to force them to do right by Mumia and all the other political prisoners rotting in prison, where they shouldn't have been in the first place. Further, if we give up, how will we ever demand from our children what we can't do for ourselves.

Make it your business to join us in Philly on Saturday, April 19, 11 AM, in front of the Federal Court House, 6th and Market Streets. Buses leave New York City at 8:00 AM in front of the General Post Office, 33rd and 8th Avenue, across from Madison Square Garden. Roundtrip tickets are $21. If you're not able to make it, send someone in your place or make a contribution that would allow someone to come who cannot afford to pay. This is a grassroots movement, so if you have a little extra cash, we could surely use it right about now. Make out your check or money order to FMAJ/IFCO and send it to Free Mumia Coalition NYC, P.O. Box 16, College Station, New York, NY 10030. Our website is www.freemumia.com and it's updated frequently.

-The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC)

Put Pressure On Officials To Respond To Denial Of New Trial

From ICFFMAJ:

We are asking Mumia supporters to PLEASE CALL THESE NUMBERS and write the Congressional Black Caucus as to why they are not responding to the Third Circuit's recent denial of a new trial for Mumia.

We are asking people to ask them why they are not calling press conferences or making a collective or individual ccomment about the recent court decision

Call the CBC, the National Caucus of Black Legislators and the National NAACP, which passed a resolution supporting Mumia in 2004.

Thes organizations should be coming to Mumia's support at this time!

-----------------

Rep Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
Chairwoman, Congressional Black Caucus
202 225 5006

Dr Joe Leonord
Executive Director, Congressional Black Caucus
202 225 4356

National NAACP
410 580 5777

All Out For April 19! Buy Bus Tickets NOW

The worldwide movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal is in emergency mode. Since the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia last week rejected Mumia's appeal for a new trial, his only legal options are death by lethal injection or life behind the wall without parole. No way!

Mumia has always said it will be the power of the people that will force the courts to release him. Get yourself and everyone you know to Philly on Saturday, April 19th. This is the week of the Presidential Primary and the entire city will be all revved-up politically and more open to anger over such a blatant disrespect of an innocent man's rights.

We will provide group transportation. Mail your check made out to FMAJC for $19 per ticket right away to

FMAJC
P.O. Box 16
College Station, New York, NY 10030

Include your address (please write clearly and include a good contact phone number) and we will mail you back your ticket.

Mumia's future is in the hands of we, the people!

STATEMENT FROM PAM AFRICA

Coordinator of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
(March 29, 2008):

Last week's court decision was not a victory. While we obviously prefer to have Mumia alive, instead of executed, life in prison without parole is an unacceptable sentence for an innocent man that was convicted with a blatantly unfair trial. Further, there is still no guarantee that he will not be executed. Also, even if the overturning of the death penalty is eventually finalized, there is no guarantee that he will be moved into the general prison population, because the government has always found ways to make "exceptions" for political prisoners like Mumia.

Once again the courts have held Mumia's case to different standards than other cases. At the 1982 trial Prosecutor McGill used 10 of his 15 peremptory strikes to remove otherwise acceptable black jurors, yet the court ruled that there was not even the appearance of discrimination against just one of these black jurors!

Judge Thomas Ambro has noted this blatant double-standard with the court's rejection of the "Batson" claim regarding racist jury selection, and he states in his dissenting opinion that the court's ruling "goes against the grain of our prior actions…I see no reason why we should not afford Abu-Jamal the courtesy of our precedents."

We have absolutely no faith in the judicial system, but if Mumia does have a court proceeding, we will continue to mobilize to pack the courtroom and the streets in support of Mumia, just like we have always done whenever there was a courtroom proceeding for Mumia, whether he was present or not. However, we know that if Mumia gets justice, it will not come from the courts, but only from the pressure generated by the people.

Therefore, we will take to the streets with a mass-demonstration in Philadelphia on April 19 demanding Mumia's release based on the evidence of both innocence and judicial misconduct from the City of Philadelphia all the way up to the federal level. In response to the recent court decision, numerous demonstrations have already been organized internationally and inside the US. On April 19, with the media spotlight on Pennsylvania's Presidential Primary Election, supporters from around the world will gather in Philadelphia to take a constitutional stand and show our outrage with this unjust court decision.