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!!!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
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
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.
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!
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)
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
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!
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.
(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.
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