From Hans Bennett:
Immediately following Tuesday's news, I asked several people to respond to the court's decision: Pam Africa, Robert R. Bryan, Dave Lindorff, Michael Schiffmann, and Linn Washington Jr.
PAM AFRICA, Coordinator of The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
I am not shocked by this decision. The PA Supreme Court has never ruled fairly in Mumia's case, especially with former Philadelphia DA Ron Castille's participation.
This should wake people up to see the injustice in Mumia's case. Why can the media report so quickly on this decision, but not report on the newly discovered crime scene photos? These photos are serious evidence, but the media has ignored them.
The media and courts are complicit in the railroading of Mumia.
I urge readers to please help fight the media bias by going to Abu-Jamal-News.com to see the new photo evidence, downloading the information, and spreading the word, at this urgent time in Mumia's case.
ROBERT R. BRYAN, San Francisco, Lead Counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia and I had a long conference this afternoon, shortly after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made its ruling. We were not surprised since that court has a history of not addressing the racism and fraud that has dominated the prosecution since its inception over a quarter of a century ago. By dismissing the appeal on procedural grounds, the court avoided dealing with the compelling facts establishing that the prosecution of my client was based upon lies, half-truths, and bigotry. It is sad that the state court used possible mistakes of the previous lawyers in the case as an excuse to dodge the truth.
This state ruling has no bearing on the the proceedings pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. If the federal decision is favorable, then the Pennsylvania Supreme Court judgment will be moot. Otherwise, I plan to seek relief in the U.S. Supreme Court. I will not rest until Mumia is free.
LINN WASHINGTON, JR., Philadelphia Tribune Columnist, Temple University Professor of Journalism, and graduate of the Yale Law Journalism Fellowship Program
This ruling is sad but not surprising. It continues the infamous Pennsylvania Supreme Court tradition in the Abu-Jamal case of abusing law to block justice. Until this Court grants a new trial to Abu-Jamal where both sides can fairly present evidence, any ruling it issues is legally corrupt.
DAVE LINDORFF, Author of Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia
Abu-Jamal<(Common Courage Press, 2003)
It comes as no surprise to hear that the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has rejected yet another appeal by Mumia Abu-Jamal, the state's longest-surviving death row prisoner. The court, which is led by former Philadelphia D.A. Ron Castille (who helped fight Abu-Jamal's appeals in his role as DA and has yet to recuse himself from decisions involving this case), has never issued a ruling favorable to Abu-Jamal.
That said, it is clear that the prosecution's case was rampant with examples of suborned perjury, from the belated and choreographed lies by police about having heard a shouted out confession in the hospital--an event no nurse or attending physician heard, and which police at the time curiously failed to note in their reports on the evening's events, to "eye-witness" testimony from a taxi driver whose taxi nobody remembers seeing where he said it was--parked directly behind Officer Daniel Faulkner's car. And of course more recently we have the newly discovered news photos showing police tampering with the evidence at the very scene of the crime.
In a fair world, this case would have been tossed out long ago, but as the PA Supreme Court has demonstrated yet again, we do not live in a fair world.
DR. MICHAEL SCHIFFMANN, German Linguist at The University of Heidelberg, co-founder of Journalists for Mumia, and the author of Race Against Death; Mumia Abu-Jamal: a Black Revolutionary in White America
The original decision in May/June 2005 by Court of Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe to dismiss Mumia Abu-Jamal's 3rd PCRA petition was already a travesty of justice. Everything in that decision was tailored to deny Abu-Jamal relief. After sitting on the case for almost four years, the judge deciding it evidently didn't have a clue about the most elementary facts.
That was not necessary, though; all that was needed was to twist the law in such a way that Abu-Jamal wound never have a chance, regardless of what he presented.
Abu-Jamal's 3rd PCRA petition presented testimony by two witnesses that attacked the arguably two single-most important prosecution witnesses at the June/July 1982 Abu-Jamal trial, prostitute Cynthia White and hospital security guard Priscilla Durham. As discussed extensively in work on our website www.abu-jamal-news.com and elsewhere, not least in many, many defense briefs, these witnesses were highly incredible even without that new testimony.
All the same, it was crucially important: New witness Yvette Williams testified that Cynthia White had been blackmailed into fingering Abu-Jamal as the murderer by death threats on the part of the police, and new witness Kenneth Pate testified that Durham had been peer-pressured by the police into falsely accusing Abu-Jamal of having boasted about having "shot the motherfucker" Daniel Faulkner and hoping he would die.
If proven in court, these two new claims in themselves would be enough to prove that the case against Abu-Jamal was hopelessly contaminated right from the start and to explode it once and for all.
By bending even the reactionary new Clinton-era laws to expedite the application of the death penalty out of shape, Judge Dembe at the time concluded that the new evidence was not presented in a "timely" fashion. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court now does the same, inventing yet other and different reasons why the evidence is "untimely."
It's not worth going again into the "legal" forks and angles of that new decision. It's a repeat performance of the 2005 Dembe decision which I analyzed at the time and which got a worthy response by the defense, as we now see without avail. What simmers through in every line of those decisions is that one thing always left unsaid: "WE ARE AFRAID OF THE FACTS."
But those facts won't go away, if we fight to disseminate them, to get them out into the public sphere, and to have them finally heard on court. That is the most urgent task in the weeks and months to come.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Mumia Abu-Jamal Loses Bid for Hearing
From Hans Bennett/Sis. Fatirah:
This is NOT the decision from the 3rd Circuit Court. It is a separate appeal with the State Supreme Court.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest appeals court has rejected a request by convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal (moo-MEE'-ah AH'-boo jah-MAHL') for a hearing into his claims that witnesses in his case perjured themselves.
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a unanimous ruling saying the former Black Panther and radio reporter waited too long to file a post-conviction appeal in the matter.
Abu-Jamal was convicted of shooting to death Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981. A federal judge in 2001 overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence but upheld his conviction.
His case has attracted international notoriety. A separate appeal in the case, regarding claims of racial bias and faulty jury instructions, is pending before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
---FROM: Associated Press, Tues, Feb. 19
For background on this appeal, see these 2 previous articles from Betsy Piette: http://www.workers.org/2007/us/mumia-appeal-0719/
Michael Schiffmann: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=8603
==============
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=6184
PA Supreme Court rejects Mumia Abu-Jamal's PCRA appeal
--Critics say the ruling is unjust
By Hans Bennett (Abu-Jamal-News.com)
On Tuesday, February 19, in a ruling unrelated to the pending US Third Circuit Court decision, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected death row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal of a 2005 ruling by Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe, which denied Abu-Jamal's Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petition, on grounds that it was not "timely." (See reports by The Associated Press and Philadelphia Inquirer.)
This recent PCRA petition was based on affidavits by two witnesses that did not testify at the original 1982 trial: Yvette Williams and Kenneth Pate. Yvette Williams states that key prosecution witness Cynthia White told her that she had been coerced by police into giving false testimony against Abu-Jamal. Defense witnesses Veronica Jones and Pamela Jenkins have given similar accounts of Cynthia White's coerced testimony against Abu-Jamal. As Amnesty International has documented, White's alleged eye-witness account was altered, as each subsequent account given to police further served to support the prosecution scenario used to convict Abu-Jamal. Kenneth Pate says that prosecution witness Priscilla Durham confided to him that she had also lied in court when she stated that she's heard Abu-Jamal confess at the hospital. Even before Pate's affidavit, Durham's account was very suspicious.
The alleged "hospital confession," where Abu-Jamal reportedly declared, "I shot the motherf***er and I hope the motherf***er dies," was first officially reported to police over two months later, by hospital guards Priscilla Durham and James LeGrand (Feb. 9, 1982), P.O. Gary Wakshul (Feb.11), P.O. Gary Bell (Feb.25), and P.O. Thomas M. Bray (March 1). Only 2 of these five witnesses were called by the DA: Gary Bell (Faulkner's partner and "best friend") and Priscilla Durham.
At trial, Gary Bell testified that the 2 month lapse resulted from him being so upset over the death of Faulkner. Priscilla Durham testified, and added for the first time, that she had reported the confession to her supervisor the next day. Neither her supervisor, nor the alleged handwritten statement were presented in court. The DA sent an officer to the hospital, returning
with a suspicious typed version. Sabo accepted the paper (not signed) despite both Durham's disavowal, and the defense's protest that authorship and authenticity were unproven.
For more on Kenneth Pate and Yvette Williams, please see German author Michael Schiffmann's 2005 analysis of Judge Pamela Dembe's ruling.
This is NOT the decision from the 3rd Circuit Court. It is a separate appeal with the State Supreme Court.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest appeals court has rejected a request by convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal (moo-MEE'-ah AH'-boo jah-MAHL') for a hearing into his claims that witnesses in his case perjured themselves.
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a unanimous ruling saying the former Black Panther and radio reporter waited too long to file a post-conviction appeal in the matter.
Abu-Jamal was convicted of shooting to death Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981. A federal judge in 2001 overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence but upheld his conviction.
His case has attracted international notoriety. A separate appeal in the case, regarding claims of racial bias and faulty jury instructions, is pending before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
---FROM: Associated Press, Tues, Feb. 19
For background on this appeal, see these 2 previous articles from Betsy Piette: http://www.workers.org/2007/us/mumia-appeal-0719/
Michael Schiffmann: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=8603
==============
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=6184
PA Supreme Court rejects Mumia Abu-Jamal's PCRA appeal
--Critics say the ruling is unjust
By Hans Bennett (Abu-Jamal-News.com)
On Tuesday, February 19, in a ruling unrelated to the pending US Third Circuit Court decision, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected death row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal of a 2005 ruling by Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe, which denied Abu-Jamal's Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petition, on grounds that it was not "timely." (See reports by The Associated Press and Philadelphia Inquirer.)
This recent PCRA petition was based on affidavits by two witnesses that did not testify at the original 1982 trial: Yvette Williams and Kenneth Pate. Yvette Williams states that key prosecution witness Cynthia White told her that she had been coerced by police into giving false testimony against Abu-Jamal. Defense witnesses Veronica Jones and Pamela Jenkins have given similar accounts of Cynthia White's coerced testimony against Abu-Jamal. As Amnesty International has documented, White's alleged eye-witness account was altered, as each subsequent account given to police further served to support the prosecution scenario used to convict Abu-Jamal. Kenneth Pate says that prosecution witness Priscilla Durham confided to him that she had also lied in court when she stated that she's heard Abu-Jamal confess at the hospital. Even before Pate's affidavit, Durham's account was very suspicious.
The alleged "hospital confession," where Abu-Jamal reportedly declared, "I shot the motherf***er and I hope the motherf***er dies," was first officially reported to police over two months later, by hospital guards Priscilla Durham and James LeGrand (Feb. 9, 1982), P.O. Gary Wakshul (Feb.11), P.O. Gary Bell (Feb.25), and P.O. Thomas M. Bray (March 1). Only 2 of these five witnesses were called by the DA: Gary Bell (Faulkner's partner and "best friend") and Priscilla Durham.
At trial, Gary Bell testified that the 2 month lapse resulted from him being so upset over the death of Faulkner. Priscilla Durham testified, and added for the first time, that she had reported the confession to her supervisor the next day. Neither her supervisor, nor the alleged handwritten statement were presented in court. The DA sent an officer to the hospital, returning
with a suspicious typed version. Sabo accepted the paper (not signed) despite both Durham's disavowal, and the defense's protest that authorship and authenticity were unproven.
For more on Kenneth Pate and Yvette Williams, please see German author Michael Schiffmann's 2005 analysis of Judge Pamela Dembe's ruling.
IMPORTANT TEACH-IN ON GRAND JURIES, REPRESSION, AND RESISTANCE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd, 2-5 PM
St. Mary's Church
521 West 126th Street (between Amsterdam and Broadway).
Participants will include:
Ana Lopez and Youth Resisters, Hostos January 11 Grand Jury Resistance Campaign
Julio Rosado, Legendary Independentista and Grand Jury Resister
Esperanza Martell, Iglesia San Romero de las Americas
Roger Wareham, December 12th Movement
Robert Boyle, National Lawyers Guild
Bob Lederer, Grand Jury Resister/Resistance in Brooklyn
NYC Coalition members
Friends of MOVE
And others to be announced
Learn from and support the Puerto Rican Independence Movement and the young Puerto Rican cultural workers who have been served notice to appear before a Grand Jury in Brooklyn - a serious attack on the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, on the Puerto Rican community, and on all of our civil liberties. Learn how the grand jury process is part of the state's attacks on the progressive movement in this country. Learn about the history of resistance to this repression. How does this particular governmental attack on us fit into the overall picture of repression and fascistic developments? Learn about the attacks on December 12th, the Free Mumia Movement, the MOVE organization, and many others.
There will be extensive time for questions and role playing to help people understand the grand jury process, and to strengthen our courage and ability to resist.
Sponsored by: Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, Hostos January 11th Grand Jury Resistance Campaign, and the December 12th Movement.
For more information call: (212) 330-8029 or check www.freemumia.com
St. Mary's Church
521 West 126th Street (between Amsterdam and Broadway).
Participants will include:
Ana Lopez and Youth Resisters, Hostos January 11 Grand Jury Resistance Campaign
Julio Rosado, Legendary Independentista and Grand Jury Resister
Esperanza Martell, Iglesia San Romero de las Americas
Roger Wareham, December 12th Movement
Robert Boyle, National Lawyers Guild
Bob Lederer, Grand Jury Resister/Resistance in Brooklyn
NYC Coalition members
Friends of MOVE
And others to be announced
Learn from and support the Puerto Rican Independence Movement and the young Puerto Rican cultural workers who have been served notice to appear before a Grand Jury in Brooklyn - a serious attack on the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, on the Puerto Rican community, and on all of our civil liberties. Learn how the grand jury process is part of the state's attacks on the progressive movement in this country. Learn about the history of resistance to this repression. How does this particular governmental attack on us fit into the overall picture of repression and fascistic developments? Learn about the attacks on December 12th, the Free Mumia Movement, the MOVE organization, and many others.
There will be extensive time for questions and role playing to help people understand the grand jury process, and to strengthen our courage and ability to resist.
Sponsored by: Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, Hostos January 11th Grand Jury Resistance Campaign, and the December 12th Movement.
For more information call: (212) 330-8029 or check www.freemumia.com
Friday, February 01, 2008
Protest the Building of Museum at Sing Sing Prison
Activists are opposing the building of a museum to be located in Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York. The museum will include a tourist friendly depiction of all people deemed "famous" who were executed in Sing Sing at the hands of the state, including the Rosenbergs. Some are comparing this move to what has similarly happened at Alcatraz, calling Sing Sing the "Alcatraz of the east".
We urge people to protest the building of this museum. For an article on this development please visit: http://www.hudsonriver.com/halfmoonpress/stories/0205singsing.htm
To sign on to a letter against the building of the museum, please email: willwall04@yahoo.com
We urge people to protest the building of this museum. For an article on this development please visit: http://www.hudsonriver.com/halfmoonpress/stories/0205singsing.htm
To sign on to a letter against the building of the museum, please email: willwall04@yahoo.com
Monday, January 28, 2008
Teach-In on Grand Juries, Repression & Resistance
Saturday, February 23 2-5 pm
St. Mary's Church
521 West 126th Street
Between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway
Learn from and support the Puerto Rican Independence Movement and the young Puerto Rican cultural workers who have been served notice to appear before a Grand Jury in Brooklyn - a serious attack on the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, on the Puerto Rican community, and on all of our civil liberties. Learn how the grand jury is part of the state's attack on the progressive movement in this country. Learn about the history of resistance to this repression. How does this particular governmental attack on us fit into the overall picture of repression and fascistic developments? Learn about the attacks on December 12th, the Free Mumia Movement, the MOVE organization, and many others. There will be a FULL HOUR FOR QUESTIONS as well as ROLE PLAYING to concretize a process that many of us are not familiar with, and need to understand in order to strengthen our courage and our ability to RESIST.
Participants will include:
Ana Lopez and Youth Resisters, Hostos January 11 Grand Jury Resistance Campaign
Esperanza Martell, Iglesia San Romero de las Americas
December 12th Movement
Robert Boyle, National Lawyers Guild, NYC
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition members
Friends of MOVE
And others to be announced
For more information call 212.330.8089 or www.freemumia.com
St. Mary's Church
521 West 126th Street
Between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway
Learn from and support the Puerto Rican Independence Movement and the young Puerto Rican cultural workers who have been served notice to appear before a Grand Jury in Brooklyn - a serious attack on the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, on the Puerto Rican community, and on all of our civil liberties. Learn how the grand jury is part of the state's attack on the progressive movement in this country. Learn about the history of resistance to this repression. How does this particular governmental attack on us fit into the overall picture of repression and fascistic developments? Learn about the attacks on December 12th, the Free Mumia Movement, the MOVE organization, and many others. There will be a FULL HOUR FOR QUESTIONS as well as ROLE PLAYING to concretize a process that many of us are not familiar with, and need to understand in order to strengthen our courage and our ability to RESIST.
Participants will include:
Ana Lopez and Youth Resisters, Hostos January 11 Grand Jury Resistance Campaign
Esperanza Martell, Iglesia San Romero de las Americas
December 12th Movement
Robert Boyle, National Lawyers Guild, NYC
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition members
Friends of MOVE
And others to be announced
For more information call 212.330.8089 or www.freemumia.com
Monday, January 21, 2008
MLK III Says Mumia and MOVE 9 Are Unjustly Incarcerated
Martin Luther King III Says Mumia Abu-Jamal and the MOVE 9 are Unjustly Incarcerated
From Philadelphia Indymedia
21 Jan 2008
My father's words that, "Freedom only comes through persistent agitation, through persistent rising up", were true in 1982 when Mumia Abu Jamal was unjustly convicted for the death of a Philadelphia policeman because he dared to use national air-waves to agitate for the rights of MOVE and for racial and economic justice. They are true today as we continue to fight for his freedom....We live in a society shrouded in hypocrisy, a nation that expects its children to abhor violence but takes every opportunity to promote the "might is right" philosophy....While we promote the notion throughout the world that America's system of justice in colorblind, we live with the reality that racism is inherent in every single facet of our criminal justice system....From the aerial bombing of MOVE to the unjust incarceration of MOVE members, Mumia Abu-Jamal and countless others; to the unjustified and unpunished killings and beatings of people of color; to the "blue mentality" pervading police forces across the country that rewards brutal behavior; to the increasing incidents of police abuse and harassment of even white Americans, we understand the need to continue and remain steadfast in our struggle for freedom. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s journey began in Montgomery with civil rights and ended in Memphis with human rights. SCLC's current support of human rights around the world is consistent with our support of the rights of MOVE.
From Philadelphia Indymedia
21 Jan 2008
My father's words that, "Freedom only comes through persistent agitation, through persistent rising up", were true in 1982 when Mumia Abu Jamal was unjustly convicted for the death of a Philadelphia policeman because he dared to use national air-waves to agitate for the rights of MOVE and for racial and economic justice. They are true today as we continue to fight for his freedom....We live in a society shrouded in hypocrisy, a nation that expects its children to abhor violence but takes every opportunity to promote the "might is right" philosophy....While we promote the notion throughout the world that America's system of justice in colorblind, we live with the reality that racism is inherent in every single facet of our criminal justice system....From the aerial bombing of MOVE to the unjust incarceration of MOVE members, Mumia Abu-Jamal and countless others; to the unjustified and unpunished killings and beatings of people of color; to the "blue mentality" pervading police forces across the country that rewards brutal behavior; to the increasing incidents of police abuse and harassment of even white Americans, we understand the need to continue and remain steadfast in our struggle for freedom. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s journey began in Montgomery with civil rights and ended in Memphis with human rights. SCLC's current support of human rights around the world is consistent with our support of the rights of MOVE.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Audio from the December 4 press conference
The audio from the December 4 press conference is now online. The video will be available soon at www.abu-jamal-news.org.
Veronica Jones Letter to the Today Show
Below is a link to a letter written by Veronica Jones, a witness in Mumia's case, to the Today Show. This letter was written last week to encourage them to show both sides of the story. It is a very moving letter that gives insight into the injustice that Veronica faced in trying to speak the truth.
http://www.freemumia.com/pdfs/Veronica Jones Letter to the Today Show 12-07.pdf
http://www.freemumia.com/pdfs/Veronica Jones Letter to the Today Show 12-07.pdf
Was Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner really "Murdered By Mumia"?
--Journalists and activists present evidence of innocence and an unfair trial in the death-penalty case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
The news conference organized by Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal featured an exclusive slide-show presentation of newly discovered crime scene photos, as well as presentations by local journalists David A. Love and Dave Lindorff, and Pam Africa of The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
INVITATION: This week marks the 26th anniversary of the December 9, 1981 shooting death of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner and the arrest of radical journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal. December 6 will mark the release of a new book titled "Murdered By Mumia," written by Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish. The Philadelphia Inquirer has already begun a three-part series that features excerpts from "Murdered By Mumia." The media-attention will continue this week with "Murdered By Mumia" scheduled to be featured on such news programs as The Today Show, The O'Reilly Factor, Hardball with Chris Matthews, and many more.
In light of this significant week, the news conference was organized to present "the other side of the story," to the media so that it can be fairly balanced alongside the story presented by Faulkner, Smerconish, and others who argue that Mumia does not deserve a new trial and should be executed. Come and hear from activists and award-winning journalists who have thoroughly researched the case and concluded that Abu-Jamal's 1982 trial was blatantly unfair, and that there is considerable evidence suggesting that Abu-Jamal is innocent, as he has always maintained.
For the national media, and others unable to make it to the news conference, audio and video documentation has been made available via the internet.
CONTACT US: For more information, email: hbjournalist@gmail.com
This news conference featured:
SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION OF NEWLY DISCOVERED CRIME SCENE PHOTOS
Philadelphia journalist Hans Bennett presented a slideshow displaying the crime scene photos recently discovered by German linguist, Michael Schiffmann (University of Heidelberg). Dr. Schiffmann has disclosed his discovery of 26 photographs (never seen by the 1982 jury), taken by press photographer Pedro P. Polakoff, which suggest more evidence that basic investigative protocol was violated by police from the earliest moments of the killing. Schiffmann and Bennett's website, Abu-Jamal-News.com, displays four of the photos to make these key points about the new evidence:
1. Mishandling the Guns - Officer James Forbes holds both Abu-Jamal's and Faulkner's guns, his bare hand touching the metal parts, suggesting perjury when he testified to properly preserving the guns' ballistics evidence.
2. The Moving Hat - Faulkner's hat is moved from the roof of Billy Cook's VW and placed on the sidewalk, where it remained for the official police photo.
3. The Missing Taxi - Robert Chobert testified to parking directly behind Faulkner's car, but the space is empty.
4. The Missing Divots – On the sidewalk, where Faulkner was found, there are no large bullet divots, or destroyed chunks of cement, which should be visible in the pavement if the prosecution scenario was accurate, according to which Abu-Jamal shot down at Faulkner – and allegedly missed several times – while Faulkner was on his back. Dr. Michael Schiffmann writes: "It is thus no question any more whether the scenario presented by the prosecution at Abu-Jamal's trial is true. It is clearly not, because it is physically and ballistically impossible."
DAVID A. LOVE
In October, 2007, Philadelphia-based lawyer and journalist, David A. Love, wrote about the new crime scene photos for The Black Commentator news website. Love's article titled "Photos Bolster Claims of Mumia’s Innocence and Unfair Trial" was featured in the national Black newspaper, The SF Bay View, where one of the photos was published for the very first time in the US. Love spoke at the news conference about why the new crime scene photos are an important and worthy story for the media to cover. (see above)
DAVE LINDORFF
Dave Lindorff is the author of "Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal" (Common Courage Press, 2003), an independent examination of this important capital case. In his December 2, 2007 article titled "Maureen Faulkner and Mumia: Vengeance Isn't Sweet," Lindorff responds to the first in a three-part series in The Philadelphia Inquirer, that features experts from Maureen Faulkner's new book, written with Michael Smerconish, titled "Murdered By Mumia." He writes that Faulkner "is entitled to her anger and her grief," but "we are all diminished when justice is so willingly cast aside in the wrongheaded name of vengeance, as has clearly happened in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. No amount of sympathy for Faulkner's widow should be permitted to sway society or the courts from a commitment to justice, and there has been no justice in this case."
At the press-conference, Lindorff addressed the summary of evidence against Abu-Jamal, presented at the "Murdered By Mumia" website, that "Mumia Abu-Jamal was unanimously convicted of the crime by a racially mixed jury based on: the testimony of several eyewitnesses, his ownership of the murder weapon, matching ballistics, and Abu-Jamal's own confession."
--Award-winning investigative reporter Dave Lindorff has been working as a journalist for 34 years. A regular columnist for CounterPunch, he also writes frequently for Extra! and Salon magazine, as well as for Businessweek, The Nation, and Treasury & Risk Magazine. Over the years he has written for such publications as Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, Village Voice, Forbes, The London Observer and the Australian National Times.
PAM AFRICA
Pam Africa is the head of The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ). Africa will provide an update on the current media-activist campaign to "ensure fairness" for Abu-Jamal on the December 6 NBC Today Show, which spotlighted the release of the book "Murdered By Mumia." Africa and ICFFMAJ are asking that the The Today Show fairly show both sides of the Abu-Jamal / Faulkner story, and give equal time to an expert sympathetic to Abu-Jamal's case for a new trial.
--Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (Abu-Jamal-News.com) was co-founded in May, 2007 by Philadelphia journalist Hans Bennett and German linguist Dr. Michael Schiffmann (University of Heidelberg), who is the author of the new German book about Abu-Jamal's case, "Race Against Death." For more information, please email: hbjournalist@gmail.com
You can download the 50 page PRESS PACK at the link below:
http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf
The news conference organized by Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal featured an exclusive slide-show presentation of newly discovered crime scene photos, as well as presentations by local journalists David A. Love and Dave Lindorff, and Pam Africa of The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
INVITATION: This week marks the 26th anniversary of the December 9, 1981 shooting death of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner and the arrest of radical journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal. December 6 will mark the release of a new book titled "Murdered By Mumia," written by Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish. The Philadelphia Inquirer has already begun a three-part series that features excerpts from "Murdered By Mumia." The media-attention will continue this week with "Murdered By Mumia" scheduled to be featured on such news programs as The Today Show, The O'Reilly Factor, Hardball with Chris Matthews, and many more.
In light of this significant week, the news conference was organized to present "the other side of the story," to the media so that it can be fairly balanced alongside the story presented by Faulkner, Smerconish, and others who argue that Mumia does not deserve a new trial and should be executed. Come and hear from activists and award-winning journalists who have thoroughly researched the case and concluded that Abu-Jamal's 1982 trial was blatantly unfair, and that there is considerable evidence suggesting that Abu-Jamal is innocent, as he has always maintained.
For the national media, and others unable to make it to the news conference, audio and video documentation has been made available via the internet.
CONTACT US: For more information, email: hbjournalist@gmail.com
This news conference featured:
SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION OF NEWLY DISCOVERED CRIME SCENE PHOTOS
Philadelphia journalist Hans Bennett presented a slideshow displaying the crime scene photos recently discovered by German linguist, Michael Schiffmann (University of Heidelberg). Dr. Schiffmann has disclosed his discovery of 26 photographs (never seen by the 1982 jury), taken by press photographer Pedro P. Polakoff, which suggest more evidence that basic investigative protocol was violated by police from the earliest moments of the killing. Schiffmann and Bennett's website, Abu-Jamal-News.com, displays four of the photos to make these key points about the new evidence:
1. Mishandling the Guns - Officer James Forbes holds both Abu-Jamal's and Faulkner's guns, his bare hand touching the metal parts, suggesting perjury when he testified to properly preserving the guns' ballistics evidence.
2. The Moving Hat - Faulkner's hat is moved from the roof of Billy Cook's VW and placed on the sidewalk, where it remained for the official police photo.
3. The Missing Taxi - Robert Chobert testified to parking directly behind Faulkner's car, but the space is empty.
4. The Missing Divots – On the sidewalk, where Faulkner was found, there are no large bullet divots, or destroyed chunks of cement, which should be visible in the pavement if the prosecution scenario was accurate, according to which Abu-Jamal shot down at Faulkner – and allegedly missed several times – while Faulkner was on his back. Dr. Michael Schiffmann writes: "It is thus no question any more whether the scenario presented by the prosecution at Abu-Jamal's trial is true. It is clearly not, because it is physically and ballistically impossible."
DAVID A. LOVE
In October, 2007, Philadelphia-based lawyer and journalist, David A. Love, wrote about the new crime scene photos for The Black Commentator news website. Love's article titled "Photos Bolster Claims of Mumia’s Innocence and Unfair Trial" was featured in the national Black newspaper, The SF Bay View, where one of the photos was published for the very first time in the US. Love spoke at the news conference about why the new crime scene photos are an important and worthy story for the media to cover. (see above)
DAVE LINDORFF
Dave Lindorff is the author of "Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal" (Common Courage Press, 2003), an independent examination of this important capital case. In his December 2, 2007 article titled "Maureen Faulkner and Mumia: Vengeance Isn't Sweet," Lindorff responds to the first in a three-part series in The Philadelphia Inquirer, that features experts from Maureen Faulkner's new book, written with Michael Smerconish, titled "Murdered By Mumia." He writes that Faulkner "is entitled to her anger and her grief," but "we are all diminished when justice is so willingly cast aside in the wrongheaded name of vengeance, as has clearly happened in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. No amount of sympathy for Faulkner's widow should be permitted to sway society or the courts from a commitment to justice, and there has been no justice in this case."
At the press-conference, Lindorff addressed the summary of evidence against Abu-Jamal, presented at the "Murdered By Mumia" website, that "Mumia Abu-Jamal was unanimously convicted of the crime by a racially mixed jury based on: the testimony of several eyewitnesses, his ownership of the murder weapon, matching ballistics, and Abu-Jamal's own confession."
--Award-winning investigative reporter Dave Lindorff has been working as a journalist for 34 years. A regular columnist for CounterPunch, he also writes frequently for Extra! and Salon magazine, as well as for Businessweek, The Nation, and Treasury & Risk Magazine. Over the years he has written for such publications as Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, Village Voice, Forbes, The London Observer and the Australian National Times.
PAM AFRICA
Pam Africa is the head of The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ). Africa will provide an update on the current media-activist campaign to "ensure fairness" for Abu-Jamal on the December 6 NBC Today Show, which spotlighted the release of the book "Murdered By Mumia." Africa and ICFFMAJ are asking that the The Today Show fairly show both sides of the Abu-Jamal / Faulkner story, and give equal time to an expert sympathetic to Abu-Jamal's case for a new trial.
--Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (Abu-Jamal-News.com) was co-founded in May, 2007 by Philadelphia journalist Hans Bennett and German linguist Dr. Michael Schiffmann (University of Heidelberg), who is the author of the new German book about Abu-Jamal's case, "Race Against Death." For more information, please email: hbjournalist@gmail.com
You can download the 50 page PRESS PACK at the link below:
http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf
Mumia Abu-Jamal: Evidence of Innocence and an Unfair Trial
[The following are remarks made at a December 4, 2007 press conference held in Philadelphia by The International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ), and Journalists for Mumia. The purpose of the press conference was to discuss newly discovered crime scene photos in the Mumia Abu-Jamal death penalty case, which were not seen by the jury, yet point to his innocence and the need for a new trial. Abu-Jamal, journalist, former Black Panther and death row inmate, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. Participants in the press conference included Hans Bennett of Journalists for Mumia, Philadelphia journalists Linn Washington, Dave Lindorff, Pam Africa of ICFFMAJ, and David A. Love of Black Commentator. In its October 18, 2007 cover story, titled Photos Bolster Claims of Mumia’s Innocence and Unfair Trial, Black Commentator broke the story regarding the photos.]
My name is David A. Love, editorial board member of BlackCommentator.com, a weekly online magazine covering issues affecting the Black community, with a monthly readership of 300,000. My Color of Law column appears weekly. I wrote an article in the October 18, 2007 edition of the Black Commentator entitled “ Photos Bolster Claims of Mumia’s Innocence and Unfair Trial.” The piece re-printed for the Independent Media Center, and the San Francisco Bay View, a national Black newspaper, which published the photos. In the article, I discussed these new photos of the crime scene where Officer Faulkner was killed, but also analyzed the larger implications for the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the problem of racism in the criminal justice system, and the disturbing application of the death penalty in the United States.
To be sure, these photos are important because they suggest that someone, presumably the police, tampered with evidence at the crime scene, removed evidence and switched evidence around, perhaps out of incompetence, perhaps in order to subvert justice and bring about a particular desired outcome. We can only speculate. But we would be misled if we were to believe that these photos are the only evidence pointing to a setup, pointing to Mumia’s innocence and the need for a new trial. The photos, when viewed in combination with the other problems with the case, bolster an already convincing argument that official misconduct took place. For example:
The prosecutor had a history of excluding African American jurors, and struck 10 of 14 Black potential jurors, but only 5 of 25 whites.
In a sworn statement, a court stenographer said she overheard the trial judge, Albert Sabo, saying he would help the prosecution "fry the nigger."
For twelve years, prosecutors withheld evidence that the driver's license of a third man was found in Faulkner's pocket at the crime scene.
Defense witnesses who testified that someone other than Abu-Jamal killed Faulkner were intimidated.
Five of the seven members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which denied his appeal, received campaign contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police, the primary group that has advocated for the execution of Mumia, whom they regard as an unrepentant cop killer.
It should also be noted that in 1981, the year Mumia was arrested, five men were framed by the Philadelphia Police Department for murder and exonerated years later. Two of the innocent men spent as much as 20 years in prison before their release, and one man spent 1,375 days on death row before he became a free man. A legacy of police corruption, brutality and intimidation of poor people, communities of color and political activists haunts the city to this day, at a time when better police-community relations are needed to stem a tide of gun homicides.
The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal sheds light on the racial inequities in the law. Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system is unfair and unequal. An Associated Press investigation in 2000 revealed that Blacks in Pennsylvania are more likely to receive prison sentences, or longer ones, than white defendants accused of the same crimes. Further, the black incarceration rate is 14 times that of whites, the greatest racial disparity in the nation. African Americans, 10 percent of Pennsylvania's population, are 56 percent of the inmates, with most of them coming from the city of Philadelphia.
And we cannot discuss Mumia without looking at the death penalty, given that he is the most well known death row inmate in America and the world, and his case demonstrates all that is wrong with the death penalty, a system that was not meant to be fixed because it was not meant to be fair and just. Executions are a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, whether they take the form of beheading, stoning, gas chamber, electric chair, lethal injection, what have you. Like lynching, the death penalty is barbaric, arbitrary and infected with racism, placing an emphasis on expediency over due process. In fact, capital punishment is lynching brought into the court system, in an effort to legitimize the practice.
It is no accident that 90 percent of executions take place in the South, where Jim Crow lynchings and racial violence were the norm. It should not be surprising that the most important factor that determines whether someone will get the death penalty is the race of the victim. Over the past 30 years, an overwhelming majority of people executed in the United States - more than 80 percent - were convicted of killing a white victim, according to Amnesty International. African-Americans, however, are about half of all murder victims. And one-third of America's death row is black. And according to a study published in the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies in March 2004, a black person convicted of murdering a white victim is two and a half times as likely to be sentenced to death as a white person convicted of murdering a white victim.
And there are other inherent flaws in capital punishment. Each locality has its own standards, and each prosecutor decides whether to seek death. Only 2 percent of those who are eligible for a death sentence actually receive death. Codefendants may receive different sentences for the same crime, with one receiving death and the other receiving jail time.
Ninety-five percent of death row prisoners cannot afford an attorney and must take a court-appointed attorney, who often is overworked, underpaid, lacks experience in capital cases or, in extreme cases, falls asleep in court.
And since 1973, according to Amnesty International and the Death Penalty Information Center, 124 people in 25 states have been released from death row because they were wrongfully convicted. And we will never know how many innocent people have been sent to their deaths.
Moreover, the death penalty offends international human rights standards. Only six countries carry out 91 percent of the world’s executions: China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the United States. Indeed, you are judged by the company you keep. And we should note that Amnesty International and many others in the international community condemn capital punishment, and have called for a new trial for Mumia, based on the mountain of evidence.
In conclusion, I think of the words of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who said, “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” I believe that journalism is at its best when it seeks to get to the bottom of the matter, not regurgitate the official line and shut down the discussion. This is what is necessary for democracy and a free society. As we know in this country, accepting as fact everything that is told to us, and refusing to dig deeper, has cost lives, whether in a senseless war in Iraq or here at home. We are here to discuss the photos that demand a new trial for Mumia. But this is also bigger than Mumia, because Mumia’s case shines the light on official corruption and racism in America’s justice system, and the judicial form of lynching that is the death penalty.
Note: Below Mr. Love’s bio information you will find text taken from the information packet made available to the news media prior to and during the news conference in Philadelphia on Tuesday, December 4, 2007.
BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board member David A. Love, JD is a lawyer and prisoners’ rights advocate based in Philadelphia, and a contributor to the Progressive Media Project, McClatchy-Tribune News Service and In These Times. He contributed to the book,
States of Confinement: Policing, Detention, and Prisons (St. Martin's Press, 2000). Love is a former Amnesty International UK spokesperson, organized the first national police brutality conference as a staff member with the Center for Constitutional Rights, and served as a law clerk to two Black federal judges. His blog is davidalove.com. Click here to contact Mr. Love.
My name is David A. Love, editorial board member of BlackCommentator.com, a weekly online magazine covering issues affecting the Black community, with a monthly readership of 300,000. My Color of Law column appears weekly. I wrote an article in the October 18, 2007 edition of the Black Commentator entitled “ Photos Bolster Claims of Mumia’s Innocence and Unfair Trial.” The piece re-printed for the Independent Media Center, and the San Francisco Bay View, a national Black newspaper, which published the photos. In the article, I discussed these new photos of the crime scene where Officer Faulkner was killed, but also analyzed the larger implications for the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the problem of racism in the criminal justice system, and the disturbing application of the death penalty in the United States.
To be sure, these photos are important because they suggest that someone, presumably the police, tampered with evidence at the crime scene, removed evidence and switched evidence around, perhaps out of incompetence, perhaps in order to subvert justice and bring about a particular desired outcome. We can only speculate. But we would be misled if we were to believe that these photos are the only evidence pointing to a setup, pointing to Mumia’s innocence and the need for a new trial. The photos, when viewed in combination with the other problems with the case, bolster an already convincing argument that official misconduct took place. For example:
The prosecutor had a history of excluding African American jurors, and struck 10 of 14 Black potential jurors, but only 5 of 25 whites.
In a sworn statement, a court stenographer said she overheard the trial judge, Albert Sabo, saying he would help the prosecution "fry the nigger."
For twelve years, prosecutors withheld evidence that the driver's license of a third man was found in Faulkner's pocket at the crime scene.
Defense witnesses who testified that someone other than Abu-Jamal killed Faulkner were intimidated.
Five of the seven members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which denied his appeal, received campaign contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police, the primary group that has advocated for the execution of Mumia, whom they regard as an unrepentant cop killer.
It should also be noted that in 1981, the year Mumia was arrested, five men were framed by the Philadelphia Police Department for murder and exonerated years later. Two of the innocent men spent as much as 20 years in prison before their release, and one man spent 1,375 days on death row before he became a free man. A legacy of police corruption, brutality and intimidation of poor people, communities of color and political activists haunts the city to this day, at a time when better police-community relations are needed to stem a tide of gun homicides.
The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal sheds light on the racial inequities in the law. Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system is unfair and unequal. An Associated Press investigation in 2000 revealed that Blacks in Pennsylvania are more likely to receive prison sentences, or longer ones, than white defendants accused of the same crimes. Further, the black incarceration rate is 14 times that of whites, the greatest racial disparity in the nation. African Americans, 10 percent of Pennsylvania's population, are 56 percent of the inmates, with most of them coming from the city of Philadelphia.
And we cannot discuss Mumia without looking at the death penalty, given that he is the most well known death row inmate in America and the world, and his case demonstrates all that is wrong with the death penalty, a system that was not meant to be fixed because it was not meant to be fair and just. Executions are a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, whether they take the form of beheading, stoning, gas chamber, electric chair, lethal injection, what have you. Like lynching, the death penalty is barbaric, arbitrary and infected with racism, placing an emphasis on expediency over due process. In fact, capital punishment is lynching brought into the court system, in an effort to legitimize the practice.
It is no accident that 90 percent of executions take place in the South, where Jim Crow lynchings and racial violence were the norm. It should not be surprising that the most important factor that determines whether someone will get the death penalty is the race of the victim. Over the past 30 years, an overwhelming majority of people executed in the United States - more than 80 percent - were convicted of killing a white victim, according to Amnesty International. African-Americans, however, are about half of all murder victims. And one-third of America's death row is black. And according to a study published in the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies in March 2004, a black person convicted of murdering a white victim is two and a half times as likely to be sentenced to death as a white person convicted of murdering a white victim.
And there are other inherent flaws in capital punishment. Each locality has its own standards, and each prosecutor decides whether to seek death. Only 2 percent of those who are eligible for a death sentence actually receive death. Codefendants may receive different sentences for the same crime, with one receiving death and the other receiving jail time.
Ninety-five percent of death row prisoners cannot afford an attorney and must take a court-appointed attorney, who often is overworked, underpaid, lacks experience in capital cases or, in extreme cases, falls asleep in court.
And since 1973, according to Amnesty International and the Death Penalty Information Center, 124 people in 25 states have been released from death row because they were wrongfully convicted. And we will never know how many innocent people have been sent to their deaths.
Moreover, the death penalty offends international human rights standards. Only six countries carry out 91 percent of the world’s executions: China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the United States. Indeed, you are judged by the company you keep. And we should note that Amnesty International and many others in the international community condemn capital punishment, and have called for a new trial for Mumia, based on the mountain of evidence.
In conclusion, I think of the words of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who said, “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” I believe that journalism is at its best when it seeks to get to the bottom of the matter, not regurgitate the official line and shut down the discussion. This is what is necessary for democracy and a free society. As we know in this country, accepting as fact everything that is told to us, and refusing to dig deeper, has cost lives, whether in a senseless war in Iraq or here at home. We are here to discuss the photos that demand a new trial for Mumia. But this is also bigger than Mumia, because Mumia’s case shines the light on official corruption and racism in America’s justice system, and the judicial form of lynching that is the death penalty.
Note: Below Mr. Love’s bio information you will find text taken from the information packet made available to the news media prior to and during the news conference in Philadelphia on Tuesday, December 4, 2007.
BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board member David A. Love, JD is a lawyer and prisoners’ rights advocate based in Philadelphia, and a contributor to the Progressive Media Project, McClatchy-Tribune News Service and In These Times. He contributed to the book,
States of Confinement: Policing, Detention, and Prisons (St. Martin's Press, 2000). Love is a former Amnesty International UK spokesperson, organized the first national police brutality conference as a staff member with the Center for Constitutional Rights, and served as a law clerk to two Black federal judges. His blog is davidalove.com. Click here to contact Mr. Love.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
UPDATES! Picket at the Today Show tomorrow morning!
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) calls on everyone who can join us on Thursday December 6th at 7:15 AM to please come to 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. We will be picketing the planned hit job on Mumia by Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish in discussing their new book, MURDERED BY MUMIA, on NBC's TODAY SHOW. We have demanded "equal time" but as yet have gotten no agreement to that by the TODAY SHOW. Stand there with us in solidarity with Mumia!
PICKET AT THE TODAY SHOW
DATE: Thursday Dec. 6th
TIME: 7:15 AM
PLACE: 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
-------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Suzanne Ross (917) 584-2135
Justin Lumumba (347) 267-8259
Picket to Be At NBC's Today Show, December 6, for Innocent Man on Death Row
The New York Post's typically inflammatory language promotes confrontation outside NBC's Today Show on December 6 with their fabricated story (12/3/07) that the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) is "threatening to storm the streets of Rockefeller Center." The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) has called for a picket across the street from NBC on December 6 as part of a campaign to demand equal time on the Today Show, which is scheduled to host Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish on that day to promote their new book, Murdered by Mumia.
In writing an article highlighting the scheduled picket at NBC, the Post never contacted the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition but, instead, provided yet another platform for Maureen Faulkner to express her desire for vengeance. Faulkner is the widow of Office Daniel Faulkner, who was killed on the night of December 9, 1981; his murder was a crime for which Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted in a highly controversial trial. Amnesty International (AI), in a 2000 report, stated that the trial "failed to meet minimum standards safeguarding the fairness of legal proceedings" and that numerous factors "render the verdict and sentence fundamentally unsound." AI called for a new and fair trial. Michael Smerconish is a Philadelphia talk show host, long allied with the Fraternal Order of Police and its campaign for the execution of Jamal.
Pam Africa and Cortnee Anderson of International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal spoke last Friday with Jaclyn Levine, who is producing the December 6 program. They presented information dealing with the importance, in the interest of fairness and accuracy, of getting "equal time" on the Today Show. Levine promised to get back to them, but has yet to do so.
Press reviews of the book have already referred to Jamal, an author of five published books and a recipient of hundreds of honors and awards, including Honorary Citizenship of Paris in 2004, as a "thug." Given ABC's widely denounced 20-20 "hatchet job" of Jamal in 1998, Jamal supporters anticipate a similar presentation on the Today Show. Faulkner played a key role in the 20-20 program, as well, working closely with the Fraternal Order of Police, as the producer of that show acknowledged in writing. In several interviews in the past week, Faulkner has stated unequivocally that she wants to see Jamal dead, nothing short of that, and has given a hint of the distortions and lies that are to come by stating that he had "a jury of his own choosing." Racial bias on the part of the prosecutor in the selection of the jury is a critical issue being given serious consideration by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where Jamal's case is current being reviewed. If racial bias is judged by this federal court as present in the selection of the jury, Jamal would be granted a new trial.
Journalistic fairness and accuracy call for "equal time" for those who have information that refutes the view that will be aired when Faulkner and Smerconish are on the show.
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition will have a picket across the street from NBC in support of Jamal, in support of evidence that challenges what Faulkner and Smerconish regularly promulgate, and in support of fair media that allows the public to hear important information rather than only a very biased and distorted picture in a campaign for executing someone regardless of guilt or innocence.
For additional information see: www.freemumia.com or www.journalistsformumia.com.
PICKET AT THE TODAY SHOW
DATE: Thursday Dec. 6th
TIME: 7:15 AM
PLACE: 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
-------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Suzanne Ross (917) 584-2135
Justin Lumumba (347) 267-8259
Picket to Be At NBC's Today Show, December 6, for Innocent Man on Death Row
The New York Post's typically inflammatory language promotes confrontation outside NBC's Today Show on December 6 with their fabricated story (12/3/07) that the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) is "threatening to storm the streets of Rockefeller Center." The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) has called for a picket across the street from NBC on December 6 as part of a campaign to demand equal time on the Today Show, which is scheduled to host Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish on that day to promote their new book, Murdered by Mumia.
In writing an article highlighting the scheduled picket at NBC, the Post never contacted the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition but, instead, provided yet another platform for Maureen Faulkner to express her desire for vengeance. Faulkner is the widow of Office Daniel Faulkner, who was killed on the night of December 9, 1981; his murder was a crime for which Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted in a highly controversial trial. Amnesty International (AI), in a 2000 report, stated that the trial "failed to meet minimum standards safeguarding the fairness of legal proceedings" and that numerous factors "render the verdict and sentence fundamentally unsound." AI called for a new and fair trial. Michael Smerconish is a Philadelphia talk show host, long allied with the Fraternal Order of Police and its campaign for the execution of Jamal.
Pam Africa and Cortnee Anderson of International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal spoke last Friday with Jaclyn Levine, who is producing the December 6 program. They presented information dealing with the importance, in the interest of fairness and accuracy, of getting "equal time" on the Today Show. Levine promised to get back to them, but has yet to do so.
Press reviews of the book have already referred to Jamal, an author of five published books and a recipient of hundreds of honors and awards, including Honorary Citizenship of Paris in 2004, as a "thug." Given ABC's widely denounced 20-20 "hatchet job" of Jamal in 1998, Jamal supporters anticipate a similar presentation on the Today Show. Faulkner played a key role in the 20-20 program, as well, working closely with the Fraternal Order of Police, as the producer of that show acknowledged in writing. In several interviews in the past week, Faulkner has stated unequivocally that she wants to see Jamal dead, nothing short of that, and has given a hint of the distortions and lies that are to come by stating that he had "a jury of his own choosing." Racial bias on the part of the prosecutor in the selection of the jury is a critical issue being given serious consideration by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where Jamal's case is current being reviewed. If racial bias is judged by this federal court as present in the selection of the jury, Jamal would be granted a new trial.
Journalistic fairness and accuracy call for "equal time" for those who have information that refutes the view that will be aired when Faulkner and Smerconish are on the show.
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition will have a picket across the street from NBC in support of Jamal, in support of evidence that challenges what Faulkner and Smerconish regularly promulgate, and in support of fair media that allows the public to hear important information rather than only a very biased and distorted picture in a campaign for executing someone regardless of guilt or innocence.
For additional information see: www.freemumia.com or www.journalistsformumia.com.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Pam Africa Update: December 6 Protests/New Petition, Flyer, Press Conference
(Abu-Jamal-News.com)
MEDIA-ACTIVIST CAMPAIGN: Two weeks ago, Journalists for Mumia (in conjunction with The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia and Educators for Mumia) initiated a media-activist campaign to ensure fairness for Mumia on the Dec. 6 NBC Today Show, which is scheduled to feature Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner as they release their new book titled Murdered By Mumia.
UPDATE FROM PAM AFRICA: As a result of our campaign, The Today Show scheduled a telephone conference with Pam Africa (of the ICFFMAJ) for this past Friday. Following this conference, Pam Africa reported that she spoke with the show and provided them with our Press Pack of background information on Mumia's case. The Today Show did not make an official decision regarding our request, but said they would look at the information and contact Pam Africa this week with their official response to our desire to have equal representation on The Today Show.
PROTEST AT THE TODAY SHOW: As reported at FreeMumia.com, "The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) calls on everyone who can join us on Thursday December 6th at 7:15 AM to please come to 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza.... We have demanded "equal time" but as yet have gotten no agreement to that by the TODAY SHOW. Stand there with us in solidarity with Mumia!"
NEW PETITION: As this campaign heats up, sending emails to The Today Show (today@msnbc.com) is more important than ever, so NBC knows that people around the word are demanding fairness, and paying close attention to the upcoming Dec. 6 show. Fortunately, a new petition assisting these efforts has just been created. Please sign onto it and share with others. Sign the petition here.
NEW FLYER: Journalists for Mumia has just completed a new flyer responding to Smerconish and Faulkner's new book. Download the flyer and spread the word!
PRESS CONFERENCE: The formal press-release announcement of Journalists for Mumia's press conference on Tuesday, November 4, in Philadelphia, at NOON, at The A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Avenue (featuring a slide show presentation of the newly discovered crime scene photos, and journalists David Lindorff & David A. Love) will be released on Sunday.
MASS DEMONSTRATION IN PHILADELPHIA DEC. 8: Download the flyer here
In Solidarity,
Hans Bennett, Journalists for Mumia
Abu-Jamal-News.com
MEDIA-ACTIVIST CAMPAIGN: Two weeks ago, Journalists for Mumia (in conjunction with The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia and Educators for Mumia) initiated a media-activist campaign to ensure fairness for Mumia on the Dec. 6 NBC Today Show, which is scheduled to feature Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner as they release their new book titled Murdered By Mumia.
UPDATE FROM PAM AFRICA: As a result of our campaign, The Today Show scheduled a telephone conference with Pam Africa (of the ICFFMAJ) for this past Friday. Following this conference, Pam Africa reported that she spoke with the show and provided them with our Press Pack of background information on Mumia's case. The Today Show did not make an official decision regarding our request, but said they would look at the information and contact Pam Africa this week with their official response to our desire to have equal representation on The Today Show.
PROTEST AT THE TODAY SHOW: As reported at FreeMumia.com, "The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) calls on everyone who can join us on Thursday December 6th at 7:15 AM to please come to 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza.... We have demanded "equal time" but as yet have gotten no agreement to that by the TODAY SHOW. Stand there with us in solidarity with Mumia!"
NEW PETITION: As this campaign heats up, sending emails to The Today Show (today@msnbc.com) is more important than ever, so NBC knows that people around the word are demanding fairness, and paying close attention to the upcoming Dec. 6 show. Fortunately, a new petition assisting these efforts has just been created. Please sign onto it and share with others. Sign the petition here.
NEW FLYER: Journalists for Mumia has just completed a new flyer responding to Smerconish and Faulkner's new book. Download the flyer and spread the word!
PRESS CONFERENCE: The formal press-release announcement of Journalists for Mumia's press conference on Tuesday, November 4, in Philadelphia, at NOON, at The A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Avenue (featuring a slide show presentation of the newly discovered crime scene photos, and journalists David Lindorff & David A. Love) will be released on Sunday.
MASS DEMONSTRATION IN PHILADELPHIA DEC. 8: Download the flyer here
In Solidarity,
Hans Bennett, Journalists for Mumia
Abu-Jamal-News.com
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Journalists Decry Racism in Media Coverage of Mumia
On Thursday, November 29, Pacifica Radio/KPFK Los Angeles show Uprising Radio focused on NBC's plans to feature extremely biased coverage of Mumia's case on the December 6 edition of the Today Show. Uprising Radio highlighted the media justice campaign being organized with Educators for Mumia and The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ).
Listen to the program online.
This program comes at an important time in the campaign. Pam Africa of ICFFMAJ was scheduled to talk with The Today Show to push for equal coverage. People are urged to please take a minute and contact The Today Show to express as much support as possible for these efforts.
A major demonstration is being organized in Philadelphia for December 8. Please download the flier and spread the word).
Also, Journalists for Mumia is organizing a press conference next week (DATE AND LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON) which will feature a slide show of the newly discovered crime scene photos, Pam Africa, and several Philadelphia journalists who have covered the Abu-Jamal case.
-- Hans Bennett (Abu-Jamal-News.com)
Listen to the program online.
This program comes at an important time in the campaign. Pam Africa of ICFFMAJ was scheduled to talk with The Today Show to push for equal coverage. People are urged to please take a minute and contact The Today Show to express as much support as possible for these efforts.
A major demonstration is being organized in Philadelphia for December 8. Please download the flier and spread the word).
Also, Journalists for Mumia is organizing a press conference next week (DATE AND LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON) which will feature a slide show of the newly discovered crime scene photos, Pam Africa, and several Philadelphia journalists who have covered the Abu-Jamal case.
-- Hans Bennett (Abu-Jamal-News.com)
Protest Today Show's twisted coverage of Mumia's Case
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) calls on everyone who can join us on Thursday December 6th at 7:15 AM to please come to 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. We will be protesting the planned hit job on Mumia by Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish in discussing their new book, MURDERED BY MUMIA, on NBC's TODAY SHOW. We have demanded "equal time" but as yet have gotten no agreement to that by the TODAY SHOW. Stand there with us in solidarity with Mumia!
PROTEST AT THE TODAY SHOW
DATE: Thursday Dec. 6th
TIME: 7:15 AM
PLACE: 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
For more info or to leave a message, call (212) 330-8029.
ONA MOVE! FREE MUMIA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
PROTEST AT THE TODAY SHOW
DATE: Thursday Dec. 6th
TIME: 7:15 AM
PLACE: 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
For more info or to leave a message, call (212) 330-8029.
ONA MOVE! FREE MUMIA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Framing An Execution Documentary Feat. Danny Glover Available For Online Viewing
Please visit the following link to view the documentary narrated by Danny Glover, Framing an Execution, which shows how the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes intentionally portrayed a dishonest and faulty version of Mumia's case.
NBC'S The Today Show is planning on carrying Mumia's story in this damaging light when they feature conservative talk show host Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner, wife of Officer Daniel Faulkner, on their show this December 6th.
To view Framing An Exexution on you tube, go to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2537462601888502694.
For More videos on Mumia visit the Free Mumia Coalition (NY) video page at: http://www.freemumia.com/IResources/videos.html
or the Journalists for Mumia youtube site at: http://youtube.com/user/journalists4mumia
NBC'S The Today Show is planning on carrying Mumia's story in this damaging light when they feature conservative talk show host Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner, wife of Officer Daniel Faulkner, on their show this December 6th.
To view Framing An Exexution on you tube, go to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2537462601888502694.
For More videos on Mumia visit the Free Mumia Coalition (NY) video page at: http://www.freemumia.com/IResources/videos.html
or the Journalists for Mumia youtube site at: http://youtube.com/user/journalists4mumia
Sunday, November 25, 2007
ACTION ALERT: Ensure Fairness For Mumia Abu-Jamal on NBC's The Today Show!
On Dec. 6, NBC's The Today Show intends to air a show about Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner's new book "Murdered By Mumia." According to the announcement on Michael Smerconish's website, the show is planning to feature both Smerconish and Faulkner as guests.
The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (FreeMumia.com), Journalists for Mumia (Abu-Jamal-News.com), and Educators for Mumia (EmajOnline.com) have initiated a media-activist campaign urging people to write The Today Show at today@msnbc.com asking them to fairly present both sides of the Mumia Abu-Jamal / Daniel Faulkner case, by also featuring as guests, Linn Washington, Jr. (Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC).
A sample letter (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/TodayShow.doc), accompanied by an extensive informational press pack (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf) has been created to use for contacting The Today Show. Please take a minute and contact them to ensure fair media coverage of this controversial and important case.
Sincerely,
The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (FreeMumia.com)
Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (Abu-Jamal-News.com)
Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal (EmajOnline.com)
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Today Show,
On December, 2007, the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal will be entering the 27th year. In the course of those years, much of the media coverage has contained pure speculation and falsehoods. Media watchdogs like FAIR.ORG have sharply criticized this coverage as being biased against Abu-Jamal.
We understand that on Dec. 6, the Today Show intends to air a show about Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner's book "Murdered By Mumia." Interestingly, the scheduled interview regarding the new book focusing on Mrs. Faulkner comes at a time of many startling new developments in this historic case, generating international attention.
Reflecting the international interest in this case, in 2003, Abu-Jamal was named an honorary citizen of Paris, and in 2006, the city of St. Denis named a street after him. While this was largely motivated by opposition to the death penalty, they also cited strong evidence of both an unfair trial and Abu-Jamal's innocence.
One of these developments centers on extraordinary photos of the 1981 crime scene taken by Philadelphia-based press photographer Pedro Polakoff (viewable at Abu-Jamal-News.com) that reveal manipulation of evidence, and completely contradict the prosecution's case, including Officer James Forbes' testimony that he properly handled both Abu-Jamal's and Faulkner's guns (the photos show Forbes holding both guns in his bare hand). Also the photos reveal that there were no large bullet divots or destroyed chunks of cement where Faulkner was found, which should be visible in the pavement if the prosecution's scenario was accurate, according to which Abu-Jamal shot down at Faulkner and allegedly missed several times while Faulkner was on his back. Of particular note, this photographer twice attempted to provide these photos to the District Attorney for both the 1982 trial and the 1995 PCRA hearings, and was ignored both times.
Since his incarceration, Abu-Jamal has published six books and countless articles, and has delivered hundreds of speeches, including keynote addresses for college graduations. As a prolific writer and tenacious journalist, he has earned the respect (and support) of such notable prize-winning authors as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, John Edgar Wideman, and Salman Rushdie. Just recently, he was accepted into the PEN American Center, one of the highest honors a writer can achieve. Additionally, at the time of his arrest, he was president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists, and was awarded the PEN Oakland award for outstanding journalism after the publication of his first book, Live from Death Row. Since Live, he has garnered a following of dedicated readers around the world, including scholars, college educators, and journalists. His work is, in part, testament to the dignity he has demonstrated for the past 25 years he has been on death row.
The ethical interests in balance and fairness in presenting "news" regarding the Abu-Jamal case, arguably requires providing Today Show viewers with information evidencing Mr. Abu-Jamal's innocence and unfair trial. To represent this other side, and to provide perspectives addressing the informational needs of your viewers, I ask that you also feature experts Linn Washington, Jr. (Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC) as guests on your Dec. 6 show (they can be contacted via Journalists for Mumia: hbjournalist@gmail.com).
While Mrs. Faulkner certainly has a "story" and is entitled to her opinions, your viewers should be privy to other facts, such as the prosecution withholding key evidence, witness coercion, racist jury selection, and evidence that Judge Albert Sabo boasted about his desire to help the prosecution "fry the nigger," as enclosed in the press packet provided here for you: http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf
I also write to provide you with information (inclusive of material from Abu-Jamal's lawyer) in the interests of journalistic balance, fairness and integrity. The press packet includes 1) A recent Black Commentator article by Philadelphia lawyer/journalist David A. Love describing the significance of the Polakoff photos, 2) An Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal press release about the Polakoff photos, written by Princeton University Professor Mark L. Taylor, 3) Criticism of the 1998 ABC 20/20 program about Abu-Jamal, 4) Background on the case, focusing on both the 1982 trial and 1995-97 PCRA hearings, with a focus on Abu-Jamal's alleged "hospital confession," ballistics evidence, and the testimony of Veronica Jones, 5) Recent police intimidation of Abu-Jamal's supporters, including reported death threats against Sgt. DeLacy Davis, of Black Cops Against Police Brutality, and more.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (FreeMumia.com), Journalists for Mumia (Abu-Jamal-News.com), and Educators for Mumia (EmajOnline.com) have initiated a media-activist campaign urging people to write The Today Show at today@msnbc.com asking them to fairly present both sides of the Mumia Abu-Jamal / Daniel Faulkner case, by also featuring as guests, Linn Washington, Jr. (Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC).
A sample letter (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/TodayShow.doc), accompanied by an extensive informational press pack (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf) has been created to use for contacting The Today Show. Please take a minute and contact them to ensure fair media coverage of this controversial and important case.
Sincerely,
The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (FreeMumia.com)
Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (Abu-Jamal-News.com)
Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal (EmajOnline.com)
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Today Show,
On December, 2007, the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal will be entering the 27th year. In the course of those years, much of the media coverage has contained pure speculation and falsehoods. Media watchdogs like FAIR.ORG have sharply criticized this coverage as being biased against Abu-Jamal.
We understand that on Dec. 6, the Today Show intends to air a show about Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner's book "Murdered By Mumia." Interestingly, the scheduled interview regarding the new book focusing on Mrs. Faulkner comes at a time of many startling new developments in this historic case, generating international attention.
Reflecting the international interest in this case, in 2003, Abu-Jamal was named an honorary citizen of Paris, and in 2006, the city of St. Denis named a street after him. While this was largely motivated by opposition to the death penalty, they also cited strong evidence of both an unfair trial and Abu-Jamal's innocence.
One of these developments centers on extraordinary photos of the 1981 crime scene taken by Philadelphia-based press photographer Pedro Polakoff (viewable at Abu-Jamal-News.com) that reveal manipulation of evidence, and completely contradict the prosecution's case, including Officer James Forbes' testimony that he properly handled both Abu-Jamal's and Faulkner's guns (the photos show Forbes holding both guns in his bare hand). Also the photos reveal that there were no large bullet divots or destroyed chunks of cement where Faulkner was found, which should be visible in the pavement if the prosecution's scenario was accurate, according to which Abu-Jamal shot down at Faulkner and allegedly missed several times while Faulkner was on his back. Of particular note, this photographer twice attempted to provide these photos to the District Attorney for both the 1982 trial and the 1995 PCRA hearings, and was ignored both times.
Since his incarceration, Abu-Jamal has published six books and countless articles, and has delivered hundreds of speeches, including keynote addresses for college graduations. As a prolific writer and tenacious journalist, he has earned the respect (and support) of such notable prize-winning authors as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, John Edgar Wideman, and Salman Rushdie. Just recently, he was accepted into the PEN American Center, one of the highest honors a writer can achieve. Additionally, at the time of his arrest, he was president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists, and was awarded the PEN Oakland award for outstanding journalism after the publication of his first book, Live from Death Row. Since Live, he has garnered a following of dedicated readers around the world, including scholars, college educators, and journalists. His work is, in part, testament to the dignity he has demonstrated for the past 25 years he has been on death row.
The ethical interests in balance and fairness in presenting "news" regarding the Abu-Jamal case, arguably requires providing Today Show viewers with information evidencing Mr. Abu-Jamal's innocence and unfair trial. To represent this other side, and to provide perspectives addressing the informational needs of your viewers, I ask that you also feature experts Linn Washington, Jr. (Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC) as guests on your Dec. 6 show (they can be contacted via Journalists for Mumia: hbjournalist@gmail.com).
While Mrs. Faulkner certainly has a "story" and is entitled to her opinions, your viewers should be privy to other facts, such as the prosecution withholding key evidence, witness coercion, racist jury selection, and evidence that Judge Albert Sabo boasted about his desire to help the prosecution "fry the nigger," as enclosed in the press packet provided here for you: http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf
I also write to provide you with information (inclusive of material from Abu-Jamal's lawyer) in the interests of journalistic balance, fairness and integrity. The press packet includes 1) A recent Black Commentator article by Philadelphia lawyer/journalist David A. Love describing the significance of the Polakoff photos, 2) An Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal press release about the Polakoff photos, written by Princeton University Professor Mark L. Taylor, 3) Criticism of the 1998 ABC 20/20 program about Abu-Jamal, 4) Background on the case, focusing on both the 1982 trial and 1995-97 PCRA hearings, with a focus on Abu-Jamal's alleged "hospital confession," ballistics evidence, and the testimony of Veronica Jones, 5) Recent police intimidation of Abu-Jamal's supporters, including reported death threats against Sgt. DeLacy Davis, of Black Cops Against Police Brutality, and more.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Esperanza Martell, Esculturas y Poesia
Puerto Rican Sister Esperanza Martell, longtime political prisoner activist, Cuba supporter, internationalist, deeply immersed in movement to free Mumia and Leonard Peltier, human rights fighter ... and so much more ... will be showing her beautiful and unique art on Friday November 23rd. We invite you all to join us.
Cemà Underground
1799 Lexington Avenue (112 St. el barrio)
Presents
Esperanza Martell, Esculturas y Poesia
Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:00PM
Exhibition & Opening Reception
(Exhibition runs until December 11, 2007)
Esperanza Martell is a Human Rights / Peace activist, educator, mother, poet / artist, specializing in organizational / leadership development, team building, conflict resolution, diversity training, Popular Education, alternative healing, and transformative counseling. Her area of specialization in Art is Ceramics and Sculpture.
Art is an expression of her politics, culture, and spirituality, which informs her social justice work. Her African / Taino ancestors used art magically in healing and to give meaning to their existence. She does the same by creating ceramic sculpture from nothing, allowing total self-expression. She hand builds, using traditional African / Taino images and methods. Throughout all her work Taino pictographs and other healing symbols are use. Her CemÃs, Amulets, Tiles, Bowls, Mask, and Figures reflect her love for her ancestral roots. Her women centered work opens individuals to their historical roots generating healing, inner power and transformation. She is inspired by the earth / ocean / stars and humanity.
Cemà Underground
1799 Lexington Avenue (112 St. el barrio)
Presents
Esperanza Martell, Esculturas y Poesia
Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:00PM
Exhibition & Opening Reception
(Exhibition runs until December 11, 2007)
Esperanza Martell is a Human Rights / Peace activist, educator, mother, poet / artist, specializing in organizational / leadership development, team building, conflict resolution, diversity training, Popular Education, alternative healing, and transformative counseling. Her area of specialization in Art is Ceramics and Sculpture.
Art is an expression of her politics, culture, and spirituality, which informs her social justice work. Her African / Taino ancestors used art magically in healing and to give meaning to their existence. She does the same by creating ceramic sculpture from nothing, allowing total self-expression. She hand builds, using traditional African / Taino images and methods. Throughout all her work Taino pictographs and other healing symbols are use. Her CemÃs, Amulets, Tiles, Bowls, Mask, and Figures reflect her love for her ancestral roots. Her women centered work opens individuals to their historical roots generating healing, inner power and transformation. She is inspired by the earth / ocean / stars and humanity.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Important Legal Update!
Dear Friends:
There are many developments on the legal and other fronts concerning my client, Mumia Abu-Jamal. We remain in active litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and also have issues pending in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mumia has been honored by fellow writers through acceptance into a prestigious organization, a Nobel Prize winner recently visited him, an excellent new book was released in France, a leading British newspaper has published a major article on Mumia, and a superb film recently premiered in London and Rome. The following are the highlights.
PEN membership Mumia has been accepted into the membership of PEN, the worldwide human-rights organization of prominent writers. This is a great honor. He was thrilled upon learning that the application I filed on his behalf last spring was granted. In two decades of knowing each other, I have not seen Mumia so happy. The recognition from his peers is well deserved.
In a quarter of a century of being locked up in a small cell on Pennsylvania's death row, Mumia's literary output has been prodigious. He has written five outstanding books that are published in various languages, and also writes weekly commentaries that are published and broadcast internationally.
PEN was founded in 1921 to dispel national, ethnic, and racial hatred, to promote understanding among all countries, and defend the freedom to write. PEN American Center, into which Mumia has been accepted, is the largest of the 145 centers in 104 countries of International PEN. It exists to fight for freedom of expression, represent the conscience of world literature, and foster friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. It is the world's oldest human rights organization and also the oldest international literary group.
The support provided by Alice Walker, E.L. Doctorow, Bell Chevigny and other members of the PEN American Center, New York, was invaluable. I am especially grateful to the kindness of Salman Rushdie, former President of PEN. Throughout the application process, I was impressed by the paramount concern of the PEN membership for human rights and protecting the independence of writers.
Bishop Desmond Tutu On October 23, 2007, Bishop Desmond Tutu met with Mumia. It is was a moving experience. Later that afternoon Mumia expressed to me how touched and humbled he was by meeting with this wonderful person, who received the Nobel Peace Price in 1984 and the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986. Mumia is particularly grateful to Martha Conley, Esq., of Pittsburgh, who initiated and arranged the visit, drove Bishop Tutu and his assistant to the prison, and joined them in the visit on death row. Last week Bishop Tutu issued the following statement concerning Mumia and capital punishment:
"I oppose the death penalty on principle in every case and I support the plea for a retrial for Mumia Abu-Jamal."
The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, O.M.S.G., D.D., F.K.C.
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus
Cape Town, South Africa
5 November 2007
Legal developments Last month the prosecution submitted a Notice of Supplemental Authority with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, arguing that a recent ruling and related decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court affects the pending issues pertaining to the death penalty and racism in jury selection. Consequently on November 1, 2007, we filed a Reply To Notice of Supplemental Authority, explaining with legal analysis that the contentions of opposing counsel should be rejected because they are without merit and do not alter the major constitutional violations that occurred in this case.
I remain in contact with the court. It is not known exactly when there will be a federal decision. If the court follows the law and the U.S. Constitution, we will win. In my experience of successfully litigating well over a hundred capital murder cases at trial and on appeal, I know that courts are not always just. They can make terribly tragic mistakes. Nevertheless, I have not seen a case more riddled with such significant constitutional violations, racism, fraud, and unfairness. My goal remains to achieve a reversal of the conviction, and at a new jury trial win a jury acquittal so that Mumia can go home to his family -- a free person.
In Prison My Whole Life, British film on Mumia On October 25, 2007, the new documentary film In Prison My Whole Life premiered simultaneously at the London Film Festival and Rome Film Festival. It is a superb movie which does much to expose the many wrongs including racism and politics that have infected the case from the outset, the American legal system, and our society. Amnesty International is officially supporting the film. The picture is hard hitting and reveals the death penalty for what it is: legalized murder. Mumia and I are indebted to Colin and Livia Giuggioli Firth, along with Marc Evans, William Francome, Nick Goodwin Self, Katie Green, and the others who had the courage to make this film and tell the truth.
New French book on Mumia In September an excellent book on Mumia was published on September 15, 2007, in France. It is Mumia Abu-Jamal un homme libre dans le couloir de la mort, by Claude Guillaumaud-Pujol, with a foreword by Robert Meeropol, son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Founder, Rosenberg Fund for Children. Claude is deeply involved in the Collectif, a group of over 80 French organizations that aggressively support our campaign for a new and fair trial for Mumia and his freedom. She knows Mumia well, and last visited with him on November 11. Claude has donated her book to help in the struggle for Mumia's freedom. Mumia says "the book is beautiful." It can be purchased though various booksellers in France.
Guardian (England) article: "I Spend My Days Preparing for Life, Not for Death" Recently there was an excellent article in the Guardian newspaper. It concerns a fascinating death row interview with Mumia, and can be found at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2198415,00.html
Tax-Deductible Donations to Mumia's Legal Defense My office continues to receive extensive e-mail from people confused as to how and where they may send donations for Mumia's legal defense. With Mumia's authorization, a process exists which guarantees that all donations in the U.S. go only to the legal defense. The contributions are tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to the National Lawyers Guild Foundation (indicate "Mumia" on the bottom left), and mailed to:
Committee To Save Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 2012
New York, NY 10159-2012
Your interest is appreciated.
With best wishes,
Robert R. Bryan
Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123
Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
NOTE: To support the organizing efforts, send contributions to:
International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Make these checks payable to National Black United Fund.
Indicate Mumia/Organizing in the memo field of the check.
There are many developments on the legal and other fronts concerning my client, Mumia Abu-Jamal. We remain in active litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and also have issues pending in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mumia has been honored by fellow writers through acceptance into a prestigious organization, a Nobel Prize winner recently visited him, an excellent new book was released in France, a leading British newspaper has published a major article on Mumia, and a superb film recently premiered in London and Rome. The following are the highlights.
PEN membership Mumia has been accepted into the membership of PEN, the worldwide human-rights organization of prominent writers. This is a great honor. He was thrilled upon learning that the application I filed on his behalf last spring was granted. In two decades of knowing each other, I have not seen Mumia so happy. The recognition from his peers is well deserved.
In a quarter of a century of being locked up in a small cell on Pennsylvania's death row, Mumia's literary output has been prodigious. He has written five outstanding books that are published in various languages, and also writes weekly commentaries that are published and broadcast internationally.
PEN was founded in 1921 to dispel national, ethnic, and racial hatred, to promote understanding among all countries, and defend the freedom to write. PEN American Center, into which Mumia has been accepted, is the largest of the 145 centers in 104 countries of International PEN. It exists to fight for freedom of expression, represent the conscience of world literature, and foster friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. It is the world's oldest human rights organization and also the oldest international literary group.
The support provided by Alice Walker, E.L. Doctorow, Bell Chevigny and other members of the PEN American Center, New York, was invaluable. I am especially grateful to the kindness of Salman Rushdie, former President of PEN. Throughout the application process, I was impressed by the paramount concern of the PEN membership for human rights and protecting the independence of writers.
Bishop Desmond Tutu On October 23, 2007, Bishop Desmond Tutu met with Mumia. It is was a moving experience. Later that afternoon Mumia expressed to me how touched and humbled he was by meeting with this wonderful person, who received the Nobel Peace Price in 1984 and the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986. Mumia is particularly grateful to Martha Conley, Esq., of Pittsburgh, who initiated and arranged the visit, drove Bishop Tutu and his assistant to the prison, and joined them in the visit on death row. Last week Bishop Tutu issued the following statement concerning Mumia and capital punishment:
"I oppose the death penalty on principle in every case and I support the plea for a retrial for Mumia Abu-Jamal."
The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, O.M.S.G., D.D., F.K.C.
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus
Cape Town, South Africa
5 November 2007
Legal developments Last month the prosecution submitted a Notice of Supplemental Authority with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, arguing that a recent ruling and related decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court affects the pending issues pertaining to the death penalty and racism in jury selection. Consequently on November 1, 2007, we filed a Reply To Notice of Supplemental Authority, explaining with legal analysis that the contentions of opposing counsel should be rejected because they are without merit and do not alter the major constitutional violations that occurred in this case.
I remain in contact with the court. It is not known exactly when there will be a federal decision. If the court follows the law and the U.S. Constitution, we will win. In my experience of successfully litigating well over a hundred capital murder cases at trial and on appeal, I know that courts are not always just. They can make terribly tragic mistakes. Nevertheless, I have not seen a case more riddled with such significant constitutional violations, racism, fraud, and unfairness. My goal remains to achieve a reversal of the conviction, and at a new jury trial win a jury acquittal so that Mumia can go home to his family -- a free person.
In Prison My Whole Life, British film on Mumia On October 25, 2007, the new documentary film In Prison My Whole Life premiered simultaneously at the London Film Festival and Rome Film Festival. It is a superb movie which does much to expose the many wrongs including racism and politics that have infected the case from the outset, the American legal system, and our society. Amnesty International is officially supporting the film. The picture is hard hitting and reveals the death penalty for what it is: legalized murder. Mumia and I are indebted to Colin and Livia Giuggioli Firth, along with Marc Evans, William Francome, Nick Goodwin Self, Katie Green, and the others who had the courage to make this film and tell the truth.
New French book on Mumia In September an excellent book on Mumia was published on September 15, 2007, in France. It is Mumia Abu-Jamal un homme libre dans le couloir de la mort, by Claude Guillaumaud-Pujol, with a foreword by Robert Meeropol, son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Founder, Rosenberg Fund for Children. Claude is deeply involved in the Collectif, a group of over 80 French organizations that aggressively support our campaign for a new and fair trial for Mumia and his freedom. She knows Mumia well, and last visited with him on November 11. Claude has donated her book to help in the struggle for Mumia's freedom. Mumia says "the book is beautiful." It can be purchased though various booksellers in France.
Guardian (England) article: "I Spend My Days Preparing for Life, Not for Death" Recently there was an excellent article in the Guardian newspaper. It concerns a fascinating death row interview with Mumia, and can be found at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2198415,00.html
Tax-Deductible Donations to Mumia's Legal Defense My office continues to receive extensive e-mail from people confused as to how and where they may send donations for Mumia's legal defense. With Mumia's authorization, a process exists which guarantees that all donations in the U.S. go only to the legal defense. The contributions are tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to the National Lawyers Guild Foundation (indicate "Mumia" on the bottom left), and mailed to:
Committee To Save Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 2012
New York, NY 10159-2012
Your interest is appreciated.
With best wishes,
Robert R. Bryan
Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123
Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
NOTE: To support the organizing efforts, send contributions to:
International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Make these checks payable to National Black United Fund.
Indicate Mumia/Organizing in the memo field of the check.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
New Videos from Journalists for Mumia
First is of Tom Morello (aka The Night Watchman), lead guitarist of Rage Against The Machine, who was recently in Philadelphia, where he showed support for Mumia in this short video, where he is holding up the Journalists for Mumia poster that displays four of the newly discovered crime scene photos.
Second, is an excerpt from an official 1986 Philadelphia District Attorney training video for new prosecutors (which publicly surfaced in 1997), where veteran DA prosecutor Jack McMahon lectured in support of removing Blacks from jury panels. Explicitly recognizing this practice's illegality, McMahon explained that "the law" calls for a "'competent, fair, and impartial jury.' Well, that's ridiculous. You're not trying to get that."
For More Videos Visit The Journalists For Mumia YouTube Page At:
http://youtube.com/profile?user=journalists4mumia
Second, is an excerpt from an official 1986 Philadelphia District Attorney training video for new prosecutors (which publicly surfaced in 1997), where veteran DA prosecutor Jack McMahon lectured in support of removing Blacks from jury panels. Explicitly recognizing this practice's illegality, McMahon explained that "the law" calls for a "'competent, fair, and impartial jury.' Well, that's ridiculous. You're not trying to get that."
For More Videos Visit The Journalists For Mumia YouTube Page At:
http://youtube.com/profile?user=journalists4mumia
Elombe Brath
The letter below is being circulated by Black groups and individuals to support our Brother Elombe. We do not need to elaborate on who Elombe has been to the African struggle, to the movement in this country, to Mumia, and to all of us. Please help if you can so that Elombe can fully recover.
Please read the letter below and send a check to help Elombe and Nomsa with Elombe's medical expenses brought on by a stroke.
The family needs at least $10,000 to do all that is necessary.
CEMOTAP, BCAP, WISOMM, NBPP, Dr. Jeffries and Councilman Charles Barron have already stepped foward. Please join them by sending a check made payable to: Elombe Brath
Mail donations to :
Elombe Brath
1845 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Apt 6C
New York, NY 10026
Please be as generous with your dollars as Elombe has been to our community with not only his information and work but his time and his energy.
Sincerely,
James McIntosh and Betty Dopson
Co-Chairs of CEMOTAP
Letter from Nomsa Brath
Dear friends and fellow activists,
I am challenged to announce to those of you, who know and love him, that Elombe has had a stroke. I suspect that before the visible effects of the stroke, which occurred in September, at least two minor ones might have went unnoticed. That is the sad news, but the good news and more powerful news is that I believe he has the courage to regain his former posture and continue the work he has championed, for the past 50 years, the liberation of African people.
He is presently under the doctor's care as well as receiving physical therapy bi-weekly, to strengthen his left side and improve his gait. Cognitively, there is a difference, but not a drastic one. He can hold his own most of the time so long as he does not become fatigued.
Elombe retired from ABC nine years ago so that he could focus on his life's work exclusively. He receives medical coverage as a PPO which is 20% paid by him and 80% by his insurance for all accepted medical procedures and programs as well as Medicare. Consequently, preventive and holistic medical practices and procedures are not acceptable and will not be covered by this plan. He has no dental coverage and I know that has impacted his health adversely.
There are several alternative modalities that I am trying to add to his treatment plan, which include purchasing equipment to use at home on a regular basis as well as added nutritional supplementation to that which has already been prescribed, oxygen therapy, massage, dental surgery, etc. He will probably be getting chelation therapy but not until further blood work is done because his creatine is not exactly where the doctor would like it to be and we don't want any kidney problems to complicate things. His blood pressure is good but he has not learned to relax and he is stressing himself about his present physical dilemma.
It is usually the first year of a stroke that is most crucial for stroke victims and an indicator of the level of recovery that can be expected depending on the severity of damage.
For the next three months he will be observed and then re-evaluated. If at that time he has not improved as expected he will be taken to Cuba for further assessment and treatment.
His life has been a marathon of causes here and around the world on behalf of our brothers and sisters who needed their struggles to be voiced and recognized, whether in South Africa, Namibia, Congo, Ethiopia, Grenada, Burkina Faso or in the United States. With your help we can keep him moving forward in better health and strength for many years to come.
Yours in Love and Struggle
Nomsa Brath
Please read the letter below and send a check to help Elombe and Nomsa with Elombe's medical expenses brought on by a stroke.
The family needs at least $10,000 to do all that is necessary.
CEMOTAP, BCAP, WISOMM, NBPP, Dr. Jeffries and Councilman Charles Barron have already stepped foward. Please join them by sending a check made payable to: Elombe Brath
Mail donations to :
Elombe Brath
1845 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Apt 6C
New York, NY 10026
Please be as generous with your dollars as Elombe has been to our community with not only his information and work but his time and his energy.
Sincerely,
James McIntosh and Betty Dopson
Co-Chairs of CEMOTAP
Letter from Nomsa Brath
Dear friends and fellow activists,
I am challenged to announce to those of you, who know and love him, that Elombe has had a stroke. I suspect that before the visible effects of the stroke, which occurred in September, at least two minor ones might have went unnoticed. That is the sad news, but the good news and more powerful news is that I believe he has the courage to regain his former posture and continue the work he has championed, for the past 50 years, the liberation of African people.
He is presently under the doctor's care as well as receiving physical therapy bi-weekly, to strengthen his left side and improve his gait. Cognitively, there is a difference, but not a drastic one. He can hold his own most of the time so long as he does not become fatigued.
Elombe retired from ABC nine years ago so that he could focus on his life's work exclusively. He receives medical coverage as a PPO which is 20% paid by him and 80% by his insurance for all accepted medical procedures and programs as well as Medicare. Consequently, preventive and holistic medical practices and procedures are not acceptable and will not be covered by this plan. He has no dental coverage and I know that has impacted his health adversely.
There are several alternative modalities that I am trying to add to his treatment plan, which include purchasing equipment to use at home on a regular basis as well as added nutritional supplementation to that which has already been prescribed, oxygen therapy, massage, dental surgery, etc. He will probably be getting chelation therapy but not until further blood work is done because his creatine is not exactly where the doctor would like it to be and we don't want any kidney problems to complicate things. His blood pressure is good but he has not learned to relax and he is stressing himself about his present physical dilemma.
It is usually the first year of a stroke that is most crucial for stroke victims and an indicator of the level of recovery that can be expected depending on the severity of damage.
For the next three months he will be observed and then re-evaluated. If at that time he has not improved as expected he will be taken to Cuba for further assessment and treatment.
His life has been a marathon of causes here and around the world on behalf of our brothers and sisters who needed their struggles to be voiced and recognized, whether in South Africa, Namibia, Congo, Ethiopia, Grenada, Burkina Faso or in the United States. With your help we can keep him moving forward in better health and strength for many years to come.
Yours in Love and Struggle
Nomsa Brath
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