Berlin, Germany
From Black Nation Germany (blacknation.germany@googlemail.com):
Demonstration in Berlin:
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 14:00
Manifestation à Berlin: Samedi, 11 Décembre 2010, à 14:00h
Hotep, Nubian Sisters, Kemetic Brothers
WE WILL RALLY AT THE HEINRICHPLATZ IN KREUZBERG AND
MARCH TO THE UNITED SNAKES EMBASSY, AT THE PARISER PLATZ
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 14:00, in Berlin
NB: This demonstration is also an act of solidarity with and support to Leonard PELTIER, THE CUBAN FIVE and ALL THE OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS who, like Brother Mumia, are held hostage in US Jails by the Babylon System.
If you live in or near Hamburg and you would like to join a group, please contact Brother Senfo for the travel arrangement: blacknation.senfotonkam@googlemail.com; phone: 0176-27795192,
FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL IMMEDIATELY!
Please, visit these sites to learn more about the actions planned in your area, the USA and all over the world:
www.freemumia.com & www.Abu-Jamal-News.com
May the Ancestors continue to protect and bless Mumia, the MOVE 9, and All Our Other Political Prisoners.
Sao Paolo, Brazil
É nesta sexta-feira a manifestação em prol de Mumia Abu-Jamal em São Paulo
Faltam poucos dias para a manifestação em prol de Mumia Abu-Jamal, que ocorrerá nesta sexta-feira, 10, em frente ao consulado dos Estados Unidos de São Paulo, que fica na Rua Henri Dunant, 500, Santo Amaro.
Vídeos no Ay Carmela!
No sábado, 11, rola o vídeo “In Prison My Whole Life” (Na Prisão Minha Vida Toda), a partir das 16 horas. E no domingo, 12, o vídeo “MOVE”, também a partir das 16 horas.
O espaço Ay Carmela! fica na rua dos Carmelitas, 140 – Metrô Sé – São Paulo.
Mais infos: www.anarcopunk.org/mumialivre
Contato: mumialivreja@riseup.net
Se possível, passe adiante este comunicado.
“Eles não querem a minha morte. Eles querem o meu silêncio”
-- Mumia Abu-Jamal
“Necessitamos a Mumia desesperadamente. Nos tempos que correm não podemos permitir que nos arrebatem uma voz como a sua sem lutar até o último alento”
-- Ossie Davis
Thursday, December 09, 2010
12/16 Operation Small Axe and Justice on Trial for Mumia!
Block Report Radio Double Header Against Police and Gov't Violence
Thursday, December 16 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Solidarity Center
55 W.17th Street - 5th Floor
Manhattan, NY
Featuring a screening of the award winning documentary Operation Small Axe, which looks at police terrorism in Oakland surrounding Oscar Grant
and
a screening of Justice on Trial, the new Mumia documentary
also featuring film-makers Minister of Info JR of Operation Small Axe of blockreportradio.com and Johanna Fernandez, the director of Justice on Trial
Thursday, December 16 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Solidarity Center
55 W.17th Street - 5th Floor
Manhattan, NY
Featuring a screening of the award winning documentary Operation Small Axe, which looks at police terrorism in Oakland surrounding Oscar Grant
and
a screening of Justice on Trial, the new Mumia documentary
also featuring film-makers Minister of Info JR of Operation Small Axe of blockreportradio.com and Johanna Fernandez, the director of Justice on Trial
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Film Showing Wed December 8 at City College, NYC
The Prisoner Justice Club at City College, in affiliation with the Campaign to End the death Penalty, is proud to present:
"Justice on Trial"
A Documentary on Mumia Abu-Jamal by Johanna Fernandez and Kouross Esmaeli.
December 8th, 2010
7:00 PM
The City College of New York; NAC Building, 1st floor; Room 1/202
Special guest Speaker: Producer Johanna Fernandez
Tried and convicted of the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, Mumia Abu-Jamal is the most recognized death row inmate in the world today.
His case is one of the most contested cases in modern American history, and one of the most important civil rights cases of our time.
Judicial Bias. Prosecutorial misconduct. Racial discrimination in jury selection. Police corruption. Tampering with evidence to obtain a conviction.
These are characteristics that affect the ENTIRE criminal justice system. Learn how these flaws have affected Mumia FOR THREE DECADES. New evidence is revealed in the documentary that the courts refuse to review. Learn why this is one of the most important cases of our generation!!
Co-sponsored by The City College Political Science Department, The Black Student Union, The African Student Union, and the International Socialist Organization.
"Justice on Trial"
A Documentary on Mumia Abu-Jamal by Johanna Fernandez and Kouross Esmaeli.
December 8th, 2010
7:00 PM
The City College of New York; NAC Building, 1st floor; Room 1/202
Special guest Speaker: Producer Johanna Fernandez
Tried and convicted of the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, Mumia Abu-Jamal is the most recognized death row inmate in the world today.
His case is one of the most contested cases in modern American history, and one of the most important civil rights cases of our time.
Judicial Bias. Prosecutorial misconduct. Racial discrimination in jury selection. Police corruption. Tampering with evidence to obtain a conviction.
These are characteristics that affect the ENTIRE criminal justice system. Learn how these flaws have affected Mumia FOR THREE DECADES. New evidence is revealed in the documentary that the courts refuse to review. Learn why this is one of the most important cases of our generation!!
Co-sponsored by The City College Political Science Department, The Black Student Union, The African Student Union, and the International Socialist Organization.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Pam Africa to receive Peace and Progress Award
From Mumia NYC:
2010 JERSCY CITY PEACE MOVEMENT PEACE AND PROGRESS HONORS AWARDS
Saturday, December 18th, 2010
7pm - 10pm
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30
107 HUTTON St.
Jersey City, NJ07307
JERSEY CITY PEACE MOVEMENT will hold its 4th Annual 2010 'Peace and Progress Honors Award' ceremony on Saturday, December 18th from 7pm - 10pm at NJ Action 21's NEW space - 107 HUTTON St. in Jersey City, New Jersey.
This public awards ceremony is to honor progressive community activists, leaders, organizations and artists who have contributed to make our local and global societies a little better.
The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
2010 HONOREES
FEMALE LOCAL ACTIVIST of the Year
JENNIFER FASULO
Feminist, peace activist, and filmmaker
(honored posthumously)
MALE LOCAL ACTIVIST of the Year-
RIAZ WAHID
Community activist, homeless advocate
MORE AWARDEES:
ALERO TETEVI
Progressive local business proprietor - Raph's Plaza an African Market and Internet Cafe
PAM AFRICA
Revolutionary activist for worldwide political prisoner justice
DANIEL AGUILAR
Local activist for soccer and other youth programs
BETHE SCHWARTZ
Progressive community advocate (Hilltop Neighborhood Assoc. organizer)
KRISTINA NILSSON
Donated thousands of dollars worth of new and used clothing to JCPM for needy / homeless over the years
ESTHER WINTNER
Jersey City activist fighting to lower taxes and corruption
GAVRIELLE GEMMA
Progressive activist, national and international anti-war organizer
IRIS HADDAD
Donated thousands of dollars worth of clothing to JCPM for needy / homeless over the years
TSEHAI HIWOT
Jersey City anti-war and community activist
HASAN SALAAM
Progressive, political hip-hop artist and local community activist
The SARGONITES
Political hip-hop brother duo
FURKAN DOGAN
19 year-old American who was murdered on Peace Flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza, Palestine
(honored posthumously)
RAMSEY CLARK
Former U.S. Attorney General, Progressive lawyer and founder of the International Action Center in NYC
EDWIN (ED) RAMIREZ
Progressive community merchant, helps with local 'school uniform exchange' and 1ForAll.org
MONICA AGUILAR
Organizer and activist with NJ Action 21
JOANN DALTON
Progressive community activist and is a member of Veterans For Peace / Chapter 021 (Northern New Jersey)
PATTI SMITH
International poet, singer, rocker, peace and justice activist
BREAKING NEWS:
A special presentation added to JCPM's "2010 Peace and Progress Honors Awards" program.
'Artists and Activists United for Peace' will present internationally renowned musician, author and revolutionary FRED HO with an award honoring his creative and political contributions to justice in our society.
PLEASE CONTACT US HERE AT THIS EMAIL or on our FACE BOOK PAGE:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/JCPeaceMovement
Unfortunately, the venue is not wheelchair friendly. There is one long flight of stairs up. JCPM and NJ Action 21 volunteers can assist with persons who need help entering and exiting.
2010 JERSCY CITY PEACE MOVEMENT PEACE AND PROGRESS HONORS AWARDS
Saturday, December 18th, 2010
7pm - 10pm
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30
107 HUTTON St.
Jersey City, NJ07307
JERSEY CITY PEACE MOVEMENT will hold its 4th Annual 2010 'Peace and Progress Honors Award' ceremony on Saturday, December 18th from 7pm - 10pm at NJ Action 21's NEW space - 107 HUTTON St. in Jersey City, New Jersey.
This public awards ceremony is to honor progressive community activists, leaders, organizations and artists who have contributed to make our local and global societies a little better.
The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
2010 HONOREES
FEMALE LOCAL ACTIVIST of the Year
JENNIFER FASULO
Feminist, peace activist, and filmmaker
(honored posthumously)
MALE LOCAL ACTIVIST of the Year-
RIAZ WAHID
Community activist, homeless advocate
MORE AWARDEES:
ALERO TETEVI
Progressive local business proprietor - Raph's Plaza an African Market and Internet Cafe
PAM AFRICA
Revolutionary activist for worldwide political prisoner justice
DANIEL AGUILAR
Local activist for soccer and other youth programs
BETHE SCHWARTZ
Progressive community advocate (Hilltop Neighborhood Assoc. organizer)
KRISTINA NILSSON
Donated thousands of dollars worth of new and used clothing to JCPM for needy / homeless over the years
ESTHER WINTNER
Jersey City activist fighting to lower taxes and corruption
GAVRIELLE GEMMA
Progressive activist, national and international anti-war organizer
IRIS HADDAD
Donated thousands of dollars worth of clothing to JCPM for needy / homeless over the years
TSEHAI HIWOT
Jersey City anti-war and community activist
HASAN SALAAM
Progressive, political hip-hop artist and local community activist
The SARGONITES
Political hip-hop brother duo
FURKAN DOGAN
19 year-old American who was murdered on Peace Flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza, Palestine
(honored posthumously)
RAMSEY CLARK
Former U.S. Attorney General, Progressive lawyer and founder of the International Action Center in NYC
EDWIN (ED) RAMIREZ
Progressive community merchant, helps with local 'school uniform exchange' and 1ForAll.org
MONICA AGUILAR
Organizer and activist with NJ Action 21
JOANN DALTON
Progressive community activist and is a member of Veterans For Peace / Chapter 021 (Northern New Jersey)
PATTI SMITH
International poet, singer, rocker, peace and justice activist
BREAKING NEWS:
A special presentation added to JCPM's "2010 Peace and Progress Honors Awards" program.
'Artists and Activists United for Peace' will present internationally renowned musician, author and revolutionary FRED HO with an award honoring his creative and political contributions to justice in our society.
PLEASE CONTACT US HERE AT THIS EMAIL or on our FACE BOOK PAGE:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/JCPeaceMovement
Unfortunately, the venue is not wheelchair friendly. There is one long flight of stairs up. JCPM and NJ Action 21 volunteers can assist with persons who need help entering and exiting.
December 9 in NYC: International Solidarity for Mumia!!
AN EVENING OF INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Celebrate 29 years of resistance against a legal lynching of our brother Mumia
Thursday, December 9, 2010, 7 PM
St. Mary's Church, 521 West 126 St (between Amsterdam & B'way)
Hear reports and messages of solidarity
See Videos of the Interational Mumia Solidarity Movement
(wear warm clothes)
Celebrate 29 years of resistance against a legal lynching of our brother Mumia
Thursday, December 9, 2010, 7 PM
St. Mary's Church, 521 West 126 St (between Amsterdam & B'way)
Hear reports and messages of solidarity
See Videos of the Interational Mumia Solidarity Movement
- Report from Sundiata Sadiq on his and Suzanne Ross' visit to London, hosted by the Pan-African Society and the Free Mumia Campaign
- Report from Suzanne Ross on her participation in the Open World Conference Against Exploitation in Algiers
There has definitely been a revitalization of the international movement to free Mumia since the announcement of the Supreme Court that Mumia's execution should be reconsidered (after that issue had been taken off the table in 2001)!
- And honor Mumia for his uncompromising resistance fram death row, in the belly of the beast, for almost three decades!!!
(wear warm clothes)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
11/27 Philly Mumia Organizing Mtg./Great Debate Showing + Discussion
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu Jamal (ICFFMAJ)
Presents
The Great Debate
&
Post 11/09: Organizers Meeting for Mumia Abu Jamal
Organizers Meeting on “Where do we go from Here for Mumia, Post 11/09?”
5700 Washington Avenue (Abiding Truth Ministries)
Philadelphia PA 19143
12-4pm
November 27, 2010
For more information contact us ICFFMAJ@aol.com or Iresha.Picot@gmail.com
Presents
The Great Debate
&
Post 11/09: Organizers Meeting for Mumia Abu Jamal
- Come Out to Watch the 11/08 “Great Debate” between Johanna Fernandez, Michael Cords, D.A. Seth Williams & Tigre Hill
- Post-Discussion with Chairwoman of ICFFMAJ & Minister of Confrontation of MOVE Pam Africa
Organizers Meeting on “Where do we go from Here for Mumia, Post 11/09?”
5700 Washington Avenue (Abiding Truth Ministries)
Philadelphia PA 19143
12-4pm
November 27, 2010
For more information contact us ICFFMAJ@aol.com or Iresha.Picot@gmail.com
Friday, November 19, 2010
12/5 LA - "Justice on Trial: Mumia Abu-Jamal" Film Screening
From Thandisizwe Chimurenga:
Justice on Trial: Mumia Abu Jamal
L.A. PREMIERE - ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 @ 7 p.m.
@ the Downtown Independent Theatre
251 S. Main Street, betw 2nd and 3rd
TICKETS: $12 at the door
On Nov. 9 a Federal court in Philadelphia again took up the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, journalist, author and former member of the Black Panther Party currently on death row. The results of that hearing, which will determine if Mumia is executed or gets life imprisonment, have not been decided YET. Attorney Robert Bryan says that Mumia is now "in the greatest danger since his 1981 arrest."
Dec. 9 is the 29th anniversary of the night Mumia was accused of murdering a white policeman. He has always affirmed his innocence. This new film, "Justice on Trial: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal," fairly presents the arguments made by Mumia's supporters alongside the prosecution's arguments and interviews with others advocating Mumia's execution. The film's featured interviews include press photographer Pedro Polakoff, whose newly discovered crime scene photos expose police manipulation of evidence.
213.321.0575 for more info
Justice on Trial: Mumia Abu Jamal
L.A. PREMIERE - ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 @ 7 p.m.
@ the Downtown Independent Theatre
251 S. Main Street, betw 2nd and 3rd
TICKETS: $12 at the door
On Nov. 9 a Federal court in Philadelphia again took up the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, journalist, author and former member of the Black Panther Party currently on death row. The results of that hearing, which will determine if Mumia is executed or gets life imprisonment, have not been decided YET. Attorney Robert Bryan says that Mumia is now "in the greatest danger since his 1981 arrest."
Dec. 9 is the 29th anniversary of the night Mumia was accused of murdering a white policeman. He has always affirmed his innocence. This new film, "Justice on Trial: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal," fairly presents the arguments made by Mumia's supporters alongside the prosecution's arguments and interviews with others advocating Mumia's execution. The film's featured interviews include press photographer Pedro Polakoff, whose newly discovered crime scene photos expose police manipulation of evidence.
213.321.0575 for more info
Amnesty International: Mumia Abu-Jamal Deserves New Trial, Not New Death Sentence says Amnesty International
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/11/09-4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2010
Contact:
Amnesty International USA
Wende Gozan Brown
212-633-4247, wgozan@aiusa.org
Mumia Abu-Jamal Deserves New Trial, Not New Death Sentence says Amnesty International
Washington, D.C. - November 9
On Tuesday, November 9, a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will conduct a hearing to re-examine its previous decision overturning Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death sentence.
In 2000, after a painstaking review of the case, Amnesty International concluded in its report, The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance, that justice could only be served by granting Abu-Jamal a new trial.
The following is a statement from Laura Moye, director of Amnesty International USA’s Death Penalty Abolition Campaign:
“Re-imposing the death penalty would be intolerable. Mumia Abu-Jamal should receive a new trial, not a new death sentence.
“Serious questions about fairness in Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case remain unanswered. While Amnesty International does not take a position on guilt or innocence, the organization maintains that Abu-Jamal’s original trial, which was irredeemably tainted by politics and race, failed to meet international fair trial standards.
“Among myriad concerns surrounding this case: Abu-Jamal had inadequate defense representation at trial and during the sentencing phase. Eleven potential African American jurors were dismissed. The close political relationship between the Fraternal Order of Police and the elected Pennsylvania judiciary was inappropriate. The judge, who had close political ties to law enforcement, was openly hostile to the defense.
“These and other concerns have not been addressed. Justice demands a new trial. The state of Pennsylvania should turn its back on the irreversible and broken death penalty system.”
We are people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights. Our purpose is to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. We investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilize the public, and help transform societies to create a safer, more just world.
Amnesty International - USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2010
Contact:
Amnesty International USA
Wende Gozan Brown
212-633-4247, wgozan@aiusa.org
Mumia Abu-Jamal Deserves New Trial, Not New Death Sentence says Amnesty International
Washington, D.C. - November 9
On Tuesday, November 9, a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will conduct a hearing to re-examine its previous decision overturning Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death sentence.
In 2000, after a painstaking review of the case, Amnesty International concluded in its report, The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance, that justice could only be served by granting Abu-Jamal a new trial.
The following is a statement from Laura Moye, director of Amnesty International USA’s Death Penalty Abolition Campaign:
“Re-imposing the death penalty would be intolerable. Mumia Abu-Jamal should receive a new trial, not a new death sentence.
“Serious questions about fairness in Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case remain unanswered. While Amnesty International does not take a position on guilt or innocence, the organization maintains that Abu-Jamal’s original trial, which was irredeemably tainted by politics and race, failed to meet international fair trial standards.
“Among myriad concerns surrounding this case: Abu-Jamal had inadequate defense representation at trial and during the sentencing phase. Eleven potential African American jurors were dismissed. The close political relationship between the Fraternal Order of Police and the elected Pennsylvania judiciary was inappropriate. The judge, who had close political ties to law enforcement, was openly hostile to the defense.
“These and other concerns have not been addressed. Justice demands a new trial. The state of Pennsylvania should turn its back on the irreversible and broken death penalty system.”
We are people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights. Our purpose is to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. We investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilize the public, and help transform societies to create a safer, more just world.
Amnesty International - USA
No News is Not Good News: If Cops Tape Protests and Journalists and No One Reports It, Is It Intimidation?
by Dave Lindorff
11/19/2010
Is it news when police photograph and videotape demonstrations?
Apparently for American editors and reporters, making that news judgement depends on where the demonstration occurs and what nationality the police are.
When a hundred artists gathered outside a Beijing courtroom in mid-November to protest the jailing of artist Wu Yuren, who had earlier been beaten by police and jailed because he had gone to a police station to file a complaint against a landlord, the New York Times ran an article by reporter Andrew Jacobs which pointedly noted that police officers had videotaped the crowd, and then quoted a demonstrator, artist Dou Bu, as saying, "I was scared to come out here today, but you have to face your fears."
But a week earlier, when several hundred backers of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a black journalist on Pennsylvania's death row for the killing of a police officer, demonstrated in front of a Third Circuit federal court building in Philadelphia, where a three-judge panel was rehearing an argument on his sentence, and local police not only videotaped the officially sanctioned rally, but also aggressively photographed and taped a group of journalists waiting to be allowed into the courtroom early, there was no mention of their action in any media, local or national.
In Philadelphia, and in cities across the country, it has become routine for police departments to openly and surreptitiously videotape participants in demonstrations, and to assemble files on demonstrators, even when the events are entirely peaceful and without incident, and when the rallies or marches have been issued city permits.
Philadelphia Police officials insist that the photographing and videotaping of protests is legal and is not intended to intimidate dissent. Lt. Raymond Evers, who heads the Philadelphia Police public affairs unit, says the purpose of such photographic records is "crowd control and training." He claims the department wants a record so that if any violence occurs, police can show what happened, and how police responded, and also so that any perpetrators or malefactors can be identified later.
That doesn‚t explain what happened at the Abu-Jamal hearing, however. On Nov. 9, some 12 journalists who had come to the Federal Courthouse on 6th Street, just two blocks from the old Independence Hall where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed, to cover an appellate court panel hearing reviewing a federal district judge‚s 2001 ruling that lifted Abu-Jamal's death sentence, found themselves surrounded by Philadelphia Police who began photographing and videotaping them at close range. The reporters, who had been credential-checked and then herded by US Marshals down a kind of "cattle chute" constructed of temporary metal barriers, to a holding point in front of the court building‚s main entrance, were unable to avoid being repeatedly photographed.
Many, including journalists from abroad, expressed shock and dismay at the police actions. "Is this how they treat the press here in America?" asked one reporter from Agence France Presse.
Linn Washington, a local journalist with the Philadelphia Tribune, America‚s oldest African-American newspaper (and a member of the ThisCantBeHappening! news collective), who was singled out for photographing and videotaping by police cameramen as he walked down the chute alone to join the other journalists, said, "It was absolutely a process designed to intimidate us."
Journalists who asked the police pointing the cameras, and accompanying officers in civilian clothes from the department‚s civil affairs office, for an explanation for their actions, and for information concerning what would be done with the resulting photographs and video records, were met with a stony silence.
It is likely that their images may end up intelligence files held in Washington, DC.
A couple of years ago, at an anti-war rally in front of the municipal building across the street from Philadelphia‚s City Hall, I spotted an unidentified and unmarked police videographer standing alongside legitimate TV cameramen recording speakers at the permitted event, and also panning the assembled crowd. Noting that he had no identifying TV station placard on his camera as the other cameras had, I asked him what station he was with. When he ignored me, I asked a couple more times, at which point he aggressively and silently turned his big videocamera directly on me. At that point, I identified him to rally attendees as a police officer. He and an associate I hadn‚t noticed earlier immediately hurried off to a nearby Police Department van and left the scene.
When I later called the police department to ask about the taping, I was told that it was routine to tape demonstrations, and that because the Philadelphia Police are part of the federal Anti-Terrorism Joint Strike Force, copies of such tapes would be provided to the federal Department of Homeland Security.
In other words, in America, participating in a First Amendment-protected activity--protesting at a rally that has been granted a city permit--can get your image added to some terrorism file in Washington, DC.
Is that also what happens to the images of reporters who are simply performing their First Amendment role of reporting on a court hearing?
No doubt.
But is this news in the American corporate media?
Apparently not.
If police tape demonstrators or journalists at a political event, it‚s only news if it occurs somewhere like China.
Source URL: http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/node/306
11/19/2010
Is it news when police photograph and videotape demonstrations?
Apparently for American editors and reporters, making that news judgement depends on where the demonstration occurs and what nationality the police are.
When a hundred artists gathered outside a Beijing courtroom in mid-November to protest the jailing of artist Wu Yuren, who had earlier been beaten by police and jailed because he had gone to a police station to file a complaint against a landlord, the New York Times ran an article by reporter Andrew Jacobs which pointedly noted that police officers had videotaped the crowd, and then quoted a demonstrator, artist Dou Bu, as saying, "I was scared to come out here today, but you have to face your fears."
But a week earlier, when several hundred backers of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a black journalist on Pennsylvania's death row for the killing of a police officer, demonstrated in front of a Third Circuit federal court building in Philadelphia, where a three-judge panel was rehearing an argument on his sentence, and local police not only videotaped the officially sanctioned rally, but also aggressively photographed and taped a group of journalists waiting to be allowed into the courtroom early, there was no mention of their action in any media, local or national.
In Philadelphia, and in cities across the country, it has become routine for police departments to openly and surreptitiously videotape participants in demonstrations, and to assemble files on demonstrators, even when the events are entirely peaceful and without incident, and when the rallies or marches have been issued city permits.
Philadelphia Police officials insist that the photographing and videotaping of protests is legal and is not intended to intimidate dissent. Lt. Raymond Evers, who heads the Philadelphia Police public affairs unit, says the purpose of such photographic records is "crowd control and training." He claims the department wants a record so that if any violence occurs, police can show what happened, and how police responded, and also so that any perpetrators or malefactors can be identified later.
That doesn‚t explain what happened at the Abu-Jamal hearing, however. On Nov. 9, some 12 journalists who had come to the Federal Courthouse on 6th Street, just two blocks from the old Independence Hall where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed, to cover an appellate court panel hearing reviewing a federal district judge‚s 2001 ruling that lifted Abu-Jamal's death sentence, found themselves surrounded by Philadelphia Police who began photographing and videotaping them at close range. The reporters, who had been credential-checked and then herded by US Marshals down a kind of "cattle chute" constructed of temporary metal barriers, to a holding point in front of the court building‚s main entrance, were unable to avoid being repeatedly photographed.
Many, including journalists from abroad, expressed shock and dismay at the police actions. "Is this how they treat the press here in America?" asked one reporter from Agence France Presse.
Linn Washington, a local journalist with the Philadelphia Tribune, America‚s oldest African-American newspaper (and a member of the ThisCantBeHappening! news collective), who was singled out for photographing and videotaping by police cameramen as he walked down the chute alone to join the other journalists, said, "It was absolutely a process designed to intimidate us."
Journalists who asked the police pointing the cameras, and accompanying officers in civilian clothes from the department‚s civil affairs office, for an explanation for their actions, and for information concerning what would be done with the resulting photographs and video records, were met with a stony silence.
It is likely that their images may end up intelligence files held in Washington, DC.
A couple of years ago, at an anti-war rally in front of the municipal building across the street from Philadelphia‚s City Hall, I spotted an unidentified and unmarked police videographer standing alongside legitimate TV cameramen recording speakers at the permitted event, and also panning the assembled crowd. Noting that he had no identifying TV station placard on his camera as the other cameras had, I asked him what station he was with. When he ignored me, I asked a couple more times, at which point he aggressively and silently turned his big videocamera directly on me. At that point, I identified him to rally attendees as a police officer. He and an associate I hadn‚t noticed earlier immediately hurried off to a nearby Police Department van and left the scene.
When I later called the police department to ask about the taping, I was told that it was routine to tape demonstrations, and that because the Philadelphia Police are part of the federal Anti-Terrorism Joint Strike Force, copies of such tapes would be provided to the federal Department of Homeland Security.
In other words, in America, participating in a First Amendment-protected activity--protesting at a rally that has been granted a city permit--can get your image added to some terrorism file in Washington, DC.
Is that also what happens to the images of reporters who are simply performing their First Amendment role of reporting on a court hearing?
No doubt.
But is this news in the American corporate media?
Apparently not.
If police tape demonstrators or journalists at a political event, it‚s only news if it occurs somewhere like China.
Source URL: http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/node/306
Statement Against FBI and Grand Jury Repression
By Angela Davis
November 18, 2010
On September 24 the FBI raided homes of 14 activists in movements in solidarity with oppressed workers and peoples of Latin America and Israel/Palestine. I consider these raids to be an assault on democracy. While the immediate targets of the raids were activists in movements in solidarity with trade unionists and others facing violence in Colombia and the Middle East, their purpose is to disrupt the unity of progressive movements by sowing suspicion, distrust, and an aura of guilt by association. I am not too young to remember the dark days of McCarthyism in our country, and I know very well what the effect of such government reprisals can be.
The FBI seized computers, cell phones, boxes of papers and personal possessions from all 14. They served grand jury subpoenas on many of them. The FBI announced they were investigating possible “material support” to terrorist groups. But it appears that their real purpose is to disrupt the growing unity of the majority of Americans who are critical of the wars and occupations being carried out today in Iraq and Afghanistan, who oppose U. S. support for violence against trade unionists in Colombia and against Palestinians by the Israeli government in Israel, on the West Bank, and in Gaza. The only way the FBI’s actions make any sense at all is to see them as an attempt to isolate and intimidate any who would dissent from government policy or speak out against injustice. These raids violate the spirit and the letter of the Bill of Rights. They endanger the freedom of the entire U. S. population.
We learned bitter lessons from the FBI’s COINTELPRO repression in the 1960s, in which African American leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and leaders of the Black Panther Party such as Fred Hampton, were targeted for assassination. Progressive movements were targeted for disruption.
I urge President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to
Angela Y. Davis is the author of many books, her most recent are: Abolition Democracy, Are Prisons Obsolete? and a new critical edition of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.
From Angela Davis's Blog http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/angeladavis
November 18, 2010
On September 24 the FBI raided homes of 14 activists in movements in solidarity with oppressed workers and peoples of Latin America and Israel/Palestine. I consider these raids to be an assault on democracy. While the immediate targets of the raids were activists in movements in solidarity with trade unionists and others facing violence in Colombia and the Middle East, their purpose is to disrupt the unity of progressive movements by sowing suspicion, distrust, and an aura of guilt by association. I am not too young to remember the dark days of McCarthyism in our country, and I know very well what the effect of such government reprisals can be.
The FBI seized computers, cell phones, boxes of papers and personal possessions from all 14. They served grand jury subpoenas on many of them. The FBI announced they were investigating possible “material support” to terrorist groups. But it appears that their real purpose is to disrupt the growing unity of the majority of Americans who are critical of the wars and occupations being carried out today in Iraq and Afghanistan, who oppose U. S. support for violence against trade unionists in Colombia and against Palestinians by the Israeli government in Israel, on the West Bank, and in Gaza. The only way the FBI’s actions make any sense at all is to see them as an attempt to isolate and intimidate any who would dissent from government policy or speak out against injustice. These raids violate the spirit and the letter of the Bill of Rights. They endanger the freedom of the entire U. S. population.
We learned bitter lessons from the FBI’s COINTELPRO repression in the 1960s, in which African American leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and leaders of the Black Panther Party such as Fred Hampton, were targeted for assassination. Progressive movements were targeted for disruption.
I urge President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to
- Direct the FBI to return the belongings seized.
- Dissolve the grand juries threatening an inquisition against peace and solidarity activists and movements.
- Cancel all subpoenas to appear before the grand jury in Chicago.
Angela Y. Davis is the author of many books, her most recent are: Abolition Democracy, Are Prisons Obsolete? and a new critical edition of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.
From Angela Davis's Blog http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/angeladavis
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Berlin Free Mumia Committee Getting Ready for December 9
DON'T LET YOUR ANGER COOL DOWN! - AFTER 29 YEARS ON DEATH ROW
- FREE MUMIA NOW!
For 29 years a journalist has been locked up on death row - because he dared to speak the truth.
For 29 years a human being has been isolated from his family – because prisoners have no rights in his country.
For 29 years an Afro-American has been threatened with death – because the death penalty is the last resort of a social system doomed to downfall.
The prisoner's name is Mumia Abu-Jamal; he is locked up in the US state of Pennsylvania, near a place called Waynesburg. He is in a state-run prison factory where forced labor annually
produces about 50 million dollars in profit. In the middle of this factory is a high security section where nearly 250 human beings wait, in almost totally isolation, for their lives to be terminated. Confined to cells six square meters in size they are certain of only one thing: that they will never depart from these buildings alive. Some of them already know the date on which they are to die.
While 80 percent of the US-population is of European descent, the majority of those living in the forgotten death rows in maximum security prisons are Afro-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanos or people of Asian descent. Only 34 percent of the prisoners belong to the majority
population group.
It is the same picture in factory prisons spread all over the United States. The prison industrial complex is one of the largest domestic branches of the US economy. Control over almost totally unpaid labor was the historic motor for the early development of the North American colonies. Slavery, though officially permitted when the USA was founded, was officially abolished in 1865. But all the same it still exists - within the prison industry. No country in the world has more prison
inmates than the USA, neither in percentage terms nor in actual numbers. And the death penalty represents an ultimate threat to guarantee that a fearful population keeps quiet.
Mumia Abu-Jamal was sentenced to death on a framed-up charge of killing a policeman. The real reason was because he was committed to reporting on racism, police violence and politicians' corruption. He has continued this activity up to the present and, despite his isolation in prison, he
is able to reach millions of people. He thus lends a voice to all those otherwise ignored by the media. Now, however, after protests were able to save his life for decades, the government is again trying to force through his execution. A very similar political frame-up policy has been used against Leonard Peltier because of his commitment to the American Indian Movement (AIM) and against the Cuban Five, who tried to prevent terrorist acts directed, with the support of secret agencies of the USA, against Cuba. According to human rights groups more than 100 people are currently in US-prisons because of their political views. Some anti-repression groups believe the number is over 4000.
We know of all the sterile calls where those whose only crime was often an inability to afford a proper legal defense, are now awaiting a violent death. We know what strength is lent to those in such sterile walls of death by letters, reports of solidarity activities, or visits. We stand together with Mumia Abu-Jamal and all the others threatened by execution. No country has the right to murder prisoners!
LET US TAKE TO THE STREETS TOGETHER AND MAKE CLEAR TO THE USA EMBASSY
THAT WE WILL ACCEPT ONLY ONE SOLUTION:
FREEDOM FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
WORLDWIDE ABOLISHMENT OF THE DEATH PENALTY!
Demonstration: Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 2.00 PM
Starting at Heinrichplatz in Kreuzberg, Berlin! concluding at the USA Embassy at Brandenburg Gate.
Info: www.mumia-hoerbuch.de V.i.S.d.P.: Anton Mestin, Selchowerstr., Berlin
- FREE MUMIA NOW!
For 29 years a journalist has been locked up on death row - because he dared to speak the truth.
For 29 years a human being has been isolated from his family – because prisoners have no rights in his country.
For 29 years an Afro-American has been threatened with death – because the death penalty is the last resort of a social system doomed to downfall.
The prisoner's name is Mumia Abu-Jamal; he is locked up in the US state of Pennsylvania, near a place called Waynesburg. He is in a state-run prison factory where forced labor annually
produces about 50 million dollars in profit. In the middle of this factory is a high security section where nearly 250 human beings wait, in almost totally isolation, for their lives to be terminated. Confined to cells six square meters in size they are certain of only one thing: that they will never depart from these buildings alive. Some of them already know the date on which they are to die.
While 80 percent of the US-population is of European descent, the majority of those living in the forgotten death rows in maximum security prisons are Afro-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanos or people of Asian descent. Only 34 percent of the prisoners belong to the majority
population group.
It is the same picture in factory prisons spread all over the United States. The prison industrial complex is one of the largest domestic branches of the US economy. Control over almost totally unpaid labor was the historic motor for the early development of the North American colonies. Slavery, though officially permitted when the USA was founded, was officially abolished in 1865. But all the same it still exists - within the prison industry. No country in the world has more prison
inmates than the USA, neither in percentage terms nor in actual numbers. And the death penalty represents an ultimate threat to guarantee that a fearful population keeps quiet.
Mumia Abu-Jamal was sentenced to death on a framed-up charge of killing a policeman. The real reason was because he was committed to reporting on racism, police violence and politicians' corruption. He has continued this activity up to the present and, despite his isolation in prison, he
is able to reach millions of people. He thus lends a voice to all those otherwise ignored by the media. Now, however, after protests were able to save his life for decades, the government is again trying to force through his execution. A very similar political frame-up policy has been used against Leonard Peltier because of his commitment to the American Indian Movement (AIM) and against the Cuban Five, who tried to prevent terrorist acts directed, with the support of secret agencies of the USA, against Cuba. According to human rights groups more than 100 people are currently in US-prisons because of their political views. Some anti-repression groups believe the number is over 4000.
We know of all the sterile calls where those whose only crime was often an inability to afford a proper legal defense, are now awaiting a violent death. We know what strength is lent to those in such sterile walls of death by letters, reports of solidarity activities, or visits. We stand together with Mumia Abu-Jamal and all the others threatened by execution. No country has the right to murder prisoners!
LET US TAKE TO THE STREETS TOGETHER AND MAKE CLEAR TO THE USA EMBASSY
THAT WE WILL ACCEPT ONLY ONE SOLUTION:
FREEDOM FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
WORLDWIDE ABOLISHMENT OF THE DEATH PENALTY!
Demonstration: Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 2.00 PM
Starting at Heinrichplatz in Kreuzberg, Berlin! concluding at the USA Embassy at Brandenburg Gate.
Info: www.mumia-hoerbuch.de V.i.S.d.P.: Anton Mestin, Selchowerstr., Berlin
After the Nov 9th hearing in Philly, what does Mumia face, what do we need to do?
WHAT DOES MUMIA FACE LEGALLY AFTER THE NOVEMBER 9, 2010 HEARING BEFORE THE THIRD CIRCUIT?
The only legal options that were considered by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal court immediately below the US Supreme Court, at the November 9 hearing were whether Mumia Abu-Jamal is to be executed or get life in prison without parole. The question of Mumia's guilt or innocence and the opportunity of a new trial was not part of this hearing. The Third Circuit decided that issue in March 2008 in a decision made by the same three judges who conducted this hearing.
To grasp the significance of this hearing, one needs to revisit Federal District Court Judge William Yohn, Jr.'s decision of December 18, 2001. In that ruling the judge upheld Mumia's conviction but at the same time threw out his death sentence on the grounds that the verdict form used by the jury for sentencing at his trial violated the U.S. Supreme Court's Mills precedent, thereby prejudicing the jury toward the death penalty rather than life in prison. Yohn then gave the state 180 days to convene a new jury trial only on the issue of Mumia's penalty, in which the choices would be either death or life in prison without parole. On the other hand, if the state did nothing, Yohn ruled that Mumia would automatically be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
At the time he made this decision, Judge Yohn stayed his ruling on overturning the death sentence while the prosecution appealed his decision to the next higher level of federal court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. (At the same time Mumia appealed Judge Yohn's decision upholding his conviction). Mumia was therefore never removed from Death Row and remains there to this day.
On March 27, 2008, the Third Circuit upheld Yohn's decision on the death penalty in a 3-0 vote. Again the decision was stayed while the state appealed to the highest federal level, the Supreme Court. (In the same decision, the Third Circuit rejected Mumia's appeal on the conviction by 2-1 that is, finding him guilty and, as before, Mumia appealed that ruling.)
On April 6, 2009 the US Supreme Court refused to hear Mumia's appeal of the Third Circuit's decision upholding his conviction.
On January 10, 2010, the Supreme Court ordered the Third Circuit to reconsider its decision on the death sentence in light of its unanimous rejection of an appeal from a white-supremacist named Spisak. That man admitted to killing at least two people in Ohio and openly stated that he wished to have murdered more. He had appealed his death sentence also as a violation of the Mills precedent, but involving a different aspect of it than Mumia's case. The Sixth Circuit, as did the Third Circuit in Mumia's case, ruled that the death sentence should be thrown out. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the Mills precedent did not apply in Spisak's case, and therefore execution rather than life in prison was the appropriate penalty. Based on that decision, the Supreme Court questioned the Third Circuit's ruling in Mumia's case, and asked it to reconsider the issue of execution for him as well.
Thus, the hearing on November 9th was on Mumia's penalty only. The choices before the court were either to sustain Yohn's and its own earlier decisions or to reinstate the death penalty. According to those in the courtroom, the attorney who represented Mumia on this issue, Judith Ritter, argued the applicability of the Mills precedent very convincingly. On that basis Mumia's death sentence should not be reinstated. The history of Mumia's case, however, has shown that precedent and effective arguments, as in the argument of racial bias in jury selection made before the same three judges three years ago, are often ignored by the court in favor of a political agenda at least to keep Mumia locked up if not executed and completely silenced. That racial bias issue easily could have resulted in Mumia's conviction being thrown out, but in a split 2-1 vote, the judges established a new precedent just for Mumia. (All three judges blew off the question of Mumia's innocence).
After hearing the arguments and asking questions, Chief Judge Scirica said that the court would 'take the matter under advisement'.) It may be months before a decision is announced.
If the Third Circuit reaffirms its earlier decision to sentence Mumia to life in prison without parole, the state will most likely appeal to the Supreme Court. If that court agrees with the Third Circuit, or in the unlikely event that the state doesn't appeal at all, the state then will have 180 days to implement Judge Yohn's decision.
In that case the prosecution would have to decide whether to do nothing and let the life sentence
stand or ask for a new penalty trial (which would take place in a Pennsylvania state court) in the hope of "winning" a death sentence again. Mumia would certainly want the latter to happen since it would give him some opportunity to introduce new evidence challenging the prosecution's version of what happened on December 9, 1981, which was the basis for the jury's guilty verdict at his 1982 trial. Thus, while this proceeding would not be a trial on the question of guilt or innocence, but only a hearing on the sentencing issue, new evidence that could undermine Mumia's conviction itself might be introduced.
If the Third Circuit rules against Mumia, Mumia will surely appeal to the Supreme Court. But the odds for the Supreme Court to overturn the Third Circuit's decision favoring execution are very small given the reactionary composition of that court.
However, even if the Supreme Court rules for a death sentence, Mumia would still have some legal options. Back in 2001, when Yohn threw out the death penalty based on the Mills precedent, he did not deal with several other issues raised by the defense. Therefore, Mumia would have the right to go back before Judge Yohn and ask him to address these other significant issues related to the improper sentencing process at his trial. Such a hearing, though limited to life in prison or execution, would inevitably also include challenges to the prosecution's version of what happened at the crime scene. This would especially be true if grassroots work continues to expose the fraudulent nature of the trial and appeals process as has been done dramatically in the last few years; for example, through the release of the long hidden photographs of the crime scene, and the evidence that four people, not three, were present at that scene. This would also be true if grassroots work continues to press for a Department of Justice civil rights investigation and draws greater support and activism. Not only might the death penalty be once again overturned, but Mumia's conviction itself might get thrown out.
Mumia's legal situation remains extremely dangerous as the re-imposition of the death sentence would surely be a big setback in his struggle to demonstrate his innocence. The authorities in Philadelphia are mobilizing for Mumia's execution, and the Supreme Court seems likely to be sympathetic to that agenda. But even with that being said, the right that remains for Mumia to go back to Judge Yohn is very important for opening up space to expose the level of injustice, the violation of due process, and the racism that has permeated the entire history of this case. While the US legal system looks very powerful and impenetrable to justice, the grassroots movement in the US combined with international pressure could force the courts to make decisions that they otherwise would not. Surely Mumia's being alive today, despite three attempts to kill him, twice with scheduled execution days, is a tribute to the massive struggles waged by people across this globe.
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
The only legal options that were considered by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal court immediately below the US Supreme Court, at the November 9 hearing were whether Mumia Abu-Jamal is to be executed or get life in prison without parole. The question of Mumia's guilt or innocence and the opportunity of a new trial was not part of this hearing. The Third Circuit decided that issue in March 2008 in a decision made by the same three judges who conducted this hearing.
To grasp the significance of this hearing, one needs to revisit Federal District Court Judge William Yohn, Jr.'s decision of December 18, 2001. In that ruling the judge upheld Mumia's conviction but at the same time threw out his death sentence on the grounds that the verdict form used by the jury for sentencing at his trial violated the U.S. Supreme Court's Mills precedent, thereby prejudicing the jury toward the death penalty rather than life in prison. Yohn then gave the state 180 days to convene a new jury trial only on the issue of Mumia's penalty, in which the choices would be either death or life in prison without parole. On the other hand, if the state did nothing, Yohn ruled that Mumia would automatically be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
At the time he made this decision, Judge Yohn stayed his ruling on overturning the death sentence while the prosecution appealed his decision to the next higher level of federal court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. (At the same time Mumia appealed Judge Yohn's decision upholding his conviction). Mumia was therefore never removed from Death Row and remains there to this day.
On March 27, 2008, the Third Circuit upheld Yohn's decision on the death penalty in a 3-0 vote. Again the decision was stayed while the state appealed to the highest federal level, the Supreme Court. (In the same decision, the Third Circuit rejected Mumia's appeal on the conviction by 2-1 that is, finding him guilty and, as before, Mumia appealed that ruling.)
On April 6, 2009 the US Supreme Court refused to hear Mumia's appeal of the Third Circuit's decision upholding his conviction.
On January 10, 2010, the Supreme Court ordered the Third Circuit to reconsider its decision on the death sentence in light of its unanimous rejection of an appeal from a white-supremacist named Spisak. That man admitted to killing at least two people in Ohio and openly stated that he wished to have murdered more. He had appealed his death sentence also as a violation of the Mills precedent, but involving a different aspect of it than Mumia's case. The Sixth Circuit, as did the Third Circuit in Mumia's case, ruled that the death sentence should be thrown out. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the Mills precedent did not apply in Spisak's case, and therefore execution rather than life in prison was the appropriate penalty. Based on that decision, the Supreme Court questioned the Third Circuit's ruling in Mumia's case, and asked it to reconsider the issue of execution for him as well.
Thus, the hearing on November 9th was on Mumia's penalty only. The choices before the court were either to sustain Yohn's and its own earlier decisions or to reinstate the death penalty. According to those in the courtroom, the attorney who represented Mumia on this issue, Judith Ritter, argued the applicability of the Mills precedent very convincingly. On that basis Mumia's death sentence should not be reinstated. The history of Mumia's case, however, has shown that precedent and effective arguments, as in the argument of racial bias in jury selection made before the same three judges three years ago, are often ignored by the court in favor of a political agenda at least to keep Mumia locked up if not executed and completely silenced. That racial bias issue easily could have resulted in Mumia's conviction being thrown out, but in a split 2-1 vote, the judges established a new precedent just for Mumia. (All three judges blew off the question of Mumia's innocence).
After hearing the arguments and asking questions, Chief Judge Scirica said that the court would 'take the matter under advisement'.) It may be months before a decision is announced.
If the Third Circuit reaffirms its earlier decision to sentence Mumia to life in prison without parole, the state will most likely appeal to the Supreme Court. If that court agrees with the Third Circuit, or in the unlikely event that the state doesn't appeal at all, the state then will have 180 days to implement Judge Yohn's decision.
In that case the prosecution would have to decide whether to do nothing and let the life sentence
stand or ask for a new penalty trial (which would take place in a Pennsylvania state court) in the hope of "winning" a death sentence again. Mumia would certainly want the latter to happen since it would give him some opportunity to introduce new evidence challenging the prosecution's version of what happened on December 9, 1981, which was the basis for the jury's guilty verdict at his 1982 trial. Thus, while this proceeding would not be a trial on the question of guilt or innocence, but only a hearing on the sentencing issue, new evidence that could undermine Mumia's conviction itself might be introduced.
If the Third Circuit rules against Mumia, Mumia will surely appeal to the Supreme Court. But the odds for the Supreme Court to overturn the Third Circuit's decision favoring execution are very small given the reactionary composition of that court.
However, even if the Supreme Court rules for a death sentence, Mumia would still have some legal options. Back in 2001, when Yohn threw out the death penalty based on the Mills precedent, he did not deal with several other issues raised by the defense. Therefore, Mumia would have the right to go back before Judge Yohn and ask him to address these other significant issues related to the improper sentencing process at his trial. Such a hearing, though limited to life in prison or execution, would inevitably also include challenges to the prosecution's version of what happened at the crime scene. This would especially be true if grassroots work continues to expose the fraudulent nature of the trial and appeals process as has been done dramatically in the last few years; for example, through the release of the long hidden photographs of the crime scene, and the evidence that four people, not three, were present at that scene. This would also be true if grassroots work continues to press for a Department of Justice civil rights investigation and draws greater support and activism. Not only might the death penalty be once again overturned, but Mumia's conviction itself might get thrown out.
Mumia's legal situation remains extremely dangerous as the re-imposition of the death sentence would surely be a big setback in his struggle to demonstrate his innocence. The authorities in Philadelphia are mobilizing for Mumia's execution, and the Supreme Court seems likely to be sympathetic to that agenda. But even with that being said, the right that remains for Mumia to go back to Judge Yohn is very important for opening up space to expose the level of injustice, the violation of due process, and the racism that has permeated the entire history of this case. While the US legal system looks very powerful and impenetrable to justice, the grassroots movement in the US combined with international pressure could force the courts to make decisions that they otherwise would not. Surely Mumia's being alive today, despite three attempts to kill him, twice with scheduled execution days, is a tribute to the massive struggles waged by people across this globe.
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Tigre Hill in Trouble with "Barrel of the Gun"
In the middle of the Abu-Jamal case
Philadelphia Business Journal - by Jeff Blumenthal
Thursday, November 11, 2010
David Wolfsohn spends his days representing clients in intellectual property litigation. The Woodcock Washburn partner most recently represented Philadelphia's largest insurance broker, The Graham Co., in a copyright case involving a trade secret dispute.
But earlier this week, Wolfsohn was caught up in the middle of the protracted case of one of the world's most controversial death row inmates — Mumia Abu-Jamal. After participating in a debate about the Abu-Jamal case, pro-Mumia activist Michael Coard handed local filmmaker Tigre Hill a letter from Wolfsohn demanding that he "immediately cease all screenings" of his new documentary, "The Barrel of a Gun," which concludes Abu-Jamal was justly convicted for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police office Daniel Faulkner.
Wolfsohn represents filmmaker Hugh King, who claims that without permission, Hill used an interview with Abu-Jamal from his film about Philadelphia Police brutality in the 1980s, "Black and Blue."
But don't expect Wolfsohn to start protesting outside the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office or come to Woodcock's Cira Centre offices in a "Free Mumia" T-shirt. Nor was Wolfsohn one of the majority pro-Mumia crowd shouting down Hill and the Philadelphia district attorney when they tried to tell their side of the Mumia saga Monday evening at the National Constitution Center.
"I'm not taking sides in this," Wolfsohn said. "But it was a clear copyright violation. Mr. Hill should have asked for a license [to use King's footage]."
Wolfsohn said his client wants Hill and his production company, Dacua Communications of Havertown, to pay restitution. If there is no response, Wolfsohn said the filing of a copyright infringement lawsuit could be in the offing.
Hill could not be immediately reached for comment.
Read more: In the middle of the Abu-Jamal case | Philadelphia Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blogs/law/2010/11/in-the-middle-of-the-abu-jamal-case.html
Philadelphia Business Journal - by Jeff Blumenthal
Thursday, November 11, 2010
David Wolfsohn spends his days representing clients in intellectual property litigation. The Woodcock Washburn partner most recently represented Philadelphia's largest insurance broker, The Graham Co., in a copyright case involving a trade secret dispute.
But earlier this week, Wolfsohn was caught up in the middle of the protracted case of one of the world's most controversial death row inmates — Mumia Abu-Jamal. After participating in a debate about the Abu-Jamal case, pro-Mumia activist Michael Coard handed local filmmaker Tigre Hill a letter from Wolfsohn demanding that he "immediately cease all screenings" of his new documentary, "The Barrel of a Gun," which concludes Abu-Jamal was justly convicted for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police office Daniel Faulkner.
Wolfsohn represents filmmaker Hugh King, who claims that without permission, Hill used an interview with Abu-Jamal from his film about Philadelphia Police brutality in the 1980s, "Black and Blue."
But don't expect Wolfsohn to start protesting outside the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office or come to Woodcock's Cira Centre offices in a "Free Mumia" T-shirt. Nor was Wolfsohn one of the majority pro-Mumia crowd shouting down Hill and the Philadelphia district attorney when they tried to tell their side of the Mumia saga Monday evening at the National Constitution Center.
"I'm not taking sides in this," Wolfsohn said. "But it was a clear copyright violation. Mr. Hill should have asked for a license [to use King's footage]."
Wolfsohn said his client wants Hill and his production company, Dacua Communications of Havertown, to pay restitution. If there is no response, Wolfsohn said the filing of a copyright infringement lawsuit could be in the offing.
Hill could not be immediately reached for comment.
Read more: In the middle of the Abu-Jamal case | Philadelphia Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blogs/law/2010/11/in-the-middle-of-the-abu-jamal-case.html
RT News reporting on Mumia
From freemumia.com:
Thanks to Betsey Piette for sharing this:
This is a good piece that RT News did on Mumia, the Third Circuit Court hearing and the Tues demonstration in Philadelphia.
http://www.youtube.com/rtamerica#p/search/1/YUJJr-s-4ro
Thanks to Betsey Piette for sharing this:
This is a good piece that RT News did on Mumia, the Third Circuit Court hearing and the Tues demonstration in Philadelphia.
http://www.youtube.com/rtamerica#p/search/1/YUJJr-s-4ro
Vietnam Vet Witnessed Faulkner's Shooting!
From V. Alba:
..Vietnam veteran William Singletary said he witnessed the shooting and Abu-Jamal was not the shooter but police forced him to hightail it out of town before the trial began...
http://atlantapost.com/2010/11/12/revisiting-the-injustice-of-the-justice-system-the-case-of-mumia/
Revisiting The Injustice of The Justice System: The Case of Mumia
NOVEMBER 12, 2010 12:02 PM
On December 9, 1981, in Philadelphia, near the intersection of 13th and Locust Streets, police officer Daniel Faulkner was shot and murdered and Mumia Abu-Jamal was shot and injured.
Albert Magilton, a pedestrian, said he didn't see the murder but witnessed Faulker pull over Mumia Abu-Jamal's brother, William Cook, who reportedly told police at the crime scene " I ain't got nothing to do with this."
A drunken cab driver who said he'd been parked behind the officer's vehicle fingered Mumia Abu Jamal as the shooter, begging the question; how many cab drivers with D.U.I.s voluntary roll up on the police?
A garden variety prostitute testified that a man (presumably Jamal) emerged from a parking lot and shot Faulker.
But wait, it was later discovered that the prostitute's eyewitness descriptions of the crime scene were found to be inconsistent. Apparently, her descriptions of the crime scene described a scene in which Abu-Jamal's car was both present and absent (I guess it's hard out there for both the pimp and prostitute).
Vietnam veteran William Singletary said he witnessed the shooting and Abu-Jamal was not the shooter but police forced him to hightail it out of town before the trial began. In the end, journalist and Black Panther Mumia Abu Jamal was convicted of murder via unanimous verdict. The "voice of the voiceless" was silenced, sentenced to the death.
I don't know who's on second, who's on third, or who shot Officer Faulker on that night in Philly. But the fact that I don't know and worse, have no idea, speaks to the fact that Mumia Abu Jamal deserves a new trial.
Before you pummel me with stones, let me say that I am not mocking the complexities of this case, or Mumia Abu-Jamal's life behind bars.
To the contrary, I am highlighting the inefficacy of a judicial system unable to make the most logical choice available when faced with an accumulation of new evidence and the weakened veracity of old evidence.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday over jury instructions given during Abu-Jamal's 1982 trial. Jury instructions? Our judicial system sometimes sweats the small stuff; jury instructions, jury sequestering, sentencing guidelines and the like. But where the over-arching questions of guilt and innocence are concerned, our system is overwhelmingly inept.If Abu-Jamal is guilty, no one cares about the jury's instructions, or whether he gets life or the death penalty? The people who are spending every ounce of energy defending him are doing so because they believe him innocent. This is the central question that must be asked and answered. Everything else is just playing with inconsequential moving parts, putting in miles on the gerbil wheel.
Abu-Jamal has modeled himself as the mythical American revolutionary. A young, bright, enigmatic rebel wrongfully convicted while poised on the precipice of a movement. It is time to separate mythology from history. Time for a once and for all verdict on Abu-Jamal's guilt or innocence. Everything else is just vacuous posturing.
Yvette Carnell is a former Capitol Hill Staffer turned political blogger. She currently publishes two blogs, Spatterblog.com and GoGirlGuide.com.
http://atlantapost.com/2010/11/12/revisiting-the-injustice-of-the-justice-system-the-case-of-mumia/
..Vietnam veteran William Singletary said he witnessed the shooting and Abu-Jamal was not the shooter but police forced him to hightail it out of town before the trial began...
http://atlantapost.com/2010/11/12/revisiting-the-injustice-of-the-justice-system-the-case-of-mumia/
Revisiting The Injustice of The Justice System: The Case of Mumia
NOVEMBER 12, 2010 12:02 PM
On December 9, 1981, in Philadelphia, near the intersection of 13th and Locust Streets, police officer Daniel Faulkner was shot and murdered and Mumia Abu-Jamal was shot and injured.
Albert Magilton, a pedestrian, said he didn't see the murder but witnessed Faulker pull over Mumia Abu-Jamal's brother, William Cook, who reportedly told police at the crime scene " I ain't got nothing to do with this."
A drunken cab driver who said he'd been parked behind the officer's vehicle fingered Mumia Abu Jamal as the shooter, begging the question; how many cab drivers with D.U.I.s voluntary roll up on the police?
A garden variety prostitute testified that a man (presumably Jamal) emerged from a parking lot and shot Faulker.
But wait, it was later discovered that the prostitute's eyewitness descriptions of the crime scene were found to be inconsistent. Apparently, her descriptions of the crime scene described a scene in which Abu-Jamal's car was both present and absent (I guess it's hard out there for both the pimp and prostitute).
Vietnam veteran William Singletary said he witnessed the shooting and Abu-Jamal was not the shooter but police forced him to hightail it out of town before the trial began. In the end, journalist and Black Panther Mumia Abu Jamal was convicted of murder via unanimous verdict. The "voice of the voiceless" was silenced, sentenced to the death.
I don't know who's on second, who's on third, or who shot Officer Faulker on that night in Philly. But the fact that I don't know and worse, have no idea, speaks to the fact that Mumia Abu Jamal deserves a new trial.
Before you pummel me with stones, let me say that I am not mocking the complexities of this case, or Mumia Abu-Jamal's life behind bars.
To the contrary, I am highlighting the inefficacy of a judicial system unable to make the most logical choice available when faced with an accumulation of new evidence and the weakened veracity of old evidence.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday over jury instructions given during Abu-Jamal's 1982 trial. Jury instructions? Our judicial system sometimes sweats the small stuff; jury instructions, jury sequestering, sentencing guidelines and the like. But where the over-arching questions of guilt and innocence are concerned, our system is overwhelmingly inept.If Abu-Jamal is guilty, no one cares about the jury's instructions, or whether he gets life or the death penalty? The people who are spending every ounce of energy defending him are doing so because they believe him innocent. This is the central question that must be asked and answered. Everything else is just playing with inconsequential moving parts, putting in miles on the gerbil wheel.
Abu-Jamal has modeled himself as the mythical American revolutionary. A young, bright, enigmatic rebel wrongfully convicted while poised on the precipice of a movement. It is time to separate mythology from history. Time for a once and for all verdict on Abu-Jamal's guilt or innocence. Everything else is just vacuous posturing.
Yvette Carnell is a former Capitol Hill Staffer turned political blogger. She currently publishes two blogs, Spatterblog.com and GoGirlGuide.com.
http://atlantapost.com/2010/11/12/revisiting-the-injustice-of-the-justice-system-the-case-of-mumia/
November 9 actions in Brazil and Guadaloupe
From freemumia.com:
Brazil
The comrades in Brazil now have a blog and propaganda for their December 9 event. Actually, they're going to do their demonstraton at the U.S. Consulate on December 10 at 10 o'clock in the morning and then do some film showings on the 11th and 12th. They also have a Black Consciousness event on November 20, where information about Mumia's case is a major theme.
The address of their blog is http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/ and the mailing address is mumialivreja@riseup.net
(CHECK OUT THEIR BEAUTIFUL MATERIALS, Y'ALL!)
http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartaz-mumia_pb_v1.jpg
http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartaz-mumia_pb_v2.jpg
http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartaz-mumia-2_v2.jpg
Support from Guadaloupe!
FREEDOM FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
On November 9, 2010, the Federal Court of Appeals in Philadelphia will again review the situation of Mumia Abu-Jamal. This hearing will determine the final verdict for Mumia -- either execution or life imprisonment.
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a Black American journalist and renowned author, has been on Death Row for 28 years, accused of murdering a white policeman. He has always affirmed his innocence. The trial of Abu-Jamal, which was held in 1982, was tainted by police corruption and racial discrimination.
There were a multitude of irregularities during the trial -- including the sentencing pronounced by a judge belonging to a white racist organization. Yet despite these documented violations of Abu-Jamal's constitutional rights, the U.S. court system has continuously rejected the demand for a new trial.
This case therefore highlights the violation of basic constitutional rights and racism in the United States.
The struggle for freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal is part and parcel of the fight for dignity of workers and peoples and for abolishing the death penalty in the United States and in all countries that still practice it. It should remind us that in a country that prides itself on being the world's largest democracy, a man can rot in jail and be sentenced to death because of the color of his skin color and his political views.
The LKP (Collective Against Exploitation) supports Mumia Abu-Jamal and his legal defense team. The LKP joins the international campaign to demand justice and freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
FREEDOM FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
For the Collective Liyannaj KONT pwofitasyon (LKP
signed/
Elie Domota
Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
November 6, 2010
Brazil
The comrades in Brazil now have a blog and propaganda for their December 9 event. Actually, they're going to do their demonstraton at the U.S. Consulate on December 10 at 10 o'clock in the morning and then do some film showings on the 11th and 12th. They also have a Black Consciousness event on November 20, where information about Mumia's case is a major theme.
The address of their blog is http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/ and the mailing address is mumialivreja@riseup.net
(CHECK OUT THEIR BEAUTIFUL MATERIALS, Y'ALL!)
http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartaz-mumia_pb_v1.jpg
http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartaz-mumia_pb_v2.jpg
http://anarcopunk.org/mumialivre/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartaz-mumia-2_v2.jpg
Support from Guadaloupe!
FREEDOM FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
On November 9, 2010, the Federal Court of Appeals in Philadelphia will again review the situation of Mumia Abu-Jamal. This hearing will determine the final verdict for Mumia -- either execution or life imprisonment.
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a Black American journalist and renowned author, has been on Death Row for 28 years, accused of murdering a white policeman. He has always affirmed his innocence. The trial of Abu-Jamal, which was held in 1982, was tainted by police corruption and racial discrimination.
There were a multitude of irregularities during the trial -- including the sentencing pronounced by a judge belonging to a white racist organization. Yet despite these documented violations of Abu-Jamal's constitutional rights, the U.S. court system has continuously rejected the demand for a new trial.
This case therefore highlights the violation of basic constitutional rights and racism in the United States.
The struggle for freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal is part and parcel of the fight for dignity of workers and peoples and for abolishing the death penalty in the United States and in all countries that still practice it. It should remind us that in a country that prides itself on being the world's largest democracy, a man can rot in jail and be sentenced to death because of the color of his skin color and his political views.
The LKP (Collective Against Exploitation) supports Mumia Abu-Jamal and his legal defense team. The LKP joins the international campaign to demand justice and freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
FREEDOM FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
For the Collective Liyannaj KONT pwofitasyon (LKP
signed/
Elie Domota
Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
November 6, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
U.N. Human Rights Council Urges the Release of Mumia and Peltier
From Free Mumia Coalition NYC:
Here is link to the Human Rights Council draft report on U.S. UPR (Universal Periodic Review): http://www.ushrnetwork.org/sites/default/files/101109%20USA%20UPR%20draft%20report%20primo.pdf
U.N. Human Rights Council Recommends U.S.
"End the unjust incarceration of political prisoners, including
Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu Jamal"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Efia Nwangaza,
November 10, 2010 (864) 901-8627; enjericho@gmail.com
Greenville, SC – The U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) issued a set of recommendations for the United States to bring its human rights policies and practices in line with international standards. The recommendations are the result of the first-ever participation by the U.S. in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which involves a thorough assessment of a nation's human rights record. USHRN Political Prisoner and State Repression Working Group, which was in Geneva last week to observe the UPR process, welcomed U.S. participation as an important step toward establishing human rights at home and deeply appreciates the call for the release of U.S. political prisoners.
"The UPR process has provided the Obama administration an opportunity to identify U.S. human rights violations, develop real solutions and bring U.S. policies in line with international human rights standards, as symbolized by its "multi-racial, gendered, and religious" Geneva delegation. The Obama administration should set a good example by using its executive authority, clemency powers, and working with Congress and state and local governments to translate human rights commitments into domestic laws and policies to complete the unfinished business of the COINTELPRO/Civil Rights era and release political activists held longer than Nelson Mandela for the same reasons Mandela was imprisoned," stated Efia Nwangaza, Group Leader and Director, African American Institute for Policy Studies & Planning.
The USHRN Political Prisoner and State Repression Working Group calls on the U.S. government to heed the recommendations of the HRC, and:
That the U.S. Department of Justice review the convictions of all COINTELPRO/Civil Rights Era activists in federal or state custody for civil and human rights violations.
President Obama use his clemency power and/or executive authority to create or establish mechanisms, e.g. Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to commute the sentences and expedite release of all COINTELRO/Civil Rights Era political activists currently held as prisoners in U.S. federal and state custody.
Human Rights Council draft report on U.S. Universal Periodic Review is available here:
http://www.ushrnetwork.org/sites/default/files/101109%20USA%20UPR%20draft%20report%20primo.pdf
--
In Unity and Struggle,
Kali
Visit:
http://www.mxgm.org
http://www.ushrnetwork.org
http://navigatingthestorm.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/kaliakuno
http://www.facebook.com/kali.akuno
Here is link to the Human Rights Council draft report on U.S. UPR (Universal Periodic Review): http://www.ushrnetwork.org/sites/default/files/101109%20USA%20UPR%20draft%20report%20primo.pdf
U.N. Human Rights Council Recommends U.S.
"End the unjust incarceration of political prisoners, including
Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu Jamal"
To "Lead by example," U.S. Must Heed Recommendations, Use "Exisitng" or Create Other Mechanisms to Release Imprisoned COINTELPRO/Civil Rights Era Political Activists, Says USHRN Political Prisoner and State Repression Working Group
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Efia Nwangaza,
November 10, 2010 (864) 901-8627; enjericho@gmail.com
Greenville, SC – The U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) issued a set of recommendations for the United States to bring its human rights policies and practices in line with international standards. The recommendations are the result of the first-ever participation by the U.S. in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which involves a thorough assessment of a nation's human rights record. USHRN Political Prisoner and State Repression Working Group, which was in Geneva last week to observe the UPR process, welcomed U.S. participation as an important step toward establishing human rights at home and deeply appreciates the call for the release of U.S. political prisoners.
"The UPR process has provided the Obama administration an opportunity to identify U.S. human rights violations, develop real solutions and bring U.S. policies in line with international human rights standards, as symbolized by its "multi-racial, gendered, and religious" Geneva delegation. The Obama administration should set a good example by using its executive authority, clemency powers, and working with Congress and state and local governments to translate human rights commitments into domestic laws and policies to complete the unfinished business of the COINTELPRO/Civil Rights era and release political activists held longer than Nelson Mandela for the same reasons Mandela was imprisoned," stated Efia Nwangaza, Group Leader and Director, African American Institute for Policy Studies & Planning.
The USHRN Political Prisoner and State Repression Working Group calls on the U.S. government to heed the recommendations of the HRC, and:
That the U.S. Department of Justice review the convictions of all COINTELPRO/Civil Rights Era activists in federal or state custody for civil and human rights violations.
President Obama use his clemency power and/or executive authority to create or establish mechanisms, e.g. Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to commute the sentences and expedite release of all COINTELRO/Civil Rights Era political activists currently held as prisoners in U.S. federal and state custody.
Human Rights Council draft report on U.S. Universal Periodic Review is available here:
http://www.ushrnetwork.org/sites/default/files/101109%20USA%20UPR%20draft%20report%20primo.pdf
--
In Unity and Struggle,
Kali
Visit:
http://www.mxgm.org
http://www.ushrnetwork.org
http://navigatingthestorm.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/kaliakuno
http://www.facebook.com/kali.akuno
More video and photos from November 8 and 9 actions for Mumia
Video of November 8th Debate in Constitution Center
From Sis Marpessa:
Video of the 11/8 Debate w/Michael Coard and Johanna Fernandez
vs. FOP water carriers Tigre Hill and Seth Williams!
The following is a link to a video of the debate.
Thanks to Jon Jonik for finding this coverage of Monday night's debate at the Constitution Center! More coverage to come!
http://www.politube.org/show/3084
Some beautiful pictures from Mexico solidarity for Mumia
http://cronopios.zobyhost.com/index.php/presxs/12-politicos/407-galeria-por-la-libertad-de-mumia
Marseille November 9 solidarity for Mumia
Marseille has for a long time, on a yearly basis, named a street in honor of Mumia. The right wing government of that region would not go along with a formal naming, so the activists put the sign up themselves, for as long as it lasted, before the officials had it removed, only to repeat the routine a year later. Sundiata Sadiq and I participated in one such street naming in Marseille several years ago. As you can see in the message below from two stalwart activists, Veronique and Jocelyn, this group includes a broad range of organizations.
Suzanne Ross
Free Mumia Coalition NYC
www,freemumia.com
Dear friends,
We were about fifty in front of the consulate of the U.S.A. on Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 from 6:00 pm.
Militating of Amnesty International and political parties (NPA, PCF (FRENCH COMMUNIST PARTY), PG, POI.) were present.
The legal information and the report of the recent interview(maintenance) between Mumia and Clothilde Le Coz, representative of Reporters Sans Frontières(Without Borders) in Washington DC, were distributed whereas a member(limb) of the Committee spoke to summarize the current situation and the necessity of remaining mobilized.
It also was the opportunity to enrich the telephone network of the Committee to react quickly in case of signature of a new execution warrant.
We are dispercés at about 7:45 pm having chanted slogans in the direction of the Consulate.
Best regards
Véronique-Jocelyn
Comité de Soutien à Mumia Abu-Jamal de Marseille
Tél/fax : 04 91 42 98 47
mumia.marseille@free.fr
www.mumialibre.over-blog.com
From Sis Marpessa:
Video of the 11/8 Debate w/Michael Coard and Johanna Fernandez
vs. FOP water carriers Tigre Hill and Seth Williams!
The following is a link to a video of the debate.
Thanks to Jon Jonik for finding this coverage of Monday night's debate at the Constitution Center! More coverage to come!
http://www.politube.org/show/3084
Some beautiful pictures from Mexico solidarity for Mumia
http://cronopios.zobyhost.com/index.php/presxs/12-politicos/407-galeria-por-la-libertad-de-mumia
Marseille November 9 solidarity for Mumia
Marseille has for a long time, on a yearly basis, named a street in honor of Mumia. The right wing government of that region would not go along with a formal naming, so the activists put the sign up themselves, for as long as it lasted, before the officials had it removed, only to repeat the routine a year later. Sundiata Sadiq and I participated in one such street naming in Marseille several years ago. As you can see in the message below from two stalwart activists, Veronique and Jocelyn, this group includes a broad range of organizations.
Suzanne Ross
Free Mumia Coalition NYC
www,freemumia.com
Dear friends,
We were about fifty in front of the consulate of the U.S.A. on Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 from 6:00 pm.
Militating of Amnesty International and political parties (NPA, PCF (FRENCH COMMUNIST PARTY), PG, POI.) were present.
The legal information and the report of the recent interview(maintenance) between Mumia and Clothilde Le Coz, representative of Reporters Sans Frontières(Without Borders) in Washington DC, were distributed whereas a member(limb) of the Committee spoke to summarize the current situation and the necessity of remaining mobilized.
It also was the opportunity to enrich the telephone network of the Committee to react quickly in case of signature of a new execution warrant.
We are dispercés at about 7:45 pm having chanted slogans in the direction of the Consulate.
Best regards
Véronique-Jocelyn
Comité de Soutien à Mumia Abu-Jamal de Marseille
Tél/fax : 04 91 42 98 47
mumia.marseille@free.fr
www.mumialibre.over-blog.com
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Report from London on 11/9 Mumia Demonstration
From Mumia NYC:
Report received from Brother Omowale in London
London Demonstration at US Embassy to free Mumia Abu Jamal on 9th November 2010 continues the momentum for the UK Campaign to Free Mumia
The sound of Afrikan drums set the tone for a vibrant demonstration at the US Embassy in London to save the life of Mumia Abu-Jamal and demand his release. Hundreds of people were in attendance united in their demand to Free Mumia! End the racist death penalty! and Free all political prisoners!
Organisations in attendance at this important protest included the Global Afrikan Congress, the Pan Afrikan Society Community Forum, the George Jackson Socialist League, the Haiti First! Haiti Now! Reparations Campaign, the Uhuru Organisation, the Alkebulan Revivalist Movement, the All-Afhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=26810129rikan People's Revolutionary Party, the Pan-Afrikan Congress Movement, the New Black Panther Party, the Pan-African Voice, the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, the National Union of Teachers, the Crossroads Women's Group, the Coordination Committee of the Revolutionary Communists of Britain, the Partizan Defence Committee, the International Bolshevik Tendency as well as many who came as individuals.
There was a live link up with Mumia's supporters outside the Philidelphia Third Circuit Court House via Sadiq Sundiata one of the co-chairs of the New York branch of the Free Mumia Campaign (see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVtR28oPqGA) . There were solidarity messages from Ramona Afrika of the Move Organisation, from the Poor Righteous Party of the Black Nation, the Grenada 17 and Angola 3 political prisoners, messages of support from the Free Mumia organisations in Germany and France, Democracy and Class Struggle from Wales and a solidarity message from the people of Haiti. The London demonstration was part of a growing worldwide movement which held sychronised protests in France, Germany, Holland, Jamaica, the US, Canada and even Iran and New Zealand.
The evidence pointing to Mumia's innocence is so persuasive that organisers are also urging concerned members of the public to fill in online petitions to:
(i) US President Barak Obama (www.mumialegal.org) and;
(ii) US Attorney General Eric Holder (www.freemumia.com). People in pursuit of truth and justice are also asked to ring Eric Holder's office on 001-202-353-1555 or 001-202-514-2000 and write to him at: FMAJC, PO Box 16, College Station, New York, NY 10030 or webmaster@usdoj.go, asking for a `Civil Rights Investigation' into Mumia's case.
There will be a follow up meeting with the co-chairs of the New York branch of the Free Mumia campaign Sadiq Sundiata and Suzanne Ross hosted by the Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum at 44-46 Offley Road, The Oval, London SW9 0LS on Friday 19th November 2010 at 6.30pm. A full update on the issues in Mumia's case will be given, including the reasons behind the recent replacement of his lawyer Robert Bryan.
A follow up demonstration is scheduled to take place outside the US Embassy on Thursday 9th December 2010 at 5pm to co-incide with the 29th anniversay of the unjust arrest and incaceration of Mumia.
Report received from Brother Omowale in London
London Demonstration at US Embassy to free Mumia Abu Jamal on 9th November 2010 continues the momentum for the UK Campaign to Free Mumia
The sound of Afrikan drums set the tone for a vibrant demonstration at the US Embassy in London to save the life of Mumia Abu-Jamal and demand his release. Hundreds of people were in attendance united in their demand to Free Mumia! End the racist death penalty! and Free all political prisoners!
Organisations in attendance at this important protest included the Global Afrikan Congress, the Pan Afrikan Society Community Forum, the George Jackson Socialist League, the Haiti First! Haiti Now! Reparations Campaign, the Uhuru Organisation, the Alkebulan Revivalist Movement, the All-Afhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=26810129rikan People's Revolutionary Party, the Pan-Afrikan Congress Movement, the New Black Panther Party, the Pan-African Voice, the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, the National Union of Teachers, the Crossroads Women's Group, the Coordination Committee of the Revolutionary Communists of Britain, the Partizan Defence Committee, the International Bolshevik Tendency as well as many who came as individuals.
There was a live link up with Mumia's supporters outside the Philidelphia Third Circuit Court House via Sadiq Sundiata one of the co-chairs of the New York branch of the Free Mumia Campaign (see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVtR28oPqGA) . There were solidarity messages from Ramona Afrika of the Move Organisation, from the Poor Righteous Party of the Black Nation, the Grenada 17 and Angola 3 political prisoners, messages of support from the Free Mumia organisations in Germany and France, Democracy and Class Struggle from Wales and a solidarity message from the people of Haiti. The London demonstration was part of a growing worldwide movement which held sychronised protests in France, Germany, Holland, Jamaica, the US, Canada and even Iran and New Zealand.
The evidence pointing to Mumia's innocence is so persuasive that organisers are also urging concerned members of the public to fill in online petitions to:
(i) US President Barak Obama (www.mumialegal.org) and;
(ii) US Attorney General Eric Holder (www.freemumia.com). People in pursuit of truth and justice are also asked to ring Eric Holder's office on 001-202-353-1555 or 001-202-514-2000 and write to him at: FMAJC, PO Box 16, College Station, New York, NY 10030 or webmaster@usdoj.go, asking for a `Civil Rights Investigation' into Mumia's case.
There will be a follow up meeting with the co-chairs of the New York branch of the Free Mumia campaign Sadiq Sundiata and Suzanne Ross hosted by the Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum at 44-46 Offley Road, The Oval, London SW9 0LS on Friday 19th November 2010 at 6.30pm. A full update on the issues in Mumia's case will be given, including the reasons behind the recent replacement of his lawyer Robert Bryan.
A follow up demonstration is scheduled to take place outside the US Embassy on Thursday 9th December 2010 at 5pm to co-incide with the 29th anniversay of the unjust arrest and incaceration of Mumia.
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