From: Mark Clement <MClement@bruderhof.com>
On their legislative website the FOP has changed their August 11 release
announcing their boycott against Mumia supporters. The paragraph below has
been added. It provides a direct link to the Faulkner website.
The Justice for Police Officer Daniel Faulkner website debunks many
of the "myths" created by Mumia Abu-Jamal and his attorneys to keep their
case in the public view. The site has transcripts from Abu-Jamal's 1982
trial and his PCRA hearings in 1995, 1996 and 1997. The complete
decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, delivered on 29 October
1998, is also available there in its entirety.
According to the FOP they expect to have the list of Mumia Supporters
completed in two weeks.
==============================>
This story from SonicNet Music News Of The World
(http://www.sonicnet.com/news) has been sent to you
by rosenfeld.h@ghc.org.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cop Group Boycotts Rage Against The Machine, Beastie Boys Over Mumia Abu-Jamal
Fraternal Order of Police also looks into R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe's
support of convicted cop-killer.
Staff Writer Brian Hiatt reports
Thurs., August 19, 10:54 PM EDT
--------------------------------------------------------------
The nation's largest police group is calling for a boycott of Rage Against
the Machine and the Beastie Boys to protest their support of convicted
cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.
"We're going to reach out to a lot of people and ask them to spread the
word that Rage Against the Machine shouts out 'Free Mumia' in their
concerts," Tim Richardson, legislative assistant for the Fraternal Order
of Police, said Thursday (Aug. 19).
The FOP, which boasts a membership of 283,000 law-enforcement officers,
announced a general boycott of Abu-Jamal supporters Aug. 11, and is still
compiling its full list of targets, Richardson said.
Thrash-rockers Rage Against the Machine and punk-rappers the Beastie Boys
have been marked for inclusion because of a January concert they headlined
to raise money for Abu-Jamal's legal defense. Abu-Jamal has been on
Pennsylvania's death row for nearly two decades, convicted of murdering a
Philadelphia police officer.
Richardson said the organization also is examining the views and actions of
R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, ex-Talking Heads leader David Byrne and former
Police leader Sting, who were among dozens of celebrities who signed their
names to an advertisement in the New York Times in 1995. The ad called for
a new trial for Abu-Jamal on the grounds that his original trial was unfair.
"We want to provide our members and the general public with the information
they need to inflict economic punishment on the supporters of this
cop-killer," FOP National President Gilbert Gallegos said in a statement.
Gallegos said the organization will not rest "until Abu-Jamal burns in hell."
Richardson said the FOP, which opposes a new trial for Abu-Jamal, won't
boycott those whose support of Abu-Jamal stemmed only from anti-death-penalty
sentiments. Rather, they are more interested in protesting those who support
Abu-Jamal personally.
A Byrne spokesperson declined to comment, and representatives of Sting
(born Gordon Sumner) and Stipe did not return calls. Spokespersons for the
Beastie Boys and Rage Against the Machine did not return calls for comment
either.
The benefit show the two bands headlined Jan. 28 at Continental Airlines
Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., sparked police protest. Hundreds of fans
returned
their tickets as a show of their support for police. Around 16,000 people
paid $25 apiece to see Rage and the Beasties as well as punk group Bad
Religion and rappers Black Star, according to an arena spokesperson.
Beastie Boy Adam Yauch told the audience, "Mumia did not receive a fair
trial. That's something everybody in this country should be concerned about."
Rage Against the Machine, who have long been active in political causes,
played in front of an upside-down American flag spray-painted with the words
"Free Mumia." The band dedicated that night's performance of the song
"Freedom" to Abu-Jamal.
The FOP's website (www.grandlodgefop.org) will maintain a regularly updated
list of Abu-Jamal's supporters, according to a statement from the
organization.
Abu-Jamal, a journalist, was convicted of the Dec. 9, 1981, murder of
Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. He insists he is innocent, and
some of his supporters claim he was set up because of his work
as a political commentator and because of his involvement with the Black
Panther Party, a black-activist organization.
Jessica Blank, events coordinator for Mumia 911, a group organizing a
"National Day of Art" in support of Abu-Jamal's cause, said police are
"being bullies about it. It's one thing to organize a boycott, and it's
another
thing to organize a boycott when you're the police," Blank said. "These are
armed people, people in position of authority and power, saying what music
you can and can't listen to. ... It's ultimately a very dangerous thing."
Blank said the Fraternal Order of Police is organizing the boycott now
because of increased attention on Abu-Jamal, who has run out of appeals on
the
state level and will begin federal appeals in the fall.
"They want to hurry his execution along," she said.
========================>
From: "C. Clark Kissinger" <cck1@earthlink.net>
Police Threats Will Not Stop the Movement for Justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Recently, the 3,000 delegates to the national conference of the Fraternal
Order of Police gave their approval to a national call to boycott businesses
and individuals who support justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal. FOP National
President Gilbert G. Gallegos said that "We will use every means at our
dis-posal to put these companies and individuals at an economic
disadvantage."
This action is a stirring testament to the growing international movement
for Jamal. Yet whenever a national group of people trained in the use of
force makes this kind of statement, it begins to take on the character of
extortion. Nor is the FOP a stranger to criminality. In the spring of 1995,
the officers of FOP Lodge #5 in Philadelphia were convicted in federal court
of racketeering. When the arguments of those campaigning for Jamal's
execution fail, they fall back on good old fashioned threats and
in-timidation.
Threats and intimidation are nothing new for the police. Police
organizations have organized pickets outside of several events for Jamal in
New York. Last January when the band Rage Against the Ma-chine played a sold
out benefit for Jamal in New Jersey, the head of the State Police decried
the fact that there was no legal way to ban the concert. In the state of
Washington, uniformed police showed up to protest the playing of Jamal’s
recorded commencement address at Evergreen State College.
Those fighting for justice refuse to be intimidated. While the FOP plays
their "bad cop" role to hilt, we know that behind them stands a local and
national government program that is dedicated to wielding the weapon of
executions as part of a much larger program of attacks on the people and the
sup-pression of dissent. And that is what we are out to defeat.
Over 300 convictions have been recently reversed in Philadelphia because
they were originally ob-tained on the basis of phony evidence fabricated by
the police. Now more than 80 people nationally have been freed from death
row after having been falsely convicted and sentenced to death. Police
perjury and prosecutorial misconduct have become a national scandal.
Refuse & Resist! pledges to stand by every business, institution, or
individual targeted the FOP, and we call on everyone to report to us every
instance such threats. We look forward to thousands more joining in the
movement for justice during the events of September such as Mumia 911, the
National Day of Art to Stop the Execution of Mumia on September 11, and the
national Mumia Awareness Week, September 19-25.
The e-mail address of the FOP is glfop@grandlodgefop.org.
Refuse & Resist!
==================================>
From: Fred and Debbie Anderson <magicraf@norwich.net>
To: <glfop@grandlodgefop.org>
To the Fraternal Order of Police:
We understand that you have called for a boycott of businesses that
support Mumia Abu-Jamal. We ask that you add our business, Magi Crafts,
to that list. We have had a ribbon on our website for more than a year
that proudly declares our support for Mumia, and we have every intention
of continuing to display that ribbon.
We discuss his case whenever possible, in our capacities as private
citizens, ministers, and proprietors of Magi Crafts. Individual citizens
stood up to bullies centuries ago and created the American Revolution.
We will continue in that tradition to stand up to the forces that
continue to deny Mumia a new, fair trial. We believe one of the most
potent statements people make is how they spend their money, and we have
both participated in boycotts in the past and currently of businesses
whose policies are anathema to us. So, you please put Magi Crafts on
your list as a Mumia-friendly business and we will continue to be very
proud to support a brilliant journalist and freedom fighter.
Reverends Debbie and Fred Anderson
Magi Crafts
==========================>
NY Mumia 911 Events
From: Imani Henry <imanihenry@yahoo.com>
September 11, 1999 Saturday 3PM
Hardcore/Punk Matinee: Mumia 911
ABC NO RIO, 156 Rivington
Lower East Side/Manhattan/NYC
(212) 539-6089
Ricanstruction, Actitud, Subersiva, Huasipungo, Rational Solution, Tet,
Offensive, Suckerpunch
------------------------------------------------
From: "Rev. Khandi Konte-Paasewe" <khandi@netset.com>
Mumia 9-1-1
Join the Brecht Forum for an international day of art and solidarity with
Mumia Abu Jamal. On September 11th, from 11am to midnight, there will be
singing, dancing, comedy, videos, and various other performances by Amiri
Baraka, Sandra Maria Esteves, Tony Medina, Reverend Billy, the Mumia 9-1-1
Ad Hoc Jazz Band, and many others. Come to the Brunch With Mumia from 11am
to 2:30pm. The Brecht Forum is located at 122 W. 27th St. 10th Fl.
Ramona Africa of the International Concerned Family and Friends will offer
an update on the international struggle to save Mumia's life. A panel
discussion on Why Artists Should Support Mumia will be moderated by WBAI's
own Bernard White and feature Dred Scott Keyes, Craig Blue, former poltical
prisoner Lara Whitehorne and Brotha Ngoma and other cultural workers.
Schedule:
11-2 Brunch & Teach-in with Ramona Africa, video featuring Mumia and youth
activist
panel
2:30-5:30 Cultural workers for Mumia, poetry, music, dance and comedy
5:30-7:30 Panel: Why Artists Should Support Mumia
8:00- midnight: Peeling the Banana, Rev. Billy, INI Mighty Lockdown and much
much more.
Food and beverages will be available to purchase.
Cost: $10, proceeds to Mumia's Legal Defense Fund. Additional donations are
encouraged.
Mumia 9-1-1, an international day of outrage and artists in solidarity with
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a day of serious progressive art at the Brecht Forum.
For further information, please call 212/242-4201.
<http://www.brechtforum.org>
====================================>
Chicago Mumia 911 Event
From: "KamariYa(!!)" <ngozi@secapl.com>
If you are in Chicago on Sept. 11, 1999, there is an event in Chicago
being held:
at the Hot House (31 E. Balbo) at 8 p.m.
September 11 is a 9-1-1 emergency event because time is running out for
Mumia Abu-Jamal. Almost 100 performers (including poets) are scheduled to
appear. PLEASE READ LIVE FROM DEATH ROW and DEATH BLOSSOMS. WRITE LETTERS
TO GOVERNOR RIDGE REQUESTING A NEW TRIAL FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL. CHECK OUT
THE MUMIA WEBSITES. (MUMIA IS A KEYWORD TO USE)
========================>
From: "CRE" <commre@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: NYC updates
Two updates:
(1) Times Square March for Mumia (part of Mumia Awareness Week)
Sat. September 25, 1999
Assemble: 12 Noon at Harlem State Office Bldg, 125th St. & Adam Clayton
Powell Blvd. March to Columbus Circle begins at 1:00 pm
Assemble 2:30pm at Columbus Circle, 59th St. & 8th Avenue
March to Times Square begins at 3:30 pm
For more info contact: Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition 212-330-8029
(call to get flyer mailed) or December 12th Movement 718-398-1766;
also sponsored by The Jericho Movement, The Code, New Afrikan Liberation
Front, Refuse and Resist, Campaign Against the Death Penalty, Simon Nkoli
Queer Crusaders for Mumia, and others
(2) If Ridge signs a death warrant then the next day after (even if signs
on fri.)
there is a "Day After Demo" in NYC at: ABC Studios, 77 W. 66th Street, 3:30
- 6:30 pm
Also: the full day of events are:
Noon - 1pm: Rally in front of PBA Headquarters
1pm: March to Times Square
2:30pm: Assemble in Times Square/Leafletting
3pm: March to ABC Studios
3:30 - 6:30pm: Demo at ABC Studios
@6:30pm: March to evening event to be announced
(3) Many outreach events being planned to reach out about Mumia Awareness
Week
and upcoming activities, call the Mumia Coalition Hotline 212-330-8029 if
you can
help leaflet at: Caribbean Day Parade, Labor Day Parade and various other
outdoor
festivals and activities. Free Mumia!
Thanks alot! Dawn Reel, Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, cybrgrace7@aol.com
======================================>
From: "C. Clark Kissinger" <cck1@earthlink.net>
Transcript of Last Day of Mumia’s Trial Available
As part of an extended project to make information on Mumia’s trial and
appeals available, the tran-script of the entire last day of Mumia’s
original trial (July 3, 1982) is now available on line.
The transcript can be found at
http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/082599july3trans.html.
==========================>
From: Keith <keithpp@hotmail.com>
New page on Mumia Abu-Jamal
http://www.heureka.clara.net/art/mumia.htm
Please spread the word.
Keith
=============================>
IT'S TIME TO PICK UP THE PACE!
International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 19709 - Philadelphia, PA 19143
Ph: 215-476-8812 / Fax: 215-476-7551
Web: www.mumia.org / E-mail: mumia@webcom.com
MUMIA MUST LIVE!