From: "Mumia Week" <info@j4mumia.org>
September Organizer 5
No. 5, August 25, 1999
www.j4mumia.org
Mail to: 511 Ave. of the Americas, #186, New York, New York 10011
Phone: 212-924-8585, Fax: 212-766-1867, E-mail: info@j4mumia.org
MANY GROUPS SENDING MAILINGS FOR MUMIA AWARENESS WEEK
A number of major organizations are sending out mailings to their chapters
with information on Mumia Awareness Week. These include Amnesty
International, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and the
Pennsylvania Abolitionists.
MAJOR INITIATIVE BY WRITERS FOR MUMIA
A national campaign among writers called “We Writers Demand a New Trial for
Mumia Abu-Jamal” has been launched, sponsored by the National Writers Union
(Bay Area), Media Alliance, PEN Oakland, Pacific News Service, Independent
Press Association, PEN American Center, and the International Black Writers
and Artists (Local 5).
One of their first projects will be the publication in the San Francisco
area of a statement initiated by Alice Walker, Isabel Allende, Ben
Bagdikian, Adrienne Rich, Ishmael Reed, Tim Redmond, Lawrence Ferlingetti,
Bill Wong, Tim Graham, Chrystos, and Maxine Hong Kingston.
To get campaign materials, write to Mumia Ad Campaign, c/o Media Alliance,
814 Mission St., #205, San Francisco, CA 94103.
OVER 80 EVENTS FOR “MUMIA 911”
Los Angeles features Art Speaks!, a day long festival, as well as an evening
of Readings of Works by and About Mumia Abu-Jamal. In New York events range
from “Midnight Mumia 911,” a hip hop show at the Wetlands, to major art
exhibits around the city. Read the complete list of events for the National
Day of Art to Stop the Execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Sat., September 11
(“9/11”) at www.mumia911.org. Phone 888-456-5056.
AWARENESS WEEK PLANNING MEETING
Tuesday, September 31, 6:30 to 8:30 at Refuse & Resist!, 105 Chambers St
(2nd floor). All groups are urged to send a representative to this meeting!
This will be a combined staff and planning meeting (in place of the normal
Monday staff meeting).
POSTERS AND RIBBONS NOW READY!
Large two-color posters for Mumia Awareness Week can now be ordered from the
national office. Also available are green ribbons for people to wear in
support of Mumia. The ribbons are printed with the words: “New Trial 4
MUMIA.”
TRANSCRIPT OF LAST DAY OF MUMIA’S TRIAL NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE
The transcript of the entire last day of Mumia’s original trial (July 3,
1982), which contains his statement to the court and his sentencing is now
available at http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/ 082599july3trans.html.
TRANSLATIONS OF AWARENESS WEEK MATERIAL ON THE WAY
Thanks to the support of the Northern California Coalition for Immigrants
Rights, we will soon have Spanish and Chinese translations of the basic
material for Mumia Awareness Week.
LIST OF CONTACTS FOR
“100 CITIES FOR MUMIA”
For September 25, the culminating day of Mumia Awareness Week, we have
already heard from:
Atlanta 770-989-2536
Baltimore 410-235-7040
Boise (ID)
Boston 617-522-6626
Buffalo 716-855-3055
Burlington (VT) xveganx9@hotmail
Chicago 773-381-6507; 312-683-5194
Cleveland 216-631-5338
Columbus 614 424 - 9074
Des Moines 515-243-0765
Detroit 313-628-4932
Honolulu 808-598-4653
Houston 713-523- 8454
Kent (OH) 330-672-3767
La Crosse (WI) 715- 341-5750
Los Angeles 323-962-8084, 323-653-4510
New Paltz (NY) 914 255-7173
New York 212-330-8029
Milwaukee 414-374-1034
Madison
Minneapolis 651-649-4579
Cal State at Monterey Bay 831-884-9616
Nashville 615 332-8543
Paris (France) 011 33 14 579-8844
Paterson 973-278-0919
Pensacola 850-458-5350
Philadelphia 215-476-8812
Providence 401-467-2288
Richmond 804-355-6914, 804-358-0236
Rochelle Park (NJ) 201-670-0318
Rochester (NY) 716-436-6458
San Diego 619-616-8574
San Francisco 415-821-0459
Selma (AL) 334 -874 -0065
Stevens Point (WI) 608-788-0459
Springfield (MA) 413-538-8537
Washington, DC 703-750-2231
We need reports from the dozens of smaller cities and schools who are doing
September 25, so we can add them to the growing list. Also send reports on
actions planned for the International Youth and Student Day, Tuesday,
September 21.
GET READY FOR DEATH WARRANT
Before any warrant is signed:
1. Phone your protest to Gov. Tom Ridge at (717) 787-2500.
2. Get your emergency response network organized.
3. Raise money to take buses to Philadelphia.
If a new warrant is signed:
1. Contact media in your area the same day.
2. Demonstrate in your city the next working day.
3. Regional actions, with special emphasis on Philadelphia, date to be
announced.
And build the Mumia Awareness Week into a nationwide response!
REPORT ALL ATTACKS ON MUMIA SUPPORTERS
It is very important that all attacks, verbal or political, physical or in
the media, on supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal be reported to the Mumia
Awareness Week at once. Every attack must be responded to.
BLACK COMMUNITY ACTIONS SET
Sunday, September 19: Churches for Mumia
Wednesday, Sept. 22: Housing Projects for Mumia
Friday, September 24: High school and college walkouts to do mass leafleting
for Mumia.
Saturday, September 25: Join major national actions for Mumia across the
country.
These actions being coordinated nationally by the Jericho Movement, The Code
(a youth group), and the New African Liberation Front. For info contact:
718-949-5153 and 718-398-1766.
ORGANIZING KIT AVAILABLE
Basic literature, sample flyers, resource lists, model press release, and
graphics.
CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED
Checks should be made to “Black United Fund/Mumia,” marked in the memo
field: “September week” and returned to Black United Fund, 2227 N. Broad
St., Philadelphia, PA 19132-4502
==========================================>
From: "Bushard, Andrew J" <Andrew.J.Bushard@uwsp.edu>
On September 11th, 1999, Federation Without Television is taking part in a
critical, splendid event. The life of the hero Mumia Abu Jamal is on the
line, and we are determined to help the effort of saving Mumia, and
ultimately freeing Mumia.
Thus Federation Without Television is taking part in the National Day of Art
to Stop the Execution of Mumia Abu Jamal
Art is glorious and noble, and so is Mumia, all that he is, thus the two
merged are a most towering beacon of bright soulful emanation. What a great
way to rail in support of our hero than to perform art in his name.
Mumia is the role model, one that has earned the distinction of highest
societal honor. We are doing this because we love Mumia Abu Jamal. We
deeply want Mumia freed from his oppression. Artistic grace will be the
vehicle of our expression. We are uniting creativity and social compassion,
what a rad combo!
Through art, this day will be used to reflect on all the stipulations of
Mumia's plight. With bold eloquence we will declare our resistance to Mumia
Abu Jamal's execution. We are gonna tell all that Mumia Abu Jamal cannot be
killed by an unjust government. We will be passionately artistic for a most
admirable cause. This Day is for you Mumia.
Starting at (7:30 in the University of Stevens Point's Anderson ) there will
be sponataeous picture drawing, an improtu rap session, dancing and the
encore will be the reading of orginial revolutionary poetry.
All are invited to come, and to bring drawing materials and original
revolutionary poetry, and musical instruments
Andrew Bushard, Federation Without Television.
fedwittel@uwsp.edu
========================================>
LETTERS TO:/FROM: FOP RE: BOYCOTT
--------------------------------
From: "Five8Five" <band@five8five.zzn.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 23:42:10 -0400
To: glfop@grandlodgefop.org
Would you please add our band Five8Five to your boycott of
Mumia-Friendly businesses. We work to raise awarness of
many important issues. We are very much in support of Freedom
for all political prisoners, we are especially concerned
with Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier. We would love to
show our support of justice and defiance of your lies!
One World One People,
Five8Five (http://fly.to/Five8Five)
=======================>
Subject: Re: The Boycott of Businesses Supporting Mumia Abu-Jamal
Sent: 8/29/19 10:13 PM
Received: 8/30/99 6:17 PM
From: Tim Richardson, natlfop@wizard.net
To: Fred and Debbie Anderson, magicraf@norwich.net
Reverends Anderson:
>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.
I will certainly pass along this information with my recommendation that
you be placed on our boycott list for as long as you display the 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.
I certainly do not think you can equate the heros of the American War for
Independence with a confessed murderer of a police officer, but I would
like to ask if you know that Abu-Jamal did have a second, new hearing in 1995?
And a third in 1996? And a fourth in 1997? In your capacities, have you
informed others of this?
The F.O.P. believes very strongly that he did receive a fair trial in
1982, as well as a fair PCRA hearing in 1995, a second one in 1996 and an
unprecedented third PCRA hearing in 1997. In neither of these four trials
was any evidence presented that he did not receive a fair trial and in all
cases, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against him unanimously.
There is also no legal reason to grant him another trial, the U.S. Supreme
Court has denied his appeal once and the PA Supreme Court has denied his
request on three separate occasions. The justice system in America does
not have any provision for granting individuals convicted of crimes a new
trial simply because they did not like the outcome. A new trial is granted
only in extraordinary circumstances, like the discovery of new evidence or
clear and convincing evidence of unfairness in the the original trial.
Despite three attempts to create "new" evidence and allegations of
unfairness,
the overwhelming evidence of Abu-Jamal's case is unchallenged. Further, we
do not believe that another, fifth trial, would result in any different
verdict, nor would Abu-Jamal and his supporters be any more likely to
accept a fifth verdict of his guilt any more than they were the first three.
I urge you to visit: http://www.justice4danielfaulkner.com/
It contains a great deal of information, include court transcripts and the
1997 PCRA decision of the PA Supreme Court.
Perhaps you would consider also putting a link to the Justice for Daniel
Faulkner site on your webpage, though I doubt then you would qualify for
our boycott list, which may be your intent.
>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.
Again, you may not be aware that, at the time Abu-Jamal murdered Danny
Faulkner, he was a cab driver. His journalistic career ended in 1978,
when he was fired from a black-oriented radio station for preaching radical
politics and revolution through violence. In any case, I do not
understand how you could describe a cop-killer as a "freedom fighter."
In any case, I will pass along your request that you be included on our
boycott list, though I sincerely hope you will reconsider your support of
this murderer by educating yourself as to the facts of his case. The
amount of disinformation in the media, most of it engendered by Abu-Jamal
and his supporters is considerable and has led not a few to make bad
decisions based on bad information.
--Tim
Timothy M. Richardson National Legislative Office
Legislative Assistant Grand Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police
PH: (202) 547-8189 309 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
F: (202) 547-8190 Washington, DC 20002
http://www.grandlodgefop.org/legislat.html
==========================================>
From: Mark Clement <MClement@bruderhof.com>
Subject: "Latest News" on FOP Web-site. Please forward widely.
"The Danny Faulkner Story
August 27, 1999
A Message from Secretary Atnip concerning the Danny Faulkner Story
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At the 54th Biennial Conference held earlier this month in Mobile, Alabama,
the Grand Lodge was unanimous in its resolve to
inform our members and the rest of the nation about the Danny Faulkner
story. The members attending the conference were
equally adamant that we also inform them of those persons and corporations
that are attempting to keep his killer from
receiving the justice he deserves. As your National Secretary, I am proud
to take a leading role in this effort. Danny's story is
an important one to tell and we will do everything in our power to see that
he is remembered.
We do ask you to be patient as we take up this serious task. Our intent is
to do the research and to gather the biographical
materials to do a Danny Faulkner Web Page that will truly reflect the
dignity, honor, and humanity exemplified by Brother
Faulkner. He deserves no less.
Further, we are doing the research and compiling the list of those who are
supporting Danny's killer and those using his murder
as a means to battle against the death penalty. We must use all diligence
to assure that we are accurate in doing so. We do not
wish to compromise Brother Faulkner's or the Grand Lodge's integrity and
credibility by placing someone on this list unfairly
or inaccurately.
Brother Faulkner was murdered on December, 9, 1981. His killer was
convicted in 1982. This has been and will continue to
be a dramatic and prolonged struggle. The Fraternal Order of Police has
been involved at every turn demanding justice for
Brother Faulkner. We are about to take up the issue once again with renewed
energy and determination. Allow us to do so in
a way that will be the most effective and in keeping with spirit of our
departed brother."
===============================>
UK:
From: kebele@marsbard.com
Dear all:
Only a few lines to inform you about the current state of Mumia Abu-
Jamal and the benefit compilation that we are involved with.
First we have to tell you that MUMIA CAN’T WAIT ANY LONGER !!!
Mumia’s fight for life
As you know by previous letters sent to you Mumia’s situation s quite
desperate. He’s been in prison for 18 years and now in a stay of
execution since last October, which makes another ten months. A stay of
execution means that any day Mumia can have a day assigned to go to
the electric chair. There was a false alarm last month when our colleagues
from the U$A campaign phoned us to inform us about the possibility of
Mumia having an execution date for the end of this month. It didn’t
happen but it demonstrated how desperate this case is and how, after so
much effort and good intentions, we may not get in time to fulfill our aims.
Mumia is victim of a powerful campaign against him orchestrated by the
same ones who organized the set-up and the repression of MOVE: the
Philadelphia authorities plus other (ultra)reactionary forces. As you
know from the previous letter that we sent you they have published
defamatory stuff against Mumia in order to create an atmosphere
supportive to the execution. It’s a shame that even so im-partial papers
like the Independent and the Guardian in this country followed their
game. A campaign in the U$A is portraying Miss Faulkner, the widow of
the officer Mumia has been accused of killing, as a victim in need of
justice. Obviously, for them, the only way of providing her with justice is
by executing Mumia. Can we afford this?
Up-dating on the compilation
As you also know by previous letters we had problems to get funding
for the album. We haven’ t managed to sort this out but we have another
solution. Basically, Words of Warning, the record label who was
publishing the record is in serious financial trouble as sometimes
happens to the independent labels. Because of this we have decided to
publish the compilation as Kebele so all the funds go straight to the
campaign. The problem is the funding but we think we can afford it, even
though this means than some of us are risking all our money. Kebele is
up to lend some money from its short budget (Kebele as collective is un-
funded and runs also with donation (political principle). The other money
will come from me (all my savings. I work part time and get housing
benefit...) and hopefully some one else. We’ll reduce costs by doing it
cheaper ( remastering, plastic packaging instead of cardboard...) and we
think we’ll have enough for the pressing and printing, publicity and
distribution.
As you know this is something that we feel strongly for and after so
much effort, time and so many people involved we can’t give up. This
means an increase on our own effort, therefore we want to ask you to
take this seriously and make your best if you also believe in the project.
We want to ask you to provide us interesting material to guarantee the
good sale of the CD and avoid failure. We stress again the need to
provide tracks which may be new or un-released or made specially for the
occasion so they will be interesting for those thinking to buy it. We hope
everything will be sorted in two weeks, so if you haven’t send it yet or
you have something else which may be interesting for the compilation,
please hurry up.
Thanks again for your help and solidarity. Yours in the fight against
injustice:
Martin Mantxo
=======================>
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!