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A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
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Because many people have requested an explanation of Mumia's legal
situation, let me explain con-cisely why Mumia's case is at a critical point
as we go into the September Mumia Awareness Week.
All appeals by Mumia Abu-Jamal in the Pennsylvania court system have been
denied, and he is about to begin his appeals in the federal courts. Under
the restrictive terms of the Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Mumia must
file his petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the end of Octo-ber,
1999. "Habeas corpus" is simply the technical legal term for asking the
federal courts to review whether Mumia has been sentenced legally by the
state courts.
This is a most critical moment in the whole appeals process. At the
beginning of October, a federal district judge in Philadelphia will be asked
to hold a hearing on Mumia's petition. If he agrees, this hearing will be
Mumia's LAST opportunity to present the evidence and witnesses denied by the
Pennsylvania court system. After the federal district court, higher appeals
courts will only review tran-scripts -- they will not hear new evidence.
The federal judge who gets this case is not required to grant a hearing. He
could simply read the trial transcripts and issue a ruling. In fact, the
1996 federal law is specifically designed to discourage fed-eral courts from
reviewing and overturning death sentences handed down in the state courts.
This is why public action for Mumia in September is so important -- the
government has to hear a loud popu-lar demand for a new trial for Mumia.
Although the state court action is finished, the governor of Pennsylvania
has not yet signed a new death warrant. If he does sign a death warrant, the
federal district court will issue a stay, preventing an execution (until the
federal district court rules). But until the federal court issues a stay,
Mumia would be put under the horrible new conditions of a "death watch."
Earlier this year, Mumia's legal team also petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court
for a "writ of certiorari." This is a request to the Supreme Court to look
at the case before it works its way up through the nor-mal federal appeals
process. Sometimes the Supreme Court will do this, when an important legal
question is presented. In Mumia's case, the Supreme Court is being asked to
consider whether it was constitutional to deny him the right to act as his
own attorney and to bar him from the court room when he protested this
denial. Most petitions for "cert" are denied by the Supreme Court. The court
prefers to allow cases to work their way up through the normal appeals
process.
If the judge at the federal district court level rules against him, Mumia
will then appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. But if the
judge rules in favor of Mumia, the state of Pennsylvania is sure to appeal
to the 3rd Circuit Court. So there will be two rounds of federal court
action in Philadelphia over the next year (the district court and the
circuit court of appeals).
In general, action in the federal courts will go much faster than it did in
the state courts. Thus we are now entering the final phase of the battle to
save Mumia's life. This is why we must proceed with a greater sense of
urgency and determination.
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MUMIA AWARENESS WEEK ACROSS THE COUNTRY
It’s obviously going to be a great week for Mumia across the whole country!
Our apologies for errors and omissions. Please send us reports on the events
in your area.
ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON (NY) -- Teach-in at Bard College
ATLANTA -- 9/21: Table and video showing at Georgia State College 9/25: 2 to
6 pm. Mumia Awareness Festival; Coan Park on Boulevard Drive, 1/2 mile east
of Moreland Ave. in Kirkwood. 2-6pm. Many bands, spoken word, AIM drummers,
mural artists. Speakers: Councilman Michael Julian Bond, David Gunn, Jr. and
speakers from SCLC, Rainbow Coalition, Amnesty Int'l
BALTIMORE -- 9/19: outreach to schools in local area and planned rally and
march with Northern Maryland Anti-Racist Action 9/25: Citywide
demonstration, 10 am at All Peoples Congress Hall, 426 E. 31st St.
BERKELEY -- 9/18: Noon vigil of Women in Black for Mumia, Ashby BART 9/20:
KPFA broadcast from WHAT in Philadelphia 9/22: Bookstore readings for Mumia,
Black Repertory Group, 3201 Adeline St. La Peña Cultural Center, 3105
Shattuck Ave. 9/23: Poetry and readings from Mumia’s books, Revolution
Books, 2425C Channing Way 9/24: Mumia and the Death Penalty, 6-9 pm at St
Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison Street 9/25: Justice for Mumia Car
Caravan, 1pm Ashby BART upper lot and 3 pm at Fruitvale BART UC Berkeley
6-9pm rally in Pauley Ballroom
BOSTON -- 9/21: High school walk-outs and teach-ins
BRONXVILLE (NY) -- 9/25: Sarah Lawrence contingent to New York march
BUFFALO -- 9/21: Table in the Student Union at SUNY-Buffalo
CHICAGO -- 9/21: Teach in at Francis Parker School 9/25: Marches begin at 11
am at State & Lake, 11th & State, and Clark & Van Buren. Converge on State
Street., march to Federal Building at Adams and Dearborn for rally
CLEVELAND -- 9/21: Cleveland State University teach-in. Case Western Reserve
University video showing with speakers
COLUMBIA (SC) -- 9/21: Literature table in front of the Student Union
DALLAS -- 9/24: Two films on Mumia at the Pan Afrikan bookstore
DETROIT -- 9/21: 1 pm rally at Gullen Mall on Wayne State campus 9/23: Forum
and video, Room 289 Student Center, Wayne State University 9/24: 4:30-6 pm,
rally at the Tunnel to Canada 9/25: Leaflet on the Avenue of Fashion. Meet
at 1 pm at McDonalds at 6 Mile and Livernois
GENEVA (NY) -- HBO video at Hobart College
GREEN BAY (WI) -- all events at U. of Wisconsin 9/21: 7 pm video “Incident
at Oglala” in Niagra A 9/22: 7 pm speaker on Mumia in Christie Theatre 9/23:
7 pm HBO video in World Unity Room 9/24: Hip Hop/poetry Jam in Phoenix Room
plus lit tables on Monday and Tuesday
GRINNELL (IA) -- 9/23: Grinnell College event
HONOLULU -- 9/21: High school and college student arm band day for Mumia
HOUSTON -- A week of programs which include candlelight vigils, presentation
of Mumia videos and speeches, readings and poetry, letter writing campaigns
and murals
HUDSON (NY) -- 9/25: 100 Cities for Mumia: 11am-2pm First Presbyterian
Church, Hudson, NY 4th & Warren Sts. Mumia Awareness Day, a community
educational event. Videos, speakers, vigil, refreshments 9/27: Monday 9/27
Columbia-Greene Comm. College teach-in sponsored by Human Services Club 7-10
pm Room 502
KENT (OH) -- 9/23: "Night of Justice" and "Art for Justice" at the student
center
KINGSTON (NY) -- 9/25: Justice for Mumia-Stop the Execution, Demand a New
Trial in Kingston, Academy Green Park 12-2pm
LOS ANGELES -- 9/20: Press conference at ACLU with Ed Asner and others 9/22:
Program at Fremont High 9/24: Rally and press conference in South Park at 5
pm with religious leaders from Black Community 9/25: Rally at 11 am in
Leimert Park; rally at 7 pm at LeConte and Westwood
LOUISVILLE -- 9/19: Opening rally in downtown Louisville of 7 day 24-hour
vigil for Mumia 9/25: Ending rally of 7-day 24-hour vigil for Mumia in
downtown near courthouse.
MADISON -- 9/25: Gather at noon at the State Capitol for a march for a new
trial for Mumia.
MAINE -- 9/19: Publicize the case on campus and through local media, have
letter writing campaigns, sign petitions, showcase video "A case for
Reasonable Doubt" 9/24: Maine Support Network for Mumia will have a booth at
the Common Ground Fair in Unity ME through September 26
MIDDLETOWN (CT) -- 9/21: 7:30 Forum at Wesleyan University
MILWAUKEE -- 9/18: 1 pm forum on Mumia and the Irish struggle, Milwaukee
Enterprise Center, 2821 N. 4th St., Room 300 9/21: Student forum at 7 pm,
Mitchell Hall, Room 195, UWM. 9/22: 12:30 pm forum: “The Absence of Justice
in the Judicial System,” UWM Union 9/25: Car caravan to demonstration in
Madison
MINNEAPOLIS -- 9/21: high schools video showings, events at Macalester and
Augsburg Colleges 9/25: 10am North Side/South Side March, 2pm rally for
Mumia Awareness Week Hennepin & Lagoon
MONTREAL -- 9/18-25: Events on McGill University campus, poetry, drumming,
videos, and discussions 9/25: 1:00 pm at the Parc Berri, at corner of Berri
and Ste Catherine St., downtown Montreal. March to a target representing
U.S. imperialism and ask for Mumia's freedom
MONTEREY (CA) -- Showing of HBO video at Cal State/Monterey
NEW YORK -- 9/19: Mumia contingent in the African American Day Parade, meet
at 12:30 pm on 111th St between 7th and 8th Aves Video Screening A Case for
Reasonable Doubt 5-8pm City College 138th & Convent, NAC Bldg Rm3/201 info
212-780-4770 9/20: 11:00-2:00pm U.N. Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 1st Ave and
47th St. Rally at the U.N. to condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for its
repression and demand release of all political prisoners in US 9/21: Hunter
College all day Mumia Awareness event. Youth Rally and March, 4 pm, Columbus
Circle to Times Square Program on Mumia and South Africa at 6:30 pm,
International Action Center, 39 W 14th, #206 9/22: "Live from Death Row"
event 7:30pm Columbia University 116th & Broadway 9/23: Rally at College of
Staten Island, 1:30 to 5 pm 9/24: Open Mic Slam for Mumia at Sistas’ Place,
456 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn Forum on government repression, 7 pm, 55 W. 17th
9/25: 100 Cities for Mumia: NYC action. 12 noon, Harlem State Office
Building, 125th St. & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., 2:30pm rally at Columbus
Circle, 59th & 8th Ave, 3:30pm march to ABC network HQ, thru Times Sq. to
Vanity Fair offices.
OAKLAND -- 9/19: 10 am outreach to Black community religious forces 9/21:
Poetry reading at Marcus Bookstore in Oakland; national student youth Action
day Oakland high schools 9/22: Bookstore readings for Mumia, Deja Brew, 5850
San Pablo Ave. and World Ground Café, 3726 MacArthur Bvd 9/25: Justice for
Mumia car caravan 3pm Fruitvale BART
OBERLIN (OH) -- Teach-in at a church for high school students and Oberlin
College community
OLYMPIA (WA) -- 9/21: Lit table at Evergreen State College
PARIS (FRANCE) -- 9/20: Night of poetry 9/21: Art exposition 9/23: Evening
program against the death penalty 9/24: A Pan African evening 9/25: March
assembling in front of the U.S. consulate
PENSACOLA -- 9/20: 8:00 pm, Freeschool at Van Gogh’s Coffee House on Mumia
and the death penalty. 9/21: 8:00 pm, “Poets and Protest” at Van Gogh’s
Coffee House. 9/22: 8:00 am and again at 3:00 pm, protest in front of
Federal Court Building. 9/23: 4 pm, Critical Mass (bicycle action). Meet at
Vietnam Memorial. 9/24: 7 pm, Sidewalk March, from Sluggo’s across Palafox
Ave. 9/25: 7pm, Vigil at Ferdinand Plaza, playing Mumia CDs. Bring signs.
PHILADELPHIA -- 9/19: Prayer services: Rev. Green at Abiding Truth; Rev.
Isaac Miller, Father Paul Washington 9/20: Media ZAP day. Meet at Four
Corners, Broad & Spring Garden, in vicinity of FOP headquarters to flyer at
lunchtime and evening rush hour. Hip hop/punk concert at Germantown Friends
School 9/21: Video screenings, tabling at Temple, Penn, Lincoln, and
Community College 9/22: Temple University Student conference Center at Broad
& Ontario 3-6 pm, event to promote Mumia Awareness 9/23: 5:30 pm Speakout
Against the Death Penalty, 15th & Cherry by American Friends Service
Committee; flyering at housing projects. 9/25: Noon, Broad & Spring Garden
"Philadelphians for Mumia" near FOP headquarters
PORTLAND (ME) -- 9/23: puppet show at the Hinge Gallery, 576A Congress St.
PORTLAND (OR) -- 9/25: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
program for Mumia
POUGHKEEPSIE (NY) -- 9/21: Vassar College, staging a mock trial and building
an electric chair
PROVIDENCE (RI) -- 9/25: March to federal building. Meet at 1 pm at Central
High at Broad St.
ROCHESTER (NY) -- 9/24: Rally and street theater at the Liberty Pole in
downtown Rochester, 5pm
SAN FRANCISCO -- 9/19: Flyering at Black churches 9/22: Bookstore readings
for Mumia, 7-9 pm at: Marcus Books, 1712 Fillmore. Deja Brew, 5850 San Pablo
Ave. World Ground Café, 3726 MacArthur Bvd. 9/24: 7 pm, Labor’s Fight to
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, 400 Northpoint 7 pm, Rally for Justice for Mumia at
the Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St. 9/25: Car Caravan, 11 am at
Bay View Playground, 3rd between Armstrong and Carroll, or George Washington
HS (Geary and 33rd St)
SANTA CRUZ -- 9/20: DJs in main quad with open mike. 9/21: Speaker and HBO
video at Steinbeck room of the Dining Commons 9/22: 12-2 pm, roundtable
discussion of the case. 8-midnight, hip hop open mike 9/23: 7-9:30 pm,
Adrienne Rich and other speakers at the music building.
SARATOGA (NY) -- Week of tabling at Skidmore Col.
STEVENS POINT (WI) -- 9/19: 8:00 pm Chalking and hanging of the Mumia
banner. Political prisoner informal discussion. Nelson Hall rm 308 9/20:
8:00 pm Presentation of Mumia Abu-Jamal's case and discussion afterwards.
Nelson Hall rm 308 9/21: 9:00 pm Open Rally -- Anyone can speak words of
support for Mumia. Nelson Hall room 308 9/22: Playing of All Things
Censored, Mumia's CD, and discussion. Nelson Hall room 308 9/23: 8:00 pm
Racism (institutional and societal) informal discussion. Nelson Hall room
308 9/24: 11:00 am Vigil for Mumia and Death Penalty in Nelson Hall room
308. 12:30 pm Leafleting/ Demonstration in front of U.C.; 1:30 pm Mumia
Street Theatre in front of U.C.
UNIONTOWN (PA) -- 9/25: Uniontown high school students will have a "Day of
Silence" for Mumia and call for an end to the death penalty
WASHINGTON -- 9/20: Bar Nun Club hosts an evening event for Mumia, U St
(between 13th & 14th, NW) 9/21: Program at American University Law School,
12 noon 9/21: Program at George Washington University. 9/23: All day women’s
event at Church of the Brethren
WAYNESBURG (PA) -- 9/23: Youth from Farmington, PA Bruderhof have invited
others from local community, to share a "Breakfast at SCI Greene" (outside
the prison where Mumia is housed) against the death penalty and for freedom
for Mumia.
LIST OF CONTACTS FOR “100 CITIES FOR MUMIA”
Atlanta 770-989-2536, 404-239-8054
Baltimore 410-235-7040, 410-243-8224, 410-580-1227
Berkeley 510-704-5293
Boise (ID)
Boston 617-522-6626
Buffalo 716-855-3055
Burlington (VT) 802-635-8960
Chicago 773-381-6507; 312-683-5194
Cleveland 216-631-5338, 216-556-5747
Columbus 614 424 - 9074
Dallas 214-707-2668
Denver 303-742-9928
Des Moines 515-243-0765
Detroit 313-628-4932, 313-831-0750, 313-338-1850, 313-869-8383
Green Bay (WI) 920-437-4075
Greensboro (NC) 336-275-8060
Honolulu 808-598-4653
Houston 713-523-8454, 713-520-0300
Kent (OH) 330-672-3767
La Crosse (WI) 715-341-5750
Los Angeles 323-962-8084, 323-653-4510, 213-487-368
New Paltz (NY) 914 255-7173, 914-255-5779, 914-679-7320
New York 212-330-8029
Madison 608-257-6050, 608-835-7501
Maine 207-288-4220
Milwaukee 414-374-1034, 414-374-5408
Minneapolis 651-649-4579
Cal State at Monterey Bay 831-884-9616
Nashville 615 332-8543
Olympia (WA) 360-943-9159
Paris (France) 011 33 14 579-8844
Paterson 973-278-0919
Pensacola 850-458-5350
Philadelphia 215-476-8812
Pittsburgh 412-734-8315
Portland (ME) 207-761-9552
Portland (OR) 503-493-6129
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, 415-821-6545
San Jose 408-562-2256, 408-257-9424
Santa Cruz (CA) 831 - 425-4467, 831-421-9794
Santa Rosa (CA) 707-542-8262
Selma (AL) 334 -874 -0065
Sheboygan (WI) 920-457-5246
Stevens Point (WI) (715) 341-5750
Spokane 509-838-7870
Springfield (MA) 413-538-8537
Uniontown (PA) 724-329-8573
Virginia Beach (VA) 757-491-0632
Washington, DC 703-750-2231
MUMIA 911 A GREAT SUCCESS!
On September 11 there were over 100 artistic events, attended by 40,000
people nationwide. Check www.mumia911.org for details.
WEAR THE GREEN RIBBON FOR MUMIA Green is the designated color for the
campaign for justice for Mumia, and during Mumia Awareness Week people
everywhere will be wearing green ribbons to show their support. There are
large green ribbons available from the national office that are printed with
the words “New Trial 4 Mumia.” But you can also just buy a roll of plain
green ribbon and a box of small safety pins. This will make it possible for
thousands of people to pin on a green ribbon during Mumia Awareness Week.
VANITY FAIR ATTACKS MUMIA -- AGAIN The October issue of Vanity Fair printed
Mumia’s statement on the Philip Bloch hoax -- but only to attack him! Mumia’
s piece in the Letters to the Editor Section is followed by an unrepentant
reply from Buzz Bissinger. But there are several other good letters
criticizing the Vanity Fair attack on Mumia.
SAM JORDAN SPEAKS OUT: “So we have to address not only the broad political
questions, but the technical due process fairness issues that are present in
his trial, in his case as an individual case, as a case in itself. And each
of these levels of the case itself, due process and fairness, the broad
political issues involved, the need to counter a punitive criminal justice
system that has been used against people of color, the need to have the U.S.
comply with international standards of fairness in trials and in the
procedures facing those accused of capital punishment. These all converge in
Mumia's case. There has been no other case on death row like this one.” Sam
Jordan is Director of the Program to Abolish the Death Penalty, Amnesty
International
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