Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 18:34:47 -0700
From: "Students for Unity" <unity@mail.pdx.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 1999
>
BI Office Occupied in Support of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Portland, Ore. --Six supporters of Pennsylvania prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal
were arrested today after a five hour occupation of the Portland office of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On behalf of the Portland Free Mumia \
Coalition, they brought the following statement of demands:
The Portland Free Mumia Coalition makes the following demands to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. Those present inside the FBI office and the lobby
of
the FBI floor will not leave the premises until these demands are met.
1. The FBI must immediately release all files containing any information on
Wesley Cook/Mumia Abu-Jamal.
2. The FBI must immediately release all files pertaining to the MOVE
organization.
3. The FBI must immediately release all files dealing with all U. S.
organizations and individuals organizing support for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
4. Release the files to the Portland Free Mumia Coalition immediately or
to Leonard Weinglass, Mumiaís lead defense attorney, for distribution to the
affected people.
Under normal circumstances the Portland Free Mumia Coalition would file
Freedom of Information Act requests for the above information; however,
Mumia Abu-Jamal's execution is pending. Justice demands that this
information
be released immediately in order to provide necessary material for a new,
fair
trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Mumia Abu-Jamal was a member of the Black Panther Party, and a later
supporter of the MOVE organization. He was a leading critic of police
violence
against the minority communities of Philadelphia. Despite the fact that he
had
no prior criminal record, The Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to
Mumia's outspoken opposition to racism and police brutality by amassing at
least 600 pages of surveillance files on him, beginning when he was only 15
years old. The Portland Free Mumia Coalition believes that the FBI retains
information pertinent to Mumia's case. Justice will not be served until a
new
trial including the most complete information is held.
=========================================>
From: "C. Clark Kissinger" <cck1@earthlink.net>
Important Legal Update on Mumia's Case
from Clark Kissinger (10/27)
Late Monday Mumia's legal team and the attorneys for the state of
Pennsylvania were asked to a meeting on Tuesday morning with federal judge
William Yohn in his chambers to "get acquainted." This was expected and is
usually the way a major case like this begins.
When they arrived, to their surprise they were conducted into the courtroom
where Judge Yohn took the bench and went on the record. There was no one
else present in the courtroom except a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter. This
is when Judge Yohn announced that he was granting the stay of execution.
A more complete report of what happened will be coming, but for now the
important new facts are these:
1) By December 7, Mumia's lawyers are to submit a memorandum of law citing
the relevant legal precedents for the requests they have made in their
petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
2) The state then has 60 days in which to submit a reply.
3) Then Mumia's team has 20 days to submit a rejoinder of up to 20 pages.
This will take us to near the end of February. When the judge gets all the
paperwork, he will then set a date for the first major court appearance, at
which time he may rule on questions such as granting an evidentiary hearing.
Thus Mumia's first court appearance is likely to be in early March, but
could be later depending on the judge's calendar and case load.
=============================================>
From: J P <philnpc@op.net>
Date: 10/26/99 7:29 PM
RE: **STAY OF EXECUTION**
ON THE MOVE!
Today, October 26, 1999, Mumia Abu-Jamal was granted a stay of execution
by Judge William Yohn. Judge Yohn also said that he will decide in
February, 2000 as to whether or not he will grant Mumia an evidentiary
hearing.
The significance of the evidentiary hearing is that up until now, the
only evidence that has been on the record is the manufacturd lies that
FOP member, blood thirsty hanging judge Albert Sabo has allowed on the
record. It is now common knowledge that Judge Sabo acted solely as an
ally to the prosecution in 1982, aided the DA's office in striking qualified
Black jurors from Mumia's jury, was consistently hostile towards Mumia,
unjustly removed Mumia from his own trial, disallowed corroborating
testimony of eyewitnesses whose testimony exhonerates Mumia, and
unjustly disallowed all of the testimony and sworn affadavits on police
coercion, prosecutorial misconduct, police misconduct, police brutality,
jury tampering, and civil & human rights violations that surfaced
between 1982 and the present day, including the entire 1995 Post
Conviction Relief Appeal over which he presided. As a
jurist, Sabo has sent more people to death row than any other judge in
the country. An evidentiary hearing, if granted by Yohn, will allow the
presentation of all of this evidence before a judge other than Sabo.
We understand that although no longer presently under an active death
warrant, our brother remains under an active death sentence. THIS IS
NO TIME TO RELAX!! Mumia is still in as much jeopardy as he was
the second kill-crazy Tom Ridge signed that warrant in the first place.
This system still means to kill Mumia, they just realize that they can't
do it right now. The government's officials know full well of the strong,
militant, defiant protests and demonstrations in Chicago, the Bay Area,
New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Toronto, France, and hundreds of
other places around the world. They got the message loud & clear
that the people ain't gonna sit by quietly and let them kill Mumia
without a price. This does not mean, though, that they are abandoning
their murderous ways. No, this just means that they're just waiting,
trying to
come up with and employ even more evil, racist, hateful, deceptive, tactics
to get Mumia to the death chamber. Everyone should feel good about the work
that has been done up to this point, but WE MUST NOT STOP NOW. It is
at this point that WE MUST INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS, we must unite
now to insure that we not only beat back death warrants, but that we free
Mumia from the clutches of these murderous misfits once and for all!
This Friday members of The MOVE Organization, and the International
Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia will be visiting with Mumia at SCI
Greene's Death Row to develop a strategy for applying further pressure to
this system (an update will follow this meeting). Some dates to mark down
are:
November 20, 1999 *International Strategy Meeting to Save
Mumia's Life, Philadelphia, PA
*The Seeds of Widom Present a Hip Hop
Fundraiser:"Rap Against Execution & Murder by this
Rotten-Ass Sysytem", Philadelphia, PA
December 11, 1999
*Mass Demonstration in Support of Mumia's
Life!, Philadelphia, PA
For all information and details contact International Concerned Family &
Friends of Mumia at 215-476-8812.
To quote MOVE's founder JOHN AFRICA:
"YOU AIN'T GOT TO BE GUILTY OF A CRIME TO BE EXECUTED,
YOU HAVE JUST GOT TO BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE
JUSTIFICATION TO KILL IS AVAILABLE"--end quote
LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA!
ON THE MOVE!
FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
FREE THE MOVE 9!
LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA'S REVOLUTION!
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
NPC DISRUPTION OF GOV. RIDGE IN LOS ANGELES
National Peoples Campaign member John Parker and a 74 year old
Jewish supporter of Mumia disrupted a talk by Pennsylvania governor
Tom Ridge yesterday in Los Angeles. They were both arrested on
misdemeanor charges including trespassing during Ridge's talk as
they chanted "Stop the racist execution of Mumia! A new trial for
Mumia!" Outside there was a demonstration of hundreds supporting their
efforts.
News of disruption along with a picture of John holding a NPC placard
of Mumia made the Philadelphia Inquirer. To read the coverage of
the disruption, please click on
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Oct/27/national/RIDGE27.htm
Once John and the woman supporter were lead out of the hall, Ridge
was forced to speak about Mumia's case.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>x<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
National Peoples Campaign - Philadelphia
215-724-1618 / philnpc@op.net
========================================>
From: "Eric Corder" <suicidenation@hotmail.com>
November 05, 1999:
The Arizona Direct Action Coalition will be holding a meeting to organize a
march in support of mumia abu-jamal. anyone interested in helping to plan,
promote or participate in the event should attend the meeting. it will be
held at 2949 W. Osborn, room #67 (see directions below) and will start at 8
pm. any help or support that can be provided is greatly appreciated. thank
you.
if you need further information or have questions please contact us at:
Ariziona Direct Action Coalition
P.O.Box 533
Waddell, AZ. 85355
azdac@hotmail.com
http://come.to/adac
(directions: take I-17 to Indian School, head west to 27th Ave. take 27th
Ave. south to Osborn. head west on Osborn. it's the brown building on the
southeast corner with a chain link fence around it. enter through the north
door. head to room #67)
===========================================>
/From: TCCDMAJ <meis@minn.net>
======================================
FREE MUMIA!
Email newsletter - October 27, 1999
Twin Cities Coalition To Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal
======================================
1) EXECUTION STAYED BY JUDGE -- FOR NOW
We are happy to report good news for a change: 13 days following the
imposition of a new death warrant, Federal Judge William Yohn yielded to
popular pressure and issued a stay of execution for Mumia. Of course one
would have expected a stay of execution to be issued for the duration of a
hearing at the federal court, but in Mumia's case the stay was not
immediately forthcoming. Yohn stated that he would accept letters both for
and against him issuing a stay, and you can be sure that the cops were
ready to respond with their rabid calls for the rapid execution of Mumia.
Fortunately our side also promptly mobilized a letter writing campaign to
stop the execution, along with our actions in the streets. Thanks to all of
you who conveyed your feelings to the judge; it worked!
But no one should accept this immediate victory as cause for complacency.
Mumia's stay could be lifted just as soon as any judge rules against his
appeal, and there might be even less time left to save his life. In 1995
Mumia came within 10 days of an execution before the pressure became too
great and Judge Sabo issued a stay of execution, the first and only time
that "hanging judge" Sabo felt compelled to take that step. There is no
doubt that Sabo's hand was forced by the popular movement to save Mumia,
and that will always be the case. So we must march on to the next battle...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) CONTINUE PRESSURE ON JUDGE YOHN FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING
Although the execution is off for now, Mumia's fate could be sealed by
decisions made in Judge Yohn's court in the very immediate future. Although
Mumia is in court appealing on 29 constitutional and technical issues, it
is only by holding a new hearing of evidence that will the actual
fallaciousness of the charges against Mumia be exposed. But if Judge Yohn
does NOT allow a new hearing of evidence, then future court decisions will
be required to be based only on the body of evidence that has already been
entered into the court record. That evidence, you will recall, is the
subset of evidence that "hanging" Judge Sabo found acceptable, that is, the
evidence that supported his foredrawn conclusion regarding Mumia's guilt.
When additional evidence was introduced in hearings in 1996, Judge Sabo
(who was allowed to take the case appealing the trial verdict he had
previously presided over, and rule on the issue of his own bias!) saw fit
to rule against the admission of all new evidence produced by the defense.
That evidence included statements by witnesses who had testified falsely,
under police pressure, at the original trial, as well as additional
evidence of prosecutorial misconduct.
Therefore, without a hearing of new evidence by the federal court, Mumia's
case will continue to be judged by the perjured testimony (since it had
been admitted as evidence) but will not have the benefit of admissions by
those same witnesses of their having lied in the original trial! In that
way the federal court could uphold Mumia's conviction, conveniently
claiming that they "aren't aware" of any evidence that would contradict the
court's original verdict! So a decision to deny a hearing of new evidence
would be tantamount to a decision to continue the frame-up of Mumia
regardless of that evidence! If we are able to force the admission of that
new evidence, it would be difficult for the prosecution to effectively
argue against a new trial following the introduction of these revelations.
That is what is at stake today, in Yohn's court.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD BY JUDGE YOHN!!!
TELL JUDGE YOHN TO ALLOW A NEW EVIDENTIARY HEARING!
You can make your voice heard by Judge Yohn in one of several ways. You may
mail a letter to him via Mumia's attorney Leonard Weinglass who is
collecting such messages to publicly deliver to the judge. Address your
message to Judge Yohn, and mail it to:
Hon. William H. Yohn, Jr.
c/o Leonard Weinglass
6 West 20th Street, Suite 10A
New York, NY 10011
Now, if you don't feel like dealing with envelopes and stamps, you can have
your letter created by either sending an email or using a form on a web
page. If you write a letter to Judge Yohn, you can simply email it to:
YOHN<mgresist@minn.net>
Alternatively, you can fill in the form on the following web page (a
default letter is included which you can simply send, edit, or replace with
your own text):
http://www1.minn.net/~meis/yohn.htm
It is also possible to send a fax to Judge Yohn at 215-597-6390. If you do
send a fax, please also send a copy to Leonard Weinglass at the above
address or email. A website has been setup which will also fax your message
to Yohn (again, if you use it be sure to also forward a copy to Weinglass).
It is at:
http://www.bckweb.com/mumia/index2.html
Now, is there anyone out there who doesn't have a way to send their message
to Judge Yohn?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) STEPPED-UP POLICE INTIMIDATION, VIOLENCE, AGAINST MUMIA SUPPORTERS
As Mumia supporters throughout the nation reacted to Governor Ridge's
signing of the new death warrant (now stayed), the police (and their
cronies) apparently saw our right to protest as a threat to their plans to
kill Mumia. In response, they have reacted wildly in a number of
situations, according to reports that have been filtering in.
Here in the Twin Cities, the October 14th emergency demonstration for Mumia
was greeted by police on horseback, a tactic reminiscent of the June 1995
demonstration at which the police made a dozen arrests as it was winding
up, including the arrests of a couple of passers-by! While that didn't stop
us from continuing our demonstration and taking the streets on October
14th, the cops got even meaner for the follow-up action. On Saturday
October 16th, our second demonstration to protest the death warrant was
again met by cops on horseback who were determined to use their horses as a
physical weapon against anyone thinking of stepping off the sidewalk and
marching in the streets. At least one person was stomped and injured by a
horse. But in addition to the three horses, we counted a total of 23 police
cars -- an unprecedented response to a peaceful demonstration! Hoping for
the worst, the cops had two paddy wagons on the scene, riot gear and pepper
spray, and attack dogs!
Though two people were arrested, ostensibly for stepping off the sidewalk,
the full use of their elements of repression had to wait another 6 days,
when a demonstration against police brutality (the 4th annual "National Day
of Protest Against Police Brutality, Racism and the Criminalization of a
Generation," organized locally by an ad hoc coalition, and which included
several Mumia activists) presented the cops with a chance to demonstrate
exactly what we were protesting against! Pepper spray rained down on the
crowd as the police moved in and physically attacked at least three
demonstrators, arresting them of course. A press conference last Monday
included clear footage of the police misconduct. But true to form, the
editors knew that police repression is only to be shown when it occurs in a
different country, and only then when it's a country that the U.S. is not
on good terms with.
But the police repression in Minneapolis pales in comparison to the
violence unleashed by cops in Portland Oregon, as reported by Michael Novick:
After attending a peaceful protest in support of political prisoner
Mumia Abu-Jamal Friday, October 15th, 6 people were arrested,
at least two of these individuals suffered extreme brutality from the
Portland Police. Craig Rosebraugh, locally and nationally known
activist with Liberation Collective had his arm seriously
broken, was trampled by police horse and was dragged a block and a half by
his broken arm to the “Justice Center.” Pain holds were being applied to
Rosebraugh’s arm throughout the arrest and transport. He was charged with
“disorderly conduct” and “failure to obey a park officer” and was
immediately rushed by ambulance to Emanual Hospital. Rosebraugh has been
diagnosed with an aggravated spiral fracture to his humorous.
Elaine Close, another well known activist with Liberation Collective was
forcefully pushed to the ground in the street full of moving vehicles. Both
a bus and a car barely missed hitting her. Close was then arrested and
dragged into the “Justice Center.” Her arm and wrist was severely bruised
from pain compliance holds from the Portland Police Department.
Now, in Seattle, Mumia demonstrators who marched through a downtown
department store find themselves facing the treat of felony charges based
on an email that has conveniently been (mis-) construed as an "extortion
threat" by the police who have reportedly brought in a "computer forensics
expert" to try to turn a vaguely worded email into a felony charge! The
Seattle Mumia Defense Committee, which wasn't even responsible for the
email in question, has therefore had to waste their time defending
themselves against this fiction!
And in fact that's the pattern in each case. By arresting us, injuring us,
and threatening us, the cops haven't stopped us of course, but have taken
our energy away from our main goal: getting the word out about Mumia! They
can't stop us, so they just slow us down, dealing with the repression that
they are able to inflict. Recall that it is police repression and
harassment of dissidents that Mumia wrote about extensively, and which
caused him to be targeted for a frame-up! We have to protect ourselves as
much as we can, but when we ARE subject to violence and intimidation, we
must link that to the primary issue: the railroading of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
That way the cops' disgusting tactics will not succeed in weakening our
impact; it will simply illustrate our message even more!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal
Organizing meetings:
Every Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Arise Bookstore (address below)
24-hour Hotline: 651-649-4579
Web: http://www1.minn.net/~meis
TCCDMAJ
c/o Arise! Bookstore
2441 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, Mn. 55405
===========================================>
From: Alan MacSimoin <amcsmoin@tcd.ie>
December 2nd was set as the execution date for Mumia. We have just
received word that a stay of execution has been granted while the Federal
Court investigates claims that 29 separate Constitutional violations
occurred during Jamal's trial. Now is the time to step up the pressure.
All over the world protests are taking place this week. In Dublin we will
be protesting outside the US embassy in Ballsbridge on
THURSDAY October 28th
from 5.30pm - 7.00pm.
We hope you can come along, even if only for15 minutes.
Whether you can get to the picket or not, there is something else you can
do right now. Please take a minute to email the US embassy in Dublin
letting them know that the eyes of the world are watching their efforts to
railroad Jamal to a state murder.
The email address is
aedubpeo@indigo.ie
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
I call for a complete investigation of the circumstances of Mr. Mumia
Abu-Jamal's trial, prosecution, and sentencing.
Given that numerous aspects of his trial and sentencing were violations of
his constitutional rights and given that a body of evidence exits to
support allegations of gross prosecutorial misconduct, a full investigation
into how this transpired is warranted.
Within Ireland people such as the National Union of Journalists, the
Graphical Media & Paper Union, Des Bonass (Dublin Council of Trade Unions),
Billy Atley (SIPTU), Michael O'Reilly (ATGWU), Christy Moore (musician),
Mick Lally (actor), Patricia McKenna MEP, Joe Higgins TD, the Anti-Racism
Campaign, Proinsias de Rossa MEP (President, the Labour party), the Workers
Solidarity Movement, the Socialist Party, and many others have supported
the call for justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal
I wish to be counted amongst all those people worldwide who are demanding a
new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Sincerely,
============================================>
From: "I. A. ORIDOTA" <africa_d@club-internet.fr>
A signature of letter will be sent to Mark Taylor by fax later today. This
is just to let you know that a huge and successful demonstration for the
retrial of Mumia took place in Paris. Find below my own account of that
demonstration.
This mail was originally issued at dawn on Sunday, 24th day of October 1999.
This is a reprint for circulation. Thanks
Hello all, list members, Brothers, Sisters, Friends
It is demonstrated here in Paris, that Mumia will live, for ever
Hello all, list members, Brothers, Sisters, Friends
I am sorry getting back to you this late for it is past mid-night here in
Paris this 1st
Earlier, yesterday, 24th day of October 1999 at 15h00 a long protest
demonstration was staged here in Paris, from Richelieu-Drouot to La
Madeleine.
It doesn't matter if you see in those misleading prints that there were only
two persons demonstrating but I was there and I can tell you that on a
surprisingly sunny saturday in Paris (this is a day were French rather go
beach hunting than go demonstrating) , the crowd that turned out to protest
the conspiracy to murder Mumia Abu Jamal was made up of thousands of French,
Africans, men, women, children, some parents with their babies in prams. I
heard some of the most inspiring slogans, for avoidance of
misinterpretation, let me relate them as I heard them : Clinton, tu es
foutu, l'Afrique est dans la rue; Etats Unis, Etats Racists; Mumia ne doit
pas mourrir, il faut un autre procès. However and do not mind if my free
translation is challenged by those quite apologist who are always quick with
grammar and take my translations for honest ones. The slogans go thus:
Clinton, you're done, Africa is in the street; USA, Racist States; Mumia
must not die, we need a new trial... The long rows of demonstrators trailed
that sunny boulevard des Italiens and Boulevard des Capuncines to La
Madeleine, was a dignified one, singing their slogans with unmistakable
dignity and determination. The demonstration ended at the Place de la
Madeleine with a short speech by Julia WRIGHT, the daughter of our only
Richard WRIGHT. I am reporting here speech, off head and in summary. Said
she : we were told that is no link between Pinochet and CIA and the present
attempt to murder Mumia Abu Jamal. (and she gave facts to buttress the
links). We claimed that the death warrant against Mumia Abu Jamal is crime
against humanity. And we were told not to exaggerate. So those are the
exaggeration. The Governor of Philadelphia (his reporter forgot what his
name is) campaign for governorship on death penalty. Since he became
Governor, he has signed nearly 150 death warrants. Of those at least 120
concerned African-Americans. And the population of the State if only 4%. She
concluded, those are the exaggerations that made the attempt to assassinate
Mumia Abu Jamal crime against humanity.
The demonstration dispersed at about 6 p.m. and a delegation led by Julia
WRIGHT proceeded to launch a formal protest the Unites States Ambassador
here in Paris.
I left that demonstration to see the hospitalized mother of a friend and
then join other friends to review the days events before turning home to my
own family. My own conclusion is this: JUSTICE FOR BLACKS THROUGH OUT THE
WORLD, IS A NON NEGOTIABLE NECESSITY.
Good bless
Ibrahim Alabi ORIDOTA
AFRICA DIASPORA
africa_d@club-interrnet.fr
Fax : +33 (0)1.47.61.14.29.
=======================================>
WE MUST NOT FAIL! TAKE A STAND FOR YOUR BROTHERMAN!
International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 19709 - Philadelphia, PA 19143
Ph: 215-476-8812 / Fax: 215-476-7551
E-mail: mumia@webcom.com
MUMIA MUST LIVE! TIME IS RUNNING OUT!