Maybe people have already seen this material, but it would be worthwhile
for us to keep close contact with them. See you in Sydney on Sunday.
Brett
From: nattyreb@ix.netcom.com
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
Subject: !*Free Mumia News (10/27/99) FBI office occupied in
Portland/Legal Update
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 3:56 PM
ONA MOVE! WE BREATHE FOR MUMIA ...
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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!
Brett Collins
Breakout Design & Print (coordinator)
Justice Action (a spokesperson)
19 Buckland St, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
P.O. Box 386, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
email: brett@justiceaction.org.au
voice: 61-2-9281-5100 fax: 9281-5303
Please log into the Justice Action Web site, designed and sponsored by
Breakout Design & Print, exercising good corporate citizenship:
http://www.justiceaction.org.au