Talked to Pam Africa a few minutes ago and she just learned
through Rage Against the Machine's manager that they will
*not* be having that press conference tomorrow. Also, as
reported before, the PA Legislative Black Caucus has pushed
back the date for announcing their House Resolution for a new
trial for Mumia to sometime in January. I do apologize
for that confusion and for all those who e-mailed for more info
on that. However, as you all know, we do NOT trust the police
WHATSOEVER and are calling on all who can to PLEASE
show up for the concert tomorrow night. More info on that
below from Bro. Mario. Also, Pam stated that FOP mouthpiece
Mike Smerconish of Philly radio has promised his listeners a
an anti-Mumia "surprise" on his radio program on Dec. 9.
Will put more info out on that if anything comes of it.
FREE MUMIA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
ALL OUT FOR DEC. 11 REGIONAL DEMOS FOR MUMIA!
FREE ALL WTO PROTESTERS IN SEATTLE!
US OUT OF VIEQUES!
ABOLISH THE RACIST, CLASSIST DEATH PENALTY!
==============================================>
From: Marioccco@aol.com
A CALL TO OPPOSE POLICE/FOP INTIMIDATION IN PHILADELPHIA--
FREE MUMIA NOW!!
This coming Monday, December 6, 1999 Rage Against the Machine will be
performing at the First Union Center in Philadelphia. It is well-known by now
that Rage Against the Machine are loyal, committed supporters of Mumia
Abu-Jamal. Because of their support for Mumia, racist, kill-crazy cops all
over the country have targeted Rage & their fans, many of whom are Mumia
supporters, with their racist, hate-filled, murderous venom!
It has been reported that in recent stops on their current tour, Rage fans
have been physically assaulted, a girl at a Boston concert sustained various
injuries, they have been attacked with racial slurs, and they have been
targeted and set-up for legal harrassment. In all of these situations, cops,
the FOP, have made it clear through their words & deeds that the reason for
their opposition , ie. their harrassment, attacks, and brutality, is the
support of Rage for Mumia, and the MASSIVE support among their fan base that
Rage has cultivated for our innocent brother!
WHAT WE MUST DO!
--We are issuing a call to Mumia supporters in and around the philadelphia
area to assemble at 6:00pm at the First Union Center at the Sports Complex
in South Philadelphia.
--Bring tape recorders, video camcorders, binoculars, etc.
--Attorneys and Legal Observers are definitely needed!!
For more information contact International Concerned Family & Friends of
Mumia Abu-Jamal at 215-476-8812 or 215-387-4107
ONA MOVE!
LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA!
==================================================>
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 20:42:30 -0800
From: Michael Novick <part2001@usa.net>
http://www.phillynews.com/daily_news/99/Dec/02/national/MUMI02.htm
Mass. cops protest rock band
Associated Press
WORCESTER, Mass. - A Rage Against the Machine concert here attracted an
unusual crowd - 400 off-duty cops.
But they didn't come for the music.
Police circled the Worcester Centrum with protest signs decrying the
group's support for Mumia Abu-Jamal, a death-row inmate convicted of
killing Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
Carrying American flags and signs saying, "Rage Against The Machine
Supports a Cop Killer," officers from Worcester and about a dozen other
communities marched for nearly two hours before Tuesday night's show.
The popular rock group has donated money to Abu-Jamal's defense fund to
free him from death row. Abu-Jamal, 45, a former Black Panther and radio
journalist, claims that prosecutors manipulated and destroyed critical
evidence in the case.
Following in the footsteps of officers in New York City and Baltimore, Md.,
off-duty Worcester officers also refused to handle traffic and security
details outside the concert. In most cases, off-duty officers take the
shifts for lucrative pay. On-duty officers performed the work instead.
The police picket prompted dozens of young fans to begin a counter-protest,
with signs reading "Free Mumia," and chants of "Brick by brick, wall by
wall, free Mumia Abu-Jamal."
A Brockton teen blamed the police for turning the concert into a political
event.
Thirty-four young people were arrested before the concert on charges that
included public drinking, disorderly behavior, and disturbing the peace.
==========================================>
DECEMBER 11, 1999 - MASS REGIONAL
DEMONSTRATIONS FOR MUMIA!
PHILADELPHIA - RALLY AT BROAD AND OXFORD
STREETS AT 11:00 AM. MARCH THROUGH BLACK
NEIGHBORHOODS PUTTING OUT INFORMATION
ON MUMIA ABU-JAMAL TO THE CHURCH OF THE
ADVOCATE, 19TH & DIAMOND STS. THERE WILL
BE A HISTORIC TOUR OF THE AREAS WHERE THE
BLACK PANTHERS WERE HEADQUARTERED,
WHERE RIZZO'S COPS STRIPPED SEARCHED,
BRUTALIZED AND JAILED BLACK PANTHERS,
ENDING AT THE CHURCH OF THE ADVOCATE
WHERE BLACK PANTHERS WERE GIVEN REFUGE.
JUST YESTERDAY (12/4) SISTAS AMINA BARAKA
& SONIA SANCHEZ STATED THEY WOULD BE
PRESENT TO LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO THIS
IMPORTANT, HISTORIC EVENT.
=======================================>
From: Peter Bret Lamphere <pbl8@columbia.edu>
Students from Columbia University are mobilizing as well for the December
11th march! If you live in Upper Mannhattan (Morningside Park/Harlem),
please come along!
+ Buses leave 8:30 from 116th & B-way.
+ Please RSVP via e-mail to get a ticket/seat on the bus
+ Tickets are $10 a piece (School buses are cheap :)
The more folks we mobilize, the better our chances our for freeing
Mumia - take a stand and take a seat on the bus!
Peter Lamphere
Campaign to End the Death Penalty - Columbia Chapter
============================================>
From: "Taylor, Professor Mark" <mark.taylor@ptsem.edu>
(Slightly Amended)
THE NEW YORK TIMES "EDUCATORS FOR MUMIA" FULL PAGE AD
AD TEXT:
WE EDUCATORS . . .
Demand Justice and a New Trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal is an African- American writer and journalist who has
spent the last 17 years of his life on Pennsylvania's death row. His
demand for justice and a new trial is supported by heads of state from
France to South Africa, by Nobel Laureates, the European Parliament,
city governments from Detroit to San Francisco, scholars, religious leaders,
artists, scientists, the Congressional Black Caucus and other members of
U.S. Congress, and by countless thousands who cherish democratic and
human rights the world over.
Working people have expressed their support for Jamal through their
leading regional, national and international trade union bodies. In an
action nearly without precedent in U.S. labor history, the International
Long shore and Warehouse Union closed down West coast ports for the day
of April 24, 1999.
Jamal's two books and over 400 published columns have been adopted as
resource material for the teaching and inspiration of a growing number
of students, youth, and educators who have come to see THEIR futures as
intimately tied to the outcome of this case.
The 1982 trial that convicted Jamal of killing Philadelphia police
officer Daniel Faulkner has been challenged by leading legal analysts and
scholars from Stuart Taylor writing in the prestigious American Lawyer to
Per Walsoe of the Supreme Court of Denmark.
Jamal's attorneys have presented compelling evidence that key witnesses
were intimidated or coerced to provide false testimony, that a purported
"confession" was likely fabricated by police, and that vital evidence
pointing to his innocence was withheld from the defense. A key
eyewitness has now recanted critical court testimony used against Jamal.
Jamal was forced to appeal his conviction before the same judge that
sentenced him to death in 1982. That judge, Albert Sabo, is notorious
for presiding over capital cases resulting in 33 people being sentenced to
death (all but two, people of color), more than twice the number of any
sitting judge in the United States.
We educators unite in saying No to Jamal's execution.
* Jamal has long been a POLITICAL TARGET as a prominent journalist
critic of police brutality and racism in Philadelphia since the days of Mayor
Frank Rizzo. Rizzo's police department incurred an unprecedented suit
by the United States Department of Justice for police brutality.
* Jamal is made more vulnerable by TODAY'S FREQUENT USE OF THE DEATH
PENALTY. The American Bar Association has opposed the death penalty as
immensely discriminatory with respect to class and race. The innocent
often find their way onto death row. In Illinois, for example, one
inmate has been exonerated for every inmate executed over the last 12 years.
Teacher and student actions - from Northwestern University in Illinois,
to schools in Oakland, California, to Evergreen State College in
Washington, and to Pennsylvania itself - have played key roles in freeing
some of
those among the 3,500 on death row U.S.A. or in rekindling debate on
the death penalty after a decade of law and order vengeance.
* The risk to Jamal's life is magnified in today's climate of GROWING
POLICE REPRESSION. Brutality and "racial profiling" are epidemic in the
United States, alive on our school campuses, neighborhoods and highways.
The nation's largest police organization has shocked civil liberties
advocates by publishing a list of the names of educators and other
Jamal supporters (reminiscent of the McCarthy witch-hunt era) on its
police-maintained website.
* Jamal, often referred to as the "voice of the voiceless," has
challenged the present political priorities of SPENDING MORE FOR PRISONS
AND PUNISHMENT THAN FOR EDUCATION. The youth who increasingly
rally to Mumia's cause in the name of justice and fair play know that we
build
jailhouse cell blocks more rapidly than schoolhouse classrooms, that we spend
more on prisons than on state colleges and universities.
AS EDUCATORS, IN PENNSYLVANIA, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
AND THE WORLD, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE EXECUTION OF
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL. While there are those who believe Mumia is innocent
and should be freed now, and others who have no opinion about his innocence,
we are all united in viewing Mumia's 1982 trial as a travesty of justice,
and affirm
that he MUST have a new trial!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
YES, I'LL SUPPORT PUBLICATION OF THE "EDUCATORS FOR MUMIA" AD !
Enclosed is my contribution:
___ $35 ___ $50 ___ $100 ___ $ 500 ____ $ Other _____
___ You can use my name on the published ad ($35 minimum contribution).
Name _______________________________________________________
Address
_______________________________________________________________________
Telephone ___________________________ Email
____________________________________
Organizational affiliation(s), if any:
_________________________________________________
Make checks payable to "National Black United Fund" (Memo Line: "NYTimes
Ad"), Send to National Black United Fund, 40 Clinton Street, 5th Floor,
Newark, NJ 07102.
For more information, call (609) 497-7918 Email: mark.taylor@ptsem.edu
====================================================>
From: "Abraham J. Bonowitz" <abe@cuadp.org>
Greetings all,
A new movie, "The Green Mile" opens nationwide on
Friday, December 10, which is also International Human
Rights Day. This film stars Tom Hanks and is based on
the book by the same name by Stephen King. The book was
a very good read, and judging from the previews, I suspect
this will be a hit movie. The film is set on death row,
and if it stays true to the book, it will end with most of
the guards deciding against the death penalty and leaving
their jobs. One of the key issues is that an innocent
person gets executed.
This film presents an excellent opportunity for
activism. Leafletting at theaters as the shows let out may
be possible. If anyone needs a good generic flier which may
be copied and passed out, please drop us a line at
<cuadp@cuadp.org>.
IF you decide to try leafletting, some theater managers
may allow you to set up a table, but will appreciate being
asked before you start approaching their patrons. On the
flip side, it's always easier to say "I'm sorry, I didn't
know," and leave if asked then to ask and be told NO. ;-)
Or, skip the crowd and simply leaflet all the cars in the
parking lot - then you get everyone, not only those who
saw The Green Mile.
Other ideas for action include:
GIVE A REPORTER AN 'ANGLE'.
Try contacting local movie critics to get them to plug
your group in their movie review. "Hello Mr. Movie
Critic. My name is Abo Litionist. I am calling because
I'm excited about the upcoming release of "The Green Mile."
Yes, you've seen it? Well, then you know what its about,
and you know that a lot of viewers might want some more
information about the death penalty. My group is local,
and I wanted to invite you to share our contact
information...." See where it goes... If you are
uncomfortable using your local phone number, use our
toll free number instead: 800-973-6548.
BE VISIBLE.
Show up to view the movie wearing your AbolitionWear. One
person in a cool anti-death penalty t-shirt or sweatshirt
gets the message out, but a small group, or a large group,
all wearing a message, also makes quite an impact. Make
a night of it: Dinner before the show, beer or coffee or
dinner after the show continues to spread the message:
BUT only if you are *wearing* the message. Don't have
any AbolitionWear? No problem! Call CUADP at 800-973-6548
or e-mail <AbolitionWear@cuadp.org> for immediate service.
We accept Visa, MasterCard & AMEX!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
If you have an innocence case in your state, figure out
a way to incorporate that into your outreach. Be sure
to point out the list of potential cases of wrongful
convictions at http://www.cuadp.org And don't forget
the list of the 80(+) wrongfully convicted who have been
released from U.S. Death Rows since 1972. Visit
http://www.essential.org/dpic/innoc.html
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?
Issue a press release and/or call your local media to
offer them a "local connection" to the story. (After
all, all news is really "entertainment" these days....)
These are just a few ideas. If you have more ideas,
please share them with us at <cuadp@cuadp.org>> Also,
be sure to let us know how your actions go! Whatever
happens, don't let this oppy for action pass you by!
paz!
--abe
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director, CUADP
********************************************************
YES FRIENDS!
There is an Alternative to the Death Penalty
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
(CUADP) works to end the death penalty in the United
States through aggressive campaigns of public education
and the promotion of tactical grassroots activism.
Visit <http://www.cuadp.org> or call 800-973-6548
********************************************************
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
Tax deductible contributions to the Organizing Campaign to
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal should be made payable to and sent to:
The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Inc.
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Tel: (215) 476-8812
Fax: (215) 476-7751
Tax deductible contributions to the Legal defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal should
be made payable to and sent to:
National Black United Fund/MAJ
40 Clinton St., 5th Fl.
Newark, NJ 07102
=========================>
IT'S RIGHTEOUS TO RESIST!