---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 10:15:19 -0400 From: Marpessa Kupendua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;> Subject: [Y4M] !*Free Mumia News (5/24/00) Crucial Updates! To subscribe/unsubscribe Free Mumia News, please do so automatically at www.afrikan.net/email.html ========================================== From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> If anyone knows of anyone who may be able to do this, please forward this to them or put them in contact with us. Ona MOVE! ============== 5/23/00 11:15:09 AM from [EMAIL PROTECTED] ATTENTION --- This is a urgent call for anyone who is interested in volunteering at the International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal organization (ICFFMAJ) this summer. We are a international organization fighting for justice and freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal. We have many ICFFMAJ offices throughout America and in many other countries. The organization was started by the MOVE organization here in Phila. PA and Pam and Ramona Africa are the coordinators of the movement. The headquarters of ICFFMAJ is here in Phila. and we are in need of a individual who would be able to work in the ICFFMAJ headquarters office full time for a month or more during summer. We are in desperate need of someone to organize rallies, conferences, press conferences, make flyers and keep up the office. With Mumia's court hearings coming up things are getting more and more busy and crazy. We need someone to stand by Pam and support her. If you are interested in volunteering at our office please call 215-476-8812 or 215-476-5416. You can e-mail us back at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ona Move! Long Live John Africa! Liz (ICFFMAJ) P.S -- If you know of anyone who would be interested in volunteering please let them know. ======================================> From: Davey D <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Roots, Mos Def And Others For Mumia *Mark your calenders for June 3. That is the date when some of Hip Hop's most talented players will come together for a benefit concert at Hunter College for Mumia Abu-Jamal and victims of police brutality. The show's line up includes, Mos Def, Wyclef Jean, dead prez and Black Thought of The Roots. The following week The Roots head on out to the SF Bay Area to do another benefit concert for Mumia. It's called 'Bringing Mumia Home' and will feature a number of Bay Area performers including Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone. This will take place at the Berkeley Community Theater on June 10th. For those who haven't been following the Mumia case. He's a former Black Panther, writer and award winning journalist who has spent the past 18 years on Pennsylvania's death row. He was convicted of killing a police officer after coming upon a scene in which his brother was being severely beaten by police. During the ensuing trial there were many who believed that the trial was distorted and crucial evidence that would've shed a different light on the outcome was disallowed. Mumia's case has drawn International attention with the demands that he be given a new trial. When looking at the larger picture, Mumia has come to represent the problems that many have with the rapidly expanding Prison Industrial Complex. Last week there was a regional March here in SF to bring attention to the Mumia case and more then 15 thousand people showed up. For more info on Mumia check out his website http://www.mumia.org. As for the upcoming 'Bring Home Mumia Show at the Berkeley Community Theater show call 510-848-6767 ext 609. ------------------------------------------------------ From: Jettie * Please join us - organizing meeting! (and video of rally coverage) June 3, 10:30 AM Centro Del Pueblo 474 Valencia St. (between 15-16th Streets), San Francisco, CA We will plan the rally for Mumia's first day in court! Jeff Mackler, Laura Herrera, Cristina Vasquez Gutierrez Co-Coordinators The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal 3425 Cesar Chavez, San Francisco, CA 94110 415-695-7745 Fax: 415-821-0166 http://www.freemumia.org ==========================================> Universal Music Awareness and Tony Toni Ton� present "BRINGING MUMIA HOME" AN UNCENSORED EVENING OF HIP HOP SPIRIT & HARD KNOCK WISDOM with ALICE WALKER CRISTINA VASQUEZ GUTIERREZ NOELLE HANRAHAN featuring THE ROOTS, MCA recording artists DWAYNE WIGGINS LEDISI MARTIN LUTHER with dance accompaniment by THE KINE FOLKS hosted by Hard Knock Radio's Davey D and company. and a special new message from Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the recorded voices of Dorothy Allison, Sister Helen Prejean, Cornel West, Assata Shakur, Howard Zinn & others SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 8:00 PM Berkeley Community Theater (Downtown Berkeley BART) $18 advance, CITY BOX OFFICE 415.392.4400 or http://www.tickets.com $22 at door information: 510.848.6767X611 www.kpfa.org http://www.savepacifica.org ___________________________________________________________ From: C. Clark Kissinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 12:21 PM Update on Court Attacks on Mumia Activists (5/23/00) As many people have now heard, all the people who pled not guilty off the demonstration and CD action at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, last July 3, were convicted an sentence to a $250 fine, $25 to the restitution fund, and one year of supervised probation. Supervised probation for an offense equivalent to a parking ticket is unheard of, and shows how much the Mumia movement is beginning to sting the government. It also represent punishment for the "crime" of asking for a trial. Those sentenced so far include Clark Kissinger, Frances Goldin, Jane Jackson, Paul Magno, Kim Lamberty, Mitch Cohen, and Joe Brown. The only other case that we know is still pending is Marcy Gayer. The conditions imposed on those sentenced requires them to report monthly to a probation officer, fill out a monthly report on their personal finances, and submit to visits at home and at work by probation officers. They are further forbidden to associate with convicted felons (i.e. Mumia), are require to be employed, have to surrender their passports, and are not permitted to leave their home federal court districts without permission of their probation officer. In short, the conditions are similar to those imposed some years back on banned persons in apartheid South Africa. Needless to say, this attack is not going to deter those fighting for justice for Mumia. In fact, anger over these outrageous actions is going to inspire even more activity for Mumia. Jane Jackson, an older woman confined to a wheelchair, has been on a hunger strike to protest her treatment by the courts. Six of those listed above have now filed notice of appeal and asked for a stay of sentence pending the appeal. The government has submitted a long brief to the appeals judge opposing any stay. People wishing to demand a stay and argue for overturning the convictions may write to the appeals judge, Hon. Bruce W. Kauffman, U.S. District Court, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Judge Kauffman's fax number is: 215-580-2281. ==============================================> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> NEW MEDIA ATTENTION REFLECTS GROWING MASS ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL'S DEMAND FOR A NEW TRIAL The growing number of mass actions and confrontations, from the Antioch College commencement activities to the mass rally in Madison Square Garden on May 7, have prompted increased media attention on Mumia's case. It is noteworthy that the New York Times, which has been particularly silent on Mumia's struggle, carried a major article by Francis X. Clines in the Week in Review on May 21. The article that leads with a streamer "Killer or Victim?" puts Mumia's case at the epicenter of the countrywide raging controversy on concerning the death penalty. The article states in part, "Mr. Abu-Jamal's cause, in any case, is clearly flourishing. . 6,000 believers in Mr. Abu-Jamal gathered earlier this month in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. And thousands more demonstrated in European capitals, blocking some Paris intersections. When a five-member French delegation showed up last month in Philadelphia with 50,000 protest signatures, their path had been blazed by Francois Mitterrand's widow Danielle, who visited Mr. Abu-Jamal in prison. His cause has drawn sympathy from movie actors and world leaders, from Ed Asner to Nelson Mandela, Amnesty International joined the call and citing 'a pattern of events that compromise Abu-Jamal's right to a new trial.'" The New York Times article continues, "'It's probably the biggest international mobilization since the Angela Davis case,' said Leonard I. Weinglass, an experienced leftist advocate who is handling the appeal for Mr. Abu-Jamal." The New York Times article concludes "Even so, with the Abu-Jamal case now entwined with the capital punishment issue, his supporters expect a pending court decision to galvanize both causes, whether a new execution date is set or a new trial is ordered. 'We're persisting,' said Pam Africa, who directs the Abu-Jamal web site. 'This can only get bigger.'" In addition to the New York Times article, the New York Amsterdam News, the Harlem-based African American weekly known throughout the United States, carried the headline "Thousands Cheer Mumia" on its front page May 11 with a cover photo of Abu-Jamal. The Amsterdam News coverage of the May 7 Madison Square Garden event was a major breakthrough. Mumia Abu-Jamal supporters are planning to pack the courtroom when Mumia comes to court for what they hope to be an evidentiary hearing sometime this summer. Monica Moorehead, a coordinator of the Millions for Mumia/International Action Center, stated that the growing movement in support of Mr. Abu-Jamal will bring thousands of supporters to protest at the Republican Convention on July 30 to August 2 and in Los Angeles at the Democratic Convention on August 13. International Action Center National Peoples Campaign/Millions for Mumia 39 West 14th Street, #206 New York, NY 10011 212 633-6646 212 633-2889 FAX email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.iacenter.org http://www.peoplescampaign.org CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE www.mumia2000.org ==================================> ** INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT ** ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY! From: moviment graffitti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Living on the death row! The death penalty is still with us. Barbarism is still with us. The state continues to kill in several countries like the USA, Turkey and China. While we condemn the death penalty everywhere, we cannot but note the hypocrisy of those who preach the values of human rights to the entire world and than deny the basic right to life to the victims of legalised state murder. In 1999, the US a state killed 99 people. It is even more worrying that the Republican Presidential candidate Bush is a notorious supporter of state murder. The case of the innocent O'Dell, who was defended by the Pope, is still in everyone's mind. When the justice system is pervaded with racism the state's arbitrary power to kill becomes even more dangerous. One has to keep in mind that although 12% of the U.S. population is black 50% of the two million U.S. prisoners are black. Moviment Graffitti would like to publicise the cases of three prisoners on death row. Presently, a 49 year old man named Bennie E. Demps is on Death Watch, with a scheduled execution date of May 31, 2000. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1976 of killing a fellow prisoner. At the time of his warrant, Mr. Demps was waiting for a ruling that would allow for an evidentiary hearing based upon the surfacing of previously concealed documents. Documents which could prove his innocence. Governor Jeb Bush, George Bush's brother signed this fourth death warrant on Mr. Demps knowing that an appeal was still pending, and aware of the fact that there was new evidence which would exonerate him of this murder conviction. The following is an extract of an appeal written by Demps himself: "Quite simply I am innocent of this crime and have spent the last 22 years accumulating the necessary evidence to prove, that various Department of Correction prison officials, did indeed manufacture this case. The reason being they perceived me as having "escaped" the death penalty when in June 1972 the US Supreme Court struck down the death penalty commuting my sentence to life". Gary Graham (Shaka Sankofa), another prisoner on death row is segregated on Texas Death Row since 19 years and, considering that his present age is 36, it is immediately obvious that he has spent on death row the longest part of his life. Sankofa was just 17 years old when he was arrested and charged with capital murder--a violation of many international laws that no one under 18 should be sentenced to death. The prison where Gary is segregated is a maximum security unit where men that have been sentenced to death live like in a concentration camp. Since he was arrested in 1981, Sankofa has steadfastly proclaimed his innocence of the murder of Bobby Lambert outside a grocery store. His case garnered national and international support in the early 1990s. That's when Sankofa finally received adequate legal representation. Investigators uncovered what Houston police and Sankofa's original lawyer never did--that ballistics evidence proved his gun was not used in the murder. They also found that Lambert was a known drug dealer and gunrunner and was set for trial in Oklahoma. Most important, six eyewitnesses agreed that Sankofa was not the killer. To this day, no court has ever heard all this new information that was uncovered a decade after Sankofa was sent to death row. Republican presidential candidate Bush who signed his death warrant, has already "killed" a mentally ill man, a battered woman and a person who was a juvenile at the time of his arrest. Bush has 128 executions under his belt and 20 more scheduled for this year. The third and more publicised case is that of Mumia Abu-Jamal a former radio journalist in Philadelphia during the 1970s. He was known as "the voice of the voiceless" on Philly airwaves. He was also President of the Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia. In December of 1981, Mumia was shot by a Philadelphia cop and almost died when he intervened in a street incident where his own brother was being beaten by the same cop. The police officer was also shot and killed, and witnesses saw other men run from the scene. When more police arrived, they beat Mumia before taking him to the hospital, and he was immediately charged with murder. As a well-known radio reporter, he was a leading critic of police violence against the minority communities of Philadelphia. Mumia was given an unprepared court-appointed attorney who was later disbarred. When Mumia tried to represent himself, the judge barred him from most of his own trial. The political motivation of the prosecution was made clear when the prosecutor, arguing for the death penalty, read revolutionary quotations from an interview with Mumia published ten years earlier. A worldwide movement has grown in the last few years demanding a new trial. The world's leading human rights organisation: Amnesty International has called for a new trial in the case of Mumia Abu Jamal on the basis that his original trial was deeply flawed. "This is not about an issue affecting the life of just one man. This is about justice -- which affects us all. And justice, in this case, can only be served by a new trial," Amnesty International said. Moviment Graffitti appeals to all people of good will to write letters of protest against the death penalty to the Maltese U.S. Ambassador: Her Excellency the Ambassador, The Embassy of the U.S.A. Floriana. James Debono - International Secretary-Moviment Graffitti MOVIMENT GRAFFITTI PO BOX 24 SLIEMA MALTA [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.geocities.com/movimentgraffitti ====================================> International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal 215-476-8812 or 215-476-5416. e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] fax 215-476-7551 GET INVOLVED! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paying too much for Long Distance is a global problem. 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