>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: "International"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >May 7 Mobilization for Mumia at Madison Sq. Garden > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > Contact: Larry Holmes, Greg Butterfield (212) 633-6646 > Attention: Assignment Editor > April 11, 2000 > > MAY 7 ORGANIZERS CONDEMN PLAN FOR > POLICE COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION > > SUPPORTERS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL VOW TO > 'FILL MADISON SQ GARDEN TO OVERFLOWING' > > Police groups in New York and Philadelphia have announced a > counter-demonstration at the May 7 rally for Mumia Abu-Jamal at >Madison > Square Garden. The May 7 Mobilization for Mumia condemned the >plan. >"Threats > from these fascist-type elements won't stop us," asserted Monica > Moorehead, a coordinator of the May 7 Mobilization. "Police threats will > only cause us to redouble our efforts to fill Madison Square Garden to > overflowing" to demand a new trial for Abu-Jamal, an award-winning > African American journalist on death row in Pennsylvania. > > One sponsor of the counter-protest is a web site called "41shots.com" > that backs the four New York cops who gunned down Amadou Diallo. >The site > features racist diatribes against anti-police-brutality activist the Rev. >Al > Sharpton. On another site, misnamed "Mumia.com," Philadelphia >cops are > invited to ride free to the counter-protest "thanks to the generous >donation > of the charter bus by Yellowbird Bus Company Inc." > > A statement issued by two cop-groups says, "There are a number of >reasons > why Mumia.com and NYFinest.com are teaming up for this event. >Mumia.com >will > be there to protest a concert [sic] to benefit a convicted cop killer. > NYFinest.com will be there to show support for the NYPD. This is also >a >much > better way for us to show our support for the NYPD then [sic] just > getting together at City Hall or 1 Police Plaza." > > Monica Moorehead commented, "After all the trauma this city has >suffered > because of police brutality under Giuliani, it's amazing that the police > would have the nerve to organize what is, in effect, a > 'pro-police-brutality' demonstration." > > Moorehead called it "a futile effort to discourage and intimidate >Mumia's > long-time supporters, and especially new supporters and ordinary >people > who want to know the truth about Mumia's case. > > "Whenever the cops go ballistic over a Mumia-friendly event, it always > ends up helping Mumia's cause," Moorehead said. "It's an especially > foolish move for them here in New York, where the whole city is >enraged > over the brutal police killing of Patrick Dorismond and the acquittal of > the racist cops >who > killed Amadou Diallo." > > The pro-Mumia rally is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m., in the > Theater at Madison Square Garden, 7th Avenue and 32nd Street, >Manhattan. >Its > demands include "A new trial for Mumia," "End the racist death >penalty," >and > "Fight back against police terror." > > Those sponsoring the counter-demonstration deny affiliation with the > Fraternal Order of Police or New York Patrolmen's Benevolent >Association. > May 7 organizers explained that this is a lie. > > "It is the official policy of the Fraternal Order of Police to harass and > threaten anyone who speaks out for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal," > Moorehead said. She pointed to the FOP's web site, which includes a >"hit > list" of celebrities, organizations and public officials targeted for > harassment. > > "The FOP is behind the nationwide smear campaign against students >at >Antioch > College in Ohio. The graduating class there has courageously invited > Mumia Abu-Jamal to be a commencement speaker, along with lesbian >trans > activist and Rainbow Flags for Mumia co-founder Leslie Feinberg. > > "The FOP and PBA know Mumia is innocent," Moorehead charged. >"They don't > want him to have a new trial because all the suppressed evidence and > police coercion would come to light. That's why they always use sordid > phrases >like > 'cop-killer' to describe Mumia. It's all for public consumption. They > want to continue to try and isolate Mumia from the public. > > "We're trying to break out Mumia's case to a broader audience. That's > what he needs now," Moorehead explained. > > The May 7 Invitations Committee includes Ossie Davis, Susan >Sarandon, >former > Mayor David Dinkins, Rage Against the Machine, Alice Walker, Angela > Davis, Edward Asner, Gloria Steinem, Dick Gregory, Mike Farrell, >State > Senator Tom Duane, the Indigo Girls, Monica Moorehead, Johnnie >Cochran, > Pam Africa, the Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Rep. John Conyers, former >U.S. > Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Leslie Feinberg, Leonard Weinglass >and > Bishop Thomas Gumbleton. > > Tickets for the May 7 event are selling out quickly. Organizers in many > cities are filling buses and vans to join the New York event. > > General admission tickets are still available for $15. Groups of 10 or > more can purchase tickets at $10 each. Tickets may be purchased on >the > Internet at www.leftbooks.com, by visiting the May 7 Mobilization >office, > or by sending a check or money order to the May 7 Mobilization for >Mumia, > 39 West 14th Street, Suite 206, New York, NY 10011. > > May 7 Mobilization for Mumia at Madison Sq. Garden > 39 W. 14 St., Suite 206, New York, NY 10011 > Phone: (212) 633-6646 > Fax: (212) 633-2889 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Web: www.mumia2000.org > >------- End of forwarded message ------- __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
