>more will be raised in a booming, collective voice that
>cannot be ignored.
>
>As these activists make the fight against racism, national
>oppression and exploitation in the United States more and
>more part of their battle plan, they will build stronger
>bonds with communities in this country that have nothing to
>lose and everything to gain by leading a struggle that
>won't quit until every battle is won.
>
> - END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message
>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org)
>
>
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 22:06:10 -0400
>Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
>Subject: [WW] Actions for Mumia Reach Critical Mass
>Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>-------------------------
>Via Workers World News Service
>Reprinted from the May 4, 2000
>issue of Workers World newspaper
>-------------------------
>
>FROM ANTIOCH TO MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
>
>By Greg Butterfield
>
>In rapid-fire succession, many actions in support of Black
>freedom fighter and death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal
>are scheduled for late April and early May. Each event is
>shaping up to be a confrontation with the police--the rabid
>pit bulls of the capitalist state--and a challenge to the
>federal court now reviewing Abu-Jamal's appeal.
>
>Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted and sentenced to death in
>the 1981 killing of a white cop, Daniel Faulkner, in
>Philadelphia. Abu-Jamal maintains his innocence. Supporters
>say there is ample evidence that he was framed because of
>his long-standing fight against racist police brutality in
>Pennsylvania. They are demanding a new, fair trial for the
>former Black Panther.
>
>Among the most controversial actions planned--condemned by
>cops and other right wingers nationally--is Abu-Jamal's
>audio-taped commencement speech at Antioch College in
>Yellow Springs, Ohio, on April 29. Lesbian trans activist
>Leslie Feinberg, a co-founder of Rainbow Flags for Mumia,
>will appear in person as Abu-Jamal's co-speaker.
>
>Another group of Ohio students--this time at Kent State
>University--has invited Abu-Jamal to speak May 4 at the
>30th anniversary commemoration of the 1970 Kent State
>massacre, when National Guard troops gunned down four anti-
>war protesters.
>
>Then on May 7, New York will be the site of one of the
>most formidable events ever organized on behalf of a
>political prisoner. Thousands of people will pack the
>Theater at Madison Square Garden to demand a new trial and
>an end to execution threats against Abu-Jamal.
>
>The Madison Square Garden event kicks off a week of
>actions around the United States, ending with an
>international day of protest May 13. A West Coast regional
>demonstration is planned for San Francisco, and a "Mother's
>March for Justice" is planned in Philadelphia's African
>American community.
>
>A date for Abu-Jamal's first hearing in Judge William
>Yohn's federal appeals court should be announced by mid-
>May. The group International Concerned Family & Friends of
>Mumia Abu-Jamal has called on any available supporters to
>come to Philadelphia and help get the word out before the
>hearing.
>
>HIGH COURT LOOKS OTHER WAY
>
>That hearing is under the shadow of an April 18 U.S.
>Supreme Court ruling. In Williams v. Taylor, a Virginia
>death-penalty case, the high court ruled 5-4 to uphold the
>1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and
>strengthen the Democrat-Republican law's severe
>restrictions on habeas corpus.
>
>Habeas corpus is prisoners' right to independent federal
>reviews of state court rulings.
>
>The Supreme Court said it's okay to execute someone even
>if state courts violated their rights--and even if new
>evidence shows the person is innocent.
>
>A federal judge can order a new trial only if the state
>court applied legal precedent in a "unreasonable" way. The
>court set no guidelines for what constitutes
>"unreasonable," leaving that determination to the
>discretion of the judge and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.
>
>Leonard Weinglass, Abu-Jamal's lead defense attorney, has
>raised 29 constitutional violations committed by the judge
>and prosecutors in his original trial.
>
>In a separate decision also on April 18, the Supreme Court
>voted six to three to make it easier for prisoners to
>exercise their right to raise new evidence in their federal
>appeals. This is what Abu-Jamal's defense team is
>attempting to do.
>
>But gutting habeas corpus could cancel any positive
>effects this might have, since new evidence alone is not
>enough to justify a new trial by the Supreme Court's
>reckoning.
>
>"What does the Supreme Court ruling mean for our
>movement?" asked Leslie Feinberg. "It means that now more
>than ever we must focus on building a mass, militant
>movement in the streets that can shake the criminal
>injustice system and force the courts to act in Mumia's
>favor.
>
>"We cannot, we must not, put any faith in the federal
>courts to do the right thing."
>
>STUDENTS TAKE STAND
>
>Abu-Jamal's scheduled talks at Antioch and Kent State have
>been condemned by the likes of Pennsylvania Attorney
>General Mike Fisher and Philadelphia District Attorney
>Lynne Abraham. Abraham publicly rejected an invitation from
>Antioch faculty and students to attend a community forum on
>Abu-Jamal's case. (Akron Beacon-Journal, April 24)
>
>The Fraternal Order of Police is threatening to protest at
>the graduation ceremony. Some Free Mumia activists will
>travel there to support the students and counter the cops'
>threats.
>
>Teishan Latner, a member of Antioch's Commencement
>Committee, told Workers World that the students' top
>priority is to use the controversy to reach more people
>with the truth about Abu-Jamal.
>
>"Progressive and radical folks seem to understand the
>situation really well," explained Latner, "but if we're to
>build a movement we have to reach into public
>consciousness. I think we're all in a position to do this
>right now because the issue is so visible in the media.
>It's a window of opportunity."
>
>Molly Gena of Case Western Reserve University Amnesty
>International said: "While certain journalists, FOP locals,
>and other `leaders' in Ohio spout off about how
>irresponsible it was for students at Antioch and Kent State
>to invite Mumia to speak, they seem to know very little
>about the actual case.
>
>"We challenge anyone to listen to Abu-Jamal's lead
>attorney run through the 29 constitutional problems with
>his original 1982 trial and not come away realizing that
>trial was absolutely bogus."
>
>Justin Hons of Kent State Anti-Racist Action, an organizer
>of the May 4 action there, told WW: "The controversy around
>Mumia has added a new ingredient that has interested more
>people than were originally planning to attend" the 30th
>anniversary commemoration.
>
>"It has also helped people better answer what the purpose
>of these commemorations are, that they are not only to
>honor the dead, but also to continue the fight of those
>students shot and killed on May 4, 1970."
>
>Hons said the Pan African Studies Department and Black
>United Students, as well as students who were wounded in
>the 1970 struggle, strongly support the invitation to Abu-
>Jamal.
>
>The commemoration will be held May 4 on the Kent State
>Commons, starting at 12 noon. Speakers include Ramona
>Africa of MOVE, Vernon Bellecourt of the American Indian
>Movement, and Noam Chomsky. Everyone is encouraged to
>attend.
>
>Hons said: "We'd like people to be there sporting a Mumia
>button or shirt and saying that there is a connection
>between Mumia and May 4, 1970. People should be there to
>support the entire event, and those who feel that Mumia's
>speech in very significant should be on hand to show just
>how much support that speech has."
>
>Readers who can't make the trip to Ohio are encouraged to
>send letters of support to May 4th Task Force, c/o OCL,
>KSU, Kent, OH 44242; Anti-Racist Action, c/o OCL, Box 8,
>KSU, Kent, OH 44242; and to the student newspaper at
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>MAY 7 STRUGGLE
>
>The May 7 at New York's Madison Square Garden will begin
>at 2 p.m. The location is Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street in
>Manhattan.
>
>Confirmed speakers include actor Ossie Davis, comedian
>Dick Gregory, hip-hop artists Mos Def and Will Villainova,
>poet Sonia Sanchez, Pam Africa, attorney Johnnie Cochran,
>former New York Mayor David Dinkins, Kathleen Cleaver,
>Rainbow Flags for Mumia's Jesse Heiwa and Leslie Feinberg,
>Millions for Mumia's Larry Holmes and Monica Moorehead, and
>many more.
>
>Antioch's Teishan Latner said, "One of the great things
>about the May 7 Madison Square Garden event is that it is
>prestigious--it will get the attention of people who
>usually don't think about grassroots struggles."
>
>A struggle is also shaping up here with police groups
>linked to the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police and
>New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.
>
> The cops continue to promote a racist "counter-
>demonstration" at the May 7 event. They have created more
>falsely named web sites like "mumia2000.com" and
>"iacenter.com" to spread confusion and misinformation about
>Abu-Jamal's case, said Monica Moorehead, coordinator of the
>May 7 action.
>
>On April 23 Moorehead appeared with Ossie Davis on "Like
>It Is," a popular television show addressing African
>American issues, hosted by Gil Noble.
>
>"The `Like It Is' show has helped give tremendous
>visibility to the May 7th event and Mumia's case throughout
>the Black community, especially in the metropolitan area,"
>Moorehead told Workers World.
>
>She said people called in for tickets from all five
>boroughs of New York, from Newark, N.J. and other locations
>after seeing the program.
>
>Volunteers are urgently needed in the run-up to May 7.
>Those who live outside New York can contact others in their
>area to fill a bus or van to come to Madison Square Garden.
>A list of organizing centers is available on the web site
>www.Mumia2000.org.
>
>Those who live in the New York area can come in to the May
>7 Mobilization office. For more information, call (212)
>633-6646 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>A limited number of general admission tickets are still
>available for $15. Make sure to get yours right away.
>Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at $10 each.
>Tickets may be purchased on the Internet at
>www.leftbooks.com or at the May 7 Mobilization office, 39
>West 14 Street, Suite 206, New York, NY 10011.
>
> - END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message
>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org)
>
>
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 22:07:28 -0400
>Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
>Subject: [WW] International Demand: New Trial for Mumia
>Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>-------------------------
>Via Workers World News Service
>Reprinted from the May 4, 2000
>issue of Workers World newspaper
>-------------------------
>
>DEMAND HEARD `ROUND THE WORLD: NEW TRIAL FOR MUMIA
>
>By Greg Butterfield
>
>While confrontations between the police and supporters of
>Mumia Abu-Jamal in the United States escalate, the movement
>demanding his freedom continues to grow worldwide.
>
>On April 26 and 27 the people of South Africa celebrate
>Freedom Day, marking the political revolution that
>overthrew apart heid. This year, a special interfaith
>service called by Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndugane
>and Poet Laureate Prof. Dennis Brutus on April 26 will
>focus on demanding a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
>
>The service will be held on Robben Island, once the
>infamous prison of the apartheid regime, now a memorial to
>the struggle to end it. Both Ndugane and Brutus spent time
>there as political prisoners along with Nelson Mandela.
>
>"We in South Africa look in horror and great sadness at
>the United States," said Ndugane, "where 37 states now
>apply the death penalty. Apartheid South Africa applied the
>death penalty."
>
>The April 13 edition of An Phoblacht/Republican News--the
>newspaper of Sinn Fein, the political arm of the liberation
>movement in Ireland--reported that a meeting of the
>International Section of the Ard Fheis April 9 expressed
>solidarity with "Black political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal,
>who has been in the death row in a U.S. prison since the
>early 1980s."
>
>On April 13 hundreds of students from Cheikh Anta Diop
>University in Dakar, Senegal, attempted to march on the
>U.S. Embassy to demand freedom for Abu-Jamal. According to
>the Senegalese Press Agency, police attacked the
>demonstration with teargas grenades. During the standoff,
>the students chanted, "Free Mumia!"
>
>Inspired by the recent occupation of the U.S. Embassy roof
>in Oslo, Norway, about 20 activists from Soligroep, part of
>the European Network to Free Mumia, marched on the U.S.
>Embassy in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, one night in mid-
>April.
>
>According to an email bulletin from the activists, two of
>the protesters managed to scale the embassy's fence. On the
>flagpole they ran up a U.S. flag with the chalk outline of
>a corpse drawn on it. Then the duo painted outlines and
>slogans for Abu-Jamal and against police brutality on the
>sidewalks. It took embassy security 15 minutes to respond.
>One of the protesters was arrested, and the entire action
>was filmed by a TV crew.
>
> - END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message
>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org)
>
>
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