From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 20:23:21 -0400 To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [IAC] Free Speech for Mumia Encampment SUPPORT FREE SPEECH FOR MUMIA ENCAMPMENT! May 4, 2001 Join the thousands of supporters of Mumia and free speech in Philadelphia May 11-13. On Monday, May 7, Camp Free Mumia organizers will file a lawsuit in federal court demanding the right to hold a 48-hour vigil/encampment on May 11-13 in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall. The lawyers representing the protest organizers are the Washington, DC-based Partnership for Civil Justice and the Philadelphia ACLU. They are representing the International Action Center and the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. The legal suit is in response to the City’s denying a permit for the overnight vigil. “The Philadelphia government and police are unconstitutionally and illegally attempting to deprive Mr. Mumia Abu-Jamal’s supporters of their right to assemble and and demonstrate at the vigil. They are trying to prohibit the unyielding presence of those who challenge their efforts to execute him,” stated Mara Verheyden-Hilliard of the Partnership of Civil Justice. THIS LEGAL ACTION MUST BE BACKED UP BY A MASS MOBILIZATION OF SUPPORTERS of Mumia and free speech to Philadelphia next weekend. In addition, we must tell the Philadelphia mayor and police that people from around the country and the world demand the right to protest in front of City Hall overnight. Call Mayor John Street at 215-686-2181 or fax him a letter at 215-686-2180. We can not allow the police to suppress our right to protest. If we fight this battle together, we will win it. The encampment was initiated by the International Action Center to coincide with the May 12 international day of solidarity with Mumia Abu-Jamal. It also commemorates May 13, which is the 16th anniversary of the heinous police bombing of the MOVE organization. On April 26, Camp Free Mumia representatives were informed during a face-to-face meeting with the Office of City Management and other city agencies that the permits requested in March were turned down. Larry Holmes, co-director of the IAC and a coordinator of the encampment, said, “The outrageous denial of our permits is a clear violation of our rights as Mumia supporters to free speech. "The City has been unable to provide any supportable basis for its decision. They realize that organizing a sustained activity like a 48-hour vigil, especially involving young anti-racists, will put a national and international spotlight on the travesty of justice that put Mumia--along with thousands of others--on death row.” Organizing for the encampment continues to gather support despite the city’s efforts to shut it down. Thousands of leaflets and posters are visible in many areas throughout Philadelphia. Word of the event is saturating the Internet. Speakers are spreading the word across the country, urging people to descend on a city that has one of the highest rates of police brutality in the country. A hip-hop concert is scheduled to be the opening shot for the encampment. A mass march and rally will be held on Saturday. A program in tribute to the MOVE victims will be the closing event for the encampment. To get more information about encampment organizing call: (215) 476-5416 or (215) 724-1618 in Philadelphia. In New York call (212) 633-6646. To download May 11-13 leaflets, posters and stickers in English and Spanish, go to www.mumia2000.org. International Action Center 39 West 14th Street, #206, NY, NY 10011 212-633-6646 fax: 212-633-2889 [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
