Congressional Black Caucus Questions Due Process for Mumia Abu-Jamal

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Congressman Chaka Fattah

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Justice can only be served through a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal, concluded Congressmen Chaka Fattah and John Conyers, speaking on behalf of the entire 38 Member Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Congressman Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, has been closely monitoring the Abu-Jamal case for almost two decades and has concluded that a new trial is necessary in order to carry out Abu-Jamal’s constitutional right to due process. Congressman Conyers, the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, agrees.

Even as Governor Tom Ridge (R-PA) signs Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death warrant, there are still many issues that have not been resolved. Abu-Jamal, an African-American journalist from Philadelphia known for his reporting of police brutality during the 1970’s and 80’s, was sentenced to death in 1982, for the murder of a white police officer. Testimony of eyewitnesses was suppressed, a witness was bribed to testify against Abu-Jamal, ballistics evidence did not match the circumstances of the case, there is no physical evidence linking Abu-Jamal to the crime, and tests which could have been done to prove his guilt or innocence were not ordered. At the trial, Abu-Jamal, a powerful orator, was denied the right to represent himself and even denied the right to confront his accuser. The judge used his insistence on his right to represent himself as an excuse to remove him from the trial. No audio transmission of the trial was provided, therefore, Abu-Jamal was unable to hear most of the prosecution’s case.

There are many reasons for the CBC’s reservations in the Abu-Jamal case. Even if he were guilty, there should be a more solid assurance of fact before he is put to death. If he is innocent, putting him to death on the basis of the current evidence makes the government guilty of the very thing for which it is accusing Abu-Jamal.

"The only thing we know for sure is that he has not been given due process and that alone is enough for a new trial," said Congressman Fattah.

SOURCE: Congressman Chaka Fattah