April 2, 1999 MAINE SUPPORT NETWORK FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
The Resolution of the MSNMAJ (text follows) has earned the endorsement of the following organizations to date:
Endorsers:
Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine Radio Free Maine Peace Action Maine Maine People's Alliance Maine Green Party NETWORK Free Radicals Native Forest Network WILPF (Southern Maine) -- Womens International League for Peace and Freedom WILPF (Lower Fla Keys) Center for the Art of Living in America Pax Christi Maine PICA (Peace through Interamerican Community Action) Let Cuba Live Committee The Good Life Center St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brunswick Veterans for Peace, Maine H.O.M.E, Inc. The Wayside Chapel of St. Francis, Orland National Lawyers Guild, Maine Chapter Real Men of USM INVERT (Institute for Non- Violence Education, Research and Training)
Resolution of the Maine Support Network for Mumia Abu-Jamal
WHEREAS: Mumia Abu-Jamal is an award-winning journalist known as the "Voice of the Voiceless," and former president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Black Journalists, and currently sits on Death Row in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS: On December 9, 1981, Mr. Jamal was arrested for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, during which incident Mr. Jamal was himself shot and nearly killed; and
WHEREAS: Upon his arrest, Mr. Jamal was beaten by members of the Philadelphia Police Department and denied prompt medical attention; and
WHEREAS: The arrest, investigation, prosecution, and conviction of Mr. Jamal was marked by unconstitutional, fraudulent, prejudicial and racist behavior by the police, the District Attorney's office and the trial judge, including the fabrication and coercion of false testimony, the suppression of evidence, including eyewitness testimony, and the denial of Mr. Jamal's right to a competent and comprehensive defense; and
WHEREAS: Mr. Jamal's appeal for a new and fair trial has been denied by the same trial judge who originally sentenced him to death -- judge Albert Sabo, who has sentenced twice as many people to death as any judge in the USA, all but two of whom are people of color; and
WHEREAS: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has upheld trial judge Sabo's decision; and
WHEREAS: Governor Ridge of Pennsylvania, an ardent death-penalty advocate who has signed 95 death warrants in 3 years, has declared his intention to sign a death warrant for Mr. Jamal
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Maine Support Network for Mumia Abu-Jamal calls for a new and fair trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Maine Support Network for Mumia Abu-Jamal shall announce to its members and the press its adoption of this resolution, and shall encourage and support the adoption of this resolution by any local, state, regional, national or international organization to which it is affiliated and shall take other actions in the spirit of justice and nonviolence that it deems necessary to prevent Mr. Jamal's execution.
November 24, 1998
adopted this day by the Maine Support Network for Mumia Abu-Jamal
NO EXECUTION ! NEW TRIAL FOR MUMIA !
-------- ------ ALL OUT FOR APRIL 24 MILLIONS FOR MUMIA !! ------
Maine Support Network for Mumia Abu-Jamal