Dear Contact,
This office sent you an important press release and Philadelphia Inquirer article on August 8th regarding Mumia's August 17th day in court. It would be so important to get this press release and article sent out to the local press in your area as soon as possible. The reason for sending out the Philadelphia Inquirer article is that sometimes editors are more inclined to read an article before reading a press release. The main information to get out is any logistical information in terms of bus and literature information that people need to know about in your area in addition to this national press release. If you do send out this press release, please let the IAC know to which local press you sent it to so that a centralized list can be kept. A follow-up press release will be sent out by the IAC by Wednesday, August 15th.
INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER
39 W. 14TH St. Room 206
New York City, NY 10011
Phone: 212-633-6646 Fax: 212-633-2889
website: www.iacenter.org
For immediate release: August 8, 2001 Contact: Monica Moorehead
Attention: Assignment Editor Kelly Morrison
212-633-6646
ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL DESCEND UPON PHILADELPHIA ON AUGUST 17TH TO SUPPORT MUMIA ABU-JAMAL’S FIRST COURT APPEARANCE IN FIVE YEARS
ACTOR OSSIE DAVIS, HIP HOP ARTIST MOS DEF AND OTHERS WILL HELP PACK THE COURTROOM ; FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, RAMSEY CLARK, TENTATIVELY PLANNING TO ATTEND
Short streaming video: a call for activists to support Mumia in Philadelphia on August 17, 2001
Thousands of activists including celebrities will be traveling to Philadelphia on Friday, August 17th to stand with African American journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal who is scheduled to appear before a Commons Pleas judge in the Criminal Justice Court at 9 am. Abu-Jamal is the most well- known death row inmate in the world.
Activists will be mobilizing from New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Washington, DC; Boston; Chicago; Baltimore; Buffalo; Rochester; Providence and as far away as San Francisco to march and rally at City Hall during an important status hearing for Abu-Jamal that could eventually determine whether he will be granted a new post conviction relief act hearing.
Abu-Jamal was falsely convicted on July 3, 1982 for the killing of Daniel Faulkner, a Philadelphia white policeman. The judge during the original trial was “hanging” Judge Albert Sabo, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, who helped to cover up vital evidence proving that Abu-Jamal was innocent. Abu-Jamal has been awaiting execution ever since and has survived two death warrants, one signed in 1995 and the other in 1999.
Abu-Jamal’s new attorneys, Marlene Kamish, Eliot Grossman and Nick Brown, submitted a legal brief on May 4, 2001 that includes important affidavits making a strong claim of innocence on Abu-Jamal’s behalf. One of these affidavits includes a confession made by Arnold Beverly, who confessed to be the killer of Faulkner. Other affidavits were signed by Abu-Jamal, his brother, William Cook and other eyewitnesses who testified under oath that Abu-Jamal did kill not Faulkner. A claim of innocence was not submitted during the 1996 post conviction hearing.
This could very well be the last hearing for Abu-Jamal. On July 19th, Federal District Judge William Yohn turned down a request made by Abu-Jamal’s lawyers to have the Beverly affidavit added on to a writ of habeas corpus originally filed with Yohn’s court on October 15, 1999. This writ was filed in an effort to win an evidentiary hearing for Mumia. Yohn turned down the Beverly affidavit citing the “statute of limitations” in the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. This act, signed by Clinton, severely guts the writ of habeas corpus on behalf of death row inmates who are seeking to have their state convictions overturned. Federal judges are not obligated to review the state rulings even if there is clear evidence proving one’s innocence or constitutional violations that occurred during the original trial.
Larry Holmes, a co-director of the IAC, states,” We cannot predict or control what is going to happen in the Common Pleas court on August 17th. As activists, we see August 17th as a golden opportunity for the progressive movement to unite and strengthen the demand to free our brother, Mumia, who has come to symbolize resistance against racist repression especially the racist death penalty and police brutality."
The IAC and other forces condemn the most recent reports in the Philadelphia press and elsewhere that accuse International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal of illegally raising legal funds for Mumia. Why are these false allegations being made now when Mumia is going to be in court? Why is the big business press willing to print negative things about Mumia especially since he is so beloved by millions here and worldwide? These media attacks are meant to divert attention from Mumia’s case and attempt to drive a wedge between him, his supporters and the general public.
Holmes went on to say, "The media does not want the public to know that Mumia is facing execution because he is a victim of police misconduct and also is outspoken on a number of social issues. Just as this government and its police want to break up the dynamic anti-globalization movement, they also want to intimidate the Free Mumia movement but we will never allow that to happen.”
The IAC will be organizing buses from all over the country to go to Philadelphia. For bus information in NYC as well as leaflet and poster pick-ups, call the IAC at 212-633-6646. The August 17th coalition is also organizing buses with the 1199 Health and Hospital Union. Call 212-330-8029 for more information.
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For general Transportation information, call 212-633-6646
BALTIMORE
Please help get the word out in Baltimore and Maryland. Volunteers are needed. We will be phone banking at the All Peoples Congress Hall, 426 E. 31st St. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug 14 & 15, from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. Please come out and help.
You must reserve a seat for transportation Friday, Aug 17. We will be gathering at the the APC Hall, at 6 A.M. and leaving 6:30 A.M. SHARP. If you would like flyers please call (410) 235-7040 or stop by the office on Tues. or Wed.
BOSTON
31 Germania St (enter 284 Amory St)
Jamaica Plain, MA 021
617-522-6626 fax: 617-983-3836
email: iacboston@iacboston.org
www.iacboston.org
SIGN UP ONLINE FOR TICKETS FROM BOSTON TO PHILLY AT THE LINK BELOW:
http://www.iacboston.org/majbus
Bus leaves 11:30 pm Thursday August 16 from Roxbury Community College parking lot, returns Friday night $40 + $5 donation for subsidy fund
For more information on the transportation, call the IAC at (617) 522-6626 [outside New England call (212) 633-6646)].
Millions for Mumia page with updates and details: http://www.iacboston.org/maj
BOSTON MOBILIZERS MEETING FRIDAY AUGUST 10 6:30 PM AT IAC OFFICE (click below for directions:) http://www.iacboston.org/directions
IACBoston 31 Germania St (enter 284 Amory St) JP Mass 02130 617-522-6626 iacboston@iacboston.org www.iacboston.org
VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED! Volunteer meeting Friday, August 10. at 6:30 p.m. @ 284 Amory St JP http://www.iacboston.org/directions for directions Come in to the IAC and help build for Mumia's court date, Fri., Aug. 17.
BROOKLYN, NYC :
BRICK BY BRICK AND WALL BY WALL! WE'RE GONNA FREE MUMIA ABU JAMAL!
BLACK AUGUST 2001
Freedom Fighters Day - Friday, August 17, 2001MUMIA ABU JAMAL will be in Court in Philadelphia.
RALLY AT PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL
A bus will be leaving from SISTAS' PLACE
at 6:00am Sharp!
456 Nostrand Avenue,
Brooklyn NY
A or C train to Nostrand Ave
TICKET $5.00It is no coincidence that Mumia Abu Jamal will be in court on Friday, August 17, 2001, Marcus Garvey's Birthday / Freedom Fighters Day. The state is clear about the significance of this date - recall his previous execution date. Now more than ever, we must STAND WITH MUMIA! Mumia will be coming to court in response to his new attorneys' motion to reopen the Post Conviction Relief Act hearings.
Mumia has not been in court since 1996. We must let him hear our voices from inside the court room and see the faces of the thousands of supporters through the windows. Mumia has taught us some very valuable lessons through the years: courage, the will to win, principled politics, and stiff resistance. Let's show him what we have learned.
For more information call (718) 398-1766.
SAN FRANCISCO:415.821.6545;
www.actionsf.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.:
202.347.9300;
iacenterdc@yahoo.com
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
En Espanol: el_iac@yahoo.com
web: http://www.iacenter.org
CHECK OUT SITE http://www.mumia2000.org
phone: 212 633-6646
fax: 212 633-2889
To make a tax-deductible donation,
go to http://www.peoplesrightsfund.org