Philly DA Lynne Abraham Uses Mumia as Part of Campaign for Reelection
by Tony Allen
In her bid for reelection, current Philadelphia District Lynne Abraham has taken to exploiting the ongoing case of Mumia Abu-Jamal in order to pander to conservative voters. In radio ads that are currently airing on WPHT, an AM talk station, voters are told to vote for Abraham, in part, because of the fact that she "vigorously opposes" a new trial for Jamal. In addition to displaying a callous disregard for the evidence that calls for, at the very least, a new trial for Jamal, the ads seem to smack of unethicallity due to the fact that Jamal's case is still on appeal.
"America's Deadliest D.A.," as Lynne Abraham has been called, has a penchant for the allowance of injustices that seem to know no bounds nor depth. As a Judge, Lynne Abraham signed the warrants that were used against MOVE members in order to precipitate the May 13th, 1985, bombing that led to the deaths of 11 men, women, and children. The ensuing conflagration consumed an entire African American neighborhood, bled the city of Philadelphia of millions of dollars, and resulted in the outrageousness of the sole adult survivor of the bombing being incarcerated for seven years of her life. It is not a stretch or torturing of fact to say that if the warrants were never signed by Abraham, there would not have been a May 13th massacre. Although Ramona Africa was arrested, the warrants were without merit and were dropped; she was never prosecuted for the warrants which she was arrested on.
A true "Rizzocrat," Abraham coasted into the position of District Attorney on the coattails of the Rizzo political power structure that still infests mainstream Philly politics to this day. Posturing herself as "one tough cookie," even to the point of exuding an unnatural masculine aura, Abraham has attempted to epitomize the "tough on crime" attitude that has characterized law enforcement in the past two decades. What is deeply disturbing is the fact that when it comes to crimes or violence perpetrated by police, the "tough on crime" facade seems to disappear like a mirage in the Sahara. Throughout her tenure as DA, she has repeatedly drawn fire from civil rights groups, particularly in the black communities, for her whimsical, light-handed approach to police beatings, corruption, and in the case of Donta Dawson, outright murder. If there was to be an Achilles heel for Abraham in this election, it would be this dangerous precedent Abraham has set. However, with the support of the Democratic Party, including Philadelphia's second black mayor (the first was Wilson Goode who presided over the MOVE bombing), her reelection is all but assured.
The ads "authorized" by her campaign are being aired on WPHT-1210 AM, the self described "fastest growing talk radio station" serving the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The station is home to a veritable who's who of nationally syndicated conservative talk shows, from "Imus in the Morning" to the once factually challenged, now hearing impaired "Rush Limbaugh." WPHT is also home to an array of local wannabe Limbaughs who, on a daily basis, fall over themselves in order to pander to the lowest common denominator of human intellect. Some of the topics that have actually been discussed on these shows recently are the "nuking" of Afghanistan and the use of torture on those suspected of "terrorism." Chief amongst these local hosts is Micheal Smerconish, a conservative "Rizzophite" who, in addition to being a lawyer for the FOP , seems to have taken it upon himself to head up the propaganda wing of the "kill Mumia" movement. It is on Smerconish's show that the ads are airing.
It seems to me that a line has been crossed that ought not have been; however, if there is a bright side to all of this, it is the fact that the overt political nature of Jamal's prosecution has once again been brought to light. Politicians are notable for being bereft of any and all ethical standards, but this is no secret. However, a public official that uses a case still in litigation that they are involved in for political gain is outrageous to say the least, especially when a man's life is on the line. While politics has been often at the heart of the lynch mob mentality that seeks to exterminate Mumia's life, this does not mean that people should sit idly on their laurels as this charade marches on. It is past time for people to take a stand.
The writing is on the wall and it becomes clearer by the day. Justice for Mumia will not come from the cops, judges, DA's or even defense attorneys of this world, it will come from the people's demand that this innocent man not be sacrificed upon the altar of political expediency.
OnaMOVE!
Now is a very critical, serious time in the fight to free Mumia. There are attacks on many fronts trying to take Mumia's life and we have to respond to these attacks with unity and hard work. Currently Lynne Abraham is using her prejudice and hatred towards Mumia as a campaigning point in her radio commercials and Judge Yohn has denied the request to suspend federal appeals again using the Herrara case and the effective death penalty act as an excuse to murder an innocent man. This attack is extremely serious and we must respond in the same way as if the death warrant has been signed. Yohn has shown that he has absolutely no intention of doing justice so people must get moving now to expose this conspiracy to murder. Soon we will have Yohn's 19 page decision posted for all to see, also, stay posted to see what effect this decision will have on Mumia's case legally and how it will effect proceeding's in the state courts. We are not clear on what the legal ramifications of this decision are but as soon as we know it will be put out.
As of now, people must work harder than ever to let people know what is going on with this case. Yohn made his decision on October 15th and we just got it today! These people who are tryin to murder Mumia are trying to keep things quiet and we've gotta do anything we can to stop them. The weekend of resistance planned for the weekend of December 9th has got to let this system know that they cannot do this behind closed doors. It has been 20 years now, 20 years stolen from Mumia's life. There should be a walk out in every school in the whole country on December 7th and thousands should be in Philly on December 8th.
OnaMOVE! Kevin-ICFFMAJ
Posted 11/2/01
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