By Greg Butterfield

April 27, 2000--In rapid-fire succession, many actions in support of Black freedom fighter and death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal are scheduled for late April and early May. Each event is shaping up to be a confrontation with the police--the rabid pit bulls of the capitalist state--and a challenge to the federal court now reviewing Abu-Jamal's appeal.

Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted and sentenced to death in the 1981 killing of a white cop, Daniel Faulkner, in Philadelphia. Abu-Jamal maintains his innocence. Supporters say there is ample evidence that he was framed because of his long-standing fight against racist police brutality in Pennsylvania. They are demanding a new, fair trial for the former Black Panther.

Among the most controversial actions planned--condemned by cops and other right wingers nationally--is Abu-Jamal's audio-taped commencement speech at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, on April 29. Lesbian trans activist Leslie Feinberg, a co-founder of Rainbow Flags for Mumia, will appear in person as Abu-Jamal's co-speaker.

Another group of Ohio students--this time at Kent State University--has invited Abu-Jamal to speak May 4 at the 30th anniversary commemoration of the 1970 Kent State massacre, when National Guard troops gunned down four anti- war protesters.

Then on May 7, New York will be the site of one of the most formidable events ever organized on behalf of a political prisoner. Thousands of people will pack the Theater at Madison Square Garden to demand a new trial and an end to execution threats against Abu-Jamal.

The Madison Square Garden event kicks off a week of actions around the United States, ending with an international day of protest May 13. Regional demonstrations are planned for Chicago and San Francisco, and a "Mother's March for Justice" is planned in Philadelphia's African American community.

A date for Abu-Jamal's first hearing in Judge William Yohn's federal appeals court should be announced by mid- May. The group International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal has called on any available supporters to come to Philadelphia and help get the word out before the hearing.

HIGH COURT LOOKS OTHER WAY

That hearing is under the shadow of an April 18 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. In Williams v. Taylor, a Virginia death-penalty case, the high court ruled 5-4 to uphold the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and strengthen the Democrat-Republican law's severe restrictions on habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus is prisoners' right to independent federal reviews of state court rulings.

The Supreme Court said it's okay to execute someone even if state courts violated their rights--and even if new evidence shows the person is innocent.

A federal judge can order a new trial only if the state court applied legal precedent in a "unreasonable" way. The court set no guidelines for what constitutes "unreasonable," leaving that determination to the discretion of the judge and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.

Leonard Weinglass, Abu-Jamal's lead defense attorney, has raised 29 constitutional violations committed by the judge and prosecutors in his original trial.

In a separate decision also on April 18, the Supreme Court voted six to three to make it easier for prisoners to exercise their right to raise new evidence in their federal appeals. This is what Abu-Jamal's defense team is attempting to do.

But gutting habeas corpus could cancel any positive effects this might have, since new evidence alone is not enough to justify a new trial by the Supreme Court's reckoning.

"What does the Supreme Court ruling mean for our movement?" asked Leslie Feinberg. "It means that now more than ever we must focus on building a mass, militant movement in the streets that can shake the criminal injustice system and force the courts to act in Mumia's favor.

"We cannot, we must not, put any faith in the federal courts to do the right thing."

STUDENTS TAKE STAND

Abu-Jamal's scheduled talks at Antioch and Kent State have been condemned by the likes of Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher and Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham. Abraham publicly rejected an invitation from Antioch faculty and students to attend a community forum on Abu-Jamal's case. (Akron Beacon-Journal, April 24)

The Fraternal Order of Police is threatening to protest at the graduation ceremony. Some Free Mumia activists will travel there to support the students and counter the cops' threats.

Teishan Latner, a member of Antioch's Commencement Committee, told Workers World that the students' top priority is to use the controversy to reach more people with the truth about Abu-Jamal.

"Progressive and radical folks seem to understand the situation really well," explained Latner, "but if we're to build a movement we have to reach into public consciousness. I think we're all in a position to do this right now because the issue is so visible in the media. It's a window of opportunity."

Molly Gena of Case Western Reserve University Amnesty International said: "While certain journalists, FOP locals, and other `leaders' in Ohio spout off about how irresponsible it was for students at Antioch and Kent State to invite Mumia to speak, they seem to know very little about the actual case.

"We challenge anyone to listen to Abu-Jamal's lead attorney run through the 29 constitutional problems with his original 1982 trial and not come away realizing that trial was absolutely bogus."

Justin Hons of Kent State Anti-Racist Action, an organizer of the May 4 action there, told WW: "The controversy around Mumia has added a new ingredient that has interested more people than were originally planning to attend" the 30th anniversary commemoration.

"It has also helped people better answer what the purpose of these commemorations are, that they are not only to honor the dead, but also to continue the fight of those students shot and killed on May 4, 1970."

Hons said the Pan African Studies Department and Black United Students, as well as students who were wounded in the 1970 struggle, strongly support the invitation to Abu- Jamal.

The commemoration will be held May 4 on the Kent State Commons, starting at 12 noon. Speakers include Ramona Africa of MOVE, Vernon Bellecourt of the American Indian Movement, and Noam Chomsky. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Hons said: "We'd like people to be there sporting a Mumia button or shirt and saying that there is a connection between Mumia and May 4, 1970. People should be there to support the entire event, and those who feel that Mumia's speech in very significant should be on hand to show just how much support that speech has."

Readers who can't make the trip to Ohio are encouraged to send letters of support to May 4th Task Force, c/o OCL, KSU, Kent, OH 44242; Anti-Racist Action, c/o OCL, Box 8, KSU, Kent, OH 44242.

MAY 7 STRUGGLE

The May 7 at New York's Madison Square Garden will begin at 2 p.m. The location is Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street in Manhattan.

Confirmed speakers include actor Ossie Davis, comedian Dick Gregory, hip-hop artists Mos Def and Will Villainova, poet Sonia Sanchez, Pam Africa, attorney Johnnie Cochran, former New York Mayor David Dinkins, Kathleen Cleaver, Rainbow Flags for Mumia's Jesse Heiwa and Leslie Feinberg, Millions for Mumia's Larry Holmes and Monica Moorehead, and many more.

Antioch's Teishan Latner said, "One of the great things about the May 7 Madison Square Garden event is that it is prestigious--it will get the attention of people who usually don't think about grassroots struggles."

A struggle is also shaping up here with police groups linked to the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police and New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.

The cops continue to promote a racist "counter- demonstration" at the May 7 event. They have created more falsely named web sites like "mumia2000.com" and "iacenter.com" to spread confusion and misinformation about Abu-Jamal's case, said Monica Moorehead, coordinator of the May 7 action.

On April 23 Moorehead appeared with Ossie Davis on "Like It Is," a popular television show addressing African American issues, hosted by Gil Noble.

"The `Like It Is' show has helped give tremendous visibility to the May 7th event and Mumia's case throughout the Black community, especially in the metropolitan area," Moorehead told Workers World.

She said people called in for tickets from all five boroughs of New York, from Newark, N.J. and other locations after seeing the program.

Volunteers are urgently needed in the run-up to May 7. Those who live outside New York can contact others in their area to fill a bus or van to come to Madison Square Garden. A list of organizing centers is available on the web site www.Mumia2000.org.

Those who live in the New York area can come in to the May 7 Mobilization office. For more information, call (212) 633-6646 or email iacenter@iacenter.org .

A limited number of general admission tickets are still available for $15. Make sure to get yours right away. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at $10 each. Tickets may be purchased on the Internet at www.leftbooks.com or at the May 7 Mobilization office, 39 West 14 Street, Suite 206, New York, NY 10011.

Back to: Political Prisoners/ Mumia Reports/Press