LEGAL/POLITICAL UPDATES ON MUMIA--as of Nov 8, 2010
Petition: International campaign for a civil rights investigation of the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal
PO BOX 16, COLLEGE STATION, NEW YORK, NY 10030
HOTLINE: 212 330-8029
For immediate release:
November 7, 2010
Contact: Pam Africa 215-476-8812
Dr. Suzanne Ross, 917-584-2135
On November 9, 2010, Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia Will
Consider Reinstating Death Sentence on Internationally Renowned Death Row
Political Prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal
On January 10, 2010 the US Supreme Court ordered the Third Circuit Court of
Appeals to reconsider its decision on overturning the original death sentence
meted out to Mumia in July 1982 by Judge Albert Sabo. On March 27, 2008, the
Third Circuit had upheld Judge William Yohn’s decision of December 18,
2001 in which he affirmed Abu-Jamal’s conviction but threw out his death
sentence on the grounds that the instructions to the jury had violated the
Supreme Court’s Mills precedent and therefore entitled Abu-Jamal to have
his death sentence overturned.
Hundreds of protesters from around the world will be gathering both inside the
courtroom, where arguments will be heard for and against Abu-Jamal’s
execution, and outside in a support rally for Abu-Jamal. The rally is called
for 12 Noon at 6th and Market Streets and the court hearing is called for 2 PM.
The outpouring of support for Abu-Jamal and the outrage expressed at the
possibility once again of his execution has exceeded organizers’
expectations. Nine French officials have already arrived in Philadelphia to
express the widespread support in France for Abu-Jamal’s freedom. On very
short notice, city council representatives of districts, representatives of the
General Confederation of Labor (CGT) (the umbrella union that played such a
leading role in the recent French protests), and the Deputy Director of United
Against the Death Penalty gathered to travel as a group from Paris. Professor
and journalist Michael Schiffman, who exposed the now-famous Polakoff
photographs, withheld by the police and prosecutors from the defense for years,
that profoundly challenge the prosecution’s version of what happened on
December 9, 1981, the night of the killing of Officer Faulkner and the
near-killing of Mumia and his subsequent targeting and incarceration, has also
arrived in Philadelphia. Chairman of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee,
Fred Hampton, Jr., son of the late martyred FBI and Chicago Police victim, Fred
Hampton, Sr. who was murdered in December 1969 and many other labor, religious,
activist leaders and rank and file supporters of Abu-Jamal are on their way to
Philadelphia.
Pam Africa, head of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia
Abu-Jamal has called on everyone to stand up at this critical moment to those
who are fighting for Abu-Jamal’s execution despite extensive evidence of
his innocence. She has identified District Attorney Seth Williams as a key
voice for the execution. “Seth Williams stated that when a new sentencing
hearing happens he will ask for the death penalty”, explained the
militant international leader of this movement.
Demonstrations and film showings of a new film that portrays both arguments for
and against Mumia’s innocence called Justice for Mumia, produced by
Professor Johanna Fernandez, are being held in dozens of cities in this
country: Oakland, San Francisco, Houston, Albany, Detroit, Los Angeles, Toronto
and across the globe in Germany, Holland, England, France, Mexico, Jamaica, and
Canada. To highlight just a few, there will be demonstrations both in London
and Paris, at the respective US Embassy sites. In France there will be
additional demonstrations at Consulates in: Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice,
Rennes, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. In Mexico, too, a demonstration is scheduled
for November 9 at the US Embassy in Mexico City.
But all eyes will surely be focused on Philadelphia where the arguments will be
made and a decision will follow within weeks or months regarding this case
which many consider a disgrace to the US judicial system. Amnesty International
in its February 2000 report called A Life in the Balance : The Case of Mumia
Abu-Jamal states very clearly that this case “failed to meet minimum
international standards safeguarding the fairness of legal proceedings”
and called for a new trial for Abu-Jamal.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the organization that has vehemently
fought for Abu-Jamal’s execution with frequently held “Fry
Mumia” banners and signs, and whose role in influencing the judiciary
Amnesty seriously criticizes, has a link on its website announcing that Maureen
Faulkner, the widow of the slain officer, Daniel Faulkner, who has since 1995
worked very closely with the FOP, will be in the courtroom with a group, and
that “Jamal will be present”. No other indication has been
available suggesting that Abu-Jamal will be in the courtroom on the 9th.
A debate has been scheduled for the night before the hearing at the
Constitution Center by the Prosecutor’s office between the District
Attorney, Seth Williams, and noted Philadelphia-based Black attorney, Michael
Coard. Two filmmakers, one of a hit piece on Abu-Jamal by Tigre Hill, Barrel of
a Gun, and the other of a rather balanced film produced by academic Dr. Johanna
Fernandez of CUNY’s Baruch College, will also be participating in that
debate.
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FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC)
PO BOX 16, COLLEGE STATION, NEW YORK, NY 10030
HOTLINE: 212 330-8029
For Immediate Release: November 8, 2010
Press Conference Announcement & Statement from the Committee to Save Mumia
Abu-Jamal on the Oral Argument in Mumia Abu-Jamal v. Beard
Contact: Professor Johanna Fernandez, 917-930-0804
New York. The Committee to Save Mumia Abu-Jamal looks forward to Professor
Judith Ritter's argument before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on
November 9 in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal v. Beard. Professor Ritter has been
Abu-Jamal's counsel for seven years and successfully argued the Mills v.
Maryland claim before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 2007.
On November 3, 2010, Mr. Abu-Jamal regretfully asked for the resignation of
Robert Bryan, his lead attorney. Mr. Abu-Jamal did so only after Mr. Bryan
refused to honor his numerous written and oral requests, spanning a year, that
co-counsel Professor Ritter conduct the oral argument on the Mills/Spisak
issue.
In his November 5, 2010 motion, Mr. Bryan claimed that Abu-Jamal supporters
left a voicemail threatening him with public attacks and embarrassment,
implicitly forcing him to resign. In fact, it was Mr. Bryan's refusal to
honor his client's wishes that led Mr. Abu-Jamal to ask that Mr. Bryan
tender his resignation.
As a long standing supporter of the appellee, the Committee to Save Mumia
Abu-Jamal, which was formed in the 1980s to raise funds for his legal support,
felt it important to ensure that Mr. Abu-Jamal's wishes and best interests
were carried out.
The Committee urges all concerned to focus on the salient issue at hand, namely
how the jury was mis-instructed by the court during the sentencing hearing in
1982, a claim granted by Judge William Yohn of the Federal District Court in
2001 and by the Third Circuit panel in 2007.
______
Place : Front Entrance, National Constitution Center
Independence Mall, 525 Arch Street @ 6th & Arch St.
Date: Monday, November 8, 2010
Time: 3:00PM
Who:
Pam Africa, International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Prof. Johanna Fernandez, Committee to Save Mumia Abu-Jamal & Educators for
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Heidi Bogosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild & Committee to
Save Mumia Abu-Jamal
Frances Goldin, Mumia Abu-Jamal's Literary Agent, Committee to Save Mumia
Abu-Jamal
Suzanne Ross, Free Mumia Abu Jamal Coalition (NYC)
Martha Conley, Free Mumia Committee of Pittsburgh
Prof. Mark Taylor, Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Prof. Michael M. Schiffmann, Germany, Author of Race Against Death
International Supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal
The French Collective
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