[Ppnews] April 24 Mumia IMC feature (with audio)

[Political Prisoner News]

From: Hans Bennett


Hello,

I am writing to share my report from yesterday's event for Mumia here in
Philadelphia. Right now, the feature is on the Philly IMC, and I will be
submitting it as a feature for the global IMC site. Lots of different
stuff in the embedded links, so please spread this around as much as
possible in these crucial weeks leading up to Mumia's oral arguments on
May 17.


Best,

Hans Bennett
Abu-Jamal-News.com

Note----I am pasting the text of the article in below, but just in case
the embedded links don't come through on the email, PLEASE BE SURE AND
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE PHILLY IMC WEBSITE, because
on there are lots of links, including audio from Linn Washington, Sonia
Sanchez, Ramona Africa, and an awesome speech comparing the FOP to the Ku
Klux Klan from Sgt. DeLacy Davis, from Black Cops Against Police
Brutality.

Also be sure and check out this NYPD website that talks about "Bitch
Slapping" the Mumia Event a few weeks ago that was forced to change
locations:

http://p066.ezboard.com/NY-Mumia-Hip-Hop-Benefit-Rally-Gets-Bitch-Slapped/fnypdrant64609frm1.showMessage?topicID=60100.topic


Link here for full article:

http://www.phillyimc.org/en/2007/04/38914.shtml

Mumia Abu-Jamal Rally on April 24 Spotlights May 17 Oral Arguments

On April 24 in Philadelphia, hundreds gathered to support black death-row
journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of killing white
Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in a 1982 trial that Amnesty
International has deemed unfair (see report).

At noon, supporters organized a "Honk for Mumia" at City Hall (photos),
then in the evening, supporters gathered a few blocks away, for a guest
speakers and a viewing of Framing an Execution. Guest speakers included
Danny Glover, Sonia Sanchez, Linn Washington, Jr., Ramona Africa, and Sgt.
DeLacy Davis of Black Cops Against Police Brutality.

April 24 also marked the release of a new website and newspaper published
by "Journalists for Mumia," unveiling for the first time in the US, a
newly discovered crime scene photo from Dec. 9, 1981 that reveals police
manipulation of ballistics evidence. The photo has already been published
in the new German book on Mumia's case (see review and interview).

The April 24 events publicized the upcoming oral arguments before the
federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia on May 17, for
which, supporters are organizing a mass demonstration (flier). The court
will consider four different issues that have been certified for appeal,
and then decide whether to grant a new trial, affirm the life sentence, or
re-instate the death sentence (KAOS radio show).

After the May 17 date was set for oral arguments, the Philadelphia DA
filed a motion asking the entire Third Circuit Court to recuse itself from
the case. Mumia's attorney felt the DA's move was meant to delay the
hearings, and to move the case to a more conservative circuit. On April
20, the court ruled in favor of Abu-Jamal in two ways. The court (1) ruled
against the recusal and (2) agreed to give each side one full hour to
present their arguments.

The evening event at the Friends Center (a few blocks from City Hall) was
met by over a hundred police officers protesting the event for Mumia,
which was a culmination of recent intimidation tactics by the Fraternal
Order of Police. A benefit event in New York City had to change locations
after extensive NYPD harassment. An NYPD website later boasted that the
rally was "Bitch Slapped." Then, the April 24 event in Philadelphia had to
change locations after police intimidation, as documented by journalist
Linn Washington , who noted that the "anti-Abu-Jamal barrage of emails and
telephone calls unleashed on the Clef Club included declarations
perilously close to terroristic threats."

The Fraternal Order of Police and their allies have continued to target
the French cities that have honored Mumia. In 2003 he was declared an
honorary citizen of Paris—the first time since Pablo Picasso was similarly
honored in the 1970s. Then last year on April 24, the Paris suburb St.
Denis named a major street after Abu-Jamal. Located in the Cristino Garcia
District of the city (named after an anti-Franco Spanish Republican), Rue
Mumia Abu-Jamal leads directly to the largest sports arena in Europe:
"Nelson Mandela Stadium." Government resolutions were passed condemning
France, criminal charges were filed against the French cities, and the FOP
has continued to harass representatives that did not vote for the
anti-Mumia resolutions.

In response, Mumia supporters have launched several campaigns: faxing
letters for Mumia to U.S. House of Reps, circulating a letter demanding
that John Conyers of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary open formal
hearings to reconsider the House Resolution, and contacting Donald Payne
(recently harassed by the FOP) to thank him for not voting for the
resolution.

Also, two new academic papers have been written on Mumia by Tameka L. Cage
and Paul Robeson Ford.

Related links: December IMC feature on Mumia, Philly Journalist's series
on Mumia, Trial Transcripts on Anti-Mumia Site, Mumia on Alberto Gonzales,
Prison Radio archive of Mumia essays, Educators for Mumia, NYC Free Mumia
Coalition

Homepage:: http://Abu-Jamal-News.com

The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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