[Ppnews] Mumia Legal Update from Robert Bryan

[Political Prisoner News]

Dear Friends:

There are many developments on the legal and other fronts concerning my
client, Mumia Abu-Jamal. We remain in active litigation before the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and also have issues pending in
the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mumia has been honored by fellow writers
through acceptance into a prestigious organization, a Nobel Prize winner
recently visited him, an excellent new book was released in France, a
leading British newspaper has published a major article on Mumia, and a
superb film recently premiered in London and Rome. The following are the
highlights.

PEN membership Mumia has been accepted into the membership of PEN, the
worldwide human-rights organization of prominent writers. This is a great
honor. He was thrilled upon learning that the application I filed on his
behalf last spring was granted. In two decades of knowing each other, I
have not seen Mumia so happy. The recognition from his peers is well
deserved.

In a quarter of a century of being locked up in a small cell on
Pennsylvania's death row, Mumia's literary output has been prodigious. He
has written five outstanding books that are published in various
languages, and also writes weekly commentaries that are published and
broadcast internationally.

PEN was founded in 1921 to dispel national, ethnic, and racial hatred, to
promote understanding among all countries, and defend the freedom to
write.  PEN American Center, into which Mumia has been accepted, is the
largest of the 145 centers in 104 countries of International PEN. It
exists to fight for freedom of expression, represent the conscience of
world literature, and foster friendship and intellectual co-operation
among writers everywhere.  It is the world's oldest human rights
organization and also the oldest international literary group.

The support provided by Alice Walker, E.L. Doctorow, Bell Chevigny and
other members of the PEN American Center, New York, was invaluable.  I am
especially grateful to the kindness of Salman Rushdie, former President of
PEN.  Throughout the application process, I was impressed by the paramount
concern of the PEN membership for human rights and protecting the
independence of writers.

Bishop Desmond Tutu  On October 23, 2007, Bishop Desmond Tutu met with
Mumia.  It is was a moving experience.  Later that afternoon Mumia
expressed to me how touched and humbled he was by meeting with this
wonderful person, who received the Nobel Peace Price in 1984 and the
Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986.  Mumia is
particularly grateful to Martha Conley, Esq., of Pittsburgh, who initiated
and arranged the visit, drove Bishop Tutu and his assistant to the prison,
and joined them in the visit on death row.  Last week Bishop Tutu issued
the following statement concerning Mumia and capital punishment:
"I oppose the death penalty on principle in every case and I support the
plea for a retrial for Mumia Abu-Jamal."

The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, O.M.S.G., D.D., F.K.C.
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus
Cape Town, South Africa

5 November 2007

Legal developments  Last month the prosecution submitted a Notice of
Supplemental Authority with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit, Philadelphia, arguing that a recent ruling and related decisions
by the U.S. Supreme Court affects the pending issues pertaining to the
death penalty and racism in jury selection.  Consequently on November 1,
2007, we filed a Reply To Notice of Supplemental Authority, explaining
with legal analysis that the contentions of opposing counsel should be
rejected because they are without merit and do not alter the major
constitutional violations that occurred in this case.

I remain in contact with the court.  It is not known exactly when there
will be a federal decision.  If the court follows the law and the U.S.
Constitution, we will win.  In my experience of successfully litigating
well over a hundred capital murder cases at trial and on appeal, I know
that courts are not always just.  They can make terribly tragic mistakes.
Nevertheless, I have not seen a case more riddled with such significant
constitutional violations, racism, fraud, and unfairness.  My goal remains
to achieve a reversal of the conviction, and at a new jury trial win a
jury acquittal so that Mumia can go home to his family -- a free person.

In Prison My Whole Life, British film on Mumia  On October 25, 2007, the
new documentary film In Prison My Whole Life premiered simultaneously at
the London Film Festival and Rome Film Festival.  It is a superb movie
which does much to expose the many wrongs including racism and politics
that have infected the case from the outset, the American legal system,
and our society.  Amnesty International is officially supporting the film.
  The picture is hard hitting and reveals the death penalty for what it is:
legalized murder.  Mumia and I are indebted to Colin and Livia Giuggioli
Firth, along with Marc Evans, William Francome, Nick Goodwin Self, Katie
Green, and the others who had the courage to make this film and tell the
truth.

New French book on Mumia  In September an excellent book on Mumia was
published on September 15, 2007, in France.  It is Mumia Abu-Jamal un
homme libre dans le couloir de la mort, by Claude Guillaumaud-Pujol, with
a foreword by Robert Meeropol, son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and
Founder, Rosenberg Fund for Children.  Claude is deeply involved in the
Collectif, a group of over 80 French organizations that aggressively
support our campaign for a new and fair trial for Mumia and his freedom.
She knows Mumia well, and last visited with him on November 11.  Claude
has donated her book to help in the struggle for Mumia's freedom.  Mumia
says "the book is beautiful."  It can be purchased though various
booksellers in France.

Guardian (England) article: "I Spend My Days Preparing for Life, Not for
Death"  Recently there was an excellent article in the Guardian newspaper.
  It concerns a fascinating death row interview with Mumia, and can be
found at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2198415,00.html

Tax-Deductible Donations to Mumia's Legal Defense   My office continues to
receive extensive e-mail from people confused as to how and where they may
send donations for Mumia's legal defense.  With Mumia's authorization, a
process exists which guarantees that all donations in the U.S. go only to
the legal defense.  The contributions are tax-deductible.  Checks should
be made payable to the National Lawyers Guild Foundation (indicate "Mumia"
on the bottom left), and mailed to:

Committee To Save Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 2012
New York, NY 10159-2012

Your interest is appreciated.

With best wishes,

Robert R. Bryan
Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123

Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal



Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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