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ACTION ALERT: Ensure Fairness For Mumia Abu-Jamal on NBC’s <i>The Today
Show</i>!<br><br>
<br><br>
On Dec. 6, NBC’s <i>The Today Show</i> intends to air a show about
Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner’s new book “Murdered By Mumia.”
According to the announcement on Michael Smerconish’s website, the show
is planning to feature both Smerconish and Faulkner as guests.<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal</i>
(FreeMumia.com), <i>Journalists for Mumia</i> (Abu-Jamal-News.com), and
<i>Educators for Mumia</i> (EmajOnline.com) have initiated a
media-activist campaign urging people to write <i>The Today Show</i> at
<a href="mailto:today@msnbc.com">today@msnbc.com</a> asking them to
fairly present both sides of the Mumia Abu-Jamal / Daniel Faulkner case,
by also featuring as guests, Linn Washington, Jr. (<i>Philadelphia
Tribune </i>columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple
University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of
the <i>Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC</i>).<br><br>
<br><br>
A sample letter
(<a href="http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/TodayShow.doc">
http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/TodayShow.doc</a>), accompanied by an
extensive informational press pack
(<a href="http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf">
http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf</a>) has been created
to use for contacting The Today Show. Please take a minute and
contact them to ensure fair media coverage of this controversial and
important case.<br><br>
<br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
<br><br>
<i>The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal</i>
(FreeMumia.com)<br><br>
<i>Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal</i> (Abu-Jamal-News.com)<br><br>
<i>Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal</i> (EmajOnline.com) <br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>SAMPLE LETTER<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
Dear <i>Today Show</i>,<br><br>
<br><br>
On December, 2007, the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal will be entering the
27<sup>th</sup> year. In the course of those years, much of the media
coverage has contained pure speculation and falsehoods. Media
watchdogs like FAIR.ORG have sharply criticized this coverage as being
biased against Abu-Jamal.<br><br>
<br><br>
We understand that on Dec. 6, the Today Show intends to air a show about
Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner’s book “Murdered By Mumia.”
Interestingly, the scheduled interview regarding the new book focusing on
Mrs. Faulkner comes at a time of many startling new developments in this
historic case, generating international attention. <br><br>
<br><br>
Reflecting the international interest in this case, in 2003, Abu-Jamal
was named an honorary citizen of Paris, and in 2006, the city of St.
Denis named a street after him. While this was largely motivated by
opposition to the death penalty, they also cited strong evidence of both
an unfair trial and Abu-Jamal’s innocence.<br><br>
<br><br>
One of these developments centers on extraordinary photos of the 1981
crime scene taken by Philadelphia-based press photographer Pedro Polakoff
(viewable at Abu-Jamal-News.com) that reveal manipulation of evidence,
and completely contradict the prosecution’s case, including Officer James
Forbes’ testimony that he properly handled both Abu-Jamal’s and
Faulkner’s guns (the photos show Forbes holding both guns in his bare
hand). Also the photos reveal that there were no large bullet divots or
destroyed chunks of cement where Faulkner was found, which should be
visible in the pavement if the prosecution’s scenario was accurate,
according to which Abu-Jamal shot down at Faulkner and allegedly missed
several times while Faulkner was on his back. Of particular note, this
photographer twice attempted to provide these photos to the District
Attorney for both the 1982 trial and the 1995 PCRA hearings, and was
ignored both times.<br><br>
<br><br>
Since his incarceration, Abu-Jamal has published six books and countless
articles, and has delivered hundreds of speeches, including keynote
addresses for college graduations. As a prolific writer and
tenacious journalist, he has earned the respect (and support) of such
notable prize-winning authors as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, John Edgar
Wideman, and Salman Rushdie. Just recently, he was accepted into
the PEN American Center, one of the highest honors a writer can
achieve. Additionally, at the time of his arrest, he was president
of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists, and
was awarded the PEN Oakland award for outstanding journalism after the
publication of his first book, <i>Live from Death Row</i>. Since
<i>Live</i>, he has garnered a following of dedicated readers around the
world, including scholars, college educators, and journalists. His
work is, in part, testament to the dignity he has demonstrated for the
past 25 years he has been on death row.<br><br>
<br><br>
The ethical interests in balance and fairness in presenting “news”
regarding the Abu-Jamal case, arguably requires providing Today Show
viewers with information evidencing Mr. Abu-Jamal’s innocence and unfair
trial. To represent this other side, and to provide perspectives
addressing the informational needs of your viewers, I ask that you also
feature experts Linn Washington, Jr. (<i>Philadelphia Tribune
</i>columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple University)
and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of the <i>Free
Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC</i>) as guests on your Dec. 6 show (they
can be contacted via <i>Journalists for Mumia</i>:
<a href="mailto:hbjournalist@gmail.com">hbjournalist@gmail.com</a>).<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
While Mrs. Faulkner certainly has a “story” and is entitled to her
opinions, your viewers should be privy to other facts, such as the
prosecution withholding key evidence, witness coercion, racist jury
selection, and evidence that Judge Albert Sabo boasted about his desire
to help the prosecution “fry the nigger,” as enclosed in the press packet
provided here for you:
<a href="http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf">
http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf</a><br><br>
<br><br>
I also write to provide you with information (inclusive of material from
Abu-Jamal’s lawyer) in the interests of journalistic balance, fairness
and integrity. The press packet includes 1) A recent Black Commentator
article by Philadelphia lawyer/journalist David A. Love describing the
significance of the Polakoff photos, 2) An Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal
press release about the Polakoff photos, written by Princeton University
Professor Mark L. Taylor, 3) Criticism of the 1998 ABC 20/20 program
about Abu-Jamal, 4) Background on the case, focusing on both the 1982
trial and 1995-97 PCRA hearings, with a focus on Abu-Jamal’s alleged
“hospital confession,” ballistics evidence, and the testimony of Veronica
Jones, 5) Recent police intimidation of Abu-Jamal’s supporters, including
reported death threats against Sgt. DeLacy Davis, of Black Cops Against
Police Brutality, and more.<br><br>
<br><br>
Thank you for your consideration.<br><br>
<br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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