[AFIB] Mumia News: Reports on Recent Mobilizations/Upcoming Actions
ozgurluk at xs4all.nl
ozgurluk at xs4all.nl
Tue Nov 10 19:17:59 GMT 1998
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 17:25:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Burghardt <tburghardt at igc.org>
Message-Id: <199811110125.RAA01571 at igc6.igc.org>
To: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl
Subject: [AFIB] Mumia News: Reports on Recent Mobilizations/Upcoming Actions
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*****
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|| * -- SPECIAL -- * November 10, 1998 * -- EDITION -- * ||
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* FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL! *
* FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS & PRISONERS OF WAR! *
* SPECIAL EDITION *
* * *
_________________________________________________________________
MUMIA NEWS:
REPORTS ON RECENT MOBILIZATIONS & UPCOMING ACTIONS
_________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
------
1. (PANW) PAN-AFRICAN NEWS WIRE: Thousands Fill the
Streets of Downtown Philly Demanding Mumia's
Release
2. (AFA-S) ANTI-FASCIST ACTION - STOCKHOLM: `Stop the
Execution of Mumia' - Demonstration in Oslo,
Norway
3. (IG) INTERNATIONALIST GROUP: Brazil - Demonstration
Demanding Freedom Now for Mumia Abu-Jamal in
Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro
4. (PANW) PAN-AFRICAN NEWS WIRE: Mumia's Case and the
Plight of Political Prisoners/Prisoners of War
5. (R&R!) REFUSE & RESIST!: Upcoming Actions and Meetings
to Free Mumia
* * *
* PAN-AFRICAN NEWS WIRE *
E-mail: ac6123 at wayne.edu
Weekly Dispatch I
- Sunday, 8 November 1998 -
-----
_________________________________________________________________
THOUSANDS FILL STREETS OF DOWNTOWN PHILLY
DEMANDING MUMIA'S RELEASE
_________________________________________________________________
By Abayomi Azikiwe Thabang, PANW Correspondent
* * *
PHILADELPHIA, PA, 8 November (PANW) - In response to the
denial of the appeal of death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, 5,000
people took to the streets of Philadelphia on Saturday in
opposition to the continuing incarceration and persecution of the
award-winning journalist and former official of the Black Panther
Party. Many of the participants in the demonstration had traveled
to Philadelphia from as far away as New York City, Washington,
D.C., North Carolina, Detroit and Paris. The majority of the
crowd were young people who have played an instrumental role in
publicizing the plight of Jamal, who was arrested, charged and
convicted of killing a white police officer in 1981. Since the
signing of a death warrant by Republican Governor Tom Ridge in
1995, Jamal has become an international symbol of the continuing
legacy of political repression in the United States.
Saturday's demonstration began with a rally at the State
Office Building on Broad street, where organizers set-up a public
address system on a flat-bed Ryder truck. A host of speakers
discussed the present plight of Jamal, who faces the possibility
of another death warrant being signed for his execution by the
Governor of Pennsylvania. Speakers included Pam Africa of MOVE
and the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia
Abu-Jamal, Leonard Weinglass, lead defense attorney for the
former Black Panther, Safiya Bukhari of the Jericho '98 National
Steering Committee, Julia Wright of France, who is a journalist
and the daughther of the legendary African-American novelist and
essayist Richard Wright, New York Poet Michael Price, C. Clark
Kissinger of Refuse and Resist, as well as many others. After
over two hours of speeches at the State Office Building, the
crowd lined up behind a van and then moved into the streets
marching down Broad Street to the offices of the local
newspapers, the Inquirer and the Daily News.
The Ryder truck remained poised in the middle of the crowd
as its public address system continously projected the voices of
organizers who expressed outrage at the decisions of the local
and state courts in Pennsylvania in the case of Jamal. At the
offices of the Inquirer and the Daily News, the speakers
denounced what it claimed to be the racist and biased coverage of
the legal issues involving the Mumia Abu-Jamal case. Marchers
then moved on to the offices of Philadelphia District Attorney
Lyn Abrahms, who was accused of perpetuating the continued
incarceration of Jamal in addition to being severely criticized
by a host of speakers for her failure to prosecute police
officers who have committed crimes, including murder against
people in the city of Philadelphia. "The police are responsible
for the murder of two of my children and the deaths of 11 members
of my family", said Consuella Africa of the MOVE organization in
front of the District Attorney's Office.
IMPACT OF DEMONSTRATION
The crowd of demonstrators blocked the streets of central
Philadelphia for four hours. Traffic was re-routed by the scores
of police officers who remained near the protestors throughout
the course of the day. At City Hall, another rally was held,
where statements were read from local and national activists, who
expressed their support for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Continuing their protest, the crowd then moved to other
areas of downtown, where they marched through the streets
blocking traffic and chanting slogans such as , "brick by brick,
wall by wall, free Mumia Abu-Jamal". Onlookers, which consisted
of many tourists visiting the entertainment district in downtown,
looked on with astonishment as the public address system
connected to the flat-bed truck, blasted pro-Mumia slogans and
speeches which were applauded by the large crowd of marchers.
Speakers at Saturday rally, called for continued vigilance
in the campaign to win the exoneration of Jamal. Speakers also
included Mumia's daughter, sister and long-time personal friends
and colleagues.
Pan-African News Wire articles may be freely distributed for
non-profit educational and research purposes. We request
that the original source be cited when the dispatches are
circulated. Distribution for profit is strictly prohibited
without the expressed consent of the Pan-African News Wire.
Distributed By:
THE PAN-AFRICAN RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTER
211 SCB BOX 47, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT, MI 48202
E-MAIL: ac6123 at wayne.edu
*****
* ANTI-FASCIST ACTION - STOCKHOLM *
Anti-Fascistisk Aktion-Stockholm
Box 38196 * 100 64 Stockholm * Sweden
Tel: +46-([0]70)-566 5135
E-mail: afastockholm at hotmail.com
Web: http://hem2.passagen.se/afa/
http://www.motkraft.net/afa
- Mot Sexism, Rasism, Kapitalism och Homofobi -
- Sunday, 8 November 1998 -
-----
_________________________________________________________________
`STOP THE EXECUTION OF MUMIA' - DEMONSTRATION IN OSLO, NORWAY
_________________________________________________________________
Source: ralf at anarch.free.de
* * *
Paintbombs and firecrackers were thrown at the US Embassy
during a demonstration in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal in Oslo,
Norway on Saturday the 7th of November. About 100 people
participated on very short notice, and promised to work harder by
mobilizing more activities within the next weeks in order to stop
the execution of Mumia. The manifestation was arranged by the
supportcommitete for Mumia from the autonomous youth house Blitz
in Oslo.
*****
* INTERNATIONALIST GROUP *
E-mail: internationalistgroup at email.msn.com
- Friday, 6 November 1998 -
-----
_________________________________________________________________
BRAZIL: DEMONSTRATION DEMANDING FREEDOM NOW FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 IN VOLTA REDONDA, RIO DE JANEIRO
_________________________________________________________________
Militant workers in the city of Volta Redonda, Brazil, site
of the largest steel plant in Latin America, are organizing
a demonstration this Saturday, November 7, protesting the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court's denial of the appeal by Mumia
Abu-Jamal for a new trial. Their leaflet calls to "join in
the protest to stop U.S. imperialism from murdering this
courageous fighter against injustice." The protest is being
held at 11 a.m. in the Juarez Antunes Plaza near the main
entrance to the steel mill. Support has already been pledged
by a number of area unions. The demonstration was initiated
by the Liga Quarta-Internacionalista do Brasil (LQB),
section of the League for the Fourth International.
The following is translated from the special supplement to
Vanguarda Operia, (5 November 1998), newspaper of the LQB.
* * *
MOBILIZE THE POWER OF THE WORKING CLASS TO FREE MUMIA ABU-
JAMAL NOW!
A demonstration will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday,
November 7, in Volta Redonda's Juarez Antunes Plaza to demand:
Freedom Now for Mumia Abu-Jamal! Down with the Racist Death
Penalty! Participate and join in the protest to stop U.S.
imperialism from murdering this courageous fighter against
injustice! Today, this struggle is more urgent than ever.
Mumia Abu-Jamal, former Black Panther and renowned black
journalist, has spent 16 years on death row in the U.S. state of
Pennsylvania. His case has become the focus of the fight against
the racist death penalty in the United States and
internationally. Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
rejected Mumia's appeal for a new trial. Now, the governor may
sign a death warrant at any moment.
The courts and police want to silence forever this eloquent
spokesman for the oppressed, known as the "voice of the
voiceless." The racist ruling class says that Mumia Abu-Jamal
must die. We say that Mumia must live!
In 1981 Mumia Abu-Jamal was found near death after being
shot by the police. His "crime" was that he survived and
continued to speak the truth. So he was framed up on the charge
of killing a police officer, and a right-wing judge sentenced
Mumia to death as part of the system of "legal" lynching and
police terror against oppressed minorities. Today, it is the
exploited and oppressed who must stop the oppressors who want to
murder Mumia. The last time a death warrant was signed against
him, in 1995, a wave of protests around the world stayed the hand
of the racist bourgeoisie. Unions representing millions of
workers have spoken out for Mumia, including many from South
Africa, dockers in the U.S., journalists in Brazil and else
where. In Volta Redonda, more than 200 people participated in the
proletarian protest at the Monument to Zumbi [leader of Brazil's
most famous slave revolt], which was called by Luta Metalurgica,
predecessor of the LQB, together with the municipal workers and
other groups and sectors.
The fight for Mumia's life and freedom is a crucial part of
the world-wide fight against racism and capitalist repression. In
Brazil it is part of the fight against the racist extermination
of street children, forced sterilization of black women, the
murder of homosexuals, massacres of landless peasants and daily
repression by racist capitalism's armed fist: the police. Writing
about the struggle against slavery in Brazil, Mumia declared:
"Zumbi is one of my heroes." In the U.S. the racist death penalty
is a legacy of slavery, and the international fight for its
abolition has as its focus the struggle to free Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Today, it has been shown once again that there is no justice
in the capitalist courts, nor can there be, for fighters for
black liberation. In this crucial hour, we must mobilize the
power of the organized working class, of all the victims of the
system of racist injustice, to demand immediate and unconditional
freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Participate and bring your friends,
neighbors, fellow workers and classmates: Saturday, November 7,
11 a.m. in the Juarez Antunes Plaza. Down with legal lynching!
Abolish the racist death penalty! Freedom NOW for Mumia
Abu-Jamal!
Volta Redonda, 5 November 1998
Liga Quarta-Internacionalista do Brasil
section of the League for the Fourth International
*****
* PAN-AFRICAN NEWS WIRE *
E-mail: ac6123 at wayne.edu
Weekly Dispatch II
- Monday, 9 November 1998 -
-----
_________________________________________________________________
MUMIA'S CASE
AND THE PLIGHT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS/PRISONERS OF WAR
_________________________________________________________________
By Abayomi Azikiwe Thabang, PANW
* * *
Editorial Review, 9 November (PANW) -- Since the denial of
the Post-Conviction Relief Appeal (PCRA) of Mumia Abu-Jamal on
October 29, there has been an upsurge in protests decrying the
blatantly unjust and prejudice character of the Pennsylvania
State Court system. Despite the overwhelming evidence that would
exonerate Jamal and consequently bring about his release from
both death row and maximum security prison in Pennsylvania, this
talented and committed activist and scholar remains under a real
threat of execution by the state. This last past weekend,
thousands of people gathered in Philadelphia, San Francisco and
other cities to denounce the actions of the state courts and to
plan new strategies for the next phase of the struggle to free
Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Last week's demonstrations in Philadelphia and other cities
represented a continuing series of manifestations calling for the
freedom and general amnesty for political prisoners in the United
States. Earlier this year, activists worked to build the Jericho
'98 March and rally on the White House that took place on March
27 in Washington, D.C. Later on during September the supporters
of political prisoners and prisoners of war were outraged by the
supposed "non-binding" resolution passed by the US Congress
calling for the extradition of Black Panther Party/Black
Liberation Army member Assata Shakur. Therefore, when the recent
Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision was handed down last week, it
was not unusual for people to respond with righteous indignation
and political action. Jamal supporters have pledged to continue
their efforts to build even a broader base among the people of
the US and the world.
Safiya Bukhari of the Jericho '98 National Steering
Committee, called for activists in the campaign to free Mumia and
other political prisoners to expand their efforts by reaching
people who still may not be aware of the methods that could be
used to reverse the plight of these freedom fighters that are
languishing in the dungeons of America. "We must even reach out
to those people who are no longer active in the struggle and
demand that they become involved in the campaign to free Mumia",
Bukhari said at the rally held at the Pennsylvania State Office
Building in downtown Philadelphia. Julia Wright of France stated
that people can contribute to the struggle to free Mumia on many
different levels. She stated that Emory Douglas, the former
Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party, had created a
revolutionary artistic poster calling for the freedom of Mumia.
CRITICAL STAGE OF THE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL CASE
Attorney Leonard Weinglass stated during his speech in
Philadelphia at the State Office Building, that although the
Governor's office had indicated to the defense team over the last
several days that they were not in a rush to sign another death
warrant against Mumia, people should keep in mind the
developments of 1995, when after the filing of the PCRA, the same
forces made similair gestures. However, Weinglass pointed out
that as soon as the appeal was filed in 1995, the Governor's
office proceeded rather quickly to sign a death warrant against
Mumia.
THE NEED FOR AMNESTY
At this stage the struggle for the release of all political
prisoners in the United States has moved to a new level where
activists in the revolutionary and progressive movements are
calling for a general amnesty for those people who have been
incarcerated or exiled because of political activities and
beliefs. This effort takes on an added significance since the
attacks against individual prisoners and exiles have intensified
over the last several months. Herman Fergusan of Jericho '98 sees
these actions taken by the US Government against select political
prisoners and exiles as being a part of a larger pattern of
political repression reflective of the present atmosphere of
fascism in the country.
Consequently, the challenge laid down by the speakers and
organizers of the demonstrations in Philadelphia and other cities
to broaden the base of support for Mumia and other PP/POWs, has
become a question of whether or not the progressive forces will
be able to meet the new wave of repressive court rulings and
legislation that is designed to cripple and demoralize the
struggle, with an effective response that will not only gain
results for the freedom of political prisoners but also build a
movement to fundamentally transform the racist and exploitative
system that is currently in place?
Pan-African News Wire articles may be freely distributed for
non-profit educational and research purposes. We request
that the original source be cited when the dispatches are
circulated. Distribution for profit is strictly prohibited
without the expressed consent of the Pan-African News Wire.
Distributed By:
THE PAN-AFRICAN RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTER
211 SCB BOX 47, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT, MI 48202
*****
* REFUSE & RESIST! *
305 Madison Ave. Suite 1166
New York, NY 10165
Tel: 212-713-5657
Fax: 212-822-8535
E-mail: refuse at calyx.com
Web: http://www.calyx.net/~refuse/
- Monday, 9 November 1998 -
-----
_________________________________________________________________
UPCOMING ACTIONS & MEETINGS TO FREE MUMIA
_________________________________________________________________
AFIB EDITOR'S NOTE: Refuse & Resist! has been on the
frontlines in the fight to Free Mumia! R&R! maintains an
excellent web resource with much info. The notices below are
from the "Demonstrations" page on the R&R! web server; it is
updated frequently so check back often:
http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/demos.html
* * *
Cleveland, OH
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1:00 PM
MARCH & RALLY FOR MUMIA!
Public Square, downtown Cleveland. Gather at NW Quadrant,
Ontario & Superior. If you live in the surrounding suburbs,
on a college campus in NE Ohio, in small towns and rural
areas, come join us! Bring your friends, banners, etc. WE
CAN'T LET THEM KILL MUMIA!
info: 216-556-3512
Minneapolis, MN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1:00 P.M.
INDOOR RALLY FOLLOWED BY MARCH
Cedar-Riverside People's Center
20th Ave. & Riverside Ave., West Bank
info: Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal
hotline: 612-649-4579 Website: http://www1.minn.net/~meis
Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal meets every
Wednesday at 7:00 PM at Arise! bookstore, 2441 Lyndale Ave.
S.
New York, NY
WEDNESDAYS
The Free Mumia Abu Jamal Coalition, PO Box 650, New York, NY
10009, meets on the first and third Wednesday of every
month, 7-9 P.M. at International Action Center, 39 West 14th
Street, RM 206, (between 5th and 6th avenues).
Pittsburgh, PA
Information about meetings and protests can be found by
calling the Western PA Committee to Free Mumia Abu Jamal
hotline at 412-734-8315
Rochester, NY
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 5:00 PM
DEMONSTRATION AT THE LIBERTY POLE DOWNTOWN
org. by Rochester (NY) Mumia Defense Committee
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 7:00 PM
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
New Bethel Church, Rochester, org. by Rochester (NY) Mumia
Defense Committee
Santa Cruz, CA
MONDAYS
The Santa Cruz Coalition to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal meets every
Monday evening at 7:30pm at the Walk-in Center 314 Front St.
near Laurel St. the mailing address is: PO Box 263,
Brookdale, Calif. 95007, 408-426-3596
Seattle, WA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 8:00 PM
Seattle Mumia Defense Committee strategy meeting, 2222 2nd
Ave (2nd floor) in Belltown (between Blanchard and Bell).
SMDC is setting up an info line at 728-9781.
Washington, DC
A demonstration will be held in front of the Supreme Court
at 5:00 PM if the death warrant is signed on the day after
it is signed.
Meetings of International Concerned Family and Friends of
Mumia Abu-Jamal are held every Tuesday at 6:00 at 404 H St.,
NE.
Toronto, Canada
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1:00 PM
DEMONSTRATE @ US CONSULATE
(University avenue north of Queen St) with the following
demands: FREE MUMIA NOW! NO TO THE RACIST DEATH PENALTY!
Dublin, Ireland
SATURDAY, November 14, 1:00 PM
There are stalls every Saturday at 1:00 in the city centre.
* * *
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
Funds are urgently needed for legal defense! Make a
contribution to the Bill of Rights Foundation (earmarked
"Mumia Abu-Jamal Legal Defense") and mail it to:
Committee to Save Mumia Abu-Jamal
163 Amsterdam Avenue No. 115
New York, NY 10023-5001
For more information on how you can become involved in the
struggle to Free Mumia!, check out the following groups and
get involved!
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Tel: (215) 476-8812 or (215) 476-9405
Fax: (215) 476-7551
E-mail: mumia at aol.com
Web: http://www.mumia.org
The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
3425 Ceasar Chavez
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: (415) 821-0459
Fax: (415) 821-0166
Partisan Defense Committee
P.O. Box 99, Canal Street Station
New York, NY 10013-0099
Tel: 212-406-4252
E-mail: 75057.3201 at compuserve.com
Refuse & Resist!
305 Madison Ave. Suite 1166
New York, NY 10165
Tel: 212-713-5657
Fax: 212-822-8535
E-mail: refuse at calyx.com
Web: http://www.calyx.net/~refuse
* * *
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E-Mail: tburghardt at igc.org
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Web: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~aff
+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+
+: A N T I F A I N F O - B U L L E T I N +:
:+ :+
+: NEWS * ANALYSIS * RESEARCH * ACTION +:
:+ :+
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++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
++++ if you agree copy these 3 sentences in your own sig ++++
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