- Emergency Protests! The U.S. Court of Appeals Rejects All Appeals for Mumia Abu-Jamal - SF, LA, Portland, NYC, National
Please call the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition in NYC (212) 330-8029 or the ICFFMAJ, Pam Africa at (215) 476-8812 or Suzanne Ross (917) 584-2135 for East Coast info. mumia.org
PROTEST!! Fri 3/28 - SF, LA, Portland, NYC --4/-- Date TBA - SF and National Sat 4/19 - Philadelphia
PRESS RELEASE
The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal P.O. Box 10328 Oakland, CA 94610 510-268-9429 or 510-387-7714 [email protected]
March 27, 2008
PRESS CONFERENCE/Media Release For Immediate Release For further information call: Jeff Mackler, Director 510-268-9429 or 510-387-7714
PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR:
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 5 PM FEDERAL COURT HOUSE 7TH AND MISSION STREETS SAN FRANCISCO, CA
The U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT REJECTS ALL APPEALS FOR INNOCENT DEATH ROW INMATE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ORDERED TO HOLD NEW SENTENCING HEARING WITHIN 180 DAYS. IN SUCH A HEARING JURY'S DECISION WILL BE LIMITED TO A FINDING OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT OR EXECUTION BY LETHAL INJECTION
JURY PROHIBITED FROM FINDING OF INNOCENCE
LOCAL PROTESTS SET FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 28 FOLLOWED BY NATIONAL PROTEST APRIL 19 (SAN FRANCISCO) AND APRIL 19 (PHILADELPHIA).
"THE DECISION OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT IS A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE," SAID JEFF MACKLER, DIRECTOR OF THE MOBILIZATION TO FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL. "DESPITE MASSIVE EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE THE COURT REJECTED OUR DEMAND FOR A NEW TRIAL WHERE THE TRUTH COULD BE HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME."
In a shocking decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected all Mr. Abu-Jamal's demands for a new trial. In 1982 Mr. Abu-Jamal was falsely convicted of the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in a trial where 11 of 14 Black jurors were systematically excluded and where critical evidence proving the defendant's innocence was excluded.
On death row for 26 years, Mr. Abu-Jamal, an award winning journalist and the author of nine books, has led a campaign for a new trial and freedom that has won the support of groups ranging from Amnesty International and the European Parliament to the San Francisco, Detroit, and Berkeley city councils.
Abu-Jamal's attorneys will appeal today's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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FREE MUMIA!!
In solidarity,
Jeff Mackler and Laura Herrera, Co-Coordinators Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal 510-268-9429Mumia Abu-Jamal - Legal Update [PLEASE CIRCULATE]
10 September 2007 00:12:14 GMT-07:00
Dear Friends:
We continue to await a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, concerning my client, Mumia Abu- Jamal. This complex case was orally argued before a three-judge panel on May 17, 2007, following extensive litigation which included voluminous briefing and motions. In my experience of successfully defending a large number of murder cases involving the death penalty, it was a great day.
It is impossible to know what the federal court ruling will be. If the judges follow the law and fairly apply the U.S. Constitution, we will win. As to when, long ago I projected a decision would be forthcoming this fall; it could come any day. One thing is certain: whomever loses will seek a rehearing and petition the U.S. Supreme Court.
I have previously described the different rulings that the federal court could make. Nevertheless some people have recently sent out e- mail containing false information. Contrary to their claim, the federal court cannot impose a sentence of "life in prison without parole". Only a jury verdict could result in such an outcome, unless in the event of a penalty reversal the prosecution elected not to seek the death penalty. Likewise the court unfortunately cannot order that Mumia be released, for that would require a new guilt- phase jury trial and a favorable verdict which is certainly our goal.
To once more clarify the legal situation, the scenarios of how the U.S. Court of Appeals might rule include: Grant an entirely new jury trial of the guilt phase; Order a new jury trial limited to the issue of life or death; Remand the case back to the U.S. District Court for further proceedings; or Deny all relief. Racism, fraud, and politics are threads that have run through this case since Mumia's 1981 arrest. The issues in this matter concern the right to a fair trial, the struggle against the death penalty, and the political repression of an outspoken journalist.
Mumia's objective is a reversal of the murder conviction and death sentence, and the granting of an entirely new trial. At the end of that jury trial I expect to win and see my client freed so that he can finally go home to his family.
Thank you for your interest in this campaign for human rights.
Yours very truly,
Robert R. Bryan
Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123-4117
Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
ALL OUT FOR MUMIA IN PHILLY ON MAY 17 Download Flyer Here (PDF)
ORAL ARGUMENTS for Mumia in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals will finally begin on May 17th in Philadelphia.
As a result of these hearings he can either get a new trial, life in prison without parole or executed.
On May 17 at 8:30AM, be at the U.S. Courthouse in Philadelphia on 6th and Market Streets to demand JUSTICE for Mumia.
For more information call (212)330-8029 or (215)476-8812
PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE LEGAL UPDATE REGARDING THIS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN MUMIA'S CASE HERE
http://www.freemumia.com/pdfs/3.22.07Update.pdf
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) • [email protected] • (212) 330-8029
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Mumia Abu-Jamal, born Wesley Cook 4-24-1954 grew up in the North Philly Projects. Mumia was named Lieutenant of Information for the Philadelphia branch of the Black Panther Party at the age of 15. at the age of 20 Mumia started his Radio Journalism career with a news commentary called "Black Times Audio" for WRTI. At 26 Mumia appeard in the January 1981, Philadelphia Magazine as "One to Watch" for bringing "a unique dimension to radio reporting" and being the president of the local chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Mumia was the first journalist to properly report on the MOVE activists and to expose the racially motivated injustices and brutalities of the Philadelphia Police department, that murdered MOVE activists, forced miscarriages by kicking MOVE mothers in the stomaches, dropping C-4 on the MOVE Headquarters and neglecting to put out the flames until 60 other houses were burnt to the ground including the MOVE Headquarters, while MOVE activists tried running out of the burning house police shot at them forcing them back into the burning house.
Mumia also had exposed Frank Rizzo (who went from nightstick swinging abusive PIG to precinct commander to police commisioner to mayor) for his discriminatory use of federal housing funds and publicized his attempts to change a city charter so he could run for a third term. Rizzo told Mumia "they (the people) believe what you write and what you say, and it's got to stop! one day, and I hope it's in my career , yo're going to have to be held responsible and accountable for what you do."
to make ends meet while doing radio news commentaries and journalist jobs mostly for free, Mumia took a cab driving job. after being robbed twice Mumia bought a gun to protect himself. on December 9, 1981 Mumia was driving past 13th and Locust when he saw a commotion in the street. A man was held over the hood of a police car while being beaten with a flashlight. when Mumia recognized the man being severely beaten by Philadelphias finest, he immediately curbed the car and ran over to his brother Billy, to assist him and hopefully stop the PIGS from beating him more than they already have.
As Mumia ran across the street, he never heard a sound but he knew he had been shot when something lifted him from his feet. after being shot, beaten, ran head first into fire hydrants and light poles Mumia was charged with murdering a cop. although the hospital was just around the corner a few blocks away from where Mumia was shot, it took the ambulance 30-60 minutes to arrive.
when Mumia was taken to the hospital the scene was NEVER secured, no yellow tape, no pigs anybody could walk through the crimescene, take, touch or plant ANYTHING. but the as far as the police department was concerned they didn't need evidence because they had Mumia Abu-Jamal, ex-Black Panther, journalist who was well known for exposing racism and police brutality, same person who the Mayor of Philadelphia told "they (the people) believe what you write and what you say, and it's got to stop! one day, and I hope it's in my career , yo're going to have to be held responsible and accountable for what you do."
Mumia was kicked out of his own trial for demanding to represent himself which is his right to do so, prosecution witnesses (who actually changed their stories since and have admitted to saying what the police department threatened them into saying and some of which had charges of their own mysteriously "dropped") were never challenged in court.
guns were never tested to see if Mumia's gun had actually been fired that day. there was never a gunpowder residual test on Mumia's hands to see if he ever even fired a weapon that day, bullet fragments were "LOST", prosecutors claim that Mumia shot officer Faulkner in the back then stood over him and shot him in the face just after Faulkner shot Mumia in the chest from the ground. Pathologists report that Mumia's wound was a "downward projectile" meaning Mumia was shot while either on the ground, or face to face with either Faulkner or another possible shooter, who witnesses have reported seeing running away from the scene, but were never given the chance to testify on Mumia's behalf.
A juror who admitted that he couldn't be fair to the defendant Mumia was selected as foreman. the public defender who admitted was unfit for such a case, never interview a single witness in preparation for the trial, and didn't have funds for defending a capital case. the prosecutor removed 11 quilified African-americans from the jury. he also argued for the death penalty because of Mumia's affiliation with the Black Panther Party, a practice later condemned as unconstitutional by the US supreme court. a former hitman named Arnold Beverly has admitted to being the one to kill officer Faulkner, for getting in the way of mob and corrupt police work.
Mumia just spent his 50th birthday on deathrow where he has been for over 22 years, with never receiving a fair trial. Please help him get the fair trial he deserves.
for more info:
www.mumia.org
www.mumia2000.org
www.refusandresist.org
www.fremumia.com
www.freemumia.org
www.prisonradio.org
millions4mumia.org