Political prisoners/Mumia news -WW Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit -------------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the June 10, 1999 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------------- POLITICAL PRISONERS/MUMIA NEWS STUDENTS, M.L. KING III SAY RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONER EVERGREEN STUDENTS CHOOSE MUMIA African American political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal may be imprisoned on death row in Pennsylvania. But his struggle for freedom is felt far beyond those jailhouse walls. Just ask the graduating class at Evergreen State College in the state of Washington. Gov. Gary Locke was originally invited to give the keynote talk at Evergreen's June 11 graduation ceremony. Believing Locke was unavailable, the students voted to have Abu-Jamal speak instead. When the students later discovered Locke was available, they decided to have both people speak. Abu-Jamal recorded a 13-min ute videotape to be played at the ceremony. But Locke--a Democrat who supports the death penalty-- bowed to pressure from state police groups and says he will boycott the Evergreen commencement ceremony. The governor's office, local media and the police have put pressure on the students to "disinvite" the former Black Panther--so far without success. The Concerned Students, Faculty, and Staff of the Evergreen State College noted: "Abu-Jamal's presence at this graduation ceremony indicates a conscious movement across the nation to recognize Mumia as a political prisoner. A radical radio journalist, he remains an outspoken critic against the death penalty, police brutality, and institutionalized racism. ... "Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering a Philadelphia police officer in 1981 by what his supporters believe to have been a flagrant example of a flawed judicial system. "Many graduating students welcome the opportunity to hear Mumia speak as well as to make a strong statement of opposition to an unjust trial." Senior Stephanie Guilloud added, "Selecting Mumia Abu- Jamal as the graduation speaker is an historic opportunity that will reverberate beyond the walls of this particular institution." PAM AFRICA URGES ANTI-WAR FIGHT On May 30, Pam Africa--the coordinator of International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal--joined with the National People's Campaign's Monica Moorehead to ask Abu-Jamal's supporters to join the June 5 mass march from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Pentagon protesting the U.S./NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Africa and Moorehead coordinated the 25,000-to-30,000-strong Millions for Mumia demonstration in Philadelphia April 24. In their joint appeal, Africa and Moorehead said: "We are told that the war is to help the people of Kosovo. But how can this be true when right here at home Black, Latino, Asian, Native and Arab peoples face racism and police brutality while their communities are being economically devastated? "One horrifying example was in 1985 when Philadelphia police--in a tactic perfected by the Pentagon--dropped a bomb on the MOVE house that incinerated 11 children, women and men and set fire to 62 nearby houses. "The Pentagon and NATO want to be the cops of the world-- and the war against Yugoslavia is a form of international police brutality on a huge scale," they charged. In April, Mumia Abu-Jamal wrote of the U.S./NATO war against Yugoslavia: "This isn't about `human rights.' It isn't about `ethnic minorities.' And it also isn't about `genocide.' It's about establishing who's boss in the next century." SUPREME COURT UPDATE Supreme Court Justice David Souter has granted Pennsylvania an extended period to reply to Abu-Jamal's April 22 petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review his case, reports Clark Kissinger. The state has until June 24 to reply. June 24 also marks the justices' last conference before their summer recess. "It seems unlikely that the court will act on Mumia's petition this term," Kissinger com mented, "although it technically could happen." More likely, the Supreme Court's decision will come during the fall term, which starts in October. Then the next phase of the court battle is likely to begin. Abu-Jamal's lead lawyer, Leonard Weinglass, said the Supreme Court will probably bump the case to a lower federal court. Although the extension lessens the likelihood that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge will sign a new death warrant this summer, Millions for Mumia urged supporters to stay on alert. If a new death warrant is signed, day-after demonstrations are scheduled in many cities. An emergency national protest is scheduled for Philadelphia the following weekend. For more information, readers can visit the web sites at www.mumia.org and www.peoplescampaign.org. KING: `REMAIN STEADFAST IN STRUGGLE' Southern Christian Leadership Conference President Martin Luther King III issued a statement marking the 14th anniversary of the MOVE house bombing May 13. King said in part: "My father's words that `Freedom only comes through persistent agitation, through rising up against the system of evil,' were true in 1982 when Mumia Abu-Jamal was unjustly convicted for the death of a Philadelphia policeman because he dared to use national airwaves to agitate for the rights of MOVE and for racial and economic justice. They are true today as we continue to fight for his freedom." He said: "We live in a society shrouded in hypocrisy, a nation that expects its children to abhor violence but takes every opportunity to promote the `might is right' philosophy. We preach and advocate and even legislate peaceful conflict resolution and the right to peaceful protest, but in our national policy, our military policy, our police militarization policy and more, we practice, promote and commend violence and the adherence to the dictates of the privileged few. "From the aerial bombing of MOVE to the unjust incarceration of MOVE members, Mumia Abu-Jamal and countless others; to the unjustified and unpunished killings and beatings of people of color; to the `blue mentality' pervading police forces across the country that rewards brutal behavior; to the increasing incidents of police abuse and harassment of even white Americans, we understand the need to continue and remain steadfast in our struggle for freedom," King concluded. CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND MARCH JULY 3-4 A mass civil-disobedience action to support Mumia Abu- Jamal is planned for July 3 at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Several prominent individuals--including Ossie Davis, Manning Marable, Ani DiFranco, and Rafael Cancel Miranda--will be among those arrested. A mass march through Philadelphia is planned for July 4. Actions are also planned in San Francisco and other cities. For more information, readers can call Millions for Mumia in New York at (212) 633-6646 or in San Francisco at (415) 821-6545. - END - (Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@workers.org. For subscription info info send message to: info@workers.org. 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