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Last Update: Jun 15, 2009
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U.S. REPS. RANGEL AND McKINNEY CALL FOR INVESTIGATION [Jun 21, 2009]
U.S. House Representatives Charles Rangel and Cynthia McKinney have both released the letters they have written to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Let's keep building the momentum behind these two House representatives. Read about their OPEN LETTERS HERE. |
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JUNE 6 UPDATE FROM MUMIA'S ATTORNEY [Jun 09, 2009]
Read here the latest update on legal and other efforts on behalf of Mumia, penned by his attorney, Robert Bryan. This summary includes discussion of the appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court and before the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. There are also summarized here the efforts underway for Mumia in France, Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere.
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EMAJ at PITTSBURGH READERS' EVENT FOR MUMIA [May 19, 2009]
EMAJ Coordinators Tameka Cage (U. of Pittsburgh), Johanna Fernandez (Baruch College, NYC) and Mark Taylor (Princeton Theological Seminary), together with lawyer and activist Martha Connelly, spoke at the Homewood Library in Pittsburgh on the evening of May 8th. It was a spirited event celebrating community youth's reading projects. Fernandez spoke on the present state of Mumia's case, Cage on on the history of violence in communities of color, Taylor on the "Mumia Exception" (see also Patrick O'Connor's recent article on that theme), and Connelly played clips of the film on Mumia, IN PRISON MY WHOLE LIFE. The next morning, Fernandez, along with Chiseko Matambanadzo of Slippery Rock University in PA, visited Mumia and "Sugar Bear" (aka Robert Lark) in Waynesburg, PA, as did Cage a few days later. Thanks to the Homewood Library and Tameka Cage for organizing the event. |
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THE STRUGGLE FOR TROY DAVIS - URGENT AGAIN! [May 19, 2009]
Troy Davis's case needs whatever attention we can give it - yes, again! Let's keep on and get the threat over Davis' head removed once and for all. Go here to sign an online petition and find out more information. For still additional information about the case and regular updates about Davis' struggle, see the Georgia Anti-Death Penalty site. Scroll down, also, for the previous information boxes on Troy Davis on this web site. |
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ANGELA Y. DAVIS VIDEO FOR MUMIA [May 04, 2009]
Activist, author and educator Angela Y. Davis recently spoke in San Francisco on behalf of Mumia. She has done this numerous times for him over the years, but check this out for her latest interpretation of the struggle for Abu-Jamal in the context of today's "new arena of struggle." Davis says at one point, "We have to inhabit our histories differently." Hear more at this site. |
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DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION INTO MUMIA'S CASE! [Apr 30, 2009]
The organizations fighting for Mumia have launched a campaign to demand that a civil rights investigation into Mumia's case be opened by the U.S. Office of Attorney General in the Obama administration. You can sign the petition supporting this effort, and also find a sample letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder about the matter, at the INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER WEB SITE. Sign up now, and do all you can to support this important effort. |
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Mumia on the Economic "Recovery" [Apr 14, 2009]
Mumia has just released a new column on the economic "recovery." Read it at the EMAJ site and elsewhere. It is entitled WORLD TO COME.
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SUCCINCT SUMMARY OF THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION [Apr 13, 2009]
Jeff Mackler has provided a succinct and clear statement on the recent ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court against Mumia. We have posted it on the EMAJ website HERE. Also, see Mumia Abu-Jamal's recent essay on the Batson v. Kentucky case, the precedent-setting case that courts now refuse to invoke on behalf of Mumia. Mumia's essay is entitled, "Beating Back Batson." |
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CURRENT PETITION FOR MUMIA? [Apr 10, 2009]
Have you signed the petition currently circulating on behalf of Mumia? The petition is now nearing 3,500 signatories. We need to build that number, especially in this moment as Mumia moves into ever greater vulnerability to the State's power to execute him. Find the PETITION HERE, sign it, and then circulate it widely to colleagues and friends.
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U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Mumia's Appeal - Today, April 6th 2009 [Apr 07, 2009]
On April 6th, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Mumia's claims on appeal. For background on the basic decision, check out the report at the Free Mumia Coalition site. Just this morning, too, journalist Hans Bennett has additional information, complete with a brief interview with Linn Washington, Jr., and a commentary by Mumia himself on the recent ruling.
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RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA FOR MUMIA - DEC. 6TH [Nov 19, 2008]
The focus point of the movement for Mumia is now DECEMBER 6th, 12 Noon, in Philadelphia. Come show your support for Mumia, especially in this time when we need to rally public support for challenging the legal and political efforts against Mumia. Get a FLYER FOR THE RALLY here, from the Free Mumia Coalition (NYC). Details about the event are also in the flyer. |
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NYC CHURCH SPEAKS OUT FOR MUMIA [Nov 07, 2008]
In keeping with EMAJ's commitment to building a broad coalition of public organizations for Mumia Abu-Jamal, we are pleased to include here a recent statement by the San Romero de las Americas Church - UCC. It is a clarion call for Mumia, and for solidarity with the movement that struggles with and for him on the broad array of issues touching his case. Read it here in both the English version and the Spanish version. Please refer to this widely in work you do, especially when bridging between educational and religious institutions. |
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MUMIA'S ONGOING VULNERABILITY [Oct 25, 2008]
The District Attorney in Philadelphia recently announced its decision to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, trying to turn back the earlier Federal District court decision that any execution of Mumia would require holding a new penalty-phase hearing for him. The D.A. wants to proceed toward execution without being required to hold a new penalty-phase hearing (if they don't hold a new penalty hearing, Mumia's sentence commutes automatically, according to the previous ruling, to life in prison). Meanwhile, Mumia's attorney also is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, still fighting for a complete new trial, a first fair trial. For more of the legal details, laid out in a very instructive and clear manner, see the LATEST FLYER FROM JOURNALISTS FOR MUMIA. Other important issues are summarized there. Read and then keep your movement work for Mumia as strong as you can in these times. |
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TROY DAVIS - UPDATE AND IMPASSIONED EDITORIAL IN NJ [Oct 15, 2008]
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear Troy Davis's appeal. "Terrible injustice" and "outrage" are all terms that apply. Revisit our earlier postings here at EMAJ, and check out the editorial on Troy Davis in the NJ Star Ledger. Check also the latest update from Amnesty International. Keep writing those persuasive protest letters to Georgia! -MT |
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TROY DAVIS' LETTER - Written Before His Stay of Execution [Oct 01, 2008]
From Amnesty International. THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY TROY DAVIS on September 22. Two hours before he was to be executed, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of execution to consider his appeal. Their decision is expected soon. Stop the execution of Troy Davis! |
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MUMIA'S LAWYER SETS MORE BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT [Sep 14, 2008]
In his latest legal update, Mumia's attorney, Robert Bryan, announces he has set several more issues before the U.S. Supreme Court, and these are in addition to an appeal of the Batson claim on racial prejudice in selection of Mumia's jury. Read the LEGAL UPDATE HERE. |
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Town Hall Meeting in Philly - EMAJ's "AMBRO'S DISSENT" [Aug 20, 2008]
International Concerned Family and Friends featured a Town Hall Meeting this Saturday, 12 noon to 5 pm. Energy was high and planning intense. Minutes of the meeting will be posted here as soon as they are available. Speaking at the meeting were Johanna Fernandez and Mark Taylor of EMAJ, Suzanne Ross of the Free Mumia Coalition in New York City, and Monica Moorehead of the International Action Center. All stressed the need to move forward with new ways of impacting a broad public. EMAJ came to the meeting with a new flyer, distilling the key points of Third Circuit Court judge Thomas Ambro's dissenting opinion on Mumia's case. Read the flyer, AMBRO'S DISSENT here.
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ICFFMAJ Emergency Meeting - MINUTES [Aug 01, 2008]
Last night the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal held an emergency meeting in Philadelphia to discuss the present state of Mumia's struggle, in the courts and among the wider public. Read the MINUTES of that meeting here at the EMAJ site and elsewhere. These minutes were forwarded to EMAJ from ICFFMAJ. For Mumia's July 31st response to some of the ideas in these Minutes, see the follow-up report from ICFFMAJ about its recent visit with Mumia. |
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THIRD CIRCUIT DENIES MUMIA'S APPEAL TO RECONSIDER [Jul 23, 2008]
The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia denied Mumia's appeal to have the March 2008 ruling reconsidered. The March ruling was a 2-1 decision against Mumia. Mumia's attorney had asked the entire Third Circuit to meet en banc in order to reconsider the March ruling. It is this that was denied by the Third Circuit Court today. Read more in the essay by Emilie Lounsberry. For Mumia's attorney's response to this decision, read Robert Bryan's letter here, too.
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JULY 4th EVENT FOR MUMIA - REPORT [Jul 09, 2008]
In our statements and release section you can read a thorough report from Hans Bennett of Journalists for Mumia concerning the July 4th observance for Mumia in Philadelphia. The energy and creativity was running high. So check out the texts, the photos, the videos and the speeches HERE AND COURTESY OF HANS BENNETT.
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EMAJ RESPONDS TO NYTIMES' COLUMN ON MUMIA [Jun 19, 2008]
On April 22, 2008, the New York Times published a highly-flawed column in which a Professor Levitts raised a number of questions about Mumia's fight for due process and freedom, and about the movement that is supporting Mumia. The column made simplistic use of the recent book by Smerconish and Faulkner, Murdered By Mumia, and displays a breezy ignorance about the facts of Mumia's case. Read the response by EMAJ co-coordinators, Cage, Fernandez and Taylor. |
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LEGAL UPDATE FROM MUMIA'S ATTORNEY [Jun 19, 2008]
Read HERE for Robert Bryan's commentary on the decision of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to grant his request for an extension for filing matters before the circuit court. |
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BREAKING!! - THIRD CIRCUIT RULES AGAINST MUMIA ! [Mar 29, 2008]
On March 26, the Third Circuit of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, released its 118-page ruling on the latest claims by Mumia, which had been pending since May 2007, when the Third Circuit heard arguments. The ruling denies all Mumia's claims, save the one concerning the penalty hearing, which the Federal District Court had already granted. The result is that the ruling mandates a new penalty hearing, to determine life imprisonment or execution. One circuit judge, Ambro, dissented vigorously on the Third Circuit's rejection of Mumia's Batson claim. The majority ruling of the Third Circuit is still an outrage, especially because it went against the knowledge it had through this dissenting colleague, and dismissed Mumia's Batson claim (that Black jurors were discriminated against in the process of juror selection). Mainly, the Third Circuit ruled against the Batson claim for two reasons: (a) because the claim was not submitted in a "timely" manner, contemporaneous with prosecutors' discrimination against black jurors, and (b) because Mumia's lawyers had not made a prima facie (apparent and even minimal) argument for the discrimination. Concerning the first reason, dissenting Judge Ambro points out that in finding Mumia's claim to not be timely simply because it wasn't "contemporaneous," the Third Circuit went against its own precedents. In other words, on other cases, the Third Circuit had not been so strict. Ambro nails the point: "Our Court has previously preached the merits of Batson claims on Habeas reveiw in cases where the petitioner did not make a timely objection during jury selection ... and I see no reason why we should not afford Abu-Jamal the courtesy of our precedents" (p. 87, emphasis added). Concerning the second reason, Ambro develops his dissenting view even further by turning to the McMahon training tape, a video produced by a previous Philadelphia prosecutor's office about how to keep certain kinds of Blacks off of a jury where there is a black defendant. Ambro reads this video as sufficient grounds for establishing a prima facie case for discrimination. Ambro especially notes prosecutor McMahon's insulting and blatant assertions in the training video about younger Black women and why they should be avoided when selecting jurors. Said McMahon in that tape: "In my experience, black women, young black women, are very bad. There's an antagonism...and so younger black women are difficult, I've found" (91). Nevertheless, the Third Circuit could overlook such language, and rule against their dissenting colleague and against Mumia. It is outrageous, and we need to be in the streets and in other venues, firmly and intelligently exposing the political regime that produces such "legal" decisions. Go HERE for information on demonstrations and events for Mumia. [Mark Taylor, EMAJ.] |
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UPCOMING PAROLE HEARING FOR MOVE 9 [Mar 22, 2008]
The MOVE 9 - now a remaining 8 members - come up for parole in 2008, with the crucial parole hearings occuring in April 2008. Go HERE to Hans Bennett's Journalists for Mumia site to find out how you can write letters on behalf of MOVE members. Journalist and Temple University journalism professor, Linn Washington, Jr., has also been giving interviews and lectures on the treatment of MOVE in Philadelphia. Check out his material and write your letters today. You can also sign an online petition for the MOVE 9. |
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21 FAQS ON THE POLAKOFF PHOTOS [Feb 09, 2008]
Read here the 21 FAQs on the Polakoff Photos, the earliest photos of the crime scene of Officer Daniel Faulkner's death. To produce these FAQs, EMAJ and Journalists for Mumia (J4M) worked together, in consultation with Professor Michael Schiffmann who discovered them. Many people have been asking questions about the photos. What are they? What is their significance? Where have these photos been ever since they were taken at the crime scene? Read these carefully and print them out as you wish. |
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NEW REVIEW OF "MURDERED BY MUMIA" [Dec 22, 2007]
One of the coordinators of EMAJ, Mark Taylor of Princeton Theological Seminary, reviews the new book by Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish, Murdered by Mumia: A Life Sentence of Loss, Pain and Injustice. Read the FULL REVIEW here on the EMAJ site, or at OpEd News which has just picked it up. |
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NJ VOTES TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY [Dec 19, 2007]
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The New Jersey Assembly approved legislation Thursday to abolish the state's death penalty, making Gov. Jon S. Corzine's signature the only step left before the state becomes the first in four decades to ban executions. Assembly members voted 44-36 to replace the death sentence with life in prison without parole. The state Senate approved the bill Monday. Corzine, a Democrat, has said he will sign the bill within a week. Read more on the story from the NJ COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY, members of which have been working strenously and effectively for years. On how this victory might enable other states to follow in New Jersey's steps, read the COMMENTARY HERE, and see also the reflections on the campaign by Celeste Fitzgerald, Director of the NJ Coalition for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. |
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TODAY SHOW OF DEC. 6TH - WATCH VIDEO HERE! [Dec 10, 2007]
The Today Show interviewer, Matt Lauer, referenced the Polakoff photos that EMAJ has been trying to get into the press this year, and that Journalists for Mumia (JMAJ) has been pursuing so successfully of late with their press conferencing and press contacting. Kudos to JMAJ ! Let's all keep the pressure on. The Today Show, the highest rated morning news show in the country, even displayed the Polakoff photos briefly and raised the issues of the photos in interview with Smerconish and M. Faulkner. Moreover, street protestors for Mumia were outside the studio in NYC, leading the interviewer to ask Maureen Faulkner if she ever thought the protestors might have a case. So, good work, New Yorkers for Mumia. Watch the TODAY SHOW VIDEO HERE. (for more on the Polakoff photos, see the EMAJ site boxes below). Read Hans Bennett's superb and rich account of the entire Today Show event, and how it emerged from previous organizing for Mumia. There's also a strong review of the Faulkner/Smerconish book, by Dave Lindorff, here |
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REUTERS COVERS PHILLY PRESS CONFERENCE FOR MUMIA [Dec 05, 2007]
Rueters news has done a story on the press conference held by Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (JMAJ) to counter the distortions being circulated by Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner in their new book, Murdered by Mumia. Read the Reuters story HERE. The press conference on Tuesday, December 11, was moderated by Hans Bennett of JMAJ, and featured some of the best writers and organizers who have studied Abu-Jamal's case for years: David A. Love, Dave Lindorff, Linn Washington, and Pam Africa. You can hear an audio recording of the press conference HERE. |
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SPECIAL FEATURE - THE POLAKOFF PHOTOS [Oct 08, 2007]
* See the box immediately below, on this web site, about the Polakoff photos discovered and analyzed by University of Heidelberg scholar, Michael Schiffman. The Polakoff photos, never considered formally by any judge or jury, were taken at the crime scene before the police photographers arrived at 13th and Locust Sts. Other special features below include: - a trailer for an upcoming film on Mumia. - information about the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals deliberations on Mumia's case. - guidelines for how you can add your name to the campaign asking U.S. House of Representative, John Conyers, to open investigations into Mumia's case. - essays by educators, Paul Robeson Ford (U. of Chicago) and Tameka Cage (U. of Pittsburgh), on key aspects of Mumia's case. |
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POLAKOFF PHOTOS GIVE MORE EVIDENCE MUMIA WAS DENIED FAIR TRIAL [Oct 06, 2007]
EMAJ here posts a special PRESS RELEASE about Michael Schiffman's 2007 discovery of photos, the Polakoff photos, which show the crime scene where Officer Faulkner was killed and where Mumia was beaten and arrested for the killing. These were taken before any of the police photos that were used at Mumia's trial. The police and prosecutors refused all offers from the photographer to use these photos. The Polakoff photos show a crime scene in 1981 that was almost completely unsecured by police, with officers holding crime weapons in their bare hands though they denied doing so at trial, and, with someone evidently having changed the position of Officer Faulkner's hat at the scene for later dramatic effect at trial. These photos constitute more evidence which jurors never saw, adding to the sense of public analysts and leaders in human rights organizations, in the U.S. and abroad, that Mumia did not receive a fair trial. Read the PRESS RELEASE HERE. (The final page of the press release offers a one page summary of the key points regarding the existence of these photos.) To actually see some of these photos, go to the Journalists for Mumia web site at Abu-Jamal-News.com. |
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NEW MOVIE ON MUMIA - SEE TRAILER HERE [Sep 22, 2007]
Come October a new movie on Mumia Abu-Jamal appears at the London Film Festival and then Rome Film Festival. View the TRAILER HERE. Amnesty International has endorsed the film as part of its standing call, since 2000, to grant Mumia his first, fair trial. Among Amnesty's comments on the film are these words: "We've documented Mumia Abu-Jamal's plight several times before and we strongly welcome this film as a fresh opportunity to focus attention on his situation. We hope that the film's viewers will back our call for a fair retrial for Mumia Abu-Jamal - and also support our work opposing the death penalty in the US and around the world." The film will be showing on U.S. colleges and universities. * The 90-minute film profiles Mumia Abu-Jamal's case through the eyes of 25-year-year-old William Francome, born on the day of Abu-Jamal's arrest. The film, entitled In Prison My Whole Life, was directed by Marc Evans and produced by Livia Firth and Nick Goodwin Self. EMAJ has yet to screen the film, but hopes to organize around it on U.S. campuses in the future. |
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MUMIA COURT DECISION DUE SOON? DAY AFTER PLANS [Sep 13, 2007]
Mumia's attorney and the movement are expecting a decision on Mumia's case to come down any day (certainly this Fall), from the Third Circuit court. Go HERE for more information. |
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KENNETH FOSTER'S DEATH SENTENCE STRUCK DOWN! [Aug 30, 2007]
For folks who haven't heard, Kenneth Foster's death sentence was struck down today by Texas Gov. Rick Perry after a 6-1 recommendation by the Perry appointed Board of Parolees. This is just a tremendous victory for those of us around the world who fought to make sure today wasn't the day Kenneth was put to death. READ HERE.
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THE BRIEFS BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT - YOU CAN READ UP HERE! [May 20, 2007]
Now that the May 17th hearing has come and gone, the U.S. Third Circuit Court continues deliberation on Mumia's briefs. It may take weeks before the Circuit Court's ruling is released. Read the full brief (124 pages)submitted by the lawyer team, and also the NAACP Amicus brief (31 pages) submitted by NAACP Legal Defense Team Lawyer, Christina Swarns, who also argued for the NAACP brief at the May 17 hearing. Keep in touch with all the Mumia sites about developments (LINKS, above). |
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May 16 - TEACH-IN SUCCESS! [May 19, 2007]
EMAJ held its Teach-In on Mumia's case at Drexel University on May 16. In spite of hard-driving rain, 55 people attended. The real success was securing campus space in Philly, where the FOP has frightened so many other sponsors out of providing space. Kudos to Jeffrey Rousset, Drexel Senior, who worked with Johanna Fernandez (EMAJ, Carnegie Mellon Univ.) to nail down this space. Tameka Cage, also a Teach-In speaker, helped us plan the event. Stay tuned for word about EMAJ's next steps. Mark Taylor. |
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CIRCUIT COURT RULES AGAINST D.A.'S MOTION TO DISQUALIFY [Apr 21, 2007]
Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal, a new support group for Mumia organized by Hans Bennett and Michael Schiffman, announced yesterday that the U.S. Third Circuit Court has ruled against the Philly D.A. Office which had asked that all judges on the Circuit Court be disqualified. The Court also granted Mumia's attorney's request for a half an hour extra time to make oral arguments on May 17th. Read HERE the communique from Journalists for Mumia. Keep planning to be in Philadelphia on April 24th and May 17th. MT |
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NEW LOCATION FOR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ON APRIL 24TH [Apr 19, 2007]
The FOP intimidated the Cleff Club sufficiently to force them to cancel the planned birthday observance for Mumia. But the meeting will continue at the American Friends Service Committee building at 15th St. and Cherry Street. Danny Glover, Sonia Sanchez, and Ramona Africa will be present. Read more HERE. Journalist LINN WASHINGTON shows why the FOP's bullying tactics are "perilously close to terrorist threats." See "Imus Isn't the Only Issue to Address." |
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D.A. SEEKS TO DISQUALIFY ALL JUDGES IN CIRCUIT COURT [Apr 19, 2007]
Recently the D.A. of Philadelphia filed a motion seeking to disqualify all judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mumia's lawyer has responded (read here). The lawyer is interviewed in a very helpful essay by independent journalist HANS BENNETT, "Interview: Mumia's Attorney Responds to D.A.'s Attorney." |
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THEOLOGICAL EDUCATOR SPEAKS OUT [Apr 13, 2007]
EMAJ draws from all disciplines, with a number of its educators coming from theological and religious studies, including such figures as James Cone, Harvey Cox, Cornel West, Mark Cladis, Dwight Hopkins, Anthony Pinn (and myself, Mark Lewis Taylor). Here we feature a new essay by University of Chicago Divinity School doctoral student, PAUL ROBESON FORD. Ford explores Mumia's theology in "FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING, LIVE FROM DEATH ROW." |
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TEACHING MUMIA - NEEDED NOW, MORE THAN EVER [Apr 12, 2007]
Read Tameka L. Cage's Go Tell It On the Mountain," about teaching Mumia's life and work. Cage writes, "When Mumia was unjustly convicted for murder in 1982, I was five years old, preoccupied with imagination and doused with the innocence and curiosity of a toddler. Twenty-five years later—the number of years Mumia has been on death row—I remain filled to the brim with imagination." Read the full essay to see how Cage, now a visiting professor of English at Bucknell University, critically teaches Mumia today. |
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FOP Attacks NJ Rep. Don Payne [Mar 23, 2007]
See the IMPORTANT NEW MESSAGE about the Fraternal Order of Police's recent targeting of U.S. House member Donald Payne (Dem., NJ) for his principled "No" vote against U.S. House Resolution 1082. Payne voted against this Resolution (passed, Dec. 2006), which sought to punish the French suburb of Paris, St.-Denis, because it had named a street in honor of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Then, see the box immediately below and sign the Open Letter to Conyers to protest that Resolution. Please, whether or not you are in Don Payne's congressional district, please fax to him a word of thanks, using our form letter HERE. Or phone him directly at (202) 225-3436. |
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ADD YOUR NAME TO THE OPEN LETTER TO CONYERS [Feb 06, 2007]
You can affix your name to the Open Letter circulating in the U.S. and the world, demanding that John Conyers of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary open formal hearings to reconsider the House Resolution, passed, December 6, 2006, that condemns St-Denis, France, for naming a street in honor of Mumia. Signatures for this Open Letter are being collected in France and it is now on the way to Africa, even as it circulates in the U.S. READ & SIGN THE OPEN LETTER TO CONYERS HERE. |
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ANOTHER GOOD ONE FROM LINN WASHINGTON [Dec 18, 2006]
Read Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Temple University journalism professor, Linn Washington, Jr.'s new column, "Abu Jamal's Agony: 25 Years and Counting," in THE BLACK WORLD TODAY. Washington exposes the hypocrisy of PA Congressmen passing resolutions against St. Denis, France, while doing nothing about racist drug laws in the USA. Article available HERE. |
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CHALLENGE THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVES [Dec 17, 2006]
368 U.S. Congress people voted for H. R. 1082, censuring St. Denis, France, for naming a street after Mumia. Our struggle for Mumia will not be won simply by writing congress, but these congressional Representatives also need to be challenged. Check the Roll Call Here, and find out how the Rep in your district voted. EMAJ provides here A SAMPLE LETTER to use as content for your own fax or phone contact. Find out who your Representative is here, then find contact info for your Congressperson HERE. Keep on! |
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New Reports on Mumia's Confession after 25 Years (Hans Bennett) [Dec 16, 2006]
The Independent journalist who has been analyzing Mumia's case for five years, HANS BENNETT, has a new essay out on two new reports alledging now, after 25 years, that Mumia confessed to killing Faulkner in 1981. Bennett ably challenges these reports, exploring why they are being offered up now. Rest assured, those working to execute Mumia will serve up these latest voices and spread the false claim that Mumia confessed. So, read Bennett's essay here, and be ready to respond. |
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MUMIA'S PEN AND SIGNS OF THE TIMES [Dec 14, 2006]
Read FIVE RECENT COLUMNS from Mumia, now posted on the EMAJ web site. Mumia writes on "The Taming of the Democrats, " "John Kerry and the Politics of Wusses," "Saddam's Sentence," "Iraq: Echoes of Vietnam," and "The Road to Oaxaca." Check out these and more columns by Mumia at other sites, too. |
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PHILLY COPS' STORIES CONTRADICTORY [Dec 14, 2006]
Read Temple University Professor Linn Washington (also writer for the Philadelphia Tribune), and his reporting on the latest ways Philadelphia cops have been contradicting themselves about Mumia, departing now even from the script of the prosecution at Mumia's trial. Linn Washington's article is "Still More Keystone Kops Antics: The Mumia Abu-Jamal Case after 25 Years." Check out the very latest updates from Mumia's attorney HERE. |
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U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION AGAINST STREET NAMING IN FRANCE [Dec 14, 2006]
On December 6, 2006, in a non-binding vote, the U.S. House of Representatives intervened in pending FEDERAL litigation in the case of Pennsylvania death row inmate, Mumia Abu-Jamal. By a non-binding vote of 368-31 a motion introduced by two Philadelphia-area congresspeople was approved demanding that the French government intervene to pressure the Parisian suburb of St. Denis to reverse an earlier decision to name a street, Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal, honoring a man who they believe did not receive a fair trial in the United States. The City of St. Denis last week refused to change its decision.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi voted for the Resolution, and hence her office was picketed in San Francisco on December 12 in an effort organized by the Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal. Read more about these developments at the Mobiliation web site, HERE.
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NAMING A HARLEM STREET FOR MUMIA [Nov 01, 2006]
A key effort is underway to name another street for Mumia, now in Harlem. A PETITION (click here) is online, soliciting names to support this action. Signers from outside NYC are also urged to add their names to the petition. On naming streets and Mumia's struggle, see Mark Taylor's column, "Why Naming Streets for Mumia Makes the Powers Rage."
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CELEBRATE PAM AFRICA'S 60th BIRTHDAY! [Nov 01, 2006]
A gala fundraiser will be held for Pam Africa as she turns 60 on this November 18, 2006. READ HERE the information about the event at the Salem Methodist Church in Harlem. This link will also enable you to download a flyer about the celebration. See you there! |
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MUMIA'S ATTORNEY MAKES OCTOBER 24 REPORT [Oct 28, 2006]
HERE ON OUR WEB SITE you can read Robert Bryan's latest report on the legal proceedings in Mumia's case. This is his summary of a brief filed on the previous day, including the text of the brief itself. Mumia's case may move especially quickly in the coming months, so stay closely attuned to this and other Mumia web sites. Check for one example, Michael Schiffman's site in Germany. |
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OCTOBER 2006 INTERVIEW WITH MUMIA [Oct 27, 2006]
Follow THIS LINK to read a recent interview with Mumia. It is a Block Report Interview, conducted by Minister of Information JR of the POCC. To listen to the interview, find THE AUDIO HERE. |
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KEY ARTICLE ON STREET-NAMING CONTROVERSY [Sep 30, 2006]
MUMIA: MORE LIES FUEL MOVEMENT FOR FREEDOM By Linn
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MICHAEL FRANTI'S NEW MUSIC FOR OUR TIMES [Aug 30, 2006]
Musician, Michael Franti's new CD, YELL FIRE, brings beauty and inspiration to our struggles for justice and peace today. A steady advocate for Mumia over the years, Franti focuses in song many issues of Mumia's life and work. Read on this site, Mark Taylor's 2000 EMAJ interview with Franti. Keep up with Franti at his SPEARHEAD VIBRATIONS web site. |
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UK DISTINGUISHED LAWYERS SEND SUPPORT FOR MUMIA TO U.S. CIRCUIT COURT [Jul 21, 2006]
Over 130 of the UK’s most distinguished lawyers are signatories to a letter initiated by Ian Macdonald QC and Legal Action for Women, to the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals about the racism in the original trial and subsequent hearings of Mr Mumia Abu-Jamal. Find the UK PRESS RELEASE HERE. The international support for Mumia continues to grow, with support generated by members of the general public and by distinguished jurists and scholars. |
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VIDEO OF PRESS CONFERENCE FOR FRANCE'S "MUMIA ABU-JAMAL STREET" [Jun 25, 2006]
Supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal's struggle, represented by the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ) and the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (FMAJC) held a press conference on June 1st in Philadelphia. Click and VIEW THE VIDEO HERE. For more information about the controversy over "Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal," the new street named for Mumia in St.-Denis, France, see the announcements and links in the below panels. |
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NEW REPORT ON VIOLENCE & ABUSE IN U.S. PRISONS [Jun 16, 2006]
A new report documents the culture of violence and abuse plaguing many U.S. prisons and the damage they do to the wider society. The 2.2 million imprisoned suffer the consequences, and often so do whole communities when traumatized returnees are released, as are some 600,000 prisoners each year from U.S. prisons. The report, Confronting Confinement, is a 126-page document that is a new important resource. |
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PA OFFICIALS RAGE OVER FRENCH STREET NAMING FOR MUMIA [Jun 10, 2006]
The Philadelphia City Council and two U.S. Representatives from Philadelphia, urged on by the Fraternal Order of Police, have waged a new, more intensive campaign against Mumia since the naming of a street in Mumia's honor in St.-Denis, France ("Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal"). The F.O.P. has issued angry press releases, and two Pennsylvania congresspeople have proposed House Resolution 407, with the Philadelphia City Council backing, which calls for the U.S. to sanction, condemn and/or boycott the French city. Both the French city Mayor and its City Council have refused to back down in the face of Pennsylvania authorities' pressure. Check out the UPDATE from International Concerned Family and Friends. In their update you can also learn how you can write to express your support for Mumia. (See also the previously posted essay by Ed Herman about the Philadelphia Inquirer's "sheer editorial bias" on this matter.) |
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MUMIA DEBATED IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (INKIE) - AGAIN [May 24, 2006]
Check out Ed Herman's trenchant critique and summary of the way The Philadelphia Inquirer has written about Mumia in the most recent weeks. The controversy now has centered on the naming of a Paris Street for Mumia, but much more is involved. Herman is a Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania. Herman is an expert on media ideology, has authored several books, and co-authored Manufacturing Consent with Noam Chomsky. See his article now, here. |
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WELCOME TO EMAJ-ONLINE ! [Mar 20, 2006]
EMAJ is now online with its web site. For the latest GOOD LEGAL NEWS ABOUT MUMIA (12.06.05) see this site's legal update HERE NOW. Check the "Educators List" to confirm that your name is listed as you wish it to be. Read Mumia's recent columns on this web site at Mumia Columns in our "Mumia Index." The most recent is "The United States of Torture." |
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MUMIA IN OUR TEACHING & WRITING [Nov 29, 2005]
As a new academic year begins, let us make sure Mumia's writing and work are referenced in our teaching and publishing. Let us keep him foregrounded as the colleague he is - in our shared ventures of inquiry, teaching, communication and political struggle for justice and peace. The U.S. wars abroad and the wars at home make his struggle and perspective as important as ever. Many educators have found that Mumia's work is one resource that often catalyzes student reflection upon the linkages between the U.S. prisons and the U.S. military, between those doing prison time and all those suffering this war time. |
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ON "IMAGES OF INCARCERATION" [Nov 28, 2005]
In the spirit of Mumia's own writings, this site does not just foreground Mumia's stuggle, but also the larger struggle for justice and peace of which his is a part. For one entry into the connections between Mumia and a larger struggle of our time, go to the above right and click on Mumia's recorded speech under "Images of Incarceration" to listen to his commentary on the Abu-Ghraib prison/torture facility. EMAJ ONLINE will change the homepage image of incarceration periodically. |
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MUMIA'S LETTER TO THE MOVEMENT - SUMMER 2005 [Oct 10, 2005]
Dear Brothers and Sisters: Ona Move! This is just a note to send my hearfelt thanks to all of you; you from every corner of the nation and globe, in your hundreds, and tens of thousands, have gathered, protested, marched and sat in . . . how I thank you! Your loving yet militant support has been an inspiration. We are not done yet! As we struggle on, the issues of unfairness remain; an unfair judge; an unfair process, a jury unfairly stripped of people of color. These injustices have still not been fairly and truly redressed. With your help, we'll not just struggle, but win! Only in America can a court reporter hear a judge say, "I'm going to help them fry the nigger!" report it, and the judiciary turns a blind eye! And yet, we struggle on, for life and liberty, which, with your help, we'll gain. Thank you. Mumia Abu-Jamal Summer 2005
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