Contents:
We are entering a critical period in the struggle to save the life of Death Row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Last October 30, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected an appeal for a new trial. In response, Mumia's lawyers, led by noted civil rights attorney Leonard Weinglass, filed a writ before the U.S. Supreme Court, which is scheduled to reconvene in October. Meanwhile, the lawyers are also preparing to file an appeal before the federal district court in Philadelphia.
It used to be that some 30% of appeals in capital cases were successful once they reached the federal level -- a testimony to the high degree of injustice in the lower courts. However, thanks to President Clinton's signing of the 1997 Effective Death Penalty Act, remedy through the federal courts has been severely restricted. Whether or not a new trial is granted will be a political decision, not a legal one -- just as Mumia's arrest, trial, conviction and sentencing to death were all political.
In addition, the Republican Party has chosen Philadelphia as the site for its national convention this July. This may encourage Pennsylvania Gov. Thomas Ridge to sign a death warrant before the appeal process has been completed. In this context, the decision of the federal district court is extremely important.
What this means is that we now have to mount the strongest, broadest, most vigorous effort to bring Mumia's case before the public in order to exert the greatest possible pressure on the federal court.
This is the reasoning behind Mumia Awareness Week, a national and international week of activities designed to make the name "Mumia Abu-Jamal" a household word.
Schedule of events in Milwaukee: [NOTE: All events are free and open to the public.]
Saturday - Sept. 18 - 1 pm
Black & Green Forum
Milwaukee Enterprise Center, 2821 N. 4th St., Room 300
Co-sponsored by Wisconsin for Mumia and Irish Northern Aid (Milw. Unit).
A unique event that will address the on-going struggles for freedom in both Northern Ireland and the African-American community in the U.S., with an emphasis on supporting Irish and African-American political prisoners. The goal is to build solidarity between the Irish-American and African-American communities.
Speakers:
Tuesday - Sept 21 - 7:00 pm
(International Youth & Student Day For Mumia)
A Forum sponsored by the Progressive Student Network (PSN) at UWM and
Wisconsin for Mumia
UWM Mitchell Hall, Room 195
The forum, besides focusing on Mumia's case, will have speakers
addressing the prison-industrial complex; political prisoners; the death
penalty; tuition increases; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
(GLBT) concerns; Leonard Peltier; and upcoming tribunals indicting U.S.
officials for human rights violations in the 79-day U.S./NATO bombing of
Yugoslavia.
Wednesday - Sept. 22 - 12:30 pm
"The Absence Of Justice In The Justice System"
A forum presented by Africans on the Move and the UWM Black Student
Union
UWM Union (room location to be determined).
The forum will highlight some of the contradictions found in the
justice
system including sentencing, women's issues and Mumia Abu-Jamal. For
more
information and location call (414) 374-5408.
Saturday - Sept. 25 - noon
Statewide March & Rally To Demand A New Trial For Mumia Abu-Jamal!
Mumia Awareness Week actions will culminate in a statewide march and
rally
in Madison. There will be a gathering at the State Capitol and then a
march
to the new Dane County Jail. People will be coming from Milwaukee,
Racine,
Kenosha, Green Bay, Sheboygan and many other cities. Everyone is needed!
No
one else can take your place! A car and van caravan will be leaving from
Milwaukee. Drivers and vehicles are needed. Contact Wisconsin for Mumia
at
(414) 374-1034 or E-mail.
For Information on other events in Wisconsin, contact:
Elsewhere in the Midwest:
For national news and updates:
International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Ph: (215) 476-8812; Fax: (215) 476-7551
Email: mumia@aol.com
International Action Center
Ph: (212) 633-6646
Email: iacenter@iacenter.org
Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, in his capacity as founder of the New York-based International Action Center, has drawn up a 19-point indictment charging U.S. and NATO member leaders with war crimes for their conduct before, during, and since the recent war against Yugoslavia.
The purpose of the indictments is to expose the real causes of the war; examine the use of the media as a war propaganda machine to whip up public sentiment for the war; bring out the truth about the criminal conduct of the war; and counter the continuing effort to portray the war as a "humanitarian intervention". The goal is to strengthen the anti-war movement for the many struggles ahead.
Local hearings to gather and present evidence are being organized in cities across the U.S. and in many countries overseas, including in England, Germany, Italy, Russia and inside Yugoslavia itself.
Here in Wisconsin, hearings are set for Saturday, October 23 in Madison and for Sunday, October 24 in Milwaukee. Sara Flounders, co-coordinator for the Tribunal, is scheduled to speak at both Wisconsin hearings. Flounders was a member of the IAC delegation that visited Belgrade during the height of the bombing.
A Milwaukee organizing committee for a Tribunal hearing has been initiated by A Job is a Right Campaign and we are committed to making local participation as broad and diverse as possible. We have received a very positive response from much of the local peace movement, as well as many community organizations. Among those already committed to participate are Casa Maria Catholic Worker, Black Awareness for Change, Repairers of the Breach, Women & Poverty Initiative, UWM Progressive Student Network, and Wisconsin for Mumia.
To join this effort, please contact A Job is a Right Campaign at (414) 374-1034 or email us.
The Madison organizing committee sent out the following press release on Sept. 7:
U.S. Out Now, a Madison area peace coalition, is holding a War
Crimes
Tribunal on October 23 to "name names and place the responsibility for
recent U.S. actions in Yugoslavia, Iraq and Colombia" said Harry
Richardson
of U.S. Out Now. The U.S./NATO air war against Yugoslavia caused untold
death and destruction, while continued U.S. bombings and sanctions in
Iraq
have killed over one million Iraqis. Meanwhile, in Colombia, the third
largest recipient of U.S. military aid, death squads target teachers,
priests, journalists, labor leaders, and peasants.
Harry Richardson added, "One of our members was inspired by the
example of a tribunal held in Italy about the Chilean military takeover
by General
Pinochet in the 1970's. Another of our members attended a recent
Commission
of Inquiry in New York City concerning the U.S./NATO war against
Yugoslavia." The Commission, initiated by former U.S. Attorney General
Ramsey Clark, called for war crimes tribunals to be held throughout the
nation.
The Madison tribunal is scheduled for Saturday, October 23 at
the State
Capitol in Room 411 South from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event features
a
number of nationally known speakers, local activists, and first hand
accounts by people from Yugoslavia, Iraq and Colombia who have suffered
from
U.S. policies in their areas. The event is sponsored by U.S. Out Now and
to
date co-sponsored by: A Job is a Right Campaign-Milwaukee, Columbia
Support
Network, Dane County Peace Coalition, Health Writers, Madison Arcatao
Sister
City Project, NukeWatch, Solidarity, and Women's International League
for
Peace and Freedom-Madison branch.
For more information on the Madison hearing, contact: Harry Richardson, (608) 256-2540; Rae Vogeler, (608) 835-7501.
Called by Casa Maria Catholic Worker
Saturday - Oct. 16 - noon to 1 pm
Reiss Federal Building, corner of 3rd & Wisconsin, downtown Milwaukee
For more information: (414) 344-5745
Since the end of the Persian Gulf War, over 1.5 million Iraqis have died as a result of the U.S./U.N.-imposed sanctions. Over half have been children under the age of five. AJRC urges all its members and friends to attend this important event.
To order, send name, address & check or money order made payable to
"AJRC" to:
AJRC
PO BOX 06053
MILWAUKEE, WI 53206.
Note: "The Feeding Trough" is also available in Milwaukee at People's Books, Readers Choice, Milwaukee Pride, Topping's International Record Store and America's Black Holocaust Museum. In Madison, at Rainbow Books. In New York, at the International Action Center.