Fight Back News Service urges all our readers to support this event

Mumia Abu-Jamal—father, husband and grandfather—is an internationally renowned US political prisoner, widely honored for his piercing indictments of the racial inequities and brutal imperialist powers of the US. Abu-Jamal was originally targeted for surveillance and “neutralization” when he was a 15 year-old spokesman for the Black Panther Party in Philadelphia, by the FBI.

By the age of 26, Mumia Abu-Jamal was an award-winning radio journalist with a wide following, known as the “voice of the voiceless” and outspoken in his defense of the MOVE organization. On December 9, 1981, Mumia saw a police officer assaulting his brother. When he approached the scene he was critically shot, brutally beaten by the police, framed for the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner and, in a sham of a trial, sentenced to death. Abu-Jamal is innocent!!!

Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mumia and countless other aging political prisoners are facing another death sentence, along with all the thousands of other aging, vulnerable and immune-compromised prisoners in Pennsylvania and across the country. We can’t let them be murdered in their cells by this inhumane medical neglect. Join with the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ), the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC), Mobilization 4 Mumia, The Campaign to Bring Mumia Home, the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition Bay Area and the many more organizers and activists in this International action to #FreeThemAll4PublicHealth!

Demands:

\* Gov. Tom Wolf: Approve immediate reprieves for Mumia and ALL political prisoners!

\* Incarceration during a global pandemic SHOULD NOT be a DEATH sentence

\* Immediate compassionate release for ALL aging, vulnerable and immune-compromised prisoners

\* Provide all prisoners with PPE and COVID-19 test on demand

\* End the solitary confinement lockdown NOW

\* Place those who are symptomatic into off-site medical facilities immediately.

From – http://www.freemumia.com/2020/04/twitter-storm-for-mumia/

#UnitedStates #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #MumiaAbuJamal #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalPrisoners #Antiracism #PoliticalRepression #COVID19

Frackville, PA — Car caravans carrying over 40 people travelled from Philadelphia and New York City today to SCI Mahanoy prison in Frackville, Pennsylvania, in an effort to save the life of Mumia Abu-Jamal. After months of medical neglect, this U.S. political prisoner, who has supporters worldwide, had been diagnosed with and hospitalized for diabetic shock on March 30.

His family, friends and political supporters, many of whom have been actively fighting for Abu-Jamal’s freedom for decades, say that the prison authorities exacerbated his illness through bad diet and medical neglect and are trying to carry out an unofficial execution of the prisoner. They are calling for continued protests to prevent this execution.

Abu-Jamal had been rushed to Schuylkill Hospital in Pottsville, Pa., on March 30 for undiagnosed adult-onset diabetes with blood sugar levels over 700. Normal levels fluctuate around 100, and standard diabetes charts show 300 as dangerously high and requiring immediate treatment. After only two days in the civilian hospital, Abu-Jamal was returned late on April 1 to the prison infirmary — the same one that had mistreated his illness for months while his condition worsened.

Today, prison officials initially refused any in-prison visits to the world-renowned former death row prisoner. They relented after six carloads of supporters from Philadelphia, including a van of Philadelphia Student Union high school activists, and more cars from New York City converged at the entrance to the prison.

Those able to visit included Abu-Jamal’s brother, Keith Cook, Mike Africa, Johanna Fernandez andI Abdul Jon. They reported on Abu-Jamal’s shockingly diminished state of health: His skin was discolored and extremely scarred by severe eczema, and he appeared to have lost 80 pounds.

Although Abu-Jamal was confined to a wheelchair and hampered by slurred speech, they said he was alert. He told them, “I believe in the power of the people.”

Abu-Jamal spent almost 30 years on Pennsylvania death row after he was convicted of first degree murder on July 3, 1982, stemming from the 1981 killing of a white police officer in Philadelphia. He has consistently proclaimed his innocence.

Amnesty International maintains that Abu-Jamal’s original trial, which was irredeemably tainted by politics and racism, failed to meet international fair trial standards. State and federal appeals for a new trial to prove his innocence have been systematically denied by the courts.

Mass movement saved his life before

Immediately after Abu-Jamal’s execution was scheduled in the summer of 1995, a march of 25,000 people in Philadelphia forced the state to rescind the execution. Another 17 years of worldwide protests finally won Abu-Jamal’s release from death row in 2012.

Thousands of phone calls and emails to the Department of Corrections since Abu-Jamal was hospitalized forced officials to relent on their refusals to allow family members and friends to visit him.

Nonetheless, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections appears intent on executing him by medical neglect. Had prison doctors diagnosed and treated him for type 2 diabetes — which would be the standard diagnosis for such commom symptoms as eczema, skin rashes and frequent urination that Mumia experienced over the previous three months — he would not have needed to be rushed unconscious to the hospital.

Speakers demanded the right of all prisoners to decent health care. They insist prison officials allow specialist doctors of Abu-Jamal’s choice to assess, diagnose and treat whatever is the cause of these symptoms.

Following the rally at SCI Mahanoy, the assembly packed up picket signs and banners and traveled 80 miles south to the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Officials initially refused to meet with protesters, but as the crowd grew in size — and obviously showed they were not in a mood to leave — DOC Press Secretary Susan McNaughton agreed to meet with about 20 supporters who argued for Mumia’s life, with many documenting the encounter.

“Millionaire convicted murderer John DuPont was allowed to have his choice of medical personnel treat him,” said Joanna Fernandez. “Why can’t Mumia?”

“Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus was executed. Haven’t you learned anything from that?” said Kevin Price. “It was a state execution back then too!” yelled someone from the back of the crowd.

“We’ll be here every day until we get what Mumia’s needs,” said Pam Africa.

The demonstrators demanded a face-to-face meeting with DOC Commissioner John Wetzel on April 6, and only left after McNaughton promised to relay the requests to her supervisors.

A press release from the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home, the Free Mumia Coalition, MOVE, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Philadelphia International Action Center listed the following demands: no execution by medical neglect and torture; daily visits by Mumia’s family, friends and attorneys; quality health care and treatment for all prisoners; and the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal, all political prisoners and the terminally ill and elderly (over 55) from Pennsylvania prisons!

What you can do to help

People are urged to continue making calls to Secretary of Department of Corrections John Wetzel at 717-728-4109 to demand Mumia be immediately allowed to be treated by doctors of his choice.

On Feb. 13, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf declared a moratorium on the death penalty. Call his office to demand a halt to the state’s attempt to execute Mumia through medical neglect: 717-772-2500.

Donations to help pay for lifesaving medical care and other costs can be made through tinyurl.com/nv7jqem.

To view the video, “Mumia’s family and supporters present demands to the Dept. of Corrections, Mechanicsburg, PA 4/3/2015” go to: by Power to the People Radio Program

To view the video, “April 3 NYC emergency protest: No medical execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal!”, go to by Peoples Video Network

#FrackvillePA #MumiaAbuJamal #PoliticalPrisoners

Philadelphia, PA – After 30 years, political prisoner and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal is no longer on death row. On Dec. 7, 2011, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams announced that he would not seek a new sentencing hearing to try to re-sentence Abu-Jamal to the death penalty. He has now been moved to SCI Mahanoy after spending the last 30 years on Pennsylvania’s death row.

This is a stunning development in Abu-Jamal’s case. He has been on death row since 1982, after being wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for killing a police officer in 1981. A broad and powerful movement rallied in defense of Mumia for decades, decrying the racism and injustice in his case, going up against seemingly impossible odds to try to stop his execution and win his freedom.

District Attorney Williams’ decision not to pursue the death penalty for Abu-Jamal comes after an Oct. 11, 2011 U.S. Supreme Court decision to not hear the Philadelphia district attorney’s appeal of a federal court ruling that that the sentencing portion of Abu-Jamal’s 1982 trial had violated the constitution. The Supreme Court decision forced the district attorney to either conduct a new sentencing hearing or change Abu-Jamal’s sentence to a life term without parole. Williams chose not to conduct a new sentencing hearing, likely fearing a reopening of any portion of Abu-Jamal’s thoroughly flawed trial. As a result of this decision, Mumia Abu-Jamal no longer faces the death penalty.

While Abu-Jamal sat in a small cell on death row in virtual isolation for three decades and came close to scheduled execution dates several times, the courts stonewalled his attempts to win justice up and down the line. In that context, his supporters consider this a victory, though one that doesn’t bring true justice. It simply opens the door to the next phase of the struggle – to win freedom for Mumia. According to a statement by the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, “This is not an ending, it is a new beginning for the movement supporting Abu-Jamal's quest for release.”

Write to Mumia Abu-Jamal to express your solidarity. His new address is:

Mumia Abu-Jamal

#AM 8335

SCI Mahanoy

301 Morea Road

Frackville, PA 17932

#PhiladelphiaPA #MumiaAbuJamal #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #DeathPenalty #DeathRow #PoliticalPrisoners

Revolutionary journalist, and former member of the Black Panther Party, Mumia Abu Jamal is unjustly imprisoned for the killing of a police officer in Philadelphia. Overwhelming new evidence shows that Abu Jamal was denied a fair trial.

In 1981, Abu Jamal was driving a cab and working as a writer for local and national newspapers. Early one morning, he came upon a scene in North Philly. A police officer was struggling with a man, who Abu Jamal found out to be his brother. In the incident, Abu Jamal was shot, as was the cop. Witnesses not allowed to testify at the trial, describe seeing a third person fleeing from the scene. When the police arrived on the scene, Abu Jamal was beaten severely, then brought to the hospital. The officer died on the way to the hospital.

The Police claim that Abu Jamal the shooter, yet the gun registered to him was .38 caliber and the gun that killed the officer was .44 caliber. The prosecution was unable to connect Abu Jamal's gun to the murder. The prosecution could not confirm that Abu Jamal had even fired a gun that evening, which is standard procedure in a murder case. In later trials, none of this evidence was presented, because of lack of resources in his defense.

Prosecution witnesses have come forward and said the police intimidated them, to tell their (police) story. Some were actually told that pending charges against them would be dropped if they named Abu Jamal as the killer.

Judge Sabo presided over Abu Jamal's original case and the appeals to this date. Widely referred to as “the Hanging Judge,” Sabo has sentenced more people to death than any other judge in US history. All but two have been African American. Sabo has seen the new evidence, but ruled that it is not admissible for a new trial. To have a fair trial, Abu Jamal's case must be presided over by another judge.

Abu Jamal's life long commitment to the fight for justice was used in his trial as means to convict him in front of an all white jury. One issue, that he was a member of the Black Panther Party, was brought up over and over.

The stakes are high. Mumia's life is on the line. He is a Black man and working person who speaks out and tells the plain truth about America today, our country is in the hands of a small group of exploiters who will do anything to keep things the way they are. The rich and powerful hope that by jailing a liberator, they can jail liberation. And that by killing a revolutionary, they can kill the struggle for a world free of oppression.

The trial, conviction, and attempt to execute Mumia is motivated by politics, the kind of politics that says that the privileged have a right to privilege and this is how it has to be.

Anyone and everyone who stands for justice must demand another trial for Mumia. We must do this everyday and in every way. We must reach out to people that we work with, our neighbors, and those in our religious communities. We have to build a movement of millions to free this political prisoner, a brother who has done nothing wrong and everything right. All out to defend Mumia Abu Jamal!

#UnitedStates #Editorial #Editorials #MumiaAbuJamal #MOVE #BlackPanthersParty #PoliticalPrisoners

The following is one in a regular series of commentaries by Mumia Abu Jamal from SCI Greene Prison

The great French writer, Anatoli Franz, once wrote, “The law in its majestic equality, forbids the rich and the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.”

As the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ reach daily record levels and as every major media outlet boasts about the booming economy, the problem of homelessness abounds. A recent TV network report claimed that in New York City alone, over 400,000 people were millionaires and that a bare handful of city residents have annual incomes that exceed that of several nations.

In the midst of this unprecedented wealth, in one of the wealthiest nations on earth, lies hollow, soul-devouring poverty, and even homelessness. In a response that gives a whole new meaning to the term draconian, New York's Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced the city's plans to toss thousands of women, children and men out of city-run shelters and into cold wintry New York City streets.

Those found to be homeless in the streets will find a new place to stay, Rykers Island Prison. And to those who dare seek refuge in the shelters, they are forced to work in what is essentially slave labor, or their children will be snatched away from them and placed in foster homes.

Giuliani, in classic autocrat fashion, has criminalized homelessness.

With a small-minded nastiness of more prison warden than political leader, Giuliani has chosen to banish or browbeat the homeless. Banish them from the streets or to browbeat them into accepting jobs that no one else wants, under threat of prison, or under the fear of the seizure of one's child. For these homeless poor this is not an economic boom but a time of griping terror.

If homelessness is a crime, it is one committed by a system that does not fairly distribute social wealth, does not educate poor youth, nor provide decent social services. In a nation where capital is the greatest possible attainment, poverty is the greatest possible offense. To the ruthless El Duce, Giuliani, the homeless poor are to be put in prison for daring to mar city streets. And better a jail cell than a homeless shelter, for there, one feeds the prison industrial complex.

This is Rudy's job application to the ruling class, as he gives reign his to unbridled ambition. But there's a malevolent method to Rudy's madness, for as Mayor of the capitol of capital, the interests of big business are paramount. It was these interests that pushed for so-called welfare reform, meaning the abolition of welfare, and are pushing now the slave labor angle on the homeless.

Why? Well, scholars Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward in their book, The New Class War, made that point about welfare, which strengthened the hand of labor. They wrote, “If the desperation of the unemployed is moderated by the availability of various benefits, they will be less eager to take any job on any terms.” In short, there is an emerging recognition from analysts of all political persuasions that the income maintenance programs have weakened capital's ability to depress wages, especially by means of manipulating the relative numbers of people searching for work.

In effect, These programs have altered the terms of struggle between business and labor.

As a result, unemployment has lost some of it's terror, both for the unemployed and for those currently working. With those programs now gone or going, the terrors represented by the homeless serve to discipline and curb an anxious working class which is precisely what Rudy means to do.

From Death Row, this is Mumia Abu Jamal.

#WaynesburgPA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Commentary #HousingStruggles #MumiaAbuJamal #Homeless