Movement to stop execution
1199 workers join Mumia effort
By Greg Butterfield
New York
In January, union delegates and the executive
council representing over 150,000 New York health care workers
voted to endorse the April 24 "Millions for Mumia"
demonstration in Philadelphia to stop the execution of
political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal and demand a new trial. The
delegates also decided to mobilize their union, 1199, to
participate.
1199 National Health and Human Services
Union/sEIU is one of New York's most progressive and militant
unions. In the past the union has supported the struggle
against apartheid, opposed the U.S. blockade of Cuba, and
rallied against police brutality. Its members, including many
women from the African American, Carib bean and Latin
communities, work in the city's privately run hospitals,
clinics and nursing homes.
The delegates responded to an appeal that read:
"This case is not just about one man. It is about police
brutality and the racist use of the death penalty. It is about
the attempt by the bosses and the state to terrorize the
people's movement for justice by threatening to kill known
leaders, creating a long list of labor and civil rights
martyrs.
"The Haymarket martyrs, Joe Hill, and Sacco and
Vanzetti were labor leaders executed on false charges. Martin
Luther King and Malcolm X were assassinated, and thousands of
lesser-know fighters have been killed by police, Klan, National
Guard, armed goons and thugs. ..."
"This 1199 Delegates Council reaffirms support
for freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal," states the official
resolution, "and encourages all union members, families and
friends to attend the `Millions for Mumia' rally on April 24 in
Philadelphia and the mass meeting on Feb. 26 at New York's Town
Hall."
The delegates and executive council voted to
promote the actions in the union's magazine, in mailings,
through phone-banking, and at delegate and chapter meetings.
Buses will be provided for members and their families to attend
the Philadelphia march. An organizer was assigned to coordinate
1199's participation.
The Feb. 26 "Evening of Justice for Mumia" is
being organized to popularize Abu-Jamal's case and build the
April 24 demonstration. To be held in New York's his toric Town
Hall, the meeting will feature E.L. Doctorow, Ossie Davis, Pam
Africa, Ramsey Clark, Geronimo ji Jaga (Pratt), Safiya Bukhari,
Leonard Weinglass, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Leslie Feinberg,
Michael Tarif Warren, Pete Seeger, Robert Meeropol, C. Clark
Kissinger, Monica Moorehead and other special guests.
The "Evening of Justice" begins at 7 p.m. Town
Hall is located at 123 West 43 St. in Manhattan. Tickets are
$10 and are available at the Town Hall box office and from the
Millions for Mumia Mobilization.
Organizers announced that Feb. 27 will be an
all-out mobilizing and visibility day in New York to spread the
word about "Millions for Mumia." Postering, leafleting, street
meetings and sound cars are among the activities planned.
Activists are urged to come to the Millions for Mumia
Mobilization office at 39 W. 14 St., Suite 206, in Manhattan,
at 12 noon.
For more information, call (212)
633-6646 or send e-mail to npcny @peoplescampaign.org. Updates
on the April 24 actions and Abu-Jamal's case
can be found on the Internet at www.peoplescampaign.org and
www.mumia.org.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME
:: U.S. NEWS ::
WORLD NEWS ::
EDITORIALS ::
SUBSCRIBE ::
DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page