MILLIONS FOR MUMIA
International actions back new trial
By Greg
Butterfield
Danielle Mitterrand, president of the France Liberté
foundation and former first lady of France, visited
Mumia Abu-Jamal on death row April 26 in Waynesburg, Pa. She
was accompanied by Pan-African journalist Julia Wright.
Mitterrand's visit was timed to coincide with the April 24
Millions for Mumia demonstrations that brought tens of
thousands of people into the streets of Philadelphia and San
Francisco. The marchers demanded a new trial and no execution
for the African American political prisoner.
Mitterrand's trip was just one example of the protests,
press conferences and statements by groups around the world who
joined in the Millions for Mumia effort. The broad interest
from workers' organizations, communities and political groups
shows new breadth and depth for the international movement to
win Abu-Jamal's freedom.
The former Black Panther and award-winning radio journalist
was sentenced to death for the 1981 killing of a white
Philadelphia cop. Abu-Jamal has always maintained his
innocence. Supporters say he was framed because of his lifelong
fight against racism and police brutality.
"All of the reports that were given to me were reports by
legal experts who have studied the trial. They all agree that
he is innocent, and I agree, especially now that I have seen
him," Mitterrand told reporters.
Later, in meetings with Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell and
U.S. Justice Department officials, Mitterrand described the
U.S. death penalty--which disproportionately targets people of
color--as a violation of international law and human
rights.
Earlier, on April 21, European Parliament member Aline
Pailler, also from France, met with Abu-Jamal. Pailler called
him "a symbol of the struggle to abolish the death
penalty."
At the Philadelphia rally, Pailler announced that the
European Parliament had presented a resolution to the United
Nations calling for a moratorium on executions, especially
aimed at the U.S. The UN Commission on Human Rights adopted the
resolution April 28.
A 60-person French delegation participated in the April 24
demonstration. Solidarity messages were given by the French
General Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT), the French
Communist Party and the Communist Youth.
At the San Francisco march, a masked representative of
Mexico's Zapatista Army of National Liberation read a
birthday greeting to Abu-Jamal from Zapatista leader
Subcomandante Marcos.
In a letter addressed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and
Gov. Tom Ridge, Marcos wrote: "I do not ask clemency, pardon,
nor mercy of you for Mumia Abu-Jamal. I demand justice,
something which I believe is within your powers."
`Mumia renowned for solidarity'
One hundred thousand public-school teachers in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, carried out two one-hour work stoppages
April 23. They demanded the immediate release of Abu-Jamal.
El Comite Pro-Libertad Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Socialist Front
of Puerto Rico , and others held an April 24
demonstration outside a prison in San Juan, the Puerto Rican
capital. The same day independence hero Rafael Cancel Miranda
came to Philadelphia. He led the 700-strong Latinos for Mumia
contingent there.
Millions for Mumia received a solidarity message from the
Macheteros, an armed-struggle movement fighting for Puerto
Rican independence from U.S. colonialism. It read in part, "The
people of Puerto Rico by way of the Ejercito Popular
Boricua-Macheteros (EPB) salute you and wish to express their
solidarity with the Black, Asian, Latino and other progressive
communities fighting for the immediate release of Mumia
Abu-Jamal.
"As a journalist, Mumia repeatedly condemned and denounced
the colonial situation in Puerto Rico. Moreover, as Minister of
Information for the Black Panther Party in Philadelphia,
Brother Mumia became renowned for his anti-imperialist advocacy
and solidarity with the national liberation movements of the
world and the people's struggle for human rights."
The statement concludes: "Today Mumia represents an
important example for all who continue to confront and fight
racism, repression and police brutality."
In Peru, the Solidarity with the Peoples Movement
(MSP), a coordinating body including the Teachers, Health
Workers, Metal Workers, Electrical Workers, Phone Workers, and
Students unions, sent greetings. The MSP helped lead a national
political strike in Peru April 28.
Hundreds of thousands walked off the job that day. Workers
shut down public transportation in Lima and other cities
"protesting against the Fujimori dictatorship and his attempted
illegal re-election, and against the neo-liberal policies
imposed by the IMF and World Bank at the behest of
imperialism," according to MSP's statement.
"In these moments of pain for the North American people, in
particular for the Latino communities and for those effected by
the massacre in Colorado; when the North American people have
to put up with the lies of the federal government to justify
its cowardly aggression against Yugoslavia and all the racist
elements against the people of the world ... the people of the
world need to unite ourselves and say ENOUGH!"
The MSP pledged to distribute leaflets about Abu-Jamal's
struggle during the national strike.
A protest was held in Oslo, Norway April 24. "In
Norway, the campaign for Mumia has won widespread support in
the past months," says a statement from the Mumia Abu-Jamal
Support Committee-Norway. "The Committee for International
Affairs in the Oslo chapter of the national trade union (LO),
PEN International Norway, the Norwegian Forum for Freedom of
Expression, and several trade unions have backed various
initiatives taken by the committee."
In February, 49 members of the Norwegian parliament signed
the group's petition urging Governor Ridge to grant Abu-Jamal a
new trial. "Among the signing politicians are several from the
three parties currently in government. Also signing was the
Minister of Social Affairs. This gave Mumia's case national
coverage in the media for several days."
Millions for Mumia activities were also held in Carlton
South, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; Brussels,
Belgium; Alberta, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver,
Canada; London, England; Lyon and Paris,
France; Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg, Germany;
Calcutta, India; Belfast, Cork and Dublin,
Ireland; Rome, Italy; Amsterdam, the
Netherlands; Lisbon, Portugal; Montreal,
Quebec; and other cities.
For updates on international actions for Mumia Abu-Jamal,
visit the web sites at www.peoplescampaign.org and
www.mumia.org.
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