PHILLY PAPER ATTACKS MUMIA LEGAL DEFENSE
Pam Africa charges 'government terrorism'
By Greg
Butterfield
Following the successful Millions for Mumia demonstration
April 24 in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper,
city and state officials, and police groups have opened an
attack aimed at undermining and discrediting political prisoner
Mumia Abu-Jamal's legal defense fund.
A series of front-page articles written in late April and
early May by Inquirer staff writers Monica Yant, Craig R. McCoy
and Larry Fish claimed to be an exposé of the
relationship between Abu-Jamal's defense
committee--International Concerned Family & Friends of
Mumia Abu-Jamal--and the Black United Fund of Pennsylvania.
Pam Africa, the coordinator of International Concerned
Family & Friends, told Workers World that the articles were
a direct response to the 25,000-to-30,000-strong demonstration
on April 24. The Millions for Mumia demonstration demanded no
execution and a new trial for Abu-Jamal.
"The pressure is turned up on them right now," Africa said.
"The government is feeling a lot of heat from around the world,
so they have decided to step up the intimidation against
Mumia's supporters.
"The Philadelphia Inquirer has attacked me and the Black
United Fund by name. This is not the first time they have tried
to make an example of people who defy them."
Africa told WW that Pamela Jenkins has also been singled out
for attack. Jenkins was a witness to the Dec. 9, 1981, incident
that led to Mumia Abu-Jamal's conviction on charges of killing
a white cop. In 1982, police threats forced Jenkins to testify
against Abu-Jamal. Later, however, she came forward to say that
he was not guilty.
"Pamela Jenkins--after she appeared on the stage April 24,
the police locked her up," said Africa.
"This is government terrorism," she said.
Africa knows some things about government terror. She is
minister of confrontation for the MOVE organization, a group
singled out for its militant advocacy of Black people's right
to armed self-defense.
Fourteen years ago--on May 13, 1985--the Philadelphia Police
Department bombed the MOVE house in a Black residential
neighborhood. Some 62 homes in the surrounding area burned to
the ground.
Eleven MOVE members--including five children--died.
Black United Fund
responds
In step with the Inquirer's smear campaign, Mayor Ed Rendell
said the city may revoke its funding for BUF/PA because of the
association with Abu-Jamal. He urged city employees to stop
making contributions to the group unless it renounces
Abu-Jamal.
State officials have threatened to strip the Black United
Fund of Pennsylvania of its tax-exempt status.
"The mayor told people not to fund BUF if they continue to
support Mumia," Africa explained. "But BUF is not backing
down."
Linda Waters Richardson, president of BUF/PA, said: "The
board of directors, staff and management of the Black United
Fund of Pennsylvania make no apologies and are proud to help
support and sustain programs, events and organizations that are
working to strengthen African Americans. We are committed to
and will continue our mission to empower African American
communities throughout Pennsylvania."
In an April 27 statement, Waters Richardson explained the
fund's relationship to International Concerned Family &
Friends, showing that BUF is in full compliance with laws
governing tax-deductible charities.
According to the statement, while "BUF/PA provides grants
and technical assistance to non-profit organizations committed
to improving conditions in African American communities," its
relationship to Abu-Jamal's legal defense is different.
BUF/PA simply manages tax-exempt donations made by
individuals to International Concerned Family & Friends. It
does not funnel any city funds or other contributions to
Abu-Jamal's defense.
International Concerned Family & Friends is one of
BUF/PA's many donor advised programs. Others include Black
Women's Health Project, African Americans for Justice Against
Texaco, Roxanne Jones Memorial Fund, Million Woman March,
Uptown Cultural District Group and College for Kids.
BUF/PA programs benefit the whole community. So Mayor
Rendell's threat to cut off funding has caused an uproar
there.
"BUF has got a lot more support than the government
expected," said Africa. "It's forcing people to stand up.
"We're having a two-day work meeting to bring people up to
date on Mumia's case on May 29 and 30 in Philadelphia," she
said. "The meeting will help people get organized for the next
steps and to understand the attack that is going on right
now."
The meetings will take place at 4601 Market St. on May 29
from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on May 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, readers can call
the International Concerned Family & Friends at (215)
476-8812.
Information and updates on Mumia Abu-Jamal's case are
available on the web sites at www.peoplescampaign.org and www.
mumia. org.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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