ON APRIL 4
Rally to honor Dr. King by supporting Mumia
By Greg
Butterfield
New York
Anti-racists, community activists and death-penalty foes in
New York will commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.'s assassination with a march and rally for
death-row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
The April 4 demonstration is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.
outside the Federal Court Building at 40 Foley Square in
Manhattan, near City Hall. The protest is co-sponsored by the
International Action Center, International Concerned Family
& Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the New York Free Mumia
Coalition, the Jericho Movement, the Patrice Lumumba Coalition,
Asians for Mumia, the Haiti Support Network and others.
Actions and teach-ins are also being planned in other
cities, including Abu-Jamal's hometown of Philadelphia.
"Mumia's upcoming court appearance before Judge William Yohn
could be his last," explained IAC Co-director Larry Holmes. "He
will soon appear in federal court to argue for the right to
present a mountain of evidence proving his innocence. This is
his last mandated court date. All subsequent hearings are at
the discretion of the courts.
"We must mobilize for Mumia now," he said.
The King commemoration is one of several activities planned
this spring to draw attention to Abu-Jamal's case. On March 24
a Youth Conference for Mumia is planned in Philadelphia,
followed by an East Coast Strategy Conference in Washington
March 31.
Mass protests are planned in Philadelphia, San Francisco and
other cities worldwide on May 12--the International Day of
Solidarity with Mumia Abu-Jamal.
At any time Judge Yohn could announce a date for Abu-Jamal's
hearing at the Federal Court in downtown Philadelphia. When
that happens, supporters across the country will mobilize to
fill the courtroom and rally outside.
"We need to mobilize in large numbers and with a strong
message, both now and on Mumia's day in court," said Imani
Henry of Rainbow Flags for Mumia, the lesbian/gay/ bi/trans
solidarity group. "We must force Yohn to hold that evidentiary
hearing and overturn Mumia's conviction. This would result in
his release or at the very least a new trial."
Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther and award-winning
journalist, was accused of killing a white Philadelphia cop on
Dec. 7, 1981. He has always maintained his innocence.
Last year Yohn rejected a series of "friend of the court"
briefs filed on Abu-Jamal's behalf. One of these briefs, by the
Chicana/Chicano Studies Foundation, brought to light new
evidence that Abu-Jamal's court-appointed attorney conspired
with the trial judge and prosecutor to secure a conviction and
death sentence.
"These new revelations came on top of all the earlier
evidence of police intimidation of witnesses, jury manipulation
to exclude African Americans, the concoction of a phony
confession story, suppression of ballistics evidence, etc.,"
Henry said.
"None of this is in the official record presented to Yohn or
whatever judge might hear the case later. Mumia must be allowed
to present this evidence and prove his innocence once and for
all."
For more information or to get involved with the planned
activities, readers can call the IAC at (212) 633-6646 and
visit the Web site www.mumia2000.org; or call International
Concerned Family & Friends at
(215) 476-8812 and visit the Web site www.mumia.org.
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