Harlem meeting discusses Mumia’s legal case

Free Mumia activists Sundiata Sadiq and Suzanne Ross along with attorney Soffiyah Elijah speak in Harlem. WW photo: Mike Eilenfeldt

Sundiata Sadiq, Suzanne Ross and attorney Soffiyah Elijah spoke at a New York Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition open meeting on July 25 in Harlem to explain the political implications in the latest phase of Mumia’s legal appeals process dedicated to winning him a new trial.

On July 22 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit based in Philadelphia denied Mumia’s petition that exposed the racist systematic exclusion of Black jurors by the prosecution during his original 1982 trial.

A jury convicted him on first degree murder charges that sent him to Pennsylvania’s death row. Mumia’s lawyers will now appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court in late October. The options for Mumia are either execution or life in prison without parole. The movement will continue to fight against both options.

The main message of the speakers at the July 25 meeting was to continue to remain politically vigilant and organize in the streets to win Mumia’s freedom.

On Aug. 9 in Philadelphia, a forum is scheduled around the 30th anniversary of the unprovoked police attack on the MOVE organization. Just as Mumia was unjustly sent to death row for over 26 years, the MOVE 9 have been falsely imprisoned for 30 years. They were recently denied parole. Mumia’s case will also be discussed at the Aug. 9 forum.

For more information on the forum, call International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal at 215-476-8812 or the New York Free Mumia Coalition at 212-330-8029.

—Monica Moorehead