97-11-09 23:45:47 EST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Marilyn Kai Jewett (215) 842-9055
Pam Africa: (215) 476-8812
Susan Burnett: (203) 846-1937
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 30 -- People from throughout the world who believe in truth and justice will descend on Philadelphia's Blue Horizon Saturday, December 6 to witness the Peoples International Tribunal for Justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Initiated by the International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the tribunal will investigate the government's conspiracy to silence, deny justice to and take the life of Abu-Jamal. An outspoken journalist and people's advocate, Abu-Jamal was convicted of the murder of a Philadelphia police office and now sits on Pennsylvania's death row.
The tribunal will consist of an international panel of prominent jurists, political leaders, labor and community activists, cultural figures and others concerned with truth and justice. The panel will hear the true facts of the case and expose the evidence that was suppressed in Abu-Jamal's trial. Witnesses who were barred from the courtroom will be called to testify on their personal experiences with police corruption and racism.
Representatives of other political prisoners, families of victims of police brutality and the death penalty and former prisoners will also participate in the historic tribunal. People are organizing worldwide to attend this important event in the "City of Brotherly Love."
"The government has used false charges, a fraudulent trial, brutal imprisonment and has imposed the death penalty in an effort to silence our brother forever," explained Pam Africa, coordinator of the tribunal who has fought for a new trial on behalf of Abu-Jamal since 1982.
"We want people to understand that this is not just about Mumia. The conspiracy against Mumia is part of a larger pattern of police brutality, corruption, racism and disparity in sentencing the poor. Only through a mobilization of the masses demanding truth and justice for Mumia and all political prisoners will the conspiracy be exposed." Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge has stated publicly that he will sign the death warrant if the State Supreme Court denies the motion for a new trial. Given the make-up of the court and the narrow body of evidence allowed, the prospects for a new trial are dim.
The Ad Hoc Coalition For A People's International Tribunal For Justice For Mumia Abu-Jamal was formed to organize the tribunal to raise the consciousness of the people and bring the true facts surrounding this case to light. To join the coalition to help make this effort a success call (215) 476-8812.
"Today it's Mumia. Tomorrow it may be you," said Africa.
Ad Hoc Coalition for the People's International Tribunal for Mumia Abu Jamal
P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143
tel: (215) 476-8812 fax: (215) 476-7551
email: mumia@aol.com
URL: http://www.mumia.org
Partial List of Endorsers of the Tribunal International Action Center;
as of October 29, 1997
* = For identification only
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General;
Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty;
Prof. Dennis Brutus, Pittsburgh University;
Prof. Sonia Sanchez, poet and activist, Temple University*;
Gamal Nkrumah (Egypt), Journalist, son of former Ghanian Pres. Kwame Nkrumah;
Julia Wright, (France) author, daughter of author Richard Wright;
Prof. David DuBois, U Mass at Amherst, MA, son of W.E. DuBois;
National Peoples Campaign ;
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Literature Winner Author;
Leonard Peltier;
Alice Walker, Author & Poet;
Prof. Manning Marable, Columbia University*;
Panthers United for Revolutionary Education (Death Row Inmates, Huntsville, Tx);
Geronimo Ji Jaga, former Black Panther and ex-prisoner;
Sarah Teal, producer BBC video "Mumia Abu Jamal: Case for a Reasonable Doubt";
Leslie Jones, Temple University student;
Refuse & Resist;
New York Coalition to Free Mumia;
Jericho '98 March for Political Prisoners Coordinating Committee;
Clark Kissinger, contributing writer Revolutionary Worker;
Academics for Mumia;
Afrikan Frontline Network;
Ron Kuby, defense attorney;
Ward Churchill, Author;
Susan Burnett, Activist;
Ali Bey Hassitin, NY Panther 21;
Alton Maddox, Attorney, United African Movement;
Norwalk Committee to Free Mumia Abu Jamal;
Sol & Evelyn Haas, Philadelphia activists;
Pasquale Lombardo, NLG* Chicago;
Rosemarie Hill, Shop Steward CWA L-13500*;
Yuri Kochiyama, Lifetime Activist;
Rev. Cecil Grey, Gettysburg College, PA;
John Judge, Activist Intelligence Agency Expert;
Kathleen Cleaver, Prof., Cardoza Law School;
Prof. Becky Thompson, Sims College;
New York City National Lawyers Guild;
National Lawyers Guild;
Michael Dyson, Columbia University;
Art Serota, Esq.;
Equal Justice USA/Quixote Center;
Nana Korantemaa AyeBoafo;
Akan Family of Philadelphia;
Committee for a Better North Philadelphia;
Amiri & Amina Baraka;
Lois Williamson, C.U.R.E. Phila;
Elombe Brath, Patrice Lumumba Coalition;
Pittsburgh Committee to Free Mumia Abu Jamal;
Toby Kleinman, Silvia Baraldini Committee;
Angus Love, Esq, Philadelphia, PA;
Pam Fadem, San Francisco Prairie Fire,CA;
New Afrikan Liberation Front;
Kiilu Nyasha, Radio Host San Fco., CA;
Ricardo Alvarez, MD;
Free Mumia Abu Jamal Coalition, N.Y.;
Norfolk, VA. Coalition to Free Mumia Abu Jamal & Friends of MOVE;
African Workers Party;
Malcolm X Commemoration Committee;
Prof. Jeanne Woods, Esq., Layola Law School, New Orleans, LA;
Johnie Sample, Sports Club, Phila, PA;
Dr. Chinisole, Professor;
Leonard Weinglass, Esq., Mumia Abu Jamal lead attorney;
Detroit Friends of MOVE;
Prof. Carole Yawney, PhD, Canada;
Terry Johnson, Real News;
Rev. Henry Wells, One Day at a Time, Phila, PA;
Prof. Tony Monteiro, Philadelphia;
Stan Culbreth;
Leslie Feinberg, Author "Transgender Warriors";
Rev. Ben Green, Abiding Truth Ministries;
The MOVE Organization;
Hydra Mendoza, San Fco, CA;
Philadelphia Catholic Worker;
Bob Simpson, Philadelphia activist;
Mark Davis, Wes Pac, White Plains, NY;
Deirdre Griswold, Editor "Workers World" Newspaper;
Citizen Mobilization for Peace and Social Justice, Woodstock, NY;
Gilles Perrault, French Anti Death Penalty Author;
Haitian People Support Project, Woodstock, NY;
Jacques Derrida;
John Wideman, Author;
John Lubell, Attorney;
Lennox Hinds, Attorney;
Marc Mealy, Youth Activist;
Prof. Mark Taylor, Princeton Theological Seminary*;
Michael Warren, Attorney;
Mid-Hudson Coalition on Police Brutality, NY;
NY Black Panther Collective;
Richard Harvey, Attorney;
Rosemary Mealy, Attorney;
Sam Anderson, Mathematician/Author;
Saugerties Committee for Peace and Social Justice, Saugerties, NY;
The Bruderhof, Rifton, NY;
The Bruderhof, Woodcrest, NY;
Farmington, PA;
Norfolk, CT, England;
Angela Davis, Professor;
Ron Hampton, Natl. Assoc. of Black Policemen*;
Million Women March, National;
PA Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty;
Andrew C. Mills, Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator for Witness for Peace;
David Acosta, Poet & Activist;
Furaha K. Mbele, AFRAM, Phila chapter, Internat. Caucus for People of African Descent, SEIU;
Brandywine Peace Community;
Confederation Nationale des Radios Libres, France;
Frequence Paris Plurielle 106.3 FM (Free Radio), France;
Guy Dardel, Journalist, France;
LCR ( Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire);
Madme. Claire Mendes, France;
Movement de L'Immigration et des Banlieves, France;
Movement Contre Le Racisme et Pour L'Amitie entre Les Peuples, France;
Mrs. Richard Wright, France;
Treize Actif, France;
MIG Free Press, French Guiana;
JAM-FM Radio, French Guiana;
Radio UTG, Guyane;
Rut Koze, French Guiana;
Union des Travailleurs Guyanais, French Guiana;
Association Culturelle des Travailleurs Imigre de Turquit, Turkey;
Comite International Contre Les Disparitions et Gardes a Vue;
Cesar E. Cruz, Mexican-Indian Human Rights Activist, founder United Front,CA;
Richard Chapman, Citizen;
Betty & Herman Liveright, Activists Publishers of Just In PP/POW Newsletter;
Sylvia Baraldini, Political Prisoner;
Just Justice, France;
Ignacio Meneses, National Coordinator US/Cuba Labor Exchange, UAW*;
Leslie Simon, Author, Teacher City College, San Fco, CA;
Germantown WILPF;
Prof. Richard Falk, Princeton University;
Prof. Anna J. Brown, St. Peter's College;
Cornel West, Harvard University;
Prof. Chung Hyun-kyung, Union Theological Seminary, NYCI;
Assata Shakur, Cuba;
"Americans Against the Death Penalty", France;
Association Pour La Formation Contre Le Racism et Pour L'Identite Culturelle, France;
Algerienne
Association Pour Le Re-examen De L'Affaire Rosenberg, (Pres. Albert Levy, atty.);
Claude Lanzmann, Film Dir. and Chief Editor of Jean Paul Sartre's Les Temps Modennes, France;
Comite de Defense des Droits de l'Homme et des Libertes dans le monde Comite Mumia Abu-Jamal, Marseille, France;
Committee to Support the Indians of the Americas, France;
Internat. Concerned Fam.& Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Paris;
Jacques Lederer, Author;
La Lettre de Maintenent: Libertarian Bimonthly;
Michael Muller, Journalist for the dailly Humanite, France;
Monique Picard-Weyl, Attorney;
MRAP-Local committees, Cities of Orleans & Pithiviers;
Radio Chretienne De France;
Radio Libertaire;
"Partisan", monthly publication of "La Voie Proletarienne";
"Regards", monthly pluricultural publication;
Roland Weyl, Attorney;
The Leonard Peltier Support Group, French Antenna;
Colectivo Para la Libertad de Mumia Abu Jamal y Contra la Pena de Muerte, Barcelona, Spain;
Colectivo Zapatista de Barcelona;
Coordinadora Contra Abusos del Poder, Barcelona;
Francesco Arnau, Attorney, Spain;
Anti-Racist Action, Colombus, Ohio;
Carl Dix, nat. spokeperson Revolutionary Communist Party;
Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living, Chester, PA;
Cuba in Focus, Program WBAI, NY;
Doubt;
John P. Lacny, citizen;
Lianne Stachnick, citizen;
Martin Espada, Poet;
Michaell Meeropol, Son of Ethel & Julius Rosenberg;
National Conference of Black Lawyers;
Prof. Harvey Cox, Harvard University;
Rafael Cancel Miranda, former Puerto Rican Political Prisoner;
Richard Harvey, Attorney;
Robert Meeropol, Son of Ethel & Julius Rosenberg;
Sally O'Brien, revolutionary journalist;
Sundiata Acoli, Political Prisoner;
Suzanne Ross, PhD Clinical Psychologist;
Thomas Glave, Student;
Where We Live Productions - WBAI NYC;
Baltimore All Peoples Congress;
Sharon Ceci, Shop Steward UFCW L-27*;
Andre Powell, AFSCME L-112* Shop Steward;
Efia Nwangaza, Attorney, SC;
Moe Seager, Poet, Playwright & Journalist;
Carl Chiaretto, veteran UERMWA leader, Pittsfield, MA;
Ed Bloch, labor & religious leader, upstate NY;
Lamont Steptoe, Poet & Publisher;
Solveig Eskedahl, International Helping Hands Ltd., MA;
Sharon L. Eolis, NY State Nurses Assn. Grievance Co-chair Cabrini Medical Center;
Daniel Berrigan, Activist & Author;
Association Pour La Defense Des Prisonniers Politiques et D'Opinion en Iran;
Rob Callahan, Temple University Graduate Students' Assoc.*;
Herbert Aptheker, Author "Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion";
James Cone, Union Thelogical Seminary, Prof. & Author;
Prof. Farah Griffin, English Dept., U. of PA.;
Peter Matthiessen, Author "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse";
Martin Bernal, Cornell Univ., Author;
Prof. James Marsh, Fordham Univ.;
Rev. Dr. Marshall L. Shepard, Pastor Mt. Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church, Phila;
Sisters By Choice, Milwaukee, WI;
Susan E. Davis, Editor, Women Under Attack: Victory, Backlash and the Fight;
for Reproductive Freedom;
Key Martin, Executive Board Member, L-3, Newspaper Guild, NY;
Trudy Rudnick, Pres. L-AFT, NY University;
Prof. Silvia Federici, Hofstra University;
Prof. Wahneema Lubiano, English Dept. Duke University;
Matthew Rothschild, Editor "The Progressive";
Pat Clark, Dir. Criminal Justice Committee, AFSC*;
Kazi Toure, Freedom Now-Boston Chapter;
Edward Childs, Chief Steward L-26 Hotel Workers, Boston;
Prof. Michael L. Radelet, Chair Dept. Sociology, U. of Florida, Author;
"Executing the Mentally Ill";
Prof. Rebecca Alpert, Temple Univ., Phila.;
Prof. Dwight Hopkins, Univ. of Chicago;
Prof. Molefi Kete Asante, Temple Univ., Phila;
Prof. Francis Fox Piven, CUNY;
Edward S. Herman, Univ. of PA, Phila.;
Seattle Mumia Defense Committee;
Eat The State!, Seattle, Wash.;
Burton Caine, Prof. of Law, Temple Univ., Phila.;
San Francisco Green Party;
Barbara Smith, Jobs with Peace, Phila.;
Leona Smith, Employment Project, Phila.;
Charles Reeves, Grays Ferry Action Cmtee., Phila.;
E. Randel T. Osburn, National Administrator SCLC;
Original Independent Missionary Baptist Conference of Philadelphia & Vecinity;
Leslie Marmon Silko, novelist;
Prof. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Columbia Univ.;
Prof. Peter Linebaugh, writer, University of Toledo;
Prof. Mark I. Wallace, Co-chair Dept. Religion, Swarthmore College;
Michael Zuckerman, author & historian, Univ. of PA;
Eileen Ellis, Mother Jones Magazine;
December 6 Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, S Fco;
Cristopher Hitchens, journalist;
Jeff Mackler, Natl. Sec. Socialist Action;
Medea Benjamin, Exec. Dir. Global Exchange;
Michael Albert, Editor "Z Magazine";
Ken Silverstein, Editor "CounterPunch";
John Feffer, Natl. Writers Union, Phila*;
Howard Zinn, professor & author
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