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$35 is our average gift, and $350 helps us add a new radio station. thanks in advance. best Noelle
Prison Radio / Redwood Justice Fund
P.O. Box 411074 • San Francisco, CA 94141
www.prisonradio.org
From The Desk of Noelle Hanrahan
February 15, 2008
Dear Friend,
I just got off the phone with Mumia. He said, “Tell everyone they are in my thoughts, and send them all my love. Oh, and tell them to write. I love hearing from everyone. We need to revive letter writing before it becomes a lost art.”
Please take a moment to pick up a pen and jot a personal note to Mumia. Tell him what you are working on. Bring your world of activism to him. Make that connection. He is a journalist and is fascinated by the daily struggles that we undertake for liberation.
Every word that makes it through those prison walls helps dissolve the distance between us. Each act of connection is one step closer to bringing Mumia home. His address is: Mumia Abu-Jamal, AM 8335, SCI Greene 175 Progress Dr., Waynesburg, PA 15370.
“It is the truth which will triumph after all. Al final la verdad vencerá.”
—Lori Berenson.
Stay alert! Mumia’s life hangs in the balance. A ruling from the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is expected any day. Mumia could receive a new trial; he could get an evidentiary hearing or a new sentencing hearing; or his death sentence could be reinstated. Put “mumia” in the Google news alerts for breaking news. See www.freemumia.com for updates.
The Today Show Takes on Mumia’s Case
On Dec. 6, 2007, Matt Lauer & Company did an amazing job. Yes, it was an interview with Maureen Faulkner (the officer’s widow) and Michael Smerconish (a right-wing talk show host in Philadelphia), who co-wrote “Murdered by Mumia: A Life Sentence of Pain, Loss and Injustice.” But the report was serious journalism. Lauer’s questions for Faulkner and Smerconish were probing. He actually asked Faulkner: “Why do you think so many people believe he needs a new trial?”
You have to see the clip! I nearly fell out of my chair. After years of being nailed by the mainstream media the Today Show’s coverage of Mumia was balanced and fair! New evidence was featured that exposes serious flaws in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s case against Mumia Abu-Jamal.
It was the first mainstream broadcast of the explosive crime scene photos taken moments after the December 9, 1981 shooting at 13th and Locust. The photos, by independent photographer Pedro Polakoff, were rediscovered by German researcher Dr. Michael Schiffman of the University of Heidelberg in Germany. These photos prove that the police conspired to falsify evidence, altering the crime scene to frame Mumia. Thank you to Hans Bennet of Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal. He was the driving force in this campaign. See more at www.abu-jamal-news.com. Also for a thorough dissection of the Faulkner book see “The Big Lie” www.partisandefense.com.
Bishop Desmond Tutu Visits Mumia!
South Africa’s Bishop Tutu visited Abu-Jamal on death row at SCI Greene in October. When Bishop Tutu arrived, he was told he could not visit. Mumia explained: “He was treated like any Black man visiting, with very little respect. That is until a black guard happened by and recognized him, and then the guards found the ‘right paperwork.’” Bishop Tutu remained dignified while experiencing the humiliation that millions of prisoners and their families endure. Bishop Tutu was uncomfortable with Mumia’s conditions: his hands were shackled, and he was kept behind plexiglass for the non-contact visit. Mumia’s humanity did shine through, though, and Bishop Tutu, inspired by his visit, made this statement: “I oppose the death penalty on principle in every case and I support the pleas for a retrial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.”
“In Prison My Whole Life” Has Its U.S. Premiere at Sundance!
Robert Redford’s influential film festival hosted the U.S. premiere for the acclaimed feature-length documentary, “In Prison My Whole Life.” Produced by Livia Giuggioli and Colin Firth, it is a film that tackles the Abu-Jamal case through the story of English expatriate William Francome, who was born on the day of Mumia’s arrest, 12/9/81. The world premiere was in October in London and Rome.
Amnesty International has endorsed the film. Prison Radio is reserving judgment, as we have not yet seen it. But we have had a huge battle with the producers. When we became aware that the filmmakers were attempting to alter Mumia’s photo and literally put a gun into his hand, we demanded that they not associate his image with blood, guns, or violence. It cost Prison Radio literally tens of thousands of dollars in staff time and legal fees to try to keep them from degrading Mumia’s image and voice. At this point they have stolen, i.e., refused to pay a license fee for, all the audio and many of the photos you see of Mumia, while refusing, in writing, to agree not to degrade his photo. Remember—if the film is accurate and good, it is only because Prison Radio fought to make sure it would be.
Help us Bring Mumia Home!
If you think it is important to hear Mumia’s voice, join us. We can only do this work with your help. Please consider a gift of $50, $100, $350, $1,000, $35.
Solidarity is key!
Your support helps us reach over 200 radio stations every week. Join us, and keep the voices of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Dortell Williams, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox, and Lori Berenson alive and vibrant.
Every donation matters, and we honor those of you who act. A wise man once said, “If you want to know what is in someone’s heart look in their check book.”
Continue this journey with us.
Toward Justice & Freedom,
Noelle Hanrahan
Prison Radio
© Jennifer Beach/Prison Radio
“The voice of Black political journalism in the struggle for the liberation of African-American people has always proved to be decisive throughout Black history. From David Walker’s appeal in 1829, to the political journalism of Frederick Douglass, to the Black Panther newspaper. When you listen to Mumia you hear the echoes of David Walker, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, and the sisters and brothers who kept the faith with struggle, who kept the faith with resistance. And that is part of the reason why Mumia is so dangerous to the state.”
—Manning Marable
www.prisonradio.org
you can give through network for good, or pay pal.com” (www.prisonradio.org).
www.prisonradio.org www.freemumia.com
Prison Radio's mission is to challenge mass incarceration and racism by airing the voices of men and women in prison.
10 Things
you Can Do to Help Free Mumia
1. Get
involved. Join an army of activists. Call International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal, P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143, (Tel (215) 476-8812. Donate funds above. For a tax-deductible gift send a check to MAJ/Organizing c/o NBUF 40 Clinton St. Newark, NJ O7102. www.Mumia.org.
2. Contact
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Director Jeffrey A. Beard
and ask that inhumane conditions, isolation, and torture of death-row
inmates
be immediately addressed. (717) 975-4918 PA Dept of Corrections, 2520 Lisburn Road P.O. Box 598 Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598
3. Call,
write or fax Ed Rendell, Governor, to demand a new trial for Mumia:
225 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120, 717-787-2500 ph
717-783-1198 fax.
4. Organize
a speaking engagement in your town or at a college with
Mumia Abu-Jamal’s lead attorney Robert R. Bryan (Bryanlawsf@aol.com), and Pam Africa of ICFFMAJ 215-476-8812.
5. Call
your local community radio station and ask them to play Mumia's
insightful commentaries, hear the commentaries at www.prisonradio.org. Help Mumia’s voice soar! Donate to Prison Radio. Mumia’s weekly radio essays reach over 100 radio stations worldwide. Every gift appreciated, a gift of $300 helps us reach new stations. PO Box 411074, SF, CA 94141. 415-648-4505.
6. Contribute to Mumia Abu-Jamal's Legal Defense Fund. Write a check to the National Lawyers Guild Foundation/Mumia. Make sure to write Mumia on the memo line,
National Lawyers Guild Foundation/MAJ and sent to the Committee to Save MAJ PO Box 2012, NY NY 10159.
7. Write
to Mumia Abu-Jamal, AM 8335, 175 Progress Dr., Waynesburg,
PA 15370.
8. Call
1-800-VISIT-PA to say you will only vacation in Pennsylvania when
Mumia is granted a new trial, a moratorium on executions is
enacted, and the MOVE
9 are free.
9. Buy
his new book “We Want Freedom” (www.southendpress.org).
Ask your
local bookstore to carry Mumia’s books.
10. Join
your local Mumia organizing group, or start a new one. For
more
information about the death penalty and the pennsylvania prison
system contact www.prisonsociety.org
Mumia Abu-Jamal is an award winning author and broadcast journalist.
He has been languishing on Pennsylvania’s death row for over
25 yrs. Writing from a solitary confinement
cell, his essays have
reached a worldwide audience. Mumia is the author of five books
including "Live From Death Row", "Death Blossoms",
"All Things Censored",
“Faith of Our Fathers”
and the recently released “We Want Freedom.”
They have
sold over 150,000 copies and been translated into seven languages.
His 1982 murder trial and subsequent conviction have been the
subject of great debate.
Mumia's insightful
essays and melodic baritone breathe life into the numbing statistic
— 5.1 million people under correctional control. Whether
Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice will
reach the airwaves, and ultimately
whether he lives or dies, will be a true test of the strength
of our struggle. It will also depend on our independence, the
depth of our courage,
and our will to organize.
Legal Overview:
“The government’s quest to murder in the name of the
law is based upon its desire to silence Mumia’s voice and
pen. This case has been riddled with racism
and fraud since his
arrest 1981. The trial was a travesty of justice. Mumia is innocent.”
Robert R. Bryan, Esq.
A decision
in Mumia’s first and only federal habeas corpus appeal was
issued on Dec. 18, 2001 by Judge William Yohn, U.S. District Court.
In that ruling, Mumia’s death sentence
was reversed, but
his conviction was upheld. Both the Philadelphia DA and Mumia’s
lawyers appealed. The Court granted the DA’s motion to keep
Mumia on death row. If the
appeal panel grants relief on Mumia’s
death sentence, the case will go back for a re-trial on whether
Mumia is again sentenced to death, or is to spend the remainder
of his life
in prison. Mumia's attorneys are seeking a completely
new trial, and have issues pending in both state and federal courts.
In order for Mumia to be released from prison he must
first have
a new trial. For legal updates and to see an excellent summary
of the case visit: www.freemumia.org/Petition.Mar.8.pdf
Health Crisis
Update: In the past year Mumia has had two serious bouts of inflammation
of his ankle and leg with discoloration, caused by his many years
on death row. Mumia
needs to be een by an outside doctor for
a diagnosis and a health care plan. He is housed in isolation
at a supermax security control unit on death row.
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