From: Mark Clement <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Mumia phone call with "Democracy Now" terminated by DOC - Please
forward
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 12:06:24 -0400
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Mark Clement
724-329-8573
Pulling the Plug!
Mumia Abu-Jamal describes
State-Sanctioned Censorship
Waynesburg, PA. August 13, 1999. Yesterday the Pennsylvania Department of
Corrections terminated a phone call during which Mumia Abu-Jamal was being
interviewed by Amy Goodman on "Democracy Now", Pacifica Radio's national
daily newsmagazine. Approximately seven minutes after the call began a
prison guard rushed up and pulled the phone cord out of the wall. According
to prison policy Mr. Jamal is allowed two fifteen minute phone calls per
week.
Mr. Jamal describes the event:
"In pulling the plug on the show "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman this
morning, the Department of Corrections demonstrated for all the world to see
the true face of censorship. As we began speaking about the imminent release
of sixteen Puerto Rican political prisoners a guard rushed up, pulled the
cord out of the wall and announced, "This call is terminated." When I
demanded why he replied, "The order comes straight from the top." From the
very top of the DOC we find contempt for the concept of freedom of speech.
Once again the State reacts to my speech by the act of silencing. I promise
you it shall not end there."
For Freedom of Speech and for every other freedom,
From Death Row,
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Amy Goodman can be reached at 212-209-2812
--30--
****************************************************************
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 10:24:40 -0700
From: Sid Shniad <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Natl. Emergency Alert for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 21:46:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Imani Henry <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Natl. Emergency Alert for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Please post widely
EMERGENCY ALERT: RIDGE THREATENING TO
SIGN A DEATH WARRANT FOR MUMIA IN
AUGUST
There is a real possibility that governor Ridge will sign a new death
warrant for Mumia soon.
The Philadelphia Daily News reported this recently.
The motivation by the governor and the criminal justice system would be
to seize the initiative by forcing
Mumia's legal team to file for a writ of habeas corpus well before the
October deadline.
Such an action might well come in August when schools are out, many
organizations are not functioning and activists are dispersed.
Note that Mumia's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of
certiorari does NOT give him any kind of stay. The Supreme Court will grant
a stay only if they grant the writ, and action on the petition is not
expected until the next court term begins in October.
The purpose of this memo is to put every progressive organization and
activist on alert especially during the month of August about this very serious
threat to Mumia’s life, not to mention a threat to the health of the
movement. In response to Ridge signing a death warrant in August, 1995,
10,000 people from around the country mobilized on five weeks notice to come
to Philadelphia to put a halt to this atrocity against our brother, Mumia.
Ridge was forced to rescind the death warrant DUE TO THE ORGANIZED MASS
PRESSURE.
A proposed scenario is that if and when the death warrant is signed,
there will be emergency local demonstrations held the following day.
Regional actions will be organized the next available weekend.
Of course as many activists as possible should mobilize to go to
Philadelphia for any national action that is called.
The Youth and Students for Mumia organizers at the IAC are requesting
that activists:
1. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MUMIA DEFENSE COMMITTEE IN YOUR AREA AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
-If you are going out of town,let activists in your area know where you
can be reached in case of emergency.
-If there is NOT a Mumia committee in your area, please consider
starting one.
2. Begin now to organize meetings in your area to develop an action
plan in the event a death warrant is signed.
3. Set up an emergency phone or email tree so you can quickly inform
activists and organizations in your area in event a death warrant is
signed.
Upcoming National Mumia Meetings:
National meeting of individuals and organizations working
for justice for Mumia: Saturday, August 14, in Philadelphia.
Exact time and place to be announced.
Everyone is urged to send a representative to this meeting.
Please contact the IAC if your organization is interested in coming.
Sunday, August 15th—East Coast Youth and Students organizing
meeting for September 21st International Youth and
Student Day for Mumia and other activities for Mumia
Awareness Week, 2pm—4pm, IAC office, 39 W. 14th St.
Room 206 (between 5th and 6th Aves.), Manhattan
Contact Youth and Students for Mumia at 212 633-6646 or
•••@••.•••
OR
Refuse and Resist Youth Network at •••@••.•••
or 212-385-9303
OR
Mumia Awareness Week Natl. number 212-924-8585 for more information.
To find about Mumia organizing in your area please call:
International Action Center-East Coast
39 West 14th Street, Room 296
New York, NY 10011
email: •••@••.•••
http://www.iacenter.org
phone: 212 633-6646
fax: 212 633-2889
International Action Center-West Coast
2489 Misson, #28
San Francisco, CA 94110
phone: 415 821-6545
fax: 415-821-5782
email:•••@••.•••
www.iacenter.org
Other Mumia Contacts:
Intl. Concern Family and Friends for Mumia Abu-Jamal
215 476-8812
www.mumia.com
Rainbows Flags for Mumia
Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Two-Spirit, Trans People for Mumia
39 West 14th Street Room 206
NY, NY 10011
212 633-6646
•••@••.•••
Contact: Imani Henry or Deirdre Sinnott
Youth and Students for Mumia
39 West 14th Street Room 206
NY, NY 10011
212 633-6646
•••@••.•••
Contact: Vivan Martin, Sarah Sloan, Imani Henry, Andrea MacManus
The New York Free Mumia Coalition
212 330-8029
Mumia Awareness Week National Number
212-924-8585
www.j4mumia.org
