PRESS RELEASES from:

INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL (ICFAF-MAJ)

Press Contact Numbers:
215-476-8812 Pam Africa; and 203-847-6721 Susan Burnett
Fax: 215-476-7551 or 203-846-1937

Mumia's lawyers must file their response by August 5. Court is in recess for the summer, so there will be no decision made before the fall. The court must rule on whether it will allow the Veronica Jones evidence to be heard in the Common Pleas Court, and also whether the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments.

Judge Nix, the only African-American on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, retired this past week, leaving Governor Ridge to appoint a temporary replacement until elections. The only two judges remaining from Mumia's direct (1989) appeal are Flaherty and Zapalla.

On June 27, the highest court in Italy refused to extradite an Italian national back to the United States where he faced a death penalty case in Florida. Bowing to pressure from the United States, the Italian Prime Minister and Senate had at first approved the extradition. Following a press conference and visit to the Senate by Weinglass, who was in Italy to discuss Mumia's case, the Italians announced that the death penalty is a violation of international standards of human rights, and reversed their decision to allow the extradition.

This is a clear victory for death penalty foes and an example of how Mumia's case has helped galvanize the abolitionist movement. Italy is one of 56 countries that have abolished the death penalty, leaving Japan and the U.S. as the only two industrialized nations to still execute their own citizens. Japan has 32 people on death row, while the U.S. has 100 times as many.

The next day, June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld certain aspects of the Anti-Terrorist/Effective Death Penalty Act when it ruled on the Felker case. The Felker case was the first constitutional challenge to that Act to be heard by the Supreme Court. The Felker case is only one of several constitutional challenges to the Effective Death Penalty Act. Other cases which more directly challenge the issues affecting Mumia have not yet been heard by the court.

Weinglass projects that it will be early to mid 1997 before Mumia's case is heard in federal court in Philadelphia if we lose in the state court. It is unclear whether the old (pre-Effective Death Penalty Act) or new rules apply. But some legal scholars think that, in light of the Felker decision, Mumia will have to be heard under the new rules, which makes massive public support even more critical.

The same week that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Felker, a wrongly convicted man in Chicago was released after *eighteen* years on death row! The prosecutor admitted they had the wrong person. Yet, the court now restricts a death row prisoner's right to have his case reviewed to *six months*. Weinglass reminded the audience of the Spaziano case, where it took fourteen years to win a new trial based on perjured testimony. In Mumia's case, it's taken nearly fourteen years to bring Veronica Jones' story to light.

Meanwhile, the magistrate judge's recommendation in Mumia's civil rights case further isolates him from his legal team, by barring the paralegals and allowing the opening of legal mail outside of his presence.

Even prison wardens say 1-3% of their prisoners are innocent. With 3000 people on death row in the U.S., that means 30-90 innocent people will be executed. That's part of why a massive public reaction is so critical. We must consolidate a reaction to all the above events. With Mumia's story being aired on HBO through the U.S. and Europe, now is the time to act.

On Wednesday July 3rd "In Defense of Mumia" contributors met the public at a Poetry Reading/Book Signing fund raiser at the Korner of the Rediscovered gallery. Lamont Steptoe was there, Dennis Brutus, and the Newark, NJ posse. There was also a screening of the HBO documentary.

On Thursday July 4th thousands gathered at City Hall at noon to mark the anniversary of Mumia's conviction and sentencing. Media estimates of mass of people ranged from 250- 3,500, but the number 1,500 seemed most agreeable by reliable witnesses. At 2:00p.m. protestors slowly marched the 8 blocks to the Liberty Bell pavilion, stopping at each intersection for a sit-in, and speak out!

That evening Pam Africa and Ramona Africa received thunderous ovations at a gathering put together by Rev. Luther Bevel's organization. Min. Louis Farrakhan was the featured speaker, and he denounced the system of oppression holding sway today.

According to published reports, Farrakhan gave America a "civics lesson" on the birthday of the nation. He told Black America "what you are celebrating today is not yours."

On Friday, a last minute entertainment program showcased the best conscious rap, jazz, poetry, and singers in the area.

On Saturday the highlight of the commemoration was the Jamal Summit, a conference designed to tie together the various social movements into one unique fighting block. It originated out of a desire by Mumia himself to make sure everybody is fighting the same war. The day appropriately began with Mike Africa's popular rap "Just Because It's Legal Don't Make it Right." It uplifted and moved the audience first to dance, and then to hold hands and chant along with the powerful lyrics.

The unity remained evident all day, as one by one, presenters gave a view of many different angles of our oppression, from environmental issues raised by Ramona Africa, to political prisoners being discussed by Dhoruba bin-Wahad of the Campaign to Free Black PPs and POWs and by Safiyah Bukari, who also spoke on the impending execution of Ziyon Yisrayah, and political repression in prisons. Also participating was Carl Dix of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Larry Holmes of the National Peoples Campaign. Attending was folks from all over the world.

The dominant theme that "no matter what the front, its the same struggle," was successfully brought home to the Pan Afrikanists, Animal Rightists, Ecologists, Liberals, Friends, Social Reformers, etc. in attendance.

Everyone agreed to spread the word about the Dec. 9, 1996 MARCH ON WALL STREET to commemorate not only Mumia's 15th year in jail, but to let the world see the United Front against the system of oppression that is headquartered on Wall Street, New York.

But most importantly, everyone left the conference fired- up, with plans to work hard to integrate the struggles of Mumia Abu-Jamal and ALL Political Prisoners into their organizing efforts, because we must save the lives of all of our warriors.

Encourage friends and family to watch MUMIA ABU-JAMAL: A CASE OF REASONABLE DOUBT on HBO. Also Call and Fax HBO and Time Warner thanking them for having the courage to show the Mumia documentary, especially in face of the Fraternal Order of Police's so-called boycott of HBO and Time Warner.

Support the August 27 "NOT ON THE GUEST LIST" demonstration at the Chicago Democratic Convention. Co-endorsed by many, including Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign, ICFAF- MAJ, etc.

Support the DAY OF ATONEMENT --- Oct. 16 at UN Headquarters in N.Y.C.

Mobilize now for the December 9th MARCH ON WALL STREET!

Following a long and expensive investigation Veronica Jones, a prostitute who had offered damaging testimony against Mumia in the 1982 trial was located. She readily told the investigators that she had lied during her testimony as the result of coercion by the police and admitted she had, in fact, seen two people run from the scene of the shooting. It had always been the prosecution's that Mumia had to be the shooter since there was no evidence that anyone else had been present. She. signed a sworn statement admitting her trial testimony was untruthful and related the true version of events.

On June 10th, 1996, we filed a motion with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court asking that the case be remanded back to the Court of Common Pleas (any Judge but Sabo) so that her testimony could be taken and added to the appellate record. The District Attorney objected and (told) the Court to simply ignore this new development. We filed a reply to the District Attorney's objection noting that the DA. didn't dispute the fact that Veronica was coerced and had lied at trial. As of this writing, we have not yet received the Court's decision on our request.

On June 11th the District Attorney filed a 192 page answering brief to our opening brief in the Supreme Court. The rules allow for only a 70 page brief. but the DA. asked for special permission to file a brief more than twice as large and the Court agreed. Also the rules require the answering brief to be filed within 30 days. The DA. took 70 days, with the Court's permission. We now have till August 5th to respond. We are currently working on ant drafts of the reply and have searched the record to uncover many false representations made in their brief Their document was a particularly nasty piece of writing, blaming Mumia the lawyers the supporters and the media for trying to "manufacture bias" on the part of a beleaguered Judge Sabo. It reminded us of the comment made by a Philadelphia lawyer about an earlier brief filed by that office In the Scarfo case:

"This is the first time in councel's long tenure at the bar that such a throughly scurrilous, unprofessional and vicious attack has been launched under the guise of a legal document."

When the Scarfo case was finally decided in 1992, the Court's opinion contained the following unprecedented observation about the Philly DA.

"We are especially concerned that prosecutorial misconduct seems to arise in Philadelphia County more so than in any other county in this Commonwealth."

The DA was was reminded that "the Commonwealth's client is justice" and asked to take "...a more thoughtful approach to the prosecutor's role in our society." It hasn't. Incidentally, the proscutor in the Scarfo case was none other than Joey Grant, the DA who handled Mumia's post conviction hearing last Summer.

On the executive front It's worth noting that Governor Tom Ridge has now signed over 42 warrants for execution since taking office 15 months ago, exceeding the total number of warrants signed by all the former Governors in the. last 33 years. And the US Supreme Court has recently upheld a part of the "reforms" contained in the Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 which are designed to both restrict and speed up the appeals process of those on death row. The major portions of the act which will restrict Murma's ability to get a new trial have yet to be tested but the trend is ominous.

Thanks for your continuing support. Join us as we FREE MUMIA!

The following is based on Leonard Weinglass update given on May 11 at the excellent program at 1199C Union Hall in Philadelphia in remembrance of the bombing of MOVE.

When Mumia s lawyers filed the appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (PSC) on Feb. 9, 1996 enumerating twenty six (26) reasons for a new trial, the brief ran 119 pages.

Ordinarily, the PSC sets a limit of 70 pages and Mumia s lawyers had to petition well in advance for an extension. They were granted 120 pages. The District Attorney s office (DA) had thirty days to file a response to appellant s brief under the court s rules. Instead, on the day their answer was due they requested another sixty days. They said nothing about needing more than the 70-page limit. The court extended the DA s deadline to May 13th, the eleventh anniversary of the bombing of MOVE.

On Friday, May 10th Attorney Leonard Weinglass called the DA s office, requesting a copy of the response. He was told that the DA had another application to the court saying that they needed at least 200 pages. The DA s reason: appellants mis-cited the record and they needed the extra pages to respond to our mis-cites.

We know that answer is a lie because if Mumia s lawyers had indeed mis-cited the record the DA wouldn t need to respond in detail. The mis-cites would be all the reason the court needed to dismiss Mumia s appeal.

So, on Monday, May 13th the PA filed their last-minute request with the PSC. The PSC will issue a new deadline. After the DA files its response, Mumia s lawyers will have six weeks to reply. Court is in recess during July and August, so we won t have oral arguments before the fall.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is an elected court. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and other "law enforcement" organizations are regular and generous contributors to campaign funds. On May 11th , the FOP held its national convention in Washington, DC. Guest speaker was Bill Clinton.

Historically, federal courts have been the ones to reverse death sentences and grant new trials based on constitutional violations. Without federal court decisions, many more innocent people would have been executed in the last twenty years. In April of this year, Clinton signed into law the Counter-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. This law sets the US farther back into the Dark Ages.

The Great Writ of Habeas Corpus was a part of the original Constitution and was considered by the founding fathers to be the preeminent safeguard to liberty and freedom, said Weinglass. It was the last hope for prisoners to have their cases reviewed. The new law guts Habeas Corpus, by taking away from federal judges the power to review state death penalty cases and reverse them based on constitutional violations. Appellant lawyers must prove by "clear and convincing evidence" that the trial judge was "unreasonable" because these state court judges are protected under the "presumption of correctness." Appellant lawyers across the country say that the new law creates an "impossible standard." The law also slashes the time a prisoner has to file his Habeas appeal.

Len pointed out that Bill Clinton, a former teacher of Constitutional Law, is well aware of the history behind the Great Writ of Habeas Corpus. But Bill needed to score points with "counter-terrorist" legislation after the Oklahoma City bombing, and the pro-death president saw nothing wrong with his colleagues' idea to gut Habeas Corpus in the process. Three months ago, the new federal budget bill was passed with an attachment called the Prison Litigation Act which prevents legal aid lawyers from representing prisoners on cases of abuse. Two months ago, the California Department of Corrections officially placed an across-the-board ban on media interviews for prisoners. Other states will soon follow suit. The new Habeas Corpus legislation adds one more nail to the coffin.

Already, five lawsuits have been filed challenging the new Habeas legislation, including one suit originating in Philadelphia. The US Supreme Court agreed to hear one of the suits within ten days. Out of the nine US Supreme Court judges, seven are Reagan-Bush appointees.

The new law will apply to Mumia s case, despite the fact that his conviction/sentence happened fourteen years ago.

The Holocaust was done "legally" - German legislators passed laws and German judges pronounced sentences. The choice to fight back is ours.

Ona Move!

LLJA

Although the Reagan/Bush judges have greatly lessened that protection, still no fewer than 40% of all state death penalty sentences/verdicts have been set aside by federal judges. The fact has not been lost on the pro-death, right wing forces seeking to hasten the executions of the more than 3000 now on death row. Repeatedly they sought to enact legislation which would not only expedite federal review of state death penalty cases but restrict the authority and power of the federal courts to intervene. Each of those efforts failed, largely because mainstream Congressmen were reluctant to tamper with the process by which federal judges review state death penalty cases.

That process is known as habeas corpus, an ancient right wrested from the King by the British commoners. It grants to anyone held in custody the right to challenge the legality of their confinement by filing a Writ (or application) with a court. The Great Writ, as it is frequently called, has been hailed as the hallmark of a free society, "a fundamental safeguard," as the Supreme Court recently noted, against tyranny and the abuse of power. It is the only human right enshrined in the original text of the Constitution. All other rights, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, did not come in to being until the States proposed the first 10 amendments to the Constitution as the price of their ratifying the Constitution. For the past 200 years, it has been the vehicle by which those wrongly held have gained their freedom.

In preparing the challenge to Mumia s death sentence and conviction we believed that federal habeas corpus was the best chance we had for getting relief. However, by law, we had to first apply to the Commonwealth Courts of Pennsylvania before going to the federal system. This we did last summer. On September 15th Judge Sabo denied all relief and we immediately appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme court. That s where we are now. It s the last stop before going to the federal courts. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide the case sometime toward the end of 1996. However, just as we are about to utilize habeas corpus on Mumia s behalf (after a 14 year wait), the law on habeas corpus has undergone a dramatic change, "undermining the historic role of the Federal courts in correcting unconstitutional state court convictions and sentences," as noted by the New York Times editorial of March 13, 1996. The Counterterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1995, signed into law in April, 1996, guts the Great Writ and leaves the fate of Mumia and the more than 3000 on death row to the tender mercies of state judges like Albert Sabo. It sets up strict time limits for filing and, more significant for Mumia, changes the rules under which federal judges can grant relief. It grants to state judges a "presumption of correctness" respecting their findings of fact (Sabo made more than 150 findings each and every one against Mumia) and burdens the defendant to come up with "clear and convincing evidence" to prove the state findings wrong. It then allows executions to proceed if the state judges were merely wrong in their interpretation of federal rights they must be "unreasonably" wrong, whatever that is. While this law will certainly be challenged, and might be overturned or modified, it greatly complicates and burdens Mumia s chances for getting a new trial.

In the meantime we are still in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. We filed a 120 page brief on February 9, 1996 appealing Judge Sabo s ruling and setting forth 26 reasons why Mumia should get a new trial. The prosecution had till March 13th to respond. On the day their response was due the district attorney applied to the Supreme Court for an additional 60 days to file their answer until May 13, 1996, the anniversary of the bombing of Move in 1985. Once again on that due date they failed to file but again asked for an additional 10 days and permission to file a 200 page brief (the Rules limit their response to 70 pages). We have objected and are awaiting a decision as I write.

In any event we will be given several weeks to reply to their answering brief. It now looks like oral argument, if one is to be granted (we are requesting it) will not occur before the Fall.

While we re in the Supreme Court two developments ocurred worth noting: (1) the ACLU and NCBL filed a magnificent brief by Karl Baker challenging the legality of using Mumia s political beliefs, associations and statements against him in getting the death penalty; and (2) Justice Nix, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the only African American on the court, announced his retirement, effective July 1, 1996. He will therefore not be sitting on Mumia s case (in 1989 he did sit during oral argument, but recused himself prior to the decision, without comment).

In 1982, award-winning journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal was hastily convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer and summarily sentenced to death. The fact that Mumia, a former Black Panther ,was denied a fair trial and rushed to Death Row so outraged writers, artists, political activists, and concerned human beings that on August 11, 1995, they met at Harlem's Schomburg Center to oppose Mumia's impending execution and to demand a new trial.

In Defense of Mumia is not only a record of the "open mike" forum at the Schomburg that night. This anthology of prose, poetry, and art also features the contributions of some of our most powerful thinkers, including Amiri Baraka, Herb Boyd, Gwendolyn Brooks, Jayne Cortez, E.L. Doctorow, KRS- 1, William Kunstler, Toni Morrison, Eugene Redmond, Sonia Sanchez, Cornel West, John Edgar Wideman -- along with the artwork from Tom Feelings and Mumia himself.

About the Editors:
S.E. Anderson, a veteran activist/educator, has been involved in the Black Liberation Movement on many levels. He is a mathematics professor, a Senior Editor of NOBO: Journal of African American Dialogue, a founding member of the Network of Black Organizers and of The African Heritage Studies Association, an essayist and the author of The Black Holocaust for Beginners (Writers and Readers Pub.). Sam lives in his native New York City.

Tony Medina teaches English at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus and is the author of a half dozen collections of poetry and short fiction. His collection of 134 socio-political poems, "No Noose is Good Noose," has just been released by Writers and Readers in May 1996. He lives in New York City.

About the Book:
In Defense of Mumia
Edited by S.E. Anderson and Tony Medina Publication Date: January 1996 $14.00, Trade paper ISBN 0-86316-099-9 (380 pp, 6 x 9)

About the Publisher:
Writers and Readers Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 461, Village Station, New York, NY 10012; phone 212/982-3158, fx 212/777-4924

PRESS ADVISORY Contacts: Debra Katz or Gary Peller - 202-745-1942 Noelle Hanrahan or Jane Henderson - 301-699-0042

Lawsuit Challenges National Public Radio's Suppression of Radio Commentaries by Mumia Abu-Jamal under Pressure from Senator Robert Dole and Others

Press Conference - Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. National Press Club (Lisagor Room)

Washington, DC -- Celebrated death row author Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Prison Radio Project, producer of his radio commentaries, filed a $2 million lawsuit today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against National Public Radio. The complaint charges that the network's abrupt decision to pull Abu- Jamal's commentaries from "All Things Considered" violated his First Amendment rights of free speech and constituted a breach of contract.

In 1994, NPR agreed to broadcast a series of regular commentaries by Abu-Jamal concerning life in prison and other social issues. One day before his scheduled debut, May 15, 1994, NPR caved in to pressure from the Fraternal Order of Police and Republican presidential candidate Robert Dole and canceled the commentaries. Particularly vocal were members of the Philadelphia police department, currently plagued by a widespread scandal of misconduct and corruption that sent innocent people to prison.

The suit charges that NPR not only censored Abu-Jamal by refusing to air the commentaries, but has continued to silence him by denying repeated requests that the recordings be released to him and the Prison Radio Project. Remedies sought include NPR's airing and release of the recordings as well as monetary damages.

Abu-Jamal noted, "Not only was I and the Prison Radio Project harmed by NPR's action, the listener was denied a perspective that continues to be missing from the airways."

"As a publicly-funded institution, NPR has a legal obligation to present a diversity of perspectives," added Debra Katz of Bernabei & Katz, a Washington, DC based civil rights law firm. "NPR betrayed that mission and in doing so violated Mumia Abu-Jamal's constitutional rights." Bernabei & Katz is representing Abu-Jamal and the Prison Radio Project in the suit, along with Georgetown University law professor Gary Peller.

"NPR's censorship sends a chilling message to producers and reporters: diverse voices exploring critical issues are not welcome on NPR's airwaves," said Noelle Hanrahan of the Prison Radio Project.

Abu-Jamal is an award-winning journalist and activist. In 1982, after a politically-charged trial, he was sentenced to death for the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer, despite evidence of his innocence and police and prosecutorial misconduct.

The Prison Radio Project, a project of the Quixote Center, is committed to bringing prisoner voices to the public.

!! A C T I O N A L E R T !!

TELL NPR TO AIR AND RELEASE MUMIA'S RECORDINGS!

CALL/FAX/MAIL YOUR MESSAGE TO:

DELANO LEWIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO 202-414-2010/202-414-3049 (FAX)

BILL BUZENBERG, VICE-PRESIDENT FOR NEWS 202-414-2210/202-414-3329 (FAX)

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO 635 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., NW WASHINGTON, DC 20001-3753

[Note: I am writing this immediately following the event. I was not able to be in on every angle of the encounter at the State House today, and some of the quotes below, while accurate, are not verbatim. I was able to speak at the event and stay for the entire time, so here is my report. If others on the internet were also at the event and can add things, please feel free to do so.]

"No justice, No peace - 'til Mumia Abu-Jamal's released!"

The delivery of petitions, however, was hardly welcomed; indeed, the Governor's office seemed to do everything it could to ignore and spurn the distinguished French visitors bearing the petitions. As always, the effort for Mumia was one of struggle.

The delivery began with a formal press conference at the Capitol building at 11:00 a.m. Pam Africa moderated the conference, speaking with passion and eloquence.

Julia Wright, revolutionary journalist from France and eldest daughter of novelist Richard Wright (NATIVE SON, BLACK BOY, THE OUTSIDERS, and many more writings) gave both prepared and extemporaneous testimony to the power of French solidarity with Mumia.

Mr. Jean Solbes, spokesperson for the French Committee to Defend Human Rights and Liberties, conveyed his organization's support as well as that of France's President Jacques Chirac.

Mr. Robert Meeropol, who was six years old when his parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed, brought tears to many eyes as he gave witness to the pain worked by State executions upon the hearts of the children.

Ms. Yuri Kochiyama, who held Malcolm X in her arms as he died on February 21, 1965, read a message to the press on behalf of Malcolm X's family.

Christof Arnold of the Bruderhof, stressed his own religious community's international base, and underscored the multi-national character of the movement on behalf of Mumia and in resistance to fascist abuse in the present U.S.

Sue Africa spoke for the MOVE Organization, and challenged Gov. Ridge's stubborn silence in the face of daily faxes, letters, phone calls, and formal requests from leaders around the world.

Mark McClain Taylor (Princeton Seminary) of Academics for Mumia Abu-Jamal emphasized the long tradition of faithfulness that France has shown to African American writers and thinkers like Richard Wright who left a brutal America. Taylor celebrated this notable presence of French solidarity for Mumia flooding back across the Atlantic into the struggle here.

Ms. Sabrina Green read a message from Leonard Peltier, who recently has undergone surgery AND had his parole denied, who yet sent word of his support for Mumia.

Mr. Ali Bey Hassan, National Coordinator of the Sundiata Acoli Freedom Campaign, former political prisoner and former Panther, fittingly concluded the press conference with a warning to Gov. Ridge that the people were not going to tolerate Mumia's execution.

With the press conference over, the group of nearly 70 speakers and supporters for Mumia, moved out of the Rotunda, down the hallways and up three flights of stairs to the Governor's office.

Ridge's office was fully guarded by a team of plainclothes and uniformed security personnel. Although this meeting with distinguished international visitors had been long scheduled, there was neither a Governor nor his representative to greet the delegation. Hardly a surprise, right?

Although the time and date had long been established, all personnel from the Governor's office chose to ignore our delegation.

Only because we remained outside the Governor's suite of offices on the third floor - chanting, sitting, standing, waiting - did someone finally send word that we could leave the petitions with a security officer. With a building security officer?!

The people said, "No way." Julia Wright and Jean Solbes were understandably shocked by the rudeness of the Governor's office toward the visit - a visit about which both would be reporting to the President of their country. Carol Taylor, author of THE BLACK BOOK, spoke from the crowd to say that she, for one, would work to spread word about this affrontery and growing "international incident."

Timothy Reeves, Press Secretary to the Governor, who usually receives citizen petitions, finally appeared, talked with Mumia supporters, and generally dodged all their questions about the Governor's handling of Mumia's case. When he was asked for a notice acknowledging the delivery of petitions, he started scribbling notes on small scraps of paper and handing them to Ms. Wright.

In response to this additional note of perfunctory acknowledgment and disrespect, the people again said, "No way!" Julia Wright said to Timothy Reeves' face, "I have come to America from France, conveying the viewpoints of respected French citizens, and I have to report to the President when I return!"

Wright added something to the effect, "Although America is my country, this treatment is another example of why it puts pain in my heart!"

Reeves eventually responded by saying something about how the Governor's Office respects citizens of the Commonwealth, at which point Pam Africa was "on the move" and said, "This government showed no respect for the Africa family, for their children's lives, and still to this day refuses to give us justice. Nor has a respected journalist and Commonwealth citizen, Mumia Abu-Jamal, even received respect of his constitutional rights!" The Press Secretary then beat a hasty retreat to his office, with his bodyguard, while Mumia supporters kept their place in the third-floor hall for what seemed like another hour.

In the meantime, Alton Maddox showed up, and took up negotiations with the Press Secretary's office. Maddox secured Reeves' agreement to come back out to talk with Julia Wright and the delegation, AND to provide a typed, formal acknowledgment of receipt of petitions on the Governor's official stationery.

The formal acknowledgment was read aloud by Julia Wright to all gathered, and she gave her consent to its adequacy, even though it still was a rather grudging statement. Mr. Maddox then requested, over Reeves' complaint, that the delegation be given large, official envelopes in which to preserve the letters, instead of the small business envelopes Reeves had initially provided.

By 3:30 p.m., Mumia supporters were marching back down the stairs, filling the Rotunda again with their chants - heading home by car, bus and train. Another day of struggle. More to come - for everybody! Free Mumia, and keep on!

***** NOTES from TAYLOR,MARK (MARK TAYLOR @ TEMPLE) at 4/4/96 8:08p

My deepest thanks and appreciation to The Committee to Defend Human Rights and Liberties headed by Geroges Marchaisand represented today by Mr. Jean Solbes and his son, and Julia Wright, daughter of revered black writer Richard Wright, and to all the tens of thousands of French lovers of liberty, justice and life. I thank you all for this gift of support and solidarity on my behalf and against the American way of Death. France, which has abolished capital punishment years ago, is light years ahead of its American cousin which fattens its death rows daily and has over one million of its citizens in prison. I am enervated and deeply moved by this gentle loving gesture of the French people. Merci!

Ona Move! Mumia

While several of my City Council colleagues joined Councilman Kenney earlier this month in expressing concern about the legitimacy of the hearings and their convenors, I fully support NCCP's right to hold its hearings in the Council Chambers, as requested.

It has been our practice to allow legitimate organizations to meet in Council Chambers, whenever the facility is not in use by the Council, itself. In fact, the Red Cross is interested in using the Council Chamber for meetings on March 29.

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, it is my understanding that NCCPs primary convening bodies, the James Earl Chaney Foundation and the Bruderhoff Foundation, are perfectly reputable and law-abiding organizations, with an honest interest in fostering critically important dialogue surrounding the efficacy of capital punishment.

We have been advised that the James Earl Chaney Foundation has convened similar hearings in the Mississippi State Senate Judiciary Chamber in March 1993, and in the Hattiesburg Mississippi City Council Chambers in August 1995. We also understand that the hearings scheduled to be held in Philadelphia are the first in a series of five such meetings to be held in other cities across the country, and that those regional hearings will be followed by Federal-level hearings in Washington, D.C., in September of this year.

I should also point out that, since the issue surrounding the upcoming Philadelphia hearings have been raised, my office has received copies of more than 20 letters of support for the NCCP and for its discussion topic. Such correspondence has been received from Massachusetts Senator Edward M.Kennedy, Mark McClain Taylor of the Princeton Theological Seminary, the Franconia Mennonite Conference and from Sister Helen Prejean, csj, the author of "Dead Man Walking," among others.

In my review of this situation, it appears that those who have expressed opposition to the hearings being held in the Council Chambers have based their opposition on their unwillingness to have the issue surrounding capital punishment debated in open forum.

In my opinion, it would not only be inappropriate for us to deny the convenors the use of City Council Chambers on that basis, it would also have a chilling effect on NCCPs First Amendment privileges, including its fundamental right to Free Speech.