USA : Free Mumia ! National Appeal for Donations and message from Mumia Abu-Jamal.

National Appeal for Donations for Mumia Abu-Jamal

Hope is within reach. For the first time since 1982, the United States legal system may well go back on a major judicial and political scandal, namely the death sentence pronounced on Mumia Abu-Jamal, following a trial which was acknowledged worldwide as being grossly unfair. Mumia was wrongly accused of murdering a policeman, a charge he has always denied.

The perseverance of his lawyers has paid off. The Third Circuit Federal Court of Appeal has finally decided to consider the various grounds for appeal, which claimed the violation of Mumia’s constitutional rights, prejudicial jury selection process and the illegal nature of the proceedings. It is a significant decision.

The Afro-American journalist, famous for denouncing widespread corruption in the police force and corridors of power, could conceivably get a fair review of his trial. From the depths of Death Row where he languishes, the glimmering possibility of his freedom is emerging. For this reason, the support committees are launching a national appeal for donations which is backed by L’Humanité - 100,000 € to give Mumia the best possible fighting chance.

Message from Mumia Abu-Jamal to his supporters : Ona Move !

I would just like to send a few words, and my sincere thanks, to all of you. To all of you who, from all corners of the globe and from so many countries, have united to protest and march in your hundreds, thousands, and millions... I salute you and thank you. It is your generous and committed support which keeps me going. And this is why we will not stop there. The fight for life and liberty continues, against all the odds. While we are fighting on, all the old injustices are re-emerging... Injustices of all kinds continue to exist. But with your help, we will keep on fighting together to win. Thank you !

Mumia Abu-Jamal, from Death Row, SCI Greene, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

Free Mumia !

By Michel Taube, Spokesperson for the organization "Together against the Death Penalty"

Now more than ever before, the fate of Mumia is in our hands. Thanks to the representations of his lawyer, Robert Bryan, the Federal Court of Appeal has agreed to consider the defence arguments. There is renewed hope in this possibility of a new trial and Mumia’s release.

At this crucial time, the fight must not lose impetus due to lack of funds to defend him and to give the widest possible publicity to his struggle against injustice, racism and the death penalty. The starting point for the international mobilization is France. It is in France that his defenders will find the strength to achieve his freedom.

For it is definitely Mumia’s release we are fighting for here. As far back as 2000, a report by Amnesty International highlighted the numerous procedural errors and the serious violations of the rights of the accused which tainted his trial. When the constitutional rights of a defendant are violated to such an extent by the judicial process, we can ask no less than Mumia’s release, supported this time round by the proof of a new and fair trial.

Beyond being a political militant, Mumia is a victim of the US "killing machine", as witnessed by recent heartless and cruel decisions by the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to allow the executions of Stanley "Tookie" Williams and an old, blind and mentally impaired prisoner [Donald Beardslee] to go ahead. This is the bloodthirsty reality of the death penalty in the United States.

A journalist who became the voice of the voiceless, a radical fighter for a society based on equality and fraternity, and today the symbol of a relentless fight against the death penalty, Mumia Abu-Jamal stands for an image of America with which we can all identify.

We support the initiatives of the Joint National Committee "Together we will save Mumia" and we appeal to your generosity to provide Mumia Abu-Jamal with the means of defending his innocence and regaining his freedom.

Translator’s Note : For further information about Mumia and the death penalty, see : http://www.mumia2000.org http://www.worldcoalition.org http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/13826.shtml