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2004

Court ruling threatens Mumia Abu-Jamal's Life
Evidence to prove his innocence still unheard
By Monica Moorehead

On June 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit lifted its stay of proceedings in the case of death-row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal and ordered a briefing on this matter. Robert R. Bryan, his lead attorney, says: "This should be a wake-up call to the movement. Mumia's case is now moving forward. He is in extremely grave danger. The authorities want to silence his voice and pen." (Brief)

Mumia Abu-Jamal is one victim among millions who have been exploited and oppres sed by the anti-poor, unjust U.S. criminal justice system. The significance of his case, however, goes beyond his struggle against a racist judicial frame-up. Despite being physically isolated on death row, Abu-Jamal has used his words and audio commentaries to provide a powerful, distinct voice in the worldwide movement against imperialist war in Iraq and occupation in Palestine, Haiti and Afghanistan.

The circuit court had been awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Beard v. Banks, which will lead to Mumia's execution if the prosecution has its way.
Bryan explains the significance of this complicated ruling: "The Supreme Court ruled on the appeal by Pennsylvania state authorities stemming from a Court of Appeals decision that invalidated the death sentence of George Banks, who has been on death row over 20 years for multiple murder. Mr. Banks' death sentence had been overturned by the Court of Appeals on the grounds that the instructions to the jury in Banks' case violated a Supreme Court ruling which held that jurors did not have to agree unanimously on the existence of mitigating circumstances in order to vote against the death penalty. The key issue in the Banks case was whether another case, Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367, decided in 1988, could be applied retroactively. The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit had ruled that Mills was retroactive and therefore applied to Banks, which became final in 1987.

"In Mumia's case retroactivity regarding Banks/Mills was not an issue, since Mumia's proceeding was technically finalized in 1990 and therefore was fully covered by Mills. ... The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a critical portion of the Banks case on retroactivity, which held as unconstitutional capital sentencing schemes that require juries to disregard mitigating factors not found unanimously.

"The Supreme Court ruled that Mills did not apply retroactively. The court determined that the Banks conviction became final in 1987; thus, the 1988 Mills decision did not affect his case even though what had occurred was unconstitutional. Hence, Mr. Banks and some 30 other Pennsylvania death row inmates similarly situated could not benefit from the Mills decision and their original death penalty judgments must stand."

This crucial decision comes after more than four years of federal appeals. U.S. Federal District Judge William Yohn was assigned to Abu- Jamal's case in October 1999. He was charged with determining whether Abu-Jamal should have an evidentiary hearing and new trial. Such a hearing would have allowed evidence that had been suppressed to finally be heard and entered into court record. That would give Abu-Jamal a chance to prove his innocence in the 1981 killing of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

Yohn issued a ruling on Dec. 18, 2001, that threw out the original death sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal resulting from his 1982 trial. But Yohn upheld Abu-Jamal's conviction on the charge that he shot Faulkner. If Yohn's ruling had not been challenged within 180 days, Abu-Jamal would have gone through a new penalty trial that could have brought about either life imprisonment or, again, the death penalty.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's office, hoping to see Mumia executed, appealed Yohn's ruling. This led to the current ruling by the Third Circuit Court.

Attorney Bryan has appealed to the public: "The government knows that the only way to stop Mumia is to murder him in the name of the law, to execute him. In over three decades of litigating death-penalty cases, I have not seen one in which the government wants so badly to kill a client. We must not rest until Mumia is free."

Bryan is awaiting a ruling on a petition he filed in the Court of CommonPleas in Philadelphia concerning new evidence of innocence andprosecutorial misconduct during Mumia's original trial. Bryan will alsobe filing a petition in the U.S. District Court regarding a statementmade by Judge Albert Sabo during Abu-Jamal's trial. Court stenographerTerri Maurer-Carter has signed a legal affidavit saying she overheard Sabo say about Abu-Jamal: "Yeah, and I'm going to help 'em fry the n---- r."

The political movement must be ready to mobilize in the streets to demand Abu-Jamal's freedom. Twice when Tom Ridge--now head of the federal Depart ment of Homeland Security--was governor of Pennsylvania, he tried to legally lynch this revolutionary journalist and former Black Panther. Both times, in August 1995 and October 1999, Abu-Jamal's supporters turned out in the thousands to stop his execution.
The powers-that-be want to forever silence him because of his belief in worldwide social revolution. That is why the movement must use every avenue to free him.

Death penalty again looms over Mumia's head
(Statement by the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, July 4, 2004)

On June 29, 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit lifted its stay in regard to consideration of any material in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. The court had been awaiting a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Beard v. Banks which could have resulted in the reinstatement of the death penalty against Mumia.

Indeed, while Mumia's lead attorney Robert R. Bryan told the ICFFMAJ that: "The decision in the Banks case clearly does not effect Mumia's case and the death penalty does not apply," state prosecutors in Pennsylvania have taken the opposite position, arguing that the Banks decision affirms the state's order to execute Mumia and that Mumia must remain on death row. Both sides have been given 30 days to submit briefs on this single issue." Following a determination, Bryan will additionally submit Mumia's appeal of the 2001 U.S. District Court regarding racist jury selection practices and later, additional appeals of the District Court's rulings on a wide
range of issues. Bryan summed up the impact of the latest developments:

"Mumia's case is now moving forward on the fast track.  He is in gravedanger. Pennsylvania state authorities want to silence his voice and pen and are pressing hard once again for the death penalty. They originally thought this could be accomplished by convicting this innocent man, placing him on death row and executing them. They have been proven wrong. Mumia's
voice against injustice and oppression is now stronger. It is heard and read throughout the world. In over three decades of litigating death-penalty cases, I have not seen one in which the government wants so badly to kill a client. We are confident that Pennsylvania's effort to execute Mumia will once again fail.  We are confident that we will win his freedom."

The June 29th U.S. Court of Appeals briefing order came on the heels of a June 24, 2004 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Beard v. Banks. Mr. Bryan explained that Beard v. Banks is a complicated case.  The Supreme Court ruled on the appeal by Pennsylvania state authorities stemming from a
Court of Appeals decision that invalidated the death sentence of George Banks, who has been on death row over 20 years for multiple murder.  Mr. Banks' death sentence had been overturned by the Court of Appeals on the grounds that the instructions to the jury in Banks' case violated a Supreme
Court ruling which held that jurors did not have to agree unanimously on the existence of mitigating circumstances in order to vote against the death penalty.  The key issue in the Banks case was whether another case, Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367 decided in 1988 could be applied retroactively. The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit had ruled that Mills was retroactive and therefore applied to Banks, which became final in 1987. In Mumia's case retroactivity regarding Banks/Mills was not an issue since Mumia's proceeding was technically finalized in 1990 and therefore was fully covered by Mills.

On June 24, in a 5-4 decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a critical portion of the Mills/Banks case, which held as unconstitutional capital sentencing schemes that require juries to disregard mitigating factors not found unanimously. The Supreme Court ruled
that Mills did not apply retroactively. The court determined that the Banks conviction became final in 1987, thus the 1988 Mills decision did not affect his case even though what had occurred was unconstitutional.  Hence, Mr. Banks and some 30 other Pennsylvania death row inmates similarly situated could not benefit from the Mills decision and their original death
penalty judgments must stand. Mr. Bryan pointed out that Supreme Court Justice Stevens, joined by Justices Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer, strongly dissented. Justice Stevens said that the "use of such a procedure is unquestionably unconstitutional today, and I believe it was equally so in 1987 when respondent's death sentence became final."  He further explained that "Mills simply represented a straightforward application of our longstanding view that 'the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments cannot tolerate the infliction of a sentence of death under [a] legal syste [m] that permit [s]
the unique penalty to be . . . wantonly and . . . freakishly imposed.'" Justice Souter said that "a death sentence based upon a verdict of 11 jurors who would have relied on a given mitigating circumstance to spare a defendant's life, and a single holdout who blocked them from doing so, would surely be an egregious failure to express the public conscience accurately." He found that too much importance is given "to the finality of capital sentences and not enough to their accuracy."

There are other legal developments concerning the fight to free Mumia. Robert Bryan is awaiting a ruling on a petition that he filed in the trial court, the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, concerning new evidence of innocence and prosecutorial fraud. This concerns evidence presented by Yvette Williams demonstrating that the prosecution's chief "eyewitness," Cynthia White, was not present at the murder scene of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner and that Williams lied in regard to her identification of Mumia Abu-Jamal as the killer. Bryan will also appeal the decision of the U.S. District to deny certificates of appealability in regard to a number of issues where Mumia's
fundamental constitutional rights were violated, including his right to be present at his own trial and his right to self-representation. Additionally, he will seek to appeal a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision rejecting Mumia's request that Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille recuse (remove) himself from the panel considering Mumia's case on the grounds that Castille had served as a prosecutor in the same case. Bryan noted that Castille, a former Pennsylvania District Attorney had authorized a secret training video that instructed state prosecutors as to how to eliminate Blacks from Pennsylvania juries. Finally, Bryan will also be attempting to go back into the federal court regarding the statement by the trial judge, Albert Sabo, who said during the trial in reference to Mumia: "Yeah, and I'm going to help 'em fry the n****r."

2003

MAY

MAY 23, 2003
112 QUESTIONS FOR ATTORNEY LEONARD WEINGLASS

PHILADELPHIA. Attorneys for death row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal today asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to order Mumia's prior Chief Counsel, Leonard Weinglass, to answer under oath 112 questions concerning charges that he was responsible for the "intentional burying of evidence that proves Appellant Jamal's 'actual innocence' of the crime of which he has been convicted."

Mumia's attorneys charge in their 43-page motion [pdf 297k] that conflicts of interest on the part of Mr. Weinglass were responsible for his "intentionally failing to raise numerous meritorious claims" that Mumia was deprived of a fair trial, fair appeal and fair post-conviction proceedings. Mumia's attorneys also charge that Weinglass "intentionally sabotaged" claims for relief that he did present.

The motion, filed today [pdf 297k] in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, includes a 20-page "Offer of Proof" which sets forth 112 questions to be asked of Mr. Weinglass and which Mumia's attorneys contend should all be answered "yes" if Weinglass tells the truth.

The motion also sets forth 15 specific charges against Weinglass, including refusing to investigate evidence proving Mumia's innocence, burying the 1999 confession of Arnold Beverly to the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner (the crime for which Mumia was convicted and sentenced to death), and suppressing the 1995 recantation of prosecution witness Robert Chobert (one of only 2 witnesses at Mumia's trial who claimed to have seen him shoot the police officer).

In their motion Mumia's attorneys refer the state supreme court to numerous documents and sworn witness statements they previously filed in the lower court proceedings, but which they say were ignored by Court of Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe who denied their request for a full hearing.

Mumia and his attorneys are now awaiting the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision as to whether they will allow Mr.Weinglass to answer to the charges placed against him.

link to legal document: Motion and Offer of Proof

Award-winning journalist and author Mumia Abu-Jamal holds a Master of Arts degree in Humanities from California State University and was named an honorary citizen of Paris, France, an honor last granted to renowned artist Pablo Picasso. He is represented by London barrister Nick Brown, Chicago attorney Marlene Kamish, Los Angeles attorney Eliot Lee Grossman, and local Philadelphia counsel J. Michael Farrell.

For more information contact: Eliot Lee Grossman, Esq. (626) 943-1945
sinjusticia@juno.com

MAY 2, 2003
YET ANOTHER WITNESS EXPOSES POLICE FRAME-UP
OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL.

Philadelphia, PA. Yet another witness has come forward to expose the police frame-up which has kept celebrated journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal on death row for over 20 years. In a declaration filed last week in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by Jamal’s attorneys, Kenneth Pate swears that his half-sister, Priscilla Durham, in a telephone conversation with Pate in 1983 or 1984, repudiated her testimony against Jamal at his 1982 trial for the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner.

Durham, a security guard, was on duty at Jefferson Hospital on December 9, 1981, when Jamal and Faulkner were brought into the emergency room with gunshot wounds. According to Pate, Durham told him that the only statement Jamal made at the hospital was, “Get off me, get off me, they’re killing me,” when the police were interfering with his medical treatment. This directly --contradicts-- Durham’s testimony at Jamal’s trial that she heard him yell out, while surrounded by numerous police, “I shot the motherf---er and I hope he dies.”

The story of Jamal’s purported “confession” at the hospital was not reported for two months by any police officers. According to Pate, the police appealed to Durham to “stick with” them because, as a security guard, she was part of the “brotherhood” of law enforcement officers. Durham claimed at Jamal’s trial that she had reported the alleged confession to her supervisor. Jamal’s jury never heard the testimony of a police officer responsible for guarding Jamal at the hospital who had filed a written report shortly afterwards in which he said that Jamal had made no statements – the trial judge refused a defense request for a continuance in order to locate the officer.

Pate’s declaration now fully explodes the “confession” story as a complete fabrication. With the presentation of Pate’s testimony, Jamal’s attorneys have now provided the courts with sufficient proof to refute every piece of alleged evidence used to convict Jamal at his 1982 trial: Witness statements by Yvette Williams and private investigator Mike Newman prove that the prosecution’s purported “eyewitnesses,” prostitute Cynthia White and cab driver Robert Chobert, did not even see the shooting. Arnold Beverly’s dramatic declaration, corroborated by a lie detector test and a wealth of other evidence, establishes that he, not Jamal, shot Officer Faulkner in a “mob hit” procured by corrupt police and organized crime because Faulkner was an obstacle to the “pay-offs” racket that corrupt police were running in center city Philadelphia in the 1980’s.

Despite the fact that no jury today could possibly convict Mumia Abu-Jamal after hearing all the evidence now available, he remains in prison and the Philadelphia District Attorney, egged on by the Fraternal Order of Police, remains committed to seeing him executed despite the evidence which proves his innocence.

For information on how persons or organizations can join in the amicus
(“friend of the court”) brief filed in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in
support of Mumia’s innocence by noted criminal defense attorney Michael
Yamamoto, please e-mail icffmaj@aol.com or howardkeylor@attbi.org.

For more information:
Contact attorney Eliot Grossman at (626) 943-1945.

------

New Witness Statement Re: Mumia Abu-Jamal below:

DECLARATION OF KENNETH PATE
I, KENNETH PATE, DECLARE:

1. I am related to Priscilla Durham, now known as Priscilla Ahmed, through marriage: My father, Perry Abner, married Priscilla's mother, Dolores Durham, about 20-25 years ago.

2. Sometime around the end of 1983 or the beginning of 1984 I had a
telephone conversation with Priscilla Durham in which the subject of Mumia Abu-Jamal came up.

3. I asked Priscilla how she was and she asked me how I was. I was kind of teasing her about her job as a security guard at the hospital, saying "why would a woman need to carry a big old gun like that?"

4. Priscilla began to complain about the way she was treated on the job,
about her back hurting, and them "treating her like that" after all she did
for them they laid her off.

5. Then Priscilla started talking about Mumia Abu-Jamal. She said that when the police brought him in that night she was working at the hospital. Mumia was all bloody and the police were interfering with his treatment, saying "let him die."

6. Priscilla said that the police told her that she was part of the
"brotherhood" of police since she was a security guard and that she had to stick with them and say that she heard Mumia say that he killed the police officer, when they brought Mumia in on a stretcher.

7. I asked Priscilla: "Did you hear him say that?" Priscilla said: "All I
heard him say was: 'Get off me, get off me, they're trying to kill me.'"

8. Priscilla also said there was a lot of chaos and confusion going on when
the police brought Mumia in and when they were talking to her.

9. I am presently imprisoned at SCI Greene where I have been for about 3 years. At the time of my telephone conversation with Priscilla Durham,
described above, I was imprisoned at SCI Graterford.

10. Back in 1982-1984 Priscilla and I had many telephone conversations when I was at SCI Graterford. I would call her house to talk to her or her daughter Sharon. Since then Priscilla and I have written each other many times.

11. Sometime in 1984, after I was transferred to SCI Huntington, I read a
newspaper article about the Mumia Abu-Jamal case. It said Priscilla Durham had testified at Mumia's trial that when she was working as a security guard at the hospital she heard Mumia say that he had killed the police officer. When I read this I realized it was a different story from what she had told me.

12. Mumia was also imprisoned at SCI Huntington at that time. I wrote a note to him about Priscilla and gave it to another inmate who was a "tier worker" to pass it on to him.

13. Sometime between December of last year (2002) and February of this year (2003) I was out in the prison yard at the same time Mumia was. I remember that the weather was still cold. We were a couple of cages away from each other. I mentioned to him about the telephone conversation I had with Priscilla back in 1983 or 1984 and that she said she did --not-- hear Mumia say anything about killing the police officer. I told him that I thought she was still scared about telling the truth about what happened but maybe she would.

14. My nickname or street name is "Kenny Stax." That is how I am known by Mumia and other inmates.

15. I am willing to take a lie detector test to prove I am telling the truth
about my conversation with Priscilla Durham.

This declaration is made subject to the penalties provided for in 18 Pa.
Cons. Stats. Sec. 4904 for unsworn false statements to authorities. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of
America that this declaration is true and correct and was signed by me on
April 18, 2003, at Waynesburg, PA.

KENNETH PATE
(signed)

Joinders Submitted – For Mumia’s Freedom
In 2002, Six Unions Demanded: Let the Evidence of Mumia's Innocence Be Heard! Their Amicus Brief Supported Labor's Principle: An Injury To One Is An Injury To All

Now: Joinders Filed Adding New Signatories to the Union Amicus Brief
Also: Green Party USA Signs Joinder

A Report To the Movement, Feb 05, 2003:
Labor friends of Mumia have now received stamped copies of two joinder filings, indicating that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, after months of foot-dragging and attempted sabotage, has finally acknowledged receipt of documents in which individuals and organizations have added their names to a very compelling amicus (or "friend-of-the-court") brief proclaiming the innocence of journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal. The amicus brief--submitted by six unions--and joinders were in support of Jamal's 2002 appeal, which is still pending before Pennsylvania's top court.

Filed in August 2002 by six unions, the amicus brief outlines the massive weight of evidence--overlooked or rejected by the courts in 2001 and 2002--which convincingly shows that Mumia Abu-Jamal, "Voice of the Voiceless", like many other victims of the corrupt criminal justice system, was framed by the cops and prosecutors for a crime he didn't commit. Starting with the confession of Arnold Beverly, the actual killer in the crime for which Mumia was sent to death row in 1982, the brief reviews the key points and unequivocally states, "The entirety of the evidence conclusively demonstrates that Mumia Abu-Jamal is innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted."

Written by noted California defense attorney Michael F. Yamamoto, the brief is introduced by statements by each of the six unions--Local 10 (San Francisco) of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Golden Gate Branch 24 of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC); the National Union of Journalists of the United Kingdom (Britain); the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422--dock workers of Charleston South Carolina; and two independent unions--"Zahyst" and "Uspih"--representing bottling plant and public workers in the city of Kiev, Ukraine.

An Injury To One Is An Injury To All
Assembled quickly under the pressure of a deadline by the court, the original list of union signatories to the amicus brief is short, but not unique in the labor movement in supporting Mumia's case--many unions have done so in varying ways. These six unions responded to the urgent call for action when asked to do so, thereby adding to their other actions in Jamal's defense. In April 1999 Local 10 of the ILWU spearheaded a West Coast port shutdown, and its members then led a mass march in San Francisco to free Mumia. The British National Union of Journalists has made Mumia an honorary member, noting in their statement that "the NUJ believes that Mumia Abu-Jamal's continued incarceration now is, in large part, attributable to his journalistic activities." The statement by the predominantly black dock workers of ILA Local 1422, fresh from a hard-fought victory over perhaps the most racist and union-busting state government in the American South, summed it up best: "Local 1422 knows that an injury to one is an injury to all." (The complete Amicus Brief, with union statements, is available at www.LaborActionMumia.org, and other Mumia web sites.)

The filing of the appeal and amicus brief was marked last August by a press conference and rally held on the steps of Oakland's Alameda County Court House, historic site of Black Panther Party rallies. The racist court that "tried" Mumia in 1982--presided over by a judge who said, "yeah, and I'm gonna help 'em fry the n____r"--was compared to the infamous 1857 pro-slavery US Supreme Court finding in the Dred Scott case, which said that the black man "had no rights that the white man was bound to respect."

Court Finally Acknowledges Joinders
The joinders are official actions which add the names of organizations and individuals as co-signatories to the already-filed amicus brief of the six unions. Two recent joinder submissions have now been confirmed as "received" by the court (which means they are on the court docket). The first was the 76 individuals who put their names to a multiple-signer joinder at the National Conference on Civil Liberties, Democratic Rights and the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, held in Berkeley California in November 2002. The conference was sponsored by, among others, the Mobilization to Free Mumia; and the joinder signatures were collected, bound and sent in by the Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal (LAC). The second joinder action was a collection of 99 individual signers gathered over several months, also by the LAC, at events such as an anti-war rally/concert in San Francisco's Dolores Park last summer, and the Project Censored Awards Ceremony in Fall 2002.

Both of these LAC joinders (175 names total) were sent in mid-December, coupled with motions demanding relief from timeliness requirements (which have been accepted). This was necessary to prevent the court clerk from sending the joinders back as untimely. There is not in fact any timeliness requirement on submitting a joinder to an already-filed amicus brief, but the courts will go to any length to prevent solidarity with Jamal's case. The clerk also demanded more copies which had to be separately bound and sent.

Faced with attached motions and certificates of service (indicating copies to all parties in the case), the court voted 6-1 to accept two earlier joinder submissions. The prosecution has also been forced to inform the court it will not oppose the filing of joinders by the LAC. This represents a major victory and insures that the court will accept future joinders, so it is more important than ever to send in as many as possible as soon as possible. The court has to read and review each joinder submitted in order to decide whether or not to accept it so persons/organizations submitting them can be confident that they are having an impact on the court.

Green Party USA Signs Joinder
In the time since these two joinders were submitted last December, numerous others have been received for immediate submission. These include a joinder from the Greens/Green Party USA, which added its name by vote at a recent national leadership gathering. The joinder was signed on behalf of the Greens by Mitchel Cohen of the Brooklyn Greens and New York City anti-spray coalition. New batches of joinders have also come in to the LAC from San Diego California friends of Mumia, from the Cleveland Ohio LAC, and from dedicated individuals around the country. The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Chicago Coalition to Free Mumia and others have also been collecting their own joinders.

Help Collect Joinders For Mumia's Freedom
Signatures, collected on individual joinder forms, can be sent to: Mumia Joinders, PO Box 16222, Oakland CA 94610. The LAC will copy, bind and submit them in batches with the required motion and fee. The joinder form used for this should say "The undersigned authorizes the Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal to act on his/her behalf as necessary to file this Notice of Joinder." Joinder forms bearing this line, as well as copies of the amicus brief and joinder instructions, can be obtained at: www.LaborActionMumia.org. or by writing to the above address. Please send a donation when requesting or submitting joinders, to help with copying, mailing and filing fee costs.

Unions: It's Labor's Fight, Free Mumia!
Unions are especially invited to add their names to the six-unions' amicus brief for Mumia's freedom. Mumia himself is a union member (National Writers Union), and he honors picket lines. He refused to be interviewed by an ABC-TV news crew in 1998, despite the urgency of his case and the threat of death hanging over him, because the technicians in NABET/CWA were locked out at the time. If you are a union member, get your local exec board to request a presentation on Mumia's innocence (including the video of Arnold Beverly's confession), as well as amicus briefs, joinder forms and instructions. There is also an article on Mumia which can be submitted for publication in union news letters and periodicals. Contact the LAC at our web site or address below for details.
Individuals and organizations can also send in their own joinders or batches of joinders (in which case, leave out or paste over the LAC authorization line). If doing this, remember that the submissions need to be sent in with the requisite copies, motion, filing fee of $40, etc. Contact the Joinders campaign with any questions. Or, if you're reading this on a Mumia web site, look on the site for joinder forms and instructions.
Let's show the courts, in our thousands, that Mumia must be Free!

Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal.
PO Box 16222, Oakland CA 94610.
www.LaborActionMumia.org.
February 2003. Labor donated

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JANUARY 2003

Download and print out the following letter (pdf 479k)

A LETTER TO MUMIA'S SUPPORTERS FROM: Alice Walker, author; Yuri Kochiyama, political prisoner activist; Howard Zinn, historian; Harllel X Jones, former political prisoner, Ohio; David Hillard, former Black Panther Party Chief of Staff; Willam Mandel, author; Ossie Davis, actor; Danny Glover, actor, Bobby Seale, former Black Panther Party Chairman, Jesse Jackson, Rainbow Push Organization*, Ken Riley, president - ILA Local 1422, Charleston, SC*, Clarence Thomas, secretary Treasurer - ILWU Local 10*, Walter Johnson, secretary-treasurer - SF Labor Council*, Sam Jordan, former dir. - Amnesty International Death Penalty Program*...

A NEW ENEMY THREATENS MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Mumia Abu-Jamal -- award-winning journalist, political activist, and one of the world's best known political prisoner's--is in serious danger and he needs your help now! A new enemy is at the door--a desperate lack of funds for his defense. Mumia's attorneys--Marlene Kamish, Eliot Lee Grossman, J. Michael Farrell and British Barrister Nick Brown --have not been paid one cent for their prodigious work since taking over his representation in May 2001. While earlier donations covered some of the expenses, the lawyers have still had to pay thousands of dollars out of their own pockets to keep the case alive.

At this very moment, investigators are hot on the trail of a key witness whose testimony will blow a gaping hole in the prosecution's unraveling case, and further expose how Mumia was framed for a crime he did not commit. But the funds necessary to complete this and other important leads will soon be exhausted.

MUMIA ABU-JAMAL IS INNOCENT!
• Arnold Beverly has confessed that he (and an accomplice) killed Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, on behalf of the mob and corrupt police officers. He said that Mumia had nothing to do with the killing. He passed a lie detector test and is ready and willing to testify, despite having nothing to gain by doing so.
• Arnold Beverly states in his confession that there were a number of police officers present at the scene when Police Officer Faulkner was killed. This is corroborated by other witnesses.
• The physical evidence at the scene proves that at least two gunmen were involved in the shooting, thereby destroying the prosecution theory of the case and significantly confirming Beverly's confession.
• There is no evidence that Mumia's gun was used to shoot Police Officer Faulkner. No forensic tests were carried out on Mumia's hands (or weapon), because the police knew that Mumia had not fired a gun.
• Both of the prosecution's so-called eyewitnesses, Robert Chobert and Cynthia White, have confessed to independent confidant that, contrary to earlier testimony, they did not actually see the shooting. Their trial testimony was likely the result of police coercion because one was a prostitute, and the other a cab driver on felony probation. (Furthermore, Yvette Williams, who was in jail with Cynthia White shortly after the incident when Officer Faulkner was shot, has attested that White told her in detail about the police threats and bribery used to induce her false testimony against Mumia.)
• Several witnesses (some of whom never testifies) saw Faulkner's real killers flee the scene.
• Arnold Beverly states that Mumia himself was shot by another police officer, not Officer Faulkner, as the prosecution alleged. An independent eyewitness states that Police Officer Faulkner;s gun was still in his holster when he was placed in the back of a police car and taken to the hospital. (No forensic test were carried out on Faulkner's hands because the police knew that he had not fired a gun.) The trajectory of the bullet wound in Mumia also shows that Faulkner could not have shot Mumia.
• Mumia was framed for the killing of Police officer Faulkner by corrupt police officers, and by the prosecutor's office, who together concocted a false "confession" story to convict him.
• Terri Maurer-Carter, a Certified Court Reporter, states that, at the time of Mumia's original trial, Judge Alber Sabo, said, with reference to Mumia, "Yeah, and I'm going to help 'em fry the n****r!" Known as a "prosecutor in robes," Sabo sent more people to death row than any other sitting US judge, including a disproportionately large number of African Americans.

Despite the obvious unfairness of Mumia's trial, appeals courts have so far refused to hear this evidence, or even to authorize the deposition of Arnold Beverly! The only break in the case came in December of last year, when U.S. District Court Judge William H. Yohn threw out Mumia's death sentence because of an error in the jury instructions, but ignored the evidence of innocence, and left his conviction in place. The District Attorney has appealed to restore the death sentence, and has stated her intention to again seek the death penalty if there is another sentencing hearing. Although his attorneys won an important battle in temporarily blocking his execution, Mumia's life and freedom still hang in the balance.

Prominent California criminal defense attorney Mike Yamamoto has submitted and amicus (friend-of-the-court) brief to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on behalf of a number of labor unions, based on his comprehensive and independent review of the evidence. His conclusion was that beyond a doubt, Mumia is innocent. An international campaign has been launched for individuals and organizations to sign onto this brief by filing and "Notice of Joinder" with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. If thousands sign on, this simple act of solidarity could be a significant help to Mumia. To obtain a copy of the amicus brief, and the "Joinder" form you need to add your name, contact: Mumia Joinders Campaign, PO Box 16222, Oakland, CA 94610.

If you have any question about anything in this letter, or need more information about Mumia's case, please contact the organization which sent you this letter, or go to one of the web sites listed below. Mumia's appeal briefs, numerous witness affidavits and other legal documents are available by mail or through these sites:

Mumia.org • LaborActionMumia.org • ChicagoFreeMumia.org • FreeMumia.com

Mumia needs your help now, more than ever before. We cannot let this innocent man, this daring journalist -- who has already been incarcerated for 21 years now, for a crime he did not commit -- continue to be victimized by a cynical frame-up and cover-up. We know that you have supported Mumia in the past and that you are doing whatever you can to help us win his freedom. That is why we are writing you now to urge you to give generously to our fund drive.

Mumia Abu-Jamal has designated Social and Environmental Entreprenuers (SEE) of Malibu, California, as the recipient of donations for his legal defense fund. (Mumia's statement on SEE is posted on the websites mentioned above.) SEE is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. Donation are tax deductible, and should be made payable to "SEE MUMIA FREE" and mailed to the address below (For more information on SEE, please go to: www.saveourplanet.org.)

Thank you for your much-needed solidarity and support.
Yours for justice,
Alice Walker, author
Yuri Kochiyama, political prisoner activist
Howard Zinn, historian
Harllel X Jones, former political prisoner, Ohio
David Hillard, former Black Panther Party Chief of Staff
Willam Mandel, author
Ossie Davis, actor
Danny Glover, actor
Bobby Seale, former Black Panther Party Chairman
Jesse Jackson, Rainbow Push Organization*
Ken Riley, president - ILA Local 1422, Charleston, SC*
Clarence Thomas, secretary Treasurer - ILWU Local 10*
Walter Johnson, secretary-treasurer - SF Labor Council*
Sam Jordan, former dir. - Amnesty International Death Penalty Program*

Yes, I want to help Mumia's legal defense...
Here is my tax-deductible donation to SEE MUMIA FREE!
Please accept my donation of:
__$25 __$50 __$100 __$250 __$500 __$1000 __other$_________

__I enclose a check or money order for the above amount,
made payable to: SEE MUMIA FREE

__I wish to pay by credit:

Card number:______________________________ Exp:(mo)____/____ (yr)

Name:_____________________________________

Sign Here: _________________________________

Address:___________________________________

City/State:_________________________________ Zip:_____________

Send donation to:
SEE MUMIA FREE
Social and Environmental Entreprenuers
11948 W. Washington Boulevard, Suite 201
Los Angeles, CA 90066

2002

• May 17, 2002 Press Release:
MUMIA'S ATTORNEYS DEMAND DEPOSITION OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ... Mumia Abu-Jamal's attorneys filed an unprecedented motion with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to take testimony under oath from Supreme Court Justice Ronald D. Castille concerning his responsibility for the infamous...

• Download Legal Document, May 17, 2002: (filed in State Court)
APPELLANT JAMAL’S MOTION FOR REMAND TO TAKE TESTIMONY OF JUSTICE RONALD D. CASTILLE. (pdf 46k)

• May 11, 2002 in San Francisco:
ATTORNEY MARLENE KAMISH SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL (Includes current legal updates etc.)

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APRIL 2002

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• March 11, 2002 Press Release:
MUMIA'S ATTORNEYS CHARGE D.A. WITH FAKING DEATH OF KEY WITNESS. Mumia Abu-Jamal's attorneys charged the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office with "faking the death" of key prosecution witness Cynthia White... The attorneys argue in the briefs that, "As the frame-up of Mumia Abu-Jamal is increasingly coming apart at the seams, the District Attorney in her desperation to keep the evidence which proves Mumia's innocence from being heard....

• Download Legal Document, March 11, 2002:
BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE MICHAEL F. YAMAMOTO, ESQ. IN SUPPORT OF CROSS-APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR CERTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL ISSUES FOR APPEAL(pdf 137k)

• Download Legal Document, March 11, 2002: (Filed in Federal Court) CROSS-APPELLANT JAMAL’S RESPONSE TO COMMONWEALTH CROSS-APPELLEES’ OPPOSITION TO MOTION TO CERTIFY ADDITIONAL ISSUES FOR APPEAL (pdf 82k)

• Download Legal Document, March 8, 2002: (Filed in State Court) PETITIONER JAMAL’S REPLY TO COMMONWEALTH’S ANSWER TO MOTION FOR REMAND TO TAKE TESTIMONY FROM YVETTE WILLIAMS (pdf 23k)

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• February 6, 2002 Press Release:
CASE AGAINST MUMIA ABU-JAMAL IN DOUBT
AS NEW WITNESS ALLEGES CYNTHIA WHITE LIED...
Mumia Abu-Jamal’s attorneys dropped another “bombshell” today...

• Affidavit of Yvettte Williams

• Download Legal Document, February 6, 2002: (Filed in Federal Court) CROSS-APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR CERTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL ISSUES FOR APPEAL (pdf 102k)

• January 9, 2002 Press Release:
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL’S ATTORNEYS FILE APPEAL TO PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT STATE JUDGE’S REFUSAL TO HEAR CONFESSION OF REAL KILLER!...asking it to order Common Pleas Court Judge Pamela Dembe to hear the testimony...

• Download Legal Document, January 9, 2002: (Filed in State Court) NOTICE OF APPEAL and ORDER FOR TRANSCRIPTS PURSUANT TO RULES 1911 AND 1922 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE and JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT and PETITIONER’S CONCISE STATEMENT OF MATTERS COMPLAINED OF ON APPEAL (pdf 62k)

• December 18, 2001:
Judge strikes down Mumia's CURRENT death sentence ...But left the possibility open for a new death sentence... The decision did *not* overturn Mumia's conviction... rather than sitting back with relief, this is an incredibly important time to stay involved...

• December 13 , 2001 Press Release:
COMMUNITY LEADERS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF POLICE RIOT ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2001. ...The police ambush attack on peaceful protesters in a permitted demonstration is viewed as part of the state's ongoing effort to suppress the mounting evidence in Abu-Jamal's case pointing to his innocence...

• December 10 , 2001 Press Release:
Mumia Abu-Jamal's attorneys sent an open letter to the Mayor of Philadelphia today protesting a vicious attack by Philadelphia Police on a peaceful and legal march December 8...

• December 10 , 2001:
Letter to Mayor Street From Mumia's Attorneys...On December 8, 2001, the First Amendment was mugged by Philadelphia Police who viciously attacked a legal march of 1,000 people of all ages and races who were peacefully commemorating the 20th anniversary of the frame-up of award-winning Black journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who is still on death row although the real killer has confessed and exonerated him....

• December 9 , 2001:
Letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer From Professor Mark Taylor ...Your story on the "Mumia Melee" was inaccurate and left out what I saw. I drove in from Princeton, New Jersey, for this peaceful rally...

• December 9 , 2001:
The Philadelphia International Action Center joins our national office in condemnation of the Philadelphia police's unprovoked and brutal attack on the December 8th thousand-plus march in support of death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. ...In the aftermath of September 11th, and the national attacks on civil liberties, the police seemed emboldened to carry out an ambush attack of peaceful protestors in a permitted demonstration. Their actions threaten all of us, and we need to respond...

• December 8, 2001:
Peaceful Mumia Demonstration in Philly Attacked by Police ...This was a legally permitted demonstration and march and the kind of police vilolence exhibited was highly unusual for marches for Mumia in Philadelphia... (photo included)

• December 7, 2001:
Mumia Abu-jamal’s Attorneys File Response to Judge Dembe ...to demand a hearing in state court to present Arnold Beverly’s testimony that he – and not Mumia – shot and killed Police Officer Daniel Faulkner... Mumia’s attorneys remind Judge Dembe that a Federal Judge has just overturned the conviction and death sentence in the very case she relies on to claim that she has no jurisdiction to hear their petition – the case of Otis Peterkin...

• Download Legal Document, December 7, 2001 (Filed in State Court) PETITIONER MUMIA ABU-JAMAL’S RESPONSE TO COURT’S NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISMISS PETITION FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF AND/OR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS (Pdf 75k)

See the document filed in state court that Judge Dembe denied:
• Download Legal Document PCRA 2001 & Read! (condensed and reformatted to 68 pages, opens with Acrobat Reader Software, pdf file, 473k)

• November 21, 2001
State Court Judge Dembe ruled against Mumia and refused to hear this new evidence on November 21. This will be appealed. See the document filed in state court that she denied: Dowload PCRA 2001 & Read! (condensed and reformatted to 68 pages, pdf file, opens with Acrobat Reader Software 473k)

• Download Legal Document, November 7, 2001: (Filed in State Court) PETITIONER JAMAL’S REPLY TO COMMONWEALTH RESPONDENT’S UNTIMELY RESPONSE TO MEMORANDUM OF LAW ON COURT’S JURISDICTION. “[N]o matter where or how the chains of his captivity were forged – the power of the judiciary of this state is adequate to crumble them to dust, if an individual is deprived of his liberty contrary to the law of the land.” -- Commonwealth ex rel. Webster (Pa. 1847)." (pdf 31k)

• November 5, 2001 Press Release:
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL’S ATTORNEYS, COMPARING HIS CASE TO THAT OF SACCO AND VANZETTI CASE IN THE 1920's...

• PETITIONER'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE MARCH 1927 ARTICLE BY JUSTICE FELIX FRANKFURTER ON SACCO-VANZETTI CASE.

• Download Legal Document, November 2, 2001: (Filed in Federal Court) PETITIONER'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE MARCH 1927 ARTICLE BY JUSTICE FELIX FRANKFURTER ON SACCO-VANZETTI CASE (pdf 133k)

• Link to Atlantic Monthly article

• Affidavit of Terri Maurer-Carter

• September 25, 2001 Affidavit George Michael Newman

• September 13, 2001 Affidavit Eugene Ericksen

• September 10, 2001 Press Release:
ARNOLD BEVERLY SPEAKS IN A VIDEO-TAPED CONFESSION. MUMIA ABU-JAMAL, AN INNOCENT MAN, REMAINS ON DEATH ROW.
See Arnold Beverly’s videotaped confession at http://www.kntv.com or order copies from the Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal by contacting howardkeylor@home.com. Click here for an audio version of the confession (from the video)

• Download Legal Document, September 7, 2001: (Filed in State Court)
PETITIONER JAMAL’S MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF COURT’S JURISDICTION TO HEAR HIS PCRA/ HABEAS PETITION ON THE MERITS. (pdf 56k)

• August 28, 2001:
Mumia's Statement to the Press Re: Terri Maurer-Carter

• Statement of Terri Maurer-Carter: Court reporter who heard the original trial Judge Sabo make racist comments regarding Mumia and his trial.
(En Español: Testimonio de Terri Maurer-Carter)

• August 26, 2001:
Text of taped statement by Mumia Abu-Jamal for the Aug. 26, 2000 Redeem the Dr eam March against police brutality and racial profiling in Washington, D.C.

• August 17, 2001:
Mumia's Statement to the Court…It is against an extraordinary and unprecedented background that present counsel's motion for pro hoc vice status to enter this case and assist in righting these historical wrongs comes before this forum today.The denial of my right of self-representation and the infringement of my right to representation itself has a long and tortured history…

• August 2, 2001 Press Release:
DOES NEITHER INNOCENCE NOR GUILT MATTER ANYMORE?

• Download Legal Document: Motion to Reconsider July 19th Order and Take the Deposition of Arnold Beverly (pdf format 242k)

• July 19, 2001
Judge Yohn denied Mumia the right to depose Arnold Beverly (the man who has confessed to the shooting Mumia was framed for). He claimed that the confession is time-barred and it is too late to bring it forward to help prove Mumia's innocence. (depositions are sworn statements with a court reporter present that offer both sides an opportunity to question a witness). Mumia's legal team filed a response in court on July 30th: See August 2, 2001 Press Release.

• Download Legal Document: Motion to Reconsider July 19th Order and Take the Deposition of Arnold Beverly (pdf format 242k)

• July 5, 2001 An order issued by Judge Yohn admits British attorney Nick Brown into federal court as one of Mumia's attorneys. The prosecution's attempt to deny Mumia council of his choice was not successful! See Defense Response Brief

• On July 3, 2001 Mumia's attorneys filed petition in state court.

• Dowload and read legal document: PCRA Petition (condensed and reformatted to 68 pages, pdf file, opens with Acrobat Reader Software 473k) Petition give a very good overview of Mumia's case. To see the petition (broken up in several parts) go to www.mumia.org and click on legal updates.

• June 22, 2001:
Mumia's Message to the First World Congress Against the Death Penalty Strasbourg, FRANCE June 22, 2001 ...Bonjour mes amis du mouvement d'abolition de peine de mort en Republique francaise. I thank ya'll and particularly our hard working sister, Julia Wright, who has been a light and strong arm of freedom movements for several generations. Merci ma soeur!...

• June 7, 2001 Press Release
The Prosecutor is attempting to stop one of Mumia's Attorneys from defending him. The defense team has responded with a brief. see below:

• Defense Response Brief

• Defense Response Brief Re: Request for Deposition of Arnold Beverly
• Report of polygraph examination of Arnold Beverly.

• May 12, 2001:
MUMIA'S STATEMENT to the May 12, 2001 Demonstrations ...We are at a crossroad, one dictated by time, by history, by circumstance and even by chance... We are here because it is the right place and the right time to be. I thank all of you for coming to this encampment in the hopes of joining you at our next such encounter...

• May 2001 article:
NEW LAWYERS FILE AFFIDAVITS: "MUMIA DIDN'T DO IT"

• MAY 4, 2001 Press Release:
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL TELLS THE WORLD WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM DECEMBER 9, 1981 • Other AFFIDAVITS Released REVEAL NEW EVIDENCE

OVERVIEW OF AFFIDAVITS FILED IN MAY 2001
• Mumia Abu-Jamal's new legal team filed a series of affidavits and documents in May, 2001 Documents filed include: declarations from Mumia himself; his brother William Cook; Arnold Beverly: who has confessed to the shooting and is ready to testify in court; an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer about Police corruption quoting a now known FBI informant, Donald Hersing, and his sworn statement; and a declaration from Philadelphia Tribune reporter Linn Washington regarding his account of the unprotected crime scene shortly after the incident. (Also see "May 4 Press Release" and "NEW LAWYERS FILE AFFIDAVITS: MUMIA DIDN'T DO IT" article)

• Mumia & his brother state - Mumia is innocent: In their declarations, both Mumia and his brother, William Cook, tell what happened on Dec. 9, 1981 for the first time. They explain why they have not related this information before.

• Man confesses to shooting: Arnold Beverly says that he killed the police Officer Faulkner. In his declaration, Beverly explains that he was hired to shoot Faulkner because the policeman was interfering with corruption and graft within the police department. The defense asked Judge Yohn for permission to take a deposition of Arnold Beverly when they filed the his statement. The prosecution has objected. The legal team states in their response, “If the District Attorneys Office believed its own representation
to the District Court and the media that Beverly’s confession is a 'patently outrageous story' and a 'lie,' they would welcome, rather that oppose, being given the opportunity to cross-examine the witness under oath." (depositions are sworn statements with a court reporter present that offer both sides an opportunity to question a witness). See Press Release and Defense Response Brief Re: Request for Deposition of Arnold Beverly

• Lie detector test corroborates Beverly’s confession: Noted polograph expert Charles R. Honts, Ph.D. reported in his affidavit that Arnold Beverly verbally confessed to him and submitted himself to a polygraph examination and audio taping of the session with him. Dr. Honts stated that Mr. Beverly wanted the polograph to show that he did shoot the policeman but would not say so on tape, during the test. Dr. Honts conducted the lie detector test and and concluded that Arnold Beverly was telling the truth when he said Mumia was innocent and Beverly was lying when he said “no” to the question did he, Beverly, shoot the officer. In response to the lie detector showing that he lied when he said “no,” Mr Beverly stated, “Good, maybe now they will believe me.” See Excerpt of Affidavit: Report of polygraph examination of Arnold Beverly.

• Informant describes rampant police corruption: Donald Hersing, who worked for the FBI (1981-'82) also provided an affidavit. He describes
precisely the kind of corruption among Philadelphia police that Beverly says he was acting to protect. His description provides a context for a
Philadelphia reality of police corruption. This is the same police department investigated and monitored by the U.S. Depart. of Justice, resulting in hundreds of framed people being released. Also see PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ARTICLE FROM JULY 15,1984 (part a 4 part series regarding police corruption)

• Crime scene unguarded: Linn Washington, writer for the Philadelphia Tribune, tells us in his declaration that only a few hours after the incident, the crime scene at 13th & Locust was left completely unguarded – in contrast to normal procedure he had routinely witnessed on his beat as crime reporter. We already know about the failure of regular police procedures in this case: no regular tests, bullets "lost," etc. Washington's statement reinforces this picture of a frame-up by police who knew full well Mumia was not the one who shot Officer Faulkner.

• Prosecution seeks to deny Mumia counsel of choice: In a move reminiscent of Mumia’s trial, The D.A. is objecting to Mumia’s selection of pre-eminent British Barrister Nick Brown as a member of his defense team. Attorneys from other nations are routinely admitted to practice before American Courts. The only issue is whether an attorney is qualified. Mr. Brown is highly qualified, and, perhaps, too qualified for the District Attorney. Members of the new legal team for Mumia Abu-Jamal are Marlene Kamish of Chicago, Eliot Grossman of Los Angeles, British Barrister Nicholas R.D. Brown, and local counsel is Philadelphia attorney J. Michael Farrell. See Press Release and Defense Response Brief . (On July 5, 2001 An order issued by Judge Yohn admits British attorney Nick Brown into federal court as one of Mumia's attorneys. The prosecution's attempt to deny Mumia council of his choice was not successful!)

• Although Arnold Beverly has confessed, Mumia Abu-Jamal, an innocent man, remains in prison!

RELEASE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL! Write to Mumia! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
AM 8335, SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg, PA 15370

Judge Yohn allows Mumia Abu-Jamal to withdraw his attorneys and seek a new legal team. The court will take no action on Mumia's case for 30 days.

• Early March 2001:
Mumia Fires All Attorneys... Because of a conflict of interest and betrayal of Mumia's trust, Mumia fired all of his attorneys in early March. He then filed a motion to ask the court to withdraw them officially from his case, as well as ask the court for time to reorganize his defense...

• Mumia Abu-Jamal: what he has to say about the Amicus Briefs

• Download legal document (pdf 261k)
Brief of Amicus Curiae --friend of the court brief--by For Chicana/Chicano Studies Foundation

• Download legal document (pdf 162k)
Brief of Amicus Curiae --friend of the court brief--filed by British Parliament Members. See 6/27/00 Philadelphia Daily News article below:

• June 27, 2000:
British Pols Plea for Mumia's Life ...Twenty-two members of the British Parliament have asked U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. to vacate Mumia Abu-Jamal's death sentence...

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• Appeal of denial of the Amicus Briefs
(Petition for Writ of Mandamus): (download pdf format)

• Legal analysis and description of why
Judge Yohn was wrong to deny the briefs (html)

OR download pdf (87k) of this analysis