BY HATTIE McCUTCHEON
PHILADELPHIA - The fight to win a new trial for internationally known Pennsylvania death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal became more focused as a result of a successful conference held here December 8-9. International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal hosted the two-day event. The weekend began with a town meeting against the death penalty attended by more than 100 people, followed by the conference.
The 125 conference participants voted to build a series of activities geared toward educating and mobilizing new and broader layers of people in the United States and around the world to free Abu-Jamal.
Leonard Weinglass, Abu-Jamal's attorney, gave a legal update. He explained the defense has a deadline of Jan. 10, 1996, to file an official brief requesting that Abu-Jamal be granted a new trial. Weinglass said he has received many requests from around the world to speak on the case.
"Despite widespread support, it is important for Mumia supporters to have a sober view of the whole picture," he said. "The state is moving more rapidly to execute prisoners." Post-Conviction Relief Appeal (PCRA) hearings, Weinglass noted, generally take years before completion in cases involving capital punishment. But Abu-Jamal's PCRA hearing was completed within a couple months. The attorney said he expects Jamal's case will be heard in the federal court reviewing death penalty appeals sometime in 1997. "Those seeking Mr. Abu-Jamal's execution hope that over this stretch of time, through 1996 to 1997, public support will diminish," Weinglass said. "The governor can sign a new warrant of execution and hope that support can not be rebuilt."
Abu-Jamal, an African-American journalist and political activist, was framed up by the cops for the killing of police officer Daniel Faulkner. He was convicted based on false police reports and given the death penalty in 1982. Last August, an international protest campaign forced Judge Albert Sabo, who presided over the first trial, to grant a stay of execution. The next month, however, Sabo denied a new trial despite new evidence that has surfaced since the conviction. Abu-Jamal appealed the ruling.
In workshops that followed the presentation by Weinglass, and during informal discussions, activists discussed the need to build the protest movement to maximize the possibilities of winning Abu-Jamal's freedom. Pam Africa, one of the central leaders of International Concerned Family and Friends, said the struggle can eventually be won with more actions in the streets.
Activists at the conference decided as one of their central tasks to launch a campaign to gather 1 million letters demanding a new trial for the framed-up journalist. Initiated by the New York defense coalition, the effort has won the support of the Black Congressional Caucus and the NAACP.
In such a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno, Congressman Ron Dellums requests that "The Civil Rights Division conduct an investigation into Mumia Abu-Jamal's original and current appeal process for civil rights violations" and guarantee that the activist is not executed while this investigation in being conducted.
Project coordinator Susan Ross stated, "We want to wage a million-letter campaign- a million letters for Mumia - to culminate in a dramatic presentation to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., May 19-20."
May 19 coincides with the birthday anniversary of Malcolm X. The group will organize a national march in Washington that day and deliver the letters the next.
"To be successful, everyone must sign on - activists, clergy, politicians, co-workers, neighbors, family, friends, and organizations," Ross said. To obtain materials for this campaign, Ross urged activists to contact the MLM Campaign, c/o The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, P.O. Box 650, New York, NY 10009. Tel: (212) 330-8029 or 281-4973.
The conference decided to promote a number of other actions. They include a series of student activities for Abu- Jamal on February 7; hearings in Philadelphia February 20-22 by the International Commission on the Death Penalty featuring this case; a March 2-3 regional student educational conference, also in Philadelphia; and local events on April 4 to build for the May 19 national march on Washington.
For more information and to send contributions to cover the legal and publicity costs, contact the International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal at (215) 476- 8812.