BY HATTIE McCUTCHEON
PHILADELPHIA - Moments before Temple University WRTI public radio was to begin airing a series of 3-minute commentaries by Mumia Abu-Jamal February 24, university officials canceled them. The station terminated its contract to broadcast programming from the Pacifica Radio network, including the morning news show "Democracy Now," during which Abu-Jamal's commentaries were scheduled to run for two weeks.

The university administration's action was the latest in a series of attempts at isolating Abu-Jamal, a Black journalist who has been on Pennsylvania's death row since 1981 on frame-up charges of killing a Philadelphia police officer. His defense effort has become an international focal point for opposition to the death penalty.

On February 13, Abu-Jamal was notified by prison authorities that he had to cut his dreadlocks within 10 days or face disciplinary detention. After a week of protest letters, prison officials rescinded this threat. In 1985, the Black journalist refused a similar directive and was thrown into "the hole" until 1992, when an international pressure campaign forced the state governor to rescind the order.

Jere Krakoff, a Pittsburgh attorney handling a civil suit by Abu-Jamal against prison authorities, was barred from visiting his client under the guise that, although he visited Abu-Jamal on six previous occasions, he was not on the visitors' list.

A recent letter from Leonard Weinglass, Abu-Jamal's chief defense attorney, had been opened and the words "cop killer" written across the front of the envelope.

These attacks by prison authorities came down just before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled March 5 against oral arguments in Abu-Jamal's appeal for a new trial. They also coincide with the publication of his new book, Death Blossoms. "These attempts to isolate and silence Mumia are aimed at undermining public outrage and opposition to a potential unfavorable ruling," said Pam Africa, coordinator of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. "Mumia's supporters around the world need to be prepared to respond quickly," Africa said. "Gov. Tom Ridge has already announced he will sign a death warrant as soon as the court rules. That's why we have called April 4 as a day for local actions, teach-ins, or other events to take place all over the world to reach out and educate about the need for a new trial."

Three years ago, National Public Radio (NPR) caved in to protest by former Sen. Robert Dole and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and canceled a scheduled series of Abu- Jamal's commentaries. Citing NPR's actions as precedent, George Ingram, Temple's vice president of public relations said, "What's good enough for NPR is good enough for me."

Julie Drizin, executive producer of "Democracy Now" blasted Ingram's action as "clearly an act of censorship."

Ingram's office received dozens of calls protesting the cancellation of Abu-Jamal's commentaries and the Pacifica programming. An emergency protest demonstration is scheduled to take place at Temple University March 3. Letters protesting the cancellation of Abu-Jamal's broadcasts can be sent to: Peter Liacouras, Pres. Temple University, Berk St. at Park, Sullivan Hall, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19122. Phone: (215) 204-7405, Fax: (215) 204-5799, E-mail: pjl@eop.temple.edu

For information on the April 4 actions, contact: International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu- Jamal, P. O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143. Phone (215) 476-8812.

Hattie McCutcheon is a member of United Auto Workers Local 1069.  
 
 
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