Brief filed in U.S. Court of Appeals for Third Circuit - July 28, 2010

The Brief of Appellee, Mumia Abu-Jamal, On Remand from the Supreme Court of the United States, has been filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit., Philadelphia. The issue is whether Mumia will be executed, or granted a new jury trial on the question of the death penalty.

The Politics of Death: Throwing Mumia Abu-Jamal Under the Bus - July 28, 2010  It has been discovered that some American anti-death penalty groups wrote in a secret document that "Mumia Abu-Jamal endangers the US coalition for abolition of the death penalty." The organizations which sent the appalling "Confidential Memorandum" on Dec. 21, 2009, are: Death Penalty Focus; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights; and, the Puerto Rican Bar Association.

What we are hearing from the front lines of the abolitionist movement was recently  expressed by the Campaign To End the Death Penalty: "This statement points to a very disturbing direction that we have observed in recent years among some organizations in the abolition movement -- of compromising our message in order to win the support of conservatives.. . . . We believe the most 'persuasive factor' in changing public opinion is to build a vocal, visible movement that forthrightly puts forward its demands -- instead of working to make our message palatable to the opposition. . . . What if Martin Luther King compromised the goals of integration in order to reach out and try to win over segregationists? No, he reached out to organize and uplift progressive forces into fighting for change. That is the kind of strategy we need. . . . We know that the history of aggressive policing, sentencing and the death penalty has its roots in slavery . . . The Campaign stands completely and unequivocally with Mumia Abu-Jamal. We also stand by a different strategy to win abolition."

An extraordinary article, The Politics of Death: Throwing Mumia Abu-Jamal Under the Bus, by Dave Lindorff, and the secret document, can be found on this website and also at:  www.thiscantbehappening.net/node/117

 PETITION FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ("Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Global Abolition of the Death Penalty") - July 27, 2010   Over 23,000 people from around the world have signed the petition! that is a remarkable achievement, but we need many more in order to make the petition effective. It will eventually be presented to President Barack Obama by a distinguished international delegation.

To the left is the link for signing the online petition.  Please help save Mumia and fight the death penalty by signing it, and also pass the link on to as many people as possible.

 Message from Mumia – May 21, 2010

"Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for your support including the many cards and letters I have received. I assure you that I read them all, even though it not possible to reply to each one.

The struggle has been long and hard, and bitter at times. But I am heartened by the loving support of so many people.

With your support we can prevail against the machinery of death which threatens thousands of men and women on death rows around the world.

Message from Mumia - April 13, 2010

"Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters,

The struggle for life and liberty is not mine alone. It is shared by thousands of men and women in this country, and thousands more abroad. It needs your help to bring life and liberty to us all. The struggle against the death penalty is not a personal one or even a national one, it is a global one.

Thank you,

Mumia Abu-Jamal
Death Row, Pennsylvania"

Message from Mumia - March 31, 2010

Message from Mumia - March 19, 2010

"Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters,

The struggle, despite recent setbacks, continues forward.  We need all of you to pull together, to work together, to make change together.  It is not only possible, it is necessary.

Please sign our petition: Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Global Abolition of the Death Penalty.  This is for all those on death rows everywhere.  Also remember that Hank Skinner is to be executed on March 24 in Texas—go online & help (the link is to the left).

Thank you all,

Mumia Abu-Jamal
Death Row
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania"

Message from Mumia - February 9, 2010

"Believe it or not, I do not have access to a computer or e-mail. This is not allowed on Pennsylvania’s death row. However, I have seen copies of what some Facebook friends have written. My lead attorney, Robert R. Bryan, gives me all messages relevant to my case.

It is thrilling to see and know some of you. I thank you, all of you, for becoming Facebook friends in this effort for justice and freedom.

Please sign our petition. This is not just about me. It is for all the men, women and children on death rows around the world.

I wish that one day I will be able to freely scroll all of your messages, and to personally respond to each. That day is not today, but thanks to your efforts that day may be soon coming.

Thank you all.

Your Facebook friend,

Mumia Abu-Jamal
Death Row
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania"

________

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW  Mumia Abu-Jamal, journalist and author, was arrested in Philadelphia on December 9, 1981.  From the outset, the prosecution fervently sought his execution for the death of a police officer.  That zeal to see Mumia die at the hands of the state has not abated, but increased in recent years.

Robert R. Bryan, Mumia’s lead counsel, has pointed out that “racism, fraud and prejudice are threads that have run through the case since its inception and continue today.”  Police, governmental authorities and their supporters have been motivated by an ends-justifies-the-means philosophy.  The truth of what really happened at the time of the shooting has become irrelevant to them. They will do and say whatever it takes to get Mumia into the death chamber.   Mr. Bryan has vowed to not let that happen.

The primary litigation on behalf of Mumia is presently in the United States Supreme Court.  At issue is one looming issue—the death penalty.

This new web site was created with the authorization of both Mumia and Mr. Bryan.  It was the fruit of numerous requests from people around the globe who have asked for a place to go for accurate and up-to-date information on the case.  This is a beginning at filling a longstanding void.