Mumia Abu-Jamal still in danger of death

Mumia Abu-Jamal (*) was born on April 24, 1954. At the age of fourteen, Mumia is arrested and molested for protesting against a meeting of the ultra-racist candidate George Wallace, in Philadelphia. Very soon, he is registered by the FBI after trying to name his high school after Malcolm X.

In 1969, the young man is in charge of information at the local branch of the Black Panther Party. FBI regards him as one of the persons "to watch and lock up in case of national emergency".

He is one of the targets of the Cointelpro (infiltration and counter intelligence program) along with other of its victims, like Leonard Peltier and other members of the American Indian Movement and the Black Panthers.

After becoming an estimate radio commentator, with several awards, Mumia is called "the voice of the voiceless" for criticism of corruption among the police and the local leading politicians. Since 1978 he exposes the violent repression hitting the MOVE community and, in 1981, covers the trial of MOVE's founder, John Africa.
Mumia's support to MOVE enrages politicians and Philadelphia police and gets him to be fired from one of the radio broadcast where he works. In order to support his family, Mumia has to work as a night cab driver. Very early on December 9th 1981, Mumia Abu-Jamal is severely wounded during a shooting in the south part of town where he had just dropped a passenger. Arrested, Mumia is accused of the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, killed in the shooting.

In spite of his denial, in spite of his lack of judicial record, an unfair inquiry (no balistic expertises, non identifiable bullets, no fingerprint testing, no delimitation of the crime scene) concludes to Mumia's guilt.. Witnesses threatened, paid, pushed aside, conflicting police reports, violation of his rights will lead, in July 1982, to the death sentence for this disturbing political opponent, under the pressure of a judge recordman of the death penalty... Mumia is the ideal guilty man.

In june of 1999, a former hitman, Arnold Beverly, confesses to one of Mumia's lawyer that he has been paid to kill officer Faulkner who was inquiring on the links between police and mob. Confirmed by many elements and witnesses' statements, Beverly's declaration has never been heard in court because "out of the time of procedure".

On december 18 2001, Mumia's death sentence is temporarily lifted by a judge, but he is still considered guilty and threatened to see the capital sentence delivered again.
Mumia Abu-Jamal still fights in death row, locked up 23 hours a day in a cell the size of a bathroom in a inhuman sensorial confinement. In 1995 and 1999, international mobilization has prevented twice his execution.

Today, the appeals possibilities shorten. On October 8. 2003 the ultimate State appeals have been rejected, sending back the case to the last federal level. The life of Mumia remains in great danger, recently insisted M. Robert Bryan, his federal attorney. Financial solidarity is essential so that the activists and defence can go on supporting Mumia.

We call on each and everyone to alert medias, representatives, firms, universities, etc. to save Mumia.

* Born Wesley Cook, Mumia chose this swahili name in high school under the influence of a teacher from Kenya. He added "Abu" (father of") and Jamal at the birth of his first son, Jamal.

Source : http://www.mumiabujamal.net/euromumiabritain.pdf