Solidarity with Mumia

April 27, 2007 Workers World

When Mumia goes before the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philly on May 17,
the Abolition Movement hopes to have an event in solidarity with Mumia here
in Houston.

Stay tuned for details or attend our meeting next Tuesday, May 1, at SHAPE
Center, 3815 Live Oak at Alabama from 7-9 PM. The Texas case of Thomas
Miller-El, who had his case reversed because of racism in jury selection in
Dallas, may be able to help Mumia, who is raising this issue also, among
others.

Follwoing this article is a statement of solidarity from the Panthers (PURE)
organization on Texas Death Row with Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Mumia supporters expose police terror
Published Apr 26, 2007 10:14 PM
Following are excerpts from a N.Y. Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition press
release.

From left to right, Gwen Dobrow,
Monica Moorehead, City Councilperson
Charles Barron, Orrie Lumumba and
Suzanne Ross at City Hall press conference.
WW photo: Lal Roohk

On April 23, a press conference was held on the steps of City Hall in New
York denouncing the outrageous and illegal police tactics aimed at silencing
support for internationally renowned journalist and writer, Mumia Abu-Jamal,
who has been on Pennsylvania's death row for almost a quarter of a century.

A Hip Hop concert, organized by young supporters of Abu-Jamal, was scheduled
to take place on April 15 at the Remote Lounge. For a week prior to the
scheduled concert, the police pressured the club owner to cancel the event,
but the owner stood firm.

Then, two nights before the scheduled event, the police barged in on the
club, issued 16 citations, involving thousands of dollars in fines, and
escalated the threats against the owner. Fearing for his family and himself,
the owner at this point cancelled the event. The event was promptly moved to
Solidarity Center and was held with great enthusiasm, but with anger at the
police action.

The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal will be heard on May 17 before the Third Circuit
Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Mumia has his first real chance of winning
a new trial in that court after being convicted of the murder of a policeman
almost 25 years ago. The Fraternal Order of Police, the prosecution and
their allies are doing everything possible to undermine that possibility.

It is in that context that the attack on the Remote Lounge must be responded
to seriously, as it mirrors a long history of similar actions in
Philadelphia. In that city, a scheduled event highlighting famed actor Danny
Glover for April 24, Mumia's birthday, at the Clef Club, was just moved
because of similar police tactics.