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Intern'l Protests Mount For Abu-Jamal

   As part of the international campaign initiated by the Partisan Defense Committee to free death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, united-front protests took place on April 19 in Oakland, Toronto and London under the slogans: “Mumia Abu-Jamal Is Innocent! Free Mumia Now! Abolish the Racist Death Penalty!”
    The same day, a protest initiated by the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal in Philadelphia drew some 600 people, and another called by the Collectifunitaire national “Ensemble, sauvons Mumia” in Paris drew some 200 demonstrators, while 50 people came out for a protest in Mexico City called by Amigas de Mumia. The protests were called in response to the March 27 U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding Mumia’s frame-up conviction.
The united-front protests have been initiated by the PDC and Labor Black Leagues in the U.S. and the PDC’s fraternal defense organizations internationally and endorsed by over 300 individuals and organizations, including trade unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers.
   

Posted April 23, 2008

Mumia Abu-Jamal was spared a death sentence in March by a federal appeals court. While supporters have welcomed the removal of his possible death penalty, they still are not satisfied that he remains in prison. Mumia’s supporters maintain he continues to be a victim of a racist and unfair trial in 1981 when he was convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.
    PDC counsel Rachel Wolkenstein, who served on Mumia’s legal defense from 1995 to 1999, said, “The fight for Mumia’s freedom is at a critical juncture. The statements in defense of Mumia must be turned into mass action, centered on labor’s power. We call on everyone to redouble their efforts to build the upcoming united-front demonstrations.” The next united-front protests will take place in Sydney, Australia, Mexico City; Chicago; and Los Angeles. For more information: www.partisandefense.org.

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