Mumia Abu-Jamal

Von: <RobertRBryan>

Betreff: Mumia Abu-Jamal -

Legal Update and news [PLEASE CIRCULATE]

Datum: Mittwoch, 14. November 2007 10:56

 

Dear Friends:

 

There are many developments on the legal and other fronts concerning my

client, Mumia Abu-Jamal. We remain in active litigation before the U.S. Court of

Appeals for the Third Circuit, and also have issues pending in the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mumia has been honored by fellow writers through

acceptance into a prestigious organization, a Nobel Prize winner recently visited

him, an excellent new book was released in France, a leading British newspaper

has published a major article on Mumia, and a superb film recently premiered

in London and Rome. The following are the highlights.

 

PEN membership Mumia has been accepted into the membership of PEN, the

worldwide human-rights organization of prominent writers. This is a great

honor. He was thrilled upon learning that the application I filed on his behalf

last spring was granted. In two decades of knowing each other, I have not

seen Mumia so happy. The recognition from his peers is well deserved.

In a quarter of a century of being locked up in a small cell on

Pennsylvania's death row, Mumia's literary output has been prodigious. He has written

five outstanding books that are published in various languages, and also writes

weekly commentaries that are published and broadcast internationally.

 

PEN was founded in 1921 to dispel national, ethnic, and racial hatred, to

promote understanding among all countries, and defend the freedom to write.

PEN American Center, into which Mumia has been accepted, is the largest of the

145 centers in 104 countries of International PEN. It exists to fight for

freedom of expression, represent the conscience of world literature, and foster

friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. It is

the world’s oldest human rights organization and also the oldest international

literary group.

 

The support provided by Alice Walker, E.L. Doctorow, Bell Chevigny and other

members of the PEN American Center, New York, was invaluable. I am

especially grateful to the kindness of Salman Rushdie, former President of PEN.

Throughout the application process, I was impressed by the paramount concern of

the PEN membership for human rights and protecting the independence of writers.

Bishop Desmond Tutu On October 23, 2007, Bishop Desmond Tutu met with

Mumia. It is was a moving experience. Later that afternoon Mumia expressed to

me how touched and humbled he was by meeting with this wonderful person, who

received the Nobel Peace Price in 1984 and the Albert Schweitzer Prize for

Humanitarianism in 1986. Mumia is particularly grateful to Martha Conley, Esq.,

of Pittsburgh, who initiated and arranged the visit, drove Bishop Tutu and

his assistant to the prison, and joined them in the visit on death row. Last

week Bishop Tutu issued the following statement concerning Mumia and capital

punishment:

 

"I oppose the death penalty on principle in every case and I support the

plea for a retrial for Mumia Abu-Jamal."

 

The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, O.M.S.G., D.D., F.K.C.

Anglican Archbishop Emeritus

Cape Town, South Africa

5 November 2007

 

Legal developments Last month the prosecution submitted a Notice of

Supplemental Authority with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit,

Philadelphia, arguing that a recent ruling and related decisions by the U.S.

Supreme Court affects the pending issues pertaining to the death penalty and racism

in jury selection. Consequently on November 1, 2007, we filed a Reply To

Notice of Supplemental Authority, explaining with legal analysis that the

contentions of opposing counsel should be rejected because they are without merit

and do not alter the major constitutional violations that occurred in this

case.

 

I remain in contact with the court. It is not known exactly when there will

be a federal decision. If the court follows the law and the U.S.

Constitution, we will win. In my experience of successfully litigating well over a

hundred capital murder cases at trial and on appeal, I know that courts are not

always just. They can make terribly tragic mistakes. Nevertheless, I have

not seen a case more riddled with such significant constitutional violations,

racism, fraud, and unfairness. My goal remains to achieve a reversal of the

conviction, and at a new jury trial win a jury acquittal so that Mumia can

go home to his family -- a free person.

 

In Prison My Whole Life, British film on Mumia On October 25, 2007, the new

documentary film In Prison My Whole Life premiered simultaneously at the

London Film Festival and Rome Film Festival. It is a superb movie which does

much to expose the many wrongs including racism and politics that have infected

the case from the outset, the American legal system, and our society.

Amnesty International is officially supporting the film. The picture is hard

hitting and reveals the death penalty for what it is: legalized murder. Mumia

and I are indebted to Colin and Livia Giuggioli Firth, along with Marc Evans,

William Francome, Nick Goodwin Self, Katie Green, and the others who had the

courage to make this film and tell the truth.

 

New French book on Mumia In September an excellent book on Mumia was

published on September 15, 2007, in France. It is Mumia Abu-Jamal un homme libre

dans le couloir de la mort, by Claude Guillaumaud-Pujol, with a foreword by

Robert Meeropol, son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Founder, Rosenberg Fund

for Children. Claude is deeply involved in the Collectif, a group of over

80 French organizations that aggressively support our campaign for a new and

fair trial for Mumia and his freedom. She knows Mumia well, and last visited

with him on November 11. Claude has donated her book to help in the struggle

for Mumia's freedom. Mumia says "the book is beautiful." It can be

purchased though various booksellers in France.

 

Guardian (England) article: "I Spend My Days Preparing for Life, Not for

Death" Recently there was an excellent article in the Guardian newspaper. It

concerns a fascinating death row interview with Mumia, and can be found at:

_ http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2198415,00.html _

 

Tax-Deductible Donations to Mumia's Legal Defense My office continues to

receive extensive e-mail from people confused as to how and where they may

send donations for Mumia's legal defense. With Mumia's authorization, a process

exists which guarantees that all donations in the U.S. go only to the legal

defense. The contributions are tax-deductible. Checks should be made

payable to the National Lawyers Guild Foundation (indicate "Mumia" on the bottom

left), and mailed to:

 

Committee To Save Mumia Abu-Jamal

P.O. Box 2012

New York, NY 10159-2012

 

Your interest is appreciated.

With best wishes,

 

Robert R. Bryan

Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan

2088 Union Street, Suite 4

San Francisco, California 94123

Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal

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