Enter key words or concepts
then select the 'search' button to search the Socialist Action web site
|
Socialist Action /April 2001
National Mumia Conference Sets Action
Agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Three hundred activists from across
the United States met at the First Congressional Church here to lay plans
for the critical months ahead in the fight to win justice and freedom for
death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Some participants attended
from Germany, France, and Sweden.
The March 30-31 working conference opened with
a spirited rally featuring Bill Simons, the former president of the Washington
Teachers Union. Ajama Baraka, Southern Regional Director of Amnesty International
and Rachel King, Legislative Representative of the ACLU, joined Pam Africa
of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal and
a score of other speakers to demonstrate a broad and growing unity on Mumia's
behalf.
The Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler of the Plymouth Congressional
Church and Bill Ryan of the Illinois-based Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty represented new voices speaking for justice for Mumia from the faith-based
and abolitionist movements.
The conference adopted a comprehensive program
of action aimed toward taking Mumia's case to broader sections of the population.
Projects include:
- Mass demonstrations in Philadelphia, San Francisco,
and worldwide on Saturday, May 12. The adopted slogans for these actions
are: Stop the Execution! Overturn the Conviction! and Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!
- A three-day Free Mumia Youth Encampment in Philadelphia,
May 11-13, to organize community activities designed to educate on Mumia's
case. This will be followed by the annual Freedom Summer activities. May
12 will also commemorate the 16th anniversary of the racist police bombing
of the MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia.
- A worldwide mass demonstration to "Stand
With Mumia" on his first day in a federal court hearing in Philadelphia,
which is still unscheduled.
- A mass rally at the United Nations in New York
City in late June in conjunction with a worldwide effort to win passage
in the UN's Human Rights Commission of a resolution in support of Mumia's
democratic and human rights and freedom.
- An international effort to bring Mumia's case
to a worldwide June conference on the death penalty, in Strasbourg, France,
which was initiated by the French government. Heads of state and leading
members of parliaments across the globe will assemble to seek a worldwide
ban on the death penalty.
- "Mumia Brigades" in the anti-globalization
events set for Quebec City, Canada, the last week of April.
- A coordinated national spring week of labor movement
activity, designed to bring Mumia's case into the broad labor movement.
- Congressional lobbying to win new support for
Mumia's freedom, to take place in Washington, D.C., and locally in June.
- Youth caravans to bring Mumia's case to the attention
of campus youth across the country.
- A Mumia Media Center in Philadelphia to provide
centralized resources and internet/website training for the Mumia movement.
Socialist Action /April 2001 |