COLLEGE NOT COMBAT PETITION CAMPAIGN
16TH & MISSION STREET
SATURDAYS, 12:30 P.M.
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 5 & 7 P.M.
************************************************************
BAUAW MEETING: SATURDAY, 11:30 A.M.
474 VALENCIA STREET NEAR 16TH STREET
WE WILL PETITION AFTER OUR MEETING!
************************************************************
SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
July 2, 3 & 4, DOLORES PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(I saw a preview of this play last evening.
It's fresh and new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is great!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
COME HELP GATHER SIGNATURES FOR THE
COLLEGE NOT COMBAT BALLOT INITIATIVE. GET THE MILITARY
OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
TO STUDENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE SO THEY
DON'T HAVE TO JOIN THE MILITARY BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
WE WILL BE PETITIONING BEFORE AND AFTER THE PERFORMANCES.
LOOK FOR OUR TABLE TO PICK UP PETITIONS. FREE ANTIWAR POSTERS!
WE ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS TO GO!
FREE!
************************************************************
SAVE THE DATES: AUGUST 4, 5 & 6, 2005 FOR
PRESENTATION OF HOWARD ZINN'S ONE MAN SHOW,
"MARX IN SOHO" PERFORMED BY JERRY LEVY
LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED
TO BENEFIT BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
WWW.BAUAW.ORG
(FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 415-824-8730)
************************************************************
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
BAUAW NEWSLETTER – FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2005
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) Soldier Charged with Murder in Officers' Deaths
Thu Jun 16, 2005 05:51 PM ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier has been charged with
premeditated murder in the deaths of two U.S. army officers in
Iraq this month, a military statement said on Thursday.
Staff Sergeant Alberto Martinez, 37, was charged with the
murder of Captain Phillip Esposito and Lieutenant Louis Allen,
both with the headquarters of the New York Army National Guard.
The officers were killed by a blast in Tikrit on June 7, the
statement by the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq said.
An initial investigation indicated the officers were killed
by a mortar round but further examination showed the blast was
"inconsistent with a mortar attack," it said. It gave no
further details.
(c) Reuters 2005
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8816470
2) Antiwar Group Says Leaked British Memo
Shows Bush Misled Public on His War Plans
By SCOTT SHANE
June 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/politics/17downing.html
3) Questions, Bitterness and Exile for Queens Girl in Terror Case
By NINA BERNSTEIN
June 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/nyregion/
17suicide.html?hp&ex=1119067200&en=59dc0c13ad38064f&ei=5094&partner=ho
mepage
4) Race a Factor in
Job Offers for Ex-Convicts
By PAUL von ZIELBAUER
June 17, 2005
"White men with prison records receive far more offers for
entry-level jobs in New York City than black men with identical
records, and are offered jobs just as often - if not more
so - than black men who have never been arrested, according
to a new study by two Princeton professors.
The study, the first to assess the effect of race on job
searches by ex-convicts, also found that black men who had
never been in trouble with the law were about half as likely
as whites with similar backgrounds to get a job offer or
a callback."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/nyregion/17felons.html
5) Rights Trial Restarts in Mississippi
By SHAILA DEWAN
Published: June 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/national/17cnd-
trial.html?hp&ex=1119067200&en=26b7f70ff1170a3c&ei=5094&partner=homepage
6) Feature: Another "Drug Related" Death –
Austin Policewoman Kills Unarmed Teen
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/391/austin.shtml
7) Democrats call for inquiry into 'Downing Street Memo'
Last Updated Thu, 16 Jun 2005 22:04:17 EDT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/06/16/memo050616.html
8) U.S. jets drop 500 lb bombs in Iraq operation
By Luke Baker
BAGHDAD (Reuters)
Fri Jun 17, 2005 09:01 AM ET
"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. F-16 fighter planes dropped
a series of 500 lb (220 kg) bombs on insurgent targets in
western Iraq overnight as the U.S. military launched a heavy
offensive against rebels near the Syrian border.
Nine of the powerful bombs were dropped, the U.S. military
said, two of them targeting suspected rebel safe houses near
the town of Qaim, an insurgent stronghold on the Euphrates
river about 20 km (12 miles) east of Iraq's border with Syria.
Four more were aimed at rebels as they fired mortars and
assault rifles at U.S. ground forces near Qaim, and a further
three were used to hit suspected weapons caches in the area."
http://www.reuters.com/
newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8823316&src=eDialog/GetContent
9) In this message:
Boycott Picket at SF Badlands: Stand Against Racism
Saturday, June 18, 10pm-12 midnight
Weekly Boycott Picket at SF Badlands
In front of S.F. Badlands on 18th Street between Castro and Collingwood
East Bay ANSWER Forum on Cuba - Fundraiser for ANSWER delegation
Tuesday, June 21, 7pm
East Bay ANSWER Educational Forum
Cuba: 45 years of Struggle against U.S. Imperialism
Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St.
at Bonita (near Downtown Berk. BART)
10) The Case for the Draft
America can remain the world's superpower.
Or it can maintain its current all-volunteer military.
It can't do both.
By Phillip Carter and Paul Glastris
March 2005
(This article is full of current military statistics.)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0503.carter.html
11) Subject: GOING INTO BATTLE WITH FEAR
From: "Kay Lee"
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 17:28:04 -0400
12) MUMIA: EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION
13) Emergency is state of mind, city leaders say
Richmond leaders declare 'emergency' over killings
By Rebecca Rosen Lum and Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Fri, Jun. 17, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/crime_courts/
11918678.htm
14) Letter by Anton Pannekoek to Sylvia Pankhurst
from the Workers‚ Dreadnought, 30 September 1922.
Irish Communist Policy
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) Soldier Charged with Murder in Officers' Deaths
Thu Jun 16, 2005 05:51 PM ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier has been charged with
premeditated murder in the deaths of two U.S. army officers in
Iraq this month, a military statement said on Thursday.
Staff Sergeant Alberto Martinez, 37, was charged with the
murder of Captain Phillip Esposito and Lieutenant Louis Allen,
both with the headquarters of the New York Army National Guard.
The officers were killed by a blast in Tikrit on June 7, the
statement by the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq said.
An initial investigation indicated the officers were killed
by a mortar round but further examination showed the blast was
"inconsistent with a mortar attack," it said. It gave no
further details.
(c) Reuters 2005
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8816470
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
2) Antiwar Group Says Leaked British Memo
Shows Bush Misled Public on His War Plans
By SCOTT SHANE
June 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/politics/17downing.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) Questions, Bitterness and Exile for Queens Girl in Terror Case
By NINA BERNSTEIN
June 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/nyregion/
17suicide.html?hp&ex=1119067200&en=59dc0c13ad38064f&ei=5094&partner=ho
mepage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) Race a Factor in
Job Offers for Ex-Convicts
By PAUL von ZIELBAUER
June 17, 2005
"White men with prison records receive far more offers for
entry-level jobs in New York City than black men with identical
records, and are offered jobs just as often - if not more
so - than black men who have never been arrested, according
to a new study by two Princeton professors.
The study, the first to assess the effect of race on job
searches by ex-convicts, also found that black men who had
never been in trouble with the law were about half as likely
as whites with similar backgrounds to get a job offer or
a callback."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/nyregion/17felons.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) Rights Trial Restarts in Mississippi
By SHAILA DEWAN
Published: June 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/national/17cnd-
trial.html?hp&ex=1119067200&en=26b7f70ff1170a3c&ei=5094&partner=homepage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
6) Feature: Another "Drug Related" Death –
Austin Policewoman Kills Unarmed Teen
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/391/austin.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
7) Democrats call for inquiry into 'Downing Street Memo'
Last Updated Thu, 16 Jun 2005 22:04:17 EDT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/06/16/memo050616.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
8) U.S. jets drop 500 lb bombs in Iraq operation
By Luke Baker
BAGHDAD (Reuters)
Fri Jun 17, 2005 09:01 AM ET
"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. F-16 fighter planes dropped
a series of 500 lb (220 kg) bombs on insurgent targets in
western Iraq overnight as the U.S. military launched a heavy
offensive against rebels near the Syrian border.
Nine of the powerful bombs were dropped, the U.S. military
said, two of them targeting suspected rebel safe houses near
the town of Qaim, an insurgent stronghold on the Euphrates
river about 20 km (12 miles) east of Iraq's border with Syria.
Four more were aimed at rebels as they fired mortars and
assault rifles at U.S. ground forces near Qaim, and a further
three were used to hit suspected weapons caches in the area."
http://www.reuters.com/
newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8823316&src=eDialog/GetContent
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
9) In this message:
Boycott Picket at SF Badlands: Stand Against Racism
Saturday, June 18, 10pm-12 midnight
Weekly Boycott Picket at SF Badlands
In front of S.F. Badlands on 18th Street between Castro and Collingwood
East Bay ANSWER Forum on Cuba - Fundraiser for ANSWER delegation
Tuesday, June 21, 7pm
East Bay ANSWER Educational Forum
Cuba: 45 years of Struggle against U.S. Imperialism
Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St.
at Bonita (near Downtown Berk. BART)
Boycott Picket at SF Badlands: Stand Against Racism
Saturday, June 18, 10pm-12 midnight
Weekly Boycott Picket at SF Badlands
In front of S.F. Badlands on 18th Street between Castro and
Collingwood
The grassroots struggle by AndCastro4All and its supporters
against racist and sexist practices at SF Badlands Bar has
resulted in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passing a
resolution calling on city agencies to penalize bar owner
Les Natali.
This resolution reaffirms a 10-month investigation by the San
Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) that found Les Natali,
owner of the SF Badlands, in violation of numerous civil
rights ordinances over the past four years by directly
discriminating against people of color.
Stand against racism and demand accountability for
racial discrimination and create inclusion in the Castro.
Join the ANSWER Coalition and other community and labor
groups on the picket line. For more info, visit
www.andcastroforall.org.
East Bay ANSWER Forum on Cuba - Fundraiser for ANSWER delegation
Tuesday, June 21, 7pm
East Bay ANSWER Educational Forum
Cuba: 45 years of Struggle against U.S. Imperialism
Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita
(near Downtown Berk. BART)
a fundraiser for the ANSWER delegation on the Pastors for
Peace Caravan
Learn about the reasons behind U.S. terrorism against Cuba
and the island's struggle for self-determination. See video
testimony from families in Cuba, who where victims of U.S.
terrorism. Also, an update on the struggle to extradite
anti-Cuba terrorist Posada Carriles to Venezuela. Hear
about the case of the Cuban Five anti-terrorist fighters.
$3-$10 donation. For more info or to reserve free childcare
call 415-821-6545.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
10) The Case for the Draft
America can remain the world's superpower.
Or it can maintain its current all-volunteer military.
It can't do both.
By Phillip Carter and Paul Glastris
March 2005
(This article is full of current military statistics.)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0503.carter.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
11) Subject: GOING INTO BATTLE WITH FEAR
From: "Kay Lee"
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 17:28:04 -0400
GOING INTO BATTLE WITH FEAR
I've been told that nobody cares about prisoners, that trying to
reform the system is like pushing sh*t up a hill with a pointy stick.
Well, with an average of 4 friends and family members per each of our
2 1/2 million prisoners, I know that a lot of people DO care. I
reckon I'll just keep pushing that poop because it's good for my
soul. So, August 13th, 2005, will find me standing in the hot DC
sun. I will be wearing black to mourn the loss of justice and the
spirit of human decency in the USA. The nation's capitol will be
under my watchful gaze as I visualize peaceful reform. Why?
Because I know much of the truth, enough to know it would be
shameful, indeed impossible, for me as an American dedicated to
justice, as a human being dedicated to the spirit, as a grandmother
whose babies could be sucked into the horrible existence of a
prisoner or his keeper, to comfortably sit in my home with a clear
conscience.
I go there because non-violent people like <
http://www.angelfire.com/la/kaylee/tales.html > Mr. Gary Brooks Waid,
traded by the Feds like a slave on an auction block, had to live in
Florida's miserable, disgusting excuse for a state "Correctional"
system. I've dealt with the bureaucratic apathy in Florida and I've
seen it mirrored in police stations, courtrooms, prisons and jails
all over this country.
I go for all inmates who have experienced things I pray I will never
witness, and I go for the prison workers, many of them barely past
childhood, who have in their hands the responsibility of keeping the
nation's prisoners in an environment that breeds cruelty and
corruption. I weep for the damage we do.
I'll be there because of the <
http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/prison/valdesverdict.html > Murder by
Errant Guards of Mr. Frank Valdes (July 17th, 1999). I want the
memory of the horror of Mr. Valdes' autopsy report to remain in the
mind of the public and for them to remember that the murderers in
uniform never owned their crime.
I stand now because cruelty and lack of justice has happened in
nearly every prison in every state in this union. I go there to
remind the families that it could happen to their loved ones if
change isn't imminent, and to urge the public to get involved in
restoring dignity, professionalism and responsibility to those
offices, agencies, and individuals who represent The Law..
Because Mr. Valdes' death began my prison vigils, and his death is
the reason for the MAKING THE WALLS TRANSPARENT project (
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/starke ), his death has become an
intricate part of my personal Journey for Justice. If Mr. Valdes'
death has a hand in the emergence of the truth, then his life was not
in vain.
I'll be there simply because it's the right thing to do...
TWO and a half MILLION FAMILIES, TOO LITTLE RESISTANCE
As August 13th, the day for the prison reform march in Washington DC
draws nigh (details at http://www.journeyforjustice.org ), I am
sensing the age old desire to retreat from the struggle in fear. Many
of those who know there is a reason to be in Layfayette Park are
getting weak knees, making excuses, not trying their best to be
there. Believe me, I know enough about the system to understand the
emotion. I feel it too, but I've learned to control it so that it
does not immobilize me.
You cannot win a war for justice if you go into battle for truth
waving the flag of surrender. If you retreat the minute the enemy
turns it's ugly head in your direction, it is almost worse than if
you had never stood at all. It gives those who minister to the lies
a sense of security that is dangerous to those things your common
sense should tell you to care about; for our nation is being judged
by the world by how we treat others as well as our own.
Every false start will only make the real start harder. The boy who
cried wolf wasn't believed when it was the real thing. The suicide
who threatens to take his life isn't believed until he is dead. The
guards, the prison officials, the DOC nor BOP, none of them are going
to believe the real battle has begun when we've threatened to do
battle for prison reform, have every reason to do battle for the
human rights and rehabilitation of prisoners, but back off when the
front line reaches them. Then when the abuse has gone too far and we
HAVE to make the stand, our struggle might have to be done without
even a pointy stick to aid our efforts.
The attitude of fear pervading this prison situation reminds me of
Winston Churchill's statement:
"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed;
If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly;
You may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the
odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.
There may be even a worse fate:
You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory because it is
better to perish than to live as slaves."
As one of the Florida inmates, Stuart Pomerantz, agreed,
"Procrastination is my enemy!" We've already made it harder by
waiting so long. How much longer are we willing to wait? An
inmate's fair question, "How much worse does it have to get before
it's time?" must be answered.
THE BATTLEGROUND
You may do what you want, run when you want, but I refuse to lose the
ground I've worked so hard to take. This madness must be stopped and
the time is now!
I am part of a peaceful stand, as I'm sure most of you are. But
peaceful does NOT mean weak, apathetic, cowardly, meek, or bending to
threats, lies, and intimidation. Now hand me another pointy stick.
I will be praying for the courage that I know resides in all of you.
With great faith in the power of truth, and in you.
~Kay Lee
INFORMATION:
Prison Reform March in Dc August 13, 2005
http://www.journeyforjustice.org
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Roberta Franklin mailto:firstladytms@aol.com
Soros Justice Fellow
Project Coordinator for the march on Washington
Nora Callahan mailto:nora@november.org
Leonna Abraham-Brandao mailto:ramjole@juno.com
Carol Leonard mailto:carolleo864@yahoo.com
PSAs for DC MARCH FOR PRISON REFORM
Created by Dean' Becker for Pacifica Radio
http://www.drugtruth.net/MP3/march081305x1.mp3
http://www.drugtruth.net/MP3/DCMarch-PSA2.mp3
Shared by Kay Lee
2683 Rockcliff Road S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30316-4013
404-212-0690
Making The Walls Transparent
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/starke
(Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform W.O.N.P.R.
http://www.wonpr.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
12) MUMIA: EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION
Call Judge Frederica A. Massiah-Jackson, Pamela Dembe's supervisor, at
(215) 686-2523 to let her know how outraged you are by Judge Dembe's
decisions. Tell her you think the evidence of Mumia's innocence must
be included in the record! You can even quote from the excerpts below.
"Juries can only be accurate assessors of events if they are given a
complete view of the facts ˆ including any differing explanations and
interpretations of events ∑ These factors were clearly missing in
Abu-Jamal's trial∑ Amnesty International has determined that numerous
aspects of this case clearly failed to meet minimum international
standards safeguarding the fairness of legal proceedings ∑ the
interests of justice would best be served by the granting of a new
trial to Mumia Abu-Jamal" From Amnesty International's The Case of
Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance
"A grave injustice is about to be committed. We are rushing to execute
someone in the face of ample evidence that his constitutional rights
have been denied, that he did not receive a fair trial, and most
importantly, that he may be innocent∑we urge you ∑ to have Judge Sabo
recuse himself from this case" and that "he is granted a new trial".
From the Congressional Black Caucus letter to Attorney General Janet
Reno, initiated by Congressman Chaka Fattah, on June 30, 1995.
EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION! JOIN US THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 16th! THIS IS
THE LAST CHANCE FOR EVIDENCE OF MUMIA'S INNOCENCE TO BE ALLOWED IN
COURT!BE THERE JUNE 16th!
Press Conference and Demonstration- 11 a.m. on the North East Side of
Philly City Hall Demonstration and leafleting ˆ5pm on the North East
Side of Philly City Hall People must understand the severity of what is
currently happening in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. This is one of the
last steps in the groundwork being laid to execute Mumia or keep him in
prison for the rest of his life.
Both are death sentences and are totally unacceptable. It is no
coincidence that within this short span of time, the MOVE 9 appeal was
denied, then the bounty was raised on our sister Assata's head, and now
Mumia's last appeal to have evidence of innocence allowed in the Courts
has been denied. These are all full-on assaults on our freedom fighters
and acts of war against the freedom of all. People should look at
these examples and realize this. The Patriot Act has expanded, a
worldwide war is raging, and Lynne Stewart has been convicted. It
should be clear to all that it is time to fight! If a child is in a
house that is on fire, a good mother will stop at nothing to protect
her child. Whether she has to tear down walls or jump from that
building she will do what ever it takes to protect her child's life.
We must understand that our brother Mumia is our innocent life to
protect; he is in the same danger as one trapped in a burning
building---as this prison system is suffocating the lives of millions.
Our survival as a people is dependent on his survival and we must stop
at nothing to achieve his release. For over 23 years the judicial
system has exhibited blatant racism and political prejudice towards
Mumia.
On December 17th, 2001, when Judge Yohn stated that there was no
evidence of innocence before him, this was simply because he had thrown
it out the same way as Judge Pamela Dembe. Both of these judges had
irrefutable evidence of innocence, prosecutorial and judicial
misconduct before them, and threw it out. The rulings that were made
on this evidence were so ridiculous, racist, and insulting that most
will not believe what they said unless they read it themselves.
People must understand the history here, the plot that is being acted
out, in order to understand the seriousness of it. In July of 2001 a
hearing was scheduled for August 17th before Judge Pamela Dembe in
which Mumia was supposed to be present. Word spread across the globe
and hundreds were organizing to be in Philadelphia for the hearing.
Only days before the 17th, Judge Dembe barred Mumia from being present
at his own hearing, but this did not stop the support; it intensified
it.
On August 17th the streets around the Criminal Justice Center were
packed with those standing up for Mumia. The late great Ossie Davis,
Sonia Sanchez, Dick Gregory, Jesse Jackson, a prestigious delegation of
French officials, students and activists and hundreds from around the
world were present. Judge Dembe refused to make a ruling on that day
stating that she did not want to make a ruling with so many Mumia
supporters there without having more police (even though there had been
no problems) but that she would reschedule another hearing. No other
hearing was scheduled.
On November 21st, 2001, Judge Dembe denied Mumia's appeal. It was at
this point, and no sooner, that the International Concerned Family and
Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal began to target and expose her for the
unjust Judge that she is. Judge Dembe was given plenty of opportunities
to do justice but only proved how unjust she is. It has always been our
position to expose that injustice. We of the International
Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal will never betray Mumia
by neglecting to expose those who deny him justice. Judge Dembe threw
out the videotaped confession of Arnold Beverly, a man who swears that
he, not Mumia, killed Officer Faulkner. She threw this out not because
it was not credible but because she claims that it was not filed in a
timely manner. She threw out the affidavit of Mumia's former attorney,
Rachel Wolkenstein, which backed up Beverly's confession and showed
that the murder of Faulkner was part of a much bigger conspiracy to
cover up the murders of many other police officers due to mob related
activities. The affidavit of court stenographer Terri-Maurer Carter
who heard Judge Sabo say "Yeah, and I'm gonna help 'em fry the nigger"
was thrown out.
Dembe stated that even if Sabo did make such a racist remark in the
middle of the trial that it does not prove that he acted as a racist or
prejudiced towards Mumia during the trial. This argument is an insult
to anyone's intelligence. Even conservative Senator Specter stated in
1995 that Sabo's courtroom conduct towards Mumia was so bad that it
would sabotage Sabo's credibility.
That December 8th there was a demonstration for Mumia's freedom that
ended with the police attacking and arresting innocent activists. A
picture of a Philly cop holding a gun to the head of one young Mumia
supporter went out internationally and shocked the world. Nine days
later Judge Yohn issued his decision. Yohn stated that there was no
evidence of innocence before him but that there was a problem with
Sabo's instruction to the jury about sentencing. (There was no evidence
because Yohn threw it out. Actually, he had affidavits from Arnold
Beverly, Billy Cook, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Linn Washington, and FBI
confidential source, Donald Hersing, before him which all pointed
strongly towards innocence.) He said that he was overturning the
sentencing so that Mumia would have life in prison with no possibility
of parole.
If either side appealed within 90 days then that matter would have to be
settled in the third circuit court of appeals. Mumia appealed because
he is innocent, and life in prison is still a death sentence. The
prosecution appealed because they are bloodthirsty. The media blew up
this decision and misled millions into believing that Mumia was off
death row and even out of prison.
In reality, Mumia never, at any point, left his death row cell at
SCI-Greene. This trick was used in order to mislead and confuse
people; to try to take the urgency out of the fight to free Mumia
Abu-Jamal, end the death penalty, and get all of our political
prisoners out of these hell holes.
While people were confused by Yohn's ruling Judge Dembe continued to
hammer nails into Mumia's coffin and her most recent denial of evidence
of innocence is the last one that she needs to put in. All the while
this government has continued to terrorize those who support Mumia.
Look at the examples of Narberth, PA, politician, Angus Love, being
intimidated into backing away from his position. The Ossining chapter
of the NAACP, who pushed for the national NAACP resolution for justice
for Mumia, is now being singled out and harassed.
At one point Philadelphia Mayor John Street publicly stated that Mumia
had not received justice and even suggested that the matter be taken to
the NAACP. This past year, one of his representatives met (due to his
orders) with a French Delegation for Mumia and gave them awards. Street
was attacked in the media. Maureen Faulkner said that Mayor Street had
apologized to her and said that Mumia is guilty. Street refused to
stand up and correct this statement. He was intimidated and
poli-tricked into shutting up. That is how
serious this is. But we will never back down. This is life or death
here.
Dembe just threw out Mumia's last opportunity to have evidence of
innocence heard in court EVER! She handed down her decision on Friday
the 27th of May but kept it a secret. It was not put out in the
papers, as it always has been when a decision is made, and no one in
the Movement found out about it until June 2nd. With this decision the
path towards death is set and the Judges can just keep rubber-stamping
it all the way until that murderer Ed Rendell
happily stamps his signature on the death warrant. Even before Rendell
got into office he said that he was looking forward to killing Mumia.
All of those who have stood for Mumia in the past, you are needed now!
The late, great Ossie Davis never turned his back on Mumia and always
stated that our generation's moral obligation is to ensure justice for
Mumia Abu-Jamal. Martin Luther King III stated that "all those with
the power to intervene do so now in the name of justice" ---we need you
now! Jesse Jackson, Dick Gregory, Chuck D, Minister Farrakhan, Mos
Def, John Street, Chaka Fattah, Julian Bond and the NAACP leadership,
Danny Glover, Ed Asner---we need you here!
You who are sitting down reading this on your computer, hearing this on
the radio---we need you! There is only one thing that can stop them
from murdering Mumia and that is you! The death warrant is about to be
signed; they are putting the poison in the needle. Not only are they
trying to kill Mumia, they are murdering your freedom. What will you
do? TO QUOTE JOHN AFRICA, QUOTE:
"A JUST PERSON WILL IGNORE HIS PRIDE WHEN HE HEARS WHAT IS RIGHT, AN
UNJUST PERSON WILL IGNORE WHAT IS RIGHT AND HOLD FAST TO HIS GODDAMN
PRIDE." - END QUOTE LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA!!!
Signed,
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
The MOVE Organization
NYC Jericho Movement
ProLibertad _Latin@s_ (mailto:Latin@s) por Mumia
Millions for Mumia / International Action Center
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC
Mark L. Taylor, Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Extremely Urgent re: MUMIA
ATTENTION: JUDGE MASSIAH-JACKSON, CONGRESSMAN FATTAH, MAYOR STREET,
NATIONAL AND PHILADELPHIA NAACP, ALL OTHER POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS,
NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL:
Once again, Mumia Abu-Jamal, an innocent man on Pennsylvania's Death
Row for 23 years, is being denied justice because the court system is
violating his right to due process, to the consideration of relevant
evidence, and to a new and fair trial, if not his immediate release.
Judge Pamela Dembe, in the Court of Common Pleas, has hammered another
nail into the coffin they're preparing for Mumia by rubberstamping the
record of the notorious "Hanging Judge" Albert Sabo.
The whole world denounced Mumia Abu-Jamal's trial and his Post
Conviction Relief Appeal (PCRA) held in 1982 and 1995 respectively in
the courtroom of Judge Albert Sabo. Legal groups such Amnesty
International, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers,
the Criminal Justice Institute at Harvard Law School, the National
Lawyers Guild, and the National Conference of Black Lawyers detailed
the many violations of US and international laws that Sabo committed.
World leaders such as Nelson Mandela, then President of South Africa,
Bishop Desmond Tutu, French President Jacques Chirac, the Japanese
Diet (Japan's legislative body), and the US Congressional Black Caucus
denounced the trial and PCRA as being unjust, illegal, and racist.
Religious leaders, writers, artists, and other intellectuals from
across the globe expressed outrage at the conviction and death
sentence imposed on Mumia, and millions petitioned and marched to
demand Mumia's freedom or at the very least a new and fair trial.
Now after four years of Mumia's case being before Judge Pamela Dembe ,
we see a pattern of supporting all of Sabo's rulings, with the only
difference being that Dembe's decisions have been made in the absence
of Mumia or his supporters in the courtroom. There is a deafening
silence from many of those who were so outraged only ten years ago. WE
CANNOT REMAIN SILENT WHILE THE RAILROADING OF MUMIA TOWARD EXECUTION
OR LIFE IN PRISON CONTINUES. THE ATTEMPT TO KILL MUMIA IS NOT FOR ANY
CRIME HE COMMITTED. IT IS FOR HIS UNCOMPROMISING POLITICAL POSITIONS
AND HIS ELOQUENCE IN EXPRESSING THEM. Refusing to include evidence
pointing to Mumia's innocence in the record prevents the higher courts
from reviewing these critical affidavits.
What Judge Dembe has done is deny Mumia his constitutional and human
right to a fair judicial process. She has sustained every decision
Sabo made and refused to introduce extremely relevant and crucial
material pointing to Mumia's innocence. When Mumia's attorneys
submitted an affidavit by someone who said that it was he, and not
Mumia, who killed Officer Faulkner, and this affidavit supported other
witnesses' versions of what happened on the night of December 9, 1981,
Judge Dembe dismissed the confession as "untimely". Similarly, she
declared affidavits from Mumia and his brother presenting their side
of what happened that night as also "untimely". When Mumia and his
lawyers fought for Mumia's right to be present at his hearing in
August 2001, Judge Dembe allowed prison officials to revoke Mumia's
scheduled court appearance in Philadelphia. When Mumia and his lawyers
presented an affidavit from a highly credible court stenographer who
heard Judge Sabo say in 1982, in the supposed privacy of another
courtroom, "Yeah, and I'm going to help `em fry the nigger", Judge
Dembe ruled that that testimony should not be introduced into the
record. Unable to argue that it was "untimely", she presented the
ridiculous explanation that even if Sabo had actually made the comment
the witness alleged he did, it did not prove that his decisions were
affected by this expressed intention. Also, she said the issue of
Sabo's racism had already been raised earlier and so did not need to
be reviewed again. When presented with two new affidavits this year
pointing to Mumia's innocence, Dembe cancelled a scheduled hearing to
present the evidence and, now on May 27th she has ruled that this
evidence is to be excluded from the record, thus preventing a serious
consideration of Mumia's innocence in the higher courts.
JOIN US FOR OUTREACH, PROTEST AND RESISTANCE ON:
THURSDAY JUNE 16th, ON THE WEST SIDE OF CITY HALL IN PHILADELPHIA, AT
12 NOON
June 16th will be the last day Mumia can file for "reconsideration" of
Dembe's ruling. We must let the courts know that we will not be quiet
in the face of this outrageous and continuous process to kill and
SILENCE OUR BROTHER MUMIA.
For more information call :
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
(215) 476-8812 or Free Mumia Abu Jamal Coalition (NYC) (212) 927-2924
Also, call Judge Frederica A. Massiah-Jackson, Pamela Dembe's
supervisor, at (215) 686-2523 to let her know how outraged you are by
Judge Dembe's decisions. Tell her you think the evidence of Mumia's
innocence must be included in the record! You can even quote from the
excerpts below.
"Juries can only be accurate assessors of events if they are given a
complete view of the facts ˆ including any differing explanations and
interpretations of events ∑ These factors were clearly missing in
Abu-Jamal's trial∑ Amnesty International has determined that numerous
aspects of this case clearly failed to meet minimum international
standards safeguarding the fairness of legal proceedings ∑ the
interests of justice would best be served by the granting of a new
trial to Mumia Abu-Jamal" From Amnesty International's The Case of
Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance
"A grave injustice is about to be committed. We are rushing to execute
someone in the face of ample evidence that his constitutional rights
have been denied, that he did not receive a fair trial, and most
importantly, that he may be innocent∑we urge you ∑ to have Judge Sabo
recuse himself from this case" and that "he is granted a new trial".
From the Congressional Black Caucus letter to Attorney General Janet
Reno, initiated by Congressman Chaka Fattah, on June 30, 1995.
posted to forum 06-09-05 Fatirah
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13) Emergency is state of mind, city leaders say
Richmond leaders declare 'emergency' over killings
By Rebecca Rosen Lum and Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Fri, Jun. 17, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/crime_courts/
11918678.htm
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14) Letter by Anton Pannekoek to Sylvia Pankhurst
from the Workers‚ Dreadnought, 30 September 1922.
Irish Communist Policy
Dear Comrade
I have read with much satisfaction your article on the programme
of the Irish Communist Party, and I think you are perfectly
right in calling it a non-Communist programme. Indeed, the
essence of Communist thought is that the great transformation
of society from Capitalism to Communism can only be accomplished
by the common efforts of the workers themselves, all of them
acting where they stand in the process of production.
The belief that some foreign power, the State, may accomplish
it for the workers by decrees and laws is a social-democratic
belief ˆ nay, only the most narrow-minded social democrats
believe it; most social democrats in former times knew quite
well that the chief force of transformation must come from below.
The state is not a supernatural being; it is the organised
host of politicians, leaders and officials backed by armed
force. The belief that the State may establish Communism by
legislative means is the belief that this small host of
officials and leaders, by their wisdom, may save the mass
of the workers from slavery ˆ these workers having nothing
to do but vote for them. Now the experience of Germany has
proved that placing Labour leaders at the head of the State
is simply a change of rulers, which cannot bring any real
revolution.
On the other hand, Russia in the first years of the Revolution
showed that after the workers had already seized the power
in the workshops, in the Army, and on the land, by their
committees, the revolution could be accomplished by seizing
the State power ˆ i.e., all this activity was centralised,
united, and organised by central organs, and made a strong
united body against attacks from the Capitalist side.
The programme of the Communist Party of Ireland is not only
non-Communist because it appeals to the State for everything,
but also because it asks from this State only reforms.
It would have been, though not Communist in its means and
ways, nevertheless Communist in its aims, if it had
constituted measures for abolishing Capitalist exploitation
and introducing Communist ownership. But even this it
doesn‚t do. It supposes a State Power ruled by the workers
—for awaiting these measures from a State ruled by
Capitalists would be pure nonsense ˆ while private enterprise
still dominates the economic field; but it does not make use
this State Power to attack and destroy private enterprise,
but only to reform it to somewhat less intolerable
conditions for the workers. The model of this programme
probably must be sought for in the Russian conditions,
where the Communist Party tries to keep its political
domination at the same time that it must allow
Capitalistic enterprises to come on. But also in our
own West European conditions we may find the roots for
it. It tries to combine the interests of the working
class for reforms with the interests of the petty
bourgeoisie; by the State ownership of banks, railways,
and big industries, it promises to free petty enterprises
from the crushing domination of big finance and heavy
industry. That is the reason why it does not proclaim
the abolition of private property: it desires to eat
from two cakes; at the same time, it does not attempt
to win solely the workers by the great ideal of Communism
and revolution, to which at this moment the great mass
is indifferent, which thus exact great pains and long
efforts. It also attempts to win the petty bourgeois
class and also the middle-class minded mass of the
workers. It attempts to win both these classes within
a short time, not raising their mind to the higher
standing of the great Communist prospects, by vanquishing
their bourgeois narrow-mindedness, but baiting them with
the programme of a reformed petty capitalistic world,
wholly in line with their inherited thoughts.
It is nothing else than the 'New Zealand Socialism' of
twenty years ago, invented by bourgeois reformers wanting
the aid of the small working class against foreign finance,
and resulting in strangling the class struggle and the
freedom of movement of the workers.
In Ireland it has its roots in the economic backwardness
of the country, with its small proletariat, its great
mass of petty bourgeoisie, its great mass of petty
bourgeoisie, its great mass of small land holders and
labourers who hope to become petty-owners. It tries
to give them a common programme, which, of course,
cannot be Communist.
Perhaps it may be said that, as Communism is not yet
possible in such a country, this programme of a reformed
society of petty enterprise controlled by the working
class is to be preferred to everything else, and the
best possible way out. But the idea of a stable society
on this basis of peaceful co-operation of classes is
an illusion. You have already shown it in your article
with regard to workers‚ control.
The same impossibility may be seen regarding unemployment.
„Full maintenance for the unemployed at full trade union
rates‰ is asked for. Where would the State get the funds
necessary under this programme? The funds must in some
way come from production; either from the profit on
State industries, or from taxes paid by small enterprise.
Of course these capitalists would not be content to pay
to the unemployed such rates; they would try to lower
them, in order to restore the pressure of unemployment
on the wages. Here arises the natural and fundamental
enmity of the classes, the chief opposition of their
interests, the impossibility of peacefully combining
their efforts. As long as private enterprise exists,
it must try to hold itself against competition by
lowering the cost of production, or else be ruined.
It cannot be content to secure a fixed living to the
workers.
In 1848, in Paris, this payment of unemployed was the
chief cause of the shopkeepers and other petty bourgeois
becoming furious against the „do nothings‰ and crushing
the proletarian revolt in the June massacre. But also
from the Communist point of view this leaving the
workers unemployed and paying them a life rate is
not right. Communism means production of an abundance
of goods, leaving people idle who are desirous to work
is spoiling the resources of the community. A Communist
society will not leave them unemployed, but will let
them produce goods for the community, thus for themselves
and others to increase the general wealth.
Thus the so-called Communist programme is not the
programme of Communists desirous to show to the workers
the difficult but only real way to freedom; it is the
programme of politicians desirous to win the great mass
of adherents from various poor classes, by a programme
of reforms that means coalition of workers, small
farmers and petty bourgeois.
What you say about the results of the coalition in the
States of Eastern and Middle Europe shows that this
coalition uses the force of the proletariat to promote
the formation of a numerous class of small land owners,
extremely hostile to any Communism, thus it throws
obstacles in the way to Communism. It does still more
so by filling the minds of the workers with illusions,
and by diverting their eyes from the only way to freedom;
the way of class struggle, clear class-consciousness and
confidence in their own power.
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