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Mumia's case has been assigned to Federal District Court Judge
William H.
Yohn. Judge Yohn has NOT yet lifted Mumia's death warrant by granting
a
stay of execution! As a result the judge is FORCING people to take to
the
streets! Suppporters in both San Fransico and Chicago have been ATTACKED
by
police because they WILL NOT remain silent and allow this government to
commit MURDER!
As early as Tuesday, October 19, 1999, Judge Yohn's clerk announced that
BOTH sides could send letters to the judge stating their position on the
case. The International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia JUST LEARNED
of
this announcement yesterday, October 20th. A day AFTER the announcement!
That means that this system--as is ALREADY EVIDENT by Mumia's continued
captivity on PHASE II--can still NOT BE TRUSTED to do what is right!
The International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal is
asking
that THE PEOPLE DEMAND JUSTICE! We need EVERYONE to write to Judge Yohn
and
demand TWO things:
1. LIFT the death warrant by granting a stay of execution.
2. Grant Mumia an EVIDENTIARY HEARING.
We are asking EVERYONE to write a letter to the Judge AND SEND A COPY
to
Mumia's attorney, Leonard Weinglass so that we will have ALL of the letters
from Mumia's supporters when it is time to go into court. Remember, BOTH
sides have been told to send letters.
Send your letters to...
Judge William H. Yohn, Jr.
United States District Court
2609 United States Courthouse
601 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 597 - 4361
(215) 597 - 6390 (fax)
AND SEND A COPY to Mumia's attorney Leonard Weinglass!
address your letter to Leonard as follows...
Judge William H. Yohn, Jr.
c/o Leonard Weinglass, Esq.
6 West 20th Street
Suite 10A
New York, New York 10011
We know that the FOP is pressuring Judge Yohn NOT to lift the death warrant.
Much depends on Yohn's decision. He can deny Mumia's request for an
evidentiary hearing and decide the case based ONLY on the facts that Sabo
let in--which DOES NOT include, among other things, the fact that the
alleged "confession" was reported OVER 60 days after the shootings
and that
witnesses such as Pamela Jenkins and Veronica Jones have since come forward
and testified in the PCRA hearings that they were COERCED by police and
FORCED to LIE about Mumia being the shooter! By NOT lifting the warrant
and
NOT granting a stay of execution, Judge Yohn could be taking the position
that Mumia's appeal can be disposed of BEFORE December 2, 1999. That means
Mumia WOULD REMAIN ON PHASE II. We MUST DEMAND that the stay be lifted
AND
WE MUST DEMAND that Mumia receive this hearing!
Here is some information to help you formulate your letter:
THE STAY...
Although Mumia has filed his new appeal in federal court, he has yet to
receive a stay of execution. Another prisoner, who just got his death
warrant, filed his federal appeal and got a stay the SAME day. A stay
is
supposed to be standard procedure. When Mumia filed his appeal in the
state
courts, he was not given an automatic stay then either. Instead, Sabo
let
Mumia's death warrant stand for 10 DAYS before his execution date! Sabo
onll granted the stay because of the INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONWIDE PRESSURE
OF THE PEOPLE! We MUST REMAIN VIGILANT! Remember, Mumia is still under
FORCIBLE SUICIDE WATCH. That's 24 hour-a-day supervision with NO access
to
supporters by visit or telephone.
THE NEW APPEAL...
On Friday, October 15, 1999, Mumia's attorneys filed a writ of habeas
corpus. In over 160 pages they cited 29 violations of Mumia's
constitutional rights. These violations include:
suppression of evidence by police and prosecutors
the coercing of witnesses
the fabricated "confession" story
the suppression of documents about police surveillance of Mumia
the ineffective defense counsel in Mumia's first "trial"
how Mumia was NOT allowed to represent himself
how Mumia was BARRED from the courtroom in his own "trial"
the state's use of ALL of its 11 peremptory challenges to
STRIKE Black people from the jury
how the prosecutor used Mumia's involvement in the Black
Panther Party to argue that Mumia should be executed
THE DEMAND FOR A NEW HEARING...
Mumia's habeas corpus petition to the federal court requests a hearing
in
the federal court to bring in the witnesses and evidence that were denied
by
Sabo in the Pennsylvania courts. Getting this hearing is CRUCIAL! It will
be BOTH the first AND last time Mumia can present this evidence in court.
If Mumia is denied an evidentiary hearing, ALL future appeals will be
based
on the "evidence" allowed and interpreted by Sabo. Only a new
hearing can
get the evidence of Mumia's actual innocence on the record!
WE NEED EVERYONE TO TAKE A STAND! Write and DEMAND both that a stay and
an
evidentiary hearing be granted.
For more information, contact Pam Africa, International Concerned Family
&
Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal at 215-476-8812.
keep up the good work! stay on the move......
ACT NOW! PASS IT ON!
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