Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2000 22:58:15 -0700
Subject: Support for Mumia activists


Hi

This is an e-mail I got from John Riley of the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
COALITION with an urgent plea for help for Clark Kissinger and
Frances Goldin. I hope we can
help!!!!                                                 
-------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friend,
The CD committee of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition is writing to
inform you of attacks against a dozen activists who chose to plead
not guilty to the charges facing them from the July 3rd 1999 civil
disobedience action at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. These
defendants were part of a group of 95 arrested that day demanding
liberty for Mumia. These dozen activists have received very harsh
sentences, which include a very invasive probation that threatens
several people's livelihood, and their ability to continue to work
with Mumia. The charges against them were very minor. We strongly
urge you to support these activists by writing letters on their
behalf to their probation officers and attend a demonstration, press
conference and probation appearance at 9:00-10:00 AM this coming
Tuesday morning (June 6th) at 111 Livingston Street in Brooklyn. The
following letters contain information explaining the situation.
Please take a few minutes to read them and do what you can.

Sincerely,
John Riley For the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition

-----------------------------------------------------------
             WRITE LETTERS and ATTEND N.Y. DEMONSTRATION


We are writing to protest a serious attempt by the federal
government to cripple the work of some of the staunchest supporters
of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Clark Kissinger, organizer of the national
leadership conferences for Mumia, Frances Goldin, Mumia's literary
agent, and several others have been sentenced by a federal
magistrate to a fine and one year supervised probation.

Ms. Goldin and Mr. Kissinger are forbidden to associate with
felons(i.e. Mumia) and cannot leave their federal court district in
New York City without the permission of a probation officer for one
year. In addition, they are required to be employed at a regular job
(i.e., no-full time volunteer work for Mumia), and they have to
surrender their passports, submit to visits to their homes and
offices by probation officers, list all persons they are in contact
with who have been convicted of a crime, and turn in detailed
financial records every month on where their money comes from and
how they spend it.


These Orwellian restrictions were imposed as the result of a
peaceful protest and civil disobedience action last year at the
Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Ninety-six people were issued
summonses by Park Rangers for "failing to obey a lawful order." This
infraction is not even a misdemeanor. It is classified as a "petty
offense" and is equivalent to a traffic ticket. yet everyone who
refused to return the summons pleading guilty and paying the fixed
fine-and who had the temerity to ask for a trial-was given one-year
supervised probation in addition to the fine.

In addition, Mr. Kissinger's wife has been served with a subpoena to
produce all her financial records for the last ten years and to
testify before a federal grand jury. This is a giant fishing
expedition by federal agents, that further exposes the role of the
federal government attempting to execute Mumia and silence the
movement in his defense.

There are two principles worth fighting for here. the first is the
right to have a trial. Mr. Kissinger, Ms. Goldin and the others were
given the one-year probation as punishment for asking for a trial.
the second is that the government has no right to restrict key
organizers and pry into their private associations and finances.

These judicial actions are an outrage and are clearly aimed at
"shutting down" anyone who works effectively for Mumia. The
progressive forces in this country cannot surrender the right to a
trial, nor can we tolerate the attempt of the government to "ground"
those working for Mumia.

The imposition of these judicial restrictions and subpoenas on
leading activists and their families serves no purpose other than to
chill the first amendment rights of those who have been most
effective in bringing Mumia's case before the public. We demand that
they be stayed at once, and overturned by the appeals court.

JANE JACKSON IS NOW ON A HUNGER STRIKE ABOUT THIS SITUATION! Please
write a letter in support of Jane Jackson and others whose passports
have and may yet be revoked as punishment for the July 3rd
Philadelphia Mumia Action To:

Chief Probation Officer
Ronald B Dellums
Federal Building
1301 Clay St. Suite 220
Oakland, CA 94612




with carbon copies to:

Jane Jackson
275 E. 12th St.
Oakland Ca 94606

The Honorable Arnold C. Rapoport
U.S. District Court Judge
District of Eastern Pennsylvania
c/o Federal Probation Office
600 Arch St. Suite 2400
Philadelphia, PA 19106

and to YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS as well as:

Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board
PO Box 41705
Philadelphia PA 19101

Jane Jackson is almost 66 years old and is forced to use a
wheelchair because of a severe case of Meniere's syndrome which as
afflicted her for the past quarter century despite her major
disability she has traveled extensively and advocated powerfully for
many worthy social justice issues.

             PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS!!!! 

STOP THE ATTACKS ON THE MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL

June 6 is "D-Day" for Mumia activist and author, C. Clark Kissinger.
He has been ordered by the U.S. Probation Officer Eric J. Macolino
to turn in forms reporting on every aspect of his life at 10:00 am.
Come Tuesday morning and hear Clark's response! at 111 Livingston
Street, Brooklyn NY!!!!

Clark has been ordered to report all persons he has had contact with
who have a criminal record, list all clubs and organizations he
belongs to, and report all details of where his money comes from and
how it is spent.

Clark has also been ordered to surrender his passport, to not
associate with any convicted felon (i.e. Mumia), and not leave New
York City and Long Island without permission of his Probation
Officer.

These conditions are similar to those placed on "banned persons" in
Apartheid South Africa years ago. Their goal is to stop the
political activity of Clark, Frances, and the others given the
outrageous sentence of a fine and one-year supervised probation for
being given a summons by a Park Ranger for "failure to obey a lawful
order" at a protest demonstration for Mumia last July.


 JOIN CLARK KISSINGER IN FRONT OF THE U.S. PROBATION OFFICE

    TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 6, 9:00-10:00 AM
    111 Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn
    (2,3,4,5,N,R, to Borough Hall/Court Street)

Demonstration and press briefing on the attacks on Mumia activists,
with a message from Clark's attorney Ron Kuby. Join with Clark and
his fellow defendants Frances Goldin and Mitch Cohen.


If the government thinks we are going to stop working for Mumia,
they are wrong! Join us from 9 to 10 am on Tuesday morning and send
the government a message. Then when you get to work, send Probation
Officer Macolino another message.

            His fax number is 718-330-7131.