File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1997/marxism-international.9706, message 307


Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 00:24:10 -0400
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: M-I: Visit of Amnesty head to Mumia Abu-Jamal


Sending this to the lists and Cockroach subscribers. Everybody should write 
a Email letter today.

Warm regards
Bob Malecki
>
>FORWARDED MESSAGE
>=====================>
>>Return-Path: <quixote-AT-igc.org>
>>Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 16:35:03 -0400
>>From: Equal Justice USA <quixote-AT-igc.org>
>>Organization: The Quixote Center
>>To: joyclarke-AT-aol.com
>>Subject: visit of Amnesty head to Mumia Abu-Jamal
>>Sender: quixote-AT-igc.org
>>
>>URGENT ACTION: Write Amnesty International in support of the Secretary
>>General's visit with Mumia Abu-Jamal
>>
>>Earlier this year, Amnesty International's Secretary General Pierre Sane
>>planned to visit Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison. Unfortunately, conservative
>>members of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in Philadelphia blocked the
>>visit.  Among their reasons for opposing the visit: the death penalty is
>>a human rights violation in this country and Mumia's case should not
>>receive this attention because it would take away from other death-row
>>prisoners.
>>
>>Based in London, Pierre Sane of Senegal is the first Black person to
>>head Amnesty International world-wide.  The visit was originally
>>proposed to Mr. Sane by an anti-death penalty activist and long-time
>>friend of Mumia who worked as a consultant for Amnesty.  Mr. Sane was
>>immediately enthusiastic about the idea.
>>
>>Time magazine (6/16/97) acknowledged Mumia's case is "not atypical."  It
>>provides a microcosm of the racial, economic and political biases
>>structurally embedded in our criminal justice system.  His trial (and
>>appellate) judge, Albert Sabo, is responsible for more than twice as
>>many death row sentences than any judge in the country.  Mumia was
>>sentenced in Philadelphia, where over 60% of those sentenced to death
>>are African American.  He is held at Pennsylvania's super-maximum
>>security prison, where he spends 22 hours a day alone in his cell and is
>>punished for publishing his writings.  
>>
>>Mumia's case is riveting world-wide attention to the injustice of the U.
>>S. death penalty.  His book, "Live from Death Row," and his radio
>>commentaries give public voice to more than 3,000 men and women now on
>>death row in the U.S.
>>
>>Amnesty International USA is now re-examining its decision to block Mr.
>>Sane's visit.  Feedback is being solicited from Amnesty members and
>>staff about Mr. Sane's possible visit to Mumia.  A copy of their memo
>>follows.
>>
>>Tell Amnesty that you support Secretary General Pierre Sane's visit
>>because it would demonstrate Amnesty International's public commitment
>>to fighting the death penalty in the U.S.  The international support
>>movement for Mumia has served to focus public criticism of capital
>>punishment.  Be sure to indicate in your letter if you are a member of
>>Amnesty.  
>>
>>Feedback must be sent by Friday, June 20.  Send your messages to: 
>>Gerald Lemelle, Deputy Executive Director for Action AIUSA,
>>glemelle-AT-aiusa.org, 212-627-1451 (fax)
>>Phyllis Pautrat, Member of the Board of Directors of AIUSA,
>>ppautrat-AT-igc.apc.org
>>
>>Send a copy of your message to Mumia-AT-aol.com or quixote-AT-igc.apc.org
>>
>>
>
>
>



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