By PAUL M. In the struggle to prove his innocence, death-row inmate Kevin Cooper has always had to contend with police corruption. Although he won the right to DNA testing last December, his defense team recently made a shocking discovery-key evidence just about to undergo testing may have been tampered with. The results of the … Continue reading More Police Misconduct in Kevin Cooper Case
Category: Prisons
As Mumia Activists Gear Up Efforts, New Court Decision May Help Defense
By JEFF MACKLER Efforts to win the freedom of death-row political prisoner and award-winning journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal have intensified over the past months. Imprisoned for the past 20 years following a racist frame-up trial for a murder he did not commit, Jamal and his new legal team are preparing critical new documents to present in … Continue reading As Mumia Activists Gear Up Efforts, New Court Decision May Help Defense
Beverly Murder Confession and New Defense Affidavits Reaffirm Mumia’s Innocence
By JEFF MACKLER A Philadelphia press conference called on May 5 by Mumia Abu-Jamal's new legal team has opened a new stage in the fight for Mumia's freedom. Attorneys Marlene Kamish and Elliot Grossman presented a sworn statement by Arnold R. Beverly stating that he, not Jamal, had killed police officer Daniel Faulkner in the … Continue reading Beverly Murder Confession and New Defense Affidavits Reaffirm Mumia’s Innocence
War on Drugs is Really a War on Us
By MARY McINTYRE TULIA, Texas-Across the nation unsuspecting communities have become microcosms of the Drug War, which seems to have become a veritable breeding ground-if not proving ground-of corruption, racism, and injustice while working people foot the bill. Contrary to what the government would like you to believe, the "bad guys" in this war … Continue reading War on Drugs is Really a War on Us
Federal Judge Refuses Mumia’s Amicus Briefs
By JEFF MACKLER William H. Yohn Jr., the federal district court judge assigned to preside over Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal of his 1982 Pennsylvania state court frame-up murder conviction, has rejected four important amicus curiae briefs submitted to his court. On death row for over 18 years, Abu-Jamal, an award-winning journalist and author- and an … Continue reading Federal Judge Refuses Mumia’s Amicus Briefs
5000 in LA Protest ‘Republocrat’ Attacks on Mumia Abu-Jamal
By JEFF MACKLER LOS ANGELES-Supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal mobilized here on Sunday, Aug. 13, for a march to the Staples Center, site of the Democratic Party National Convention. They demanded that Jamal's planned execution be stopped and that a new trial be granted now. The protesters came from a number of West Coast cities and … Continue reading 5000 in LA Protest ‘Republocrat’ Attacks on Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia’s Message to LA Protesters: Why not a Party of those who Labor?
Ona Move! Long Live John Africa! The L.A. Convention is but an echo of the recent convention in Philadelphia. It is a convention bought and paid for by corporate capital. It is a convention of the well to do and wealthy, not of the workers or the poor, and Philadelphia shows us that politicians … Continue reading Mumia’s Message to LA Protesters: Why not a Party of those who Labor?
Mumia Activists Mobilize for Protest at Democratic Party Convention in L.A.
By JEFF MACKLER "The Sunday, Aug. 13 protest at the Democratic Party National Convention," according to Jim Lafferty, co-coordinator of the Los Angeles Committee to Stop the Execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, "will be the largest demonstration for innocent death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal in Los Angeles history." Lafferty, also the Los Angeles executive director of … Continue reading Mumia Activists Mobilize for Protest at Democratic Party Convention in L.A.
Election 2000: A Stink of Death
By CAROLE SELIGMAN The United States has the highest population of any country on earth-over 3600-living on death row. In addition to being the only industrialized country to carry out executions, since re-instating capital punishment in 1977, the United States is executing more prisoners each year, including over 30 mentally retarded people. The United States … Continue reading Election 2000: A Stink of Death
A Visit with Mumia Abu-Jamal on Pennsylvania’s Death Row
By JEFF MACKLER WAYNESBURG, Pa.-The misnamed Progress Drive, a quarter-mile-long road an hour's drive east from Pittsburgh, dead ends at State Correctional Institute (SCI) Greene, the super-modern prison where innocent death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal resides. Caged 23 hours daily in a tiny cell for the past 19 years at Greene and elsewhere, Mumia appeared to … Continue reading A Visit with Mumia Abu-Jamal on Pennsylvania’s Death Row
A Letter from Leonard Peltier
Below is Leonard Peltier's June 26 statement for the 25 year memorial of the shootout at Oglala, South Dakota. He was convicted for the alleged murder of two FBI agents during that event. On June 12, Peltier was denied parole for the fourth time. A petition for executive clemency is currently before President Clinton. Call … Continue reading A Letter from Leonard Peltier
Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: Killing for a Job
On the evening of June 22, 2000, at approximately 8:49 p.m., the life of Shaka Sankofa (né Gary Graham) was snuffed out by the state of Texas. With a sweaty-lipped smirk and a nod, Texas Governor George W. Bush cleared the way for the state's killing of a young Black man. The legalized lynching of … Continue reading Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: Killing for a Job
Fightback: How do they Die?
by Sylvia Weinstein Gary Graham (Shaka Sankofa) was put to death at 6:49 p.m. on July 22 by lethal injection. What is lethal injection? Here is a description from Zolo Angona Azania, who is on death row at Indiana State Prison: "The extinguishment of a human life by lethal injection is dressed up as a … Continue reading Fightback: How do they Die?
Death by Technicality’ The Execution of Shaka Sankofa
By JEFF BLACKBURN On June 22, Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush made good on his promise to execute Shaka Sankofa, better known by his former name, Gary Graham. "They know I'm innocent, but they won't acknowledge it," said Graham, who had been beaten and handcuffed to a gurney. His last words … Continue reading Death by Technicality’ The Execution of Shaka Sankofa
Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: Message to Kent State
When I was asked to write some words about the Kent State Massacre of May 1970, my mind's eye filled like a bucket under a dripping sink; each word a drop, not of water, but of blood. Each drop a shimmering, round, crimson mirror, which plops into a reddened basin, and overflows. Each drop is … Continue reading Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: Message to Kent State
Fightback: Murder at the Gallop
by Sylvia Weinstein Just think, there is now a fool-proof way of finding out the guilt or innocence of a person accused of rape and murder: Using the DNA test. But at this time only two states, Illinois and New York give inmates the right to use the latest DNA testing-even though the procedure has … Continue reading Fightback: Murder at the Gallop
Texas Set to Take the Life of Gary Graham
By JEFF BLACKBURN The state of Texas is working overtime to kill an innocent man. That man is Gary Graham, also known as Shaka Sankofa.* Graham is scheduled to die by lethal injection on June 22. His case has been publicized throughout the world. He has gained the support of thousands of people, including celebrities, … Continue reading Texas Set to Take the Life of Gary Graham
Mumia’s Fight for Freedom Wins Worldwide Support
By JEFF MACKLER Demonstrations demanding a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal took place in scores of cities around the world on May 13. It was truly the International Day of Solidarity With Mumia Abu-Jamal that its organizers projected last December at a New York City conference attended by hundreds of activists. Abu-Jamal, an award-winning journalist … Continue reading Mumia’s Fight for Freedom Wins Worldwide Support
Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: THE DEATH MACHINE
Everything in the world has a rhythm to it, a wave frequency, so to speak, that shows its ebb and flow. The same could be said of the American Death Machine, that scattered and fractured political tool of extinction that is so distinctly American, yet so continues to fascinate and disturb her European cousins, in … Continue reading Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: THE DEATH MACHINE
Fightback: We are Born Naked & Hungry; Then it Gets Worse!
by Sylvia Weinstein In the good ol' USA it can certainly get worse. Seventy-three young men who are too young in age to vote, smoke, or drink are on death row awaiting execution. Three young men who had committed crimes before they were 18 years old have already been executed. The United States is the … Continue reading Fightback: We are Born Naked & Hungry; Then it Gets Worse!
Louisiana Prisoners Challenge 28 Years of Solirary Confinement
By ANGOLA 3 SUPPORT COMMITTEE On Thursday, March 30, 2000, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the Angola 3-Robert King Wilkerson, Herman Wallace, and Albert Woodfox-who have spent the past 28 years in solitary confinement at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The suit alleges that … Continue reading Louisiana Prisoners Challenge 28 Years of Solirary Confinement
Robeson, Sweet Robeson
By EDDIE HATCHER ROBESON, N.C.-Today, a trial ended in Robeson County Superior Court. This trial has already ended one time before. It ended last year in a hung jury. District Attorney Johnson Britt wanted to retry it. Today's trial also ended in a hung jury, but no one should be surprised. The trial started yesterday … Continue reading Robeson, Sweet Robeson
International Call to Action on May 13: Save The Life of Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mobilize on May 13!
Leonard Weinglass, Chief Legal Counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal, has sounded the alarm: The next 90 days will be more critical to the life of Abu-Jamal, than the preceding 17 years. Federal District Court Justice William Yohn must decide whether or not to grant review to the record of false evidence and official perjury that punctuated … Continue reading International Call to Action on May 13: Save The Life of Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mobilize on May 13!
Critical Court Decision Ahead for Mumia
By JEFF MACKLER Within the next 60 days, Leonard Weinglass, chief legal counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal, expects a critical decision to be issued in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Condemned to death in Philadelphia 18 years ago by the notorious racist "hanging judge" Albert Sabo, award-winning journalist Abu-Jamal has set an example for all on … Continue reading Critical Court Decision Ahead for Mumia
Amnesty International at Mumia Conference
An important step forward was registered by the presence at the Feb. 19 conference of Amnesty International's Piers Bannister, author of Amnesty's just released report, "A Life in the Balance: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal." "What can Amnesty bring to the conference," said Bannister, "that you haven't already achieved yourself? ... I'd like to go … Continue reading Amnesty International at Mumia Conference