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Mumia Abu-Jamal

Fred Stanton
Lingua: Inglese


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220px-Mumia03Mumia Abu-Jamal was an activist, part-time cab driver, radio personality (news commentator and broadcaster) and a renowned journalist from Philadelphia. He has been in prison since 1981 and on death row since 1983 for allegedly shooting Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.
He is known as the "Voice of the Voiceless" for his award-winning reporting on police brutality and other social and racial epidemics that plague communities of color in Philadelphia and throughout the world. Mumia has received international support over the years in his efforts to overturn his unjust conviction.
Mumia Abu-Jamal was serving as the President of the Association of Black Journalists at the time of his arrest. He was a founding member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Black Panther Party as a teenager. Years later he began reporting professionally on radio stations such as NPR, and was the news director of Philadelphia station WHAT. Much of his journalism called attention to the blatant injustice and brutality he watched happen on a daily basis to MOVE, a revolutionary organization that works to protect all forms of life – human, animal, plant – and the Earth as a whole.

In 1981, Mumia worked as a cab driver at night to supplement his income. On December 9th he was driving his cab through the red light district of downtown Philadelphia at around 4 a.m. Mumia testifies that he let off a fare and parked near the corner of 13th and Locust Streets. Upon hearing gunshots, he turned and saw his brother, William Cook, staggering in the street. Mumia exited the cab and ran to the scene, where he was shot by a uniformed police officer and fell to the ground, fading in and out of consciousness. Within minutes, police arrived on the scene to find Officer Faulkner and Mumia shot; Faulkner died. Mumia was arrested, savagely beaten, thrown into a paddy wagon and driven to a hospital a few blocks away (suspiciously, it took over 30 minutes to arrive at the hospital). Mumia somehow survived.

The trial began in 1982 with Judge Sabo (who sent more people to death row than any other judge) presiding. Mumia wished to represent himself and have John Africa as his legal advisor, but before jury selection had finished, this right was revoked and an attorney was forcibly appointed for him. Throughout the trial, Mumia was accused of disrupting court proceedings and was not allowed to attend most of his own trial. Sabo lived up to his nickname of "Prosecutor in Robes".

The prosecution claimed that the shot which killed Faulkner came from Mumia Abu-Jamal's legally registered .38-caliber weapon, contradicting the medical examiner's report that the bullet removed from Faulkner's brain was a .44-caliber. This fact was kept from the jury. Moreover, a ballistics expert found it incredible that police at the scene failed to test Mumia's gun to see if has been recently fired, or to test his hands for powder residue. One of the most damning prosecution claims was that Mumia confessed at the hospital. However, this confession was not reported until nearly two months after December 9th, immediately after Mumia had filed a brutality suit against the police. One of the officers who claims to have heard the confession is Gary Wakshul. However, in his police report on that day he stated, "the Negro male made no comments." Dr. Coletta, the attending physician who was with Mumia the entire time, says that he never heard Mumia speak.

The star prosecution witness, a prostitute named Cynthia White, was someone no other witness reported seeing at the scene. During the trial of Billy Cook (Mumia's brother) just weeks before Mumia's trial, White gave testimony completely contradictory to what she stated at Mumia's trial. Her testimony at Billy Cook's trial placed someone at the scene who was not there when police arrived. This corroborates the other five witness accounts that someone fled the scene. In a 1997 hearing, another former prostitute, Pamela Jenkins, testified that White was acting as a police informant. Other sworn testimony revealed that witness coercion was routinely practiced by the police. In 1995, eyewitness William Singletary testified that police repeatedly tore up his initial statement--that the shooter fled the scene--until he finally signed something acceptable to them. The following year, witness Veronica Jones came forward to testify that she had been coerced into changing her initial statement that two men fled the scene. Witness Billy Cook, who was present the whole time, has stated very clearly that Mumia is absolutely innocent.

Due to police manipulation of witnesses, fabrication of evidence, and the rights of the defence severely denied, Mumia was found guilty. He was sentenced to death during the penalty phase based solely on his political beliefs. Mumia has been unjustly separated from his family for twenty-two years, with the threat of death looming over his head.

In 2001, court stenographer Terri Maurer-Carter came forward and stated that in 1982, before Mumia's trial began, she heard Judge Sabo say, "Yeah, and I'm going to help them fry the nigger." He was referring to Mumia. This backs up evidence of judicial bias and racism in Mumia's case. In the same year, esteemed Philadelphia journalist Linn Washington stated that on the morning of December 9th, 1981, he went to the scene to report on it--and no police were present. This backs up prior claims that police didn't handle the crime scene properly.

In 1999, Arnold Beverly confessed to killing Officer Faulkner. This confession is validated by a lie detector test administered by eminent polygraph expert Charles Honts. Despite concrete evidence supporting this confession, the Philadelphia District Attorney has refused to investigate, and the courts have not even allowed it to be heard. The injustice continues…

On December 18th, 2001, Judge Yohn issued a decision on the Habeas Corpus petition in Federal District Court. He upheld Mumia's unjust conviction, but challenged the sentencing phase (the death sentence). This means there could be a new sentencing hearing after all appeals are resolved, but the only options are life in prison with no possibility of parole or another death sentence. This is not justice. There is massive evidence of Mumia's innocence and he should be absolutely free. Mumia's legal team filed an appeal of this decision in January of 2002. Mumia remains on death row until all appeals by both sides are heard.

Judge Pamela Dembe's November 21, 2001, rejection of Mumia's request to reopen the PCRA hearings was appealed by Mumia's legal team. Judge Dembe based her decision almost entirely on the Peterkin case, which has just been overturned! On October 8, 2003, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected the appeal, stating that the Beverly confession cannot be heard due to time limitations. The court also stated that Terri Maurer-Carter's testimony is irrelevant. The struggle continues.

A broad international movement has formed in support of Mumia. Celebrities such as Danny Glover, Ossie Davis, and Susan Sarandon, world leaders like Nelson Mandela, Danielle Mitterand (former First Lady of France), and Fidel Castro, governing bodies such as the Japanese Diet, 22 members of the British Parliament, and the European Parliament have all recognized the blatant injustice in this case and have called for a new trial at the very least. Millions of people throughout the world have taken to the streets to protest his unjust imprisonment.

Mumia's case has been a unifying point for many social struggles because it concentrates issues vitally important to our future, such as the rise in prison populations, police brutality, the death penalty, persecution of political dissent, and the continuation of white supremacy and racism in the U.S.A. From death row, Mumia has continued to speak out for all who are oppressed through his journalism. He has published four books, and his weekly columns are published throughout the world. His case is one of the most important social justice fights of our time….
It started in the darkness
of a downtown Philly street.
A cop was workin' over,
a kid was bein' beat.
A cabby drivin' by
slammed on his brakes
And walked into a nightmare,
and almost to his grave.

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
Live from death row,
he's someone you should know,
Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Mumia saw his brother
was beaten on the ground.
He tried to stop the policeman
but Mumia was shot down.
When he woke up,
he was in a hospital ward,
They told him someone shot that cop,
killed him with a .44.

Mumia was a Panther
when he was a kid,
Then he fought police brutality
as a radio journalist.
Now he's up for murder,
it's a miracle, they say,
He put a .44 bullet
through the barrel of a .38.

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
Live from death row,
he's someone you should know,
Mumia Abu-Jamal...

The system is not equal,
the system is not fair,
It's always a little fairer
if you're a millionaire.
OJ had big lawyers
to save him from disgrace.
Mumia had no money,
and so he lost his case.

Old Judge Sabo did a little dance,
As he handed down the sentence
he almost wet his pants
"Let's kill all these Mumias
and take a bite out of crime.
The streets will be much safer,
the trains will run on time!"

Mumia Abu-Jamal, Mumia Abu-Jamal,
Live from death row,
he's someone you should know,
Mumia Abu-Jamal..

They killed Sacco and Vanzetti,
and murdered the Rosenbergs.
Now they have Mumia,
and it's equally absurd.
We can win a new trial,
and when he is released,
We'll lift him on our shoulders
and carry him down the street.

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
Live from death row,
he's someone you should know,
Mumia Abu-Jamal...

inviata da giorgio - 19/5/2010 - 08:36



Lingua: Italiano

Versione italiana
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL

È tutto cominciato nell'oscurità
di una strada di Filadelfia centro
un poliziotto aggrediva,
un ragazzo veniva picchiato.
Un tassista che passava di lì
mette i freni
e va a sprofondare in un incubo
che lo porta quasi alla morte.

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
esce vivo da una rissa mortale,
è qualcuno che dovresti conoscere,
Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Mumia vide suo fratello
che veniva colpito a terra
Cercò di fermare il poliziotto
ma gli spararono.
Quando riprese i sensi
era in una corsia d'ospedale,
gli dissero che qualcuno aveva sparato, che a quel poliziotto
era stato ucciso con una calibro 44.

Mumia era nelle Pantere Nere
da ragazzo,
poi aveva combattuto la brutalità della polizia
come radiocronista
Ora viene incriminato per omicidio
Per magia, dicono,
ha messo un proiettile calibro 44
in canna a una 38.

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
venuto fuori vivo da una rissa mortale.
È qualcuno che devi conoscere,
Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Il sistema non è equo,
il sistema è ingiusto,
è sempre un po' più giusto
se sei un milionario
OJ aveva buoni avvocati
a toglierlo dai guai.
Mumia non aveva soldi
e così perse la causa.

Il giudice Sabo fece il suo solito balletto
mentre emetteva la sentenza
quasi se la faceva addosso
"Mettiamo a morte tutti 'sti Mumia
e sferriamo un bel colpo al crimine
Le strade saranno più sicure,
e i treni arriveranno in orario!"

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
venuto fuori vivo da una rissa mortale.
Qualcuno che devi proprio conoscere,
Mumia Abu-Jamal!

Hanno ucciso Sacco e Vanzetti,
assassinato i Rosenbergs,
ora hanno preso Mumia
ed è altrettanto assurdo.
Vinceremo una nuova causa
e quando sarà liberato
lo prenderemo sulle spalle
e lo porteremo giù per la strada.

Mumia Abu-Jamal! Mumia Abu-Jamal,
uscito fuori vivo da una rissa mortale.
È qualcuno che devi proprio conoscere,
Mumia Abu-Jamal!

inviata da giorgio - 19/5/2010 - 21:00


L'ACCADEMICA LAURA CORRADI PRENDE LA PAROLA PER LA LIBERAZIONE DI OCALAN



Gianni Sartori

Avevo conosciuto Laura Corradi alla fine del secolo scorso a Bassano dove il Centro sociale (occupato, poi demolito) “Stella Rossa” aveva organizzato un incontro con alcuni esponenti del MOVE, il movimento afro-statunitense che si batteva per l’autodeterminazione della comunità nera e per la liberazione di Mumia Abu-Jamal.

A Philadelphia il MOVE era stato pesantemente represso in varie occasioni negli anni settanta e ottanta. A fucilate e addirittura con qualche bomba sganciata dall’elicottero. Tra le vittime del 13 maggio 1985 anche dei bambini: Tomaso e Netta.

A Bassano Laura si era occupata brillantemente di tradurre gli interventi dei militanti afro-statunitensi (Sue Africa e Ramona Africa).

Ci eravamo poi rivisti dopo i fatti incresciosi di Genova 2001 quando entrambi (come centinaia, migliaia di altri manifestanti) avevamo dovuto fare i conti con gli effetti collaterali derivati dall’aver inalato nostro malgrado i gas CS (proibiti dalla Convenzione di Ginevra in teoria). Entrambi ci eravamo affidati all’ottimo avvocato Canestrini (il figlio) di Rovereto.

Poi ancora a Venezia per un incontro con Vandava Shiva e Massimo Cacciari sugli OGM (contro ovviamente).

In seguito come capita sovente ci si era persi di vista.

La “ritrovo” ora nel comunicato (in castigliano) di una associazione a sostegno dei Curdi: “Accademica italiana exige “libertà para Öcalan”.




Professoressa associata del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali dell’Università di Calabria Laura ha voluto esprimere con determinazione il suo sostegno alla campagna internazionale “Libertà per Abdullah Öcalan, soluzione politica alla questione curda”.




Come dovrebbe essere ormai a conoscenza di compagni, democratici, antifascisti, ambientalisti, difensori dei Diritti Umani e del Diritto dei Popoli…la campagna è stata avviata simultaneamente il 10 ottobre in oltre cento località del pianeta. Coinvolgendo partiti politici, comunità, sindacati, associazioni, intellettuali…oltre naturalmente a milioni di curdi e a migliaia di solidali.

Con una precisa richiesta: la possibilità per il “Mandela curdo” di prendere parte a colloqui (dialoghi, trattative…) per una soluzione politica “giusta e democratica” all’ormai secolare e dolorosa questione che divide il popolo curdo dalla Turchia.

Va anche detto che Laura Corradi sembra piuttosto preoccupata. Oltre a stigmatizzare la detenzione di Abdullah Öcalan come “crudele” e una evidente “prova della paura del regime turco”, non nasconde la sua preoccupazione in quanto “sfortunatamente, non abbiamo prove che dopo 30 mesi di isolamento totale Öcalan sia ancora vivo”. Un timore che - purtroppo - ammetto di condividere.

Gianni Sartori

Gianni Sartori - 20/10/2023 - 20:42


Recupero tardivamente questo articolo del gennaio 2020, ricordando che purtroppo Delbert Africa , già malato, era poi sopravvissuto soltanto pochi mesi dopo la sua scarcerazione
GS

LIBERATO DOPO 42 ANNI UN ESPONENTE DEL MOVE (gennaio 2020)

Gianni Sartori

Verso la metà degli anni novanta del secolo scorso (mi pare nel 1997) avevo incontrato alcuni esponenti del MOVE a Bassano nella sede del Centro sociale (poi demolito) “Stella Rossa”. Ramona Africa mi spiegò che tutti i militanti del MOVE rinunciavano al nome precedente in quanto evocava la condizione di schiavi dei loro antenati (come fece anche Malcom X) e aggiungevano al nome proprio, come rivendicazione di appartenenza comunitaria, familiare, il cognome “Africa”.

Da ex operaio rimasto intossicato da colle e vernici sul lavoro, avevo particolarmente apprezzato che prima della conferenza i militanti afro-americani avessero richiesto di non fumare durante la stessa. Anche “per rispetto dell’aria”, non solo delle vie respiratorie dei presenti. All’epoca molte riunioni di “soggetti antagonisti” si svolgevano ancora avvolte in asfissianti nuvole di fumo, non proprio come negli anni sessanta e settanta (vere camere a gas), ma comunque nocive quanto basta. Oltre all’intervista con Ramona Africa e Sue Africa di quel pomeriggio conservo un opuscolo “25 years on the move” (pubblicato nel 1996) con sulla quarta di copertina la foto dell’arresto di un militante del MOVE: Delbert Africa

A braccia spalancate e a torso nudo per non venire ammazzato con la scusa che avrebbe potuto nascondere un’arma. Come era capitato nel 1968 alla Pantera nera Bobby Hutton, assassinato a sedici anni dalla polizia di Oakland.

La foto dell’arresto di Delbert Africa risaliva allo sgombero – ordinato dal sindaco di Philadelphia Frank Rizzo – di una sede del MOVE nell’agosto 1978. Nei momenti successivi – come testimonierà lo stesso autore della foto – l’uomo venne selvaggiamente pestato dai poliziotti con il calcio dei fucili e preso a calci mentre era a terra inerme. Sempre a Philadelphia, nel 1985 lo sgombero forzato di un altro appartamento occupato dal MOVE si svolse con l’intervento di centinaia di poliziotti e addirittura con il lancio di una bomba dall’elicottero. Undici persone morirono nell’incendio che si era sviluppato. Tra loro anche cinque bambini (tra cui Tomaso, Tree e Netta la cui foto si trova all’interno dell’opuscolo). Perse la vita anche un poliziotto, molto probabilmente vittima di “fuoco amico”.

Il MOVE, fondato nel 1972 da John Africa (nome di nascita Vincent Leaphart) auspicava la possibilità di vivere fuori dal capitalismo e dal consumismo della società bianca in armonia con la natura. Tra le loro attività più intense, una campagna a sostegno del prigioniero politico Mumia Abu-Jamal per impedirne l’esecuzione.

Gianni Sartori

Gianni Sartori - 20/10/2023 - 20:45




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