[Marxism] Interview with Mumia after Sup. Ct. denial, and notice of NY meeting

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am not sure enough of the concrete situation, but it seems to me the most
important thing now is to combat the likely move of Gov. Rendell to
re-impose the death penalty -- nearly 30 years after he was sentenced. If
only because Obama owes Rendell a political debt for helping him win
Pennsylvania after supporting Clinton in the primaries, we can expect no
help from him. 

In fact, we can expect Rendell to use Obama's presidency to put a nonracial
coat of paint on a thirty year drive by the cops and primarily white
politicians to execute a Black man who was framed up by every reasonable
standard.
Fred Feldman


1. Transcript of Interview 4-6-09
http://www.prisonradio.org/mumia_interview_4_6_09.htm

Noelle Hanrahan Prison Radio:  Mumia, what's your reaction?
 
Mumia Abu-Jamal:   Well all I know is, you know, what Christina told me. So
there's nothing. There's nothing to read. There is no order, other than my
name is on a list of Cert denied. 

Noelle Hanrahan: That's right.

Mumia Abu-Jamal: So we don't know anything.  And you know, if it is the
Batson issue, then it just shows you that precedent means nothing, that the
law is politics by other means and that the constitution means nothing. That
a fair jury means nothing. 

Noelle Hanrahan: You said when I just first talked to you something about
that it's another day and how many days?

Mumia Abu-Jamal: Another day? Three decades. 

Noelle Hanrahan: When did you stop being surprised?

Mumia Abu-Jamal: When I was at pretrial hearing before Judge Sabo,and he
denied the motion. I knew then that he wasn't working with the constitution.
It did surprise me, and it really shocked me because, I'd read the cases. I
knew what the law was. I knew what the law books said the law was. I learned
then that they're not going by that kind of law, and apparently they're not
going by that kind of law now. If you read Batson and you read my case then
it's almost as if you're in two different universes. And in fact you are.
You are. 

Noelle Hanrahan: Are there different rules for what type of people?  

Mumia Abu-Jamal: Well there's always been different rules for Black people,
you know. If you read Batson, whatwill surprise people who have never done
so, it has nothing to do with the accused, the defendant, the person on
trial. Batson, in its own terms, says it protects the rights of those people
who are allegedly American citizens, who are denied the right to serve as
jurors. That's what it says, that's what it says. But in fact, how does it
do that when it allows people to be removed, after Batson became law, for
spurious reasons? Batson can be bested and beaten by exactly the way the
DA's office said it could be beaten: by lying, and by getting up and saying,
"Well no, we didn't have any racist reasons, and ah we just ah, we're not."
Listen, listen to the video tape. YOU HAVE SIXTY SECONDS REMAINING Listen to
the video tape and if that doesn't tell you all you need to know then you
are deaf dumb or blind.

Noelle Hanrahan: Whose video tape?

Mumia Abu-Jamal: The video tape of the DA, the training videotape of Jack
McMahon of the Philadelphia's DA office from 1986.

The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia! 

PLEASE CONTACT: 
International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ 
P.O. Box 19709 
Philadelphia, PA 19143 
Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180 
E-mail - icffmaj@xxxxxxx
AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES! 


2, Open Meeting
Circulate Widely /

Emergency Meeting in Response to the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

On April 6, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal for a
new guilt-phase trial. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to
consider the Philadelphia DA's separate appeal, which is attempting to
execute Abu-Jamal WITHOUT a new sentencing hearing. In response to
yesterday's rejection, Abu-Jamal's lead attorney, Robert R. Bryan, will be
filing a "petition for re-hearing" in the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., there will be an open strategy
session to determine our next steps forward. This isn't the first time the
Supreme Court chose not to look into this case. It's quite obvious that they
don't want to look into the case because of its political implications. They
clearly are holding fast to the rule that "the Black man has no rights which
the white man is bound to respect." We must not let them get away with it.
Since the highest court in the land didn't even bother to explain why they
turned down the case, it's our job to analyze the situation and respond
strategically and forcefully.

After the strategy meeting, we will watch the recently released documentary,
"In Prison My Whole Life", shown at last year's Sundance Film Festival and
in the British Parliament this year. The film provides a comprehensive
overview of the case and includes the recently released photos showing how
Philadelphia police tampered with crime scene evidence. Dinner will be
available for $5, and it will be served promptly at 6:00 p.m.

What: Open Meeting in Response to the Outrageous and Racist Ruling by the
U.S. Supreme Court

When: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Where: Solidarity Center, 55 West 17th Street, 5th Floor (btw. 5th & 6th
Avenues)

Directions: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, F, or V to 14th Street

Sponsored by: Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) . freemumia.com  .
212-330-8029







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