Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 00:04:26 -0500 CHECK IT! ============================ From: Mark Clement FROM MUMIA ABU-JAMAL NIGHT DRIVE Column Written 10/10/2000 Mumia Abu-Jamal, M.A. All Rights Reserved For you are prisoners of war, in an enemy's country-of a war, too, that is unrivalled for its injustice, cruelty, meanness... Frederick Douglass (1850) For millions of people, a daily drive, with no specific destination in mind, is a form of relaxation and enjoyment. It evokes little worry, other than the occasional pique over the cost of gas. For most, this is a practice that is a harmless, pleasant diversion. For many Black folks, however, this is a daily practice that unsettles the nerves, that upsets the stomach, and sounds the alarm of danger. For they know that they can be subjected to hassle, harassment, humiliation, harm and insult for daring to violate the unwritten law of DWB (or Driving While Black). It matters not what class, what complexion, or what status the driver, for being Black is enough. Several weeks ago, a well-to-do couple was driving through Montgomery County in Maryland. Their car was stopped, and eight police cars, as well as at least 16 armed cops surrounded them. High-intensity spot lights beamed upon them and over a dozen pistols and shotguns were aimed at them. They were thus ordered to exit the car, and to walk backwards some 40 feet or so, with their hands on their heads. Then, the two were handcuffed. Several moments later, the cops removed the husband's identification, and then they learned of their mistake. The two were Bob Nash and Janis Kearney, who both worked in high-level jobs at the White House. Nash is director of the Office of presidential Personnel, and his wife is a Special Assistant to the President. Nash, in a recently published letter, wrote that he and his wife were "traumatized," "humiliated and afraid for our lives." The couple, who described themselves as strong supporters of law enforcement, and "law-abiding citizens," experienced DWB, first-hand. It didn't matter that they were, presumably, well-educated, well-connected, well-groomed or had a friend and boss in the Oval Office. It didn't matter that their car was different in color from the suspect vehicle! It mattered that they were Black-period. If the President of the United States couldn't even protect them-what about you? ©MAJ 2000 ===========================> From: Prison Actiivst Resource Center Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 20A00 12:58 AM From: portsideMod@netscape.net [The Nation magazine has the following item about a literally life-and-death post election agenda. -- Moderator] Death Row Roll Call: November 2000 The death penalty hasn't been much of an issue in Election 2000 with both Al Gore and George Bush staunchly supporting capital punishment. But in what looks to be more than just coincidence, the number of scheduled executions rises dramatically in November across the country but particularly in Texas where six (5 post- election) inmates are slated to die. As usual, the Lone Star State leads the pack in death penalty applications but Delaware, North and South Carolina are all preparing to execute their first inmates of 2000. And, to add to the highest execution total of 2000 to date, November also sees the first scheduled federal execution since 1963--of David Paul Hammer, a mentally diseased Indiana man. We encourage our readers to take action by clicking on any of the names below to send an informed letter of protest to the appropriate state governor. And to send an e-mail to President Clinton, on behalf of Hammer, imploring the chief executive not to become the first US President in almost forty years to preside over a Federally-sanctioned execution, use our Act Now tool. Source: Rick Halperin, "Death Penalty News and Updates," . +++ Resources for Organizers, Educators, Activists +++ Prison Activist Resource Center PO Box 339 Berkeley CA 94701 ph: 510-893-4648 // fx: 510-893-4607 http://prisonactivist.org ==========================> From: LPDC PELTIER HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE Indigenous Political Prisoner, Leonard Peltier, has organized his annual gift drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Lakota Nation in South Dakota. This is one way Leonard continues his humanitarian work for his people despite his incarceration. Help Leonard Peltier reach out beyond the bars that imprison him. You can send gifts such as new toys and practical, new winter clothing (gloves, jeans, thermal underwear, sweaters, socks, hats, scarves, jackets, boots, and blankets etc.) to the addresses listed below. Your gifts will be distributed to the people of Pine Ridge in Leonard's name. Thanks to Peltier supporters, last year's gift drive was very successful. Many families wrote Leonard to both thank him and tell him how the gifts brightened the families' holidays. Some supporters collected donations from stores who were willing to help after learning that Pine Ridge continues to be the most impoverished community in the entire United States. Some organized collections by asking friends and co-workers to sponsor a child by contributing a gift. Others simply purchased gifts out of pocket. The gift drives don't only help the families, but also help Leonard Peltier keep his spirits strong through the difficult holiday season. If possible, send gifts to both Geraldine Janis and Roslyn Jumping Bull, members of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee Elders Council. This will help widen the distribution. THANK YOU! - LPDC ROSLYN JUMPING BULL BOX 207 OGLALA, SD 57764 GERALDINE JANIS PO BOX 525 PINE RIDGE, SD 57770 Call the White House Comments Line Today Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111 Be in New York City December 10th Peltier Walk For Freedom! Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 www.freepeltier.org ===============================> From: Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 9:49 PM U. S. Racist Frame-Ups Come to Light A media sensation has surrounded Rubin "Hurricane" Carter since his release following a wrongful conviction and more than two decades of imprisonment under inhumane conditions. A similar phenomenon is developing around framed Black Panther Party leader Geronimo Pratt who, like Carter, faced life in prison under brutal conditions and was subsequently exonerated. Both men would have been executed had the death penalty been in use in the U.S. at the time of their frame-ups. These two men's experiences are powerfully impacting the political consciousness of millions of people in the U.S. and beyond. They have contributed to a sharp increase in awareness of the racist nature of the American judicial system and, indirectly, of how capital punishment in the U.S. is disproportionately the ultimate punishment for those who are not white and exclusively for those without capital. The death penalty is being unmasked as an instrument of racist and class oppression. The positive effects of their exoneration do not stop there. Their exoneration has undoubtedly bolstered support for the campaign to grant clemency to America's best known political prisoner, Native American leader Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier remains incarcerated serving two life sentences for a crime he could never be convicted of if he received a new trial owing to a lack of evidence of his guilt. Yet every attempt to win Leonard's release since his capture in Canada and deportation to the U.S. in 1976 has come to nothing. Leonard's supporters see a campaign to get Clinton to grant him clemency before leaving office as his only remaining hope. Then there is Mumia Abu-Jamal. The life of this former Black Panther hangs in the balance because he had the misfortune to be framed for killing a Philadelphia cop after the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty. Significantly, two of the most outspoken of Mumia's millions of supporters are Carter and Pratt. They readily identified with his plight and their outspoken support has given added momentum to the campaign to win his release. Yet another positive effect of the exoneration of Carter and Pratt has been to raise awareness of the fact that there are other political prisoners in the U.S. who few people know about. Many, like Pratt, are former Black Panther Party members imprisoned while J. Edgar Hoover's FBI was waging a systematic campaign to annihilate the party. Angola 3 Albert Woodfox, Herman Wallace and Robert King Wilkerson, better known as the Angola 3, exemplify this. The longstanding injustices committed against them and their continuing plight exceed those experienced even by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and Geronimo Pratt. These former Black Panther Party members from New Orleans have been "confined in a disciplinary detention/extended lockdown status for a period of 28 years", according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Throughout that time they have been "continuously incarcerated alone in a cell of approximately 55 to 60 square feet in which they are locked down for 23 hours of every day and during which time they are deprived of all human contact." All of this has taken place within the confines of the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. And, for a long time, they lacked outside support. Their subjection to such conditions for an extraordinary length of time prompted their recently formed and small network of supporters on the outside to take action. Their supporters successfully pressed the ACLU to file a lawsuit against the all - white prison authorities and the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections of the State of Louisiana. The lawsuit demands exemplary damages and the release of the three prisoners into the general prison population. It cites their case as a violation of "the ban on cruel and unusual punishment provided in the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States." The ACLU lawsuit complements ongoing efforts to overturn the convictions of the Angola 3 and win their release. Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace were sentenced to life without parole. Their sentences were passed completely on the basis of serious prosecutorial misconduct and dubious "evidence" obtained under circumstances clearly indicating that their convictions were in response to their success in forming a Black Panther Party chapter in the prison and organizing opposition to the rampant brutality within it. The prosecution "witnesses" who testified included a notorious paid snitch in the prison and others who were paid in one way or another through payments, reduced charges, transfers to minimum security, or pardons. Albert Woodfox later took a polygraph examination. It supported his claim of innocence. The other member of the Angola 3, Robert King Wilkerson, was convicted for allegedly murdering another prisoner. During his trial he was shackled to a chair and had his mouth taped shut. The two other inmates who testified against him have since recanted their testimony. One now says he gave it under "extreme duress". Growing Interest and Support The stepped up legal efforts on behalf of the Angola 3 are now being helped by growing publicity about them and a growing support network. Interest in their situation and support for efforts to free them extend beyond North America now. The Angola 3 have been buoyed by this as well as by increased contact with their supporters on the outside and the knowledge that their supporters are growing in number. They have also taken heart from Geronimo Pratt's release and the massive mobilizations in support of Mumia. The battle to win their freedom has been long and difficult and is far from over. It will however continue and intensify because their supporters are driven by the realization that the Angola 3 are victims of appalling injustices perpetrated by a highly unjust and racist legal system. Bruce Allen is the Vice-President of CAW Local 199 and an active supporter of the Angola 3. ===============================> From: Mario Hardy PLEASE HELP US REMOVE THIS ADVERTISEMENT FROM TELEVISION Cellular One has an advertisement showing that is extremely offensive - It is an inmate being escorted to the death chamber by a correctional officer - the co's cell phone rings and he proceeds to "chat" on the cellphone like he's talking to his wife with kisses and stuff - the inmate quietly asks "Is it the governor?" -- Please contact the listed people and let them know that you want this advertisement pulled immediately. Thank you for helping us remove this from the airwaves - and for increasing awareness. ksmith@cellularone.com Holly.Neal@Dobson.net cellularone@cellularone.com These are the folks to send an e-mail too.... Please forward this to other lists and ask for their help. Thanks, PJ Davis TN CURE ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: pj26davis@juno.com Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 19:39:52 -0600 November 4, 2000 Ms. Kim Smith Cellular One Communications Marketing Representative Dallas, Texas RE: Death Row Advertisement Dear Ms. Kim Smith: It is said a picture is worth a 1,000 words, one person speaks to 11, a letter is equal to 1,500 voices - I do wonder what a 30 second commercial is the equal to ... Today with the high levels of violence everyone in our society has a responsibility to promote positive communications in a nonviolent manner. Each of us has this responsibility - from the corporations to the individuals to organizations. ONLY by acknowledging this through awareness and education will a difference be made. This includes me and each of you. At this time your corporation is running a very disturbing commercial. Not only is this factually incorrect, it is detrimental to the children of our over 2 Million incarcerated, of which 4,000 are on death row waiting to be legally murdered. Your commercial desensitizes, and in some cases could promote nightmares. One does NOT just "chat" while strolling to be murdered in a death chamber - that is crude, crass, and totally unprofessional. On any given day 500,000 are innocently incarcerated - incarcerated by a justice system who is no longer blind nor true. Obviously your staff and test viewers aren't aware of these facts or existing conditions in our society. The children of incarcerated are totally innocent victims. They watch television - they don't understand as an adult would - they are children - all they "know" is that someone they love is behind bars. In light of the seriousness and possible determent to our children - knowingly or unknowingly. This commercial needs to be pulled immediately. It is totally unacceptable for Cellular One to advertise in this manner. I hold Cellular One, Dobson, and Verizon responsible. I am also asking others to express their concerns. Everyone has a choice- Mine is to make you and everyone I network with aware of irresponsible advertising. If you continue to advertise in this irresponsible manner - then consumers need to reconsider your products and service. Thank you for your time. Sincerely PJ Davis TN - CURE =============================> Date: 06. November 2000 10:07:49 From: Støttekomiteen for Mumia Abu-Jamal November 7/2000 at 7.00 pm (Central European Time) Press release from the Support Comittee for Mumia Abu-Jamal in Norway Demonstration at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway: BAN THE DEATH PENALTY! HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PRISONERS! FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL! 7 representatives from THE SUPPORT COMITTEE FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL IN NORWAY this afternoon climbed the roof of the entrance of the US Embassy in Oslo. They were all dressed in striped "prisoner's suits". Around 30 other demonstrants were in the street outside the embassy, handing out flyers and shouting "Free Mumia Abu-Jamal" and other messages to the American governments - old and new. The activists on the roof refused to withdraw, and were taken away by police in the pouring rain after about one hour of demonstrations. In connection with the American election for President, the Support Comittee for Mumia Abu-Jamal in Norway wish to direct the attention of politicians, diplomats, media and people in general towards the use of capital death penalty and the situation for American prisoners in general, and the case of journalist, human rights defender and death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal in particular. Background: ELECTION - BUT NO CHOICE... Today, the Americans vote for President. This election will have impact far beyond the borders of the USA. In a human rights perspective, the election gives little reason for optimism. Neither candidate Gore nor Bush are against the use of death penalty. As governor of Texas since January 1995, George W. Bush is responsible for around 140 executions, 21 % of the total of 660+ executions in the USA since 1976. The use of death penalty is in direct conflict with human rights. The rights to life and to not be a victim of torture or cruel and inhuman punishment, are absolute and non-negotiable, no matter if you are innocent like a newborn lamb, if you are a previous drunken driver or if you are a convicted murderer. The death penalty is irrevocable, can be inflicted on the innocent, and has not proven to be more crime-preventive than other types of judicial punishment. Additionally, to promote the right to take life as punishment for taking a life is an obvious moral self-contradiction. Inmates of in American prisons suffer from viscious abuse, torture and humiliation from guards. Many of them never had a chance for a fair trial, many innocent, many of them in prison for long sentences as a result of the zero tolerance policy for committing a petty third crime. Use of imprisonment as a solution for poverty issues is contempt of people! None of the leading candidates in the election for President plan to do anything about the worlds fastest growing industry, the incarceration industry, to give prisoners human rights. And with a situation where for instance every third black man in California has no right to vote as a result of a previous conviction, the situation for prisoners is not much of an issue in the election campaigs. Start treating prisoners as humans now! Stop the torture and abuse in American prisons! Abolish the death penalty! Journalist, human rights defender and death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal is the major focus for the Support committee for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mumia-supporters worldwide demand freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who we insist is innocent of the crime for which he is convicted. The case is in a critical period, where judge Yohn jr. is to decide whether Mumia be granted a new, fair trial. The case can take a new turn any day now, on the so-called "Day X". Freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal! If you are not familiar with the case, read more about Mumia Abu-Jamal at these websites: http://www.mumia.org/ http://www.j4mumia.org/ http://www.refuseandresist.org/ With the best intentions, The Support Committee for Mumia Abu Jamal in Norway. Støttekomiteen for Mumia Abu-Jamal Pb 6689 St. Olavsplass - 0129 Oslo mailto:mumia_norge@yahoo.no http://come.to/mumia