Who is Mumia?
Mumia Abu-Jamal is an African-American writer and journalist, author of six books and hundreds of columns and articles, who has spent the last 29 years on Pennsylvania’s death row. His demand for a new trial and freedom is supported by heads of state from France to South Africa, by Nobel Laureates Nelson Mandela, Toni Morrison, Desmund Tutu, by the European Parliament, by distinguished human rights organizations like Amnesty International, city governments from Detroit to San Francisco to Paris, scholars, religious leaders, artists, scientists, the Congressional Black Caucus and other members of U.S. Congress, the NAACP, labor unions, and by countless thousands who cherish democratic and human rights – and justice -the world over.
What happened?
Mumia was arrested during the early morning hours of 9 December 1981, in Philadelphia for the alleged murder of a police officer. A former member of the Black Panther Party and award winning journalist outspoken in his condemnation of police corruption and brutality, Mumia had attracted hostile attention of police and city authorities before his arrest.
Despite a plea of ‘Not Guilty’, Mumia was tried in 1982 and sentenced to death the following year. The trial was a tragic example of everything that can go wrong in a capital case. The proceedings were marked by racism, inept legal representation, and a bigoted and prejudiced judge. The defendant was too poor to hire a good lawyer, investigator, or essential forensic experts in such fields as ballistics and pathology. Amnesty International stated proceedings did not meet international standards for a fair trial.
In 2011 the US Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, Philadelphia, USA set aside Abu-Jamal's death sentence over procedural irregularities during his trial. A right of appeal by the prosecution was denied and Philadelphia District Attorney (Seth Williams), who has been hostile to Mumia all along, finally decided not to seek a new sentencing hearing. Mumia’s sentence is now life in prison without parole.
At the time of his arrest, Mumia was already known as the "Voice of the Voiceless" for speaking on behalf of the dispossessed and against government misconduct and speaking out against racism and police corruption. He was President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists. Today his weekly writings and radio commentaries from prison reach people in many countries.
Mumia Abu Jamal has always said his is not a special case. His case brings our attention to injustices faced by thousands of others. There are more than 20,000 people facing the death penalty worldwide. Internationally political opponents to the state face wrongful imprisonment, disappearances and extra-judicial killing. Poverty and race are real contributory factors in the imprisonment and inhuman treatment of prisoners in goals here and in the US.
The campaign to free Mumia Abu Jamal takes place in the context of deaths in police custody. Recent examples include Ian Tomlinson, Smiley Culture and Mark Duggan.
Other information:
An online petition for President Barack Obama ‘Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Global Abolition of the Death Penalty’, was signed by over 22,000 people from around the globe. Signatories include Bishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa (Nobel Peace Prize); Günter Grass, Germany (Nobel Prize in Literature); Danielle Mitterrand, Paris (former First Lady of France); Fatima Bhutto, Pakistan (writer); Colin Firth (Academy Award Best-Actor nominee), Noam Chomsky, MIT (philosopher and author); Ed Asner (actor); Elliott Gould (actor); Mike Farrell (actor); and Michael Radford (director of the Oscar winning film Il Postino); Robert Meeropol (son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, executed in 1953); members of the European Parliament; members of the German parliament.
Mumia is now being defended by Judy Ritter Esq. in association with the NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund. Judy Ritter Esq. has represented Mumia Abu Jamal since 2003.
Despite a plea of ‘Not Guilty’, Mumia was tried in 1982 and sentenced to death the following year. The trial was a tragic example of everything that can go wrong in a capital case. The proceedings were marked by racism, inept legal representation, and a bigoted and prejudiced judge. The defendant was too poor to hire a good lawyer, investigator, or essential forensic experts in such fields as ballistics and pathology. Amnesty International stated proceedings did not meet international standards for a fair trial.
In 2011 the US Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, Philadelphia, USA set aside Abu-Jamal's death sentence over procedural irregularities during his trial. A right of appeal by the prosecution was denied and Philadelphia District Attorney (Seth Williams), who has been hostile to Mumia all along, finally decided not to seek a new sentencing hearing. Mumia’s sentence is now life in prison without parole.
At the time of his arrest, Mumia was already known as the "Voice of the Voiceless" for speaking on behalf of the dispossessed and against government misconduct and speaking out against racism and police corruption. He was President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists. Today his weekly writings and radio commentaries from prison reach people in many countries.
Mumia Abu Jamal has always said his is not a special case. His case brings our attention to injustices faced by thousands of others. There are more than 20,000 people facing the death penalty worldwide. Internationally political opponents to the state face wrongful imprisonment, disappearances and extra-judicial killing. Poverty and race are real contributory factors in the imprisonment and inhuman treatment of prisoners in goals here and in the US.
The campaign to free Mumia Abu Jamal takes place in the context of deaths in police custody. Recent examples include Ian Tomlinson, Smiley Culture and Mark Duggan.
Other information:
An online petition for President Barack Obama ‘Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Global Abolition of the Death Penalty’, was signed by over 22,000 people from around the globe. Signatories include Bishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa (Nobel Peace Prize); Günter Grass, Germany (Nobel Prize in Literature); Danielle Mitterrand, Paris (former First Lady of France); Fatima Bhutto, Pakistan (writer); Colin Firth (Academy Award Best-Actor nominee), Noam Chomsky, MIT (philosopher and author); Ed Asner (actor); Elliott Gould (actor); Mike Farrell (actor); and Michael Radford (director of the Oscar winning film Il Postino); Robert Meeropol (son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, executed in 1953); members of the European Parliament; members of the German parliament.
Mumia is now being defended by Judy Ritter Esq. in association with the NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund. Judy Ritter Esq. has represented Mumia Abu Jamal since 2003.
Who we are...
We are the Mumia Abu Jamal Defense Campaign UK. Our role is to inform people of Mumia's case and build a campaign for global abolition of the death penalty. Free Mumia!