The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal

P.O. Box 10328
Oakland, CA 94610
510-268-9429 or 510-387-7714
jmackler [at] lmi.net

March 27, 2008

PRESS CONFERENCE/Media Release

For Immediate Release
For further information call: Jeff Mackler, Director
510-268-9429 or 510-387-7714

PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR:

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 5 PM
FEDERAL COURT HOUSE
7TH AND MISSION
SAN FRANCISCO

The U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT REJECTS ALL APPEALS FOR INNOCENT DEATH ROW INMATE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ORDERED TO HOLD NEW SENTENCING HEARING WITHIN 180 DAYS. IN SUCH A HEARING JURY’S DECISION WILL BE LIMITED TO A FINDING OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT OR EXECUTION BY LETHAL INJECTION

JURY PROHIBITED FROM FINDING OF INNOCENCE

LOCAL PROTESTS SET FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 28 FOLLOWED BY NATIONAL PROTEST APRIL 19 (SAN FRANCISCO) AND APRIL 26 (PHILADELPHIA).

“THE DECISION OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT IS A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE,” SAID JEFF MACKLER, DIRECTOR OF THE MOBILIZATION TO FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL. “DESPITE MASSIVE EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE THE COURT REJECTED OUR DEMAND FOR A NEW TRIAL WHERE THE TRUTH COULD BE HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME.”

In a shocking decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected all Mr. Jamal’s demands for a new trial. In 1982 Mr. Jamal was falsely convicted of the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in a trial where 11 or 14 Black jurors were systematically excluded and where critical evidence proving the defendant’s innocence was excluded.

On death row for 26 years, Mr. Jamal, an award winning journalist and the author of nine books, has led a campaign for a new trial and freedom that has won the support of groups ranging from Amnesty International and the European Parliament to the San Francisco, Detroit, and Berkeley city councils.

Jamal’s attorneys will appeal today’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.