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Mumia Abu Jamal: Jammiing Janet Africa?: The Latest On A MOVE Woman

by Mumia Abu Jamal
The 1977-78 police barricade and attack on the MOVE organization under Mayor Frank Rizzo was blatant repression. That police attack had followed earlier murders by the Philadelphia police of MOVE members and followed a long starvation blockade by the Philadelphia Police against the MOVE headquarters. In the police attack two MOVE members were shot, nine MOVE members were framed by the Philadelphia Police, MOVE children were stolen, and, as film footage shows, Delbert Africa was kicked and stomped by the police as he lay on the ground. In addition, Officer Ramp was shot and killed.

While nine MOVE members were railroaded to prison for the death of Officer Ramp, the evidence does not fit. The one bullet that killed Ramp came from behind and had a downward trajectory. Yet Ramp was facing the MOVE headquarters where MOVE members were in the basement and any bullets would have had an upward trajectory and hit him from in front.

Presiding over the kangaroo court that convicted the MOVE 9 was Judge Malmed. Shortly after the trial and conviction of the MOVE 9, Mumia, as an independent journalist, called in to a talk radio show where he asked Judge Malmed, “Who shot James Ramp?” Judge Malmed honestly answered, “I haven’t the faintest idea.” -Steven Argue
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Jammiing Janet Africa?: The Latest On A MOVE Woman

[col. writ. 7/19/07] (c) '07 Mumia Abu-Jamal

Janet Africa is one of several MOVE women who are serving an unjust term of 30 to 100 years stemming from the police assault on MOVE's home and headquarters on Aug. 8, 1978.

On that fateful day the police attacked their home at 33rd & Powelton Avenue in West Philadelphia, and tried mightily to kill them all. Launching hundreds of shots into the house, and even using water cannons against them.

Miraculously, MOVE survived this onslaught, but only to face the quieter and less obvious weapons of judges and lies to convict 9 MOVE men and women of killing a cop who was attacking their homes -- a cop, Incidentally, who apparently died from the same cause as did former NFL star Pat Tillman in Iraq -- so-called "friendly fire."

That was 29 years ago.

Recently, Janet, when returning from her prison job, was approached by a male guard who wanted to search her. Janet said she would consent to a search, but would prefer a female guard do so.

When the female guard ( a C/O Dover) was approached, she went off into a rant of "she ain't special", and told a passing Sgt. to write Janet up, and throw her into the hole.

But what Janet asked for wasn't anything special at all.

It's a rule at the state's newest woman's prison, Cambridge Springs, that any women there can utilize.

Janet quite rightly wondered, "Why is a regular guard telling a Sgt., supposedly her superior, what to do?'

And than it dawned on her. 'This is a set-up. They're trying to create a pretext to deny me and my sisters parole.'

August 8, 2008 marks the minimum term of the MOVE 9 -- 30 years.

But someone in the hole can't even get a hearing before the agency.

MOVE 9 supporters are burning up the phone lines to let prison officials know that they know what's up.

MOVE members and supporters are organizing to support their people by caravans through Philadelphia neighborhoods to teach folks about the MOVE 9, and their upcoming parole dates.

If you want more information, call the MOVE organization at: (215) 387-4107.

Or write:
The MOVE Organization
P.O. Box 19708
Phila., PA 19143
NOW IS THE TIME TO PAROLE THE MOVE 9!

As MOVE's Ramona Africa recently wrote in an e-mail update: "This year's activity is more important than ever because of the upcoming parole hearings. It is not simply a commemoration of the Aug. 8, 1978 police attack on MOVE but it is the launch of our campaign for the paroled of innocent MOVE people.

Join us in the fight for Freedom!"

--(c) '07 maj

*******
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a political prisoner in the United States, with what could be the final decision on his legal appeals possibly coming down this summer. That decision could give Mumia his freedom, a new trial, life in prison, or execution. It is time to turn up the heat against this injustice.

Free Mumia and the MOVE 9 Now!

For more on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the MOVE 9 read:

Top Ten “Fry Mumia” Myths Debunked
(Myth #1) “Five eyewitnesses saw Mumia shoot officer Faulkner.”
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/07/19/18436405.php

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