JUSTICE FOR MUMIA DENIED AGAIN

Mumia's lawyers had been asking for a new trial based on a "Batson claim," centered on the well-documented exclusion of African-American jurors by the prosecution during his original trial--a practice for which the Philadelphia DA was notorious. The Supreme Court did not comment on its reasoning for denying Mumia's Batson claim.

Separately, prosecutors are appealing a ruling in Mumia's favor last year that would take him off death row and give him life without parole (it is worth noting, however, that despite having this ruling on his side, Mumia remains on Pennsylvania's death row to this day, under the worst of conditions).

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ordered that Mumia's murder conviction remain in place, but that he receive a new capital sentencing hearing. The DA is loath to have a new hearing in which evidence of Mumia's innocence could be aired, but also wants to push ahead with his execution--hence the appeal.

Supporters of Mumia have immediately gone into action. A new petition has been launched targeting the new Attorney General Eric Holder, demanding that a civil rights investigation be launched into Mumia's case (see  http://www.freemumia.com/civilrights.html). The new petition uses as a springboard the recent acquittal of former Alaska Se. Ted Stevens, pointing out that if Stevens' corruption charges can be voided based on the fact that the prosecution withheld evidence of innocence in that case, the same holds true of Mumia: "Mumia Abu-Jamal, though not a U.S. senator of great wealth and power, is a Black man revered around the world for his courage, clarity, and commitment and deserves no less than Senator Stevens."

On Friday, May 8, the Free Mumia Coalition in New York led a rally in front of the state office building in Harlem as part of a renewed effort to target the Congressional Black Caucus to come out publicly for Mumia's case. The spirited event, featuring Pam Africa and other supporters, drew a lively and angry crowd, which marched to St. Mary's Church afterwards for a strategy session.

The Mumia Coalition signed up people to lobby specific representatives around the new petition and critical situation of the case. In a promising initial sign that agitation can have an effect, Congressman Charles Rangel--one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus--has committed to signing a letter in support of Mumia. This is a welcome step forward, and will be used as a springboard for a June 2009 lobby day and press conference in Washington, D.C.