Partisan Defense Committee Press And Photo Release
31 March 2008
Partisan Defense Committee P.O. Box 99, Canal Street Station, New York, NY 10013
E-mail: partisandefense@earthlink.net www.partisandefense.org
Contact: Kevin Gilroy (212) 406-4252
Protesters Worldwide Demand:
“Free Mumia Now!”
On March 28, emergency protests for death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal took place in New York City, Chicago, Oakland and Los Angeles, and internationally in London, Berlin, Toronto, Vancouver and Mexico City, and on March 29 in Sydney, Hamburg and Paris. Called by the Partisan Defense Committee and the Labor Black Leagues in the U.S. and by the PDC’s fraternal defense organizations internationally, the protests condemned the March 27 decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Pennsylvania that upheld Mumia Abu-Jamal’s 1982 frame-up conviction for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer. Turning down Mumia’s appeal for a new trial, the court ordered a new sentencing hearing to decide whether he is to be again sentenced to die, or condemned to the living death of life in prison.
Demonstrators picketed under the slogans “Mumia Abu-Jamal Is an Innocent Man! Free Mumia Now! Abolish the Racist Death Penalty!” In New York City, over 100 protesters were addressed by Mumia Abu-Jamal’s daughter, Goldii, as they marched in front of the Federal Building in downtown Manhattan. A March 27 statement by the Partisan Defense Committee pointed out: “A former Black Panther Party spokesman, MOVE supporter and renowned journalist, Mumia is an innocent man, framed up for his political beliefs. He should never have spent a day in prison. There must be mass protests, centered on labor’s power, to demand his freedom now.”
Photo Caption 1 (MumiaNYC_1.jpg): March 28: Mumia’s daughter Goldii addresses over 100 demonstrators at emergency protest for Mumia Abu-Jamal called by the Partisan Defense Committee and Labor Black League in front of the downtown Manhattan Federal Building. [photo credit: Partisan Defense Committee]
Photo Caption 2 (MumiaNYC_2.jpg): New York City emergency protest called by the Partisan Defense Committee and Labor Black League on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal on March 28 draws over 100 protesters to picket in front of downtown Manhattan Federal Building. [photo credit: Partisan Defense Committee]
Photo Caption 3 (MumiaParis.jpg): March 29: In Paris, the Partisan Defense Committee’s fraternal organization, the Committee for Social Defense, joins worldwide protests on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal. [photo credit: Committee for Social Defense]
Photo Caption 4 (MumiaChicago.jpg): March 28: Downtown Chicago emergency protest initiated by Partisan Defense Committee and Labor Black Struggle League on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal. [photo credit: Partisan Defense Committee]
Photo Caption 5 (MumiaLA.jpg): March 28: Los Angeles emergency protest initiated by Partisan Defense Committee and Labor Black League on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal. [photo credit: Partisan Defense Committee]
Photo Caption 6: (MumiaOakland.jpg): March 28: Downtown Oakland emergency protest initiated by Partisan Defense Committee and Labor Black League on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal drew over 100 demonstrators. [photo credit: Partisan Defense Committee]
For more information: www.partisandefense.org
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The PDC is a class-struggle, non-sectarian legal and social defense organization which champions cases and causes in the interest of the whole of the working people. This purpose is in accordance with the political views of the Spartacist League.