From: "V S C" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 20:57:48 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [mobilize-globally] Peaople demand the release of CLARK KISSINGER! Vieques Support Campaign http://palfrente.tripod.com E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------- We are writing to protest the December 6, 2000, imprisonment of Clark Kissinger. For the last several years Mr. Kissinger has played a key role in the growing movement demanding a new trial for Pennsylvania Death Row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal. On July 4th, 1999, Clark Kissinger and 95 others carried out a peaceful act of civil disobedience at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. They were all issued summonses for "failing to obey a lawful order," classified, as a traffic ticket is, a "petty offense." 90 pled guilty and paid a fine. Six, including Clark Kissinger, demanded a jury trial. The Judge sentenced them to a $250 fine and one year's supervised probation. The length of the probationary period was grossly disproportionate to the underlying "crime," and its terms were clearly designed to hamper Mr. Kissinger's efforts to organize for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Clark Kissinger was forced to surrender his passport, and turn over monthly lists of all sources of his income and contacts with convicted persons. He also was prohibited from traveling outside of New York City without the court's permission. Further revealing the political nature of this restriction, three times Clark was granted permission to travel to visit his sick mother, and three times he was denied permission to travel to speak on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. On August 1st, thousands of young people came to Philadelphia, the city where MAJ was tried, to protest at the Republican National Convention, where the nation's leading executioner, George W. Bush, was to be nominated. Despite being denied permission to travel there to speak and report on the convention for various media, Clark went anyway and spoke of Mumia's case, saying "We are going to fight this fight to win, and unite with people of all different viewpoints from all different communities, expanding our broadness, our diversity and our determination." On December 6, 2000, Clark was charged with violating probation and sentenced to 90 days of jail. Both the prosecutor and the Judge made clear that they were jailing Clark for giving this speech, for asserting his right to do so, and for his continued advocacy on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal. First year law students are taught that the law has outgrown medieval formality and that a just legal determination is one that reflects the substance not the form of a situation. In Mr. Kissinger's case the Judge declares that he is merely imposing punishment for Mr. Kissinger's failure to abide by the terms of his probation. That rationalization reflects the form of the situation - its substance is that someone in this country has been imprisoned for giving a political speech. The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal is entering its most critical phase, his first appearance before the Federal Courts where his Habeas Corpus petition will be argued, the only opportunity where the evidence that the state of Pennsylvania has suppressed can be admitted to the record. This act of judicial repression against Clark Kissinger in fact is aimed against the movement to save Mumia's life. But, it is more than that. It is an outrage that offends the very concept of justice. The facts are stark: Mr. Kissinger, a political figure, has been imprisoned without a jury trial for giving a political speech at a political event. We demand the immediate release of Clark Kissinger. We call on all who cherish freedom to join us. Pam Africa, International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal Safiya Bukhari, Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (New York) Sam Jordan Jeff Mackler, Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal (Northern California) Robert Meeropol, Rosenberg Fund for Children Monica Moorehead, International Action Center Joan Parkin, Campaign to End the Death Penalty Marcus Rediker, Western PA Committee to Free Mumia (Pittsburgh) Debra Sweet, Refuse & Resist! Mark Taylor, Academics for Mumia Abu-Jamal Steve Wiser, Bruderhof Communities Julia Wright, International Concern Family & Friends Of Mumia Abu-Jamal (Paris) Vieques Support Campaign To sign on to this statement, email your name and affiliation (optional) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or write Refuse & Resist! 305 Madison Avenue #1166 New York NY 10165 (212)713-5657 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
