URGENT ATTENTION REQUIRED. P.Z. >FORWARDED MESSAGE >====================== > >>Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 16:35:03 -0400 >>From: Equal Justice USA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Organization: The Quixote Center >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Subject: visit of Amnesty head to Mumia Abu-Jamal >>Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >>URGENT ACTION: Write Amnesty International in support of the Secretary >>General's visit with Mumia Abu-Jamal >> >>Earlier this year, Amnesty International's Secretary General Pierre Sane >>planned to visit Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison. Unfortunately, conservative >>members of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in Philadelphia blocked the >>visit. Among their reasons for opposing the visit: the death penalty is >>a human rights violation in this country and Mumia's case should not >>receive this attention because it would take away from other death-row >>prisoners. >> >>Based in London, Pierre Sane of Senegal is the first Black person to >>head Amnesty International world-wide. The visit was originally >>proposed to Mr. Sane by an anti-death penalty activist and long-time >>friend of Mumia who worked as a consultant for Amnesty. Mr. Sane was >>immediately enthusiastic about the idea. >> >>Time magazine (6/16/97) acknowledged Mumia's case is "not atypical." It >>provides a microcosm of the racial, economic and political biases >>structurally embedded in our criminal justice system. His trial (and >>appellate) judge, Albert Sabo, is responsible for more than twice as >>many death row sentences than any judge in the country. Mumia was >>sentenced in Philadelphia, where over 60% of those sentenced to death >>are African American. He is held at Pennsylvania's super-maximum >>security prison, where he spends 22 hours a day alone in his cell and is >>punished for publishing his writings. >> >>Mumia's case is riveting world-wide attention to the injustice of the U. >>S. death penalty. His book, "Live from Death Row," and his radio >>commentaries give public voice to more than 3,000 men and women now on >>death row in the U.S. >> >>Amnesty International USA is now re-examining its decision to block Mr. >>Sane's visit. Feedback is being solicited from Amnesty members and >>staff about Mr. Sane's possible visit to Mumia. A copy of their memo >>follows. >> >>Tell Amnesty that you support Secretary General Pierre Sane's visit >>because it would demonstrate Amnesty International's public commitment >>to fighting the death penalty in the U.S. The international support >>movement for Mumia has served to focus public criticism of capital >>punishment. Be sure to indicate in your letter if you are a member of >>Amnesty. >> >>Feedback must be sent by Friday, June 20. Send your messages to: >>Gerald Lemelle, Deputy Executive Director for Action AIUSA, >>[EMAIL PROTECTED], 212-627-1451 (fax) >>Phyllis Pautrat, Member of the Board of Directors of AIUSA, >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >>Send a copy of your message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
