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upcoming mumia events
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Three hundred activists from across the United States met at the First Congressional Church here to lay plans for the critical months ahead in the fight to win justice and freedom for death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Some participants attended from Germany, France, and Sweden.
The March 30-31 working conference opened with a spirited rally featuring Bill Simons, the former president of the Washington Teachers Union. Ajama Baraka, Southern Regional Director of Amnesty International and Rachel King, Legislative Representative of the ACLU, joined Pam Africa of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal and a score of other speakers to demonstrate a broad and growing unity on Mumia's behalf.
The Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler of the Plymouth Congressional Church and Bill Ryan of the Illinois-based Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty represented new voices speaking for justice for Mumia from the faith-based and abolitionist movements.
The conference adopted a comprehensive program of action aimed toward taking Mumia's case to broader sections of the population. Projects include:
-Mass demonstrations in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and worldwide on Saturday, May 12. The adopted slogans for these actions are: Stop the Execution! Overturn the Conviction! and Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!
-A three-day Free Mumia Youth Encampment in Philadelphia, May 11-13, to organize community activities designed to educate on Mumia's case. This will be followed by the annual Freedom Summer activities. May 12 will also commemorate the 16th anniversary of the racist police bombing of the MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia.
-A worldwide mass demonstration to "Stand With Mumia" on his first day in a federal court hearing in Philadelphia, which is still unscheduled.
-A mass rally at the United Nations in New York City in late June in conjunction with a worldwide effort to win passage in the UN's Human Rights Commission of a resolution in support of Mumia's democratic and human rights and freedom.
-An international effort to bring Mumia's case to a worldwide June conference on the death penalty, in Strasbourg, France, which was initiated by the French government. Heads of state and leading members of parliaments across the globe will assemble to seek a worldwide ban on the death penalty.
-"Mumia Brigades" in the anti-globalization events set for Quebec City, Canada, the last week of April.
-A coordinated national spring week of labor movement activity, designed to bring Mumia's case into the broad labor movement.
-Congressional lobbying to win new support for Mumia's freedom, to take place in Washington, D.C., and locally in June.
-Youth caravans to bring Mumia's case to the attention of campus youth across the country.
-A Mumia Media Center in Philadelphia to provide centralized resources and internet/website training for the Mumia movement.
