Across the U.S. and around the world, supporters of U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal are preparing for a new legal and political challenge in the decades-long fight to free Mumia.
On December 9, 1981, Mumia Abu-Jamal was shot and beaten by police, and then arrested and imprisoned in Philadelphia on the accusation of killing of a police officer. In 1982, Mumia was unjustly charged for the murder of a Philadelphia police officer based on manufactured and false evidence, and given the death penalty. In reality, what the police needed was a scapegoat for a dead cop and who better to place the blame on than the young revolutionary journalist and former Black Panther Party member Mumia Abu-Jamal. As of today, Mumia Abu-Jamal has spent the last 36 years in U.S. prison, almost 30 of them in solitary confinement on death row.
International protests and actions demanding the immediate release of Mumia are ever more urgent. Mumia’s health is deteriorating and every minute in prison is a slow death sentence. Among other health conditions such as a near deadly diabetic shock and a mistreated painful and debilitating skin condition, he also contracted Hepatitis C while in prison. Due to prolonged refusal to provide access to treatment his condition left him with cirrhosis of the liver. Only after sustained international protest and a judge’s order was Mumia finally given appropriate treatment for Hepatitis C. On top of this health crisis, the water at SCI Mahanoy, where Mumia is serving a life sentence without parole, is contaminated, undrinkable and even unfit for bathing.
Now Mumia has a new legal challenge in the Pennsylvania courts on the grounds that PA Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille had a conflict of interest when he denied Mumia’s appeals from 1998-2014. Castille refused to disqualify himself when Mumia’s case came before the court despite having been the Philadelphia District Attorney during Mumia’s prior appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled such conduct unconstitutional.
On April 30 a court hearing will take place regarding new testimony in reference to Castille. In light of these new legal challenges, a new campaign has begun demanding the public release of all the District Attorney and police files relevant to Mumia’s case, as the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas is reviewing the involvement of Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille’s conflict of interest in regards to Mumia’s case. Also an international call to action was made for the recent March 27 status hearing, and now for the upcoming April 30 court hearing.
Fire This Time echos the demands to release all DA and police files on Mumia Abu-Jamal to the public. Furthermore, Fire This Time demands the immediate release of Mumia. Free Mumia Now!
For more information on Mumia’s case please visit: http://www.freemumia.com
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
Back to Article Listing
