Once again, due to the strategizing of Pam Africa and the International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators passed a resolution favorable to Mumia, just as the NAACP did in July of 2004.

November 2004

WHEREAS Mumia Abu-Jamal’s 1982 trial in Philadelphia was characterized by illegal suppression of evidence, police coercion, illegal exclusion of Black jurors, and grotesquely unfair and unconstitiutional rulings by the judge; and

WHEREAS the trial judge, Albert Sabo, has been quoted in a sworn statement to have vowed at the time of the trial to help the prosecution "fry the n-----"; and

WHEREAS subsequent appellate rulings have bent the law out of shape to sustain the guilty verdict of that trial; and

WHEREAS the appellate courts have also refused to consider strong evidence of Mumia Abu-jamal’s innocence, most notably a confession by Arnold Beverly to the crime; and

WHEREAS Mumia Abu-Jamal still is incarcerated on Death Row and still faces a death sentence; and

WHEREAS Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case is now on appeal before the federal Third Circuit and the state court system; and

WHEREAS Mumia Abu-Jamal has for decades as a journalist fought courageously against racism and for the human rights of all people; and

WHEREAS the continued unjust incarceration of Mumia Abu-jamal represents a threat to the civil rights of all people,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Caucus of Black State Legislators demands that the courts consider the evidence of innocence of Mumia Abu-Jamal and that he be released from prison; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NCBSL demands that Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell instruct his Attorney General to take over the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal from the Philadelphia County District Attorney’s office and actually pursue justice; namely, go to court, make a legal confession of error, and stipulate that the conviction be vacated;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NCBSL will communicate its views on this matter to Gov. Rendell, 225 Main Capitol Bldg., Harrisburg, Penna. 17120, and to the appropriate courts in consultation with the legal defense team of Mumia Abu-Jamal; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NCBSL will work with the legal defense team of Mumia Abu-Jamal to petition the courts to file any necessary friend of the court brief on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal.