Following the new Death Warrant: The next stage of Mumia's appeal

Mumia's Situation Following the new Death Warrant and new Filing in the Federal Court

by C. Clark Kissinger

October 14

What follows is a short summary of Mumia's current legal situation for activists and speakers working for Mumia. It  explains why there must be a major focus at this time on demanding that the federal district court in Philadelphia grant a hearing on Mumia's new petition.

Is Mumia going to be executed on December 2?

No, but his life is in great danger. With the filing on October 15 of a petition in the federal district court for a new trial for Mumia, the federal judge is expected to soon grant a stay of execution. A stay, of course, is only a postponement to allow the federal judge to consider the new petition. Mumia remains under order of death, and the stay will be lifted after the federal district court finishes considering the case.

Governor Ridge signed this death warrant knowing full well that Mumia would be filing for a new trial in a matter of days, and the death warrant would be stayed. This is the same thing he did in 1995 when he signed a death warrant just before Mumia filed a petition for a new trial in the state courts. It is a political step designed to mislead people and pressure the courts.

What is the significance of Mumia's new petition?

This is a most critical moment in the whole appeals process. A federal district judge in Philadelphia is being asked to hold a hearing on Mumia's petition for a writ of habeas corpus. A motion for habeas corpus (Latin for "let's have the body") comes from English common law, where it was an appeal to a court to review whether the King's detention of somebody was legal. In granting the motion, the court told the King's sheriff to "bring the body" into court and justify why you are holding him. This practice developed into a procedure in the U.S. by which federal courts are asked to review criminal convictions by state courts. What it means in practice is that state governments do not have an absolute right to take away a person's freedom or life.

So why would a hearing be so important?

Up to this point, all hearings have been in the Pennsylvania state court system and presided over by Judge Sabo. Sabo routinely denied motions for discovery and denied subpoenas for key witnesses sought by the defense. Sabo's actions were then approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, most of whose justices are endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police. Thus a hearing in federal district court will be Mumia's FIRST real opportunity to have the evidence heard and reviewed. It will also be Mumia's LAST opportunity to present the evidence and witnesses denied by the Pennsylvania court system. After the federal district court, all higher federal appeals courts will only review transcripts -- they will not hear any new evidence.

What is the effect of the new federal laws on death penalty appeals?

The danger is this: the federal district judge who gets this case is not required to grant Mumia a hearing. He could simply read the Pennsylvania trial transcripts and issue a ruling. In fact, the 1996 Effective Death Penalty Act (EDPA) is specifically designed to discourage federal courts from reviewing and overturning death sentences handed down in the state courts. This is why public action for Mumia is so important. The government has to hear a loud popular demand for a hearing, so the evidence can be heard that would justify a new trial for Mumia. What the Effective Death Penalty Act attempts to do is to repeal the federal right of habeas corpus. Under the signboard of "federalism," both this new law and recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court are attempting to make decisions by state courts final, and far less subject to federal review. "Federalism" is just a new name for the old doctrine of "states rights" that attempted to prevent any federal review of white supremacist courts in the South. Such federal review was a major gain of the Civil Rights Movement, which the government is now seeking to reverse. This has to be called out and exposed.

What is the effect of the Supreme Court turning down Mumia's appeal on October 4?

Earlier this year, Mumia's legal team also petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a "writ of certiorari." This is a request to the Supreme Court to look at the case before it works its way up through the normal habeas corpus process. Sometimes the Supreme Court will do this, when an important legal question is presented. In Mumia's case, the Supreme Court was asked to consider whether it was constitutional to deny him the right to act as his own attorney and to bar him from the courtroom when he protested this denial. In denying this petition, the Supreme Court was saying that it would not consider these issues now -- the case will have to go through the federal district court and the circuit court of appeals first. The U.S. Supreme Court did NOT rule against Mumia on merit of the issues he raised.

What happens if the federal district judge denies Mumia a new trial (denies habeas corpus)?

If the judge at the federal district court level rules against him, Mumia will then appeal to the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. But if the judge rules in favor of Mumia, the state of Pennsylvania is sure to appeal to the 3rd Circuit Court. So there will be two rounds of federal court action in Philadelphia over the next year (the district court and the circuit court of appeals). In general, action in the federal courts will go much faster than it did in the state courts. Thus we are now entering the final phase of the battle to save Mumia's life. This is why we must proceed with a greater sense of urgency and determination.

Michael Albert
Z Magazine / ZNet
www.zmag.org

Mumia Abu-Jamal loses Supreme Court appeal

Justices begin new term with Ginsburg back on bench October 4, 1999. Web posted at: 2:18 p.m. EDT (1818 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court on Monday let stand the conviction of death row inmate Mumia  Abu-Jamal, whose jailhouse writings about the justice system have attracted worldwide attention.

The justices also sided with a school district that requires prospective teachers to take a drug test. And they rejected an appeal from an AIDS-infected boy who wanted to take "hard-style" karate lessons with his friends.

The high court's actions, announced on the opening day of its 1999-2000 term, came with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the bench, 17 days after she underwent surgery for colon cancer. Ginsburg, looking slightly thinner and paler than usual, smiled broadly as she took her place. There had been no advance indication she would be present.

The court has already placed 44 cases on its docket, with dozens more to be added over the next few months. Expanding on previous announcements on which cases it would hear, the justices also issued a flurry of new decisions, some of them dealing with appeals they will not consider in the new term.

Abu-Jamal says he was framed for the 1981 killing of a Philadelphia policeman

The Supreme Court:
Turned away arguments that Abu-Jamal was denied a fair trial. The onetime Black Panther and radio journalist was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1981 killing of a Philadelphia policeman. He says he was framed. Thousands of supporters have staged demonstrations to demand a new trial.

While Monday's action frees Pennsylvania prosecutors to seek an execution date, Abu-Jamal is not likely to be executed any time soon. He still can challenge his state court conviction in federal courts, a process that someday could lead back to the Supreme Court.

ALERT: Death Warrant may be signed in August 1999

Emergency Alert for Mumia Abu-Jamal

Please forward ... note that Mumia Must Live! are currently working on a 
mailing to groups across the UK on building an emergency response network 
should the death warrent be signed.
If signed on a Monday or Tuesday there will be actions in London on the 
Wednesday.  If signed on either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday action will 
take place on the Saturday.  If you would like to be on the emergency 
response e-mail list  please read the 
accompanying info.
thanks,
Dermot
for MML!
 ----------
From: iacenter@iacenter.org
To: npcny@peoplescampaign.org
Subject: Emergency Alert for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Date: 28 July 1999 07:34

Please post widely

EMERGENCY ALERT:  RIDGE THREATENING TO
SIGN A DEATH WARRANT FOR MUMIA IN AUGUST

There is a real possibility that governor Ridge will sign a new death warrant for Mumia soon. The Philadelphia Daily News reported this recently.

The motivation by the governor and the criminal justice system would be to seize the initiative by forcing Mumia's legal team to file for a writ of habeas corpus well before the October deadline.

Such an action might well come in August when schools are out, many organizations are not functioning and activists are dispersed.

Note that Mumia's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari does NOT give him any kind of stay. The Supreme Court will grant a stay only if they grant the writ, and action on the petition is not expected until the next court term begins in October.

The purpose of this memo is to put every progressive organization and activist on alert especially during the month of August about this very serious threat to Mumia’s life, not to mention a threat to the health of the movement.  In response to Ridge signing a death warrant in August,
1995, 10,000 people from around the country mobilized on five weeks notice to come to Philadelphia to put a halt to this atrocity against our brother, Mumia.

Ridge was forced to rescind the death warrant DUE TO THE ORGANIZED MASS PRESSURE.

A proposed scenario is that if and when the death warrant is signed, there will be emergency local demonstrations held the following day. Regional actions will be organized the next available weekend.  Of course as many activists as possible should mobilize to go to Philadelphia for any national action that is called.

The Youth and Students for Mumia organizers at the IAC are requesting that activists: 1. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MUMIA DEFENSE COMMITTEE IN YOUR AREA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. -If you are going out of town,let activists in your area know where you can be reached in case of emergency. -If there is NOT a Mumia committee in your area, please consider starting one. 2. Begin now to organize meetings in your area to develop an action plan in the event a death warrant is signed. 3. Set up an emergency phone or email  tree so you can quickly inform activists and organizations in your area in event a death warrant is signed.

Upcoming National Mumia Meetings:

National meeting of individuals and organizations working for justice for Mumia: Saturday, August 14, in Philadelphia. Exact time and place to be announced. Everyone is urged to send a representative to this meeting. Please contact the IAC if your organization is interested in coming.

Sunday, August 15th
East Coast Youth and Students organizing meeting for September 21st
International Youth and Student Day for Mumia and other activities for
Mumia Awareness Week 2pm—4pm IAC office, 39 W. 14th St. Room 206 (between
5th and 6th Aves.),           
 Manhattan
Contact
Youth and Students for Mumia at 212 633-6646      
 or npcny@peoplescampaign.org
OR
Refuse and Resist Youth Network at 212-385-9303 or rnryouth@yahoo.com OR
Mumia Awareness Week  Natl. number 212-924-8585 for more information.

To find about Mumia organizing in your area please call:

International Action Center-East Coast

39 West 14th Street, Room 296 New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
http://www.iacenter.org
phone: 212 633-6646 fax:   212 633-2889

International Action Center-West Coast

2489 Misson, #28 San Francisco, CA 94110
phone: 415 821-6545 fax: 415-821-5782
email:iac@actionsf.org
http://www.iacenter.org

Other Mumia Contacts:

Intl. Concern Family and Friends for Mumia Abu-Jamal
215 476-8812 http://www.mumia.com

Rainbows Flags for Mumia
Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Two-Spirit, Trans People for Mumia
39 West 14th Street  Room 206 NY, NY 10011

212 633-6646 rainbows4mumia@hotmail.com
Contact: Imani Henry or Deirdre Sinnott

Youth and Students for Mumia

39 West 14th Street  Room 206 NY, NY 10011

212 633-6646
Contact: Vivan Martin, Sarah Sloan, Imani Henry, Andrea MacManus

The New York Free Mumia Coalition

212 330-8029

Mumia  Awareness Week National Number

212-924-8585 www.j4mumia.org
National Peoples Campaign/Millions for Mumia
39 West 14th Street, #206 New York, NY 10011

212 633-6646 212 633-2889 FAX email: npcny@peoplescampaign.org
http://www.peoplescampaign.org

London Mumia Support Group address change and web-site

Due to the 121 centre facing eviction the London Mumia Support Group (and London ABC) have moved their address to: BM Haven, London, WC1N 3XX Telephone number is still 0171 326 0353 (leave a message). Meetings are held every fortnight at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square (nearest tube Holborn).  The next few meeting are on Thursdays: 11 March, 25 March, 8 April, 22 April.   The London group also have a new Mumia Must Live! web-site and email, http://www.callnetuk.com/home/mumia
mumia@callnetuk.com

Mumia benefit in London Sunday 25th April

An afternoon/evening event with music, speeches, comedy, film, workshops, poetry, food, coinciding with an international day of action for Mumia. Details to be announced! Do you want to get involved?  Contact Mumia Must Live! at mumia@callnetuk.com

Words from Mumia himself

KILLING TIME by Mumia Abu-Jamal

Time is as elusive as a thief, silent as death. Only later does it appear, on the day you look into a burnished metal slab solidly rivited to a cell wall, and ask "Who is that old man?"

For most prisoners, time is oppressive and liberating. At the beginning of a sentence, time stretches ahead, almost insurmountable in its height, almost unreachable in its distance. At the sentence's midpoint, time seems more navigable, for the time one has to do is measured by the time one has alreday done. Toward the end, however, time becomes a sweet promise.

For the 3,219 men and women on death row in the United States, there is no time. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, only darkness.

Not surprisingly, some people flee from this horrific emptiness into the embrace of psychotropics. Thorazine, Prolixin, and Haldol are readily available from the shrinks and prison pharmacy to render inmates insensate to timelessness. So are illegal drugs, which are merely a channel change that leads to the same obliviousness.

Others plunge into the riddled realm of religion, making a way to the world-to-come as they are being ushered out of this one. Some, for similar reasons, dabble in the occult.

In prison, time is intentionally dragged to a crawl by intense regimentation. Meals take place at a certain time. Shaves are scheduled for a certain hour. The institution strives to create a routine that differs little from day to day. This schedule serves to deaden one's perception of time, for under such a regimen, what makes one day differ from another? The hypnotic sameness makes it appear as if every day is like the day that came before, and every week an echo of the week that preceded it, and every month the same, and every year the same, the same - the still, unchanging same.

In prison, time is a thick, dull mallet that pounds consciousness into a coma. Is it any wonder, then, that the men and women who are blessed to emerge from these hellholes are often stunned bythe dizzying pace of life in the "free world"? They leave a dark place where time crawled and are expected to find a meaningful, productive niche in a social order that races at baud rates and dances to the surging rhythms of the Dow Jones industrial average. Is it any wonder that so many soon flee to the deceptive relief of recidivism?

Time is a burden, a blur, a blessing.

Still, for at least some of the imprisoned, time can be a friend. For them, it is a space to study, learn, and unlearn that which is helpful to interpret life's misery. The prison becomes a school, and the cell is transformed into a classroom. For them, time can be liberating.

Dr. James Gilligan, a Massachusetts state prison psychiatrist, has written, "While several [antrecidivism] programs had worked, the most sussessful of all and the only one that had been 100 percent effective in preventing recidivism was the program that allowed inmates to receive a college degree in prison."

But some states, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, for example, have terminated their prison college programs because they see them as gifts to prisoners. In doing so, they have stripped inmates of the one worthwhile use of time.

How politically driven institutions like prisons treat time is the clearest reflection of the social order's deepest and truest concerns. When what works gets sacrificed to what is politically poplar, time becomes leadened, deadened, and illogical.

Such a shortsighted approach is in itself a crime - one that will become manifest in time.

------------------
Death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering a Philadelphia police officer in 1982. His conviction & death sentence are on appeal. He is the author of "Live from Death Row" & "Death Blossoms"

(c) 1998 Forbes Magazine

This is just a note to tell you that there's a "do" in London on the 12 December in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal at the Mean Fiddler. If you don't know who he is there are details below. It's be an acoustic evening with tons of bands and performers. The confirmed line-up so far is:

Chumbawamba (with Mattie from Credit To The Nation)
The Alabama Three
Mark Thomas
The Oyster Band
Matthew and Andy (from the late lamented Dodgy)
The Mekons
Benjamin Zephaniah
Cookie
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Ben Wilson
Rob Newman
Eugene and Tyrone (the Mighty Wah!)

The Ticket price is 5 pounds and all proceeds are going to the Mumia Abu-Jamal Defence Fund. Phone 0171 344 0044 for tickets. The idea behind the evening is to raise awareness about Mumia and encourage protest on his behalf. This is not Hollywood, unless we (as in you, me, all of us) start causing a fuss about his imminent execution, the state will kill him.

Stop The Execution - He Should Have Got Off!

This is not Hollywood, Brookside, Coronation St or Eastenders. In the films and soaps someone gets accused of a crime they didn't commit, they have a few traumatic months, maybe even end up in custody. There are sleepless nights and dedicated lawyers unearthing lies and corrupt cops, and no matter how convincing the false evidence is, justice always raises its golden head and in the closing scene the hero walks free from the courtroom.

In the Hollywood version Mumia Abu-Jamal would be shaking hands with his lawyers and hugging his loved ones. The appeal court judge would be gruff but fair and the jury would have tears in their eyes as they acquitted him. Well, this isn't Hollywood and Mumia Abu-Jamal has been on death row for 16 years for a crime he didn't commit. The supreme court has turned down Mumia's request for a new trial and there's severe political pressure for Governor Tom Ridge to sign Mumia's death warrant. Once his signature is on the line Mumia will be executed within a 30 to 90 day period. This isn't Hollywood and golden haired justice needs a severe kick up the arse. Unless there's a massive outcry - and quickly - Mumia Abu-Jamal will be executed.

Journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1982 of killing a white Philadelphia police officer. Despite serious questions about his trial and the evidence used against him he's been refused the right to a new hearing. There has been an orchestrated campaign to obscure the facts and speed up his execution - including a full page ad in the New York Times demanding his death. The ad was paid for by the police.

Denzel Washington would have played Mumia's lawyer in the Hollywood version but this isn't Hollywood and the lawyer Mumia was allocated was crap. Forget all that guff about judges being paternal and wise; the Judge presiding over Mumia's trial in 1982 had sentenced more people to death than any other sitting judge in the United States. Six former Philadelphia prosecutors have sworn in court statements that no accused could receive a fair trial in the court of Judge Albert Sabo. The Prosecution removed eleven African-Americans from the jury; African-Americans might have brought in a verdict which wasn't racially motivated.

The Defence attorney testified that he didn't interview a single witness in preparation for the trial and he told the court he wasn't prepared. Mumia was refused the right to act as his own attorney.

The Prosecutor used the fact that 12 years earlier Mumia had been a member of the Black Panther Party as an argument for imposing the death penalty.

Philadelphia kills according to colour, there are now 120 people on death row in Philadelphia, only 13 of them are white.

The Prosecution claimed that Mumia confessed all at the hospital he was taken to after being shot and beaten by the police. But the jury never heard from Gary Wakshul who was guarding Mumia at the hospital and reported "the Negro male made no comments". Wakshul was called as a defence witness, the prosecution said he was on holiday and unavailable. The judge refused a continuance so he could be brought in; Wakshul was actually sat at home. His story didn't match the police line so it wasn't introduced as evidence.

Oddly, the police officers who claimed to have heard Mumia's confession didn't remember it until two months after it had allegedly occurred. After Mumia filed police brutality charges the police officers came up with the 'confession' . The doctor at tending Mumia says he didn't hear Mumia confess anything.

The gun that the dead officer was shot with was a 44 calibre, Mumia's gun was a 38 calibre but this fact wasn't introduced in court. The police never tested Mumia's gun to see if it had been fired, never tested Mumia's hands to see if he'd fired a gun and then managed to lose the bullet fragment which would have helped prove Mumia's innocence.

An eye witness who saw the incident and said Mumia wasn't the shooter wasn't called to testify. One of the key prosecution witness Veronica Jones has now admitted that she lied in court because the police threatened her with the loss of her kids if she didn't back up their story. When Veronica Jones tried to testify in support of Mumia she was arrested.

Mumia's political background had made him a prim target for the police even before the incident where the officer died. A member of the Black Panther Party and a member of the MOVE organisation, he was critical of police violence. The FBI and Philadelphia police amassed hundreds of pages of surveillance files on Mumia, beginning when he was 15 years old, for his outspoken opposition to racism and police brutality.

This isn't Hollywood, the police and the courts aren't interested in justice, and a man can still end up being executed for his political beliefs. There is massive political pressure on to kill Mumia, the governor is being urged to sign his death warrant and we have to act now before it's too late. In the US there are a series of events, demonstrations and concerts happening to publicise Mumia's case, but the outcry has to be international as well as internal. Hence this gig.

Chumbawamba

URGENT

* On October 29, 1998, The Pennsylvania
* Supreme Court unanimously let stand a
* lower court decision denying a new trial,
* and the Gov. Tom Ridge has promised to
* quickly sign a new death warrant!

"Mumia Abu-Jamal is an African-American journalist now on death row in Pennsylvania. Abu-Jamal was sentenced to death in 1982 as a result of a thorougly rigged trial in which he was convicted of shooting a Philadelphia policeman. The prosecution demanded the death sentence on the basis of Abu-Jamal's political beliefs. Mumia's appeal has been denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. A death warrant is expected from Penn. Governor Ridge."

"On June 2, 1995 the governor of Pennsylvania signed the death warrant, setting August 17, 1995 as the date for the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal. On August 7, 1995 Judge Sabo granted a stay of execution because "the law dictates that this Court grant the Defendant ample time to have these proceedings reviewed by the highest court of this Commonwealth..." On September 15, 1995 Judge Sabo denied the Petition for Post-Conviction Relief, refusing to grant a new trial."

"On Thursday, February 27, 1997 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied Mumia Abu-Jamal's motion for oral arguments in a one-sentence order. The court also granted a request by the District Attorney's office to file additional arguments in the case. This comes after the court had denied Mumia's attorneys' request to file additional responses."

The time for renewed and re-invigorated protest is NOW!

Further details of the case can be found on the website:
http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/index.html

See especially the Fact Sheet Directory:
http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/facts.html

Mumia Web site:
http://www.mumia.org

Demand a New Trial!
write, phone, or fax your protest:

Supreme Court of the United States

William H. Rehnquist
Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

John Paul Stevens
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Sandra Day O'Connor
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Antonin Scalia
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Anthony M. Kennedy
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

David H. Souter
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Clarence Thomas
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Stephen G. Breyer
Associate Justice
Supreme Court
One First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Hon John P. Flaherty, Jr. Chief Justice
fax 215-560-1808
voice 412-5655545
Six Gateway Center Suite 616
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Hon. Stephen A. Zappala, Justice
fax 412-565-7676
voice 412-565-7594
2802 Grant Bldg.330 Grant St.
Pittsburgh. PA 15219

Hon. Ralph J. Cappy, Justice
voice 412-565-2700
3130 One Oxford Ct.
Pittsburgh. PA 15219

Hon. Russell M. Nigro, Justice
fax 215-560-3580
voice 215-560-3082
1818 Market St. room 3205
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Hon. Ronald Castille
fax 215-560-1808
voice 215-560-5663
1818 Market St.Suite 3730
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Hon. Sandra Schultz Newman, Justice
fax 215-560-1808
voice 610-832-1700
100 Four Falls Corp. CtrSuite 400
Rte 23 & Woodmont RdW.
Conshohocken, PA 19428

Hon. Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. Sr. Justice
fax 215-560-1808
voice 215-560-5825
ARA Tower #2850
1101 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Governor of Pennsylvania

Thomas Ridge
Main Capitol Building, Room 225
Harrisburg, PA 17120
voice: 717-787-2500

Local Court Judges

Presiding Judge of Common Pleas
Hon. Legrome Davis
1408 One East Pennsylvania Square
Philadelphia, PA 19107
VOICE: 215-686-9534
FAX: 215-686-2865

Administrative Judge of the Common Pleas Court
Hon. Alex Bonavitacola
516 City Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19107
VOICE: 215-686-3770
FAX: 215-567-7328

U.S. Justice Department

Janet Reno
Main Justice Building
10th and Constitution Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20053
voice: 202-514-2001

U.S. President Clinton- president@whitehouse.gov

American Time Magazine on-line vote - 1998 "Man of the Year"

STOP PRESS: It's over: Bill Clinton and Kenneth Starr are TIME's 1998 Men of the Year - just to prove voting gets you nowhere...

Although this online vote is "for entertainment purposes only," it's important to keep voting for Mumia in that it might get reported on by other media and possibly, by Time.

Don't forget, you can vote multiple times, so vote early and often.

Please go to this page and vote Mumia Abu-Jamal as "Man of the Year":

http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/moy/index.html

Please type his name into the "..or fill in your own choice" box then click on "Submit your Vote".
Please spell it exactly like this: Mumia Abu-Jamal
Please pass this along to friends.