Mumia Abu jamal

[CONROY]

Please don`t confuse me with a police officer, an occupation which I look upon with suspicion from my own personal experience. I have however lived in the area most of my life. I`ve followed the mumia case for years. While he his an intelligent and well-spoken individual, he is also a murderer and should be treated as such. There are plenty of innocent people in prison in the US so no time should be wasted on those that aren`t. I`ve had my own legal problems in the past but I caused them myself and was held accountable for my actions. I didn`t mean to offend anyone by stating my religion either but it is a part of my identity.

[CONROY]

Erin go bragh, I understand the concept of socialism, I just don`t know that the realities of it can ever live up to the concept and the same can be said about communism. Also for those that praise fidel castro, he quickly became as much of a tyrant as those he repaced, if not more so. You need only to look at the depraved condtions in Cuba to see that. I too hate the interference in sovereign countries affairs that my country seems to have taken great joy in. The intentions of the US may have been and might still be noble(though I doubt it) but the outcomes have been horrific.

[CONROY]

mac talla and seabird please let me clarify what I meant by " the likes of ". The likes of people that shoot others,cops or not, in the back. Then stand over the victim and shoot them again 4 times including one in the face. Mumia was shot by Faulkner after the cop was shot. And the bullets recovered from faulkner`s body matched the gun found on Mumia that was purchased by Mumia. There is no spin on these facts that can justify Mumia`s release or prove his innocence. Unlike the case of someone like Leonard Peltier where there are numerous errors and mistakes that may be disputed, in Mumia`s case the facts are strong evidence of his guilt. FYI, I have spent time in both state and federal prison and unlike some, am well aware of the injustice of our penal systems. While I accepted responsibility for my actions and their consequence and used it to motivate myself to become a better person, some use it as a vehicle to defer blame and responsibilty. For those individuals, I have no patience.

[BunyipDude]

mac talla and seabird please let me clarify what I meant by " the likes of ". The likes of people that shoot others,cops or not, in the back. Then stand over the victim and shoot them again 4 times including one in the face. Mumia was shot by Faulkner after the cop was shot. And the bullets recovered from faulkner`s body matched the gun found on Mumia that was purchased by Mumia. There is no spin on these facts that can justify Mumia`s release or prove his innocence. Unlike the case of someone like Leonard Peltier where there are numerous errors and mistakes that may be disputed, in Mumia`s case the facts are strong evidence of his guilt. FYI, I have spent time in both state and federal prison and unlike some, am well aware of the injustice of our penal systems. While I accepted responsibility for my actions and their consequence and used it to motivate myself to become a better person, some use it as a vehicle to defer blame and responsibilty. For those individuals, I have no patience.

Well, if you are an Irish Republican, then surely you must acknowledge that the Provisional IRA has killed a number of RUC constables (according to CAIN, the IRA was responsible for 277 of 301 RUC deaths during the Troubles). I don't know how many of them were shot in the way that you've described, but I imagine plenty were shot in the back. Do you consider the IRA's armed campaign and its targets legitimate? And likewise, do you think IRA volunteers who served time in the 'Kesh for killing cops and soldiers deserve to be spending time?

As far as the Mumia Abu Jamal case goes, I've heard much about it but haven't really studied the facts myself. The only thing I can say (in relation to the above) is that assuming he did shoot that cop, perhaps he did it as a way of resisting white oppression just as an IRA volunteer would shoot an RUC officer or British soldier as a way of resisting British imperialism. How do you justify one but not the other?

[CONROY]

bunyipdude, surely you jest. There is no comparison between an illegal occupying force (RUC) and the Philly police. As far as resisting white oppression, he wasn`t even involved in the original incident and supposition like yours, admittedly uninformed, only fans the flames. I am an Irish republican whose grandfather escaped Belfast to avoid being killed. I`m not an elitist college student looking for a cause. Of course I don`t find any problem with the assasination of RUC or British troops that occupy the North. And please don`t insult the republican prisoners by comparing them to common criminals. They were and are freedom fighters, not criminals wrapping themselves in the cloak of freedom.

[BunyipDude]

bunyipdude, surely you jest. There is no comparison between an illegal occupying force (RUC) and the Philly police. As far as resisting white oppression, he wasn`t even involved in the original incident and supposition like yours, admittedly uninformed, only fans the flames. I am an Irish republican whose grandfather escaped Belfast to avoid being killed. I`m not an elitist college student looking for a cause. Of course I don`t find any problem with the assasination of RUC or British troops that occupy the North. And please don`t insult the republican prisoners by comparing them to common criminals. They were and are freedom fighters, not criminals wrapping themselves in the cloak of freedom.

The problem is that this is all subjective. At the end of the day, Mumia Abu Jamal as a member of the Black Panthers sees himself as a freedom-fighter, and so do IRA volunteers. The law, however, treats them as criminals because they violated the law. Also, the fact that you used the word "assassination" to describe RUC and British troops implies a negative connotation.

Lest you forget, the ranks of the PIRA have had many, MANY common criminals masquerading as freedom fighters as well, not to mention sectarian murderers. I am not taking sides with one or the other, as I am not currently decided on whether I consider myself an Irish Republican (that is, whether I view armed struggle as justified). I certainly don't think Jamal had the right to do what he did. I am, however, pointing out that with the opinion you hold, you aren't too likely to find sympathies with many of the people on here or in the broader Republican community.

[CONROY]

Also, there is no legit comparison to be made between Mumia and IRA or other Republican prisoners/volunteers. Mumia lived in the US, not an illegally occupied country. Their were no limitations place on Mumia as far as residence, education or gainful employment, again unlike Republicans. The men and women who killed Brit/RUC soldiers do not deserve to be imprisoned, they deserve to be honored for their bravery. The acts of violence they committed were acts of war, not criminality. It appears the deeper you look into your arguement, the shallower it becomes. And lastly, given your concern for "white oppression" in the US, when was the last time you lived in the inner city. or volunteered your time to assist people of color ? FYI, I`ve given many hours of personal time doing outreach work and lobbying unions for job opportunities for disadvantaged youth. I also grew up in an urban area where I was the minority, not an ivory tower.

[BunyipDude]

Wow, you are extremely touchy. I've already explained I'm not taking sides, only explaining how different sides see themselves and justify their own actions.

You can go **** yourself now. I have no more business with you.

[CONROY]

I understand and respect your opinion and I don`t change my opinions to suit the current mind set. Mumia didn`t do what he diud as a Black panther, again by saying so you slander those Black panthers that suffered fro their beliefs. Maybe age and time will change your opinion as it has mine. I used the term assasinate not for it`s negative connotation so please refrain from attaching your prejudices to my comments. I used that term to underline the seriousness of taking any life. Surely you cherish human life too. I didn`t come here looking for friends, just to join the debate and if you`re not sure what or who you are ,how can you question others ? Maybe your comments would be better served on myspacve or some other cyber dating service.

[CONROY]

nice language boy, you show your ignorance by resorting to vulgar lanuage,no surprise coming from someone posting a picture with an AK of which you`ve probably never fired or even touched. When you grow up and make up your mind let us know. I`m not touchy wee lad, just tired of know-nothings running off at the mouth

[CONROY]

and why is it when some people`s ideals/comments are questioned instead of offering anything of substance, they resort vulgar language. If this is the mind set of our young people, we are in trouble indeed.

[BunyipDude]

nice language boy, you show your ignorance by resorting to vulgar lanuage,no surprise coming from someone posting a picture with an AK of which you`ve probably never fired or even touched. When you grow up and make up your mind let us know. I`m not touchy wee lad, just tired of know-nothings running off at the mouth

You show your ignorance by accusing me of being an elitist college student looking for a cause, when I have already explained my position is to learn, not to take sides, while on here. The fact that I decided to use vulgar language doesn't change my right to be offended by you being an asshole.

The picture in my avatar is from the movie "Harry's Game", a film about the Troubles. I do, in fact, own a Poly Tech AKS-762 (fixed stock, not folding stock like the one in the picture) which I purchased in 2003, when I turned 18.

[CONROY]

if you go to school in chalpel hill you are probably an elitist, which by birth precludes you from understanding anything about struggles anywhere. And while your geographical distance may give you comfort in acting hard, it only exposes you for the coward you are. And if it`s a-holes you seek, you need look no farther than your mirror and the pimpled faced reflection in it. I`ve no use for sporterized civilian fire arms and folding stocks don`t impress me. Did you purchase tha firearm with your daddy`s or your mommy`s credit card sonny

[CONROY]

in the future please save your childish rants for conversations with mommy and daddy when you ask them to pay your bills. Good luck with puberty

[BunyipDude]

if you go to school in chalpel hill you are probably an elitist, which by birth precludes you from understanding anything about struggles anywhere. And while your geographical distance may give you comfort in acting hard, it only exposes you for the coward you are. And if it`s a-holes you seek, you need look no farther than your mirror and the pimpled faced reflection in it. I`ve no use for sporterized civilian fire arms and folding stocks don`t impress me. Did you purchase tha firearm with your daddy`s or your mommy`s credit card sonny

LOL, wow, look who's resorting to personal attacks all of a sudden now. So hypocritical...

The AK was purchased with my own money after I had worked all summer. I had wanted a pre-ban Chinese gun for years (I prefer their look to the post-ban versions, and their quality to the ****ty Romanian SARs), and I found this one for $900 with less than 50 rounds through it. My parents do not approve of military-style firearms, so they were not too happy when I purchased my gun. But, since I was legal and it was my money, they couldn't stop me.

Anyway, I wonder how my understanding of the struggle is really all that different from yours given that neither of us live in Belfast or anywhere else in the Six Counties? As I have pointed out your apparent conservative attitudes stand in sharp contrast to the left-wing attitudes espoused by many Irish Republicans who are actually from Ireland, perhaps you should consider that maybe you have no entitlement to special knowledge? I have at least explained my position on here is to learn, whereas you have already come in here under a know-it-all pretext.

I also do not go to school in Chapel Hill; I am from Chapel Hill and currently back here for summer, but I go to school in Maine (see my earlier introduction post in this topic).

[CONROY]

unlike you I`ve claimed no entitlement to special knowledge, just making you aware of my background. If you perceive me as conservative perhaps you need to go back to school sonny. Since I reformed myself, I`ve been involved in labor unions and neither my appearance nor my mindset could be confused with conservatism, again your lack of experience is the real world is glaringly apparent. Good for you , you got ripped off buying that weapon, they proabaly saw you coming in your BMW.And, I don`t hail from Ireland but all of my family have come from there and I`m not confused as to where I stand. Your opnion of me matters to no one especailly me. I`ve been to Ireland to visit family and friends there on many occasions. Also unlike you I don`t subscribe to a political ideology just because it`s popular on campus. I haven`t suffered personally because of the troubles but many in my family have so my decisions and beliefs aren`t formed in a scholarly vacuum.

[CONROY]

I`ve worked my entire adult life, not just one summer. When you`ve earned your opinion, I`d be more than happy to listen. You, my little friend, are the one that attacked me personally, so how is stating the obvious facts about your lack of understanding about anything you`ve not experienced first hand an attack on you. It`s just a statement of the obvious. Your life experiences are formed by the sum toll of one summer of work and countless hours spent on the net or in fornt of the tv. You my friend are a neophite,nothing more. As far as picking a side or making up your mind I think you`ll have serious trouble doing that without a good therapist

[FTA69]

Yakking about Kalashnikovs on an Irish Republican forum is not a good idea. These sites are at times monitered by police, some comments are even printed in tabloid newspapers out of context. How do you think it would look if they simply quoted the following:

The AK was purchased for $900 with less than 50 rounds through it. a Poly Tech AKS-762

This is the way they change and chop comments to suit the agendas of certain articles. Just to let ye know.

[BunyipDude]

unlike you I`ve claimed no entitlement to special knowledge, just making you aware of my background. If you perceive me as conservative perhaps you need to go back to school sonny. Since I reformed myself, I`ve been involved in labor unions and neither my appearance nor my mindset could be confused with conservatism, again your lack of experience is the real world is glaringly apparent. Good for you , you got ripped off buying that weapon, they proabaly saw you coming in your BMW.And, I don`t hail from Ireland but all of my family have come from there and I`m not confused as to where I stand. Your opnion of me matters to no one especailly me. I`ve been to Ireland to visit family and friends there on many occasions. Also unlike you I don`t subscribe to a political ideology just because it`s popular on campus. I haven`t suffered personally because of the troubles but many in my family have so my decisions and beliefs aren`t formed in a scholarly vacuum.

OK, why is that I can't judge you, but here you are constantly judging me? And unlike my assumptions (such as observing you appear to hold conservative positions, at least on one issue), your assumptions are character attacks based on extremely ridiculous and immature stereotypes (like saying I drive a BMW).

And YOU are the one who attacked personally first...you're the one who called me an elitist college student who's only interested in Republicanism and socialism because it's "popular"...FIRST. I simply told you to go **** yourself in response to that. You are the one who apparently has it out for me because I'm a college student and because I'm from Chapel Hill. It appears this hatred has existed in you for some time, and you simply needed someone to take it out on. Well and done, but you also admit you're a convicted felon. At the very least, I have never committed a crime in my life, nor do I think it's cool to do anything like that for the sake of appearing badass.

I didn't get ripped off. Chinese AKs in pre-ban config are no longer imported to the United States, which means that they now demand higher prices than most other American-built versions (such as the WASRs and Arsenal Inc. guns). I also bought the weapon online and had it shipped to my FFL, so the dude I bought it from has never seen me and has no clue what I look like, let alone what car I drive. Poly Techs now often sell for over $1,000, so on the contrary, I got a good deal compared to some people.

Yakking about Kalashnikovs on an Irish Republican forum is not a good idea. These sites are at times monitered by police, some comments are even printed in tabloid newspapers out of context. How do you think it would look if they simply quoted the following:

This is the way they change and chop comments to suit the agendas of certain articles. Just to let ye know.

Oddly enough, I have never claimed to be a Republican (nationalist, yes, Republican, not necesarily). Besides, I own the AK legally and have no intention of sending it to Ireland or anything. It's just mine.

[Erin_go_bragh]

And id like to halt you all right there. The title of this thread is introductions for a reason.

[mac_talla]

And id like to halt you all right there. The title of this thread is introductions for a reason.


God bless you!

[CONROY]

point taken, I didn`t intend to get into a slagging match. I was only trying to answer a question asked of me and correct erroneously stated misconceptions. I apologize to anyone that I may have offended.

[Daithí]

Lets use this thread for the discussion that is taking place in Introductions :)

[BunyipDude]

No thanks. I wasn't really interested in talking about the case anyway, only pointing out what I perceived as a contradiction.

Unfortunately, this convicted felon seems to have the same impulse to disagreements that he has whenever he was in the showers.

[CONROY]

bunyipdude, unlike you I`ve lived a full life and don`t run off at the mouth about things I don`t know. Your childish name calling only shows your immaturity. Go ask your mommy for the car keys and stick to things you know... like bong hits and chasing coeds.

[CONROY]

Also please keep your fantasies about shower room rape to yourself, sick lad. You and others have accused me of being conservative or a cop which would be funny if it didn`t fly in the face of everything I stand for, unlike you who doesn`t know what he is or what he stands for. Also sonny, I was never a victim, in or out of prison. Yes I made some mistakes in early adulthood and, unlike your drivel on here, I was held accountable for my actions and had to pay with my freedom. nstead of crying about it, I made the best out of a bad opportunity. I learned a trade and earned a degree. And since I`m 6'5" and was a 1%er, I would not fit into your prison rape fantasies wee child. Maybe since you have NO LIFE EXPERIENCES of any note, you should keep your mouth shut and listen. Lastly, I have relatives that work at Duke, so I know what and where Chapel Hill is. If you live there and your parents can afford to send you to a private College in Maine you are an elitist. Don`t try to soothe your guilt by seeking favor with real activists. And please don`t act the hard man using movie pictures of actors with guns, tough guy:icon_lol:

[Seabird]

Conroy,

I was only trying to answer a question asked of me and correct erroneously stated misconceptions. I apologize to anyone that I may have offended.

No you didn't answer questions asked of you, you attacked the poster when he gave you his opinion! I beg to differ with your OPINION of Mumia's case, I have campainged for his freedom since the day of incarceration. It was NEVER proven that Mumia killed the officer and to go one step further the ballistic tests were fabricated, witnesses coerced! Mumia was a target because of his days with the Panthers and his MOVE activities. He was an oppressed man living in our white society that decided to make changes for himself and his people! It has been proven that he did not get a fair trial, do you feel he is entitle to one? Amnesty International and most Human Rights groups do and are involved but who are they probably more "ELITIST" :hmmm: :icon_lol:

bunyipdude, unlike you I`ve lived a full life and don`t run off at the mouth about things I don`t know. Your childish name calling only shows your immaturity. Go ask your mommy for the car keys and stick to things you know... like bong hits and chasing coeds.

You sir were the one that initiated the name calling and were quite rude to buny whose only fault was to attempt to debate the issues with you on Mumia's case, An example of your childish rantings is your above post. You just could not leave the insults alone so you went further to say:

Also please keep your fantasies about shower room rape to yourself, sick lad. You and others have accused me of being conservative or a cop which would be funny if it didn`t fly in the face of everything I stand for, unlike you who doesn`t know what he is or what he stands for. Also sonny, I was never a victim, in or out of prison. Yes I made some mistakes in early adulthood and, unlike your drivel on here, I was held accountable for my actions and had to pay with my freedom. nstead of crying about it, I made the best out of a bad opportunity. I learned a trade and earned a degree. And since I`m 6'5" and was a 1%er, I would not fit into your prison rape fantasies wee child. Maybe since you have NO LIFE EXPERIENCES of any note, you should keep your mouth shut and listen. Lastly, I have relatives that work at Duke, so I know what and where Chapel Hill is. If you live there and your parents can afford to send you to a private College in Maine you are an elitist. Don`t try to soothe your guilt by seeking favor with real activists. And please don`t act the hard man using movie pictures of actors with guns, tough guy

This entire paragragh infuriates me so I am going to attempt to be civil when addressing this post. Mods excuse me if I fail to do so in an appropriate manner.

Who do you think you are to judge buny, you have automaticly labeled him knowing nothing about his life and life experiences, you assumed he is from a rich family and has lived the high life. Shame on you! You have no idea what his life have been like to make such an assumption. He has every right to an opinion and can voice it at his own leisure. He should NOT have to put up with you attacking him because of your obvious inability to debate his post so you resorted to name calling! You are the pot calling the kettle black!

You stated on numerous threads you went to prison. . should I label you a criminal, a thug?? We could not care less how many times you have been incarcerated, does it make you a tough boy to rip into an obviously educated young man?

Lastly if you were indeed an activist you would have taken the time to educate our young friend instead of attacking him. We all have our opinions on incidents and have every right to give our view but NOT at the expense of trying to make some one look stupid and unworthy which is exactly what you have attempted to do; it has however back fired on you! Why don't you leave the activism to others until you grow up, we should be pulling our young ones in not beating them up and pushing them away. They are our future!

Have respect here for everyone no matter what their opinion!

I had to get that off my chest now lets get busy and debate Mumia's case since you are an expert on the subject!

[CONROY]

Seabird. with all due repsect you and mac talla accused me of being a cop or having a cop in my family, to me that`s an insult. If you`ve followed mumia`s case with an objective mind you can`t conclude anything other than he`s guilty, I`m not saying execute him but he`s guilty. It`s typical that people who`ve suffered nothing take up the cause of so-called revolutionaries to appease their guilt. For someone that has never put themselves on the line to spout rhetoric is an insult to evertyone that has. There are no ivory towers in any struglle among the oppressed, only among those tryin to defer their guilt. I have every right to defned my slef especially when I`m attacked by spoiled children.

[CONROY]

`s debate his case and btw I never claimed to be an expert, unlike you three. SO how can you conter the facts that Mumia was foun near Faulkner with fualkner`s bulet in his chest and his bullets in faulkner`s body ?

[CONROY]

I know there have been witnesses that`ve changed their stories but in most cases eyewitnesses, no matter how well intentioned, are incorrect.

[CONROY]

Please excuse my spelling but I too am a little "****ed off". If there is any proof of innocence, how come it hasn`t been presented ?

[CONROY]

Make no mstake about it, mumia wasn`t an oppressed individual fighting for his rights. He saw his brother and faulkner and decided he was going to kill him. How else can you explain rolling the cop over on his back and shooting him in the face. Everyone,of every race, is accountable for their own actions. This didn`t happen because he was a panther or had previous run-ins with the law. If that`s an excuse than it would be ok for me to shoot a cop too ? Ridiculous. Please save your outrage for those that deserve it. I`ve been a union activist for years, not a cyber crusader. I`ve suffered because of prison conditions in this country, have you ? You obviously have a very prejudiced view of this case

[CONROY]

Seabird, I didn`t mention my incarceration to intimidate anyone. It was to show that unlike you or that young man, I`ve first hand experience of things I talk about, not some lofty ideal formed on a college campus. I`m not a tough guy, I`m a middle aged married father of three that has little patience for the dillusional rants of children. It figures that anyone whose opinion differs from you or your firends is attacked for their beliefs. Only you and those you befriend are allowed to have the correct opinion. You sound like the closed minded conservatives that currently run our government.And if you read the previous posts closely you `ll see I`m not the one that attcked buny first and I didn`t result to vulgar language either,so much for intelligence. Fact of the matter is, when the crap hits the fan, it`s people like myself, hardworking blue collar uion men and women, that are on the front lines, while the intellecuals hide in their homes on the mainline or locals of the same ilk.I can`t tell you the last time I`ve seen anyone of them at a homeless shelter or doing outreah at 3:00am on a January morning. They`re good for one thing, the checks that they write to absolve their guilt !!

[Seabird]

Conroy,

I am not going to highlite all your rantings but will respond and then I will not again unless it is about Mumia. You know nothing about me, I am not about to spit my life out to you because you feel as if I should. Have I been incarcerated, what business is that of yours? Does it set the tone for this debate. . . no! You keep tooting yer own horn, well achara my proof is in my work! I don't need to come to a web site and brag about all I do! You've assumed that I have not any lessons in life to discuss that I have first hand knowledge on. . . well that is an big assumption on your part. I can wrap ringers around the B/S you have spouted! You just don't know! So now if you want to debate Mumia, lets do it, if not save your dime store psychoanalysis for someone who actually gives a ****e on what you think!

[CONROY]

what work would that be? living in a state that is infamous for it`s civil rights abuses and unfair labor practices. I`ve seen you attack other postings and when we defend ourselves you fly into a rant. You seem to have a problem with me having been incarcerated or is it because I don`t claim to be a victim of politics ? I wans`t tooting my horn, just showing my backgorund and how I came to believe in what I do. I don`t sit on the internet and philosophise about the wrongs in the world, I take an active part in trying to correct them. When chucky and his bride visited philly this year it was only myself and other rsf supporters that showed up. I know when i volunteer at the homeless shelters and youth centers i never see anyone other than blue collar volunteers. I also don`t parrot any part lines because I like to think for myself. You act as closed minded as a Bush supporter. I am done with you also

[CONROY]

there is no debate about mumia,he`s a guilty as the day is long. Prove otherwise and free the murderer. There is your challenge are you up to it ? I think not. No dime store pschoanalysis here seabird, just good at reading cyber heroes and telling it like it is. And I don`t quote people to try to impress others.

[Seabird]

For the first time, Journalists for Mumia presents the courtroom audio from
Mumia Abu-Jamal's May 17 oral arguments before the US Third Circuit Court
of Appeals. The full, unedited audio is presented as well as several short
feature blurbs.


COURTROOM AUDIO: Mumia Abu-Jamal’s May 17 Oral Arguments

Presented by Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal
(Abu-Jamal-News.com)

On May 17, 2007, a three-judge panel from the United States Third Circuit
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit heard oral arguments in Philadelphia
on four different issues regarding the fairness of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s
original 1982 trial. Robert R. Bryan, lead counsel for Abu-Jamal, joined by
his associate, Professor Judith L Ritter, and Christina Swarns of the NAACP
Legal Defense Fund, argued that Abu-Jamal’s trial was tainted with racist
jury selection, confusing and wrong jury instructions on the death penalty,
prosecutorial misconduct regarding a false argument to the jury at the
guilt phase, and the bias of the trial judge at a 1995 hearing whom a
court
stenographer overheard boasting in 1982 that he was going to help the
prosecution “fry the nigger.” The National Lawyers Guild also submitted
amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefing on the issues of judicial bias
and false prosecutorial argument.

Because of the limited time, not all of the issues were discussed, even
though they were thoroughly covered in briefing filed by Bryan and Ritter
on behalf of Abu-Jamal. At the outset of oral argument, Deputy District
Attorney Hugh Burns addressed three issues: 1) He argued for reinstating
the death penalty, in his appeal of Judge Yohn’s 2001 decision regarding
the death penalty. 2) He argued in defense of prosecutor Joseph McGill’s
false argument to the jury: “If you find the Defendant guilty of course
there would be appeal after appeal and perhaps there could be a reversal
of the case, or whatever, so that may not be final,” implying the trial
was not final. 3) Addressing the Batson racism-in-jury-selection claim,
Burns argued in defense of McGill’s use of 10 of 15 peremptory challenges
to strike black jurors.

For the defense, Ritter addressed the issue of the death penalty, which is
based on the Mills v. Maryland precedent. In December, 2001, U.S. District
Court Judge William Yohn ruled that sentencing forms used by jurors and
Judge Sabo's instructions to the jury were confusing and contrary to the
law. Jurors were mistakenly led to believe that they had to unanimously
agree on any mitigating circumstance in order to consider it as weighing
against a death verdict.

Lead attorney Robert R. Bryan and Christina Swarns of the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund focused on the racial discrimination in jury selection issue.
In 1986, the US Supreme Court ruled in Batson v. Kentucky that a defendant
deserves a new trial if it can be proved that jurors were excluded on the
grounds of race. Most importantly, Batson significantly lowered the
defendant's burden of proof.

Lead attorney Robert R. Bryan can contacted via email: RobertRBryan@aol.com

THE MAY 17, 2007 AUDIO

The audio is available in both MP3 and Real Player formats. The unedited,
complete audio is available for listening, but it has also been broken up
into both chapters and short excerpts for your convenience.

Listen to the unedited, complete 2 hr. 15 min MP3 file

http://abu-jamal-news.com/audio/m17/17mayfull.mp3

Or you can download the files in Real Player format:

http://againstthecrimeofsilence.de/News/2007-05-17-1.ra

http://againstthecrimeofsilence.de/News/2007-05-17-2.ra

[Seabird]

Dear Friends:

We continue to await a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Third Circuit, Philadelphia, concerning my client, Mumia Abu-Jamal. This
complex case was orally argued before a three-judge panel on May 17, 2007,
following extensive litigation which included voluminous briefing and
motions. In my experience of successfully defending a large number of
murder cases involving the death penalty, it was a great day.

It is impossible to know what the federal court ruling will be. If the
judges follow the law and fairly apply the U.S. Constitution, we will win.
As to when, long ago I projected a decision would be forthcoming this
fall; it could come any day. One thing is certain: whomever loses will
seek a rehearing and petition the U.S. Supreme Court.

I have previously described the different rulings that the federal court
could make. Nevertheless some people have recently sent out e-mail
containing false information. Contrary to their claim, the federal court
cannot impose a sentence of "life in prison without parole"�. Only a jury
verdict could result in such an outcome, unless in the event of a penalty
reversal the prosecution elected not to seek the death penalty. Likewise
the court unfortunately cannot order that Mumia be released, for that
would require a new guilt-phase jury trial and a favorable verdict which
is certainly our goal. To once more clarify the legal situation, the
scenarios of how the U.S. Court of Appeals might rule include:

a. Grant an entirely new jury trial of the guilt phase;
b. Order a new jury trial limited to the issue of life or death;
c. Remand the case back to the U.S. District Court for further
proceedings; or
d. Deny all relief.

Racism, fraud, and politics are threads that have run through this case
since Mumia's 1981 arrest. The issues in this matter concern the right to
a fair trial, the struggle against the death penalty, and the political
repression of an outspoken journalist.

Mumia's objective is a reversal of the murder conviction and death
sentence, and the granting of an entirely new trial. At the end of that
jury trial I expect to win and see my client freed so that he can finally
go home to his family.

Thank you for your interest in this campaign for human rights.

Yours very truly,

Robert R. Bryan

Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123-4117

Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal

[Seabird]

Thanks to the efforts of Hans Bennett of Journalists for Mumia, the San
Francisco Bay View has published an article entitled "Color of law: Photos
bolster claims of Mumia’s innocence and unfair trial."

This is the first time any of these photos has been published in a
newspaper in this country. The article is also excellent.

Check it out:
Mumia is Innocent (http://www.sfbayview.com/News/Main/Color_of_law_Photos_bolster_claims_of_Mumia_s_inno cence_and_unfair_trial.html)