日本人の僧侶、ムミアのために断食に突入
ニューヨーク州グラフトンのピースダコダ（日本山妙法寺の支部だと聞いています/今井注）に所属する３人の仏教僧侶が、ムミアが収容されているペンシルバニア州ウエインスバーグのグリーン刑務所前で、断食とお祈りの一週間に入ったというニュースが入りました。
ジュン・ヤスダさんという尼僧と、その仲間のルイーズさん、とカズさんと伝えられています。
12月１日（水）から７日（火）までの７日間、昼間は刑務所前にテントをはって断食とお祈りを行います。夜は危険をさけるために、近くの民家に宿泊します。
詳細が分かり次第また報告します。
心からの連帯を送ります。
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
(contact # below)
HUNGER STRIKE FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Three Buddhists from the Peace Pagoda in Grafton, NY will hold a daily hunger strike from Wednesday, Dec.1 through Tues. Dec. 7, 1999 outside the prison, SCI Greene in Waynesburg, PA, which holds internationally-known prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering a Philadelphia cop in 1982 and given the death penalty. He has twice been given a death warrant and was due to die on Dec. 2, 1999 until Federal Judge William H. Yohn granted a stay of execution recently. Abu-Jamal's supporters say he is likely innocent of murder and was framed for his political views and vigorous radio journalism which exposed the brutal, racist and corrupt practices of the Philadelphia police department. Since his prior death warrant in 1995, the case of Abu-Jamal has grown into a worldwide movement to save his life, give him a new trial and also abolish the inhumane death penalty.
Buddhist nun, June Yasuda and companions Kazu and Louise will sit outside SCI Greene prison to hunger strike and pray for Mumia. They will brave the cold and wind, using only a lean-to tent to protect them from the wind. They will sit for eight hours during daylight hours, approximately from 8 am to 4 pm.
June Yasuda had been involved in many actions for social justice and peace. She was among those who retraced the route of the Underground Railroad by walking from Massachusetts to Louisiana. She has also worked with American Indians in fighting against forced removals from their land and against uranium mining on Indian land.