August 16 1999
ムミアが７年前に「フォークナーを殺したと自白した」という記事を掲載したVanity Fair誌に対して、8月17日（火）に、抗議行動が行われます。
同誌が、フィリップ・ブロックという47歳の男性の話を、まったくなんの裏付けもとらずに掲載したこと、またムミア本人への取材さえ行わずにこの記事を掲載したことに対して抗議し、来月号に反論を掲載するため４ページをさくことを要求しています。ムミア中傷の記事は８ページにわたって掲載されたものですので、その半分を要求していることになります。
ムミアは、ブロック氏によると「殺人を告白した」とされる日から半年後にブロック氏から受け取った手紙を公開しています。これによると、ブロック氏はムミアへの支持を表明し、再審が獲得できれば無罪になるだろうと述べています。本人が有罪を認めたのだとしたら、どうしてその相手にこんな手紙を送るでしょうか？
また、Vanity Fair誌はなんらの裏付けもとらずにブロック氏の言葉をそのまま事実であるかのように報道し、さらにはムミアの人格を誹謗する記事を、これももと同僚としか特定されていない匿名の人物の言葉として書いています。また、ムミアの弁護士、支援者も同様に根拠なく誹謗しています。
Vanity Fairが裏づけ調査をすれば、少なくとも、ブロック氏は、「告白」があったとされる時期よりも前に、刑務所ボランティアをやめていること。より正確に言えば、ボランティアで知り得た囚人の個人的な情報を外にもらしてはならないという規則を破って辞めさせられていたことくらいはすぐに分かったはずです。
Vanity Fairは高級ファッションなどを紹介するハイソな雑誌とされていますが、インチキ・ジャーナリズムの仲間入りを果たした、とムミア支援者は指摘しています。 抗議の呼びかけは、ニューヨークのFree Mumia Abu-Jamal Coaltion, Simon Nkoli Queer Crusaders for Mumia, the International Action Center, Campaign Against the Death Penalty などの支援団体によるものです。
以下、原文
Mark your calendars! There will be a PICKET AND PROTEST at the offices of Vanity Fair magazine in defense of Philadelphia journalist,former Black Panther Party member and death row inmate, Mumia Abu-Jamal onTUESDAY,
AUGUST17, 4:30 to 6:30 PM.
Vanity fair is located at 4 Times Square, the Northeast corner of 42nd and Broadway. This action is sponsored by Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coaltion, Simon Nkoli Queer Crusaders for Mumia, the International Action Center and Campaign Against the Death Penalty.
VANITY UN-FAIR TO MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
Former Black Panther Party member, journalist and death row inmate, Mumia Abu-Jamal has been dealt another slanderous blow by the mainstream media. The August issue of Vanity Fair magazine features an eight-page article quoting former Pennsylvania Prison Society member, Philip Bloch that Mumia "confessed" to him his guilt in the slaying of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1982 -- a charge for which Mumia has received the death penalty. VANITY FAIR RAN BLOCH'S CLAIM WITHOUT CHECKING CORROBORATING SOURCES OR CONTACTING MUMIAFOR COMMENT.
Mumia has maintained his innocence since the beginning. The legal process which landed him on death row was fraught with legal inconsistencies, coerced witness testimony and circumstancial evidence -- in short, a travesty of justice.
Three weeks after Vanity Fair Published the article, Mumia located and made public a letter from Bloch, dated six months after Bloch allegedly heard Mumia's confession. In the letter Bloch encourages Mumia to seek a new trial, that if re-tried, chances were he'd be acquitted.
Why would Bloch have sent this letter if he was convinced Mumia was guilty? Mumia calls Bloch's confession story ridiculous and maintains the exchange never took place. If Vanity Fair had bothered to check their sources, they would have found that the Pennsylvania Prison Society, under whose auspices Bloch originally visited Mumia had expelled him as a member months before the alleged confession conversation took place.
Why is Vanity Fair printing this piece of so-called evidence -- which Bloch kept to himself for more than seven years -- as if it were undisputed fact?
TELL VANITY UN-FAIR: ENOUGH SLANDER!
The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition is demanding four pages in Vanity Fair's next issue for a rebuttal written by Mumia or whoever he should designate to SET THE STORY STRAIGHT!
Please forward this message to everyone on your list. Show up at the picket/protest. Tuesday, August 17th 4:30 PM at the Vanity Fair Offices, 4 Times Square. Bring a friend. Bring a sign. Bring your voice.
For more info: (212) 330-8029 and www.mumia.org
More endorsers welcome!
Bloch was expelled for violating prisoner confidentiality and speaking in the name of the organization without authorization. BLOCH WAS NOT CONSIDERED TRUSTWORTHY BY THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY, BUT HIS STORY WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR VANITY FAIR.
Why are they running an emotional appeal portraying Officer Faulkner's widow as victim, Mumia supporters as dupes, Mumia's lawyers as charlatans and Mumia himself as a cold-blooded killer? High-fashion rag Vanity Fair has taken up Snuff Journalism -- jumping onto the lynch-mob bandwagon bent on railroading Mumia into his grave.