ムミア支援者への弾圧強化に抗議を！
５月22日/2000
今井恭平です。
ペンシルバニア州の黒人ジャーナリスト、無実の死刑囚ムミア・アブ＝ジャマールの再審請求が山場を迎え、５月７日のマジソンスクエアガーデンでの6000人ラリーの成功など、大きな盛り上がりを見せている中で、主だったムミア支援者への弾圧が強化されています。
クラーク・キッシンジャー（refuse & resist）と、フランシス・ゴールディン（作家・ムミアの文学エージェント）をはじめとする数名の有力な支援者に対して、連邦下級裁判所が、罰金、１年間の保護観察処分などの命令を出しています。
彼らは保護観察官の訪問を受け入れなければならないだけでなく居住を制限され、どこかに雇用されることを強要されています。つまり、フルタイムの活動を制限されるということです。また、月々のお金の収支についても報告を義務づけられます。
そして、何よりも露骨なのは、「重罪犯人」との接触を禁じられること。つまり、ムミアとの面会や手紙のやりとりなどを禁止されるということです。ゴールディン氏はほぼ定期的にムミアと面会できる限られた人の一人です。この弾圧はあまりに露骨です。まさになりふり構わないという様相ですが、運動への影響は小さくありません。
また、キッシンジャー氏の連れ合いも、過去10年に渡る収入・支出などの記録を提出し、連邦大陪審で証言するように求められています。
こうした弾圧は、昨年フィラデルフィアのリバティ・ベルで行われた平和的な不服従行動を口実として行われています。
フィラデルフィアの観光名所である自由の鐘で、ムミアのための平和的な座り込みなどを行ったもので、このときは、公園レンジャーからの召喚をうけただけで、この行動は軽罪にもあたらず、交通違反切符程度の反則行為でしかありません。これを口実にした、主だった活動家への弾圧が、州政府ではなく、連邦政府の手で行われていることが重要な意味をもっています。ムミアの裁判は現在、連邦段階に入っているからであり、これは裁判そのものへの影響力を行使しようとする連邦政府の意志だと見ることができるでしょう。
連邦裁判所への請願署名を集めることがされていますが、今のところインターネットからの直接の参加方法はまだ分かりません。詳細が分かったらまた投稿しますので、ぜひ抗議にご参加下さるようお願いいたします。
声なき人々の声、ムミアの声を消さないために！
Forwarded by Imai Kyohei
---------------- Original message follows ----------------
From: jmcintosh@wvwise.org (John McIntosh)
To: jmcintosh@wvwise.org
Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 15:31:20 -0400
Subject: Fwd: Re: Protest Attacks on Mumia Activists--
I think some of you up in New York know about what the state has been doing to Mitch Cohen. Here's some news about harassment of Clark Kissinger and Frances Goldin. As much as I've been critical of Kissinger, this harassment really pisses me off. I think we need to be supportive of these people in some way.
Protest Attacks on Mumia Activists
http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/051700warren.html
I agree. The website does not list the e-mail address of Refuse & Resist, which is collecting signatures in support of Kissinger and Goldin. The following message does include the e-mail address. Please consider dropping them a line and signing on to the letter. It's a small step, but it's worth taking, and maybe we can discuss whether there's more we can do.
Solidarity,
Peter
Subject: URGENT ALERT-ATTACK ON MUMIA ORGANIZERS
I have just received the following info regarding a draconian attack on the movement-- blatant use of repressive state apparatus --the Courts and Federal Grand Jury. Please let everyone know. There is a statement which is being circulated with a cover letter from Michael Warren, and will be sent to the judge and possibly used as an op-ed. Please forward and contact Refuse & Resist! (rnrbayarea@yahoo.com) if you can help and please spread the word so that people can know about this attack on the movement to free Mumia and mobilize to counter it!. Unfortunately the email addresses to respond to were left out of the email we recieved so either respond to us or to Refuse and Resist either locally or in New York.
Dear Friends,
In the last few weeks, a very serious attempt by the government to stifle the movement for justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal has unfolded. This is a tribute to our effectiveness, but it also demands that we vigorously respond. I am asking you to join with me in signing the attached statement which will be published and forwarded to the appropriate federal court judge.
Please send permission to attach your name to me at 580Washington Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238, or phone or fax to the numbers above. Those who wish to contribute to the cost of the appeal may also sent a check made out to Frances Goldin, at 305 E. 11th St., #26, New York, NY 10003.
Let's keep the voices defending our political prisoners on line and fighting.
Sincerely,
Michael Tarif Warren
WE PROTEST
We are writing to protest a serious attempt by the federal government to cripple the work of some of the staunchest supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Clark Kissinger, organizer of the national leadership conferences for Mumia, Frances Goldin, Mumia's literary agent, and several others have been sentenced by a federal magistrate to a fine and one year supervised probation. Ms. Goldin and Mr. Kissinger are forbidden to associate with felons (i.e.Mumia) and cannot leave their federal court district in New York City without the permission of a probation officer for one year. In addition, they are required to be employed at a regular job(i.e. no full-time volunteer work for Mumia), they have to surrender their passports, submit to visits to their homes and offices by probations officers, list all persons they are in contact with who have been convicted of a crime, and turn in detailed financial records every month on where their money comes from and how they spend it.
These Orwellian restrictions were imposed as the result of a peaceful protest and civil disobedience action last year at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Ninety-six people were issued summonses by Park Rangers for "failing to obey a lawful order." This infraction is not even a misdemeanor. It is classified as a "petty offense" and is equivalent to a traffic ticket. Yet everyone who refused to return the summons pleading guilty and paying the fixed fine and who had the temerity to ask for atrial was given one-year supervised probation in addition to the fine.
In addition, Mr. Kissinger's wife has been served with a subpoena to produce all her financial records for the last ten years and to testify before a federal grand jury.
This is a giant fishing expedition by federal agents, that further exposes the role of the federal government in attempting to execute Mumia and silence the movement in his defense. There are two principles worth fighting for here. The first is the right to have a trial. Mr.Kissinger, Ms. Goldin, and the others were given the one-year probation as punishment for asking for a trial. The second is that the government has no right to restrict key organizers and pry into their private associations and finances.
These judicial actions are an outrage and are clearly aimed at "shutting down" anyone who works effectively for Mumia. The progressive forces in this country cannot surrender the right to a trial, nor can we tolerate the attempt of the government to "ground" those working for Mumia. The imposition of these judicial restrictions and subpoenas on leading activists and their families serves no purpose other than to chill the first amendment rights of those who have been most effective in bringing Mumia's case before the public. We demand that they be stayed at once, and overturned by the appeals court.