Update on the Signing of Mumia's New Death Warrant and Planned Protest Actions from C. Clark Kissinger (10/13, 19:00 EDT)

The Governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Ridge, has signed a new warrant for "the execution by lethal injection of Mumia Abu-Jamal of Philadelphia." The execution date is set for December 2, but a federal judge is expected to stay this order within a few days.

Mumia's immediate response was: "This is just the next stage of the fight. We will continue to fight. We will win!"

The governor signed this warrant, knowing full well that Mumia would be filing within a matter of days for a writ of habeas corpus with the federal district court in Philadelphia. Under the 1996 Effective Death Penalty Act, Mumia had to file before the end of October.

This is the same stunt that Ridge pulled in 1995 when Mumia was scheduled to file a petition for a new trial in the state court on a Monday morning. Ridge rushed to sign a death warrant late on the Friday afternoon before this filing. The pending warrant was then used by Judge Sabo as an excuse to rush the proceedings. People should be righteously angry at Ridge and should expose him everywhere for pulling this same stunt again.

Mumia's legal team will be filing for the writ of habeas corpus on Friday morning (October 15), and holding a press conference at 11:00 am that morning at the American Friends Service Committee. The full text of the petition (which runs over 160 pages) will be available on the internet later that day.

Meanwhile protest actions have already started all over the country.

In Philadelphia, people are already in the streets, and on Saturday (October 16) there will be an East Coast regional demonstration. People should gather Saturday at Broad & Spring Garden at 11:00 am.

In San Francisco, the Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal is calling for a Mass Rally, on Saturday at noon at Powell & Market. Also, on Thursday at 5:00 pm there will be an emergency protest at Powell & Market.

In NYC, there will be an Emergency Response on Thursday, October 14th rally:

1-2 pm Gather at the Police "Benevolent" Association, 40 Fulton St. and demand "Hands off Mumia!"

2pm March up Broadway to Times Square.

4:30pm Demonstrate at Times Square (42nd St. and Broadway).

Then on Saturday buses to Philadelphia (call hotline 212-330-8029 or 212-633-6646).

In Chicago, there will be a press conference on Thursday (11:30 am at the ACLU office), and a Monday-after rally at the Federal Building at 4:00 pm. Also on Friday buses leaving for Philadelphia.

Other activities will be posted as we hear about them. People should take action everywhere!

All photos on this page were reprinted with much gratitude and permission from the photographer Diane Greene Lent. More of her work can be seen at The Bretch Forum.

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