ResolutionNumber: 10
Year: 2003
Title:   AMICUS BRIEF FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Resolved:


WHEREAS Amnesty International has concluded that Pennsylvania Death Row Prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a trial that did not conform to "internationally recognized standards of justice," calling for a new trial without the possibility of a death sentence; and

WHEREAS since the time AI issued its report, Philadelphia Federal District Court Judge William Yohn's decision in December of 2001 to vacate the sentence of death is being appealed by the State of Pennsylvania, during which time Mumia Abu-Jamal remains on Death Row; and,

WHEREAS attorneys for Mumia Abu-Jamal have produced new evidence that Mumia Abu-Jamal was framed, including a sworn confession by another man and also a sworn statement by a Pennsylvania court employee that the Judge in his case, Albert Sabo, told her and other court officials that he intended to help the prosecution "fry the n**r"; and

WHEREAS neither the State nor the Federal Courts have been willing to hear this new evidence;


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AIUSA Board of Directors will request that the IEC update Amnesty's findings in light of these developments, and strongly consider presenting an Amicus Curiae brief in opposition to the State of Pennsylvania's efforts to re-impose and carry out a death sentence on Mumia Abu-Jamal, and in support of Jamal's right to have the courts hear the newly presented evidence.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AIUSA Board of Directors will both request a response from the IEC and report back to AIUSA membership in a reasonable and timely manner on the actions taken pursuant to this resolution.


Implementation: This is a directive that focuses on new research and the submission of an Amicus Curiae brief, both of which generally fall under the auspices of the International Secretariat, and, thus, AIUSA’s National Program to Abolish the Death Penalty has neither the authority nor the capacity to undertake the actual implementation of the two aforementioned initiatives per se. The PADP, however, will work closely with AIUSA’s Board, in supporting it with the necessary information and documentation (including updates on the case as appropriate) needed to request the IEC to ensure that this resolution is given serious consideration and implemented by the IS in a timely fashion.

Once a decision regarding this formal request has been made by the IEC and communicated to AIUSA’s Board, the PADP will function as the main liaison to the relevant research and legal teams at the IS and AIUSA membership structures and programs and help coordinate the work necessary to implement the resolution.


Update: In August 2003, Tonya McClary (who serves as Board liaison to the PADP National Steering Committee) informed the PADP that the Board wanted a draft letter that could be submitted in its name to the IEC regarding AGM 2003 Decision 10. That same month, PADP Director, Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn, drafted a letter accordingly, circulated it among the entire NSC for feedback, incorporated all feedback and submitted it to Tonya who was charged with delivering it to the Board.

During the last six months, Sue has also called one of Mumia’s lawyers who is based in London and left several messages in order to find out updated information about the case but to this date has not had a response from the lawyer. Additionally, Sue also contacted the USA Research Team at the International Secretariat and inquired if they had received a directive from the IEC regarding this issue. To date, they have not received any such instructions.

(Draft letter sent by the NSC to the Board via Board Liaison, Tonya McClary, on August 28th, 2003.)

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Date:XXXXX

The International Executive Committee

Amnesty International

Mailing AddressXXXX

Dear IEC Members,

At the request of AIUSA’s membership, we would like to follow up with you on Resolution P-2: Amicus Brief for Mumia Abu-Jamal, which passed overwhelmingly at AIUSA’s 2003 Annual General Meeting held this past April in Pittsburgh, PA. The “therefore” clause of this resolution states that:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AIUSA Board of Directors will request that the IEC update Amnesty’s findings in light of these developments, and strongly consider presenting an Amicus Curiae brief in opposition to the State of Pennsylvania’s efforts to re-impose and carry out a death sentence on Mumia Abu-Jamal, and in support of Jamal’s right to have the courts hear the newly presented evidence.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AIUSA Board of Directors will both request a response from the IEC and report back to AIUSA membership in a reasonable and timely manner on the actions taken pursuant to this resolution.

Per the resolution’s directive, we, therefore, urge you update Amnesty International’s Report on Mumia Abu-Jamal and strongly consider filing an Amicus Curiae brief on his behalf in this case. Given that the implementation of this resolution requires the resources of the International Secretariat, we would be grateful if you could provide us with precise information on the timeline and process involved to ensure that it is carried out in a timely fashion. AIUSA’s death penalty membership and staff would be happy to help support the IS in implementing this resolution as swiftly and as efficiently as possible.

We thank you for your consideration of our request and hope to hear a favorable response shortly so that we can communicate this back to our membership.

Sincerely,

Amnesty International USA

Board of Directors