[R-G] Fwd: [sfbayview] [Fwd: ACTION ALERT: Ensure Fairness For Mumia on NBC’s The Today Show!]

[Anthony Fenton]

*** Please spread widely ***

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
ACTION ALERT: Ensure Fairness For Mumia on NBC’s The Today Show!
Date:
Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:46:23 -0800
From:
Hans Bennett <destroycapitalism at hotmail.com>
To:
<editor at sfbayview.com>


ACTION ALERT: Ensure Fairness For Mumia Abu-Jamal on NBC’s The Today  
Show!


On Dec. 6, NBC’s The Today Show intends to air a show about Michael  
Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner’s new book “Murdered By Mumia.”  
According to the announcement on Michael Smerconish’s website, the  
show is planning to feature both Smerconish and Faulkner as guests.


The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal  
(FreeMumia.com), Journalists for Mumia (Abu-Jamal-News.com), and  
Educators for Mumia (EmajOnline.com) have initiated a media-activist  
campaign urging people to write The Today Show at today at msnbc.com  
asking them to fairly present both sides of the Mumia Abu-Jamal /  
Daniel Faulkner case, by also featuring as guests, Linn Washington,  
Jr. (Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of  
Journalism at Temple University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical  
Psychologist and Co-Chair of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC).


A sample letter (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/TodayShow.doc),  
accompanied by an extensive informational press pack (http://www.abu- 
jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf) has been created to use for  
contacting The Today Show.  Please take a minute and contact them to  
ensure fair media coverage of this controversial and important case.


Sincerely,


The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal  
(FreeMumia.com)

Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (Abu-Jamal-News.com)

Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal (EmajOnline.com)



SAMPLE LETTER


Dear Today Show,


On December, 2007, the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal will be entering the  
27th year. In the course of those years, much of the media coverage  
has contained pure speculation and falsehoods.  Media watchdogs like  
FAIR.ORG have sharply criticized this coverage as being biased  
against Abu-Jamal.


We understand that on Dec. 6, the Today Show intends to air a show  
about Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner’s book “Murdered By  
Mumia.” Interestingly, the scheduled interview regarding the new book  
focusing on Mrs. Faulkner comes at a time of many startling new  
developments in this historic case, generating international attention.


Reflecting the international interest in this case, in 2003, Abu- 
Jamal was named an honorary citizen of Paris, and in 2006, the city  
of St. Denis named a street after him.  While this was largely  
motivated by opposition to the death penalty, they also cited strong  
evidence of both an unfair trial and Abu-Jamal’s innocence.


One of these developments centers on extraordinary photos of the 1981  
crime scene taken by Philadelphia-based press photographer Pedro  
Polakoff (viewable at Abu-Jamal-News.com) that reveal manipulation of  
evidence, and completely contradict the prosecution’s case, including  
Officer James Forbes’ testimony that he properly handled both Abu- 
Jamal’s and Faulkner’s guns (the photos show Forbes holding both guns  
in his bare hand). Also the photos reveal that there were no large  
bullet divots or destroyed chunks of cement where Faulkner was found,  
which should be visible in the pavement if the prosecution’s scenario  
was accurate, according to which Abu-Jamal shot down at Faulkner and  
allegedly missed several times while Faulkner was on his back. Of  
particular note, this photographer twice attempted to provide these  
photos to the District Attorney for both the 1982 trial and the 1995  
PCRA hearings, and was ignored both times.


Since his incarceration, Abu-Jamal has published six books and  
countless articles, and has delivered hundreds of speeches, including  
keynote addresses for college graduations.  As a prolific writer and  
tenacious journalist, he has earned the respect (and support) of such  
notable prize-winning authors as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, John  
Edgar Wideman, and Salman Rushdie.  Just recently, he was accepted  
into the PEN American Center, one of the highest honors a writer can  
achieve.  Additionally, at the time of his arrest, he was president  
of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists,  
and was awarded the PEN Oakland award for outstanding journalism  
after the publication of his first book, Live from Death Row.  Since  
Live, he has garnered a following of dedicated readers around the  
world, including scholars, college educators, and journalists.  His  
work is, in part, testament to the dignity he has demonstrated for  
the past 25 years he has been on death row.


The ethical interests in balance and fairness in presenting “news”  
regarding the Abu-Jamal case, arguably requires providing Today Show  
viewers with information evidencing Mr. Abu-Jamal’s innocence and  
unfair trial.  To represent this other side, and to provide  
perspectives addressing the informational needs of your viewers, I  
ask that you also feature experts Linn Washington, Jr. (Philadelphia  
Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple  
University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair  
of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC) as guests on your Dec. 6  
show (they can be contacted via Journalists for Mumia:  
hbjournalist at gmail.com).



While Mrs. Faulkner certainly has a “story” and is entitled to her  
opinions, your viewers should be privy to other facts, such as the  
prosecution withholding key evidence, witness coercion, racist jury  
selection, and evidence that Judge Albert Sabo boasted about his  
desire to help the prosecution “fry the nigger,” as enclosed in the  
press packet provided here for you:  http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/ 
PressPackNov07.pdf


I also write to provide you with information (inclusive of material  
from Abu-Jamal’s lawyer) in the interests of journalistic balance,  
fairness and integrity. The press packet includes 1) A recent Black  
Commentator article by Philadelphia lawyer/journalist David A. Love  
describing the significance of the Polakoff photos, 2) An Educators  
for Mumia Abu-Jamal press release about the Polakoff photos, written  
by Princeton University Professor Mark L. Taylor, 3) Criticism of the  
1998 ABC 20/20 program about Abu-Jamal, 4) Background on the case,  
focusing on both the 1982 trial and 1995-97 PCRA hearings, with a  
focus on Abu-Jamal’s alleged “hospital confession,” ballistics  
evidence, and the testimony of Veronica Jones, 5) Recent police  
intimidation of Abu-Jamal’s supporters, including reported death  
threats against Sgt. DeLacy Davis, of Black Cops Against Police  
Brutality, and more.


Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,