Media Alert! Emergency Demo for Mumia Abu-Jamal
April 8, 2015 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Parker (323) 899-2003 National Protests Demand SAVE THE LIFE OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL! STOP HIS EXECUTION BY MEDICAL NEGLECT! What: Los Angeles joins national protests demanding immediate and effective medical attention for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal When: Friday April 10 at 4 PM Where: Downtown Federal Building in Los Angeles - 300 N. Los Angeles St. Who: International Action Center, BAYAN-USA, Unión del Barrio, STOP LAPD Spying Coalition, Anti-Racist Action-LA, Puerto Rican Alliance, Los Angeles Workers Assembly, Union of Progressive Iranians and more. Concerned supporters of internationally known political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal will hold a protest at the Downtown Federal Building in Los Angeles demanding immediate medical attention for Mumia this Friday, April 10 at 4:00 p.m. This action is part of a worldwide day of action to save the life of Mr. Abu-Jamal and endorsed nationally by hundreds of representatives of various social justice organizations. Stopped from carrying out the death penalty against Mumia Abu-Jamal by a world-wide movement that spanned three decades, over the past three months the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has been attempting to execute him by medical neglect. Political prisoner Mr. Abu-Jamal is an internationally-known and recognized writer and award-winning journalist having authored seven books and reported on thousands of progressive events and movements. He is well known and supported in Los Angeles. On March 30, Abu-Jamal was rushed, unconscious, to the Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, Pa. suffering diabetic shock with a dangerously high blood sugar level of 779. After just two days of treatment in the hospital’s ICU, on April 1 Abu-Jamal was returned to the prison infirmary at SCI Mahanoy in Frackville, Pa. into the hands of the very same doctors whose medical neglect and mistreatment nearly killed him. Prison officials initially denied visits by family members, supporters and Abu-Jamal’s attorneys, and only backed down after receiving thousands of calls. Those able to visit Mr. Abu-Jamal on April 3 reported he was extremely weak, had lost 80 pounds, and still had elevated blood sugar levels over 300. For lunch, the prison fed him spaghetti, one of the worst foods to give a diabetic patient. The murder of aging political prisoners by denying them adequate health care has happened before. Earlier this year MOVE 9 member Phil Africa died under suspicious circumstances at SCI Dallas. The lack of standard medical treatment impacts all prisoners, particularly those over 55. We are demanding that the state of Pennsylvania cease and desist in their attempts to murder political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. - Allow daily visits by Mr. Abu-Jamal’s family, friends, and attorneys. Their support and protection in this time of vulnerability should not be restricted - Allow Mr. Abu-Jamal’s choice of specialist doctors to examine and schedule treatment for him – NOW. Neither the prison staff at SCI Mahanoy nor the Schuylkill Medical Center has a diabetes specialist. There is precedent in Pennsylvania for this. Prisoner, John E. du Pont, an heir to the du Pont chemical fortune, was allowed care by private doctors during imprisonment. Mr. Abu-Jamal deserves the same. - Release Mr. Abu-Jamal’s medical records to his attorney - We demand the release of all of the elderly in prison, age 55 and over. - A full investigation of prison healthcare in Pennsylvania. - Mr. Abu-Jamal is innocent and should never have been incarcerated. We demand his immediate release. #30
