|
Meet the lead attorney for Mumia Abu-Jamal - on death row for 23 years Thursday 21 April, 6.30pm Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street EC4 Temple/Chancery Lane Hosted and introduced by Ian Macdonald QC We invite you to meet Robert R Bryan of San Francisco, Mumia Abu-Jamal's lead attorney who specializes in defending those facing the death penalty. Mr Abu-Jamal is an award-winning journalist who has been on Pennsylvania's death row for over 23 years. He is known as "the voice of the voiceless." His case has become a cause célèbre throughout much of the world (see summary of case here). Mr Bryan will speak about the significance of Mr Abu-Jamal's case internationally, since it spans the spectrum of what can go wrong in the legal system: from racism, a politically-motivated prosecution, false evidence, incompetent legal representation -- especially for those without money and resources -- and a biased judiciary. Mr Bryan is interested in meeting lawyers and others, especially those who are involved in work against miscarriages of justice. Legal Action for Women has given general support to Mr Abu-Jamal for many years, but last October had the opportunity to visit him in prison (see enclosed account of the prison visit). As you may know, he is a remarkable man who has kept himself together despite over two decades of death-row imprisonment and the grave injustices of his case. At the time of his 1981 arrest, he was actively exposing police violence against Black people and others of colour. His weekly commentaries from death row are recorded by Prison Radio, and are heard and read worldwide. The US government's determination to kill Mr Abu-Jamal has to be seen in the context of its treatment of other journalists, so many of whom have been attacked or killed for trying to speak the truth, such as the attempted murder of Giuliana Sgrena. The authorities aim to silence Mr Abu-Jamal by putting him to death contrary to a world-wide movement demanding a fair trial. RSVP to Legal Action for Women Tel: 020 7482 2496 minicom/voice Fax: 020 7209 4761 E-mail: law@crossroadswomen.net Crossroads Women's Centre, PO Box 287, London NW6 5QU Meet the lead attorney for Mumia Abu-Jamal |