Teach-in to Consider Controversial Death Row Prisoner

A teach-in concerning controversial death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 11, in Smith College's Wright Hall Auditorium.

The event, which is sponsored by the Smith College Black Student Alliance, the campus chapter of Amnesty International and the Western Massachusetts Mobilization for Mumia, is free and open to the public.

The case of Jamal, an African-American journalist who was convicted of the 1981 slaying of a white Philadelphia police officer, has drawn international attention as well as support from elected officials, jurists, religious leaders and human rights organizations throughout the world. Amnesty International has officially called for an immediate and thorough review of Jamal's trial and sentencing hearing.

Billed by event organizers as "a showdown on racism and the death penalty," the teach-in will feature a screening of an ABC 20/20 segment about Jamal titled "The Unlikely Hero," followed by an analysis of the program by journalist and case expert Clark Kissinger. In addition, John Bracey of the University of Massachusetts Dept. of Afro-American Studies will examine the historical and cultural contexts of the case.

Led by Robert Meeropol, executive director of the Rosenberg Fund for Children (and son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg), a question and answer period will follow the screening and discussions. Ann Ferguson, assistant professor of women's studies and African-American studies at Smith College, will serve as moderator for the event.

"This Pioneer Valley teach-in will serve as a national model for other such events and informational briefings. We will present the facts of Jamal's case to the public and attempt to create broad-based support for a new and fair trial for Mumia," said Katherine Gilbert-Espada of Amherst, an organizer for the Western Mass. Mobilization for Mumia. Last November, the group raised over $5,000 locally which went directly to Jamal's legal defense.

Organizers of the event hope to generate support for an April 24 march and rally in Philadelphia to demand a new trial for Jamal. For more information, call the Mobilization office at (413)538-8537 or e-mail wmassformumia@hotmail.com.