Summary

TAPE_NUMBER: EF00/0049 IN_TIME: 20:49:54 // 04:23:35 - 07:40:04 LENGTH: 01:30 SOURCES: APTN RESTRICTIONS: FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: English/Nat Civil rights activists from the U-S and abroad have again asked for a review of the case of convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. They were in Washington D-C on Wednesday to appeal directly to the Justice Department for a retrial of Abu-Jamal's case. Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1981 killing of a Philadelphia policeman. The onetime Black Panther and radio reporter has always denied killing Daniel Falkner, who was shot after stopping Abu-Jamal's brother for driving the wrong way down a city street. Abu-Jamal - who was found wounded at the murder scene - contends he was framed. His jailhouse writings about the justice system have attracted worldwide attention. And on Wednesday, his supporters again called for a reopening of his case. At a news conference in Washington D-C, they played an audio tape with a statement from Abu-Jamal. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Real Mafia guys are able to afford the best lawyers that money can buy, while the poor schmuck is stuck with court appointed lawyers, hardly the craft's best. So guess who goes to death row. Death row, it seems, is the prerogative of the poor." SUPER CAPTION: Voice of Mumia Abu-Jamal, death row inmate Abu-Jamal's case has drawn interest from human rights groups abroad, especially Europe. They view his death row status as a lightening rod, helping to focus attention on their own concerns of injustice. SOUNDBITE: (English) "In the U-K they do not hang us anymore, they stopped hanging us. They lock us up for life. Over here you still hang. And we think that it is very backward to actually kill people, and that backward practice has to stop." SUPER CAPTION: Martha Osamor, coordinator People of Colour Caucus, Trade Union Congress Abu-Jamal's supporters want the Department of Justice to review the actions of Philadelphia prosecutors in the case. They say their possible misconduct could warrant a retrial. At least one European political envoy said cases like Abu-Jamal's, and of other death row inmates, helped spark a movement against the death penalty across the European continent. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "In the Spanish parliament, in the houses of government, both of them have adopted resolutions against this penalty." SUPER CAPTION: Manuel Camara, member of Spanish Senate Although he lost his Supreme Court appeal last October, Abu-Jamal is not likely to be executed any time soon. He can challenge his state court conviction in federal courts, a process that someday could lead back to the Supreme Court. But despite the ongoing anti-death penalty movement focussing on Abu-Jamal, police officials in Philadelphia and the dead officer's family insist that Abu-Jamal is a brutal killer. SHOTLIST: XFA Washington, D.C., January 12, 2000 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 8 and 12, 1995 Washington, D.C., January 12, 2000 1. Man at news conference holding up magazine with photo of Mumia Abu-Jamal 2. Photographers 3. UPSOUND (English) Voice of Mumia Abu-Jamal, death row inmate 4. Woman holding protest sign 5. News conference 6. Photographer 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Osamor, coordinator, People of Colour Caucus, Trade Union Congress Philadelphia, August 8, 1995 8. Mumia Abu-Jamal stepping out of van and walking into building Washington, D.C., January 12, 2000 9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Manuel Camara, member of the Spanish Senate Philadelphia, August 12, 1995 10. Banner and demonstrators during rally for Abu-Jamal 11. Man selling books and other items 12. Book about Abu-Jamal?