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Recent Similar ArticlesMOVE 9 Parole Hearings: |
Tell the Media: "Parole the MOVE 9!"
by
move9parole.blogspot.com | 07.03.2008
This spring the MOVE 9 were denied parole. The parole board stated that they failed to admit guilt to the crime they were convicted of; the same crime they have maintained they did not commit. Despite startling evidence of their innocence, and international movement built in their defense, the parole board wants to act as judge and jury. Link to Dave's letter to the editor, as a sample: My sample letter to letters to the editor: This spring the MOVE 9 were denied parole. The parole board stated that they failed to admit guilt to the crime they were convicted of; the same crime they have maintained they did not commit. Despite startling evidence of their innocence, and international movement built in their defense, the parole board wants to act as judge and jury. During sentencing the judge took into account the nature of the offense, the defendant’s claim of innocence, and all other factors when sentencing them to 30 years. After 30 years they should be released. Instead, the parole board, appointed by Governor Rendell (the DA at the time of their prosecution)
Meanwhile, worldwide there is outrage that these innocent people are still in prison. The media tries to ignore anything related to MOVE, but that does not stop this injustice. Demand the parole board do their jobs and release the MOVE 9! For those who maintain that the justice system works, prove it. Hold these people accountable to their own laws. It is illegal to force people to confess to crimes they did not commit as a parole stipulation. It keeps the prison records clean but at the expense of false incarceration. If you believe the system works, make it work. Stop this corruption. Stop this injustice.
Text from flyer on MOVE 9: [col. writ. 3/8/08] (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Incredibly, it's been almost 30 years - 30 years! - since 9 MOVE men and women were unjustly consigned to prisons across Pennsylvania.
Although known as the MOVE 9, there really are eight survivors of the August 8th, 1978 police assault on MOVE's West Philadelphia home and headquarters.
They are: Phil Africa, Janine Africa, Mike Africa, Debbie Africa, Janet Africa, Eddie Africa, Chuck Africa and Delbert Africa. The late Merle Africa died at the women's prison in Muncy, PA (near Williamsport, PA) under quite mysterious circumstances.
All 9 MOVE men and women were convicted in one of the longest (and most contentious) trials in city history, on dubious charges of 3rd degree murder of a city cop engaged in the raid on their home, and related charges. Even if all the charges were true (and they most certainly are not), the sentence 30 to 100 years can only be termed grossly excessive. At the time of trial, 3rd degree carried a sentence of 71/2 to 15 years --so essentially the MOVE people got more than double, and indeed, quadruple the maximum of what the statute provided. Indeed, the woman got the same sentences as the men, even though none of them faced weapons charges!
There's little real doubt that they're in prison today because they're MOVE members.
April 22, 2008, MOVE women that survived the August 8, 1978 police attempt to kill off MOVE were denied parole by the Pennsylvania Department of Probation and Parole (Shortly after Mike and Eddie Africa were also denied. Phil and Del Africa were officially denied parole in June. Chuck Africa goes in front of the board in the fall of 2008.) The Inquirer quotes parole board spokesperson Leo Dunn as saying that parole had been denied on the grounds that the three MOVE prisoners had “minimized or denied the ‘nature and circumstances’ of the offense, ‘refused to accept responsibility’ and lacked remorse. He said the fourth reason for the rejections was the ‘negative recommendation’ by the prosecutor.”
The parole board used several of the stipulations that MOVE spokesperson Ramona Africa had predicted that they would try and use to deny parole, including that they "refused to accept responsibility" and lacked remorse.... The unfairness and arguable illegality of this is so obvious, because how can you expect someone to "admit guilt" when they've always said they are innocent? Where does remorse come from if someone is actually innocent?
The “nature and circumstances” stipulation is a blatant re-sentence, since the serious nature of the charges were considered by the judge at the time when he ruled that MOVE should be eligible for parole after 30 years. How can this fairly be used to deny parole?
(Compiled from Ramona Africa, Hans Bennett, and Maiga Milbourne)
What you can do to help!
Contact the parole board:
Sign the petition:
What else you can do: call into radio shows, facilitate speaking engagements (contact onamovellja@aol.com), hold film showings, fundraisers, benefits, create a campaign linking with all other Political Prisoners eligible for parole: Herman Bell, Robert ‘Seth’ Hayes, Sundiata Acoli, Veronza Bowers, Sekou Kambui, Hugo Pinell, and Jalil Muntaqim. They, like the MOVE 9 are ELIGIBLE for parole and being continually denied! If we bring these people home we will have that many more committed revolutionaries to work for the release of those who are not eligible for parole!
BE THERE: AUGUST 9, 2008 PHILADELPHIA. Stay tuned to www.onamove.com for time and place. Contact icffmaj@aol.com and/or onamovellja@aol.com if you can help do outreach, make a donation, help with copying and cost, make phone calls, or any other contribution!
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