Mumia Still in Solitary: Protest Vindictive Prison Conditions

(Class-Struggle Defense Notes)

On January 12, the Partisan Defense Committee sent the following protest letter to Superintendent John Kerestes.

We write to protest the abusive treatment of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal since his transfer to SCI Mahanoy.

For nearly 30 years, this innocent man was subjected to the torturous conditions of life on death row. Following Mr. Abu-Jamal’s transfer to Mahanoy, after the Philadelphia District Attorney announced that he would not hold a trial in an attempt to reinstate the death sentence, his conditions have been markedly worse: solitary confinement; inadequate food and denial of commissary access; shackled whenever leaving his cell—even to shower; no regular access to phone calls and to his property including legal materials; and restricted visitation rights.

There is absolutely no basis to justify such treatment. It is patently clear to many around the world that the imposition of these draconian conditions is retaliation for Mr. Abu-Jamal’s successful efforts to stop his legal lynching. Mumia Abu-Jamal should never have spent a day in prison—but while he is there we add our voice to the many who demand an end to the vendetta against him and that he be accorded the same rights and privileges as other prisoners.

Protests should be sent to: John Kerestes, Superintendent, SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Road, Frackville, PA 17932 (fax 570-783-2008); John Wetzl, Secretary, Department of Corrections, 2520 Lisburn Road, P.O. Box 598, Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598 (e-mail: ra-contactdoc@pa.gov); and Seth Williams, District Attorney, Philadelphia, Three South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3499 (e-mail: DA_Central@phila.gov).