MOVE and ICFFMAJ have released a statement on the prison’s attempt to murder political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal may be one of the most widely known prison inmates in America and has fallen gravely ill. Mumia is hardly able to walk or talk because of severe complications related largely to the diabetes which medical personnel inside a Pennsylvania prison failed to diagnose for months.
Failure to diagnose his diabetes is what led to Abu-Jamal’s emergency hospitalization in March, after he collapsed unconscious and in sugar shock. At the time, he was transported to the hospital on the verge of a potentially fatal diabetic coma. Despite his painful and deteriorating medical condition, Pennsylvania prison authorities have banned Abu-Jamal from receiving access to or consultation from medical experts assembled by his supporters.
Following is the statement was released by the organizations MOVE and ICFFMAJ (International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal) to inform Mumia’s supporters:
This government is actively killing Mumia right now at SCI Mahanoy. When Mumia was transferred to general population in December of 2012, Maureen Faulkner and the Fraternal Order of Police made it clear that they intended for him to die there. Maureen Faulkner stated that now the time “doesn’t seem so far off” before Mumia “stands before his ultimate judge.” She hinted that she hoped he’d be killed by another inmate. They are currently carrying out that exact plan with prison doctors! Mumia was held in isolation for thirty years. When they saw that he had emerged from that strong, healthy, and determined, they decided to come at him another way. Despite being shot and beaten on December 9th, 1981, Mumia survived. They failed at executing him despite two execution dates, and after thirty years of isolation they couldn’t break his spirit. Mumia’s medical condition goes far beyond medical neglect or incompetence– this is deliberate murder.
Mumia’s wife, Wadiya Jamal, visited him twice this week and witnessed that his condition is way worse than the previous week. Mumia came into the visiting room walking baby steps, in severe pain, and talking slowly and quietly. His face was sunken in, his skin is blackened like a burn victim with open wounds, and his arms, torso, legs and testicles are severely swollen with skin that is tightened and hard from swelling. Sitting down and standing up are both painful.
Prison doctors say they don’t know exactly what’s wrong with Mumia and yet they won’t allow outside doctors in to see him. It isn’t that they don’t know, it’s that they know exactly what’s happening and it is exactly what they intend to happen! One of the drugs Mumia is being given, Cyclosporine, is known to lower the immune system and to cause many of the symptoms Mumia is being tortured by: chills, aches, problems with speech or walking, muscle weakness, tremors or muscle spasms. Mumia is suffering horribly and he is stuck choosing between having no medical care or being treated by the people employed by an institution which is set on his murder. The only solution is for Mumia to be home with his family!
It’s no accident that this attack on Mumia comes as people are rising up across the country to protest the police murders of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Freddie Gray and many more. Mumia’s voice has been key in educating the world about these killings and in uniting people in struggle. As masses of people are rising up in rebellion they need Mumia silenced more now than ever. We must unite like never before to fight against this police terrorism and bring Mumia home! Mumia has given his life for this movement, he has sacrificed everything for true justice, now is the time to pay it back!
-The Campaign to Bring Mumia Home
Petition for Mumia’s Medical Help
The supporting groups are demanding from John Kerestes, Superintendent of SCI Mahoney, that Mumia be allowed to receive outside medical assistance and get the adequate medical care he needs immediately. Below are the contacts for those responsible in making the imperative call to save Mumia’s life.
John Kerestes, Superintendent SCI Mahanoy: 570-773-2158 x8102 |570-783-2008 Fax | 301 Morea Road, Frackville PA 17932
Tom Wolf, PA Gvrnr: 717-787-2500 | governor@PA.gov | 508 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg PA 17120
John Wetzel, PA DOC: 717-728-4109 | 717-728-4178 Fax | ra-contactdoc@poc.gov | 1920 Technology Pkwy, Mechanicsburg PA 17050
Susan McNaughton, DOC Press secretary 717-728-4025. PA Docsmcnaughton@pa.gov
“Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, a day-to-day degradation of the self, an oppressive steel and brick umbrella that transforms seconds into hours and hours into days.”
-Mumia Abu-Jamal
Click below to contribute in getting Mumia the immediate medical care he needs.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mumia-abu-jamal-needs-medical-care-now
-Infinite Wiz (@Infinite Wiz)
