Above photo: Tony Savino, Socialist Action
Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio reports:
We won! As of yesterday, we defeated Pennsylvania’s “Gag Mumia Law”, SB 508. It’s hard to rejoice in this victory when Mumia is under medical neglect, riot police are terrorizing Baltimore, and the state violence that killed Freddie Gray and is putting Mumia’s life on the line is not unique but ingrained in the U.S.’ racist system of policing, surveillance and
The Silence Mumia Act, which the Pennsylvania General Assembly called the “Revictimization Relief Act”, is no more as of right now, as Chief Judge Connor for the Middle District of Pennsylvania federal court held the following:
“The court concludes that the challenged statute betrays several constitutional requirements; the enactment is unlawfully purposed, vaguely executed, and patently overbroad in scope. However well-intentioned its legislative efforts, the General Assembly fell woefully short of the mark. The result is a law that is manifestly unconstitutional, both facially and as applied to plaintiffs. Thus, the court is compelled to grant plaintiffs‟ requests for declaratory relief, declare the Revictimization Relief Act, 18 PA. CONS. STAT. § 11.1304, to be violative of the First and Fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and permanently enjoin its enforcement.”
Thank you to everyone who made this legal battle possible! Thank you to Bret Grote of the Abolitionist Law Center and Nikki Grant and Ashley Henderson of the Amistad Law Project for shutting down the Fraternal Order of Police. As we continue fighting the current battle to keep Mumia alive, we’re calling on everyone to pitch in to Mumia’s Medical Fund and spread the word. We have 4 days left to raise $6,000. Once you’ve given, please ask your networks to do the same.