From: nattyreb@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 02:40:29
Subject: !*More on Black United Fund of Pennsylvania Under Attack

FORWARDED ARTICLE
===================

Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 10:47:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: janet@wwpublish.com

[Moderator: In order to give proper context to this rebuttal, I've
included the URLs to the original articles and editorials in the
Philadelphia Inquirer at the end of this message.]

--------------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the May 27, 1999
issue of Workers World newspaper
--------------------------------

PHILLY PAPER ATTACKS MUMIA LEGAL DEFENSE: 
PAM AFRICA CHARGES "GOVERNMENT TERRORISM"

By Greg Butterfield

Following the successful Millions for Mumia demonstration April 24 in
Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, city and state
officials, and police groups have opened an attack aimed at undermining
and discrediting political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal's legal defense fund. 

A series of front-page articles written in late April and early May by
Inquirer staff writers Monica Yant, Craig R. McCoy and Larry Fish claimed
to be an expose, of the relationship between Abu-Jamal's defense committee
-- International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal -- and the
Black United Fund of Pennsylvania. 

Pam Africa, the coordinator of International Concerned Family & Friends,
told Workers World that the articles were a direct response to the
25,000-to-30,000 strong demonstration on April 24. The Millions for Mumia
demonstration demanded no execution and a new trial for Abu-Jamal. 

"The pressure is turned up on them right now," Africa said. "The
government is feeling a lot of heat from around the world, so they have
decided to step up the intimidation against Mumia's supporters. 

"The Philadelphia Inquirer has attacked me and the Black United Fund by
name. This is not the first time they have tried to make an example of
people who defy them." 

Africa told WW that Pamela Jenkins has also been singled out for attack.
Jenkins was a witness to the Dec. 9, 1981, incident that led to Mumia
Abu-Jamal's conviction on charges of killing a white cop. In 1982, police
threats forced Jenkins to testify against Abu-Jamal. Later, however, she
came forward to say that he was not guilty. 

"Pamela Jenkins--after she appeared on the stage April 24, the police
locked her up," said Africa. 

"This is government terrorism," she said. 

Africa knows some things about government terror. She is minister of
confrontation for the MOVE organization, a group singled out for its
militant advocacy of Black people's right to armed self-defense. 

Fourteen years ago--on May 13, 1985--the Philadelphia Police Department
bombed the MOVE house in a Black residential neighborhood. Some 62 homes
in the surrounding area burned to the ground. 

Eleven MOVE members--including five children--died. 

BLACK UNITED FUND RESPONDS

In step with the Inquirer's smear campaign, Mayor Ed Rendell said the 
city may revoke its funding for BUF/PA because of the association with
Abu-Jamal. He urged city employees to stop making contributions to the
group unless it renounces Abu-Jamal. 

State officials have threatened to strip the Black United Fund of
Pennsylvania of its tax-exempt status. 

"The mayor told people not to fund BUF if they continue to support Mumia,"
Africa explained. "But BUF is not backing down." 

Linda Waters Richardson, president of BUF/PA, said: "The board of
directors, staff and management of the Black United Fund of Pennsylvania
make no apologies and are proud to help support and sustain programs,
events and organizations that are working to strengthen African Americans.
We are committed to and will continue our mission to empower African
American communities throughout Pennsylvania." 

In an April 27 statement, Waters Richardson explained the fund's
relationship to International Concerned Family & Friends, showing that BUF
is in full compliance with laws governing tax-deductible charities. 

According to the statement, while "BUF/PA provides grants and technical
assistance to non-profit organizations committed to improving conditions
in African American communities," its relationship to Abu-Jamal's legal
defense is different. 

BUF/PA simply manages tax-exempt donations made by individuals to
International Concerned Family & Friends. It does not funnel any city
funds or other contributions to Abu-Jamal's defense. 

International Concerned Family & Friends is one of BUF/PA's many donor
advised programs. Others include Black Women's Health Project, African
Americans for Justice Against Texaco, Roxanne Jones Memorial Fund, Million
Woman March, Uptown Cultural District Group and College for Kids. 

BUF/PA programs benefit the whole community. So Mayor Rendell's threat to
cut off funding has caused an uproar there. 

"BUF has got a lot more support than the government expected," said
Africa. "It's forcing people to stand up. 

"We're having a two-day work meeting to bring people up to date on Mumia's
case on May 29 and 30 in Philadelphia," she said. "The meeting will help
people get organized for the next steps and to understand the attack that
is going on right now." 

The meetings will take place at 4601 Market St. on May 29 from 6 p.m. to
10 p.m., and on May 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For
more information, readers can call the International Concerned Family &
Friends at (215) 476-8812. 

Information and updates on Mumia Abu-Jamal's case are available on the web
sites at www.peoplescampaign.org and www.mumia.org. 

                         - END -

(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and
distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not
allowed.  For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., 
New York, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@workers.org.)

---

Abu-Jamal donation fund may skirt federal tax laws
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Apr/25/front_page/BUCKS25.htm

Charity raised $203,000 for Abu-Jamal cause
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Apr/29/front_page/MUMI29.htm

Charity cut out of it's literature ties to Abu-Jamal
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Apr/30/city/MUMI30.htm

Cut Abu-Jamal ties
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/May/13/opinion/EDFUND13.htm

The Black United Fund and Mumia Abu-Jamal
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/May/17/opinion/LEDE17.htm


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