Mobilization4Mumia 215-724-1618 Mobilization4Mumia.com mobilization4mumia@gmail.com |
PRESS ALERT
Contact: Sophia Williams 917-806-0521, Pam Africa 267-760-7344 or Joe Piette 610-931-2615 |
April 16 Press Conference to address PA DOC cruel hoax that Abu-Jamal was ill with COVID-19 |
Breaking News: At 5:04 PM on Wednesday, April 15th, a prison official inside the SCI Mahanoy Superintendents’ Office told a concerned advocate for Mumia on an official DOC phone that Mumia was being transported by ambulance for evaluation of COVID 19 symptoms and had trouble breathing. After hours of supporters repeatedly calling prison officials to demand an opportunity to speak with Mumia, they allowed him a call at almost 9 PM. Mumia confirmed that the official report was false. “I am fine,” he said, “What I need is freedom.” A ZOOM press conference will be held on Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 AM to question why a PA DOC official fostered this cruel hoax. This is of grave concern because the COVID-19 pandemic imposes a death sentence on the incarcerated, including 66-year-old Mumia, who already suffers from cirrhosis of the liver. More striking is this whole incident points to how the Pennsylvania DOC response to the COVID 19 pandemic is doomed to failure. As of April 15th, there have been a total of 53 tests out of 45,000 inmates with a 17% positivity rate and already we have seen one death. There simply are not enough tests to understand the full transmission of the virus. The prison reduction mitigation efforts are not at all commensurate with the epidemic. In the last month, there has only been a reduction of 474 out of 45,000 prisoners. It is time to release thousands of prisoners, especially the elderly and immuno-compromised, such as respected journalist and internationally recognized political prisoner, Mumia Abu Jamal, that have homes, and caring families and are no risk to the community. -60- |
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