From the Bay Area Civil Rights Movement Veterans group, forwarded by the Independent Political Politics Network, with thanks to Muriel Tillinghast and others.
WHO IS JAMIL AL-AMIN AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, is a past chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, SNCC, the "shock troops" of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement.
Jamil is an articulate, unapologetic, proud Black man who has always spoken what was on his mind and spoken the truth about what he sees in American society: its racism and injustice to Black people.
As H. Rap Brown, he served five years in prison in the early 1970's.when the government was cracking down on Black militants everywhere. During his time in prison, Brown embraced Islam and with that he developed a new and clear direction to his life.
He moved into a crime-ridden area in Atlanta, GA and successfully organized residents to fight drugs and other negative forces there. He has owned and operated a small grocery store in this community for many years. As a spiritual leader, an Imam, he developed a strong Muslim community in the area and served it for 25 years.
Ever since his activities in SNCC and immediately thereafter, Jamil has been a wanted man, hunted and hounded by federal agents looking for opportunities to return him to jail, to lay claim to his life. Since his release from prison in 1975, there have been 35 attempts to arrest and imprison him again various charges. Every charge had been dropped after being found baseless.
AND NOW HE IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE!
Imam Al-Amin has been in jail since March 20, 2000, after being picked up and held for allegedly shooting two police officers in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jury selection began Monday, January 7 and has been going very slowly. It is expected to be finished during the week of Feb. 4.
The Imam faces 13 counts under Georgia law, with more possible under Alabama and federal law. The District Attorney says he will seek the death penalty. But the case against Jamil is weak. There has been widespread tampering with the evidence, a mismatch of eye-witness identification, blood disappearance and vanished or altered policecars. The judge has been very punitive. She followed one gag order against his speaking about the case with another more severe one. When he sent a letter to his Mosque that did not talk about the trial, which he thought acceptable, the judge found him in contempt and punished him further.
WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES THIS EMAIL TO HELP:
1) SEND A LETTER OR POSTCARD IMMEDIATELY TO THE PRESIDING JUDGE URGING THAT HE HAVE A FAIR TRIAL. Send it to:
JUDGE STEPHANINE B. MANIS
FULTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, SUITE 5905
185 CENTRAL AVENUE S.W.
ATLANTA, GA, 30303
2)SEND A CONTRIBUTION FOR LEGAL EXPENSES TO: THE JUSTICE FUND, P.O. BOX 93963, ATLANTA, GA 30377.
3)PASS THE WORD. PUT THIS MESSAGE ON YOUR CONTACT LISTSERVES, HOST A GATHERING IN HIS NAME.
AND COME TO THE TRIAL IN FEBRUARY, IN ATLANTA, IF YOU CAN!
All this is part of a broad-based effort to let the court know we are expecting a fair trial and that many of us are watching. In the past, high-profile defendants have been helped by the visibility.of courtroom proceedings.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR LISTS AND CONTACTS. OUR OBJECT IS TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF LETTERS AND POSTCARDS RECEIVED BY THE COURT.
Remember: $0.34 IS NOT TOO MUCH TO GIVE TO HELP SAFEGUARD DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND DEFEND AN INNOCENT MAN'S LIFE.
SAMPLE LETTER (FOR ADULTS)
HONORABLE JUDGE STEPHANIE B. MANIS
FULTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
185 CENTRAL AVENUE S.W., Suite 5905
ATLANTA, GA 30303
RE: IMAM JAMIL AL-AMIN
Dear Judge Manis:
Before you is the case of Imam Jamil Al-Amin.
We are aware that this is a difficult case and are writing to request that the management of this case meet with the highest standards of democratic procedure including a fair and complete review of all case-relevant evidence. Thank you (signed)
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