[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----USA----NAACP DEATH PENALTY OPPOSITION, MUMIA NEW TRIAL AND MORATORIUM /// USA/PENN.

[Rick Halperin]

Actual Text of NAACP Resolution for
New Trial for Mumia and a National Death Penalty Moratorium
(Adopted at NAACP National Convention, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2004)

      EMERGENCY RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY

      WHEREAS, the NAACP adopted a resolution in 2001 re-affirming our
opposition to the death penalty due to its racially disparate
application; and

      WHEREAS, the NAACP has re-affirmed its 1975 resolution opposing the
death penalty on the grounds that it constitutes cruel and unusual
punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the United States
Constitution; and

      WHEREAS, many people, including Mumia Abu-Jamal, are incarcerated
on death row and face possible execution; and

      WHEREAS, more than 320 people on death row have been exonerated;
and

      WHEREAS, though African Americans make up only 12.4% of the U.S.
population, we make up 38% of all the Americans that were sentenced to
death and later freed after being found innocent; and

      WHEREAS, African Americans make up 35% of those being found
innocent after being executed; and

      WHEREAS, African Americans make up over 80% of those awaiting
execution on federal death row; and

      WHEREAS, 145 people have been exonerated based upon DNA evidence;
and

      WHEREAS, there is no possible way of restoring the life of an
innocent person killed by the death penalty; and

      WHEREAS, the implementation of the death penalty raises concerns
regarding bias identification, police and prosecutorial misconduct,
judicial apathy in protecting the rights of the accused, faulty evidence,
inadequate defense representation, coerced confessions, and fabricated
testimony, and,

      THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People reiterates its strong opposition to the
death penalty; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP calls on its units throughout
the United States and the world to support the international call for
Mumia Abu-Jamal to be released from death row; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP reiterate its support of the
international movement for a new and fair trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal; and

      BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP renew its call for new nation
wide studies on racial discrimination, the adequacy of counsel, access to
modern research technology such as DNA analysis, the sentencing of
children and women to the death penalty and that the NAACP reiterate its
call for a national moratorium on all executions.

      ss: Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO; Julian Bond, Chairman of the
Board of Directors