Mumia Abu Jamal is hospitalized with no visitation or contact

The following is a March 30 press release from the Philadelphia International Action Center, which works with MOVE, the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home and others to free Mumia Abu-Jamal. The contact for the release is Betsey Piette, 610-348-8017.

At 1 p.m. EDT today, political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal had a medical emergency, and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, Pa.

Wary of events such as the recent death of MOVE leader Phil Africa, who passed away under suspicious circumstances at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, Pa., in January, supporters of Mumia immediately travelled to the hospital to learn more about his condition. Mumia’s brother, Keith Cook, who was part of a delegation to the Pennsylvania Capitol today to challenge the Revictimization Relief Act, which denies First Amendment rights to Pennsylvania prisoners, was not allowed to visit his brother. Even Mumia’s spouse, Wadiya Cook, has received almost no information and has not been allowed to visit Mumia.

In an attempt to learn more about Mumia’s condition, around 15 supporters of Mumia [were] feet away from Mumia’s hospital door at the Schuylkill Medical Center; yet four police officers [stood] in their way [blocking] the answers they seek. Hundreds of supporters have called SCI Mahanoy Superintendent John Kerestes. This led Kerestes’ office to turn off his phone line, forcing concerned people to leave messages.

Mumia’s life is in danger. We encourage media and people concerned with Mumia’s health to contact the following individuals and institutions responsible for the health care of Pennsylvania prisoners and demand answers and family visitation rights in this urgent case.

Please call in reference to Mumia’s legal name, “Wesley Cook,” and his identification as prisoner #AM 8335.

Richard Ellers
Director, PA Department of Corrections Health Care Services
rellers@cor.pa.gov
(717) 728-5311

John Wetzel
Secretary, PA Department of Corrections
(717) 728-4109

Schuylkill Medical Center
(570) 621-4000

SCI Mahanoy
Superindendent John Kerestes
(570) 773-2158

As soon as we know more, we will be sending out an updated release to the media.