U.N. rights group files brief about systemic racism in Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case

The United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent filed an amicus brief on Dec. 6 with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Lucretia Clemons regarding the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

“The United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGEPAD) has followed Mumia’s case for years and has just filed an amicus brief for his hearing,” says Julia Wright, elder daughter of renowned author Richard Wright. “Given instances of the pervasive systemic racism tainting the case to this day, these experts note that international human rights law requires jurists to take responsibility for ongoing effects of racial discrimination, even decades later.”

According to WGEPAD’s amicus brief, “Presumed victims of racial discrimination are not required to show that there was discriminatory intent against them … The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal may present such concerns. …

“A significant percentage of the police officers involved in gathering evidence and presenting the case were investigated and eventually convicted and jailed on charges including corruption and evidence tampering, information that was unavailable to the jury at the time it was assessing the credibility, tendency toward bias, and reliability of these officers.”