Recognized around the world, this photo of Delbert Africa was taken on that fateful day MOVE’s home was destroyed and nine of the family arrested nearly 30 years ago, on Aug. 8, 1978. Photo: Jim G. Domke, Philadelphia Inquirer

At this urgent time, MOVE is asking for support by writing letters, making telephone calls to (717) 787-5699 and signing the online petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/move9parole/ that will be delivered to the board later this month.

Along with Chairman Catherine C. McVey, the other eight Parole Board members are Charles Fox, Michael L. Green, Jeffrey R. Imboden, Matthew T. Mangino, Benjamin A. Martinez, Gerard N. Massaro, Judy Viglione and Lloyd A. White. Their photos and bios can be found at www.pbpp.state.pa.us/pbppinfo/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=154178&pbppNav=%7C.
It is best for individuals to personally send a letter to Chairman McVey and, if folks have the resources, to also send a copy to each of the other eight board members, at the same address.

Address your letter to [name of Board member], Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 1101 South Front St., Suite 5100, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2517. Or, for those who lack the resources, the letter can be sent to Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal, P.O. Box 30770, Philadelphia, PA 19104. We will then send a copy of your letter to all board members and also to each of the eight MOVE prisoners so they can present the support letters to their interviewers.

These next few weeks are crucial. Please spread the word and help in any way you can! For the latest news about the MOVE 9 parole campaign, visit move9parole.blogspot.com, onamove.com or Abu-Jamal-News.com.

Here is a sample letter for the Parole Board. Feel free to personalize your letter, but please keep it polite and respectful.

Regarding: 2008 Parole of Eight Prisoners: Debbie Sims Africa #006307, Janet Holloway Africa #006308, Janine Phillips Africa #006309, Michael Davis Africa #AM-4973, Charles Sims Africa #AM-4975, William Phillips Africa #AM-4984, Delbert Orr Africa #AM-4985 and Edward Goodman Africa #AM-4974

Dear Mrs. McVey,

Please parole Chuck, Debbie, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Mike and Phil Africa this year. They have not caused any major disciplinary problems during the past three decades. They have spent most of their lives in prison; please allow them to be a part of, and contribute to, society as free citizens.

There are many around the world who have different reasons for supporting parole for these eight prisoners.

- The sentencing judge stated publicly that he did not have the faintest idea who shot the one bullet that killed Officer Ramp. Nine people cannot fire one bullet.

- Many supporters of parole feel that Officer Ramp was actually shot by police "friendly fire," because it would have been ballistically impossible for MOVE to have shot Ramp, who was across the street from MOVE's house. These supporters believe that because of MOVE's position in the basement, bullets coming from there would have had an upward trajectory, yet the medical examiner testified that the bullet entered Ramp's "chest from in front and coursed horizontally without deviation up or down."

- Even the authenticity of official ballistics is in dispute. At a pre-trial hearing, in open court, the judge allowed the prosecutor to literally use a pencil and eraser to change the medical examiner's report to conform with the medical examiner's testimony about the bullet's trajectory.

This theory about the bullet's trajectory could have been tested, but MOVE's house was illegally demolished - a Philadelphia judge had already signed an order barring the city from destroying the house - that very day, and police did nothing to preserve the crime scene, inscribe chalk marks or measure ballistics angles. In a preliminary hearing on a motion to dismiss, MOVE unsuccessfully argued that destroying their home had prevented them from proving that it was physically impossible for MOVE to have shot Ramp.

Yet other supporters of parole cite the average 10-15 year sentence given for third-degree murder. MOVE prisoners have now served two to three times this sentence. Isn't 30 years enough? Merle Africa, who has died in prison and these surviving eight have already paid a terrible price for what happened on that day.

Lastly, I am concerned about optional stipulations that the Parole Board may require, which I feel are unfair, and which many legal scholars feel is a violation of First Amendment rights. In the past, as a condition for parole, MOVE prisoners have unfairly been required to renounce MOVE and their deeply held religious beliefs. I am also concerned about two other possible stipulations.

First is the "taking responsibility" stipulation, which basically asks a prisoner to admit guilt in order to be granted parole. These eight MOVE prisoners have always maintained their innocence, so it is unfair to require this of them.

Second is the "serious nature of offense" stipulation. MOVE spokesperson Ramona Africa feels that this is illegal "because the judge took this into consideration and when the sentence was issued; it meant that barring any misconduct, problems, new charges etc. this prisoner was to be released on their minimum. To deny that is basically a re-sentence."

Please do not require these optional stipulations.

I do ask that you please grant parole to these eight prisoners so that, after 30 years, they can go home to their families.

Respectfully,

[Your signature, name and address]

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