ANATOMY OF A LIE
News Item: A 47-year old substitute teacher announces he heard former Black Panther, Mumia Abu-Jamal admit murdering a Philadelphia police officer. Vanity Fair magazine features an interview with Philip Bloch, who tells a reporter that Jamal made the admission to him during a visit in Winter of 1992 at Huntingdon Prison. The F.O.P. applauds Bloch's "courage," and the Philadelphia D.A.'s office announces this is proof of Jamal's guilt.
For the better part of a week in Summer of 1999, newspapers ran banner headlines, and talk shows did a brisk business in the above story. The gossip-oriented Disney-owned 20/20 show called it a "significant development" in the Jamal case, and shamelessly hyped the show's new "witness," from a man who claimed he was a close personal friend.
In a startling departure from journalistic "standards," not a single newspaper or so-called "news" show bothered to check his tale with me, nor to check him out with the Pennsylvania Prison Society, the agency that he was briefly affiliated with during his visits to state prisons in Pennsylvania. Instead, using the old "they did it--so we can do it" justification, papers and other media leaped at the chance to sell papers with this "hot" new story! You could almost hear them drooling at the "scoop!" Stop the presses! Rarely has one lie drawn so much ink, so much videotape, or wasted so many trees!
Let us suppose (just for the sake of argument!) that Bloch is speaking the truth. Have you ever seen cops embrace snitches so warmly? In truth, cops hate snitches, as should be clear from cop cases where cops tell on other cops! Do you think the cops who testified as to the brutal assault on Abner Louima in New York were hailed for their "courage"? Or were they damned and ostracized? What do you think?
Bloch claims I was a "close personal friend" of his, yet admits his letters went unanswered for years! If his tale is true, isn't he a snitch and a traitor?
Yet, there is no truth to Bloch's revelations, as will be seen by his own words. Again, just for the sake of argument, let us suppose all he said is true. Why would he write the following words to me over six months after my "confession" to him?
"I watched the movie - "Incident at Ogalala" [sic] last month - After [Leonard] Peltier's co-defendants were acquitted by the jury - (in a separate trial) - the FBI -- (interviewed on camera) were saying that the jurors and their families had been intimidated by Indians. Then they interviewed the foreman of the jury - and he said that nobody on the jury had ever seen any Indians - there was no truth to the FBI allegations. Then the juror said to the camera - I thought that the FBI agents were going to kill all of us (the jury) - after the verdict was read. So - it is possible to get justice from a jury - not always - but sometimes. So, when you get a new trial - I think that there is a good chance of acquittal. "(letter; 7/17, 1993)
Question: Why write to a guy and write about new trials or acquittals, if that guy confessed his guilt to you? Answer: Simple. There was no confession. Period. Mr. Bloch knew that six months after the time of an alleged "confession," which means he is lying now.
Did Bloch, like the cops of the 6th District, conveniently "forget" this "confession" also? I don't know and frankly don't care why he has now come forward. Perhaps he's frustrated that he's still a substitute teacher and wants a push from friends in high places? Perhaps he seeks the warm glow of the limelight. Who knows? Who cares? By his own words, it proves he may not be a snitch, nor much of a traitor--but a liar.
By this episode, he's proven how low so-called trash-journalism can go. ©MAJ 1999
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STATE-SANCTIONED CENSORSHHIP
On August 13, 1999, the Pennsylvania De-partment of Corrections terminated a phone call during which Mumia Abu-Jamal was being interviewed by Amy Goodman on "Democracy Now," Pacifica Radio's national daily news magazine. Approximately seven minutes after the call began, a prison guard rushed up and pulled the phone cord out of the wall. According to prison policy, Mr. Jamal is allowed two fifteen minute phone calls per week. Mr. Jamal describes the event:
"In pulling the plug on the show 'Democracy Now' with Amy Goodman this morning, the Department of Corrections demonstrated for all the world to see the true face of censorship. As we began speaking about the imminent release of sixteen Puerto Rican political prisoners a guard rushed up, pulled the cord out of the wall and announced, 'This call is terminated.'
"When I demanded why he replied, 'The order comes straight from the top.'
"From the very top of the DOC we find contempt for the concept of freedom of speech. Once again the State reacts to my speech by the act of silencing. I promise you it shall not end there."
--For Freedom of Speech and for every other freedom, From Death Row, Mumia Abu-Jamal
Call the Department of Corrections at (717) 975-4865. Amy Goodman can be reached at (212) 209-2812.