PHILADELPHIA--As supporters of executed Texas inmate Shaka Sankofa (aka Gary Graham) prepared for memorial services, Black anti-death penalty activists were mobilizing to save the life of Pennsylvania death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Like Mr. Sankofa, opponents of the death penalty say Mr. Abu-Jamal is an innocent man.

On July 8, the African-American Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and (Illinois Death Row Inmate) Aaron Patterson will hold a mass rally in Chicago to get the Black community more involved in protests for those who have been wrongfully convicted.

"Gary's death was an example of what's been going on in several states, including Texas, innocent people being killed by the state. Governor Bush has killed, under his watch, 135 people. Many of these victims didn't have adequate legal representation and had lawyers who were later reprimanded or disbarred," said Attorney Standish Willis, chair of the Chicago group.

"The African American community should put this issue of the abolition of the death penalty as a top priority. This gives us more reason to mobilize to save Mumia Abu-Jamal, another innocent victim. If we don't mobilize effectively, he will suffer the same fate as Gary Graham," said the Black lawyer.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge plans to execute Mr. Abu-Jamal for the 1981 shooting death of a Philadelphia policeman. However, there is no physical evidence linking him to the murder and original witnesses who testified against him in 1982 have recanted their testimony, claiming they were coerced, threatened and bribed to testify for prosecutors, say Mr. Abu-Jamal's supporters.

Denied the right to defend himself, Mr. Abu-Jamal was given a reluctant and incompetent attorney, who was later disbarred, they add.

Blacks were barred from the jury and a predominately-white jury in his trial were told his affiliation with the Black Panther Party was enough to convict him, they maintain, saying the judge who sentenced Mr. Abu-Jamal to death, Albert Sabo, a former police officer and lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police, has sentenced more Black men to die than any other judge in the country.

A best selling author and award-winning radio journalist, Mr. Abu-Jamal's case has drawn international attention.

Still many feel there is not enough support coming from his own community.

Leitia Barashango, Mr. Abu-Jamal's sister, told The Final Call, that Mr. Sankofa's execution was "devastating and too close for comfort."

"It rendered me incompetent for a while--the similarities between the two cases and the inability to get out information, the truth. I am disturbed by the quietness of our people and not raising a word. Wouldn't that say to the system, 'Hey, we got one, we can get Mumia next, and they aren't going to say or do anything.' I am really frightened by this. I am frightened and I am hurt and angry that this could happen without us saying a word," said Mrs. Barashango.

Her husband was traumatized, saying it is evident that politicians are saying executions will continue--whether there is new evidence or doubts about whether the person committed murder.

"The one thing that we can do is never let this die. Forever keep this in the face of the people. Especially keep it in the face of the preachers and the churches. We need to put emphasis on their thing about 'thou shall not kill' and emphasis on the fact that most of the people that get executed by the state, many of them are innocent," said Ishakamusa Barashango, Mr. Abu-Jamal's brother-in-law and head of the Temple of the Black Messiah in Philadelphia.

Sankofa supporter Ricky Jason said the execution was another sign for Blacks, on par with the beating of Los Angeles resident Rodney King and the dragging death of Texas resident James Byrd.

"Gov. Bush is nothing but the Klan dressed in a different robe. Now we must move forward, because if they lynched Shaka, they are coming after Mumia," Mr. Jason warned.