AMY GOODMAN: And this news from Pennsylvania: The organization that supports Mumia Abu-Jamal has been targeted by state authorities. We now turn to Pam Africa, who is a coordinator for the organization, Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Can you talk about what’s happened, Pam?

PAM AFRICA: Yes. Good morning.

This is a complete diversion from the issue, you know, that is spearheaded by the state. What’s happening here is, Mumia is due to be in court on August the 17th, fighting for his life, and instead of focusing on that, they’re diverting the attentions to a nonissue. We are in complete compliance with everything that the Bureau of Charitable Reviews have asked for, the attorney general has asked for. When I found out — I went to visit Mumia on Sunday. When I got back on Monday, I found out about this article. I immediately called the Board of Charitable Reviews to find out what was happening there. No one could give me an answer. And then they referred me to their lawyer. When I called their lawyers, they could not give me an answer. And I know what it is. It’s a diversion from actually what is going on here, and to target, to try to make an attempt to discredit the organization that is in the forefront of the battle for Mumia. You know, that’s what’s actually going on here.

AMY GOODMAN: It’s the agency, the Bureau of Charitable Organizations, and they’re demanding the date that your group first sought contributions and the amount you have received, as well as a — what? — $50 late filing fee?

PAM AFRICA: They have all that. They have all that information. And we have documented papers on a return receipt. Like I said, it’s just like a diversion away from what’s going on. But any diversion they attempt on us that makes headlines is actually headlines pointing to the fact that Mumia needs support in Philadelphia on August the 17th. And I thank them for giving us that opportunity to get the information out.

AMY GOODMAN: And he’s going to state court because why, Pam Africa?

PAM AFRICA: He’s going to state court because his life is really on the line right now. Mumia is in federal court with Judge Yohn. And Judge Yohn, in a decision, when he threw out the man who confessed to actually killing police officer Daniel Faulkner, when he threw out his confession, he cited the Effective Death Penalty Act, stating that Mumia’s, you know, claim on this is time-barred. He also cited the Herrera case, where an innocent man was killed. And, you know, he justified by saying that the lawyer filed papers late, the confession came in late. So they killed Herrera. And he said all this stuff should have been filed on the post-conviction level. And that’s where we’re at right now, you know, because the post-conviction level was tainted from the beginning to the end. And, you know, Mumia is fighting desperately in order to get in there so that he can show the points. Up on the internet is all the information that’s pertaining to, you know, the claims that he have, that’s over —

AMY GOODMAN: And that website is?

PAM AFRICA: Www.mumia.org.

AMY GOODMAN: Dot-org. Well, I want to thank you for being with us, Pam Africa. Tomorrow we’ll be speaking with Ramona Africa, going back to 1978, when then-Mayor Rizzo moved in a thousand police on the MOVE home, and we’re going to talk about new evidence in that case. Pam Africa, coordinator of International Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

And finally, the U.S. Navy continues to bomb Vieques as groups of protesters continue to break into the bombing range. Authorities detained nine people yesterday as ships pounded the island with 70-pound shells. Since this round of bombing began Thursday, 59 people have been arrested.