EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Jan. 11, 1999-- With Special Guests Beastie Boys and Opening Band Bad Religion

Rage Against The Machine have announced plans to play a benefit concert at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. on January 28, 1999, with proceeds to be donated to the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.� Also announced is opening band Bad Religion and a special appearance by the Beastie Boys.� Other special guests to be announced.

Mumia Abu-Jamal (nee Wesley Cooke) is an African-American print and radio journalist who has been politically active in the city of Philadelphia since his days as a teenage member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. He is the former President of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, the recipient of a Major Armstrong Award for radio journalism, and was named one of Philadelphia's "People To Watch" in 1981 by Philadelphia Magazine.

In 1981, Mumia Abu-Jamal was indicted for the murder of a Philadelphia policeman, Daniel Faulkner.� His trial was presided over by Judge Albert Sabo, who had already sentenced 26 defendants to death, of whom 24 were African- American.� Convicted and sentenced to death for the murder, Mumia Abu-Jamal has been on Pennsylvania's death row ever since.� Abu-Jamal's case has attracted international attention; Amnesty International, among other human rights organizations, supports his request for a new trial.

Mumia's post-conviction relief appeal, his final state appeal, was denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on October 26, 1998.� A death warrant is imminent.� Pennsylvania law mandates the Death Warrant be signed within 90 days of the Supreme Court ruling.� Mumia would only have 30 days (or, the length of the execution warrant) to file his only federal habeas corpus petition, which may get him a temporary stay of execution from a federal judge.

Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello comments, "Mumia's trial was a gross miscarriage of justice.� Just unbelievable.� 'Highlights' included prosecutorial misconduct, intimidation of witnesses by the police, suppression of evidence of Mumia's innocence, a jury illegally purged of African Americans, a hostile racist judge and a prosecution who argued for the death penalty based on Abu-Jamal's political beliefs!� Mumia is an outspoken revolutionary, a hero to millions around the world and we will not allow his voice to be silenced.� We join with Amnesty International in demanding a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.� This is no ordinary show.� We are playing for a man's life."

Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 14.